due to the hot weather i received like three asks about if i could write about spending it with ross so here we are:
today is unbearable. it’s so hot you can’t remember a day where it’s been like this.
ross has been outside since noon.
flat on one of the loungers by the pool, sunglasses low on his nose, one arm thrown over his stomach.
you’d gone inside ten minutes ago because the heat was beginning to make you feel delirious. the kitchen tiles had been cool beneath your feet while you threw together something vaguely cocktail-adjacent with whatever fruit was dying in the fridge.
when you come back outside, condensation slips down the side of the glass.
“thought you’d melted,” ross says without opening his eyes.
“nearly did.”
he hums as you press the drink into his hand. “cheers, darling.”
you grin a little to yourself and turn to head back toward your own chair, when he stops you.
“christ.”
you glance over your shoulder.
ross has pushed his sunglasses up now, squinting at you properly.
“how’d you manage to get burned this fast?” he asks. “come here a second.”
“i’m not burned.”
“your back’s gone fully red.”
“red is gonna turn into brown eventually,” you say as you try to convince yourself.
you wander over anyway. the paving stones are warm under your feet.
ross pats the space between his legs lazily. “sit down.”
you lower yourself carefully with your back against his chest, your legs stretching out between his. his skin’s hot from the sun, properly warm everywhere your arms brush his.
behind you, there’s the crack of a bottle cap.
“god,” he mutters, squeezing sun cream into his palm, “you’re gonna whine tonight.”
you turn your head immediately, grinning.
ross pauses.
then he lets out a laugh under his breath, head dropping back slightly.
“not like that.”
“didn’t say anything.”
“didn’t have to. filthy look on your face said enough.”
his hands smooth cool lotion across your shoulders before you can reply. you sigh despite yourself, leaning back into him.
“ow,” you mumble dramatically. “gentle.”
“i am being gentle.”
“you’ve got bass hands.”
he laughs, “what does that even mean?”
“good with your fingers but so rough with your palm,” you groan.
ross laughs again, low in his chest this time. “alright, sorry. i’ll try to be even more gentle.”
you hum.
his fingers drag slowly down your back, rubbing the cream into the spots that sting worst from the sun. you rest your hands around his shins absentmindedly, thumbs brushing over warm skin.
“your legs are so tan,” you mumble. “don’t know how you do it.”
ross shrugs behind you, “don’t know either.”
“hate you a bit for it,” you joke.
“you tan eventually.”
“it takes ages though,” you argue, “and i think we both know it’s gonna rain again soon.”
“probably.” his chin hooks briefly over your shoulder while he works the cream into the small of your back. you can smell chlorine and sun cream and the citrus from his drink all mixed together.
it’s stupidly nice.
the sort of afternoon that feels slow around the edges.
ross taps your side lightly. “lift your hair up.”
you gather it over one shoulder and feel his hands smooth another layer across the back of your neck.
“honestly,” he says, “an hour outside and you’ve packed it in.”
“english sun hits different.”
“that’s because nobody here knows how to behave when it appears.”
you grin.
ross finishes rubbing the cream in, then rests his hands briefly on your waist.
“there,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss into the space between your shoulder and neck. soft. absent-minded. “let’s hope this doesn’t get worse.”
you tilt your head slightly at the feeling, smiling before you can stop yourself.
“thanks, nurse.”
“don’t mention it.”
“will you carry me inside later when i inevitably succumb to heatstroke?”
he shakes his head, “absolutely not.”
“ross,” you squint your eyes at him.
“i’ll drag you by the ankles, maybe.”
you laugh quietly, leaning back against him more fully.
he reaches for his drink again with one hand, the other settling lazily across your stomach.
“this is very nice,” he hums taking a sip, “lovely day.”
ross stays exactly where he is after that, all lazy and warm behind you.
one of his hands rests low on your stomach while the other drifts up through your hair absentmindedly, combing through the strands slowly enough that it nearly puts you to sleep.
this is so cozy. bees are somewhere in the flowers. water shifting gently against the edge of the pool. ross humming under his breath to whatever song he’s been listening to.
you melt further against him.
his lips brush the top of your head once.
“you’re very clingy today,” he murmurs.
“too hot to function properly.”
“ah alright,” he smiles.
ross chuckles softly behind you, fingers scratching lightly against your scalp in a way that makes your eyes flutter shut for a second.
god, you could probably fall asleep right there.
instead, after another quiet minute, you mumble, “god, i love you.”
he squeezes your waist gently.
“yeah?”
“mhm.” you tilt your head back against his shoulder. “i love how hot you are right now but it’s literally too hot. think i’m dying a bit.”
ross laughs immediately.
“bit contradictory, that.”
“you know what i mean.”
“do i though?” he laughs but squeezes your waist again.
you groan quietly. “ross.”
his grin presses briefly against your temple.
“dramatic thing.”
you turn your face enough to kiss somewhere near his jaw before sighing dramatically again. “i need to cool off in the pool.”
“good shout,” he says, sitting up slightly. “i’ll join you.”
you untangle yourself from him slowly, already feeling the heat hit your skin again the second you stand.
“race you,” you say.
“absolutely not,” ross replies. “it’s thirty degrees. i’ll die.”
you’re already halfway to the pool anyway.
the water hits your legs first, cool enough to make you inhale sharply, before you lower yourself all the way in with a relieved sound.
“oh my god,” you groan.
ross snorts from behind you.
“that nice?”
“i’m never getting out.”
you splash water vaguely in his direction just as he steps down onto the ledge.
sunlight catches on the water around him. damp curls already starting at the base of his neck from the heat. stupidly unfair-looking even now.
“don’t pose,” you accuse.
“wasn’t posing.”
“you were.”
“how?!” he raises his arms.
before you can answer, ross dives cleanly beneath the surface.
you barely have time to react before something grabs your hips underwater.
you shriek immediately as ross resurfaces with a grin, lifting you clean off your feet for a second.
“ross-“
you burst out laughing while he steadies you against him.
“you should’ve seen your face.”
“do not get my hair wet!” you say.
“i didn’t,” he looks at your hair to check, “don’t want to get into trouble.”
water drips from his hair into his eyes while he laughs, and you brush it back automatically before he can shake it everywhere like a wet dog.
“behave,” you mumble.
“can’t. holiday rules.”
“that’s not a thing.”
“is now.”
eventually he settles himself on the pool ledge where the water reaches just above his waist, tugging you easily between his legs again like it’s instinctive.
you rest against him without thinking.
arms winding around his shoulders. his hands settling comfortably at your hips under the water.
the sun warms your face while the cool water laps softly around you both. somewhere beyond the fence, people are cheering over something.
ross presses a slow kiss against your mouth.
another against the corner of it.
you close your eyes afterward, forehead resting against his.
comfortable.
his thumb rubs absentminded circles against your side beneath the water.
“could have so many days like this, darling,” he murmurs eventually. “just us being lazy in the heat.”
you smile without opening your eyes.
“with cocktails?”
“obviously.”
ross huffs a laugh softly through his nose.
then he kisses you again, slower this time, sun warm across both your skin while the water moves gently around you.
his arms around you. your cheek damp against his shoulder. sunlight turning everything gold behind your closed eyelids.
ross keeps drawing shapes against your hip underwater absentmindedly.
you tilt your head just enough to look at him properly.
wet hair pushed back. cheeks flushed faintly pink from the heat. stupid soft smile sitting on his mouth.
he catches you staring almost immediately.
“what?”
“nothing, just thinking you look fit.”
ross snorts quietly but doesn’t say anything.
his grin spreads lazily before his gaze drifts somewhere past you, toward the bright blue sky above the garden fence.
for a second he goes thoughtful.
then, “i can see us moving somewhere sunny one day, definitely europe, maybe italy?”
you blink, “yes?”
“mhm.” his thumb strokes slowly along your side. “somewhere where days like this aren’t rare.”
your eyes widen immediately.
“ross.” you pout.
“what?”
you smile so hard your cheeks ache. “that’d be dreamy.”
he smiles back at you then, “wouldn’t it?”
you shift closer automatically, your legs tangling with his beneath the water.
“life would feel like one big holiday.”
“absolutely,” he says easily. “at least until we’ve got kids running around screaming by the pool.”
you stare at him for half a second.
then lean forward and kiss him immediately.
ross laughs softly into it, hands tightening at your waist.
when you pull back, you grin. “don’t get me excited now.”
“excited?”
“little house somewhere hot?” you mumble. “you in linen shirts? little babies with your curls? that’s dangerous.
ross actually looks a bit flustered at that, which only makes you grin wider.
“linen shirts?” he repeats.
“focus on the important part, ross.”
he shakes his head, smiling against your mouth again before kissing you once.
“you’d spoil the kids rotten.” he says.
“absolutely.”
“they’d wrap you round their fingers instantly,” he says while tucking your hair behind your ear.
you beam triumphantly.
“well we’re still in england for now,” he says. “not to ruin anything.”
you groan and try to untangle your legs to go for a swim.
he pulls you back against him before you can, arms locking around your waist while you laugh helplessly.
“s’alright,” he murmurs against your damp temple. “we’ll get there eventually.”
“promise?”
“promise.”
and somehow, with the sun warming your skin and ross smiling against your hair, it feels easy to believe him.
pairing: husband!vessel x gn!reader (vessel is nonhuman/a deity)
word count: 5k
hello, my friends! i have been working on this piece for about a month now, on and off. i am so excited to finally share this with you all! please do consider listening to what i've listed above while you read this one, i think it makes the experience more immersive!! you can find it on spotify also!
sorry if there's any mistakes! i read this through a few times but i might have missed something!!
as always, likes, comments, and reblogs are always so appreciated! please enjoy!
tags: @concretejunglefm, @fadingangelwisp, @chey-h, @xmads-omensx, @astronoids, @winniethewife (if you would like to be added/removed from this list, or if i forgot you, dm me!)
You gasp for air as you awaken from your nightmare, your heart racing. Drenched in sweat, hair clinging to your forehead, struggling to breathe in the fit of your panic.
Sitting up in bed, there are two things on your mind.
One, the time. Your head turns to look at the clock on your bedside table. Two in the morning. You glance out one of the large glass windows in the master bedroom, noting the beautiful night sky and the summer winds blowing the curtains inward. If you listen closely, you think you can hear the sound of owls and other creatures making their usual music. It's beautiful, yet it does little to calm your panicked heartbeat.
Two, him. You glance down at the space beside you, worried that you may have woken your husband up during your vicious nightmare. Yet he lays beside you, his eyes shut. His breaths make his chest rise and fall, along with his typical body twitches; something you've grown rather used to.
The gold cracks on his skin glimmer when they hit the moonlight, as if he were the prettiest living piece of art in Arcadia. His hair — a dark chocolate kind of color — is splayed over the pillow. His mask is on his bedside table, leaving him exposed to you in a way not many others get to see. His scars and imperfections (if you could even call them that) lay bare before you, just like every night before this one.
The sight of him alone is enough to make you breathe a bit easier. Thank gods he didn't wake up; he needs his rest above all else. Being a deity with so much to do, it must be exhausting in a way you don't quite understand.
Not to mention, his peaceful presence proves that the dream you'd had was just that; a dream. He was safe, alive, nothing bad was happening to him. Sleep was not strangling him before your eyes, he was not dying, and you were not cursed to be alone. He does not hate you, he fills the space beside you like he was always meant to be there. Always meant to be yours.
After a few more deep breaths, you slowly slip yourself back under the covers, laying your head back on the satin pillow underneath you. You're laying a little closer to him, seeking his presence out as a form of comfort as you pray that sleep will return to you once more.
You're not too sure if it was by chance or he had woken up just a little, but he rolled over to face you, reaching one arm to rest over your torso. His eyelashes flutter against his skin, lips parted with deep breaths. He doesn't pull you closer, just lays his limb on top of you, and something about it makes your eyelids feel heavier.
It's a little strange how fast sleep catches up with you. Usually it takes much longer than this after your nightmares, at least an hour, yet within minutes you can't keep your eyes open. Within minutes, your body is heavy and exhausted. You snuggle yourself up closer to your husband, not catching the little smile that appears on his lips as you fall asleep.
You find yourself in the rain. It's a forest, and for a moment you wonder if you've sleepwalked into the Arcadian woods, but... this feels too... green? Arcadia is a rather pink place, but this forest reminds you of the ones back on Earth. Well, if the forests on Earth came straight from a storybook.
The rain is not overbearing, it's a soothing sort of rain that makes soft pattering noises against the leaves and nearby creeks. Birds chirp overhead and within the trees, singing a song that already makes you feel safer.
Taking a few steps forward, you look around the beautiful dream realm. The waters have an unnatural glimmer to them, there's a wide array of flowers covering the land, some of which you definitely do not know the name of.
A much larger bird, a black flamingo by the looks of it, makes its way over to you as if to say hello. It tilts its head down in a repetitive motion, and you glance down to see what it's looking at.
It's a big leaf with a long stem, leaning up against a bush. You pick it up, and register that it must be a makeshift umbrella. It reminds you of a game you'd introduced Vessel to, of his digital island and animal companions. Someone definitely left this for you, or this is some sort of lucid dream. It shields you from the raindrops, and the flamingo seems rather satisfied.
Perhaps someone left the flamingo for you, too.
It's only then that you hear it. In the far off distance mixed in with the beautiful sounds of nature, you hear the unmistakable sound of someone playing the piano.
The melody wraps around your mind like a ribbon. Any apprehension you had about this dream world vanishes in an instant. Vessel.
The tune he plays is one you've never heard before, but it fits so effortlessly with the sounds of nature. You begin to walk, to follow the music in search of your husband.
Notably, the flamingo is sticking by your side too. You lend some of your umbrella to it to shield it from the rain, too. It honks, presumably to say thanks.
The both of you travel through the trees, occasionally stopping to admire the beautiful scenery. Vines decorated in flowers, frogs on lily pads, butterflies that twirl around you and then fly off into the trees. Maybe even the birds that have discovered a little puddle and hop about within it.
Each time you stop, the flamingo never really looks at any of it, nor does it rush you in your content exploration. Instead, it looks at you, and the way it does almost seems... familiar somehow. As if you've hung the stars in the sky, as if you're more beautiful than anything here.
The piano playing is much closer now, and from here it sounds like it's echoing, like it's coming from inside of something. Maybe it's hidden? Vessel always did have a knack for adventure and making things exciting for you. Especially since Arcadia.
"I think I can make it the rest of the way on my own." You can hardly believe you're talking to a flamingo right now. It pauses to consider your words, and is perhaps about to respond before it sees something in the distance.
The flamingo seems more frantic and demanding suddenly, as it nudges its head against your arm and starts off more quickly in the opposite direction.
"What are you doing? The piano isn't coming from that way, it's—" A loud boom of thunder cuts you off. You look in the direction it came from, and your eyes widen.
A storm cloud is close by, too close for comfort. You can see the lighting crackle within it, and the wind is pushing it quickly in your direction. The cloud is almost black, and the closer it gets, the more the thunder sounds like screaming.
His screaming.
You think you can hear the flamingo honking at you, but it feels distant now. You can't bring yourself to look away from the cloud, and the screaming is getting louder.
For a moment, you're back there. Thick vines of thorns are tightening around Vessel's throat. All he can do is scream and gasp for air, and that monster, that Sleep, is laughing at you again.
"Go on, petal." He sneers, His voice dripping with venom. He spits out the term of endearment like it's poison."One word, and I'll make this all stop. You love your Vessel, don't you? Say it! Say it, I'll make it all end!"
You open your mouth, and no words come out. You can't make a sound, you can't even scream. You're running, you're trying to reach out to him, to your lover, but he's out of reach every time.
Vessel's expression twists from desperation to hatred, pure hatred. You won't even save him. You're leaving him to die. He screams, and it gets louder. And louder. And LOUDER—
You hit the ground, landing on the wet grass. The cold water soaked within it splashes into your skin like a wake up call. The umbrella lays beside you, and when you open your eyes to look...
...The flamingo is still here. Its head is bowed, and it seems ashamed or embarrassed. You open your mouth to ask what's wrong, but it seems to know what you're thinking.
It opens its beak and a sizable chunk of fabric from your shirt floats down onto your chest.
The way it bows its head in shame, in apology, also feels extremely familiar. It's on the tip of your tongue, but you just can't figure out what it is.
In any case, you reach up and pat its head. The flamingo must have pulled you out of the nightmare— literally. What a smart little creature... better yet, what a strong creature. How the hell did it manage that?
"It's alright, you didn't mean to do it." You reassure it, and it tilts his head at you. You can almost hear it, the really? Are you sure? "I'm not upset with you. Thank you for getting me out of that. You're a hero, aren't you?"
The flamingo stands up straighter, holding its head up in pride. It walks in a circle, flaps its wings, then leans down to lightly tap its beak against your nose. Looks like you've given the bird an ego boost.
With a bit of effort, you get back onto your feet, picking the leaf umbrella up again. You can see the tear in your shirt, but you're not too concerned. This is a dream, after all.
The two of you continue on your journey with a little detour to avoid getting trapped in the nightmare storm a second time. The further away you get from it, the more at ease you are.
Finally, you've made it. At least, you think you have. The piano is loud here, but it echoes all the same. Confused, you turn your head every which way, expecting maybe a cave, or maybe a waterfall with a secret grotto. Finding neither, your eyebrows furrow.
"You can hear it too, right?" You ask the flamingo. "Where's it coming from?"
The flamingo walks about ten feet away from you and then lowers its head. You cautiously follow, looking down to see what it's trying to show you.
There is... a giant hole in the ground. If you squint, there may be some light at the very end, but it looks like a long fall. However the flamingo does not steer you wrong; the piano is definitely coming from down there.
"How the hell am I supposed to get down..." You lift your head to speak to the flamingo... but it's gone. Like it had never been there in the first place. "...there."
You look around, a little disappointed that your friend had vanished. Yet there was no doubt in your mind; your husband was down in that giant hole in the ground. For what reason, you weren't quite sure, but he seemingly isn't distressed.
Left with no other option, you jump in, expecting this to be something swift and easy. However, falling down a hole is no less terrifying than in real life. You're screaming the entire way down, closing your eyes and bracing yourself to hit the ground hard.
You land on something soft instead. You're hesitant to open your eyes, to get up, to breathe. But once you muster up your courage, you find yourself in a bed of flowers, in all of your favorite colors.
Before you is the one person you've been searching for here, his eyes fixated on the piano as he plays. He is intensely focused, posture straight, lips parted— a little habit you'd noticed in him every time he was in deep concentration. Like how they'd been when he was asleep beside you.
He's dressed in his Arcadian attire, mask on, cloak damp from the rain. It's only in that moment that you focus on a little detail of his typical getup that you hadn't paid much mind to until now.
That cape he wears. Made up entirely of black feathers.
You almost forgot that he's technically in your head at the moment, but the big grin that appears on his face as the realization dawns on you is the perfect reminder. His fingers hit a few sour notes as he laughs. It's a beautiful sound, youthful in nature.
"You can't be serious." You raise an eyebrow at him, a smirk on your lips. "You have a flamingo form."
"I had to ensure you got here safely!" He turns to face you and his head bows in embarrassment — just like the fucking flamingo. That's where you've seen it before.
"Were you the flamingo, but also here playing the piano?"
"Yes. It's not a difficult thing honestly. The dream world is a fascinating place, is it not?" His fingers return to the keys, playing whatever tune comes to his mind.
"I was getting attached to that little guy!" You finally get up from the flower bed, moving to sit beside him on the piano bench.
"Well, I am relieved to know that you would still love me, even if I were a flamingo." Vessel leans over to press a kiss to your cheek. "And I am relieved that I was able to get you out of that nightmare. Are you alright? It looked... violent, to say the least."
"I..." You sigh, leaning your head against his shoulder. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just glad it's not real. Did I wake you earlier?"
"Yes and no, if that makes any sense. You are my other half, petal. When you are in distress, I feel it like a sixth sense. If you hadn't woken up from the dream, I would have woken you myself." Vessel's voice is soothing; another beautiful thing that just makes sense in this nature-filled realm. "I was awake before you woke from your nightmare, therefore you did not physically wake me."
"I just know you need your rest, I didn't want to bother you." He stops playing halfway through your sentence and his hands grab yours, holding them firmly.
"No more of that, my heart." Your husband locks his gaze with you, even through the mask you can feel his eyes on you. "You could never bother me. I would not rest well knowing that you're hurting. When you hurt, I hurt with you. Don't say things like that." He's always had such a way with words. He speaks in such a manner where you know he means every single thing he says.
There's an itch in the back of your mind that makes you want to argue with him on this, and he can feel it too. He clears his throat and you can faintly see his eyes glowing through the slits of the mask. A silent try me, you won't win. You let him have this one.
"Well... thank you. Seriously, this place is... beautiful."
"You like it?" His face lights up. "I designed it myself, I was hoping you'd enjoy it as much as I thought you would."
"You made this place?" You take a moment to observe your surroundings here. The piano looks a little worn, and on the inside of it is... roots? A sapling? A tree sapling? Somehow, this hasn't impacted the sound at all. Everywhere else here looks almost like a little room, like a study. His own personal bubble, or perhaps burrow?
"That I did. If there is one thing that He who shall not be named gave me that I genuinely enjoy, it is what I can do within dreams." He's proud of this, you can see it. His voice is a little louder, he's excited to talk about it. His knee bounces underneath the piano. "I can make this place look however I wish. I wanted this one to feel like a sanctuary for you."
"Well, you nailed it with that one."
"Really?!" You're certain that if he had a tail right now, it would be wagging.
"This is perfect. It's relaxing, feels like a hidden paradise." You lean forward to press your forehead against Vessel's. "And it's even better that you're here in it, too."
"I'll stay here with you all night, if you'd like." Vessel releases one of your hands to gently caress your cheek. No matter what, no matter how many times you tell him he really doesn't have to, he touches you like you're porcelain. Like you're the most precious artifact he's ever had.
"I'd like that." You lean into his touch like a cat. "Can I ask what you're doing underground?"
"Ah!" He pulls back, gesturing toward the sapling growing from inside of the piano. "I am growing a tree."
"...What?"
"...A tree? I'm growing one?" He's looking at you like you're the weird one for not knowing what he's talking about. Like this is somehow universal knowledge.
"Vessel. The roots aren't even in the dirt. How do you expect to grow a tree?" You're certain you're not the crazy one here.
"I play," he motions towards the piano keys, "and it grows." He motions towards the sapling.
"Even for a dream, that sounds insane. Prove it." Don't trees need water? Sunlight? Years upon years of growth by itself?
"Certainly. Watch carefully, and be amazed." Vessel's shoulders roll back, and his fingers touch the ivory keys with newfound purpose.
The melody he begins to play is familiar; you recall the nights he would play it over and over. That opening part of 'Even In Arcadia'. And just like he would then, he plays it over and over now.
At first, you're pretty sure he was just pulling your leg about the 'play music make tree grow' thing, until you see it. Before your eyes, the sapling is growing, flourishing just from the music. It grows taller, sturdier, and leaves begin to emerge from it.
He continues for another few moments before he slows to a stop, unable to suppress his chuckle at the sight of your starry-eyed wonder. One hand lifts from the keys to take yours, pressing a kiss to your knuckles. His wedding band catches the light, and the sight of it makes your heart flutter.
Even in dreams, he wears it with pride.
"As much as I adore that look on your face when I blow your mind, you can't just leave me to do all the work. Come, let's grow a tree." Vessel brings your hand to the keys.
"Not everyone's a piano master like you, Vess. I'd probably make the tree recede back into itself. Or die."
"Nothing grows in reverse, petal. I don't expect you to be Beethoven. How about I teach you something? We'll learn one of mine." He has such a way of encouraging you that makes you struggle to say no. Especially not when he's looking at you like that.
"Are you sure you won't wither away and die if I butcher it?" You're only half joking.
"Oh please, I'm not that fragile! Like I said, I don't expect you to be an expert. Let's learn a bit of Euclid together. Does that sound alright?" He meets your gaze, and if you look hard enough you can see him batting his eyelashes at you.
"Alright, teacher. Teach me your talents." And his excited grin makes it all worth it.
Hours pass between the both of you, Vessel patiently walking you through the first section of Euclid. No matter how many sour notes you hit, segments you forget, or moments where you get frustrated and try to give up, he remains at your side. The rain still falls, the birds still chirp above ground, and all remains peacefully still.
Neither of you realize that the tree has fully grown from just the practice and lessons alone until you manage to get through the entire part he taught you with only a few mistakes. He didn't even have to help you this time, and despite not looking at him you could feel him beaming with pride.
"That was brilliant... you're a natural!" Though of course, your husband doesn't hesitate to express his pride and adoration for you the moment you finish. That comes in the form of enthusiastic kisses, mumbled praise, and the unexpected presence of a flowered vine wrapping around your waist.
"Was only brilliant because I had a good teacher." In turn, you return as many kisses as you can without laughing, nodding along to every word he says, and simply basking in the moment with him.
"Not to mention, look at what such a performance created." Vessel is the first to notice the tree, pointing up at it with a clawed finger. "Forever immortalized in my realm of dreams."
"You were helping, give yourself some credit." You protested, and yet you were still brimming with confidence. Admittedly you've been wanting to learn how to play, just haven't had the time. If you'd known you could learn in your dreams with your lover, you would've taken the opportunity far sooner than this. "Wait— you can keep the tree?"
"One, all I did was teach you the notes, the rest was your talent. Second, of course I can. I've created a lot of the trees here with this technique over the years. But to now have one created by you, of course it has to stay! I'll have to find the perfect place to put it."
"Maybe I'll have to come back and make more for you then, too." Not many others would see such adoration and excitement over a tree, but if there's one thing you've learned about Vessel, it's that nature means the world to him. It's not just because of the magic in his veins, this is his calling. Forests, no matter where they are, are like his home.
You love being part of that home.
"You would truly do this for me?" No matter how much time has passed, Vessel always seems so surprised when someone wants to do something for him. When someone wants to treat him with kindness. You suppose it's just from his unkind history.
"Of course! Maybe we can make something in here together. Like a park? Or a garden?" You can already picture it in your mind. Something with a little bench, or maybe a cool statue.
"Ah..." There's a distant look in his eyes; maybe he's envisioning it too. "Yes... yes, that would be lovely." You almost miss the way his voice shakes, breaks just a little.
"It'll give us something to do when we're too tired for other things, right? And—"
"And, I can make you your own dream realm." He cuts you off quickly. His arms wrap around you to pull you into his lap. "And it can look however you want."
"Vessel, you don't really need to do anything for me in return whenever I—" You're cut off again by him. He's too invested now.
"It doesn't even need to be a forest! It can be a house, or a library, or - or that one place with the - the..." Vessel snaps his fingers a few times as if it'll jog his memory. "The big place with the moving stairs? You took me there a few years ago to see the giant rabbit?"
"The giant rabbit? Moving stairs?" You furrow your eyebrows in thought. It's definitely an Earth place if he can't remember what it is.
"Remember the rabbit? It was sitting in that chair? And you insisted I get a photo taken with it? It has shops too."
"The mall?"
"Yes! That place!" Vessel nods, relieved that you understood what he was talking about.
"You could've just said it had a lot of stores." The fact he even remembers the Easter Bunny at the mall is hilarious; you'll have to remember to take him back to the mall to get another photo with it.
"Don't even think about it." Oh, he can still read your thoughts. "But in any case, I could make your dream realm a mall! You enjoy the mall, right? You used to take me there quite a bit."
"It's not my favorite, but I'm happy you remembered it. I'll think on it more and let you know." Finally, you lean forward and rest your head in the crook of his neck. His thumb rubs circles into your back.
It's silent for a while, but not uncomfortable. Vessel is enjoying your presence as much as you enjoy his, judging by the way he's purring. His chest vibrates against yours, and you faintly think you can feel a tail curling around your leg. He's comfortable, he feels safe. So do you.
"...Are you alright?" He breaks the silence. "Did this all help after the nightmare?" His voice is soft as if he doesn't want to ruin the moment.
"It helped a lot. I'm okay, I promise." And that's the truth. You honestly forgot you even had a nightmare until he mentioned it. "The rain sounds so nice, and the flowers... the scenery... I needed this. Needed you."
"You have me, whenever you need me, petal. I'm glad I could be there... and just to ease your mind, Sleep can't get me anymore. I promise you, darling. Even if He did, even if He took your words away, I would always know you're mine and that you love me. Nothing. Will ever change that." Vessel murmurs into your ear, his voice a beautifully soothing rumble.
"I'm glad. I'm glad you know." That's all that matters; he knows you love him.
You're about to say something more when a loud noise suddenly echoes in the realm, causing your head to shoot up in alarm. It sounds like church bells. You look at Vessel, but he seems just as alarmed.
It gets louder. Louder. Vessel suddenly vanishes. Louder—
"Shhh! Shhh!" You wake up in your bedroom, listening to Vessel quietly curse under his breath as he scolds... his alarm clock. "You'll wake them, you bastard, gods how do I turn this off?!"
"Button on the top." You sleepily mumble, and after a second it stops. Vessel sighs in a mix of defeat and frustration.
"I didn't realize it would be so loud. I didn't mean to wake you." Vessel pulls you into his chest, his voice rough with sleep. He speaks against the back of your head. "I don't even want to leave you."
"Leave? Where are you going?" You blink a few times, though your vision is still extremely bleary.
"Things to do today. II wanted to meet early. Ritual related. Have to... attend something for Arcadia today." With a messy kiss, he reluctantly untangles himself from you. You whine in protest.
"Can't you just... not do all of that? Stay home." You roll over to face him, hair sticking to your face, drool on the corner of your mouth. Flattering, truly.
"I would if I could, you know that." As he begins to scoot himself off the bed, you grab his arm, clinging to him. "Petal..."
"No."
"Don't be a brat, come on." He wiggles his arm, trying to pry himself out of your grip. Realistically, he's strong enough to do it no problem, but he's always gentle with you.
"You hate me."
"Oh, do I now?"
"...No." You hear him chuckle. You're too half asleep to even understand what you're saying.
"I have to work, sweet thing. The sooner I go, the sooner I can return to you." Vessel reached with his other hand to brush some of your hair out of your face.
With another whine and a few other incoherent complaints, you let go of him, huffing through your nose. Normally, Vessel is the one who acts like this, but you were having such a nice time with him in that dream...
"There we go." You hear him stand, and then you feel the covers being placed over you. "While I need to be awake at this hour, you do not."
"But I can't sleep without you." Your limbs are too heavy to pull the covers back off you, but you try. It just looks like you're flailing your arms around.
"Of course you can. Listen, love." His weight makes the bed dip as he sits down. "The sooner you go back to sleep, the sooner the morning will pass... the sooner I'll be with you once more. And when I get home... we can talk about that dream realm for you."
A lazy smile tugs on your lips, one of your eyes opening just a crack. You can't really make out his face, but you know he's there.
"As long as you promise... to not be a flamingo this time." Your eye shuts right after, but your smile widens as he starts laughing. You're not letting him live that one down.
"Oh, my dear..." Vessel chuckles through his words. "Rest assured, no more flamingo. Alright?"
"Mm... okay." You feel his lips gently brush against yours, and you hum in contentment. Then his fingertips touch your forehead gently, and you can feel yourself getting pulled right back into sleep.
"Rest well, petal. I love you." He murmurs, and he thinks he hears you mumble an 'I love you too', but it sounds like complete gibberish of syllables.
Vessel waits a moment longer to make sure you're asleep before he stands and begins to get ready for the day, pausing every now and then to watch you to make sure your dreams are pleasant this time around.
He pauses at the doorway to the bedroom, looking over his shoulder to gaze at you one last time, smiling fondly to himself before departing to begin his day.
As long as he's here, the nightmares will never get you again.
how accessible were your physically-nearest grandparents to you growing up (answer in the time it took for you to travel to them (or for them to travel to you))
we lived in the same house
the closest set/grandparent was 5-30min away
the closest set/grandparent was 30-60min away
the closest set/grandparent was 1-2hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 3-5hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 5-10hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 10-20hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 20-30hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 30-40hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was 40-50hrs away
the closest set/grandparent was more than 50hrs away in travel time
n/a; they all had passed before i was born; never met them; etc; results
Does anyone else have an list of 10-15 untouchable thoughts that if you let yourself remeber or think about them for even a second it’s excruciating or is this a me thing
Every year I go Spotify wrapped what do you have for me today and it says "Stupid vampire wannabe. goth bitch 🫵🫵🫵" and I say absolutely Spotify wrapped thank you
…..not even six hours later i got an offer of a well paying full time long-term job with free room and board in queens in nyc, allowing me independence and a way to escape an abusive situation and an unhealthy environment
likes charge reblogs cast, folks, this is the good luck post
the last time I reblogged this post right before I got a great job, in a permanent work-from-home position, with benefits, retirement, and a salary literally 3x what I was making before, doing something I really like.
titsay
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
origamiaround
kianamaiart
