#1 Absent Father

Teaching oneself human emotions and feelings was certainly no easy feat. They don’t tell you that once these emotions manifest for real it’s almost impossible to figure them out.

Love was the worst of these. Antoine loved Kameto, but it never truly got to the point it was now. It was just supposed to be a practice crush, they went there separate ways, and weren’t supposed to reunite.

Now they live together.

Two arms came up, wrapping around the back of the box like a blanket. Antoine stared up at the sky. Kameto would come. A general who keeps their word. Antoine would wait. A soldier who waits for orders.

“It seems you didn’t need me to rescue you, my friend.” He shouts from a distance. He only smiles harder when he sees Antoine notice him.

“Do you want me to lay down with you?” He stands over Antoine now, head tilted with a small smirk on his face. “Or does my princess truly need saving, hm? Do you face an evil and mighty dragon?” He turns to look up at the moon, eyes focusing on the rings.

Princess, surprisingly, caught Antoine off guard. A sweet little nickname that Antoine knows Kameto means in a playful way, but he can’t lie it toys with his heart. The actual reaction is hard to tell, hidden away within the box, but Antoine’s core spins in his chest.

“Ahh I did fall! I am just durable, you know?” The box shows a smile as she looks up, pushing herself to sit upright. “I did build that! That- and the dirt towers. I missed the old one. Yes. Before I built the house.”

"Easter egg?" He looks down at her again with a soft smile and shrugs. "Something for someone eager to find. Like a puzzle."

A light gesture felt incredibly caring. Neither of their hands were particularly without marks or soft, yet these were the nicest hands Antoine’s ever held.

It isn’t like they have never been joined with their hands before, they have shared their hands a few times during battles together, but the context here was different than supporting a soldier or general. This was simply Kameto and Antoine. Going on a date.

Or, well, a friend date as Kameto said. How could someone be so beautifully oblivious?

It's not anything too extravagant. Kameto isn't exactly known for his building skills, so the walls are still stone, lit by a few redstone torches scattered a few blocks apart. In the middle, there's a table with a lantern in the middle and two chairs tucked beneath the edges. When Antoine sees it, Kameto smiles proudly at his - admittedly - shoddy work.

That’s why it was so special. It’s never the skill to Antoine, it’s the fun, the reason, the beauty of a build was the enjoyment. He built a shit tower for the purpose of simply building a shit tower. The details of Kameto’s build is the fact he had the goal to make it. Dare Antoine say, the heart to want to make something like this, for a ‘friend’ date with him.

Oh, that poor oblivious general. Fully unaware of the things he does that makes Antoine (metaphorically) swoon. It was unfair for someone to be that fascinating, and in the theme of human desires, she couldn’t help but adore the newer nature of her friend.

Truly disappointing it lasts for only a few seconds. He can’t even bring himself to blurt out his feelings for a chance at more. His core, while not a heart, feels like it’s beating like one. The feeling doesn’t sit right in his body. Worst of all is the lingering feeling on his hand- his knuckles- that he tries to hold onto, his other hand coming to hold the spot.

Ah, there’s no point in fantasizing about it. There aren’t enough words they could tell Kameto anyway to frame it perfectly. It’s more simple to say the truth.

He reaches into his inventory and starts moving things around before finding his food bag. He starts pulling out different dishes, ranging from cuts of cooked meat to bread and crops. He lays them all out on the table - plates included - in a way that Antoine gets to choose what she would like to eat. He motions to all of it with his arm.

Beloved. Whether Kameto meant anything more or simply a friend didn’t matter. Simply hearing the fact she meant enough to be loved by him in some way brought comfort.

“You know how to spoil someone Kameto.” They lightly joked, taking a plate.

“Ah! Oui I remember now. Fast learner aren’t you?” Antoine teased, finally taking a bite from underneath the box.

Food was a pleasure to Antoine. Something to indulge in, not a need to live. To know Kameto worked to make something as good as this for her simply warmed her core. The new best thing she’s ever eaten.

“I figured it would help repay you for housing me for so long. I could come around and feed you, maybe even Pomme if she’s around. Uh-“ His ears flatten against his head, eyes staying on the table. He taps his fork once, twice against the plate. “If she wants to know me, that is… I don’t want to make her see me though.”

“They will come around.” His fork scrapes slightly against her plate as he brings another piece to his mouth. After the bite is finished he sits his fork down against his plate.

“Time, mon ami. In time. Pomme is slow to trust, as we taught her. And Baghera has a lot to handle. They just need time.” Their hands move down, folding in their lap. “But they need to see who you are too. When the time is right of course! How do they know you want to know them right if they can’t see you?”

After they speak, they take a moment to truly process the sight of Kameto, the truest raw emotional form they had ever gotten the pleasure of seeing from Kameto. Even looking so sad at the thoughts of what may happen, he still managed to look as lovely as he always has. For being a general he is just as loyal as soldiers were to him.

“Life has been turning,” she draws a circular motion with her finger in the air, “life goes on.”

His tail flicks, the first siting of that in a while. There’s a second where Antoine seems to process something before laughing.

“Oh! Oh you mean me! Hah, I’m sorry!” She shakes her head and waves her hands, still laughing as she responds again. “Ah, not much to say. Crash on an island, child adoption, building, dirt, to myself mostly. And Pomme.”

Though they laugh it’s hard to focus with the weight of Kameto’s hand on theirs. There’s an overwhelming desire to clasp them together or just slightly graze his hand with their thumb. It was a friendly gesture, they were sure of it, and they don’t want to scare Kameto off.

Their hand remains under Kameto’s, unmoving.

Teaching oneself human emotions and feelings was certainly no easy feat. They don’t tell you that once these emotions manifest for real it’s almost impossible to figure them out.

Love was the worst of these. Antoine loved Kameto, but it never truly got to the point it was now. It was just supposed to be a practice crush, they went there separate ways, and weren’t supposed to reunite.

Now they live together.

Two arms came up, wrapping around the back of the box like a blanket. Antoine stared up at the sky. Kameto would come. A general who keeps their word. Antoine would wait. A soldier who waits for orders.

“It seems you didn’t need me to rescue you, my friend.” He shouts from a distance. He only smiles harder when he sees Antoine notice him.

“Do you want me to lay down with you?” He stands over Antoine now, head tilted with a small smirk on his face. “Or does my princess truly need saving, hm? Do you face an evil and mighty dragon?” He turns to look up at the moon, eyes focusing on the rings.

Princess, surprisingly, caught Antoine off guard. A sweet little nickname that Antoine knows Kameto means in a playful way, but he can’t lie it toys with his heart. The actual reaction is hard to tell, hidden away within the box, but Antoine’s core spins in his chest.

“Ahh I did fall! I am just durable, you know?” The box shows a smile as she looks up, pushing herself to sit upright. “I did build that! That- and the dirt towers. I missed the old one. Yes. Before I built the house.”

"Easter egg?" He looks down at her again with a soft smile and shrugs. "Something for someone eager to find. Like a puzzle."

A light gesture felt incredibly caring. Neither of their hands were particularly without marks or soft, yet these were the nicest hands Antoine’s ever held.

It isn’t like they have never been joined with their hands before, they have shared their hands a few times during battles together, but the context here was different than supporting a soldier or general. This was simply Kameto and Antoine. Going on a date.

Or, well, a friend date as Kameto said. How could someone be so beautifully oblivious?

It's not anything too extravagant. Kameto isn't exactly known for his building skills, so the walls are still stone, lit by a few redstone torches scattered a few blocks apart. In the middle, there's a table with a lantern in the middle and two chairs tucked beneath the edges. When Antoine sees it, Kameto smiles proudly at his - admittedly - shoddy work.

That’s why it was so special. It’s never the skill to Antoine, it’s the fun, the reason, the beauty of a build was the enjoyment. He built a shit tower for the purpose of simply building a shit tower. The details of Kameto’s build is the fact he had the goal to make it. Dare Antoine say, the heart to want to make something like this, for a ‘friend’ date with him.

Oh, that poor oblivious general. Fully unaware of the things he does that makes Antoine (metaphorically) swoon. It was unfair for someone to be that fascinating, and in the theme of human desires, she couldn’t help but adore the newer nature of her friend.

Truly disappointing it lasts for only a few seconds. He can’t even bring himself to blurt out his feelings for a chance at more. His core, while not a heart, feels like it’s beating like one. The feeling doesn’t sit right in his body. Worst of all is the lingering feeling on his hand- his knuckles- that he tries to hold onto, his other hand coming to hold the spot.

Ah, there’s no point in fantasizing about it. There aren’t enough words they could tell Kameto anyway to frame it perfectly. It’s more simple to say the truth.

He reaches into his inventory and starts moving things around before finding his food bag. He starts pulling out different dishes, ranging from cuts of cooked meat to bread and crops. He lays them all out on the table - plates included - in a way that Antoine gets to choose what she would like to eat. He motions to all of it with his arm.

Beloved. Whether Kameto meant anything more or simply a friend didn’t matter. Simply hearing the fact she meant enough to be loved by him in some way brought comfort.

“You know how to spoil someone Kameto.” They lightly joked, taking a plate.

“Ah! Oui I remember now. Fast learner aren’t you?” Antoine teased, finally taking a bite from underneath the box.

Food was a pleasure to Antoine. Something to indulge in, not a need to live. To know Kameto worked to make something as good as this for her simply warmed her core. The new best thing she’s ever eaten.

“I figured it would help repay you for housing me for so long. I could come around and feed you, maybe even Pomme if she’s around. Uh-“ His ears flatten against his head, eyes staying on the table. He taps his fork once, twice against the plate. “If she wants to know me, that is… I don’t want to make her see me though.”

“They will come around.” His fork scrapes slightly against her plate as he brings another piece to his mouth. After the bite is finished he sits his fork down against his plate.

“Time, mon ami. In time. Pomme is slow to trust, as we taught her. And Baghera has a lot to handle. They just need time.” Their hands move down, folding in their lap. “But they need to see who you are too. When the time is right of course! How do they know you want to know them right if they can’t see you?”

After they speak, they take a moment to truly process the sight of Kameto, the truest raw emotional form they had ever gotten the pleasure of seeing from Kameto. Even looking so sad at the thoughts of what may happen, he still managed to look as lovely as he always has. For being a general he is just as loyal as soldiers were to him.

“Life has been turning,” she draws a circular motion with her finger in the air, “life goes on.”

His tail flicks, the first siting of that in a while. There’s a second where Antoine seems to process something before laughing.

“Oh! Oh you mean me! Hah, I’m sorry!” She shakes her head and waves her hands, still laughing as she responds again. “Ah, not much to say. Crash on an island, child adoption, building, dirt, to myself mostly. And Pomme.”

Teaching oneself human emotions and feelings was certainly no easy feat. They don’t tell you that once these emotions manifest for real it’s almost impossible to figure them out.

Love was the worst of these. Antoine loved Kameto, but it never truly got to the point it was now. It was just supposed to be a practice crush, they went there separate ways, and weren’t supposed to reunite.

Now they live together.

Two arms came up, wrapping around the back of the box like a blanket. Antoine stared up at the sky. Kameto would come. A general who keeps their word. Antoine would wait. A soldier who waits for orders.

“It seems you didn’t need me to rescue you, my friend.” He shouts from a distance. He only smiles harder when he sees Antoine notice him.

“Do you want me to lay down with you?” He stands over Antoine now, head tilted with a small smirk on his face. “Or does my princess truly need saving, hm? Do you face an evil and mighty dragon?” He turns to look up at the moon, eyes focusing on the rings.

Princess, surprisingly, caught Antoine off guard. A sweet little nickname that Antoine knows Kameto means in a playful way, but he can’t lie it toys with his heart. The actual reaction is hard to tell, hidden away within the box, but Antoine’s core spins in his chest.

“Ahh I did fall! I am just durable, you know?” The box shows a smile as she looks up, pushing herself to sit upright. “I did build that! That- and the dirt towers. I missed the old one. Yes. Before I built the house.”

"Easter egg?" He looks down at her again with a soft smile and shrugs. "Something for someone eager to find. Like a puzzle."

A light gesture felt incredibly caring. Neither of their hands were particularly without marks or soft, yet these were the nicest hands Antoine’s ever held.

It isn’t like they have never been joined with their hands before, they have shared their hands a few times during battles together, but the context here was different than supporting a soldier or general. This was simply Kameto and Antoine. Going on a date.

Or, well, a friend date as Kameto said. How could someone be so beautifully oblivious?

It's not anything too extravagant. Kameto isn't exactly known for his building skills, so the walls are still stone, lit by a few redstone torches scattered a few blocks apart. In the middle, there's a table with a lantern in the middle and two chairs tucked beneath the edges. When Antoine sees it, Kameto smiles proudly at his - admittedly - shoddy work.

That’s why it was so special. It’s never the skill to Antoine, it’s the fun, the reason, the beauty of a build was the enjoyment. He built a shit tower for the purpose of simply building a shit tower. The details of Kameto’s build is the fact he had the goal to make it. Dare Antoine say, the heart to want to make something like this, for a ‘friend’ date with him.

Oh, that poor oblivious general. Fully unaware of the things he does that makes Antoine (metaphorically) swoon. It was unfair for someone to be that fascinating, and in the theme of human desires, she couldn’t help but adore the newer nature of her friend.

Truly disappointing it lasts for only a few seconds. He can’t even bring himself to blurt out his feelings for a chance at more. His core, while not a heart, feels like it’s beating like one. The feeling doesn’t sit right in his body. Worst of all is the lingering feeling on his hand- his knuckles- that he tries to hold onto, his other hand coming to hold the spot.

Ah, there’s no point in fantasizing about it. There aren’t enough words they could tell Kameto anyway to frame it perfectly. It’s more simple to say the truth.

He reaches into his inventory and starts moving things around before finding his food bag. He starts pulling out different dishes, ranging from cuts of cooked meat to bread and crops. He lays them all out on the table - plates included - in a way that Antoine gets to choose what she would like to eat. He motions to all of it with his arm.

Beloved. Whether Kameto meant anything more or simply a friend didn’t matter. Simply hearing the fact she meant enough to be loved by him in some way brought comfort.

“You know how to spoil someone Kameto.” They lightly joked, taking a plate.

“Ah! Oui I remember now. Fast learner aren’t you?” Antoine teased, finally taking a bite from underneath the box.

Food was a pleasure to Antoine. Something to indulge in, not a need to live. To know Kameto worked to make something as good as this for her simply warmed her core. The new best thing she’s ever eaten.

“I figured it would help repay you for housing me for so long. I could come around and feed you, maybe even Pomme if she’s around. Uh-“ His ears flatten against his head, eyes staying on the table. He taps his fork once, twice against the plate. “If she wants to know me, that is… I don’t want to make her see me though.”

“They will come around.” His fork scrapes slightly against her plate as he brings another piece to his mouth. After the bite is finished he sits his fork down against his plate.

“Time, mon ami. In time. Pomme is slow to trust, as we taught her. And Baghera has a lot to handle. They just need time.” Their hands move down, folding in their lap. “But they need to see who you are too. When the time is right of course! How do they know you want to know them right if they can’t see you?”

After they speak, they take a moment to truly process the sight of Kameto, the truest raw emotional form they had ever gotten the pleasure of seeing from Kameto. Even looking so sad at the thoughts of what may happen, he still managed to look as lovely as he always has. For being a general he is just as loyal as soldiers were to him.

Teaching oneself human emotions and feelings was certainly no easy feat. They don’t tell you that once these emotions manifest for real it’s almost impossible to figure them out.

Love was the worst of these. Antoine loved Kameto, but it never truly got to the point it was now. It was just supposed to be a practice crush, they went there separate ways, and weren’t supposed to reunite.

Now they live together.

Two arms came up, wrapping around the back of the box like a blanket. Antoine stared up at the sky. Kameto would come. A general who keeps their word. Antoine would wait. A soldier who waits for orders.

“It seems you didn’t need me to rescue you, my friend.” He shouts from a distance. He only smiles harder when he sees Antoine notice him.

“Do you want me to lay down with you?” He stands over Antoine now, head tilted with a small smirk on his face. “Or does my princess truly need saving, hm? Do you face an evil and mighty dragon?” He turns to look up at the moon, eyes focusing on the rings.

Princess, surprisingly, caught Antoine off guard. A sweet little nickname that Antoine knows Kameto means in a playful way, but he can’t lie it toys with his heart. The actual reaction is hard to tell, hidden away within the box, but Antoine’s core spins in his chest.

“Ahh I did fall! I am just durable, you know?” The box shows a smile as she looks up, pushing herself to sit upright. “I did build that! That- and the dirt towers. I missed the old one. Yes. Before I built the house.”

"Easter egg?" He looks down at her again with a soft smile and shrugs. "Something for someone eager to find. Like a puzzle."

A light gesture felt incredibly caring. Neither of their hands were particularly without marks or soft, yet these were the nicest hands Antoine’s ever held.

It isn’t like they have never been joined with their hands before, they have shared their hands a few times during battles together, but the context here was different than supporting a soldier or general. This was simply Kameto and Antoine. Going on a date.

Or, well, a friend date as Kameto said. How could someone be so beautifully oblivious?

It's not anything too extravagant. Kameto isn't exactly known for his building skills, so the walls are still stone, lit by a few redstone torches scattered a few blocks apart. In the middle, there's a table with a lantern in the middle and two chairs tucked beneath the edges. When Antoine sees it, Kameto smiles proudly at his - admittedly - shoddy work.

That’s why it was so special. It’s never the skill to Antoine, it’s the fun, the reason, the beauty of a build was the enjoyment. He built a shit tower for the purpose of simply building a shit tower. The details of Kameto’s build is the fact he had the goal to make it. Dare Antoine say, the heart to want to make something like this, for a ‘friend’ date with him.

Oh, that poor oblivious general. Fully unaware of the things he does that makes Antoine (metaphorically) swoon. It was unfair for someone to be that fascinating, and in the theme of human desires, she couldn’t help but adore the newer nature of her friend.

Truly disappointing it lasts for only a few seconds. He can’t even bring himself to blurt out his feelings for a chance at more. His core, while not a heart, feels like it’s beating like one. The feeling doesn’t sit right in his body. Worst of all is the lingering feeling on his hand- his knuckles- that he tries to hold onto, his other hand coming to hold the spot.

Ah, there’s no point in fantasizing about it. There aren’t enough words they could tell Kameto anyway to frame it perfectly. It’s more simple to say the truth.

He reaches into his inventory and starts moving things around before finding his food bag. He starts pulling out different dishes, ranging from cuts of cooked meat to bread and crops. He lays them all out on the table - plates included - in a way that Antoine gets to choose what she would like to eat. He motions to all of it with his arm.

Beloved. Whether Kameto meant anything more or simply a friend didn’t matter. Simply hearing the fact she meant enough to be loved by him in some way brought comfort.

“You know how to spoil someone Kameto.” They lightly joked, taking a plate.

“Ah! Oui I remember now. Fast learner aren’t you?” Antoine teased, finally taking a bite from underneath the box.

Food was a pleasure to Antoine. Something to indulge in, not a need to live. To know Kameto worked to make something as good as this for her simply warmed her core. The new best thing she’s ever eaten.

“I figured it would help repay you for housing me for so long. I could come around and feed you, maybe even Pomme if she’s around. Uh-“ His ears flatten against his head, eyes staying on the table. He taps his fork once, twice against the plate. “If she wants to know me, that is… I don’t want to make her see me though.”