they come first.

“What’s going on?” he demanded. “The usual, old man,” I replied cheerily. “Danger, insane plans... you know, the stuff that runs in our family.” Anya Castillo. One of the many. Castillo's, I mean. There's no other Anya out there.

[anya-castillo]

@fvkroman

[fvkroman-blog]

Roman had always been observant, and he didn’t miss the fleeting look on the girl’s face as she turned around. She looked… Sad, almost. She hadn’t even spoken to him yet, though, so there was no reason for anything he said to upset her. He was used to offending people - he didn’t mince words and he rarely tiptoed around a subject to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. Still, having recently arrived at the castle, he was trying to play nice.

Before he had time to really question it, the look on her face was gone, and she was speaking to him. The first thing he noticed, as sentimental as it was, was how beautiful she was. Even in a casual setting, with no one to impress, she stood out. He could imagine her walking into a room, all dressed up. All eyes in the room would be on her. He snapped himself out of that fantasy, returning to address her once again.

“Sadly, as a guardian, I’m stuck here. That could be my backup plan if I break both my arms or something, though,” he offered with a lopsided grin. “Are you a guardian, too?” he asked. He wasn’t sure why, but he had a gut feeling that his guess was correct.

[anya-castillo]

        Her breath was caught in her chest as she masked her anxiety the best way that she could. Would he notice the burn on his shoulder? Would he realize its meaning? Roman seemed not to notice anything different though, because he only replied to her with a joke. Anya cracked a smile as she snorted out a laugh without realizing it. “You should. I’m telling you, it’s a talent of a lifetime,” she joked right back. 

How surprising. Not only he stood right in front of her and she could see him and talk to him, she was already joking with him---one of the things she thought she’d lost forever. It was beyond...bizarre, seeing him like this; carefree. She’d seen him at his best, and at his worst as the Castillo curse had hit upon them. It’d been a while since she’d heard him rain on her with all of his jokes and teasing lines.  “Yeah. Is it that obvious? Not that I ever doubted I look as badass as I am.” In reality, she was more of a novice and quite clumsy, but it was never too early for some bragging. Anything to keep him talking back to her. Anything to keep him smiling.

[andersonkelley]

   ANDY TOOK THE other’s hand and winked at his company. “Come on, check this out. It’s really funny, I swear.”

[anya-castillo]

“Alright...” Anya mumbled as she hesitantly followed Andy. “Just promise me that all of this,” she motioned with her free forefinger to his face and the hand-holding “isn’t your definition of the second base, ‘cause let me tell you, that’s a little different in my book.”

[healercyril]

[anya-castillo]

“------Hey, is that my ice cream cone?”

[guardianxemma-blog]

[anya-castillo]

“---Because that’s not creepy at all. Is there a chance here to bargain for my life, or..?”

[fvkroman-blog]

Roman thought for a second. “Whatever you do for fun normally, I guess. I mean, no skydiving or anything too crazy, but there’s television, wifi… Usually you can find other guardians in the gym if you feel like punching something. There’s a pool, too.” He paused, breaking into a smile. “I sound like an advertisement. Still, I don’t really know. I haven’t been here for a long time.”

[anya-castillo]

      Anya didn’t hear more than a word that came out of the man’s mouth. He was standing behind her, and yet... That voice... She’d recognize it anywhere in the world. 

Roman. 

How many nights did she spend praying that he’d never get to the castle, and how many that she’d see him again as soon as possible? The rational part of hers knew that it was crucial that they never crossed paths again. But the other one, the one that her heart led... Anya couldn’t catch her own breath. She wished she could just keep her back on him and never turn around. Knowing him, that’d only cause him to get suspicious. After all, he didn’t know her. Or, at least, he didn’t remember he once did. 

Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her pulse that beat crazily in her chest, the brunette sniffed once and blinked to try and remove her already watery eyes. She plastered a smile on her face, and turned to face him as she said “Well, I don’t know what you’re doing here, but maybe you should give the whole advertising thing a shot. That was really good.” Naturally, she felt the burn on the back of her nape, and she knew that it was because her soulmate tattoo was blazing with light. Unlike most people in the castle, she’d known he was her soulmate way, way back. When all the Dorcha madness first started.

[ravennaromano]

“I say start with ballroom and go from there.”

[anya-castillo]

“You got it,” Anya declared simply and stood up. She jerked her head to the direction of the ball room before she walked outside on the hallway, motioning for the other girl to follow her. She only stopped when they got to the next floor, and she stood in front of a window. The brunette pulled the curtains open and glanced back to the other. “Hey, Whatsyourname? The chamber is locked, but there’s one window they always keep open for air to come in. We need to climb outta here, and in there.”

[allexiaofromania-blog]

“—That’s a shame. I have my sisters here so I’m never alone. You could hang out with me if you like.” 

[anya-castillo]

“Well, we’re a huge family but pretty much everyone in it is assigned to a different royal, on different countries. None of them has arrived here just yet,” Anya shrugged and sighed. “Why not? You’re an Italian Princess; that alone sounds interesting.”

[healersierra]

“I can help you the first five. You’re on your own for the partying and making out part.” The Healer chuckled, “Especially the making out.” 

[anya-castillo]

Anya laughed at her answer. “No worries, I’m just kiddin’. I don’t roll that way anyways,” she reassured her. “Hey, do tell about how you can help me?”

[vladofbelarus-blog]

“—Desperate enough to shoot yourself? That’s what I would like to call depression.” 

[anya-castillo]

“---And you do call it that with a smile on your face... That’s what I’d like to call pure madness.”

[guardianxasher-blog]

“Don’t worry, it’s just war paint.—We’re going paint ball shooting. You should join us.”  

[anya-castillo]

“You’re taking this shit seriously af, aren’t you?...I’m in. And I want some of that, too.”

[prncssmadeline]

“I think it really is. I’m so offended.” Madeline said before laughing, betraying the fact that she was joking. “No you’re not, come on there, you’re going to help me, everyone can cook. It’s no going to be difficult.”

[anya-castillo]

“Sure,” Anya replied with a roll of her eyes. She would’ve known that the Princess was joking, even without hearing the laugh that escaped her. The guardian hesitated a moment before agreeing with a shrug of her shoulders and walking over to her. “---Fine. But if I burn or ruin anything, it’ll be on you.”

[prncssmadeline]

“What’s wrong?” Madeline asked the other. “Come on, even a princess can cook.” She said as she looked into the fridge. “So are you going to help me?”

[anya-castillo]

“Is it too cliche that I didn’t see it coming?” Anya wondered out loud and exclaimed “heey!” before catching the towel the princess threw her way. “I’m much better at standing here and judging you instead, to be honest.”

[ravennaromano]

“I think I’m getting what you’re getting at,” Ravenna grinned mischievously.

[anya-castillo]

Anya smirked and threw the girl a wink before grinning from ear to ear in excitement. “Where d’you wanna start?”

[healersierra]

“—What do you like to do? I can give you suggestions, but it all depends on what your interests are.” 

[anya-castillo]

“I like doing all the cool things. Like eating. Sleeping. Reading. Swimming. Exploring. Partying. Making out. The list just goes on and on.”

[vladofbelarus-blog]

“—Should ask yourself that question. You’re the one talking about shooting yourself.” 

[anya-castillo]

“---At desperate times we all do desperate things.”

[dauphindefrxnce-deactivated2016]

“How do I know you are not lying and you actually like it~?”

[anya-castillo]

“---Why the hell would I ever do that?”