A/N: Prepared for @hwsrarepairweek2022 for the prompt: Writer & Artist. Itโs nothing much really and itโs rather corny if I am being honest. I simply couldnโt hold back any ideas I got for the prompt and went rather overboard with it. <3 there are more coming!!
pairing: Norway x Belarus, mentions of Germany//Ukraine, Denmark//NyoFinland.
word count: 3,841
Warning: cringe attempt at poetry.
summary:
you meet inspiration in the most bizarre or unique ways, perhaps this was one of them and Natalya hoped to have many more in the far off future.
The faint sunlight pooled around her desk, highlighting her messy set of papers, some pens, sharp pencils and a sketching book she had taken with her that day. In case of boredom or a dose of inspiration.
She rubs a messy sketch and sighs deeply, narrowing eyes set on the paper just itching to be filled below her eraser. Itโs not that Natalya was often moody- somewhat antisocial? Yes that was certainly- but she hadnโt planned to come here at all.
Of course she would never choose to leave her homely and a cozy abode; her hotel room, in the name of inspiration or motivation for that matter.
It was her elder sister, Kateryna, who had dragged her out of her room, when she had tried to reason with using her sketching sessions as an excuse and also a valid reason, all she got was a stern stare with a slight pout,
โWell you would definitely get more motivated in the lounging room~, staying all cooped up would do you no good! Maybe you could meet another artistโ,
After that, she had gotten a lecture about how having picked up painting as a hobby during her long years; the great outdoors and mingling with people, had been great sources for her art. With saying that Kateryna placed her supplies on a table near an opened window and gave a beaming smile.
As much as Natalya could have turned around and left, something in her never failed to stir whenever her sister gave that smile of hers.
Thatโs how she ended up wanting to smash her head against the table; not wanting to upset her sister, who so cheerfully conversed with Ludwig just near the coffee machine. She opted to glare at her sister and her crush for a moment, to give her brain some stimulation.
After a while, other morning risers (although it was about to be afternoon, the rest would be be sleeping after the meeting they have had), began arriving and generally just going about their conversations with their friends.
She noticed that most of them were the Nordic nations, being greeted by the couple she was glaring at, usually paying no mind to the group but Natalya had a tendency to be aware towards her sisterโs interactions, a habit picked up besides sketching.
Kateryna seemed to be close with them, and noticing that eased up her nerves quite a bit, Ludwig slowly placed his hand near her sisterโ back, muttering something near her ear, in turn she moved towards him with a puzzling, flushed expression.
Natalya slightly smirked at the interaction, lately she had noticed how Ludwig was getting more closer to her. Bringing her a coffee after a meeting, admiring her paintings, driving around to different places whenever they visited a different country or even opting to bake with her. He was very attentive towards her and caring too.
Maybe they both were getting closer; as Ivan had whispered to her after he decided to spy on them on their โdatesโ, (badly) disguised in a long beard and sunglasses. She would have joined too, just for the fun of it, maybe she would have joined their date too as a third wheel.
Humming Natalya tapped her rubber lightly towards the empty paper, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and with furrowed brows, turned the paper around.
โโโโโเผปโเผบโโโโโ
โYou know, time zones sure do suck a whole lot!โ,
Mathias let out a boisterous laughter after his comment, followed by giggles and low muttering of agreements.
Besides him, Lukas puts his roughbook down, keenly looking around the table, mostly at the โcoupleโ they have lately grown accustomed to.
They were pleasant and thoughtful to converse with so he didnโt really mind. If anything, he found them both to be a charming pair or maybe that was just the poet within him.
His curious eyes follow Kateryna as she sets down her cup of coffee, still giggling slightly and nods towards Britte with widened eyes,
โHonestly you should ask Britte about the sleepy state Alfred was in; about to fall down the stairs if she wouldnโt have grabbed him in the last secondโ,
The Finnish woman nods with a wide grin, sipping her coffe, head tilting in thought. Ludwig tried hard not to snort at the image but fails in doing so making Mathias grin with content,
โMathew wasnโt so good either, I was lucky enough to catch Alfred, do you know how heavy and muscled that boy is? Goodnessโ,
She shakes her head recalling the memory, giving Mathias a knowing look as he grins, flexing his muscles and directing a wink towards her.
โNot as me right?โ, he asks humorously and she gives him a slap on the back as an answer, both of them chuckling with amusement.
Across from Britte, the blonde Ukrainian lady prompts her chin down on her palm and absentmindedly stirred her coffee,
โTo be fairโ, she takes a generous sip of her coffee, โMatthew isnโt muscular as Alfred, I would say. Sure a strong boy but even I could have caught him myself yโknow!โ,
Kateryna jokingly proceeded to copy Mathiasโ movements and flexed her arm as well, making the man snort while drinking his coffee. She then suddenly grabbed Ludwigโs elbow, his confused face seemingly adorable to the lady, who then pinched his cheek,
โIf it were Ludwig tho, this tank of a man, I wouldnโt have bothered at allโ,
Ludwig blushed and gave an embarrassed smile as laughter followed the statement, although it was quite a compliment admittedly. Mathias gave a nudge to his foot and subtly winked towards him, making the man confused and somewhat excited.
That was the face of a troublemaker indeed. And it was alway a delight too.
The Danish man took a wide finishing gulp of his coffee and slammed his empty cup down the table, drawing attention towards him and somewhat the few occupants of the lounging room,
โSo, Kateryna,โ the lady and along with his lover stared at him with a puzzled expression, Lukas prayed he wouldnโt say anything dumb but still raised his eyebrow with curiosity, Ludwig proceeded to finish his remaining piece of a croissant, nonetheless focused on the situation.
โI take it you like a man with some strong muscles huh?โ,
Ludwig chokes harshly and gladly takes the glass of water passed by Britte, who was now grinning at a blushing form of Kateryna, Mathias silently cheers at the desired reaction and once again begins to nudge Ludwig beneath the table.
Heading towards them from the kitchen, Berwald emerges with a tray of croissants and some other baked stuff, confused at the situation. Beside him, Emil looks unimpressed as ever and Lily holding his hand, seems to be quite curious.
โWell, it sure does help, no?โ, Kateryna finally comments with a cheerful voice and places a hand on Ludwigโs shoulder, the man now blushing as red as a tomato from the contact and her contented smile,
Adorable. Really. Now kiss already.
Lukas lets out a snort of amusement at his own thoughts and shakes his head at the Daneโs behavior, he can be ridiculously nosy with other peopleโs love lives, and sadly that included his as well.
Berwald places the tray on the table and bends down to whisper something to Lukasโ ear. The latter then gets up, excusing himself from the group, Berwald now taking his seat besides Mathias.
โMy manโ, Lukas visibly shows his deadpanned eyes filled with dismay as Mathias slams a hand on his back, โwhen are you getting yourself a lady huh? Look at youโ your hairโs turning greyโโ,
Mathias is harshly cut off by Berwald, the man who he definitely owed a favor to, tugging at his collar. Followed by cursing and a series of whining, taking his cue Lukas gives a smirk towards them and walks away, with his book in hand, towards a certain lonesome lady.
โโโโโโเผปโเผบโโโโโโ
Natalya was hoping to draw something mystical, she had drawn some flowersโ wow so originalโ and some sketches of her cat. Although what she did not expect for her hands to do was the fact that-,
โI must say; I am quite flatteredโ,
Lukas wryly grins at her faint exasperated expression, placing a hand near her sketchbook and staring at her product. A sketch which clearly appeared to be him, drinking his cup of coffee, writing something on his book with a calming expression, it was quite rough but had a beauty to it which appeared so soothing to look at.
โIf you wanted an inspiration that badly, I would have been honored to help you. I do have a mystical appearance as people sayโ,
He continued rambling, his tone light and teasing, the sketching was amazing. And honestly he was beyond impressed at the raw talent displayed all over the page.
โOh reallyโ, Natalya almost stammered and innerly cursed herself. This was so embarrassing! Great, her sister would never give her a piece of mind after this. Not to mention, now everyone would be bothering and teasing her after this.
And she preferred to be left alone with her works, these were precious and personal to her. It wasnโt something to display so openly to everyone else.
Lukas frowns as she slams her book shut, Feigning an innocent expression, he slightly smirks as she turns towards him with an irritated glare,
โI was actually looking for an inspiration regarding trollsโ, She looked up and down over his form and then gave a pleased smirk of her own at his deadpanned face, with a sharp raise of her eyebrow.
โYou would fit the role perfectlyโ.
Lukas grumbled and crossed his arms, shuffling on his feet, his eyes though remained on the sketchbook she had closed earlier. Curiosity gnawing at his heart and mind alike, fingers gripping his book tightly, itching to write.
Natalya opens the book again, only to quickly turn to a fresh page and tap it with a pencil, biting her lip and trying her hardest to ignore the man standing next to her. She was not nervous. dammit.
She decides to simply ignore him. I mean maybe Kateryna was done conversing and would drag her to some other places, but she could see her sister enjoying herself with her group of friends.
And it was a genuine happiness she had seen from her, bold and clear laughter could be heard along with her expressive voice. Natalya sometimes wished she could have that as well, a genuine closeness with people she could trust.
Ludwig was a hard man to trust for her. But he had been patient and always respectful towards her, even his brother was the same. They both conversed about several things and never crossed their limits with each other.
A money of brief silence passes between them until Lukas decides to gracefully break it,
โYou gave me wingsโ,
Natalyaโs pencil comes to a halt as she slowly turns towards him with a deadpanned face, ignoring her heart beating vigorously against her chest.
This was really stupid.
โIt was nothingโ,
โFaint, but quite visible, it gave a mystical look. I am reallyโฆ. glad that I got to see itโ, he mumbles now, voice on the low as his eyes scan at her present sketch. Huh, a butterfly, a very elaborate one at that.
Thereโs a shudder when she breathes and finally with a sigh, Natalya turns towards him. Directly looking at him in the eyes.
And Lukas feels it.
The absolute raw emotions and feelings which shine in her eyes, thereโs melancholy and a longing for something that cannot be reached. Thereโs something in her expression, unreadable, yet itโs trying to display a sense of familiarity.
Itโs a closure of a messed up soul, calling for someone who does not seem to be trustful. Or maybe itโs herself she does not trust, with her messy emotions and flurry of feelings which brews a storm, always aching within her bones.
She does not trust herself to not break, the moment someone touches her with love she has craved and longed for all along.
Lukas shakes his head, turning away from her, he doesnโt notice her stare soften or her hand clenching the pencil at the moment.
Thereโs a tense feeling between them, he simply doesnโt know how else to explain it. Or his feelings right now for that matter. He tries to calm down the rush of a burning feeling on his chest.
Once again, his hands itch to write something and the grip around his book tightens.
He tries, he does, he fails.
Perhaps.
โHer petals wilt at the edgesโ,
Natalya, once again looks at him with those same eyes, seeming to hold so much at once.
Lukas pretends to think, stroking his chin and whimsically staring out of the window. However his mind was scrambling for words to spill already.
โA Rose?โฆ. Hm, yes, she was a roseโ,
The lady in question gives an unimpressed raise of her eyebrow and continue to stare at her drawing of a butterfly.
โHer heart blooms,
Or tries to,
Desperately beating,
And hopelessly bleedingโ,
He drums his fingers on the table now, trying hard enough to describe the image present on his mind. It was hard to do so. But he could almost explain it, the words seem to weigh heavily on his tongue.
โA rose and then a heart? How romanticโ, Natalya murmurs and gives him a side eye, although dare he say, she almost seemed to be interested in what he was trying to convey.
He gives a disdainful sigh and places his book on the table, which she decides to take a complete look at, eyes on a hunting spree for any secret she could find. There was none.
It wasnโt really his journal, just a rough book he had picked up along the way.
Though the last entry seemed to catch her attention quite well, with a whispery voice she reads out the lines,
โA rose
Yes
She was a rose
A rose who wilted
Waiting for one
Who dared to grasp
Her thorns
โ A roseโ
Lukas shrugs and rubs his neck awkwardly, โI once read that somewhereโ, he admits. He wasnโt going to take credit of something he didnโt write obviously.
A finger lightly traces the lines, deep purple eyes look up at him with a hint of growing curiosity,
โOh? What did you write it down for?โ,
โAn inspiration, you could sayโ, He simply answers with that to her question. It was true, sometimes someone elseโs writings motivates and inspires him to create something new and with a hint of familiarity.
โSimilar to being inspired by a sketch?โ,
โWell yes, of courseโ,
Natalya hums and turns the pages of the book, trying to read every inch of whatever was written. It was charming, to have someone be so interested in wanting to read what you have written.
โI was never good with words, never doing me any good, making me feel more confused to describe what I felt, it was frustrating; trying to find words which could explain what I always wanted toโ,
She tells and he listens.
โI could never reach out, the only comfort I could find in, was to make things that I could understand myself and that was through art. I did what I wanted to and it displayed it perfectly, with its raw scars ever presentโ,
Thereโs an understanding silence stretching between them.
โSo you closed yourself in? Because you could never truly express yourself through words?โ,
She doesnโt answer but yet he knows.
โCould you describe me? As you were doing so before, I would like to hear itโ,
Natalya closes his book delicately, and folds her hand on her lap. A series of words run through Lukasโ mind once again and he almost stutters, similar to a pen drying up.
Thereโs a comforting silence and Lukas almost doesnโt want to break it, but she has asked him to and he wanted to comply.
โShe was a rose
Wilted at the edges
Black as coal
Yet she blooms forevermore
Against the brewing cold
Which freezes her to the coreโ,
Think you idiot.
โStruggling against the frost
Against the encircled thorns
A heart desperately
Trying to bloom and beating
Weeps silently and keeps locked
All the burdening sorrowsโ,
He sees her nodding, eyebrows scrunched together now. She seems to be more intrigued in whatever he was saying, although it was corny.
Once again, he takes a deep breath now. Trying to think of something unique to describe her as, or even himself for that matter, both of them werenโt so different after all as he would have thought before.
Natalya had always been a mystery to Lukas at first; sharp and indifferent to her surroundings and other people. Blunt and clear with her words, never to back down form her point of perspectives. Cold and distant from everyone else, except her siblings, occasionally Felix and his newfound date, Sophia.
Kateryna had always complimented her sister, even though she appeared to be rude towards her. Always willing to defend her image and striving to make her mingle with other people.
He could see why was that so. It was somewhat similar to Britte and Mathias wanting to make him come โout of his shellโ, though he was content with his relations with other people with how they were without any bothersome issues.
Natalya wasnโt a bothersome person, if anything she was quite calm, and very guarded about herself.
โShe was a star
So distant and so far
Unreachable and untouchable
Shimmering as a dagger
As a lonesome tear
Riddled with scars
Almost could pierce your heartโ,
His words come out slow and he puts on a thoughtful look on his face, head tilted and his eyes wander towards the artists sitting beside him, doodling something as he starts forming his own thoughts into solid words,
โThatโs enough thinking for todayโ,
Thereโs a awkward cough from him as he stammers inaudibly, trying not to lose his cool composure. Damn it, out of all the times in the world it had to be now that his brain stops working?
Natalya completely turns towards him and gives a lopsided smirk, thereโs an ease in her composure at the moment. Her eyes no longer narrowed and shimmering with amusement, he doesnโt know.
โWell yes, I shouldโฆ.โ,
Lukas trails off as he notices the pretty star drawn on his book, it was rougher than her previous sketches and yet never failed to look so beautiful nonetheless. To be fair, it was drawn fairly quickly, he had to give her credit for that.
A small smile forms on his face and the Belarusian noticeably flushes, her cheeks a shade of red. She gives a firm nod with a hint of a smile, closing his book gently and slides it towards him.
โSo much for inspirationโ,
Natalia states dryly, giving him a sly smile, he rolls his eyes playfully and grabs his book. Thereโs a silent goodbye between the both of them, which they are glad for, there wasnโt a need for words anymore.
For now that is.
Lukas feels her stare on his back as he leaves on his way and doesnโt miss the way his heart flutters similar to the wings of a butterfly.
โโโโโโเผปโเผบโโโโโโ
โNatalya~~ so did you get motivated?? Itโs such a lovely weather today, letโs hang out somewhere nearby!โ,
The sound of Katerynaโs voice is loud enough to rouse her awake from her thoughts, stretching her back for a moment, she quickly gathers her supplies and gets up from her seat.
โI wouldnโt mind that sisterโ,
Thereโs a flash of a surprised look on Katerynaโs face at the reply but itโs quickly gone and replaced with a calm expression.
She then notices a covered cup which is offered to her, Natalya raises a brow at her sister who only gives a silent shrug of her shoulders. Taking the warm cup, she nods thankfully and doesnโt really mind when her sister wraps her arm around her and grabs Ludwigโs hand with the other.
โIt would be wonderful, no? Ludwig, you could invite your brother and Francine as well!~ maybe the Nordics could come tooโ,
โOf course, it would be my pleasureโ.
Ludwig stared at her fondly for a moment and a soft smile graces his face, this is the moment which Natalya notices and a slight twist forms in her heart at the scene.
But it isnโt painful. It almost feels like hope.
She truly hoped, that one day someone would stare at her as if she was an art itself as well. So gentle and filled with adoration.
The coffee tastes sweet and itโs quite lovely on her tongue.
โโโโโโเผปโเผบโโโโโโ
Lukas pays no mind towards Mathias as he keeps bothering him with questions he doesnโt care enough to answer.
โSo, got any luck with the ladies yet?โ,
He grips his phone and rolls his eyes at the Daneโs question, who no doubt snuck alcohol into the cafeteria lounge. Couldnโt he head to the bar made specifically for that purpose?
โManโ, he burps loudly and Lukas stares at him with utter dissatisfaction and disappointment, โyou should have told me you had a crush on Kat, I mean going for her sister when that didnโt work outโโ,
Lukas couldnโt help but stare at the man with disdain, really he was one of his closest friends, he was joking right?
โI could have hooked you both up fr, know what I am saying?โ,
Alas he wasnโt about to get answer from the Norwegian as Britte came up behind him with also a disappointed frown and swiftly slammed the manโs head on the table, almost knocking him up unconscious.
โDone! Ah, I should have known he would end up getting drunk, so sorry about that Lukas. He just cares about you a lot hahaโ,
The Finnish woman gives a beaming smile, pulling a groaning Mathias up from his seat and dragging him towards the hotel rooms. He would be fine, the pair were apparently made of steel.
Lukas wasnโt joking, it was indeed a testified confirmed fact. Both of them got frequently in danger in the name of โfun dating timeโ just for the thrill.
Huh.
His life was a full on comedy and a romantic flick, it seemed.
โโโโโโเผปโเผบโโโโโโ
Natalya smiles at the setting sun as she lays her down against the cool window pane, the radio on the low and the car speeding up on the road.
Ludwig is the one driving, with her sister on the passenger seat chatting up with Francine and Gilbert, she was sitting besides Madeline, who appeared to be rather solemn, in the far back. Content with the background noise for once.
โMaybe you can meet an another artist!โ
Huh.
So her sister wasnโt so wrong after all, Maybe she should give this thing a try, just for a dose of inspiration and motivation, of course. Nothing more or less.
Yes, just for a good source for inspiration, indeed.
summary: Madeline reminisces about how she met the love of her life during an autumn afternoon.
โข The link to the art used is โ> here
A/n: Decided to make an edit and write a Drabble for @nedcanweek prompt: Flowers // Tulips || Day 1, itโs not much but I hope itโs worth a read!
Words: 2,174
Warnings: none.
๊ง Start ๊ง
Her mother has always taken her to a quite peaceful park nearby, when the afternoon was warm and the sunlight gentle. Her chubby hands clenching her much taller motherโs dress as they both walked over to the park.
It was closer to their humble abode, so they reach quickly and her mother takes a seat on the bench, starting to knit without any trouble. Her teddy bear clenched tightly against her chest.
Being a young child and having a lot of energy to burn, Madeline runs around the park grounds, crushing dry leaves under her feet and craning her neck up to look at the colorful leaves above her.
She loved moments like this, her father would sometimes take her when he was free and along with them, her cousin sister and her parents would arrive as well.
It was peaceful, quite, the weather was warm with a gentle breeze and she found true happiness. Nothing could go wrong.
So to say she was confused hearing someone cry was understandable.
Madeline was always a sensitive young girl, gentle and calm as her mother was with her. With furrowed brows and puffing her cheeks, she walks over to the sound, insecurities forgotten and brimming with newfound confidence. Itโs the right thing to do after all.
Her cousin sister, Amelia, would have done the same. Brave and adventurous as she always was, grabbing her hand and pulling her away to do random stuff. Most of all, she loved to help people, be the โheroineโ, and truthfully Madeline loved to do so as well.
She pulls her hat down tighter, clenched her fists and made a determined expression, yes she could do this alone and her nervousness of getting lost was non-existent, her mother knew how to find her anyways, growing up in a rural place in Russia, her mother had quite the experience of finding and gathering.
The sniffling is closer now and for a while her steps halt as she considers what to do next, she could be awkward at conversations and didnโt accidentally want to scare off someone with appearing behind them so suddenly! Goodness, that would be really embarrassing.
Sighing, she steps closer to the tree and to her surprise sees a young girl such as herself, huddled up against the tree and trying to wipe her tears desperately. A small frown on her lips and a deep furrowing of her brows, Madeline asks as firm but gentle as she could, just like her mother would,
โIs everything okay? Are you maybe lost?, I could you lead you back!โ,
Surprisingly, the young girl didnโt even seem to flinch upon her arrival, and stood upโ wow she was tallโ, shaking her head and wiping her tears more fiercely now, she stares at Madeline with pretty hazel green eyes.
For a while, all she could do was stare, Madeline could feel the heat pooling in her stomach and didnโt know what to say about it. The girl seemed to be okay, no injuries whatsoever and didnโt even say anything about her being lost or so.
โItโs okayโ,
Her stare turned sharp; she could have sworn it made her seem more pretty, Madeline slowly nodded at her words, not knowing what to do really, this was turning so awkward,
โI am not lostโ, the girl huffed and crossed her arms tightly against herself, eyes staring sideways and slightly blushing.
A light turned on in Madelineโs head,
โOh! Thereโs no need to be embarrassed! Sometimes itโs easy to get lost around these parts and thatโs normal if you are new to this placeโ,
She said with a beaming smile, the girlโs eyes widened at her words and gave a confused look towards her,
โI am not lost, reallyโ, she frowns and once again averted her stare from Madelineโs smiling face, shuffling her fingers and crushing the leaves under her boot.
โOhโ, and that was that.
But Madeline was stubborn, she wanted to help this young girl, she could get kidnapped by Baba Yaga as her mother warned her or a deranged Englishman with thick eyebrows as her father says so; who could be so sure such things donโt exist?
Amelia had cried once when her mother read one of her German fairytales [the censored version! Which was for kids!], and had to be forced to go to the forest with her. It was a nightmare for everyone involved and embarrassing for her cousin too.
โProve itโ, she demands finally, being the opposite of intimidating. She was adorable as always and only got a raised brow in return, the girl maintaining her poker face.
โI donโt have to prove anything to you, why are you so upset?โ,
Madeline pouted and frowned deeply, upset at the girlโs defiance, โwell I want to help you but you donโt want to be helpedโฆโ, she trailed off and shuffled her foot.
The girl hummed and took a deep breath, retorting with a sharp turn of her head,
โWell thatโs your problemโ,
It seemed as if the whole world crashed around her as Madeline gasped, the audacity and the meanness from this girl, even Amelia wouldnโt be this mean. Here she was being a generous person and this is what she got?
โThen you shouldnโt have been crying, you know!โ,
โI donโt see how that concerns you!โ,
โIt does!โ,
โNo it does not! You simply heard me crying and thatโs all!โ
โWho wouldnโt be concerned about that?!?โ,
Madeline hated her whiny voice as it tended to come out when she was emotional, just as her father and now was one of those moments, the girl furrowed her brows further,
โItโs none of your business, yโknowโ,
โI am not trying to earn a profitโ,
There was a pause as Madeline gave a proud grin to herself, she had heard that line from one of her neighbors and had memorized it for future use, especially to use it against Amelia.
โGood, I wouldnโt want to waste my money anywaysโ, a small grin appears on the girlโs face as Madelineโs face turns red with anger and despair. {years later she would spent so much just for her happiness}
โYou are so meanโฆ..โ, now it was her turn to cross her arms and the girlโs turn to give a small smile, sighing and shrugging her shoulders. {years later, she wouldโve simply smiled and giggled at her bluntness}
โYou shouldnโt be so stubbornโ,
A huff and a grumble,
โโฆโฆโฆ.. but arenโt you being stubborn as well?โ,
Madeline subtly smiles as the girl stutters for a while, caught in her own dumbness as she presumed. The girl glares at her and frowns once again,
โYou wouldnโt leave me alone, I had no choice but to be stubbornโ, she finally retorted and turned away completely.
A silence passes between them, a gentle breeze and the sunlight fading away. Maple leaves continue to fall gently to the ground and both of them stay still for a while, basking in the surrounding around them. {maybe they were thinking of each other the most}
โDo youโฆ.. not want to be alone?โ,
Thereโs a sniffle, Madeline gently smiles now, hugging her teddy bear tighter and walks over to the girl. She then sees some crushed flowers on the ground and frowns, bending over to clearly look at them.
โYou must have crushed themโฆ..โ,
โItโs very stupidโฆ..โ,
Madeline shakes her head at the comment and tells her to wait, as she leaves the girl alone for a while, firmly telling her not to go anywhere. A few moments later she arrives, as nervous as ever but nonetheless determined with a new cause and words of encouragements from her dear mother.
โHere you go!โ,
Once again those pretty hazel eyes glance at her {years later they would never leave her form and she would find herself getting lost in them}, and stared, rather confused at the bundle of maple leaves arranged together as a bouquet clenched in her hand.
โThose arenโt tulipsโฆ.โ, she frowns and Madeline giggled and nodded enthusiastically.
โYeah silly, they are not, I have some at home but sometimes me and my cousin make maple bouquets when we can! Itโs very fun!โ,
The bouquet is gently held by the girl now, curious eyes roaming over the maple leaves, and for some reason thereโs a tension bursting in Madelineโs chest as she waits for her response. It wasnโt that pretty but she had hopped it was enoughโฆ.
โItโs very prettyโ,
โEh? Itโ it is, do youโฆ. really think that itโs, you know, pretty?โ,
A lovely smile is directed at her and for some reason she feels happy too, she feels warmer than the sunlight falling upon them and making the leaves shine with thousands of colors. Thereโs again a faint blush on her cheeks, her eyes shine and itโs something that Madeline wants to stare at forever.
โI love it, itโsโฆ, perfect! thank youโ,
She stared so beautifully at the bouquet {years later, it would be her staring at Madeline at the alter}, that makes Madeline not want to her go just yet, to o make this pretty lady stay for a while longer that is.
โDo you want me to stay here, with you?โ, she asks in a quite voice and gets a thoughtful look in return, then a nod as the girl softly smiles at her now.
โSure, yeah I would like you to stay, if you want to, of courseโ,
She seems rather hesitant and that makes Madeline want to insure her that she could stay forever; if she would like, her father had once whispered the same words to her mother in French, long ago when they were still healing each other. Perhaps they could heal each other now.
And maybe one day, she would tell the same words to her.
โMadeline Bonnefoy-Braginskaya, you can call me Maddy if you would like, I know my name is really longโโ, she says with an ever beaming smile, her chubby cheeks puffed out with an adorning blush, thereโs a pause as sheโs being stared at and then a shy smile, a giggle she would never forget, the girl whispers, a name she would always remember forever and could never forget even if she wanted to.
โI, Karina Maes, take you Madeline Bonnefoy-Braginskaya, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part.โ
Thereโs a roar and cheer perhaps, Madeline doesnโt remember, all she knows is that she was being held by her lover and kissed gently, her own hands firmly holding her and she was pretty sure, she had felt a tear or two.
She remembers her father leading her to the altar, whispering to her encouragements and how to say some of her vows in French, which she personally wanted to do so, after finding out how her father had done the same, much to the dismay of the Russian side of the wedding. But her mother had saved the day with saying her vows in Russian, much to the dismay of the French side.
Her mother had held her hand and gave her a peck on the cheek, calling her, her little snowflake and sunflower, her Ukrainian aunt crushing her against her chest and her Belarusian aunt giving her a firm nod. Her American uncle, a proud man, had crushed her in a hug, her aunt scolding him and giving her a strong hug of her own afterwards, almost crushing her just like her husband had done so.
Amelia was her bridesmaid, giving her a beaming smile as her boyfriend, a German just like her mother, bowed and congratulated her. She remembers how she was spun around by Amelia when she announced she was about to be married. They both prepared the wedding and even payed the expenses, Ludwig mostly, maybe to impress her aunt, who knows? Nonetheless she was glad.
โAbout damn timeโ, Amelia had said, in the same country accent as her father and a stern frown which soon turned into a teasing grin and they both danced around in the kitchen, twirling and exaggerated moves.
Her mother and father held her tightly while staying with her throughout the wedding plans and everything else. As they always had, they were so lovely and had been there for her through thick and thin.
And oh, she could also remember how she promised to her lover that she would stay forever as long as she would like and that she did, in delicate French that is. Along with fulfilling the promise with everything she had.
It was so long ago, but she remembers it all as it were a lovely dream she could never let go of.
The maple leaves fall amongst the ground gently, warm sunlight caressing their wrinkled skin as they sat on a bench nearby a lake and watched the day pass by ever so slowly, perhaps thinking of the day they had met or how they were to be there for each other.
Through their window the same sunlight falls gently, pooling over their vows written on a yellowed paper and caressing a dried bouquet of tulips and maple leaves bundled together.
The teacup is placed on the table lightly, the caption contrasting with the stone cold expression of itโs owner. Thereโs a slight raise of her eyebrows at the newcomer, albeit from his position it wouldnโt have been visible.
There was no need to guess as Arthur had observed her for far long for needing to think when it comes to her, even if her eyes forever seemed to be enclosed in a mystery of her own, he had long since drawn her curtains up.
She takes a sharp breath, hands folded neatly on her lap, shoulders squared and a narrowing of her eyes. Heartbeat accelerated, a hint of curiosity canโt help but linger in her mind,
โCould you not breath down my neck every second of the day, Arthur?โ
He had always admired the way his name rolled off her tongue, in a rough and chopped up manner as she only bothered to question him when he was being a menace to society and her existence.
โI am notโ, he simply states so. Which was the truth really, if anything Natalya had been the one dragging the both of them from place to place and country to country for the past few days, and he had kindly obeyed.
A sigh of irritation and finally she shoots a glare towards him, beside her, a loving companion who was also a cat gives a glare of her own. โI mean literally, stop breathing down my neck, itโs annoying and frankly, creepyโ,
Arthur gives a thoughtful expression for a moment, smoothing out his neat suit and tilting his head. He gives a desperate sigh which she rolled her eyes at,
โBut I just canโt help myself when your blood calls out to meโ, he says calmly.
โMy bloodโs rotten and so is your coreโ, gritting her teeth, thereโs a flurry and a glint of metal as Arthur narrowly avoids the dagger aimed for his chest,
As he was a mad lad and a man with great reflexes, he catches her wrist in a tight grip and gives a tight grin, a furrow of his eyebrow and his sharp fangs visible more clearly now.
Natalyaโs hand burns and a purple glow envelopes the dagger, itโs mesmerizing and pretty to watch, similar to her eyes which Arthur could stare at all day.
โMust we do this again?โ, Arthurโs voice is a whisper as he leans towards her face. โThe neighbors will hear usโ,
The lady rolls her eyes at the statement and raises her brow, โand you didnโt worry about the before?, shouldnโt you have learned to behave centuries ago?โ,
His grin is unwavering as he clicks his tongue, dangerously wide eyed, โthe past centuries havenโt changed muchโ,
She wrinkled her nose, the purple glow slipping off her hair as raindrops, although it quickly turns into small waves of flame. It wonโt hurt them or him, only if she would have wanted too.
โThey would still burn a witch on the stakeโ, the grin is replaced with a sly smile and she huffs, the dagger moved away from his chest. She must have been reminded of her sister, although she was a faerie and not a witch, two different things. And no she wasnโt dead.
โAnd I would still, pierce this iron dagger through your chest watching as your flesh melts and hum along to your screamsโ,
โWell, that isnโt edgy at allโ, itโs now his turn to roll his eyes, taking a seat across from her as they proceed to grasp their cups refilled by a magical kettle floating over the table.
โAnd your fangs are sooo cool and original?โ,
โThey could tear apart a bitch, I tell youโ.
Natalya gives a light grin at the comment and braces herself for whatever the reason was for him to arrive here during her tea time.
โOh, if we must move again, must we take that cat with us?โ,
The cat pauses from the process of licking its tummy, itโs green eyes glowing dangerously under the sunlight.
A frown graces her lips, โYes, muffins shall come with us wherever we may goโ, he groans at the response and swears the cat gives him a mocking expression.
โMuffins?, that old ladyโ, the cat almost seems offended,โis immortal, can float and has claws that could disfigure a person for lifeโ.
Natalya sips her tea without any worry, thereโs a knock at the door and the both of them stare at each other for a while.
โSeems like Jones have found usโ, he states amusingly and Natalya snorts.
.
.
.
โGreat, they have ran away againโ,
Thereโs a disdain in Matthews tone, the room they were standing in is now bare with no trace of someone else living there.
The neighbors were creeped out to say the least and no threatening could get anything out of them.
Alfred narrows his eyes at the window, wide open and the curtains flailing around. He clenched his gun tightly, gritting his teeth as a hand is placed on his shoulder.
โThere, there it will be fineโ,
Footsteps echoes in the room and Alistair takes out a cigar, lightning it up. A careless, dangerous grin forms on his lips, eyes shimmering green, but obviously the two human mortals do not notice so. Who knew he could manipulate a horde of hunters? This was far too easy.
โWe will get them just in timeโ, he can feel the anger brimming off Alfred and canโt help but feed off the negative energy. Matthewโs sweet disdain and a hint of anxiety has always been soothing.
He watches the smoke from his cigar move gracefully and listens to Matthew talk with Lars about dragon-sightings near the area, which has never been heard for centuries by the woodland โaka mythicalโ creatures.
Arthurโs memories flashes through his mind, and as always the desire for revenge the boy has had for the one thing that took his humanity away.
He sighs. Even without the hunters, he would still find a way to stop Arthur before he does something regrettable for the creatures that shouldnโt be revealed about to anyone.
Hey hey ^^ Your latest Pr/Uk edit looked enticing with the dark atmosphere. Do you have a story idea behind this work?
Thank you for the compliment, that was the exact look I was going for! I do have a story idea about it, almost all of my edits are inspired by several of my story ideas and vice versa, I just go into an overdrive with my imagination.
It will be a series, revolving around dark fantasy themes and complicated romances, I thought of writing a story with them being nations as in canon but scratched that idea since it wouldnโt exactly fit what I am going for.
I have several stuff and details to plan before getting it started, it will be posted on ao3 for easier reading, definitely would take a lot of time and research to get it completed. Hopefully you stick around for reading and reviewing it โก๏ธ
Wonโt be able to guarantee the exact date since I still consider myself an amateur writer while also being a perfectionist, will try my best to finish it of course!
โWasnโt she your love? A broken kind of jewel, shards shining bright as stars up in the dark blue sky. Tattered gown, shattered eyes and a wall around herself made of marble, rust covering her fingers from an ancient sword, skin stained with blood, once burned with envy and pale with disdain, tears buried deep into her kingdom of ash, a crimson rose covered in thorns. For her, Arthur was willing to bleed and burn as much as wanted, as much as was needed. To be as ferocious and ripped apart as her, to love her even though he might burn afterwards, even though she is a dagger scarring his heart, shards piercing his skin, her words were poison and her touches heavenly, her existence haunting his heart forevermore. Even if it meant pain, to feel her love once again, Arthur was willing to burn the whole world downโ.
Summary: He tried his best to make her happy among the chaos in their lives, a reminder of what more could have been, although he could not change the past; Lovino was willing to give his all at the moment. Just to see her smile once again, it was the only thing keeping him alive and sane anyways.
a/n: I decided to write something for @hws-germano-week, I have always admired Germano so I had to give it a try and came up with a small Drabble along with an aesthetic edit regarding it. I apologize for the late submission and hope this was worth reading! Reviews are always welcomed, personally I am not proud of it at all :( this went way differently but it would have taken more time. Maybe I will make a series afterwards.
Relationship: Romano/Fem!Germany. A hint of other pairings mentioned as well.
At first when he wakes up, the sunlight overwhelms his sight, his stomach rumbles in hunger and along with that the rapid tweeting of the birds outside ruins his chances of going back to sleep.
He can hear subtle chatter of people coming from the other room- err- classroom- and already wishes to be home. Preferably in a casket, but as always life despised him and ignored his wishes.
Grumbling, he forces himself to forget his thoughts- no reason to dwell in them- and gets up, stretching and beginning to get somewhat ready for the day. Not that it was necessary to do so- but not even an apocalyptic event could stop him from looking his best dammit.
Lovinoโs head spins for a while when someone laughs obnoxiously- and then he hears a commotion which irritates him to no end, but he deals with it. Finally looking at his reflection, he decides to join them and drinks some of his secret wine he had stashed in his bag. No need for those bastards to know anything about it.
Would he have gotten in trouble?
Yes.
Probably gotten detention?
Definitely.
Would his dear beloved Monika, kick his ass for it and give a long ass detailed ecture?
Of courseโฆโฆโฆ well fuck.
Almost banging the door in a hurry, he darts towards the kitchen, mostly used for home science classes or culinary lessons. Some students were given special permission to use the kitchen for experimenting and his sister could have been one of them, despite being a good cook, apparently swearing was off limits to a snobby Austrian jackass, the teacher.
Damn were the hallways always this long? Sure he knew this was an elite school but jeez, this was discriminatory to lazy people.
What was the need for those dangly ass chandeliers and the huge windows with fancy curtains? Decorative wide doors and elegant benches placed below it? Along with potted plants and what not? Good-fuck-ness.
Succumbing to a light jog, his mind reeled over the special plans he had made for the day. After all, it was supposed to be Valentineโs Day, even though he wasnโt much invested in such topics- that was Feliciaโs job- he wasnโt stupid or inattentive towards his girlfriend to not know that she was a sucker for cheesy and romantic stuff. Despite not appearing the type.
He was Monikaโs first lover anyways; she wasnโt an easy person to read and always tried to steer away from dating despite wanting to because of her own insecurities. She was shy, surprisingly when it came to such things, when he decided to ask her out himself she had turned into a tomato <which he was proud of>.
It was simply too obvious to know that she had a crush on him, Felicia and her friends helped them get together as well. Which he was really glad for.
They had recently started officially dating, he had warned all the other bastards to leave her alone and not to overwhelm or pressure her; Gilbert admired that aspect and gave him his โblessingsโ along with few threats.
This would be their first Valentines together and Lovino wanted to make her happy, maybe he wouldnโt succeed much, but it was worth a try. He wasnโt the most optimistic man around but he was willing to try and deep down maybe Monika was trying her best too. Everyone was.
They both were, really it wasnโt easy, but losing hope was the last thing they needed. What they needed was hope, hope in each other and in the future laying ahead of them.
Finally arriving at the kitchen door or the culinary classroom, whatever, he takes a sharp breath and opens the door. Instantly his mouth waters as he smells fresh bread and delicious combinations of food being placed on the table by Sakura who gives him a subtle smile.
Nearby her is Felix carrying several plates for her to keep, he is met with a grin which he returns with a firm nod.
Entering the kitchen, also very wide with dozens of appliances, he briskly walks towards the person he was looking for, Kateryna.
He quickly spots Gilbert as well, cleaning up one of the counters near her, apparently as much as the lady was a great baker, she could also be quite messy.
Roderick, the culinary teacher, as much as he was great at his job, could also be snappy and once drove her into tears for creating such a mess during one of her exams. Gilbert had gotten into an argument over it with him and ended up serving detention. Honestly it wasnโt such a big issue, three of them were simply having a bad day, dealing with issues and no bad blood was spilled afterwards.
โOi you want to get fried?, get away from the oil would you?โ,
Gilbert narrowed his eyes at the Italian who shook his head at the question, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked towards Kateryna, standing behind him with a smile and waving a hand towards the albino,
โThere there, he simply wanted to get his order! Didnโt you Lovino?, but he is right you know- you should be careful around boiling oil!โ,
Folding his arms, he gives a nod, trying to find a good comeback to Gilbert but letโs it be, the man was looking out for him anyways. He sees Kateryna carrying a box and opens it to reveal a small chocolate cake and several cupcakes similar in design. It was simple yet elegant, romantic but nothing too much.
Ah, he made a good choice trusting her to do this at the moment. Monika had always gushed about her cupcakes to him, apparently it reminded her of what her father used to make until he passed away. Hence he had decided to beg- ask- for some to be made.
โThanksโ, he mutters giving her a crooked smile, of course he gets a wide one in return. Turning around, he walks towards one of the counters and then freezes.
Blood. Bandages. Wound.
โGilbert?โ,
The man hums in return.
โYour armโฆ. What happened?โ,
He doesnโt mean to sound rude or skeptical but it comes out that way. Not that he wasnโt concerned, itโs just that Gilbert would definitely kick his ass, a good thing he wasnโt alone with him or that he wasnโt pissed off.
It didnโt seem to be huge, the bandage was only wrapped near his elbow. Gilbertโs rolled sleeves was the only way he had noticed until now.
โOhโฆ itโs nothing to worry about really!โ, he hears Kateryna exclaim in a hurry. She gently touches the wrapped elbow and observes it carefully, โMatthew accidentally hurt him with a knife- thankfully I and Amelia were present and took care of the situation.โ
The three hear a subtle, โlosing a lover is tough I guessโ, from Felix and he remembers Matthew having a meltdown over his lover.
He narrowed his eyes and carefully thinks about what she said in his mind, aware of the look both of them were giving him, one concerned and one intense.
โYikes, didnโt know they admitted delinquents at this schoolโ,
The awkward silence is broken by giggles and Gilbert shrugs his shoulders with a wry grin, Kat gives an exasperated sigh,
โHey, this school wasnโt all that preppy and perfect yโknow?โ,
Lovino scoffs and rolls his eyes, โhow the heck would I know? I didnโt go to this damn of an utopiaโ,
It was his sister.
โWell itโs a beauty, ainโt it?โ,
He turns on his heels as Felix calls out to him as he opens the door, wanting to get out of the room and ignore the stare Gilbert gave him,
โMonika would be nearly there!!โ,
โYeah whatever! Mind ya damn business, nosy pricks!!โ,
Grumbling, he slowly walks through the halls, skimming through his plan once again. It was nothing grand but decorating does take some time, others with experience had been willing to help with the plan and everything seemed to be going well.
Eventually he slowed down further, turning his head towards the windows, looking at the courtyard that laid out in front of the school. The bright sky never failed to remind him of her eyes, he remembered scrambling whatever money he had to buy her an expensive sapphire jewelry as a birthday gift.
Monika had kissed him then, chastised him for being an expensive gift. He had given her the gift behind a small pond behind the school, in the middle of several trees, where he had first kissed her. Maybe he had wanted to show her how dearly he loved her, afterwards they went out and explored the whole town together.
It was one of the times that she completely let herself loose, screaming at the rollercoaster, slipping on the ice skating rink, dropping her ice cream and looking at it in utter dismay. Holding his hand tightly as they both got freaked out at the haunted house. Petting stray cats that Lovino knew and also had beef with some of them personally.
After all, they were about to graduate and eventually go somewhere else to study further. Away from this place, not that Monika would need to, she was already about to inherit her fatherโs business along with her brother and would receive grands in inheritance.
Lovino on the other hand, had no choice but to work hard. He wasnโt as privileged as her, yet despite this difference, they both had decided to enroll in a university together in another country. Maybe his sister would have followed, although he doubted so.
โYo you photosynthesizing in the sunlight or some shit? didnโt know your career idea was to be a lanky ass plantโ,
The man in question blinks and gives Amelia a slight glare, seemingly he was standing still at one spot, staring blankly outside.
Amelia grinned, eyes widening at the box on his hands. Oh yeah, he had told her about his plan. She hadnโt stopped bothering and teasing him about it since then, but also she was a reliable member and pretty creative herself.
Toni waves towards him as he catches up with her, giving a smile as well, โoh I heard something about a valentines cake huh? Congratulations!โ, he claps his hands and overall the whole thing annoys Lovino,
โWay to be secretiveโ,
โOh come on!!โ, Amelia stomps her feet and places both of her hands at her waist, glaring at him with a pout on her lips, โalmost anyone else would have guessed too yโknow?โ,
โYeah!โ, Toni exclaims, nodding along to what she said,
โAnd itโs cute anyways, my dude. You should try to relax yโknow? Get some fresh air, I could throw you off this floor as a head startโ,
โNothing more you can do during a Zombie apocalypse anyways, am I right?โ.
โฆโฆโฆ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ.
โWow way to snipe the mood away dude, literally what the fuck, I canโt even-โ
โNo wait I-โ,
With a sigh, Lovino simply turns around, trying to forget whatever comes into his mind at the moment at the mention of it. Just for a moment. Forget.
He hears Toni apologizing and Amelia giving him a piece of her mind, deciding to not join their argument, the fire inside of him was gone away anyways.
Finally a moment later, he sees her.
Sitting on a bench, beside her is Anastasia, showing her one of her paintings and both of them seemingly having a relaxing moment with each other. Erika stands on the other of the bench watching the both of them with a little smile on her face.
At first, he decides not to interrupt them, he wasnโt a possessive jackass that couldnโt wait for a while until theyโ-
But before he could decide what to do, Erikaโs keen eyes as her brotherโs once was, sets upon him. Her smile turns wider as she observes him and glances towards both of the idiots arguing behind him, about to tell them to shut the fuck up heโ-
A pair of strong arms warp around his shoulders, almost choking him to death, Monika breathes shakily and he is quick to calm her down with rubbing her back as much as he could, after a while she pulls back to stare at him with confused eyes,
โI just thought you were-, I was looking for you everywhere Lovi,โฆ and I justโ-โ,
Her hands hold his face and suddenly whatever she says starts to make him feel a bit guilty for worrying her so, although she was simply traumatized from what was going on, she probably thought the others were trying to distract her from the fact that he was gone,
Giving a wry grin, he does what he does best, charm her with his smile and poetic words, which she undoubtedly had fallen for, it doesnโt work when she begins to drag him to the bench. Her eyes spotting the box on his hands,
โHuhโฆ whatโs this??โ,
โHappy Valentines Day?โ,
Monika simply stares at him and then the box, she seems to be very confused then finally comes to a realization with a blushing face and a smile she fails to keep at bay. And then he gets a kiss on his cheek as she begins dragging him towards the bench,
โYou know, I am not going anywhere anytime soon, okay?โ, he whispers to her as he then gives a peck on her lips, her hand still gripping him closely to her as she tries really hard not to combust spontaneously.
โWell we will leave you two lovebirds aloneโ, Erika states, and Lovino feels somewhat guilty again, he didnโt mean to interrupt their hangout, which wasnโt an always occurrence. They were all busy worrying about one thing or another when it came down to it anyways, wondering about supplies and what not.
โYou could stay for a whileโฆ.โ, he says awkwardly to the girls who simply shake their head at the suggestion,
Anastasia holds her book to her chest as she gives out a sigh, a light frown on her face,โI have been wanting to check on Sakuraโฆsee if sheโs doing alrightโ,
โYeah, ever since Feliciaโs gone, she hasnโt been doing anything well. I am afraid this could effect her in the long term, we canโt risk thatโ,
Amelia says slowly, there is a wince from Erika when she heard the inevitable truth. Not that Lovino didnโt agree, they had to move on if they had to survive.
But at least he and Monika had each other to lean on, Sakura had lost her lover. So he understood what she was going, the thought of loosing Monika was unbearable during sleepless nights, he had slept curled up near her just enough to calm down his racing heart.
Lovino feels the grip on his arm tighten and immediately places his hand on top of hers, placing the box on the bench, he makes her sit down and Monika gives a hesitant smile.
โI suppose.. we should leave nowโฆ.โ, Erika whispers to everyone else behind and they agree, not wanting to ruin the coupleโs moment.
Anastasia nods, patting Toni on the shoulder to signal him that they were leaving, he was chatting with her about one thing or other as he always did and Amelia had already taken the lead. Erika glances at them for a brief moment before following them,
Lovino waits for them to get out of their sight and sighs, he feels Monika tense against him at the action, so he slightly skims his fingers through her hair to calm her down.
โLetโs- letโs go, are you ready to go?โ, he asks her more slowly, not wanting to pressurize her much. A part of him is glad when she nods, lately she has been getting better at being in control of herself, which was a good progress.
There was a reason he had wanted the ladies to stay, as much as his โteamโ was very resourceful and smart with dealing with an apocalypse, they were also very supportive with each other. But also gave a more blunt approach to things, none of them could afford letting their emotions blind them at the moment.
Monika gets up from the bench and grabs his hand, a newfound determination perhaps, with a small smile, they both walk towards the stairs which lead towards their destination, not without taking the box of course, Kateryna would kick his ass.
โSoโฆ. You ready?โ, he asks teasingly and gets a nod in return, she pulls him towards the stairs and both of them then stand near a door which he opens with a grand bow, leading to the roof.
It brings out a giggle from the blonde woman and then a surprised gasp at the sight before her eyes.
โHow?โฆ I mean I would have noticed it-โ,
Lovino feels an immense sense of happiness and pride at her reaction, with a wry grin he goes ahead and places the box on the low lying table.
She felt as if she was rooted to the ground, the sight was just so pretty, and after everything they have been through, a nice change of sight.
The roof wasnโt being used at the moment, everyone simply too tired and focusing more on resting and regaining their strength, fixing up stronger barriers against the zombies and cleaning up their weapons to use again, making plans and grieving over losses. So it was pretty much free to use.
A small but an elegant canopy, decorated with several roses, fairy-lights strung over the structure to use at night, dangling stars and green bows as a finishing touch. Below it were soft pair of cushions, a fluffy blanket, on the middle was a small table, where Lovino placed the box and took a seat on one of the cushions.
โWell?โ, he asks, opening the box and once again, Monika beams happily at the sight of the baked treats, decorated with small adorable cornflowers and yellow sunflowers, a signature flower of Kat.
โI havenโt had this in a whileโ, she says slowly, taking a seat near him, admiring the pretty treats and taking a long, hard look around her surroundings.
There was also a small radio on a long table, tucked near a corner, a flask and two cups kept near it. And beside itโฆ.. a telescope and a vintage camera?
Perking up, she grabs Lovino in a fierce grip and begins shaking him rapidly, making him both fear her wrath and content with her childish giddiness,
โHOW DID YOU GET THAT!?!!โ
She turns sharply towards him when he winces and slightly runs his shoulders, blushing red, making her suspicious at his behavior and his stammered words,
โWellโฆ. You seeโฆ.,,,โ, he starts weakly, but nothing much comes out,
โYes Vargas, I do, I have eyes in case you havenโt noticedโ, she crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at him, using his last name always meant he was about to get his ass kicked.
โOf course, I wouldnโt forget such a thing, my pretty, wonderful belladonnaโ, he replies with a smooth, charming voice. Obviously it does not take effect on the German woman, finally he relents with a grimace and answers rapidly,
โAmelia and I snuck at night while everyone was asleep, went through the barriers, barely avoided the zombies, killed about seven of those bastards, did some acrobatic showdown and got some stuff from the astronomy and from few other classes to keep our boredoms at bay? It was Ameliaโs idea, I swear I could neverโ,
At the response, Monika pulls the sleeves of shirt up and growls dangerously at him, giving his shoulder a well-landed punch,
โOW, hey- your not you when your hungry, have some cakeโโ, she jumps on top of him and fixes him with a glare, โor maybe a kissโโ, he doesnโt get to finish when a pair of lips land on his, his hair in her grasp and his hands clutching her waist in a desperate grip,
Monika pulls back and breathes heavily, pulling back her hair and looking at him in bewilderment, they havenโt really gotten ahead of their kissing phase-,
โVargas โโ, Lovino gives a wide smirk at her cracking voice and the sensation he could feel from her at the moment,
โYes, my little belladonnaโ,
โYou are one crazy motherfucker, arenโt you?โ, she asks harshly, still on top of him with a dominant attitude which makes him feel all sort of emotions that he had tried to ignore during an apocalypse, that and because of her overprotective brother.
โAinโt that just a man in love?โ, his tone is sultry, a mischievous glint in his eyes which makes her fall in love all over again. And he knows it makes her weak,
With a slight smirk on her lips, Monika gets off him. Sighing in exasperation, she slowly takes a cupcake from the box, glancing towards him with an innocent smile on her lips,
Lovino watches her very closely, narrowing his eyes at her fingers tracing the cupcake and then slowly placing a piece in her mouth, licking her fingers and then a very teasing grin directed towards him,
โBut so is a very pissed off, hungry woman, instructions indicate to let her have cakeโ,
โThat is a cupcakeโ,
She rolls her eyes with an extra sassy energy, โand you went off on a late date night with an another woman, which is worse? Also I am not in the mood to eat you, this is my Valentine cake and I am going to eat it right nowโ,
This was torture, he was pretty sure she was taking her sweet time. With a grumble and a pained sigh, he flipped on his back and stared at the sky above, trying to close his ears from the sounds of excessive licking and chewing, along with subtle sounds of moaning,
With sadness seeping through his skin, he tries to decide what would be more painful, falling from the roof and getting turned into a zombie? Or being brought alive by Gilbert and getting his ass kicked or chocked to death by Monika over and over again?
Sighing once again, hoping Monika hears his despair, thinking about the what the others would be doing, he huffs and perhaps after a long time, a genuine wide smile comes on his lips as he stares up at the sunny sky,
Just as bright and calm as her presence and pretty blue as her eyes.
โDo tell, just who the bloody hell do you think you are?โ
Blush adorning her cheeks, easily flustered as the gentleman chuckled in response. Alice narrowed her eyes in curiosity at him, not so usually dressed- actually he was more prone to wear his fancy uniforms rather than whatever suit he had chosen to wear for this ball, not that stopped anyone to ogle at his appearance.
Gilbert didnโt utter a word, a sort of confusion and irritation bubbled at her chest. Not out of hatred, she simply wasnโt in a mood to play around, having been in a pathetic argument with Felicia a moment ago over why she had punched Francis on the face and a discussion with Emma over Antonio knocking off her wine glass, hectic really.
Francis had invited almost all of Europe to his party, as grand as ever. Felicia had helped him to set up arrangements and invite anyone who disliked the Frenchman enough to not arrive. Antonio, along with Emma, had dragged along Gilbert and her with them.
It wasnโt all that bad- yes she was tired and quite hungry as well, but it was somewhat enjoyable to meet up with everyone.
Slowly she felt Gilbertโs hand grasping hers, the color of their gloves going well together. She had noticed so and it feltโฆ.. nice. Her creamy gown actually complimented Gilbertโs blue suit, his hair slicked back, and not a thing out of place. She had tied her hair in a braid, long bangs left on her shoulder, a white rose placed behind her ear. And a white rose on his suit. Huh. It matched.
Alice couldnโt help but ponder, what would they both look like to someone else? Merely acquaintances? Or perhaps something more? They didnโt have a official name for what their relationship was, neither the others knew about it. The thought somewhat left her breathless, after all, she did find Gilbert very attractive, half of her friends did so, it was hard not to.
She loved him, and sometimes she hoped whatever he had said during those long days when they held each other had been true. That his teasings meant something more, it was different than what he does with Erzsebeta or Jadwiga, mostly just silly nicknames which edged on romantic. Whether it was quoting a cheesy line or pretending to be her butler.
He pulls her closer now, face with a gentle expression, looking so peaceful that Alice could feel the butterflies eating her alive. Their hands are clasped together and she quickly places her hand on his shoulder, trying to avoid the feel of his built shoulders. Then he wraps his hand around her waist, somewhat surprising her, with a firm hold.
They are so close, Alice was burning with the intimate position they both were in. Especially in a formal setting, she was about to say something but the glint on his eyes made her go quite.
It felt as if she was the only one to exist at that moment to Gilbert, smiling hesitantly she moved her hand from his shoulder and caressed his cheek, making his eyes widen and smirk. Hopefully he wasnโt about to ruin the moment or just acting.
But instead of laughing or teasing her, nothing of that sort, he simply brought them closer together until their foreheads were touching. Breathing slowly and moving with just a little sway to whatever tune was playing in the background.
Alice could hear the chattering of the other fellow nations, she saw Francis give a sly smile at them, dancing with Felicia himself, Antonio was in his own world twirling Emma. Roderick was flustered as Jadwiga dragged him to the dance floor, giving them both an exasperated glance. The Polish lady grinned at them and Erzsebeta, nearby simply shook her head, her arm linked with Ludwigโs as he conversed about something with Bausch.
โAs for your question, my rose?โ,
Their eyes met together, the Englishwoman being very confused but also feeling endeared, raising a brow at the Prussian, wanting to know the reason behind his calm demeanor. Not that he was crazy or obnoxious everyday, itโs just the man had a tendency to tease her once or twice, a silly nickname and always trying to be the posh gentleman one way or other.
He could be a gentleman when she truly needed, or someone she could let out some steam with, have a drink and share her deepest feelings with, she could tear him apart but he would still hold her pieces together. So why couldnโt she just trust him? Fear, perhaps. It was fear stopping her.
โYes, for a while I thought you had gone deafโ, she muttered irritated, making Gilbert chuckle again, a hand on her chin as he left a chaste kiss on her cheek. Stuttering Alice composed herself, blinking her eyes rapidly, she inquired him again, hoping her skin hadnโt turned so rose-red at the kiss.
โWell, answer me then, who in the bloody hell do you think you are?โ, her voice is a whisper now, yet demanding in a way to get her message across to the man,
A blissful smirk crossed his face, one that she was glad to see.
โHopelessly and utterly yours, my darlingโ,
Perhaps her heart had grown wings and it flutters rapidly.
Then a grumble, blushed cheeks and perhaps a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. Alice pushes him away, but didnโt let go of his hand, still in his firm but a gentle grasp.
She shouldnโt have bothered, really.
But something beckons her that she could trust Gilbert after all. To allow herself to break apart and to trust him to fix her all over again when she couldnโt trust herself to do so.
โFor Ludwig, she was a force of nature. Breaking through whatever came in her way, with a malicious glint in her eyes and a goal placed in her heart, warmth in her sly smile and a free sprit, the earth embraced her entirely. she was a storm, with thundering skies and a glare of sunlight, crashing waves and drowning feelings, unpredictable and unstable but always unapologetically true and just like that, he couldnโt stop her from claiming his heart. sure no one can conquer or tame a storm that rages so bravely but the same goes for a heart yearning for true love. She had burned fiercely and he basked in her warmth until he became addicted to what was always hers, barely he gets to hold her until she is far ahead and in the end, he always ends up chasing her; to the dawn of a brewing stormโ.
โIf anything, Madeline cherished his smile forever deep within her memories, she knows of it. When she giggles lightly or does something cute, no matter how embarrassing, she is aware of Ludwigโs subtle smile. He wasnโt the most expressive, but she liked it that way, instead he was attentive of her, tightening her scarf or rather reluctantly, giving her pet a walk, fixing her glasses, little things really. It had always been the little things bringing them closer together. It kept her relaxed, his steady composure, he wasnโt much taller than her but more broad, enveloping her body so tenderly. He was quite; but remembers to make sure she knows she means so much to him, calm and rational words soothing her anxious thoughts, a voice of reason and such little moments, is what Madeline would truly remember deep within her heart. It was being absentmindedly held while sleeping, hair tucked behind her ear and the blanket pulled over, a warm jacket engulfing her when it was too cold, making hot cocoa and sitting in blissful silence as the sun goes down, all of this is what she would cherish along with his subtle smile and deep laughter as he kisses her forehead, just to show he had always cherished her as well.
โIt was childish and clichรฉ, she supposed. Whenever he held her hand, she felt as if she was something more than a carefree maiden, her clothes turned to gown and the stars in his eyes turned to gemstones which adorned her wrists and neck, his kiss on her forehead made her feel as if he had placed a crown on the top of her head. She felt like a queen, ground elevated to a throne, deep within a fairytale, living in the moment painting itself as a Renaissance art. He winked at her subtly, a soft smile, a romantic word or two making her giggle, secret letters written on yellowed paper slips; stained with wine and stashed carefully in their pockets, roses tucked behind her ear and then when he kissed her during an auburn sunset; with such passion and tenderness, it had made Felicia truly, hopelessly fall in love with him. And perhaps it was just a daydream, a fantasy lasting just for a moment, nonetheless she felt as if loving him forever wouldnโt be so painful after all.โ-
