bumblewick

Penacony is still bustling. Even up here, the city finds you. Light spilling across the skyline, music drifting up from the streets below like something half-remembered.

Distant enough to feel like ambiance. Close enough to remind you that the world is still turning while up on this rooftop it has quietly stopped.

You’d suggested it weeks ago, framing it as something spontaneous. Something different for the anniversary, somewhere you can actually hear each other. Aventurine had agreed immediately, which meant he liked the idea more than he was going to admit.

Now he’s leaning against the railing beside you, one arm draped loosely around your shoulders, watching the city the way he watches most things: like he’s already three steps ahead of it.

But his posture is easy. Relaxed in the way he only ever is with you. Somewhere below, a clock begins to strike.

He counts the chimes under his breath, and when the last one fades into the noise of the city, he turns to you.

“Happy anniversary, sweetheart.”

He doesn’t wait for an answer before leaning in.

The kiss starts soft and deepens within seconds the way it always does with him. Warm and certain and entirely unself-conscious.

You feel him smile into it, that rare unguarded smile he keeps for moments like this, for the quiet spaces where no one is watching and he doesn’t have to perform anything.

When you finally pull back, Aventurine rests his forehead briefly against yours. His eyes stay closed for just a second longer than necessary.

“That was a good idea,” he murmurs. “Much better than some overcrowded restaurant.”

“I’m glad you think so,” you say.

He tilts his head slightly. Something in your voice makes him look at you a little more carefully.

You take a breath. “Happy anniversary, Kakavasha.”

That name always does something to his expression. The charm doesn’t disappear exactly. It just steps aside, making room for whoever he actually is underneath it.

“These years with you,” you begin, “have been the best years of my life.”

He opens his mouth—you can already see the deflection forming—and you give him a look.

He closes it.

“I mean that,” you say. “And the longer we’re together, the more I realize it. How lucky I am. How much you’ve changed what I thought my life could look like.”

Something in his expression shifts. He’s listening now, really listening, in that way he rarely lets people see.

“You’re funny,” you continue. “Genuinely. The kind of funny that catches me off guard every time.”

You smile slightly. “And you’re brilliant in ways I’ll probably never fully understand, and you’re charming in ways that are frankly a little unfair to everyone around you.”

He does smile at that, small and involuntary.

“But what I love most,” you say, “is the laugh you only use when it’s just us. The real one.” You look at him. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.”

His smile softens into something quieter.

“You have such a good heart, Kakavasha.” Your voice drops slightly. “I know you don’t always believe that. But I see it. Every day, in a hundred different ways, I see it.”

He goes very still.

“You’ve let me see every part of you,” you continue. “The parts other people tried to break. The parts you’d convinced yourself weren’t worth keeping.”

You reach for his hand, and he lets you take it. “I want you to know that every single part of you is worth treasuring. Has always been worth treasuring.”

For a moment Aventurine doesn’t speak. The city light catches faintly in his eyes. His jaw is set in that particular way that means he’s working to hold his expression steady.

“You bring out the best in me,” you say. “And I want to keep doing this. Learning with you, growing with you, seeing where all of this goes.”

You pause. Then add, with a small laugh that breaks the tension just enough: “I never really stood a chance with you, did I?”

That gets him. He laughs. Genuine, surprised, helplessly fond. “Now that part I believe.”

You squeeze his hand. “I want the rest of my life to look like this,” you say quietly. “With you.”

And then you reach into your pocket.

The box is small. It clicks open softly in your palm.

Aventurine looks down at it.

The city keeps moving below you, indifferent and bright. Up here, he has gone completely still. Not the composed stillness he wears like a second skin. Something else entirely. Something unguarded and unperformed and entirely, helplessly real.

“So,” you say softly.

“Will you marry me?”

He doesn’t answer immediately.

He looks at the ring. Then at you. Then at the ring again, like he’s making sure this is actually happening, like he doesn’t quite trust the evidence of his own eyes.

When he looks up, his eyes are glistening.

He opens his mouth. Closes it. Tries again.

“Yes,” he says. Quietly. Simply. No flourish. No deflection. Just the word, and the way he says it, like it’s the easiest thing he’s ever decided and the most significant thing he’s ever said, both at once.

You slide the ring onto his finger with hands that aren’t entirely steady.

Aventurine looks down at it for a moment. Then he pulls you in, and he kisses you. Soft and slow and a little undone at the edges, nothing like his usual certainty. When he finally draws back, he keeps his forehead against yours, breathing you in.

“For the record,” he murmurs after a moment, voice still slightly rough, “I had a whole speech planned. For eventually. Whenever I worked up to it.”

“Did you?”

“Mhm.” He pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes still bright, the ghost of his smile returning. “You completely stole my moment.”

“You can still give it,” you offer. “If you want.”

Aventurine considers this.

“Later,” he says, and kisses you again.

Below, Penacony glitters on.

⋆ ✦ ⋆

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. :)

I don't think I've spoken about how big of a fan I am of this guy on here, but I'm a BIG FAN. He's been such a huge inspiration to me as a creative, Especially as a young Asian-american (we have the same last name 🥹🥹🥹)

I was first introduced to his work as Zenitsu around 2018 or so, and since then I've been hovering around his work. In 2025 however, my appreciation for his stuff really took off when I rediscovered his YouTube channel. I binge watched any content on there + whatever I could find by searching up "Aleks Le" on YouTube LMAO

When he told the story of his journey to becoming a voice actor on Trash Taste, it genuinely inspired and motivated me so much to just keep going on with my art; to have the audacity to be an artist

Each of them carries a unique connection to the MC across time, and each plays a vital role in guiding her towards the resolution of this long-standing Kārmic entanglement. It is precisely for this reason that all of them exist within the current timeline simultaneously. Their presence is neither arbitrary, nor accidental. It is a fundamental part of the narrative’s deeper mythological and philosophical framework.

To understand the purpose of the LIs, one must first understand the cycle of Saṃsāra: भवचक्र (Bhāvāchākrā). This cycle of existence which encompasses birth, suffering, death, and rebirth is divided into 6 Realms where sentient beings reside in. Each of these Realms is intrinsically linked to one of the LIs featured in the game —

🔥 Rafayel: देवलोक (Devālokā)

God Realm of pleasure and pride

🏹 Zayne: असुरलोक (Asurālokā)

Demi-God Realm of jealousy and strife

🗡️ Xavier: मनुष्यलोक (Mānuṣhyalokā)

Human Realm of opportunity and enlightenment

🌕 Valko: पशुलोक (Pāśhulokā)

Animal Realm of instinct, fear, and servitude

🩸 Sylus: निर्ऋतिलोक (Nirṛtilokā)

Underworld Realm of chaos and decay

🪷 Caleb: प्रेतलोक (Pretālokā)

Hungry-Ghost Realm of endless insatiable hunger

As we know, each LI possesses unique abilities and latent potential beyond their Evols, granting them the power to create, shape, preserve, or dismantle whatever they deem necessary. The intricate Strings of Fate connecting the LIs to MC was deliberately woven by CosmicMC Herself.

It’s purpose was to ensure that Her vessel on Earth could draw upon Her true power through all 6 Realms, with the aid of every LI. Only by uniting these connections can She access the fullness of Her divine potential, and ultimately shatter the endless cycle of anguish that has bound Her across countless lifetimes.

Needless to say, it is unlikely that any additional LIs will be introduced to the game. With Valko’s arrival, the narrative now possesses all the pieces it was designed to have from the very beginning, allowing the story to finally move forward.

[⚠️ Please note: There are numerous realms of the Underworld described throughout Vedic scriptures. I chose to highlight the one that appears most relevant to Sylus’s storyline. Pretāloka is another such realm, and it has connections to Caleb’s narrative. If anyone is interested in Vedic mythology and would like to learn more about these realms beyond the context of the game, please feel free to ask. I would be delighted to share and discuss them further. 🤍]

I watched Ballerina a few months back and HOLY HECKKK, it’s so good??! It truly came to me at the perfect time too — it felt like a silent (or, haha, not always so silent) rage was building up in me and I hated it but after watching Ballerina, I felt… so light? And free? I can’t explain it but seeing Eve taking out her anger and chasing her revenge felt like such an outlet for me. And for that, I will forever be grateful to Ballerina. It’s not only a freaking gorgeous movie but it was like a free therapy session when I needed it, lol. 🫶

ANYWAYS, I love Eve, I love her so much. I was a bit worried walking into Ballerina because women in action movies are typically trope-y and annoyingly badass, y’know? Like oh my goshhh, stop making women climb onto men’s shoulders and snap the dude’s necks with their thighs. I’m so sick of that move. But from my recollection (it’s been a few months, bear with me), Eve never snapped a dude’s neck that way and I LOVE her for that. Nah bro, she used ice skates, she used knives, she was freaking cool. (It sounds so weird but I love how after battles she would make frustrated/tired noises, almost growls of anger, instead of the typical action girlie noises. Like no man, she’s tired of fighting, she’s so done with getting beat up, let her be angry!!!!! They were such relatable reactions, to be honest.)