M

[♡ྀི 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐊𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐍-𝐑𝐀.]

ঌ ▓ This may not seem like a surprising match— as it is not. From the moment you first meet, there is something about you that draws the gaze of Sharrkan attentively: is it how you mend the tone of the room with just a word despite the relaxed, yet quietly confident and assured atmosphere that you stride forward with? Or was that which had influenced it in the first place? As if that gaze had a quiet mischievousness running underneath it, not hidden, but also not so obvious. As his gaze swept across the room, heated with holiday vigor, a white hot pang ran through him— meeting your impassioned eyes, and your nod.

ঌ ▓ First and foremost, Sharrkan is a man who does not mind exile, and did not originally mind a life with attachments which may stretch and contract and even break. And perhaps, this is a result of the oppressive nature of his childhood. He, who had known from a young age of responsibility and duty; he, who knows and felt even shameful of his own actions and asking of foreigners to aid in his country’s efforts—which can potentially bring calamity due to that debt—; he, who wants to see the wind of the future and be able to be pulled into life without worrying meaninglessly— this is also what he most admires about you. The scent of fruits in your grocery bag, the cabinet that you store your bath bombs (a kind of preference that requires one to slow themselves down, to relax, to lighten the atmosphere, to preserve such a pleasant feeling inside his heart), the way you just enjoy the festivities with a matching dress hugging you. The way you find so much passion to express through the most seemingly mundane and arbitrary moments in the monotony of life does not only excite him— it wraps a firm and gentle hand underneath his heart, as if saying, even if you don’t expect me to, I’ll be here to catch you ;) — dangerous, dangerous stuff. It is as if he is walking through a night market, the orange lanterns glazing the limestones with a warm hue, and then he is suddenly, suddenly pulled forth, and finds himself within your pace, pulling him along. And what else could he do but smile, and reciprocate? Loving you starts with the little things—it starts with a friendly gesture— like sparring with this beautiful traveling warrior!

The trees swayed, the sharp tips of pinnate leaves catch the wind, and their silhouettes overlap, like crossed swords.

SCHWING!

Whistling steel clashed in the air, sending sparks into the atmosphere like a broken electric current.

Alibaba gulped, perched on the edge of his seat underneath the shade of the gazebo. “…Are.. they stopping anytime soon?”

Sharrkan hopped back on his heel, flicking his wrist back and forward— a silver line rushed through the air.

The red dragon sword shone as you pivoted forward, parrying his sword. The orange sunset limned his impassioned eyes with a ravaging tint, so bright that you could see yourself in them. His face was flushed red, even moreso than how it usually is, with elation. Whether the reason for that be from fighting, or sparring with you, you yourself feels your heart pounding.

ঌ ▓ I know there is this quality of excitement that I have written in every scene so far, because that is what comes with your presence in his life, but what truly makes this relationship blossom is how mature the two of you can approach things, because of how well you can understand one another: Sharrkan can truly be seen as a frivolous person, in fact, he is a show off. I don’t agree with the wiki that says that he used to be earnest, because he is still a very earnest mentor, a very earnest warrior, but he does have a tendency to conceal parts of himself unintentionally. The way his demeanor switches as he fights, or when he acts as the king of Heliophat, that is also part of him. He is not without insecurities and anxieties in these duties. Thus, one of the reasons this relationship truly works is because you invite him to truly become more present in the moment rather than being lifted off into the air while enjoying festivities. What’s the story behind this celebration? Why do people celebrate it? These seemingly unimportant questions make him remember why celebrations aren’t for the sake of celebrations. In it is a quieter enjoyment that is not all drinking and flirtation, but like the moment after a firework goes off, and you cannot hear anything over the crackling noise, but you SEE, and your eyes sweep over the mountains of people sharing this same firework. And it feels like you realize something then. Sharrkan has a tendency to get aggressive and argue, but he is in fact, the meekest one with his true feelings. Someone who is able to enjoy life with him, to have fun with him, who is so tender and supportive towards all while not allowing anyone to step over themselves, who is heroic and earnest— someone who can inspire him to do more once again, and make him honest and bashful. Someone like you, who doesn’t hesitate to express thanks or affection in your words, and it always makes him tense up, his heart squeezing just for a moment. He doesn’t expect it when you first tease him because of how reserved you seem, and even if he teases you back, you somehow always manage to come out on top. You disarm him, and he finds himself enjoying it. He’s almost coquettish when it happens, and finds himself putting aside his pride as your relationship grows. There is this layer of steadiness to you that makes him feel comforted sharing his thoughts and emotions to you, but this layer also serves to make him more sober in serious situations while not putting him down. It means so, so much to him, to not be judged (for his status, for his attitude), but still be seen.

ঌ ▓ Perhaps the only true issue would be the stubbornness between both of you. Sharrkan is a worrywart at heart. When he sees that you have a problem, he wants to help out. At the same time, he has enough understanding that you would rather solve your own problems if it is interpersonal. However, he wants you to be able to rely on him and trust him in your vulnerable states, if not for solving problems, but for emotional comfort. If you cannot talk, that is not needed. But please, keep the door of your bedroom open to him so he can hold you through the night. Let him call you the names that you love, and he loves to speak. Let him cherish you. Let him love you. Let him show you off, not as some commodity, but with pride. If there is ever an argument, it is either extremely brief, or very heated. This latter one is very rare, and, after it, it is very easy to reconcile with one another. Maybe it is because Sharrkan has become more calm and reflective because of you, or because you have become more trusting of him, it is easy to read how discouraged and somber he is afterwards, and somehow, a part of your anger dissipates. I can’t see any of these arguments being because of each other's characteristics, but rather, more from misplaced words and small assumptions from being hurt.

ঌ ▓ It’s obvious that you are an attractive woman— it is even more obvious that you are his type. I think you seem like the type where playful arguments can truly make you laugh and feel more relaxed, and Sharrkan is a man who can absolutely make you feel that way. He’s genuinely someone who has a sensitive heart, and somewhat childish (like getting mad at Alibaba for finding another master), because he is also someone who is very sentimental. That was his first student!! And he’ll have to nestle up to you afterwards, hugging your waist and rubbing his face against your side like a cat, whining. Whenever you do something chaotic, he sometimes cheers for you, but other times, he’s really thinking, oh my god this woman??? And his jar is agape and he feels like he has to run up and restrain you. He plays dirty in this. He’ll nuzzle up to you and call you sweetheart, and try to sweet talk you out of it. Or sweet talk you into it. 💀 Jafar probably doesn’t know whether or not to laugh or cry when he’s dealing with you two.

ঌ ▓ Between the two of you, if it was not obvious enough, Sharrkan falls in love first. He also confesses first. The thing about this is that multiple scenarios of this confession is possible. A public declaration at a festival, where he slices open a beast’s stomach and dedicates it towards you, gazing at you from a distance. Or perhaps, a floundering confession after being teased by friends, and he has an outburst— I like her, so what? And at that moment, you walk into the room… At the end, he is thoroughly teased by friends for what he does.

ঌ ▓ For date nights, Sharrkan tries his best to woo you, treat you whatever you’d like to dinners and souvenirs. A lot of your dates are very random, and happens no matter what time of the day it is. “You want to head out?” And you two just do, wherever, whenever. It doesn’t even have to be going out. Usually, it is just doing fun things near each other. Someone suggested to write date ideas on a wheel and spin it whenever you two want a surprise, and it hasn’t ever failed the two of you.

ঌ ▓ He would love to show you around Heliophat. He is the prince after all— with a rich education that has been driven to him as a child. When he becomes a king, he has a bad habit to sneak out of palace once in a while with you, pretending to be commoners. And if your subjects ever recognize you— they pretend they never saw.

ঌ ▓ The day he went back to Heliophat, he wanted to take you with him. He knows, it would be selfish of him to ask you to leave your entire life here to go with him, to ask you to leave your friends and loved ones. So, he takes you out for dinner one more time, and there is this gentle silence about him for once as he watches you eat. And he tells you, if you ever step foot into Heliophat with the intention to stay, to know that the throne beside him will be open for you. He is praying inside his heart that this will not be the last time he can call you his love.

— “Don’t try to change people. Just love them. Love is what changes us.”