For @kindasortaameyzing (I didn’t want to not do these, even though I’m doing character castings) (I also got carried away) (enjoy)
Cinder’s so flustered about when Kai teased her with the engagement shoe that she wants to get him back. So she does the same trick on him, and Kai blushes and Cinder finds it so cute that he’s blushing that she stops right before she can tell him that it’s a prank. She pulls out the shoe later on, though, and Kai’s really embarrassed about it. They make an agreement to never prank each other like that again. (Kai does it anyway.)
Since they’re like the sassiest couple in the universe, Cinder and Kai like to (okay only Kai) hold these Sass-offs for the rest of the couples to try to beat them at. Cinder’s always reluctant to do it (because come on) but Kai’s so good at convincing her (okay mostly by kissing her but convincing nonetheless) that all she can do is oblige him and join the Sass-Off. And somehow--even without trying, every single time, Cinder wins. Kai is the proudest half of a couple there ever was.
On their first anniversary, Kai compiles a movie of their romance story. He leads Cinder into the palace theater, and they’re all alone (the Rampion crew wanted to be there, but Kai wanted alone time). Cinder finds the film incredibly cheesy (it contains lines like “You’re the one I want” and “I’m different from most girls”, classic lines that Kai made sure to put it just to see Cinder roll her eyes), but she’s still touched when the film is over. At the end, the movie shows Kai bending on one knee, clasping the metal foot in one hand, and the scene cuts on Cinder’s shocked face.
Cinder loves it. She asks who helped Kai make it, and he hesitates before admitting that, while he worked with Thorne on it, Thorne actually did most of the camera work---compiling video footage and adding voice overs so it sounded like real dialogue. Apparently, Thorne has a special talent; something Cinder finds hard to believe.
They have their first fight months later. It’s over something stupid, though--Kai can’t find his wedding ring and tears the palace apart looking for it. He gets annoyed really easily, and disregards his political work for weeks. Cinder finally confronts him about it, and they argue until Cinder catches the glint of silver on the floor. Bending down, she reaches over and plucks the ring from under Kai’s bed.
Kai mutters sheepishly and doesn’t reply, and before he knows it Cinder’s laughing, and he can’t help laughing too.
When they’re old and withered, they reminisce about that fight--which is strange, but it was so useless and stupid that they can’t help it.
Cinder dies first. Kai, worn with grief, passes away months after. He hadn’t picked up any work for weeks; his son, Rikan, had grown into his legacy, and started organizing the country himself.
This went from engagement shoes to death.
