welcome in, cozy up with a cup of tea and read away to your hearts content~
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‣ archive of our own
‣ ikemen vampire gift exchange masterlist
‣ ikemen sengoku gift exchange masterlist
‣ ikemen revolution gift exchange masterlist
‣ ikemen prince gift exchange masterlist
‣ all released content for the ikémen series (english server) will be talked about here; beware of spoilers
‣ requests: open, specific suitors only. please inquire for more info
‣ writing navigation below the cut~!
news: new released content as of 02.15.2024
‣ whiskey on his lips - kyle ash
‣ the smell of seawater - silvio ricci
supernatural genre: ikémen vampire
‣ humanity - comte de saint germain birthday 2023 (ao3)
‣ enchanted - napoleon bonaparte (ao3) comic version by kokorokai
‣ unbounded love - leonardo da vinci (ao3)
‣ what he craves - comte de saint germain (ao3)
‣ worth it - theodorus van gogh (ao3)
‣ pretty little thing - charles-henri sanson (ao3)
‣ and like a flower, this love blossoms - vlad (ao3)
‣ something more beautiful than words - arthur conan doyle
‣ la mia famiglia - leonardo da vinci (ao3)
‣ home is where you are - dazai osamu (ao3)
‣ mapping the stars - isaac newton (ao3)
‣ in your veins - series (ao3)
‣ ‣ chapter one
‣ ‣ chapter two
‣ ‣ chapter three
‣ ‣ chapter four
fantasy genre: ikémen revolution
‣ whiskey on his lips - kyle ash
‣ the sword he carries - luka clemence (ao3)
‣ candy canes and mistletoe - edgar bright (ao3)
‣ keeping warm - kyle ash (ao3)
‣ revenge best served wet - fenrir godspeed, ray blackwell (ao3)
historical fiction genre: ikémen sengoku
‣ the act - yukimura sanada (ao3)
‣ the definition of love - yukimura sanada (ao3)
‣ my heart is - shingen takeda (ao3)
fairy tale genre: ikémen prince
‣the smell of seawater - silvio ricci
‣fingerprints - leon dompteur
‣ bookmarked dialogue - keith howell (ao3)
‣ damn mutt - silvio ricci (ao3)
‣ distractions - silvio ricci (ao3)
‣ night and light - licht & nokto klein birthday 2023 (ao3)
‣ the beast in the nighttime - licht klein (ao3)
‣everything I've always wanted - licht klein (ao3)
Hii Maeko!! May I request something cute with Licht please? Maybe of him and MC at a bookstore together, or where they’re in then kitchen baking together (since Licht loves her pastries so much)? Thank you so much, and no rush!!
Heya! Here's Licht baking exploding darioles with Emma in their kitchen date ☺️💖💖💖 I hope I manage to make the scene cute😣💦
And this will be the final drawing request, thank you very much to the people who ask drawing request 😊💖💖💖
PLEAAAAAAASSSSEEEEEE THIS IS TOO CUTE HES so concentrated that’s adorable actually 🥹 the apron is so funny too bc he definitely didn’t wear the apron willingly but it’s so frickin cute
as some of you have noticed, I’ve been relatively quiet as of late. or maybe you haven’t, I don’t know. I’m telling myself people have as a reason to make this post.
long story short, I feel very disconnected from the fandom. with the exchanges, I don’t feel like I’m part of the community anymore, just a means to host a community event. and don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved hosting the exchanges, but I’ve been trying to take time lately to enjoy the games on my own, and bringing my love for it back.
it’s been hard, but needed.
that being said, I don’t know when I’ll be back to writing or hosting fandom events. I know I want to som day, but as of right now, I’m really just enjoying the games for what they are, and I’ve re-fallen in love with Comte, Licht, Luka, and Yukimura.
thank you all for listening, and for hopefully understanding. I hope to hear from some of you soon. 💕
eleven years the northern lands have lived under the council's rule, waiting for you, the heir, to take the forgotten throne. despite the council's good intentions, only you can resolve the issues they've so desperately concealed.
death threats, prophecies, rumors of rebellion, and the rise of animal attacks have left you with no other choice but to take the throne. yet, after all these years, to take the throne you must meet one condition.
will you be able to claim the throne? or will you let the northern lands fall into ruins?
play as male, female, nonbinary; straight, gay, lesbian, bi/pansexual, demi/asexual + have the chance to set your own pronouns
romance any of the four* characters. all four love interests have fixed genders: two males, one female, one non-binary. tropes include friends to lovers, stuck together, enemies to lovers and forbidden love
customize your heir's personality. there are eight different character traits that will be decided based on the choices you make in the game: charming/blunt, kind/calculated, intelligent/intuitive and cautious/adventurous
customize your heir's feelings. the heir's opinion on three pivotal stances the scour the lands: traditions, immortals and the gifted. your heir's stance on each of these topics will determine their relationship with other characters and pave the road to the taking of their throne
THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
Inoaz Amihan was only a boy when he joined the Aesian army, now Captain of the Guard and sworn protector of the Heir, his family's safety depends on his ability to carry out a prophecy no one seems to remember.
Sol Fiera was a young woman when she betrayed her family name. Now a guard and unbeknownst to all, spymaster to the False Queen's Heir, the stability of the throne depends on her ability to renounce her only opportunity for redemption.
direct ✘ pragmatic ✘ independent ✘ intelligent ✘ calculating
PRINCEX OF ILLYION
Halon Rilchanar, in spite of their people's disapproval, set on a journey in search of the Heir of the Northern Lands. To help the Heir reach their potential, they must first earn trust. But, it will prove to be more difficult than they imagine when an old friend refuses to let them do this on their own.
charismatic ✘ gentle ✘ explorer ✘ trustworthy ✘ visionary
BLACKSMITH [LORD OF ZAHAR]
Kasek Faror, in search of his sister, must confront his past to find the answers he seeks. His search takes him to a foreign land seeking an audience with the Lady of the Forest, whose only condition to speak with her is that he re-assumes his long-forgotten title.
Ramadan starts soon (Monday, March 11) and I was of the mind to participate, if only to call for attention for what is happening in the world. But what will fasting do when there are people deliberately being starved? What will me fasting do when it most likely will go unnoticed?
Would anyone be interested in donating or buying E-sims in exchange of x reader fanfiction? For every donation or e-sim bought I write something the donator requests?
While not a muslim myself I did want to dedicate the month to unlearn some bad habits. Bad habits borne out of the comfort that I can give myself out of privilege, like ordering take out while having food at home and letting said food spoil.
If I can buy takeaway food I can buy more E-sims. That is my strive for now. I also started a swear jar for myself (five for every foul) to clean up my language and everything going in there will also be donated (already at a whopping 35 here, doing well).
The offer to write x reader stories is still open! I have had two take me up on the offer, which warms my heart, but I obviously hope that there will be more!
Ramadan starts soon (Monday, March 11) and I was of the mind to participate, if only to call for attention for what is happening in the world. But what will fasting do when there are people deliberately being starved? What will me fasting do when it most likely will go unnoticed?
Would anyone be interested in donating or buying E-sims in exchange of x reader fanfiction? For every donation or e-sim bought I write something the donator requests?
Ramadan Mubarak! For those who missed out, I am offering to write x reader fanfiction in exchange for donations or e-sims. Let's do our best to bring some relief to those forced into starvation and to those who don't know what peace is.
This piece is for @ikemenlibrary who donated to PCRF (Palestine Children's Relief Fund) for they aren't just denied food, but also a childhood amongst many other things.
Check out my masterlist to see what fandoms I write for. Though, if you can spare some time, write your representatives a letter as well!
Fandom: Ikesen
Character: Yukimura Sanada
Notes: "I could stare at you forever." "Creep." artist!reader (MC?)
It was hard living in a castle filled with beauties. And what many types there were to appreciate! The delicate, the icy, the ruggedly handsome, the artistic, you named it and Kasugayama housed it. There was simply no escaping it, and as an artist you didn’t want to miss out either, eyes set on all the beauty that surrounded you in the castle in your quest for inspiration.
Harder was the discerning eye of one particular pair of chestnut browns that always caught you. At first Yukimura thought it was by accident, his eyes flitting away as it met yours with a blush and a cough. Then, as it happened more it aroused curiosity, lingering on longer, meeting yours before shyly turning away, never able to maintain the eye contact for long.
It took the man a long while to grow more bold. But you had patience, enjoying the autumn crimson colours on the man whenever he blushed at your staring. Enjoying it even more when you would catch him staring, flashing a sweet smile into his direction that made him choke on his own air.
But you knew what he knew but didn’t dare to express. You knew, alongside the rest of the castle of beauties who silently smiled at the last of them to blossom.
“What are you staring at?”
The question came out rougher than he meant to. The sun setting and the last round of practice going around as soldiers stood in formation. You found that Yukimura looked best in the warm colours of twilight, appreciating the way the melatonin in his hair reflected almost red.
“You,” was your immediate answer, unabashed, soaking up the warmth of the remaining day and the warmth Yukimura gave you, the delight reawakening as you spotted that flush of red on his cheeks when he tried not to stutter and stumble over his next words, his eyes telling you all you needed to know as they burnished and locked into yours. It was his mind that couldn’t catch up, but that’s what made him all the more entertaining to watch.
“Well, stop staring. You will grow cross-eyed,” the Sanada tells you, finally managing a full sentence as he turns around, his spear firmly planted next to him as the sun flushes over his broad shoulders, casting yet another imagery that you wished you could snap into eternity.
“I could stare at you forever,” you finally breathe, genuine in your affection for the man and your appreciation, even if Yukimura was the last person on earth that you could ever describe as artistic.
the tip of his spear wobbles, his formation falling apart before Yukimura catches himself once more, face flush red now in front of all his soldiers as he pronounces; “creep!”, a quick turn on his feet as he faces you fully, face so hot it could have popped his favourite chestnuts before stilling when he sees the expression on your face.
It was he who couldn’t take his eyes off you. Not when you smiled so tenderly, the way you did only in his direction. Not when you were bathed in hues of orange and red from the sun, cloaked in the colours he adored the most, cradling the person he loved the most.
“Forever, and ever, and ever,” you continue to tease Yukimura, filling his body with an everlasting warmth that he holds onto tightly.
Ramadan starts soon (Monday, March 11) and I was of the mind to participate, if only to call for attention for what is happening in the world. But what will fasting do when there are people deliberately being starved? What will me fasting do when it most likely will go unnoticed?
Would anyone be interested in donating or buying E-sims in exchange of x reader fanfiction? For every donation or e-sim bought I write something the donator requests?
Dropping by to send some moots and favorite blogs some love! Hope this ask finds you well, please never stop being your lovely self, and thank you for all the content you share with us. We appreciate you dearly! Please take care and have a yourself wonderful week ahead ☺️❤️
ahh, thank you anon. this was such a wonderful ask, and has given me strength to finish out the week, no matter how much I don’t want to.💕🌸
Thank you to everyone who chose to participate in this event and helped make it a success! Everyone is so talented, and I am in awe of all of you <3 Going through all your pieces have been truly enjoyable and I've loved every minute of it!
Prove It To Me | Jin Grandet x Reader | by @nightghoul381 for xxsycamore
They Say Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder | Nokto Klein x Emma (MC) | by @xxsycamore for nightghoul381
Unaccepted Together | Clavis Lelouch x Reader | by @nightghoul381 for scummy-writes
Autumn Daze | Gilbert Von Obsidian x MC | by @scummy-writes for daegupaksu
A Starry Tryst (Artwork) | Nokto Klein x Noele (OC) | by @daegupaksu for drachonia
Sea at Sunrise (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci x MC | by @drachonia for nightghoul381
Bookmarked Dialogue | Keith Howell x Julie (OC) | by @ikemenlibrary for queengiuliettafirstlady
The Gentle Stag Rewrites The Stars | Keith Howell x MC | by @queengiuliettafirstlady for ridiculouslly-ridiculous
Princess Picnic Pick Me Up | Rio Ortiz, Clavis Lelouch, Silvio Ricci, Gilbert Von Obsidian, MC | by @ridiculouslly-ridiculous for misty-moth
Peter Clavis and the Lost Boys (Artwork) | Clavis Lelouch, Nokto Klein, Luke Randolph | by @misty-moth for pondlilies00
Take a Rest (Artwork) | Sariel Noir x MC | by @pondlilies00 for alydra (bluejay-writes)
This is fine. | Chevalier Michel x MC | by @bluejay-writes for randonauticrap
Ember Glows the Heart | Leon Dompteur x MC/Reader | by @randonauticrap for myonlyjknight
A Clavish Day Off | Clavis Lelouch x MC | by @myonlyjknight for claviscollections
Petrichor | Yves Kloss x MC/Reader | by @claviscollections for pillowpillowillow
The Voyager Prince (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci | by @pillowpillowillo for aquilapolariz
In Business, In Life | Silvio Ricci x Hyacinth (OC) | by @aquilapolariz for tacogawa
La Belle et la Bête (Artwork) | Leon Dompteur x MC | by @tacogawa for kokorokai
The Tyrant's New Wife (Artwork) | Silvio Ricci x Airin D'Avalos (OC) | by @kokorokai for airin-queenz
Chilly Morning's Date | Licht Klein x MC | by @airin-queenz for ikemenlibrary
Read to Me | Chevalier Michel x MC | by @ikeromantic for aquagirl1978
What Was I Made For | Gilbert Von Obsidian x Rosemary (OC) | by @aquagirl1978 for prisoniclover
Return | Leon Dompteur x Emma (MC) | by @prisoniclover for chirp-a-chirp
Cat-astrophe | Clavis Lelouch x MC | by @chirp-a-chirp (with art by @aide-falls) for katriniac (ohtomatotome)
Getting There is Half the Fun | Keith Howell x Emma (MC) | by @ohtomatotome for violettduchess
Practical Magic | Clavis Lelouch x Emma (MC) | by @violettduchess for ikeromantic
A surprise gift for @ikemenlibrary because the organiser of 'My Ikemen Valentine Gift Exchange' didn't include herself despite all of the hard work needed to put the event together. You really need to reward yourself a little more. My only regret in this is that I don't know Licht.
Fandom: Ikemen Vampire
Character: Comte de Saint Germain
Warnings: mentions of death in euphemism
Masterlist
Follow the voice.
That was all the instructions you had received for your assignment. What it meant, you had no clue. How it worked, even less, but you went along with it when the door unlocked and the familiar dark hallways doomed up for you, taking you to wherever you were needed.
“If we meet again.”
A voice, one you didn’t know but felt a pang of familiarity with all the same, doomed up from the darkness. “If we meet again,” it echoed, like a desperate prayer, filled with sadness from the speaker that only knew regret and no religion.
“If we meet again, would you be willing…”
Heart aching you followed the voice, reaching out for the next door and pushed in, praying that you could help whatever regret and wish you would find behind.
Amber golden eyes met yours in surprise, tears streaming out of them ruining the handsome visage of a man brought onto his knees. It seemed he had been kneeling indeed, though there was no apparent religion that you could distinguish out of his form.
“You…” he speaks first and you straighten yourself, taking a deep breath before shutting the door, officially starting your assignment.
“Regret,” Comte, as the man calls himself, repeats after you. A sardonic smile sets on his lips along with clasped hands that stretch the skin out over his knuckles. “Yes, you can call it that,” he murmurs softly, but you can see that he doesn’t quite believe it.
It had taken very little convincing to explain your presence and job to him. Surprisingly so, but you supposed that Comte being a vampire and immortal had helped the matter. Something about being beyond human understanding as a shared trait helped in that. You could appreciate the ease in that, however, knowing that everything that would follow after was harder. Tempting fate was, after all, a world altering matter.
“First we need to figure out what chain started the path we want to change,” you started, finding that explaining alternate universes and paths was surprisingly easy as well to a pureblood vampire. “Usually we do this by working backwards in events, targeting big crosspoints before zooming in, but I can imagine that you rather not re-experience her death,” you mused, a bump in your heart at the thought of this unknown soulmate that Comte had.
It felt strange to feel envy for someone you didn’t know at all. Comte had been very sparse on the details of his lover and acclaimed soulmate, only revealing that he had been too hesitant in his own feelings and too late to realise the depth of his emotions. Your envy was made even stranger knowing the fate that befell the soulmate.
“No, let’s not do that,” Comte grimaces, hands still clenched together in a tight prayer. You can see how hard he tries to think of a solution, one that will change the fate of a human, a fragile existence even in alternate universes, without having to trial and error her death. “Do you believe in soulmates?” he asks you suddenly, and you wonder why it is relevant what you think and believe in.
It is a question you never really thought of. Not truly. And certainly not a question you expect on the first day of your job. You usually spend it trying to understand the assignment at hand, the client and their wishes. But now that you are and as you think back of the prayer you heard in the hallway, unfinished. The question in which you hope the answer will be one that will lead Comte back to happiness, for the weight of sadness in his voice and the weight of his regret laid heavy on your consciousness.
“Maybe?” you say, not having the heart to say no, not truly believing in ‘no’ either as you think of Comte and the depth of his love that had brought you here.
“A maybe is a no,” Comte chuckles, sounding so helplessly bitter at that moment before a resolution sets in his mind.
“I know a certain way to change her fate,” Comte says, his confidence faltering just a second before he steels himself with resolution, eyes hardening but avoiding yours.
His solution turns out to be a tremendous job. One that you aren’t quite sure will work, for fate worked in strange ways.
“Are you sure?” you repeat, hand once more on the door and his placed next to yours. “It is no small matter striking out the name of another in the book of fate,” you caution, a little nervous at the idea of altering fate at its very core, “the backlash will be great.”
Comte remains confident, however, his hand moving over yours on the door as he forces you to push. Those amber gold eyes never meet yours. They haven’t since he resolved himself.
“That is my burden to carry,” he tells you.
Comte never told you the name you had to strike from the book of fate, nor did he tell you the name that was tied to it. The simple sounding request and the near impossible assignment left a bad taste in your mouth, your gut telling you to cut the assignment short and leave. To deny this request.
“If you met her again,” you repeat the question that led you to Comte in the first place, the familiar hallway empty as ever, but quiet this time as the two of you search for the end, “would you be willing…”
“Yes,” Comte answers immediately, cutting off your question as his hand in yours clenched tightly, meaning the affirmative with every sense of his being, “yes, and a thousand times over,” he repeats, his voice at peace, but the sadness lingering forever as you arrive at your next destination.
“And do you believe in fate?” you ask when opening the door, revealing a room that blinds you before revealing all the names and souls bound together, a red string appearing around your pinky finger that pulls taut.
“Yes.” Is all Comte says, raising the red thread winding around his finger and towards his lips, pressing a first and last kiss to your shared fate before he snaps the thread and the world turns dark.
Follow the voice
It was all the detail you received walking down the dark hallways, wondering what your assignment was and what your last one had been, a lingering question comes to mind as you sound it out yourself;
“If we met again, would you be willing,” you sound, hoping for a yes, your legs moving as you remember the snap of fate and the amber gold eyes that had tried to spare you from a fate he thought worse than the snap of the thread.
“Yes, if we met again I’d be willing to be your soulmate again,” you call out, switching strategies as you beg the darkness for the voice to lead you to Comte again, but it remains quiet as you continue down the hallway that never ends.
“If we met, would you love me again?” you call out, asking the next question that comes to mind as you press against every door that you find, hoping to find one that will give and allow you in.
A thousand promises and countless alternate universes and you knew, you’d love the man with amber gold eyes over and over again, with his sad smiles and his bright ones, even as the world crumbled around you and the hallway endless.
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes,” you call out in the darkness, desperation overtaking you as a prayer swells up and a voice whispers as time restarts along with fate;
“If we meet again, would you be willing to love me still?”
I’m still in bed, having just only woken up, yet kicking my little feetsies in excitement 🥹
this was such a lovely surprise, and has absolutely warmed my heart in the best way. nemo, thank you for thinking of me and for all your support through the exchange. I think I’d go crazy without you.
this was so wonderfully written in a way I can’t describe. I don’t know what it is, but your writing is able to capture Comte in a way that I don’t normally see, yet embodies him as a whole. what a sweet, sad sugar daddy man.
Pairing: Kyle Ash x MC (Alice)
Summary: Kyle invites Alice out for a seemingly innocent visit to a tavern on Valentine's night, yet once they're alone in the quite of his office, their barriers come tumbling down.
Word Count: 3k
Warnings: mentions of alcohol, being drunk, Alice and Kyle making out like horny teenagers, swearing
A note from the author: Happy belated Valentine's Day. I blame Alice and Kyle for me being late to publish this; they're just too fun to write. I could've made this way longer, and part of me hopes to expand on it one day, but if I don't, I hope you enjoy them in their little tipsy love bubble.
“...Don’t you think you’ve had a little too much to drink, Kyle?” Blanc peered over his glasses at the army doctor slumped on his stool, his cheeks rosy and a soft smile on his lips.
Kyle raised his mug to his friend. “Are you kidding me? The night’s still young, I’ve got a long way to go.” He turned towards his companion for the evening, who was sitting to his side and nursing a drink at a much slower pace. “Right, Alice?”
She hummed, pressing her shoulder against Kyle’s. He was warm, like a furnace, and his body heat helped combat the draft that was spilling into the tavern every time another handsy couple walked out the door, eager to get their hands on one another. “I’m alright to stay with him a bit longer.” She addressed Blanc and Oliver, hoping the flush on her cheeks wasn’t evident as she felt Kyle’s free arm wrap around her waist. “I’m going back to the Red Army’s base tonight anyways. Besides, Kyle’s a fun drinking companion.”
Kyle beamed proudly, and Alice felt a rush of pride in her chest. If her simple compliment had made Kyle feel that confident in himself, she wanted to keep complimenting him over and over, just to see that smile once more. “Hear that, Blanc?” Kyle’s words were sloppy. Not quite slurred, but it was obvious he’d been enjoying himself. “I’m fun.”
Oliver rolled his eyes, bidding the pair a goodbye and pushed open the door. As the chilly February breeze wafted through the door, Alice shivered, and Kyle pulled her even closer into himself. Blanc sighed, pushing his glasses up on his nose as he shrugged on his glasses. “Very well. I wish you two a good night. Please get home safely.” He lowered his voice, turning to address only Alice. “Make sure he drinks some water before bed, and have him hook himself up to a hydration IV before he sleeps. He’ll probably try to get you to do it for him, but he’s more than capable of doing it himself.”
Alice nodded, promising she would make sure of everything Blanc warned her about, yet her mind was elsewhere; Kyle’s thumb was absentmindedly rubbing soft circles onto the side of her stomach with his thumb, right where his hand lay around her hip. His touch brought a warm feeling into the pit of Alice’s stomach, a knot of something she couldn’t quite place. She just knew she wanted to keep feeling whatever it was.
The moment Blanc walked out the door, Kyle’s lips were on her ear, brushing the shell of it with every word he spoke and forcing a shiver down Alice’s spine. “I thought they would never leave.” Before Alice could respond or even think of a response, Kyle held up his empty mug in Dalim’s direction and called out. “One more for me, and one for the lady, please.”
Dalim set down freshly washed glasses on the counter, quickly filling up each of them with more of the specialty ale that was brewed for the holiday, and slid them over to them each. Dalim affixed Alice with a wink as he walked along the bar, wiping it down with a dirty white cloth that he threw over his shoulder once he stood right across from her. “You’re here spending Valentine’s with this sad sod?”
Alice had spent the entire day convincing herself that Kyle asking her to go drinking this evening wasn’t a date. He probably didn’t even know the date, and if he did, the significance was lost on him. Even if it was on his calendar, he probably glanced over it with bleary eyes before forgetting about it entirely when he woke up this morning.
But now that someone else has acknowledged that they were here, now alone as a pair, it felt all the more real.
And scary.
And exciting.
Before Alice could nod her answer, Dalim continued. “If you’d rather spend some time with someone who’s not tripping over his own two feet, I get off in the next hour. We could,” he paused, his eyes raking down her body before they locked eyes once more. “Take a walk together.”
Alice glanced at Kyle, and her mouth went dry as her eyes met his own. He looked… Sad, disappointed, and something she couldn’t quite place. It was only then that she realized his grip on her hip had gotten tighter. Could it be…. The unplaced feeling he was feeling was jealousy?
She shook her head at the thought, pushing it back into her mind. Just because she had an unsaid attraction to him didn’t mean he would reciprocate those feelings. And yet, just for tonight, on the most romantic holiday of the year, she leaned further into Kyle’s embrace, letting herself relish in his closeness.
Alice held her cup in the air, in a silent cheer to Dalim and shook her head. “Thanks, but no. I will have another one of these though.” She clinked glasses with Kyle now, and the way he was grinning, so peaceful and serene, warmed her heart as the ale slipped smoothly down her throat.
“Damn, you’re the best. Ordering me another before I even finish mine.” He took a swig, his crooked smile melting Alice’s heart. She wasn’t going to be able to handle this night. He was too charming without even having to try. She was already on the brink of having an out of body experience, being wrapped in his arm the way Alice was, yet when he said the next thing, her heart stopped entirely. “Have I ever told you how attractive it is when a girl knows how to drink?” Kyle was looking into his mug, already empty, like he wasn’t sure where his drink had gone.
Alice needed to keep count of how many he had, or else he may go way over his limit. She selfishly wanted him to remember this night, like their own little bubble, a night just with each other, enjoying whatever was going on between them but ultimately just enjoying the time spent together. But when he says stuff like that, she wants to, instead, match him drink for drink until they’re both stumbling home, arms wrapped around each other, unable to keep themselves upright on their own.
“You’re drunk. But you haven’t. I’d surely remember that.” Alice murmured, looking at her half empty mug, the warm feeling in her belly only blazing brighter. “You never really talk about what you’re attracted to.”
“I’m not more drunk than I usually am. In fact, I’m just feeling pleasantly buzzed.” Kyle studied her curiously, flagging down Dalim once more. “Can I have two waters please?”
Now it was Alice’s turn to look at him questioningly. “Isn’t this the time of night to start ordering harder liquor? Why water?”
“Because,” the waters were placed in front of the pair. “If we’re having the conversation I think we’re about to have, we’re drinking my nice whiskey back in my office.” Kyle tapped the rim of her water glass. “Now, drink up, we can walk back home.”
After Alice and Kyle gulped down their water, he graciously helped her back into her coat, making sure to tuck her scarf around her neck before she left it behind on the barstool. He held the door of the tavern open for her, waiting with a patient smile as she made her way out, the cold air cooling her flushed cheeks. She didn’t know if they were flushed because of her close proximity to Kyle, or if it was because of the alcohol.
Probably Kyle though, given the way her whole body reacted to his subtle touches. Being this close to Kyle with less of a filter than normal, was something that was beginning to become dangerous territory. As they walked back to the Red Army, he’d touch her arm to get her attention, or place his hand on the small of her back when she tripped over a rock. Every one of those moments had Alice biting her bottom lip to keep from blurting out her feelings for him. She knew it was also partially the magic of the holiday; everything around Cradle seemed to be softer today, enveloped in a soft magic-like glow.
But then again, that’s usually how Alice felt when she spent any sort of time with Kyle.
The headquarters were quiet when they got back, everyone either in bed or with their respective partners for the evening. Kyle seemed more alert, back to his normal self than when he was slumped on the barstool, but the rosy tint on his cheeks told Alice he was still tipsy, and she was glad that the fuzziness in her brain was matched with his own.
She followed him to his office, losing her scarf and jacket in the process of flopping down onto the worn brown couch he had in there. One cushion was more worn than the other, and Alice pictured Kyle sinking into that side of the couch every night to enjoy a drink on his own. She wanted to join him more often; even if she decided not to drink, she just wanted to keep him company when he was on his own. Maybe then she’d get to learn more about him.
Kyle walked back to the couch with two shallow glasses of whiskey in his hands. He held out one to Alice, and she took it, grateful to have something to hold. At least then, she could attempt to stop her fidgeting. He sat down next to her, his cushion warping to his body easily, and took a savoring sip of the amber liquid.
Kyle was wearing a brown button down and black jeans, and his hair was messy. It was refreshing to see him this way, he seemed relaxed, carefree. Very different from the diligent doctor he assisted during the day.
“You’re staring,” he teased as Alice’s cheeks burned. “What’s going on in that brain of yours?"
Alice shrugged, looking back into the glass he had given her. She was suddenly nervous of their close proximity; it was dark in the office, only lit by a small lamp on the other side of the room, and they were completely alone now. It felt more intimate. Which lit the flame that was burning brightly in her belly, but also had a rush of anxiety freeze her veins.
“Just wondering what we’re doing.” She mumbled, sipping on her drink. It was good, and yet she didn’t think she could stomach the glass. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to throw up from nerves or if the special brewed ale they had relished in earlier wasn’t sitting well with her dinner.
Either way, the moment Kyle threw his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into his side as he took another sip had everything she was feeling slipping away. All she could focus on was him. How his hard body felt against her own, how his usual gentle hands felt clumsy and clammy against her bare arms… How she could feel his breathing stir her hair with every in and out his body took. He was close, too close. And yet, with the alcohol in her system, all Alice wanted to do was get closer to him.
“We’re two people, enjoying each other’s company.” Kyle said, his hand running up and down her arm, trying to calm the goose pimples forming on her arm at his touch. “Unless you’re not enjoying hanging out with me. Then in that case, I’m being a selfish man by keeping your company to myself tonight.”
“I’m enjoying spending time with you, Kyle.” Alice whispered, allowing her head to fall to his chest, nestling herself against him. “Maybe a little too much.”
He didn’t respond to the last part of her statement, but he did stiffen under her for a moment, before sighing out and falling back into his relaxed embrace. “You still wanna know what I find attractive in women?”
The question caught Alice off guard. She had mentioned this offhandedly earlier, feeling brazen from the alcohol and the way his arm pulled her close at the bar. Now that they were alone though, she wasn’t feeling as confident. So instead of responding, she nodded her head against his chest, the sound of his racing heart matching her own.
“I think loyalty is one of the most important things for me.” He set his empty glass on the side table, his arm hanging over the edge of the couch. “Kinda like how you didn’t ditch me tonight even when asked.”
Alice picked her head up, turning to face Kyle. “Why would I ditch you? I told Blanc that I’d stay and have a few drinks with you. I’m a woman of my word.”
Kyle studied her for a moment, before a slow smile spread across his face. “I’m well aware of that, miss.” He was quiet for a moment. “Thanks for spending the holiday with me.”
Alice blinked, unsure of how to respond. This was new territory for her. “Sure thing! Us single people have to stick together. Besides, I always enjoy going to the tavern with you.” She paused, waiting to see if he’d respond. But he wasn’t, he was just looking at her like he was waiting for something. “Besides, I didn’t even know if you were aware it was a holiday today. I was sure you had forgotten.”
Alice saw Kyle’s eyes flick briefly to her lips, before her blue eyes met his gold ones once more. Her heartbeat sped up, and it was like his was trying to catch up to the speed of hers.
“How could I forget? It’s not possible to forget anything then I have a cute little assistant making sure everything is up to date in my calendar.” Kyle chuckled to himself, but yet Alice was only replaying one thing in her head: cute. Kyle called me cute. “The little pink hearts and balloons were a fun touch to today's date, though.”
Her cheeks burned as he endearingly teased, and without a second thought, she threw back the rest of the whiskey, not even grimacing as the slight burn slid down her throat. Alice was feeling brave now, the alcohol giving her a false bravado that she didn’t think would ever exist. “Well, I did it out of love.”
Kyle’s eyes drooped to her lips once more, and she parted them in an exhale. She was well aware that she was being bold, yet she didn’t care. Not when they were snuggled together on a couch, in a dimly lit room and sharing what she knew to be Kyle’s most expensive bottle of whiskey. Tonight felt different, like something had shifted between them.
Apparently Kyle felt it too, because instead of responding to Alice, he took her empty glace and placed it next to his, and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her into his lap. His large hands were splayed on her hips and she instinctively leaned into him, their chests flush against one another.
“Fuck it,” Kyle said, one of his hands travelling from her waist to her hair, where he pulled her the rest of the way to him, their lips clashing together messily.
Kyle kissed her like her lips were his oxygen source, and if he didn’t taste and lick and bite enough, he’d stop breathing. It was messy, they were drunk; but the way they clung onto each other gave way to what their sober minds had been longing for.
Alice shifted on his lap, biting and sucking from his lips to his neck, relishing in the breathy moans that Kyle let out as his hand fell from her waist to her ass, pulling her closer to him. She wanted him closer, they weren’t close enough. So when his hand in her hair guided her lips back to his own, she slipped her hands under his button down shirt, grazing her fingers along his sensitive skin.
Kyle shuddered underneath her, and Alice pulled back from their kiss, a smile gracing her lips as he opened his eyes halfway, his pupils dilated with lust. “What’d ya stop for?” He pouted, tugging lightly at her hair and making her laugh.
“Just wanted to make sure you were okay with this.” She looked between their bodies, her hands still underneath his shirt and pressing against his warm skin.
Kyle let out a low, staggering breath, throwing his head back. From this position, Alice could see the hickeys she had suckled onto his neck; pink and raw - evidence for tomorrow that this night wasn’t just a dream. “Yes,” he let out. “I’m more than okay with it.” He tugged on her hair again, and this time she let him lead her mouth back to his. “Wanted it for a long time.” He muttered against her lips. “Wanted you.”
Alice kissed him hard then, and Kyle let her. She wanted to convey her feelings towards him through the kiss, all the wanting she’s had, the needing, the love. She wanted him to know it all. The whiskey on his tongue tasted almost sweet this way, especially with the way he was cradling her head in his hands, so soft and gentle; a complete contrast to his teeth nipping at his bottom lip.
“Do you want me?” Kyle asked, pulling away, his lips ghosting over the pressure point on her neck.
“Yes,” She sighed out, tangling her hands in his hair. “More than anything?”
“Forever?” He asked, licking a stripe on her neck.
“Forever,” she confirmed, giving herself over to him completely with that one word.
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