#nadia birthday fluff

[beanswrites]

Happy birthday, Nadia!!

Hello everyone!!

I know that I haven't been here for quite some time (been on a vacation, sorry), but here I am to make it up to you with a Nadia birthday fic (ft. a poem I wrote for a girl years ago, a little bit adjusted to fit the story)!! Happy birthday to our favorite countess, we wish you all the best!! (I know I'm like 10 day late, sorry)

I've been hard-working recently so I pre-wrote two more fanfics, and they'll be posted on Wednesday and on Friday! Hope you all like them!!

Requests are open! Check out my rules for requesting before sending me your ideas, or pick a prompt from my prompts list! ♡︎

Also available on AO3!

masterlist | rules for requesting | prompts list

Word count: 1630 words

Trope: General fluff, birthday, angst if you really squint

Pairing: Nadia Satrinava x gn! MC

AU: none

Warnings: none

Picture from Pinterest!

The long-awaited day approached quickly. Usually, every year around this time the whole Vesuvia would be in a hurry, fiddling with stuff and finding the perfect place for everything. Everyone was excited and ecstatic about their countess' birthday. 

But this year.. was a bit of a change. Even though it was just around the corner, people did nothing! Not even prepare her favorite flowers to decorate the streets, which usually took weeks! What was happening in her land? Why was everyone acting so strange?

Of course, it didn't bother Nadia. She didn't care about those kinds of things. Her ex-husband was the one who, if this situation happened to him, would go ballistic and lose his head. But Nadia? No, she was far more humble. The only thing she cared about was that her subjects treat her with respect and fairness, just as she did them. They didn't need to celebrate her birthday like a national holiday, they didn't need to celebrate her at all (if they didn't want to). They didn't even need to love her. All she asked was for dignity and respect.

It certainly helped that Nadia was one of the most loved countesses in all of history. People adored her for freeing them off their ex-count and her ex-husband Lucio, whom they weren't so fond of. Plus, she was always kind to them, and always had the best intentions for her people. Naturally, the shift in their behavior towards her on her special day was a bit of a surprise.

Nadia wouldn't even notice it if it was only her subjects who seemed to not care anymore. What's got her head in a twist just two days before her birthday is the fact that her friends, too, didn't seem to care.

Every year before this one, Portia would always get into her bedroom a week before her birthday and wake her up with breakfast in bed and a cheerful: "Happy birth week, My Lady!" And each year the countess would remind her red-head friend that there isn't something such as a "birth week", with a laugh. However, Nadia wasn't awakened like that on the first of July. 

Asra and Muriel would gift her together every year. Some potions and trinkets, anything Asra has found on his adventures around the world, neatly packaged with some fruits or plants Muriel found in the forest. However, when she joked about it with them a couple of sunrises before her big day, they pretended to not know what she was talking about.

And MC? Well, Nadia was excited for this birthday much more than for any before just because it was the first time she would spend her birthday with them. How exciting is that?!

Truly saying, the purple-haired woman wouldn't even care if everyone else forgot or didn't care, as long as she could spend the entire day with her partner. There wasn't a better gift for Nadia than spending a full, uninterrupted day with the one she truly loved, her dear MC. Perhaps they could go to the library and browse for a bit, or take a stroll around the town! Then, a picnic lunch, followed by a walk in the royal gardens, and then to finish the day with a slice of strawberry cake, lots of kisses, and endless cuddling. What a perfect birthday!

Those thoughts kept the smile on Nadia's face even after she realized her other friends forgot. Just the night before her birthday, feeling excited about spending the next day with MC, she headed to kiss them goodnight.

"Goodnight, sweetheart.. I'll see you in the morning, okay? And don't worry, I arranged everything already, we will have so much fun tomorrow!"

MC frowned their eyebrows, looking at their girlfriend confused. 

"Uhh... What kind of plans do we have for tomorrow, Nadi? I have some work to do with Asra, so is it possible we move those to another day? Please?"

The countess' heart sank in her chest. Crushed but dying to not show it, she swallowed the lump in her throat replying: "Y-yes, of course. I see that you're very busy lately, especially with the magician... Um, of course, dear. Another time"

Her partner smiled, leaving a quick peck on her cheek.

"Thank you for understanding. Good night, Nadi, love you!"

"Good night.."

The purple-haired woman just couldn't believe it. Yes, she could understand that the others would forget. They all lead pretty busy lives, and sometimes there wasn't any time for her. That's okay, of course. But, out of everyone, MC? She had never expected that MC would ever forget her birthday. 

Soon, the sun came up and the countess of Vesuvia was officially one year older. However, it didn't feel like it. MC didn't come to greet her, wish her a happy birthday, and kiss her until they both lost their breath. Portia didn't come to prepare Nadia's birthday outfit. It was another regular day, and no one cared.

After getting dressed, she strolled around the big halls of the palace. Strangely, no one else was around. She couldn't find any maids, housekeepers, or chefs. Where was everyone? Trying not to put too much thought into it, she decided to spend her birthday in the library. Surrounded by her favorite books and stories, some of which she brought from her home in Prakra. 

She knew that room like the back of her hand - it was her favorite room in the palace, after all. She could easily tell you where every single book was since she read and loved them all. For example, her favorite book of all time, the poetry book she got from her mother, was always on the farthest bookcase in the library next to her favorite loveseat. 

Re-reading the pages, Nadia felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. In all of those pretty poems, every verse spoke about love and being loved. Right now, Nadia didn't feel loved. She felt forgotten and not cared about, especially by her friends. 

Suddenly, she noticed a page in the book that wasn't there before. 

'But that's absurd, a page can't just make itself!' 

She thought, wondering if she just didn't notice it before. However, there was no denying it - the ink was fresh, newly dried, and the poem written on it was completely new. Nadia recognized that writing. She could always pick apart the way MC looped their o's and l's from any other text in the world.

Walking out of the library with the book in her hands, trying to find MC and ask them about the poem, she decided to read it. 

"Like a beautiful lavender,

Like the stars in the night

As the warm sands in Prakra

Which under the sun shine so bright

Full of kindness, full of grace,

My beautiful happy place, 

Only she.

Her smile could make peace in this cruel world,

And her eyes could bring to their knees any man or girl

There's power and courage in the way she speaks,

and knowledge in anything she seeks,

Warmer than a thousand suns but perceived as cold,

Only she.

And I hate to break her already frail heart

And make her think I won't blindly follow her in the dark

To lie directly to her gorgeous face,

When I know it's better to keep my mouth shut.

Because only she could think that I forgot,

While knowing I love her as the sun loves the moon.

Only she would feel not cared for,

When she knows something surprising is coming to her soon.

Only she would swallow her words that she loves me too,

So, my dear Nadia,

Happy birthday to you!"

As she read the last line, she opened the doors of the grand ballroom, to check if MC was there. As soon as she walked in, what seemed like a thousand voices excitedly yelled: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!". Everyone was there. All her subjects, all the palace staff, all her friends, and most importantly, MC.

"Oh my! What- I mean.. MC? Darling, what is all this?" She asked dumbfoundedly.

MC approached her with the biggest smile on their face. 

"Your surprise birthday party, of course! I know that you don't enjoy those big festivals they threw you every year, so I just thought that maybe you'd like a birthday party! Portia made you the cake, and Julian, Asra, and Muriel made the decorations! I organized the things, that's why I was working with Asra so much!"

Nadia looked around, speechless.

"You.." She choked out, new tears of joy spilling from her red eyes, "You remembered my birthday?"

MC put a hand on her cheek, pressing a soft, warm kiss to her lips. 

"Of course I did! How could I forget such an important date?! Don't tell me that you thought we forgot?" 

They asked with a smirk, pulling her into the crowd to get the party started. They drank, ate, danced, and Nadia doesn't remember having that much fun in years. It was the best celebration of her birthday she ever experienced.

Once the party died down and the subjects went home, MC and Nadia returned to Nadia's bed chambers.

"Oh, Nadi, I just remembered. Did you find the poem? That was a part of your gift, I hope you liked it if you did read it! I left it in the library, in your favorite book, I can go get it for you if you haven't and-"

MC was cut off by the powerful, passionate kiss Nadia gave them. Once she pulled away, leaving them breathless, she whispered:

"That was the best present and the loveliest thing anyone wrote me ever. Darling, thank you so much"

MC smiled, hugging her.

"I'm glad you liked it, Nadi... Happy birthday, Nadia... I love you..."

[oneforthemunny]

surprise, surprise |eddie munson x reader|

prompt: eddie forgets your birthday. or maybe he doesn't.

my birthday is in a few days and i wanted to write a little birthday ficlet blurb :) no aus, just eddie.

contains: angst/fluff. birthday doom. kinda asshole eddie?? kinda asshole friends?? really fluffy sweet ending. language.

“So,” Heather leaned over, chin propped in her hands dramatically slumped over the counter. “What’re you doing this weekend?” 

“Nothing,” You hummed, fingers flicking through the crinkled bills. “Why? You know something fun going on?” 

“It’s your birthday.” Heather gawked playfully. “You’re not doing anything for your birthday?” 

You rolled your eyes lightly, pushing the cash drawer closed. “No.” You shook your head, voice tight. 

“Eddie isn’t taking you out?” Heather’s brows furrowed. “Or you’re not going home? Going out? Are you getting a cake?” 

Your heart sank, a familiar burn rising in your chest. You didn’t speak about your birthday much, not much of an occasion for celebration to you, more of one that was dreadful. Another year closer to death, you’d grumble cynically. Still, when Eddie hadn’t even acknowledged it, when your friends had all blown you off for other plans, a new kind of ache formed in your chest. The sting of being forgotten, of being unimportant and discarded- on your birthday. 

It left a bitter taste on your tongue, sardonic and painful when you spoke about your impending birthdate. “No,” You shook your head, chin ducked to your chest. You had never wanted a customer to come in so badly, save you from this painful conversation with your co-worker. “They’re all busy.” 

“Oh.” Heather quipped, face falling at your tone. 

“I mean, it’s my fault.” You added quickly- defensively. Why you were so defensive over the people who had discarded you so easily, you weren’t sure. “I should have planned something earlier, but… I dunno, I got busy and life got super hectic and it just slipped past me-” 

“-No,” Heather shook her head, curls unmoving with the abundance of Aquanet she used, still. “That’s really shitty of them, all of them. It’s your birthday.” 

You stayed silent, wiping the counter half heartedly, swallowing back the familiar burn in your throat that choked you. “I mean, if it was my girlfriend or my friend, I would be buggin’ about their birthday.” Heather shrugged. 

“Yeah, me too.” You muttered. Bouts of memories pouring back into your mind. How you’d planned a party for Eddie, baked him some stupid cake from scratch that was in the Lord of the Rings. You’d gone to countless second hand stores trying to find the ancient recipe, and it took you a day to perfect. Now, he couldn’t even be bothered to take you out? Get you a cheap store bought cake? 

“I’m sorry.” Heather muttered, a solemn, nearly guilty pout on her lips. “Well, you’re off tomorrow, right?” 

“Yeah.” 

“I get off at three. What if we go out? We can go to the bar- oh, there’s this new band playing in Franklin. Tommy could drive us.” Heather, ever the bubbly optimist, grinned, eyes shining with pride. It was endearing, made your heart squeeze with an ache you weren’t quite sure how to describe. 

“I’ll even get you a cupcake. A good one, from Nadia’s.” Heather added. 

“You don’t have to do that.” You shook your head lightly. You and Heather were work friends, hung out on the rare occasion after work to bitch about work, about the other coworkers, the pain-in-the-ass customers of the day over glasses of Pinot. Selfishly, it felt nice to have someone excited for your birthday. 

You hated that you wished it was Eddie, your own friends. 

“What’s your flavor, hm? Chocolate?” Heather pressed, brushing you off cheerily. 

“Don’t get me a cupcake. I’ll throw it up if we’re drinking. All the icing and liquor.” You snarled your nose playfully. 

“Fine. I’m buying you a drink then.” Heather nodded. She paused, nails drumming on the counter too. “And, I mean, if you want Eddie to come too, of course he’s invited.” Her eyes cut to yours carefully. “I didn’t know if you wanted him to come.” 

“I mean, I don’t know if he’d even be able to.” Your lips pursed, a cutting edge of annoyance in your tone. “He’s so busy.” 

Heather cringed, shooting you an apologetic look. “Yeah, that… I’m sorry, that sucks.” She mumbled. 

A stiff silence fell between the two of you over the whirr of the air conditioning blowing through the vents. “Since it’s so dead, why don’t you go early?” Heather suggested. “I can cover closing.” 

“Heather, Mel will be pissed-” 

“-Mel will be pissed if she has to pay both of us for standing around.” Heather gave you a pointed look. “And you came in before me. I got it.” 

“Are you sure?” You hesitated. “I don’t care to stay in case there’s a rush-” 

“-At seven?” Heather scoffed slightly. “Go. I’ve got it.” 

“Thank you.” You smiled softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

“Yeah. I’ll call you when I’m on my way, ‘kay?” Heather chirped. 

“See you then.” You waved, cringing at the sing-songy Happy birthday! Heather shouted at you. 

You pulled open your cubby, gathering your purse, your umbrella. You wrote your time on the clipboard, the phone taunting you on the hook next to it. Any other day, you’d call Eddie- call home or the shop, wherever he was, just to let him know you’d be home early. He’d always reply with a silly comment that had your cheeks rushing with heat, warmth swelling in your chest. 

Tonight, you decided against it. He was too busy, anyway. Too busy at the shop, with his friends, at band practice. You tried not to dwell on it, let your mind spiral and spin down a damning dark hole of what ifs. It consumed you anyways, on your drive home, the radio playing on a static filled station that you didn’t bother to change. Background noise drowned out by your own hammering heart. 

Eddie’s van was parked in the gravel of his driveway, leaving just enough space for you to slide in under the covering attached to the trailer. He always let you have that spot, closer to the door, protected from the elements- so considerate. 

It was hard to fathom that it was the same boy who had forgotten your birthday, brushed it off like it was just another day. 

Your throat tightened around the ever growing lump, hands tight from the white knuckled grip you had on the wheel when you turned the keys out of the ignition. The stairs squeaked under your weight, the screen door hissing with the familiar soft screech when you pulled it open. 

“No- Henderson, what the fuck is the matter with you?” Eddie huffed, his voice trailing in from the living room. 

You paused, hand catching the door as it fell, quieting it as it latched. The air was thick, warm with a sticky, sweet smell. Music playing in a low hum from Eddie’s beloved boom box he kept in the living room. 

“You said to hang it!” Dustin’s shrill tone cut through the air. 

“Yeah, hang it high- Jesus Christ, I shoulda just waited until Robin got off.” Eddie was hidden by the wall, but you could practically see him pinching his nose, hand running over his curly bangs. “Can you- Can you go see if we can ice the cake yet?” 

“Yeah, what do I do?” Dustin questioned, a silence falling between the two of them. Your lips curled, swallowing a giggle. “What? I’m not a master chef or something. You act like I should know this. There wasn’t a cake making class-” 

“-There was, you moron. Home Ec, which clearly, you failed.” Eddie huffed in annoyance. You froze at his heavy footsteps, voice carrying closer and closer.“Whatever, can you- just make it look nice in here? Put the rest of the streamers up and- shit!” Eddie flinched, jumping at the sight of you in the doorway. Wide eyed and still, like you’d been caught. 

“Baby,” Eddie’s breath startled. “Hey, uh, what are you- you said you didn’t get- you’re home already?” His voice lifted, carried high in a squeak of surprise. 

“Yeah, I got off early. I thought you were working late.” Your brows furrowed at the tear of plastic, leaning to look around the corner. “What are you doing-” 

“-Don’t look in there.” Eddie snapped, his hand falling on the doorframe, arm blocking your vision. You jumped, glaring at him with annoyance. “I thought you closed tonight?” 

“I thought you closed tonight.” You huffed, arms crossing over your chest. “Clearly that’s not true. What is this? Another campaign night?” You rolled your eyes, body burning with irritation, jaw wound tight with it. 

“What? N-No, I-I thought you wouldn’t be home until later, and I’d have more time-” Eddie rambled, side stepping to block your view behind him. 

“-Ed, I don’t care if that’s what it is.” Your shoulders deflated, a wave of painful exhaustion, disappointment falling over you. “I just wish you would’ve let me know before you invite all these people over to play your game, so I could-” A shimmering glimmer of multicolored sequins caught your eyes, shining in the yellowed light of the kitchen, iridescent hued droplets cast over the cabinets. There, draped over the chair in bright, glittering letters, a small sash that read Happy Birthday! in obnoxiously big letters. 

You paused, eyes scanning towards the cake, cooling on the rack next to the mixing bowl of icing, the icing spatula still in it. Paper mache streamers taped to the ceiling, hung in swooping bouts mixed with the shiny streamers and balloons all the way to the living room. Eddie had brought out the folding table from the crawl space, even put a plastic tablecloth from the store over it to hide the yellowing stains that would never fade. 

Dustin’s eyes met yours, wide and darting between you and Eddie, still holding the roll of streamers he’d yet to hang. “Uh, Happy Birthday?” Dustin shrugged. 

Eddie huffed, shaking his head at him. “Fuck, I-I’m sorry, it was supposed to be a surprise.” Eddie’s foot bounced with anxious adrenaline. “I thought you didn’t get off until eight, and-and I had it all planned, sweetheart, I really did. Steve’s getting the pizza, and everyone’s coming over at seven thirty-ish, and I- I was even going to have them park at Wayne’s in the back so you wouldn’t see.” 

Your chest felt deflated, void of any air, words, anything. Eddie chewed on his lip, hands twitching next to his jeans. “It was going to be this whole thing, fuck!” He huffed. “It was going to be a whole big thing, and…” 

Eddie’s heart leapt when your eyes finally met his. His fingers still drummed against the rough material of his jeans, veins filled with icy excitement, fear, anticipation? He wasn’t sure. 

“I’m sorry.” Eddie whispered, stepping to hover over you, voice dropping to a soft coo, hands sliding over your cheeks. “I’m- I wanted it to be a surprise.” 

You swallowed thickly. Eddie’s touch was soft, but it left you with a tingling burn when his thumb delicately traced your cheek bone. “You- This is for me?” You squeaked. 

Eddie’s lips curled in a half smile, brows creasing. “Well, yeah.” He said playfully. “Who else would it be for?” 

Your brain was deafeningly silent, stunned at every new detail you’d discover. “You said you were busy.” Was all you could muster out, blinking up at Eddie. “You said you had to work late.” 

“I might have fibbed a little.” Eddie tilted his head sillily. “Told a little lie so I could get this set up.” He nodded towards the living room, a balloon floating near the doorway. 

“I just really wanted to surprise you.” Eddie’s shoulders fell. “I was trying to outdo you. Tryna out do what you did for mine. I called all your friends- even Alexandra,” You rolled your eyes at the mention, she was Eddie’s least favorite friend of yours. 

“And I… I just wanted to surprise you.” Eddie blinked down at you. “Just wanted your day to be special.” 

Your day, the phrase wrapped around you, swirled through your veins like a warm hug, squeezing your heart. 

“I’m sorry, it… I didn’t think about work.” Eddie shook his head, running a hand over his forehead. “I didn’t even think about it, and I-” 

“-Eddie,” Your voice caught in your throat. 

Eddie tensed, cringing with expectant dread. He’d ruined it, blew it, the tears were coming and they were deserved. You’d done so well on his, surprised the hell out of him with the cake, decorated for his birthday campaign with lanterns and candles you’d thrifted. Gone all out for him, and he couldn’t even pull off a simple surprise party. 

“I’m sorry.” Eddie whispered, head pressing to yours. His eyes cut around the room, making sure a certain Henderson pest was lurking. 

“Sorry?” You repeated. “Eddie, I-I am surprised.” You choked out, looking around the room with gleaming eyes. 

Eddie paused. “You are?” 

You nodded. “Yeah, I thought you’d forgotten.” You admitted. “I thought everyone had forgotten.”  

Eddie’s brows pinched in a confused scowl. “You thought I’d forget?” He muttered. 

A watery laugh fell from your lips before you could stop it. “Yeah.” You admitted. “You were really convincing.” 

Eddie’s chest boasted playfully. “Oscar worthy?” 

“You’d sweep the competition.” You jested back, arms sliding over his forearms. His hands found home on the small of your waist, pulling you into him. 

“I didn’t forget your birthday.” Eddie said softly. “Just… for the record.” 

“I can see that.” You giggled. “Thank you. It’s-It’s really sweet.” 

“Yeah? I’m glad you like it.” Eddie’s hands rubbed down your spine. “It would look better but… Robin and Nancy didn’t get off until later, and it’s just me and Henderson.” 

“It looks great. Perfect.” Your cheek pressed to the soft cotton of his t-shirt. His nice shirt, Eddie always called it. Broke it out for special occasions. 

“Not perfect. Fucked up the main part.” Eddie grumbled. “I can call everyone, let them know that they can park out front since there’s no surprise anymore.” 

“No, don’t do that.” You shook your head lightly, chin propping against his chest to look up at him. “I’ll leave and come back, and you can still do it. I can pretend to be surprised.” 

Eddie’s lips curled, pulling back to look down at you. “You’re gonna pretend?” He tilted his head. 

“My turn to act.” You teased, brow lifting gently. “Give you some competition.” You poked his tummy playfully. 

Eddie grinned, pulling you back into him, lips sliding over yours in a soft kiss you savored. Melting into each other, fusing into a gooey puddle- it was corny, a cliche. One you’d roll your eyes at if it was anyone else. 

“Happy birthday.” Eddie muttered, lips brushing and tickling your own. 

“Thank you.” You whispered back, hands finding the base of his neck, pushing him back into you. Eddie’s hand fell against the wooden door frame, steadying himself in a rapidly heating makeout. 

“Uh,” Dustin’s voice interrupted the two of you, just as Eddie’s hands were sliding under your work blouse. “Yeah, I-I finished with the streamers.” 

Eddie glared at him, jaw ticking in annoyance when you pulled away. “I’m just going to grab my makeup bag, and I’ll go.” You whispered, cheeks flooding with heat. 

Eddie huffed, rolling his eyes at Dustin when you left. “What? What did I do?” Dustin threw his hands out. 

“Such a fuckin’ cock block, Henderson.” Eddie muttered, stomping into the kitchen. “Put the plates and shit out, will ya?” 

Your performance was Oscar worthy, Eddie decided later, when you stepped through the door of the now darkened trailer, gasping when the lights flickered on and everyone jumped out. You looked positively radiant, glowing with excitement at the small crowd of friends crammed into the doorway. Eddie kissed you, sloppier than he should have, especially in front of everyone, but he didn’t care. Overwhelmed with affection for you. 

He couldn’t tell if you were still pretending when he brought out the cake, the room singing in a harmonious tone to you, candles lit and glowing in the dim light. Eddie didn’t miss the way your eyes sparkled, fingers pressed to your lips at the now iced cake. When your fingers curled under his chin, sharing a fork-full of cake with him, kissing him after so quickly it left his head spinning. 

His birthday girl, it was your day. Eddie never thought he’d love a random day as much as he did. He had no idea how important that day would become when he’d first met you, how it would engrave itself in his mind forever. 

He was glad it did. Looking at you, giggling with your friends on the couch, then again, the next night, singing with Heather at the crowded bar- Eddie’s chest heart swelled. Proud that he’d surprised you, hopeful that he’d get to for the rest of his life. 

Next year, he’d do it right. Really pull off the party you deserved. He’d start saving now, planning too. He decided it that night, tucked between the sheets, your head still on his sweat soaked chest. He could still taste you on his tongue, lips numb from the time he’d spent between your legs. Lashes fluttering in sleep, curled into him, Eddie pulled you closer. He’d get it right next year, you deserved it. 

[hwaightme]

GUY.exe

(masterlist) (perma-taglist)

✏️ pairing: yunho x gn!reader ✏️ genre: fluff, crack, friends? to lovers, drawing? to lover ✏️ summary: you never expected for the character you designed for the newest dating simulator to be quite as realistic as this ✏️ wordcount: 5.0k ✏️ warnings/tags: questionable editing, unhinged crack galore, fever dream, digital artist / designer reader, shy boy best friend yunho, lowkey referencing the song the fic is named after (GUY.exe by SUP3RFRUIT) ✏️ taglist: at the bottom of the fic~ ✏️ a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE MY NADIA @justhere4kpop !!! you are the kindest, funniest, sweetest person ever, i love you so so much and i am so grateful for every day because it means i can spend it with you <3 wishing you the best day, all the most amazing things, experiences, achievements and more!!

Another hour more, and you were going to scream. Hunched over your drawing tablet with bloodshot eyes and a cramping hand, you had been drawing and redrawing what seemed to be the same thing over and over again. But nothing gave you that magical feeling of completion and rightness when the abstract lines and shapes and shadows and doodles all came together on a page to form one whole. What you were experiencing was, in fact, very much the opposite. All because of these damn dumb brown doe eyes that you had decided to give to the character. Of course. What other eyes could the golden retriever type have, right? What other kinds of eyes would your boss approve of for the established archetype, the persona that you had ideated, storyboarded and proposed not only in front of your immediate team but also to senior management? That was right. None. No other. Only these doe eyes that you had been staring at and cursing profusely for the last four hours after having promised yourself that you would try to get to bed at ten in the evening instead of the less-than encouraging past midnight madness. But who were you kidding? 

Setting down the pen, you leaned back to stretch, hearing random joints crack and echo around your body, making you wonder if you have even been moving at all for the past few weeks. Having the opportunity to work from home during fast-paced sprints was, of course, a big benefit, but all too often for you, it also meant only ever walking from your home office to your kitchen and back, with the occasional bathroom break and a flop onto the armchair you had dragged into your office for designated social media scrolling time. Gone from the world, with your friends having nicknamed you an e-hermit in not one, but two separate chats. Zoned out and barely hanging onto the words spewed by your superiors, much like the rest of your fellow designers working on this same project, be it other characters, setting, clothing customisation options, accessories, or special items… as the main project lead, boss of the bosses had said: ‘whatever the user wishes for, should be there’. Who knew that a dating simulator could be that intense and demanding? 

Your drawing tablet was glaring at you, and so were the eyes on its screen, doubled onto your monitor watching your every movement like a painting at a museum would. They were meant to be kind and loving, crafted to complete the sunshine that this character was supposed to be, but the slightest misses in the lines were throwing the image off-kilter, and you could not pinpoint what was wrong. Reaching out for the now lukewarm cup of coffee off to the side of your desk, narrowly avoiding the clutter of sketches and notes you had made, you heaved a sigh, pondering if it would be the wisest to simply resign yourself to abandoning the task for today, and pick it up at work tomorrow. It was not like you would be punished for having the eyes be slightly off during an update meeting, after all, this was an ongoing process. But the perfectionist part of you was not letting go. You had managed to ideally depict everything else - the toned, tall physique with the stunning waist, torso and broad shoulders, the cheeks that made you feel a strong cute aggression, the tousled locks that could then be customised by a player’s colour preference, every other feature of the face that screamed ‘handsome’ and ‘appealing’... you did it all, and you would not be yourself if you could not overcome this little blip.

“One more try…” you whispered to yourself and searched for the file on your computer that contained a user story and profile of the character you had been agonising over. 

One click, another, and the document was up on the screen, revealing an initial concept sketch that you had made when you first proposed the man as a possible love interest for the main character in the simulator, as well as any facts about him, now being even further developed by the story-writers. Page after page, update after update the character in some ways felt more real than you, especially in your current deflated state. A gentleman, a sentimental soul, with what your colleague had called ‘four-dimensional’ traits and overall a funny, adorable sweetheart who at the click of a finger can turn into the sexiest man alive. There was nothing you did not like - aside from some details here and there that you were not sure who added but they had been approved so you had to deal with it, and that was problematic for your work since it meant that you were in the permanent state of wanting to do the character justice. You scrolled back up, starting at the brief, staring at the name as if it wasn’t already imprinted in your mind. Jeong Yunho. 

The dance instructor and choreographer. The talented and hardworking man who the main character would meet third, on her eighth day in Seoul. Born on the twenty-third of March nineteen ninety-nine in the city of Gwangju, moving to Seoul to chase his dreams and fight for them. Special talents… skills… favourite phrases… preferences… key memories… you read on, re-absorbing the details and rearranging them on imaginary shelves, trying to make sense of the information in the context of character design. How were you going to depict all of this in a pair of eyes? A part of you was confident that you were overthinking - actually, you definitely were. Not a single other designer was on Yunho's creation, and developers were going to look at him not as a persona, as a representation of a being that had become real in your mind, but as a task to execute, lines of code to make him move in predetermined ways, make him talks in predetermined ways, smile… yes, you were excited to see him be just that bit more alive, but at the same time, you were afraid of that moment - it would be right then that the world you had subconsciously built for you and him alone would be shattered, and your daydreams dispelled, maybe even crushed. So, getting the eyes perfect right now was the least you could do. At least your Yunho would be perfect.

Swearing under your breath, you picked up the pen once more and twirled it once around your fingers. His personality was fresh on your mind, heart racing, you could almost imagine him in front of you. With a final nod of encouragement, you dived back in, with more vigour and motivation than before, determined to get Yunho right, and to depict him how he truly was, how you knew he should be. The time ticked past, and so did the layers of doubt. Erasing themselves along with strokes of the digital brushes that dissatisfied you, you were unveiling the true character, and with a light heart, a smile on your face and a saved file, leaned onto your desk and rested your head on your crossed arms, just for a quick break to relish in the fact that you finally achieved the look that you had been searching for…

“Hey, good morning you worker bee, what did I tell you about sleeping at your desk?”

You never thought you could yell, right after waking up, as loud as you did at that moment. Jolting up from your seat, forgetting all the papers, equipment and stationery that was strewn about on the table on which you had been dozing, you bolted away from the source of the voice. It had resounded far too close to you for comfort, belonged to no one whom you knew, and was dangerously sweet and slightly lower-set. Pleasant. But who the hell was in your apartment and how did they break in when you almost always double-locked your door? After building up a bit of distance, you finally looked up and rubbed the last bits of sleep from your eyes. The figure was lean, toned, considerably tall, perhaps even very tall, definitely a man, with dark hair and a face that was a bit too similar to-

Jeong Yunho. Jaw-dropping, you darted back to your tablet and computer, practically shaking the mouse, forcing the entire digital system to begrudgingly awaken at your command. You searched everywhere. The open file, others, older versions… nothing. No luck in finding what you had been working on. It was as if the Yunho you had been spending weeks developing had never existed, and all that you were left with and were staring at was a blank page, and the character, no, a whole man, right in front of you, supposedly living, breathing and in your room. You stood up straight, giving the not-quite-a-stranger but still a stranger a once over, while he, confused, had an eyebrow raised and a sheepish smile on his face. He looked adorable that way. Abashed to the point of cuteness - you recalled a game developer on your team describing the planned emotional response functionality in that way; it had been a hit, and now you were seeing, in person, why. 

“Y-Yunho?” you whispered in disbelief, a hand hovering over your mouth while you were wondering whether you should officially report yourself to your boss for having succumbed to the delusions. Relief flashed over the beautiful man’s features when you mentioned his name, timidly, yes, but still, it was his name that you uttered.

“Yes, Y/N, that’s me, hey, don’t worry.”

“Y/N?” He knew your name. This was too real - a shriek erupted from what felt like the depths of your soul, and you shut your eyes, only to open them again and to see the same picture, but a little more zoomed in. He was approaching you. Code red, alert, alert, hot man of your dreams who you had been drawing all the time and were effectively being paid to thirst over was approaching you.

“Do you not remember me or something, are you okay? See I keep telling you to not sleep so late, it’s bad for you-”

“Look who’s talking, mister ‘time to text at two in the morning’,” It was a shot in the dark, a random recollection of facts that had been noted about Yunho, but that was true, since he stopped immediately, a dazzling smile on his face.

“Alright, alright, you got me. But hey, you answer me so we are in this together, right?” he countered, and winked. 

“Yeah… and I should stop drinking coffee that late, it gives me some cursed… abilities…” you concluded cryptically, though Yunho did not seem to care much about the wording, taking it as your account of how easily you had been spooked by him.

After the initial wave of ‘stranger danger’ had subsided, instead being replaced by the odd conviction that the man before you truly was just the representation of the character for the simulator, you crossed your arms and regarded him more slowly, calmly while he approached the book cabinet that was filled to the brim with manga, manhwa, figurines, dolls, action figures… effectively the best representation of what had inspired you and continued to drive you to do what you were doing in your life now. He was dressed casually, in a zip-up grey hoodie and dark grey jeans. He had taken off his shoes and was in black socks that he stuffed into a pair of slippers - so in this reality, Yunho clearly was a regular guest. Scratching the back of your head, you wondered if this was a storyline that had been updated and you were unknowingly hallucinating.

“Well, uh, if you… if you want me to come by another time I don’t mind. Whatever works best for you…”

Oh. It finally clicked in your head, and your heart fluttered. The moment was stark and aching in your mind, and you were barely able to contain yourself, the subconscious fangirl in you fully awakening. The light flush of pink on his cheeks, those damn doe eyes that were so perfect, and were now looking right at you as if you were Yunho’s entire world, it was all a telltale sign for what was to happen later, and the past disappointment at having been woken up and having no more documents to present evaporated. This was another life, it had to be. One where you did not have to worry about the endless story points, bi-weekly sprints and one deliverable after another. Only a very precious Yunho who, while toying with the sleeve of his hoodie was pondering if he was even welcome.

“Hey! No, we were planning to hang out and we are going to. Sorry, you know how work is and it got to me this time. What shall we do then? Go out, stay in?” you amplified your sociability, putting the fantastical aspect of the circumstances on the back burner for future pondering.

Laying down the pen that you had absent-mindedly grabbed for self-defence, you stepped around the desk and towards Yunho, never once breaking the visual exchange, except when his gaze darted to the floor under your intensity. You had the advantage after all, of knowledge. You could sense, and could confirm by your universe, what exactly was going to happen. He was pretending to not be affected by your closeness, looking at the cabinet again, though the tone in which he spoke was vulnerable, every bit the dream guy you were imagining all this time. You could barely resist the urge to pinch his cheek - in fact, you made a mental note to yourself to check if that was a playable option in the game or not.

“Can we… stay in?”

“Take out?” if there was something you would not quite let him do, it would be to give him full power over the kitchen. Perhaps another time, but not when the dream was so magnificent.

“You bet! I’m buying this time-”

“Yun, c’mon.”

“Technically I am still the guest.”

“You are much more than a guest-” a pause, a blur within which Yunho was attempting to pick out the meaning behind the words which you had purposefully left to be ambiguous, just to mess with him a little bit. It was too sweet, “I mean, you practically live here at this point,” he groaned and playfully rolled his eyes while continuing to tap in the order to what was for sure meant to be your favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood.

You followed him into your living room. Everything was just as you had left it. Even Yunho’s presence was beginning to feel natural, probably because it had already been pretty much just as constant as him now physically falling onto the couch and leaning back to stretch an arm out over the back of it. Hell, you had even spent some evenings sketching him in this same room. As you settled beside him, while still keeping a little bit of distance - just as friends who were feeling not quite platonic would do, you realised that indeed, you were that close. You did know him ‘since forever’, and whatever this fever dream was, you had every right to enjoy it. So upon pulling your legs onto the couch and under you, you settled in and with a soft sigh began to set up the movie you were going to watch. Just like you and Yunho would do had he been an actual interest of yours.

As the food arrived and was promptly devoured, and you were midway through the film, you found Yunho slowly but surely gravitating towards you. First, it was with an outstretched hand when he was trying to imitate a character on the screen, then with him sitting ever so slightly closer when there was supposedly a ‘spooky moment’ even though you knew full well that out of the two of you, you were the one who would not dare enter a haunted house again, and finally, under the pretence of ‘wanting to show you a funny meme on his phone’ he sat right next to you, thighs flush against each other, arm resting on the sofa right behind your head. You could not help but lean into the warmth, attracted to it, comforted. You knew Yunho inside and out, and if there was anyone who you would trust like this, it would be him. He had seen you at your worst - crying in the office bathrooms when during your early days at the company you had been humiliated by your old boss (who, thankfully, had been promptly fired), and had seen you at your best - your award-winning presentation and proof of concept for an innovative life simulation game, selected as a showpiece for the company at a major global conference. He was always there. Be it on your phone, in a sketchbook, or on your laptop - he was always there, cheering you on. There was no difference between then and now, except that now you could allow your head to rest against his broad chest, hearing the soothing beating of his heart behind the cotton fabrics, feeling how his hand dropped to trace random, intricate shapes on your shoulder while his eyes stayed glued to the television screen. 

You could sense that he was afraid to look at you, or at least of what he would think or do if he were to do so. He was warm. Very warm. Maybe too warm. You looked up, noting the adorable redness of his ears that appeared only in particular instances: either he just woke up from deep sleep which was not the case, or he had violently shaken his head and rubbed his ears - another no, or he was embarrassed and shy. Bingo. There it was. You nuzzled against him and swore you could feel his entire body stiffen. Just like when a cat makes a person ‘ the chosen one’ by lying on their lap and said person almost forgets to breathe, you nearly knocked consciousness out of Yunho, it seemed.

“What’s up?” you mumbled, noting that Yunho straightened his back, sitting in an unnatural position.

“I, uh, nothing, it’s nothing,” he responded, clearing his throat, still not daring to look to the side to face you. 

A pause. That was his character - you nodded to yourself. He had always been like this. Sympathy through the roof but when it came to his openness - he far from often strayed into that field. It would take quite a bit of coaxing, or, somehow easier, waiting for the right moment. So wait you did, comfortably resting against Yunho, insistent that he return to his previously unwinded state. Before you could snake your hand around him to pull his hood up, your friend suddenly shot up, mumbling something about it being too stuffy, or too hot, and tugged the article of clothing off.

All would be fine and dandy if he was not built how he was - and you knew it better than anyone, however strange it was to admit. After all, you had been the one to pick and sketch out his physique, knowing every muscle, curve and edge. As he fumbled with the sleeves, you took in his form, mouth agape as you saw what you had only perceived two-dimensionally, now in live action, and somehow being the one case of where the transition was impeccable if not better. If he were to turn at any moment, he would bear witness to your disturbingly dedicated scrutiny. But at the same time, what could a digital artist and designer do when a handsome man was right before them? Exactly. It was practically a duty to perceive; if not for personal interests (which you would be a liar if you were to say you did not have them), then at least for science. He looked too good in the dark grey graphic t-shirt, which, despite it being slightly oversize, did its beautiful work by revealing his perfectly toned arms. When you noticed him being in the process of turning back, you peeled your gaze away and back to the movie, not sure where in the storyline you even were, nor what the actors were saying. Patting the space next to you, you beckoned Yunho back. This time, he was calmer in his demeanour, falling back and letting you fall into him, with him, for him - and he was right there to catch you. 

Action scene after action scene turned into a blur, dialogue was static that you were not bothered to discern while you focused on Yunho’s breathing. Shallower than before, but still comforting. Who would have thought that you would be cuddling with your dream man when a mere few hours ago you were holed up behind your desk, with a cramped and stiff neck, an exhausted hand and equally tired eyes? Eyelids grew heavier, and you wondered if it would be long before you would fall asleep again, and wake up alone, as usual; a bitter smile settled on your lips when the realisation hit you, earning you a perplexed glance from Yunho and a poke in your side.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Definitely something, he turned to you, studying your every movement. The action led him to detangle himself from you, leading you to shiver a little from the lack of his body heat, “ah wait are you cold now? I- wait, here, hoodie?”

“Thanks.”

Him. In every thread. The scent of clean laundry, cotton, and fabric softener. There was something so magical in it, soothing. You wanted to float in the aroma and this moment forever. Pulling the hoodie tighter around you, you pretended to not notice the adoration that was blatantly obvious in Yunho’s expression. He watched as you pushed up the sleeves a little bit, crossed your legs and looked back at him.  Your friend, your muse and subject was nervous, and it did not need a trained professional to figure it out. The tale was climbing to a peak, and the main characters had to face it together. You waited for him, mellowness across your features as you played with one of the hoodie’s drawstrings.

Yunho looked at you, and something about the purity, and hopefulness within him made you think of the very first drawings you had made on post-its in the middle of a conference. Bored out of your mind, your mind wandered back to pondering the new project you had been assigned - the dating simulator. Idea after idea had been proposed for the characters, but not a single one stuck. Everyone was at a standstill until he came along. A breathtaking blessing, just like he was now. Silence settled like snow, only to be broken by a short hum, and Yunho taking the risk you had been wishing for.

“I… I know it has only been a few months but… I really don’t think I can be friends with you anymore, Y/N,” you tilted your head as he put his hands on his lap, fingers repeatedly messing with the material of his sweatpants - his attempt to soothe himself. You, on the other hand, were oddly calm. Simply waiting for the events to unfold and for you to embrace them with the fullest heart. While he was searching for the right words to say, you placed a hand over his, waking him from rumination. A weak smile was replaced by determination, truth spilling from his soul.

“I like you too much. Really. I would not be able to keep my distance even if I tried.”

“Well I think you are a bit too far away right now, Yun,” with a wave of boldness having washed over you, you acted on instinct, leaning towards the beautiful, infinitely precious man until he could not look away, captivated by your proximity, your glimmering eyes, your acceptance.

“Huh?” the sound was barely audible, an echo lost to the tension. You ran a finger over his jawline, instantly seeing his expression darken with another reverberating, deep sensation.

“We should seal the deal, shouldn’t we?” remaining cryptic, you inched closer and closer until you could pick apart the flicks of lighter mahogany in those stunning irises - you wanted to shake your hand for having persevered to finish them in the drawing. Truly, one of a kind.

“What-”

“Oh just kiss me already-”

That phrase you did not need to tell Yunho twice. Finally catching on, he was the first to destroy the distance between you, capturing your lips with his and letting his hand find purchase in your hair, digits running through it, caressing you, guiding you into a shared rhythm. He was as sweet as vanilla with a hint of cinnamon. An intoxicating, ecstatically overwhelming daze that consumed you whole. You saw the sketches flash before you, burning one by one to fuel the desire building for Yunho, for you, for the two of you together. It felt right, it felt real. Arms over his shoulders, you allowed him to pull you into his lap, embrace you and pepper the softest kisses on your cheeks, and your neck, finding the path back to your lips. You felt more alive than ever with the electricity coursing through your newfound intimacy. Nothing existed. This universe was Yunho, and you could not be happier. Better than in any story that you or your co-workers could develop, better than in any fairytale, the oddity transformed into eternity. This was a dream you wanted to remain in for as long as you-

Saying it was hard to wake up was an understatement. Your entire body had been aching from having fallen asleep in an awkward position over your drawing tablet, you had slept past your alarms and as such had only fifteen minutes to cram getting ready and leaving for the office, and upon checking your schedule you had the ‘pleasure’ of having three more meetings being crammed into it, reducing your lunch break to what was a near null. With a sigh, you moved away from your space, dragging your tired body to your first official interaction of the day after having sat at your desk for a couple of hours, already dreading it. The new CEO - whoever they were, was the ‘I want to know all the details and be one with the teams’ type, how joyful, you wondered how long that would last. 

It was hard to find the motivation, especially after a dream such as yours. It kept on revolving in your head, pressing down on you, making you reminisce the gentle caresses, the sweet words and actions, the delightful kiss that you had managed to just have the time to experience with Yunho. You were seeing your character in an entirely new light, already having reworked some ideas for the possible special event outfits and spammed your close colleagues who were working on the storyline with some ideas about how Yunho could have even better depth and as such, engagement from prospective users. Perhaps for this meeting with authority you just needed to tap into your delusions and it would be good enough - at least they were productive for once. 

While you were setting up the presentation, the rest of your immediate team began to file in, giving you excited waves that you returned with an unprecedented warmth. Pleasant chatter, discussion of possibility, mention of just how special it was that this dating simulator game project was the one the CEO had chosen to see today… you were feeling confident. Whoever this person was going to be, you were going to give your best and-

The door opened. Heads turned. Greetings, bows - all forms of politeness that could be expressed being delivered. People standing up, while you stood up taller by the board, the title slide behind you. You raised your head, only for time to slow down and freeze entirely. Your hold on the clicker tightened, and the only person aside from you who existed at that moment was the newcomer. The CEO. Greeting others with a smile and with equally as elegant bows. Every bit the gentleman in his tailored suit, hair swept back and impeccably styled. Jeong Yunho.

This had to be some kind of joke, right? Was this a dream? The stinging remaining after you pinched your arm slapped you back into reality. No. This Yunho was definitely real. But who was the one you-... the one you started dating? The one who you were way more than colleagues or friends with? Before your mind could accelerate into panicked rumination, his gaze stopped at you, and you could sense everyone else’s attention drift to you too. You were under his spotlight. Melting under what was nothing but kindness in his eyes.

“L/N Y/N, right? I heard a lot about you,” his grin was making you dizzy, memories of his taste resurfacing and sending heat to your cheeks, giving them a light dusting of pink.

“Good things, I hope?” you managed, he chuckled, and sent you a wink before sitting down on his chair.

“The best. I am really looking forward to this,” a playful tease.

“Glad to know this.”

“I heard you made quite a few new developments, how did that happen?” you knew what he was getting at, and that made you feel secure. So it was the same Yunho. That precious Yunho who had confessed to you, the one who had come to life and was now part of yours, by some odd twist of fate had appeared in your company, and was now right in front of you, eager and in love. You smirked while twisting to check the slide one last time, well aware that his only focus ever would be you.

“Came to me in a dream.”

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thank you for reading! if you enjoyed, please leave a kind reblog, much love!

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Could I get a mini Hc for an Mc who will go outside in their onesie? If their going to Selasi for some pumpkin bread and back home they'll just go dressed as a cat or whatever their onesie is and not care. So like if they have a small errand to run.

The Arcana Mini-HCs: MC wearing a onesie in public

~ *looks nervously at shark onesie in the closet* @fox-daddy I wonder why you ask … ~

leaving this here for visual prompts!

Julian: thinks it's too cute for words and is low-key worried that you're going to get kidnapped for it. insists on escorting you

Asra: wait, hang on, let them find theirs too so you can go out in onesies together! spends 20 minutes searching for it and gives up

Nadia: bemused. she knows she's a confident woman, but going out in a onesie like that is a whole new level. wonders if she should try it

Muriel: not really bothered by it apart from worrying that you'll get too cold depending on the weather. offers his cape to wear with it

Portia: well, who do you think suggested it? she's even crocheted a cat flower cap for Pepi. time for a pajama-clad shopping trip!

Lucio: trying very hard not to judge because he's still learning not to put too much value into his own looks. waits at home for the goodies

[brettsearpiercing]

Good Morning

Julian Devorak x reader fluff!!

baby's first upload omg,, this is from 2021

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: 　　 :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

You feel a gentle heat on your face before you force yourself to open your eyes.

When you do, the first thing you see is the head of auburn hair attached to your boyfriend, who appears to be peacefully sleeping, judging from the snores coming from him.

You already knew what this morning would entail: cuddling up to him (which you did as soon as you could, mind you) and sleeping a little bit more before he woke up, then welcoming each other into a new day with all the affection you were able to give, getting up, stealing his shirt and making breakfast.

Step two didn’t last too long, as much as you were enjoying the feel of his breathing against your chest, you hear a very sleepy, and very soft

“are you awake?”

To which you reply with a simple “nope”, and a very obviously fake snore.

He chuckles softly, making you both shake lightly, and turns around to face you.

“Good morning, darling”

“Good morning, Ilya”

He always seems to melt when you call him that, and you keep that name only for times like this; where only happiness and adoration are present, and behind his cloudy grey eyes you can’t find a trace of the man he was when you met: a man who would not admit to his own value even when being (figuratively) held at gunpoint.

You continue; “how did you sleep, dearest?” and you beg that the answer is not the one you expect.

After a second comes his reply, “Wonderfully. There was music and a picnic, all our loved ones were there, I think it was someone’s birthday, a lovely dream. You were there, too, obviously”

“oh?” you inquire. The little times he has pleasant dreams, you want to let him talk about them as much as he’d like.

And so he does, explaining the very recent dream in surprising detail, and you listen to all of it while petting his hair and letting yourself kiss his head every now and then.

His very enthusiastic tale is interrupted however, by a rumbling sound coming from your stomach, and despite the trust and comfort you find in Ilya, you can’t help but to go red as he lets out a laugh, though it’s not judgy.

“I guess we’ll have to go get breakfast, huh? What time is it?” He turns away from you to grab his phone, but he doesn’t let go from your body at any time “oh. Brunch, not breakfast”

It’s your turn to laugh. He sounds so disappointed, it’s endearing. As if you didn’t find everything he did endearing.

“I suppose so...” you say, soft amusement in your voice. He starts getting up with a groan, turning around and sitting up on the bed, legs hanging from the mattress. As his feet touch the cold ground, he flinches, and you decide you better warm him up, so you hug him from behind, your barely clothed chest against his naked back, and he groans again.

“If you keep that up we’re gonna end up having to get dinner” he chuckles.

“Oh and you’d hate that, obviously” you tease. You know whatever affection you’ll give he’ll take, the same thing could be said for you, too.

“Most definitely. It would be true torture”

“You say that like you wouldn’t enjoy every second of it” You can see the tips of his ears turn red. You win this time.

You let go of his body with a sigh, and sit next to him as you let your legs hang from the bed yourself. The floor really is cold, but you power through, grabbing his shirt from the floor and putting it on. It has The Rowdy Raven’s logo on it, he always says it’s his most priced posession. He won it on a wet t-shirt contest at his favourite bar, which you didn’t have the pleasure of seeing. Bummer.

“You look very elegant in that!” while you were imagining twenty-somethings Julian with a wet shirt, he had gotten up and put on some slippers and pijama pants. He grabs you by the waist and kisses your cheek.”Are we going to one of Nadia’s parties?” you laugh a bit, if you ever showed up in this outfit to one of Nadia’s acclaimed parties, you wouldn’t be allowed in, as much as she likes the both of you. Maybe you’d be able to go to Asra and Muriel’s house, but even they’d think it’s a bit of a stretch.

“C’mon, let’s go make breakfast, I think there are some of Mazelinka’s scones left” he says. He gives you a peck on the lips and then leaves the room, you follow behind him.

[mythicalcowboyatheart]

Raising Nadia

Roman Godfrey x reader

Fluff

After overcoming numerous obstacles and finding true love, Roman Godfrey and Y/N faced a new chapter in their lives: raising Roman's daughter, Nadia. Nadia, a product of Roman's past, was a constant reminder of the challenges they had overcome and the love they had built.

As they embarked on this journey together, Roman and Y/N were determined to provide Nadia with a stable and loving environment. They worked tirelessly to create a home filled with warmth, understanding, and support. Y/N, drawing from her own experiences, became a nurturing and loving mother figure to Nadia, while Roman embraced his role as a devoted father.

Together, they navigated the complexities of parenthood, learning from each other and growing as a family. Roman, who had once been consumed by his own darkness, found solace in the innocence and purity of his daughter. He vowed to protect her from the dangers of their supernatural world, shielding her from the darkness that had once consumed him.

Y/N, with her unwavering love and patience, helped Nadia understand her unique heritage and the powers she possessed. She taught her to embrace her differences and use them for good, guiding her on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

As Nadia grew older, Roman and Y/N watched with pride as she blossomed into a strong and compassionate young woman. They instilled in her the values of love, empathy, and resilience, ensuring that she would be equipped to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Their family dynamic was filled with love, laughter, and occasional chaos. Roman and Y/N cherished every moment spent together, creating cherished memories that would last a lifetime. They celebrated birthdays, holidays, and milestones, always reminding Nadia of the unconditional love that surrounded her.

Through their journey of raising Nadia, Roman and Y/N's love only grew stronger. They supported each other through the ups and downs, finding strength in their shared commitment to their daughter. Their love became the foundation upon which their family thrived, a bond that could withstand any challenge.

As Nadia ventured out into the world, Roman and Y/N remained a constant source of love and guidance. They watched proudly as she forged her own path, knowing that they had given her the tools to navigate the complexities of life.

In the end, Roman Godfrey, Y/N, and Nadia formed a family that defied all odds. Their love, resilience, and unwavering commitment to each other created a bond that would endure for generations to come. Together, they proved

[yarnnerdally]

A very, VERY belated birthday present for my darling @violettduchess. A fic for Reader/Matthias because we love him so much. So her original ask for a kiss fic was kissing on the dancefloor but I changed it up just a little. Enjoy, my darling!

Title: Eyes On Me

Pairing: Matthias Asbrink/MC, Matthias/Reader

Rating: T to be safe for the mention of alcohol

Tags: Fluff, romance, fem!reader, first kiss

     "Radiant.” You flush as you hear the gently whispered compliments that were murmured under the breath of the maids helping you dress for the ball. The palace staff in Achroite were interesting like that; you got on well enough with them but, as was the norm for Achroitians, they were never one to compliment someone to their face. The dress you wore probably cost more than your entire wardrobe at home (and furniture) put together. The intricately made, hand-woven lace must have taken hours upon hours to create. The boning was exquisite and surprisingly comfortable. The voluminous skirt just barely dusted the floor and was a sumptuous embroidered satin that held the barest sheen to not contrast too dramatically with the lace. Your gloves were lined with the softest cotton; was it even possible for cotton to be so delicate?

     “Miss, Prince Matthias is here to escort you to the ballroom,” your favorite maid, Agata, gently prompted you as she opened the door for the prince. You tore your gaze away from your figure in the mirror to look at Matthias, a faint flush reaching towards your décolletage. His eyes ran along your figure, ever discerning and assessing. A small frown tugged at the corner of his lips and just as you felt your heart begin to sink he stepped closer with his hand outstretched. With astonishing gentleness he found a rogue wisp of a curl that was attempting to flee and coerced it out of its loose hold to frame your face. He said nothing as he did and just barely revealed his satisfaction when the right corner of his lips pulled up in satisfaction. He stood straight again and offered his arm to you and, if you didn’t know better than to get lost in your own fantasies, it felt so… right. Natural, even.

     “Let us not be late, lest we endure my sisters’ pestering,” he murmured to you. You chuckle a little and his smile grows a little as well. Your nerves dissipated slowly as Matthias led you to the ballroom until you realized you’re about to be announced with him. With the Prince of Achroite. His hand covers yours on his arm and squeezes it gently. Your eyes met his, a quiet confidence and a warmth hiding behind the steel blue of his gaze. It filled you with such warmth that you couldn’t help but smile. He nodded and the doors opened, the head of staff announcing your arrival. You would have felt more nervous if it hadn’t been for him at your side. He led you to the middle of the floor where his two sisters and their respective partners waited. The nerves picked up again as you faced one another, preparing to dance. He whispers just loud enough for you to hear him.

     “Rosebud. Eyes on me.” The dance began and you were vastly grateful for the lessons Sariel had rushed before you left for the cold country. Your eyes locked to his and you could feel the warmth radiating into your hand despite your glove and the heat on your waist despite the gown. Maybe it was your imagination, but the way the other nobles watched and chittered at the smiles that graced both of your faces was leaving little to doubt. Not soon enough the obligation to dance is through and all too quickly Matthias is swept up into conversation. Conversation flows easier with his sisters once you’ve had water and wine. Your eyes meet his again from the far side of the room and your face warms.

     “Dear, you’re looking quite flush. Maybe a bit of fresh air would do you well, hm?” Tatyana suggested lightly. You missed the secretive look she and her older sister, Nadia, shared as you nodded. The fresh, cold air greeted you welcomingly, the air soothing the flush on your cheeks. You weren’t surprised as your thoughts wandered to Matthias, doing your best to suppress a blush as you thought of the evening as a whole. You’d only been out there for perhaps two minutes before a comforting weight was dropped onto your shoulders. Surprised, you turned to see Matthias with a smirk and realized he’d draped you in his cloak. Your cheeks burned anew from the sweet gesture.

     “Thank you,” you murmur softly. A chill had barely begun to set on your skin but that was now taken care of due to Matthias’ diligence. Your stomach flip-flopped as he looked at you intently, steel blue eyes seeming darker in the dim light of the balcony.

     “You would have begun to get cold. Your arms at least,” he spoke softly despite there being no one else around to hear. His hand trailed from your shoulder that was now covered down to your elbow as he looked pensive. “You did well tonight.” His hand moved from your elbow to your waist, drawing you closer. You smiled coquettishly and looked away from him. Maybe if you focused on the railing hard enough you could calm down your ever quickening heart rate. A spike of courage hit you and you looked back up at him.

     “Well, keeping my eyes on you did seem to help.” He moved closer and the smirk melted into a soft smile. His other hand came up to your cheek and held it gently, his thumb brushing over your flushed skin.

     “That is where they should be, Rosebud. On me,” he murmured, letting his forehead rest against yours. Your hands came to the front of his coat and clutched it gently, the brocade overlay providing a delicate texture. You leaned in together, warm lips meeting yours as your eyes closed. It was a good night, indeed.

[anonymousbeefriendfanfics]

B with Asra and Nadia mayBEE?

I'm very punny I know

Sure! I adore you and your puns!

Fandom: The Arcana

Characters: Asra & Nadia

Warnings: None

Fluff Alphabet prompt: Boo! - How do they feel about surprises, giving and receiving?

Asra

Let's be honest here - Asra lives for surprises. He has a tendency to live life one minute at a time, so if you're going to be with them, you're going to get used to spontaneity.

That said, if you hate surprises, he'll do his absolute best to avoid them, but... it still happens kinda frequently. They do try to soften the surprise element, though, and will let you know about their new ideas or plans as soon as possible.

But anyway! Assuming you're on board, Asra loves surprises. So, so much. It's practically part of their love language at this point. They're constantly bringing you little surprise gifts - "I just saw this in the market and thought of you!" - or arranging little surprises for you! You'll come home from a long day at work to find that the upper floor of the shop has been transformed into the most relaxing place he could create, with oversized pillows and the fluffiest blankets strewn everywhere, and plenty of their best tea, and incense sticks burning a soothing scent, and just... everything they could think of.

Asra's favorite part of surprises is the reaction of the person receiving them. He lives for the look of surprised excitement, the way their eyes light up and the way they smile. It's addicting, and as absent-minded as our favorite magician can be, his favorite people are often on his mind whenever they see things that said people would like.

They also just enjoy surprising people in general, like showing up unannounced to bring them lunch or just hang out, and playfully spooking people from behind or popping out from behind something. That's one thing Asra and Faust have in common - both of them enjoy games and harmless pranks, and Asra is associated with the fox for a reason! You've lost count of how many times you wake up and roll out of bed only to end up in a magical sinkhole of pillows, or slip your shoes on only to find them, somehow, made of water, or misplace a book or something only to find it in the most unexpected place... The prank wars with Asra and Faust will be epic!

As for being the one getting the surprise, Asra absolutely adores it. They'll love anything you give them, truthfully, but they're a curious one - mention you're planning something and suddenly he's like a child impatiently trying to find their present before Christmas comes. Good luck hiding it with Faust around, too, because she can slip into the tiniest of places to search. Best to keep it quiet until you're ready.

Throw a surprise party for Asra's birthday. Chances are, he might've forgotten it, too - after all, I don't imagine Asra is one to keep track of dates very well, and the calendar he's got is almost always at least a month behind whenever it actually is. Invite all their friends, make a big deal out of it. Make them feel really special for once, because he is special!! Asra might feel a little embarrassed being the center of attention, but trust me, the reminder that they're loved and appreciated is well worth it.

Also, if you can give him random little gifts?? Perfection. It'll make Asra's entire day to know that you found something and thought of him - or, even better, made something for him. Your skill level doesn't matter, so long as it's done with love, Asra will see the beauty in it and cherish it forever.

Nadia

I don't think Nadia is one for surprises, at least, not in the beginning. She's the Countess of Vesuvia, she needs everything to go smoothly and she must be on top of everything at all times. Surprises stress her out. If you'd asked her earlier, she'd tell you she hates them. 'Surprise,' to her, means some sort of prank pulled on her by one of her many sisters, or some stunt Lucio has pulled, or something being wrong that she must attempt to fix, a courtier showing up unannounced to insist upon speaking with her. All negative things, nothing good ever comes from a surprise. That is... until she meets you.

You change things for her. Showing up unannounced is no longer an annoyance that she must make time for, but a pleasant moment she wasn't expecting. Bringing her gifts isn't something that must leave her mentally scrambling for political reasons, but a completely harmless, well-meaning gesture.

She doesn't even realize her perspective on surprises has shifted until you grab her by the hand and tug her gently towards a mystery destination, cheerfully informing her you have a surprise for her. Her shoulders instinctively tense at the word, but for once, she isn't dreading what you have in store - no, this time she's eager to see what it is you've prepared, and she feels the flutter of excitement in her chest for the first time as you lead her. Perhaps it's a soothing spa day you've arranged in that incredible pool-sized bath to help her relax, perhaps you're leading her to a secluded room for a little tea date, or maybe you're leading her outside to go and gaze at nature together - whatever it is, she will surely love it, and surprise takes on a different meaning for her.

On the other hand, Nadia is one who surprises you constantly, though she prefers not to think of it that way at first. She absolutely showers you in gifts, little tokens of her affection, and she often plans things for the two of you as well, surprising you with little trips to various places and the occasional date to go somewhere more special and intimate. She's a very busy woman, so she doesn't often have the time for much in the way of event planning, but she wants your company wherever it is she's going and does her best to make it enjoyable and not just... work. Impromptu stops are very common on these little trips, as she'll see somewhere that she'd like to show you or a cute little shop and pause the journey to go explore.

Writing Masterlist 🐝 Requests Open!  Tag List 🐝 

[bleuxberri]

𝐭𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

「…how many kids they’ll have」

how many kids they’ll have

as dads/moms

finding out

telling your guys’ parents

telling the members

gender reveal

cravings

going in labor

holding the baby

baby’s first word

teaching them to walk

a/n: this is only for entertainment purposes, do not come for me for writing this! | all gifs are from pintrest

*•.¸♡ navigation. ♡¸.•*

*•.¸♡ series. ♡¸.•*

‣ summary… how many kids they’ll have & their birthdays

↺ genre… fluff, dad au

♪ listen to… magic by txt

♡ 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻;

choi min young 최민영 »january 25«

choi won young 최원영 »october 31«

♡ 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶 𝘆𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗻;

choi myung hyun 최명현 »august 15«

choi ye ji 최예지 »may 1«

choi dae hyun 최대현 »december 5«

♡ 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶 𝗯𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗴𝘆𝘂;

choi ryu jin 최류진 »may 15«

choi min gyu 최민규 »june 7«

♡ 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗲𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗻;

kang re na 강레나 »july 3«

♡ 𝗸𝗮𝗶 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗶;

nadia nari huening – jung na ri 정나리 »november 10«

bryson baekhyeon huening – jung baek hyeon 정백현 »october 21«

sabrina sooyoung huening – jung soo young 정수영 »september 18«

[alotsgonnachange]

Bloom For You

Nadia X Oc (Isabella)

2,064 words

No warnings just fluff

Happy Nadia day 😈

Isabella was banned from the palace kitchen.

Well not really banned per se, but she’d gotten in enough arguments with the chefs about her presence that all of them now knew who she was and were no longer interested in letting her use their stuff. Which wasn’t a big deal, she would make do regardless and did not particularly care what they believed. From her perspective, the kitchen was a communal place and there was certainly more than enough space for her to do what she needed to do in there without being disruptive. But the head chef was NOT having it today. Before she could even walk through the doorway she was accosted by this individual, who crossed their arms and stared at her expectantly.

“Again?”

Isabella looked down at the bundle of ingredients in her arms, not at all looking covert. She smiled sheepishly.

“I brought my own stuff this time.”

“No.”

“I’ll stay out of the way! I’ll go in a little corner by myself you won’t even hear a peep out of me! Quiet as a mouse!”

“Isabella. No.”

“What, so you’re just going to turn me away?”

“Look, I’ve already let this slide too many times.” The cook sighed and pressed their thumb to their temple, eyes squeezed shut in annoyance. “But today of all days, absolutely not.”

“What could possibly-“

“It’s the countess’ birthday.”

Oh shit.

“Today?” Isabella practically felt the blood drain from her face at this information. How could no one have told her?

“Yes. So I suggest you and I return to our respective domiciles and uh. Get working.” They adjusted their hat and brushed past her to enter the kitchen before regarding her once more, with a slightly softer look. “Talk to Portia. Everything needs to go according to plan today.”

Isabella let out a groan that was less than subtle and cursed to herself in her native tongue as she walked away. “According to plan” was everyone’s least favorite utterance in the palace. High volume and high stress days like masquerades, celebrations, visiting dignitaries and holidays were often a nuisance to palace staff. But the countess’ birthday was a whole new beast to Isabella, since this would be the first time she experienced this.

When she arrived in the seamstress’ quarters, she was surprised to see Tilly and Portia chatting in there and they seemed to perk up when Isabella entered the room. Isabella eyed them warily and placed her unused ingredients down, nodding in a brief greeting. “Buongiorno.”

“Morning, ‘bella! We were just looking for you!” Portia chirped, already armed with a clipboard, likely making preparations. “The countess wants to see you.”

Isabella blanched once again. It was barely 9 in the morning and she did not look or feel prepared to meet the countess. Tilly blinked at her reaction.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, Tilly. I’m fine.”

“Your face just went bright red.”

“Thank you, Tilly. I’m fine.” Isabella punctuated the last word by shoving a rack of dresses out of the way. Portia cleared her throat.

“It’s likely she wishes to consult about what she’ll be wearing throughout the day. For the different festivities.”

“Festivities?”

“Yeah there’s uh…” Portia squinted at the clipboard. “Brunch dedication at 11… Then croquet at noon…Then her family is arriving from Prakra at 2 and there’s a small luncheon and social that will happen in the ballroom between then and dinner.. and then THE official birthday dinner of spiced swordfish.”

“Did the countess make this schedule?” Tilly asked, examining her nails. “That sounds dreadful.”

“She’s right.” Isabella replied from behind her desk, where she jotted down some notes and measurements. “That sounds like too much. Who says she can’t just relax.”

Portia made a face, something like a cringe. “I don’t think it’s fitting either, but she did sign off on it. I think it’s tradition in the castle leftover from Lucio or something. Maybe Valerius would know.”

That bastard. Isabella shook her head and grabbed her own notebook and started heading towards the doorway. “I’ll go talk to her. Thank you, Portia. Tilly.”

__

After the third knock on the door, Isabella was slightly concerned. Hadn’t she been awake to tell Portia to summon her? She was aware that she could just wait, but at this point she was antsy and impatient so she pressed gently on the gilded door, peeking her head in. “Countess? Are you here?”

“They don’t knock in Valletta, Miss Ciccino?” The velvety voice came from behind her golden divider and there Isabella spotted a flash of fuschia colored hair. She sighed in relief.

“My apologies, countess. I did knock though. Portia mentioned you wanted to see me?” Isabella stepped into the room fully, shutting the door behind her and immediately wringing her hands. Her breath left her body as the countess stepped out from behind the divider, revealing herself to only be covered by a gauzy purple robe that was extremely short. Isabella willed herself to point her eyes at the ground, trying not to react. It was too late though as Nadia let out her musical laughter.

“Calm yourself, Isabella. It’s just us here.”

“You’re hardly dressed, countess..I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable.”

“Of course I’m hardly dressed, is that not your job?”

“I’m here now.” Isabella gulped and looked at Nadia’s face, attempting to at least appear normal and sane. “What can I help you with?”

“Here,” Nadia’s hand came to Isabella’s shoulder, leading her to the edge of her bed and placing pressure, encouraging her to sit. Isabella sat, surprised at the contact. “You look frazzled.”

“I always look like this.”

“Don’t worry, it’s in a very cute way.” Nadia smiled and perched herself next to Isabella, bumping against her arm with a slight playfulness. “I don’t want to change outfits 10 times today.”

“I don’t want you to either. Why did they give you that atrocious schedule?”

Nadia sighed, flopping back on the bed so that her hair fanned out behind her like a halo. “I do not know. And my family is supposed to be coming. They gave them two hours past noon as an arrival time which means they’ll arrive at five.” Nadia’s eyes met Isabella’s. “I don’t understand the fanfare.”

“I mean.. It is your birthday.” Isabella offered.

“Yes but..” Nadia made a face with a slight sadness tinged in. “I don’t want to celebrate this day the way Lucio did. I wanted to sleep in and enjoy maybe one extravagant meal. Much of this feels unprompted.”

“Well if it makes you feel better, the kitchen seems to be preparing something extravagant?”

“They kicked you out again?”

“Si.”

“Ah, pity.” Nadia rolled onto her side so that she was propped up on one arm, facing Isabella. “I was hoping you would make me some of that olive oil cake like last time. With the lemon slices on top.”

“I wanted to!” Isabella cried, balling her fists. “I think the chef hates me!”

Nadia laughed again, this time barely catching her breath as she replied between gasps. “No…no… I think they’re just scared of you, dear.”

“Scared I'll do what? Make something delicious?”

“I think they don’t want to mess with a bold Venterrean woman on a mission.”

“I’m bold. Is that a compliment or an insult, countess?”

“I only ever give you compliments, my dear.” Nadia reached up with a manicured hand to tuck a piece of stray hair behind Isabella's ear. The motion made her want to burst into tears but she managed a pained smile. “And I thought I told you to just call me Nadia?”

“Yes, I know. I just..” use formality because I am terrified.

“Lay down with me.” Nadia patted the space behind Isabella, who blinked in response.

“Are you sure?”

Nadia responded with an eyeroll and unceremoniously grabbed the back of her collar and yanked her down onto the plush sheets. Isabella cackled.

“I can’t believe you just did that!”

“Well believe it.” Nadia laughed along with her and after the moment passed, the two sighed. Isabella finally turned from where her eyes were previously fixed on the ceiling and faced Nadia, who was even more beautiful up close. She desperately wished to tell her this, but her lips remained glued shut. Nadia smiled at her and she gulped. She said the only thing she could think to say in an intimate moment like this.

“I think you should tell everyone to fuck off today.”

Nadia snorted. “Even you?”

Isabella nodded. “Especially me. I’ve bothered the chefs enough. But I can provide you with whatever you need, clothing wise at least.”

Nadia seemed to ponder the suggestion for a moment before speaking up once more “I think you’re right at least partially. I probably shouldn’t tell them to ‘fuck off’ though.”

“That’s fine. I’ll do it for you.”

“My hero!” Nadia did a dramatic flourish with her arms in the air before curling her hands to her face and fluttering her eyelashes at Isabella who nearly choked at the motion.

“What was that?”

“Haven’t you ever seen a theatre production where the damsel does that when the hero saves her?”

“Maybe? But what the hell kind of theatre allows for such cheesy acting practices?”

“Certainly the ones Julian frequents.”

A knock on the door shakes both of them from their reverie and Isabella sighed and approached the door, meeting eyes with Nadia who waved them in. Thankfully it was just Portia who had a sly smile on her face when she noticed the moods of the two women.

“Isabella, countess, have you decided on outfits?”

“Actually-“ Isabella began to speak but Nadia interrupted her.

“Actually!” Nadia stood from where she laid on the bed and grabbed a second, thicker robe to cover herself as she approached Portia. “Portia, I have consulted with some very intelligent palace staff and I would like to change the schedule for today. Tonight’s dinner shall remain, but hold off on the rest of the festivities.” She turned to Isabella and winked. “Or, of you feel so inclined, you can tell them to ‘fuck off.’”

“Nadia!” Isabella covered her mouth with a hand, turning red once more.

Portia grinned and said nothing in response, scribbling something on her clipboard and looking between the two. “Sounds like a plan. Can I get you anything in the meantime? Or uh.. you two!” Portia winked at Isabella who groaned and covered her face with her hands.

“Yes. Get the Golden Goose if you could, please. And take the rest of the day off.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice! I’ll have a servant bring one by! Happy birthday, Nadia!” Portia was already heading towards the kitchen and out of earshot, and Nadia closed the door, seeming triumphant. She turned to Isabella with a mischievous smile.

“How was that?”

“Phenomenal.” Isabella clapped celebratorily as Nadia gave an equally goofy bow in response. Her laughter died as soon as Nadia approached her again, this time standing over her with mere inches between them. “Nadia?”

“Stay with me today.” Nadia reached a manicured hand up to tilt Isabella’s chin towards her a bit. Isabella tensed but stared back, unable to muster a single word and almost entirely focused on the shape of her lips. “Please?”

Isabella responded with a frantic nod which made Nadia laugh and pull away, patting the top of her head. “How are you still so nervous around me?”

“I-I’m trying not to be!” Isabella replied indignantly, turning away to glare at a random spot on the floor. “Of course I’ll react if someone so beautiful comes so close to my face!”

“I’m just teasing, dear.” Nadia responded with a soft smile, beckoning Isabella into her arms, to which she shyly allowed the taller woman to wrap her arms around her in a warm embrace that made her heart pound. After a few moments of silence, she exhaled when she felt Nadia kiss the top of her head ever so gently. As they stood still in the room, the sun began to beam through Nadia’s gilded windows. Isabella watched as the hydrangeas that bloomed by the windowsill grew and unfurled before her eyes, most likely reflecting her current emotional state.

Nadia spoke, her voice rumbling against where Isabella’s ear was pressed to her neck. “Your magic is beautiful.”

Isabella smiled a bit. “I can make them bloom for you whenever you like. Happy birthday, Nadia.”

[shadow--writer]

Happy birthday! May I ask for the main 3 celebrating the MC's birthday? GN please? Thanks!

Of course you may <3. And thank you for the birthday wishes! I know it’s been a wee bit since my birthday and you sending this in, but I appreciate it! 

Julian, Asra, Nadia x MC birthday celebrations

~~~~

Julian

He loves celebrating your birthday with you, and is always super sweet about it 

Bringing you breakfast in bed (with Maz’s help of course <3) and will just sit and talk with you as you eat

He’s been planning what to do for your birthday for a little while now, taking you two to your favourite spots around town 

Stopping by the baker for a quick snack, saying hello to friends 

He’s very sweet and dramatic the whole day, picking out little trinkets and presents for you as you shop around for a bit 

Will do anything you want to do, and do his best to take you anywhere around town you want to go 

Sets up a little show at the theatre before dinner, the two of you getting dressed up and giggly as you watch it 

It’s a sweet thing, about the raven and the witch, defeating a god, and being together (*wink wink*) I wonder who could’ve possible written it...

After he takes you to dinner and then the dock 

Staring out at the water and the island that was more of a dull ache by this point, he softly whispers that he loves you

While holding a little cake he made without any help. The frosting is a bit messy, the cake saggy and crumbly. The candle half melted for it was all he could find 

But it’s so sweet you can’t help but almost cry, hugging him so tightly and letting out soft murmurs of ‘I love you’s

You fall asleep warm and content in his arms, with him kissing the top of your head

The cake, even with the messiness, was delicious

Asra

Asra is the type to wake you up on your birthday by jumping into bed and kissing you sloppily 

Loud wet kisses against your face and neck and chest, making you wake with a start and fall into giggles

Slow early morning kisses while they tell you all the fun things you two are going to do for your birthday 

The house smells sweet, like vanilla and sugar, the air holding a thickness to it that makes you feel like you’re on cloud nine

Faust curling around your shoulders as he hands you a sweet tea with still warm pumpkin bread, doing a little happy wiggle 

He can’t resist giving you some of your gifts early, lighting up and wiggling as you open them

Of course, as the day goes on they give you little ones randomly, just to see you giggle and kiss his cheek 

Takes you sightseeing, holding your hand and letting your arms swing as you two chatter on excitedly

Most of your day takes place at home, with little scavenger hunts to find presents and sweets, and spending time warm in one another’s company 

You help them make dinner, them wrapping their arms around you and leading you into a soft yet sloppy dance around the kitchen 

Smears frosting from your cake on your nose to kiss it off, entangling your fingers together 

Falling asleep perfectly happy with them slurring their ‘I love you’ with a voice thick with sleep

Kissing their neck and murmuring ‘I love you’ back as you slowly drift off, Faust curled up around on the pillow above you two 

Nadia

One would think Nadia would throw a party and have a celebration, but she prefers the soft and sweet morning, waking up to your lovely face 

The two of you sneaking out of the palace as dawn touches the dew turned earth, holding hands with whispered giggles 

Going out of the city for once, to enjoy the beauty of nature in one another’s company

Relaxing in the sun on a picnic, picking flowers and putting them behind Nadia’s ears and twined in her hair

Nadia stumbling into a cold creek and dragging you in with her

Screams from cold water and giggles as you two splash one another, getting muddy and soaked

Going back to the palace chilled to the bone and still laughing, bent over and holding one another

Nadia kissing you softly in front of the fire as you two are snuggled under a blanket, skin pressed against skin 

Laughter as you eat dinner and cake, opening gifts and just talking with her 

Her lips tasting sweet like buttercream and skin as soft and cold as snow, pressed against one another with soaking wet hair 

Soft ‘I love you’s said between kisses and bites of cake (that she probably feeds you) 

Falling asleep like that, in front of the fire, your head on her shoulder and her head on yours, your hands clasped

[apprenticeofcups]

Deathday Cake [The Arcana 💐]

my @fieldsofvesuvia gift for @mina-mauveine! Baking fluffy time with Nadia & Portia, inspired by The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell. 

“What…are you wearing?” Halfway through tying on her apron, Portia stopped and stared. The soft, floral shirtwaist dress was unlike anything and everything else in Nadia’s wardrobe, a sunny pear-color painstakingly detailed with branches of damask-red and pink bleeding-heart blossoms and tiny sprigs of white heather. With a wide scoop neck, small rounded lapels, and short little cap-sleeves, it was at once more and less revealing than her usual long-and-flowing, translucent ensembles, and she wore a small, ruffled waist-apron over the knee-length skirt the same shade of rosy red as the flowers on her dress.

Perplexed, Nadia ran a hand over her skirt, checking the bow she’d tied her apron straps into. “What do you think? I had it commissioned just for today.”

“I knew you were excited about your baking lesson, but…” Holding her hair ribbon in her mouth, Portia twisted her bushy ginger curls into the tightest bun she could manage. One of them sprung obstinately free the minute she got it tied. “I didn’t realize it was that special.”

“You suggested my usual outfits may not be suited for the kitchen,” Nadia admitted, smoothing her lapels and preening. “This was inspired by your choice of dress in the kitchen, instead.” She swayed a little, letting the skirt swish around her legs.

“It’s, um—” Swallowing, Portia went to wash her hands. “—Very inspired.” Surreptitiously, she splashed a little water on her face, hoping to chase away the flush of pink on her freckled cheeks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much of your, um, legs before, milady.”

Portia, darling…” With a small smile, Nadia reached up to check her own hair, making sure the long, long violet tresses were safely braided up and away. “It is just the two of us, if you’d rather do away with all the ‘lady’ nonsense. After all—” Curiously, she leaned over the kitchen counter, sneaking a peek at the recipes laid out on pages and pages of Portia’s neat, bubbly handwriting. “—for the rest of the day, I am your sous-boulangère. Your lovely assistant.”

With a giggle, Portia turned, drying her hands on her sweet-pea-embroidered apron and giving her a wink. “You can say that again. Emphasis on lovely.”

After three hours of baking, Nadia didn’t feel so lovely. Portia had teased her about wearing heels, but her simple pumps were the least of her worries—the kitchen was hot, once all those burners got going, and she didn’t have the luxury of cooling off in the ice-lined walk-in like their many tasty pastry components. Her shoulder was sore from mixing, hands clumsy with sweat, fingers cramping from chopping, measuring, folding, pinching, and on and on and on. Portia was just as sweaty, red-faced from the heat, and buzzing around the kitchen like a little ginger bee, checking pans and stirring pots and marking their progress on her unruly heap of recipe sheets. For a head chef, she didn’t do much barking of orders, rather chirped them, and heaped on the praise for everything Nadia handed her, offering a gentle correction here and there where her inexperienced measurements were a little less than precise, or her chop was a little rough.

Dabbing at her forehead with a floral-patterned dishcloth, Nadia felt around the fine granite counter for the recipe card. “How many walnuts for the coffee cake?”

“Coffee-n cake,” Portia reminded her, beaming and shaking flour off her apron. “Two scoops should do it. Big ones.”

Taking down a clean, indigo-ceramic bowl, Nadia laughed, shaking her head as she dug into the sack of walnuts with a silver scoop. “I must admit, I still find the idea of this ‘deathday’ celebration a bit…”

“Freaky?” Portia suggested.

“…Irreverent?” She winced. “I would think the doctor should like to forget his execution and everything surrounding it as quickly as possible.” Pensively, she poured a handful of nuts onto the cutting board and reached for a knife, sleek and sharp with a mother-of-pearl handle. “Though I never turn down an excuse for a party—particularly not a themed party—and I suppose everyone copes in their own way.”

“Mm-hmm.” Disappearing momentarily into the icebox to put up a bowl of chiffon-colored pastry cream, Portia returned with a huge, custom-made cake pan, as long as she was an at least two feet across, made of bright new copper beaten into the shape of a coffin. “The way I see it, none of us are ever gonna forget it. And anniversaries can be…hard.” She sighed, balancing the coffin-pan on one hip and clearing a space on the counter. “Might as well try and turn it into a happy memory.” Heaving the pan onto the counter, she gave a self-satisfied smile, hands on her hips. “Maybe even a sweet one.”

It took both of them to lift the coffin-cake into the oven, once the five-foot frame was filled with batter, walnuts, and gooey strips of cinnamon, sugar, and butter. Portia wound a timer shaped like a baby-pink owl for an hour, and they retired to the salon for a much-needed break. Leaning back on a lavender settee, Nadia found her favorite lace fan stuck between the cushions and took turns fanning Portia and herself while Portia perched on a lemon-colored ottoman and plotted over her recipe cards.

“Once we add the crumble, the rest of the bake should take us right up to the party, with an hour margin to cool it and flip it…Selasi’s bringing iced tea and the pumpkin-bread nooses…so all we have to make are these!” With a grand flourish and a sparkle in her eye, she turned over a recipe page to reveal a sketch in red pencil of a squat little pastry-thing with a drizzle and pointy decorations.

Nadia laughed, covering her mouth with her fan. “Are those…crème-puff Hanged Men?”

“Yep! Actually, they’re Hanged-Man réligeuses, but it doesn’t really matter.” Eagerly, Portia passed her the paper, bubbling with excitement at her own creativity. “A little choux bun on a big choux bun, dipped in black dark chocolate, with cherry-syrup ropes and a little chocolate beak.” She bounced on her ottoman. “The eyes are espresso beans.”

“Oh, Portia, they’re wonderful—” Looking over the pastry-raven diagram, Nadia cocked an eyebrow. “…What if they were upside-down?”

“Oh, that would be perfect, but—” Portia made a face. “I’d be worried they’d all fall over.”

“Not if we filled the heads with something thicker and heavier than the bottoms.” Experimentally, Nadia turned the diagram over, thinking. “I’m not sure if that’s possible, of course…”

“It…actually is. Whipped cream, maybe buttercream instead of crème pat—” With a mischievous smile, Portia reached for the recipe. “Look at you giving me the baking lesson.”

[artanddaddyissues]

The M6 with their children <3

IM SOBBING THIS IS SO CUTE

Heads up: MC text is yellow, PURE fluff, they/them pronouns for the kiddos, the Li's partners have fem pronouns <3

If you want some more baby content, go here! I will fuel your baby fever 😩

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- EXTREMELY loving parent <3

- if you thought Asra was caring and worried towards you, just imagine them with your kid.

- "You SCRAPED your KNEE? MC! OUR CHILD IS DYING!" "Asra no-"

- frantic healing spells and healing magic are always on the ready, since your child is very, very curious.

- constantly checking up on their child, making sure that kid is living their best life.

- Asra raises them with magic and holds back tears when they nail a new spell.

- "Yes! I'm so proud of you, that was perfect!" "Can I try another? "Oh my- I could cry." "But you are crying-"

- Absolutely IN AWE with the life he helped to create

- Doesn't believe that somebody as... messy... as himself, could create something so perfect.

- "Look at that! they've got my eyes."

- Julian is the proudest, of proud dads. he will take any chance he gets to boast about his kid

- "MC! GET OVER HERE THEY'RE STANDING UP!"

- Records everything in a notebook, filling it with drawings and pages and pages of notes, studying behaviour and keeping memories.

- Since the baby, he's put himself on strict schedule. He gave himself tasks and laid out everything he'll do with the kid up until the age of 16.

- "Hey papa, can we buy a dog?" "Well, your mama will probably say no." "So, then we dont buy one?" "You're right, we steal one!" "ILYA."

- MOTHER NADIA >

- Ultimate nurturer

- She will spoil this kid rotten and you have no say in this.

- She will put them in the best schools in all of Vesuvia

- Will teach them how to ride horses

- Will teach them how to create their own magical gate while you teach them magic

- When the baby was born, she secretly started planning all their birthday gifts up until they were an adult and began a photo album

- Nadia would take her kid on many royal engagements, to show them what it takes to be a good leader

- "But mom..." "I'm not hearing it now dear, we're already on the road. Plus, these nobles frustrate me so later, we can talk about them over tea." "Okay, that doesn't sound so bad now."

- “hey kid come here” “Dad I have a name-” “yeah but kid is easier. Want to go bother mom?” “Absolutely I do.”

- They are your worst enemies. Some Godforsaken tag team of dueling in the halls, painting on the empty walls, pranking the staff, swimming in the fountain and so, so much more.

- This kid grows up half you and half Lucio

- He doesn't waste a minute to start teaching the kid how to survive in the wild, like his mother did.

- Many people, including yourself thought that Lucio would be careless and teach his kid how to party first but it turns out that something in him changed with a kid.

- "My mama told me to never run from musk bears but they smell awful so take it from me and run." "Oka-" "Always find out which way the wind is blowing, it might mess up your shots." "Alrigh-" "when you're in the cold, don't stop moving. Keep moving, keep your hands close to you, make sure you maintain a-" "Dad please... It's literally summer."

- The equivalent of mother nature to her child.

- As soon as the baby was born, Portia got another cat for the baby and soon enough they became best friends.

- She teaches her kid about the seas, the stars, and gardening. Especially gardening.

- Your kid is feisty and very, very manipulative.

"But-" "Just because they're cute, doesn't mean they can have-" "M/C LOOK AT THEM."

- Portia adores her little baby and carries them around on her back in a scarf / sash

- She wastes no time in teaching them how to read and write.

- 100% would make flashcards and sit down with the baby for hours

- Trips to Nevivon skyrocket because Portia is such a proud mama.

- She also needs help taking care of a baby because she only knows cats and plants

- "What does it mean when they constantly brings me gifts?" "They hang out with their cat a lot.” "Oh-"

- Portia is the body positive queen <3 this baby will grow up so confident because of the constant love of their mamas <3

- Lowkey a millennial mom. Very protective over her kid

- "M/C what do i do?"

- Muriel is very nurturing and patient

- Lets the baby roll around in dirt, play with sticks, ride Inanna like a pony

- The fun / protective dad

- Muriel will do anything to protect his baby

- He loves to hold his kid

- "Muriel, they're 10-" "Still small enough for me to carry."

- By the time the kid is 12, they can survive completely off the grid. no questions asked.

- Muriel's weakness is his child's smile. Anytime this kid smiles or laughs, he gives in.

- Very much the, "I don't need it, they do." type of dad

- His child is very curious and always wants to take him on little trips and adventures through the city. As much as Muriel complains, he secretly loves it.

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

The Arcana HCs: MC and M6 in animal onesies

~ some fluff/crack because I'm tired and could use the giggly comfort characters. enjoy, my loves, and thank you for the many birthday wishes! You make my days brighter :) - brainrot ~

- All onesies chosen according to the character's canon fursonas. Unless your MC has a familiar/fursona, in these HCs they are wearing a dog onesie like Scout -

Julian

A raven onesie:

Went out and bought one for himself as soon as he saw you in yours

Thinks it's so much fun and will wear his with you on cozy, silly nights, when you've both finished your day early and want to let loose without the hassle of going out

Likes to mimic Malak in real time, much to the familiar's annoyance

Likes to recite the Vesuvian equivalent of Edgar Allan Poe while posing theatrically by the fire

Will only think to wear his if he sees you wearing yours

Asra

A fox onesie, except they've painted theirs with neon green flowers:

He already had his, he bought one for you after the two of you got together

Leaves the top half unbuttoned, no matter how cold it is

They'll wait until the shop is closed, appear in the doorway wearing it with their "come hither" face, and then throw a pillow and your onesie in your face

He has broken multiple glass bottles on the shelf by doing this, and forgets and does it again every. single. time

Cue a chase and pillow fight around the shop until you both collapse

Nadia

An owl onesie, but pastel purple:

The idea had never occurred to her to wear a onesie

Until she saw you wearing yours and thought it was adorable

She never wore one herself until you bought one for her and then she caved and put it on

Uses it like loungewear, it's exceptionally comfortable and it makes you extra cuddly

Never wears it where someone else could see her. Not the guards, not Portia, not Chandra (she doesn't want her to feel mocked), and certainly not any members of her family. For your eyes only

Muriel

A bear onesie:

You noticed him eyeing yours, so you got him one

You had to have it custom made to be roomy enough for a giant like him

He loves it. First, because you got it for him, second, because he matches you, third, because it makes him less scary, and fourth, because it's comfy and it actually fits him without being tight!!!

As soon as the weather's cool enough to wear it without sweating, he's wearing it almost every night

Keeps it in pristine condition, loves to snuggle you when you're both wearing them

Portia

A cat onesie, but with Pepi's pattern:

She bought both of your onesies in the same shopping trip

She spotted yours first, put it in her cart, and went looking for one to match you

Wears it unironically almost every night. It's cute! It's comfy! It's warm and cozy! It's perfect for tickle and snuggle attacks!

Her onesie is ... well loved. And needs to be regularly replaced from how fiercely she loves it

It's got sauce stains on the hood, mud on the cuffs, and cat hair all over

It's coming apart at the seams and it's perfect

Lucio

A goat onesie, with red accents instead of pink:

You bought one for yourself for the colder trips, and then one for him as a gag gift

You forgot to tell him that is was a gag gift and he's too delighted that you bought something (because he's usually the bigger spender) and you picked it out for him and you match!!!

Briefly offended by the animal choice

Regularly suggests that you wear the onesies regardless of the weather

Gets loudly defensive if he accidentally mentions them in front of anyone else

It's in tatters already from Mercedes and Melchior's antics

[beanswrites]

Masterlist ♡︎

A list of all my fics and works! Thanks for reading &lt;3

Fandoms I write for:

The Arcana - only for Muriel, Asra and Julian

Miraculous Ladybug - only Marinette & Adrian/Ladybug & Chat Noir (any versions of this ship)

Spiderman (Spiderverse)

Powerpuff Girls - only PPGZ x RRBZ

Under The Oak Tree

Greek Mythology/Punderworld/Lore Olympus - mostly Hades & Persephone

Winx club - all canon couples

Genshin Impact - mostly just the guys

The Arcana:

Fanfics:

"Of Cupcakes And Kisses" - Muriel x MC

"When The Sun Loves The Moon" - Nadia x MC

"The Game Master" - Nadia x MC

"Hold My Love" - Nadia x MC

"The Fear Of Being Without You" - Nadia x MC

"A Second Chance I Didn't Want" - Asra x MC

"The Special Tea" - Asra x MC

"Eggs With A Side Of Affection" - Nadia x OC, Astraeus

"Negotiating With Death" - Asra x MC

"My Nadi" - Nadia x MC

"Three's A Party" - Nadia x Asra x MC

"Happy Birthday, Nadia!" - Nadia x MC

"Been Alone For Far Too Long" - Asra x Julian

"The Way You Talk, The Sounds You Make" - Nadia x MC (nsfw)

__

Headcanons:

Asra Alnazar - Fluff

Julian Devorak - Fluff

Nadia Satrinava - Fluff

Julian Devorak - When he's sleepy

Modern! AU for The Main 6

Nadia Satrinava - More Fluff

Valentine's Day Special

Comforting you when you feel insecure

Montag Morgasson (Count Lucio) - Fluff

Reacting to you being heavily injured

Main 6 as MHA Pro-heroes

Wikipedia Trivia Facts, Asra

Holding you hand

Main 6 as pirates

__

Drabbles:

Imagine The Arcana Characters Being Jealous

Mine - Nadia x MC (nsfw)

Something There - Asra x Julian (fluff)

Taking Care Of You - Julian x MC (fluff)

-

My Hero Academia:

Fanfics:

"My Valentine" - Hawks x Reader

"Hold Me Closer" - Katsuki Bakugo x Reader

"Care When He Doesn't" - Bakusquad Boys x Reader

"Picky Eater" - Katsuki Bakugo x Reader

"Insecurities" Part 1 - Eijiro Kirishima x Reader

"The Mouse and The Hawk" - Hawks x Reader

__

Headcanons:

Valentine's Day Special

Holiday Special

__

Drabbles:

Imagine MHA Boys Getting Jealous

-

Genshin Impact:

Headcanons:

Genshin Men Confessing Their Feelings To You

Holiday Special

-

Miraculous Ladybug:

Drabbles:

From The Horns To The Hooves - Nathaniel x Marc

-

Spiderman (Spiderverse):

Drabbles:

Who I Should've Been - Peter B. Parker x Reader

Always Keeping You Safe - Peter B. Parker x Reader

At The Brink Of Dawn - Peter B. Parker x Reader

Ao3 Masterlist

fics exclusively on Ao3 &lt;3

a little guide:

unfinished fic - ongoing, i'm still writing it

finished fic - finalized, has an end

cancelled fic - not finished and not planning to, doesn't have an end

*nothing next to the fic* - one shot

Greek Mythology:

Fanfics:

Worship of Imperfection (unfinished) - Hades x Persephone

Powerpuff Girls:

Fanfics:

Hate How I Don't Hate You (unfinished) - PPGZ x RRBZ

Secret Wishes, Hopeful Yearning - Blossom x Brick

When The Nights Are Hard (unfinished) - PPGZ x RRBZ

Under The Oak Tree:

Fanfics:

Moments Unwritten (unfinished) - Riftan Calypso x Maximillian Calypso

Frozen:

Fanfics:

If The Cabin Walls Could Talk (finished) - Kristoff Bjorgman x Princess Anna

[stardustincarnate]

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU // Asra x Reader

word count : 1568

genre : fluff

summary : neither of them had believed in such a thing called love at first sight, but perhaps their perception happened to have changed during that one unforgettable night.

a / n : happy new year everyone! i haven't written something in a while so this may be a bit rusty—but i'm glad i got to welcome 2022 by writing about the loml 😙✌️ i hope you enjoy! ♡

The night of the masquerade. Vesuvia's most awaited event every year, it finally came. Ubiquitous were revellers, patently enjoying taking a sip of their expensive red wine and indulging into its pleasant intoxication, chattering-either serving very, very hot tea or talking about the most arbitrary things-with a bunch of fellows, or merely being curious about the booths the creative folks were to offer at the time of the year.

Curious, just like a certain person who was supposed to look after their Aunt's shop-but what were they doing instead? Their feet wandered off from one booth to another, eyes full of wonder darting at a speed which one could not even begin to comprehend, it seemed. With their lips curved in utter awe, one would think that it was their birthday at the time-or something even better.

But what could they do? The masquerade was [Y/N]'s favorite event-yes, more than their own birthday! There was just something magical about the masquerade. Familiar faces, unfamiliar ones, the young or the old-everyone's having fun! And of course their infectious joy didn't spare [Y/N], so it was certainly an event to look forward to.

'Where to, where to...' [Y/N] thought, stopping their tracks. Just then, the sound of the trumpet was heard, followed by the rambling, rowdy crowd parting to make way for the sleek, regal carriage which carried the Count and Countess of Vesuvia.

Waving at the now roaring throng while clad in sanguine silk, Count Lucio stood out like a pompous pimple-at least to [Y/N]'s eyes. They never liked the obnoxious Count. The only thing they liked about him were the parties he threw, which included the masquerade.

Feeling like they could get a headache from staring at the Count alone, [Y/N] averted their eyes to the ever-so charming Countess, Nadia Satrinava. Even the way she tilted her head and moved her delicate fingers-it was all regal, and it was so natural for her to do. No wonder. She was born to be a countess. Smiling warmly at the cheering crowd, her eyes met [Y/N]'s. They did not waste the opportunity to wave at her with a beam, and the kind Countess waved back, just as the carriage passed [Y/N]'s area, revealing the group of revellers on the other side.

Moving his curly, unkempt bangs out of his sight, Asra's eyes randomly landed on a particular person in the throng at the other side. They were still looking at the moving carriage with amusement, looking candid, with the wind slowly blowing their hair back.

Only a few seconds after were his amethyst irides met by the person he was just looking at. The noises from the crowd seemed to have evaporated. The masquerade, the rowdy revellers-it all seemed like some distant dream as him and the beautiful stranger exchanged a long, meaningful stare that without a doubt stirred feelings within him.

Asra clutched his clothes, his heart thunderously beating against his chest. They looked so beautiful, he thought. They looked just like a long, distant, forgotten dream which just, by then, after a very long time, resurfaced back into his memory. Déjà vu, was it? And yet Asra was sure that him and the stranger had never met before. Perhaps, perchance-in another life-but he didn't delve in that thought-or at least he didn't have the time to do so, as he had already lost the pretty stranger amidst the now moving crowd.

Perhaps he could see them again. Vesuvia wasn't that huge, after all. Unless they were only visiting and came from another place? That would be... unfortunate.

What was that feeling that left him robbed of words? The eye contact-its impact was immense for him. Did the pretty stranger felt the same thing he did? He marveled about.

Just then, Asra remembered that he did have a job to do in the first place. Now that the crowd was back to being busy, he rushed back to his stall, which was in front of a seemingly mystical shop. No one had tried to rob his crafts, that was good.

That day was one of the rare days in which his small business bloomed. Asra was quite the crafty one, and as an orphan, he made use of that talent to feed himself and his one and only introverted best friend, Muriel. He had pleaded the latter to join him this time-but as usual, the answer was a grumpy no.

"Wow, these look so amazing! Did you make them all?"

Snapped out of his daydreams, Asra looked up, a familiar face greeting him.

It was the beautiful stranger whose name he never got.

Was it trouvaille? His mind said so. He began to once again get so lost in those splendid eyes that he had forgotten to answer their question.

[Y/N] blushed. They didn't think that Asra had noticed that he was actually smiling at them, a dreamy look on his face as he stared up at them. His eyes were pulchritudinous, they thought. And they could've drowned in their unceasing beauty.

"Erm-I-"

The door from the shop behind Asra's stall opened. And, oh, just their luck, [Y/N]'s aunt easily found them. Hands on her hips, she said, "Where have you been?"

"Ehehe.. I got.. a tad distracted! But I'm here now-I brought all that you've asked me to."

[Y/N] looked at Asra apologetically before tiptoeing towards their aunt, handing them a bag full of the necessities she asked of them. As soon as their aunt had gone back inside, [Y/N] went back to the curious stall of the curious stranger from earlier.

"Sorry!"

"It's okay. Don't worry."

Asra wanted to say more-he had a lot to say, in fact-but he wasn't sure where to begin. All he could hear amidst the unyielding noise was the sound of adrenaline rushing within him. He quickly collected himself. Perhaps he could start by asking their name.

"What's your name?"

They both asked in unison.

They laughed, and for minutes went on insisting the other to go first. In the end, Asra won the battle.

"My name's [Y/N]. Now you go and tell me yours."

"I'm Asra. It's a pleasure to meet you, [Y/N]!"

He smiled brightly, his smile akin to the morning sunshine, and offered his hand, and the feeling was soft against [Y/N]'s own hand. They tried valiantly to hide their intensifying blush.

"Asra... What a delightful name, for a delightful person."

They smiled, though a bit restrained as to not show their immense excitement in finally talking to the person they had been thinking of ever since they had exchanged eye contacts.

"I was wondering if you made them all, the masks? They are extraordinary!"

Warm colors began to bloom on Asra's cheeks. It was his turn to hide his blush now.

"I'm glad you like them! And yes-I make and sell them. It's what I do for a living."

"You are so talented! No kidding-these are amazing! How much do you sell them? I've gotta have one! Or at least two. There is so much creativity in each one of them, Asra!"

"I-Well, thank you. Would you like to have one? You can pick whatever you like, [Y/N]."

[Y/N] began scanning the table for the one they thought would fit them perfectly. Gold, or silver? Blue-perhaps chartreuse? Ah! How were they supposed to choose just one when they all looked extremely beauteous? Asra could sense their dilemma, and then remembered something that could help.

"Oh wait! If you can't choose what you like best, I have this one. Wait, let me just find it... Aha!"

Asra fumbled his bag and took out what seemed like the most mesmerizing mask to [Y/N]'s eyes. He handed it out to them, their fingers gently touching in the process. It was short, yet Asra relished the feeling. [Y/N] gaped at all the intricate details. Surely, this must've taken him lots of time to make!

[Y/N] was utterly speechless, but that reaction alone was enough to make an even redder blush creep up to Asra's cheeks.

"This is so.. wow. I can't even imagine the amount of time it took! I love it!"

About to find the payment in their pocket, Asra immediately stopped them and shook his head.

"You don't have to pay; it's my gift for you."

"But you worked so hard for this! I-I can't let myself have this for free!"

"No! You needn't worry. I insist. It's my gift, okay, [Y/N]?"

"A gift for me? You are truly kind, Asra. In that case, I don't have the rights to refuse! But... might I know why?"

"Well..."

Why, indeed?

Asra smiled, and their eyes met once again.

"There's just something about you."

Something about me, huh? [Y/N] thought. And they could say the same thing about him. Because indeed, there was something about him. Something magical, something enthralling, and something that made them want to get to know him even more.

Neither of them had believed in such a thing called love at first sight, but perhaps their perception happened to have changed during that one unforgettable night.