body in abyss, heart in paradise

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭. 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

( song jiyang, 23, genderfluid, he/they ) ARTHUR HUANG is a/n BOOKSELLER. They are AASIMAR / DRYAD GUISED AS A SIMPLE HUMAN. They are BENEVOLENT, but they are also NAIVE. In their spare time, you can find them WITH THEIR NOSE STUCK IN A BOOK.

“i was saying i don’t understand this reference. they keep talking about this thing like i’m supposed to know it.” they were what, two, maybe three tomes deep by now? mars couldn’t translate a lot of the phrases (hell, probably wouldn’t understand them if they were in plain tongue anyway) while arthur could, and he needed the latter to get ahold of the books anyway – which landed them here, with mars’ brow furrowing under the disapproving gaze of art (that he also didn’t understand) as he, reflexively, tried to angle the sheath out from under art’s glare. 

well, glare might be a strong word for it. really, mars’ motion opens up his posture more, so he could survey art more attentively. this wasn’t like the rain thing. art wasn’t mad at him. all the better. “i’m sorry, little prince.” because he was stately, well-spoken, smart, and fussy.  “this was my first stop when i got into town or i wouldn’t have brought it. is this your polite way of telling me you’ve had enough boring bestiaries for one afternoon?” 

“We’ve gone over this reference multiple times before, Mars...” Had they? Probably, but again, Arthur had been distracted the moment Mars had shoved his way into their bookstore but they weren’t about to admit it out loud, especially to the person in question. Arthur also couldn’t deny Mars’ attractiveness, but that was a thought for another day, no, right now, the dragonborn’s sword held Art’s interest and had been for however long they’d been sitting here. His face flushes at the nickname but he sits up straight, and attempts to hold his ground. “If I’m a little prince, then what would that make you? Certainly not a king... perhaps a knight?” They question out loud, letting out another hum of thought. “Well, I would say knight suits you well...but that requires a strict code, so I suppose not.” They lean closer to Mars, close enough that their knees are touching, and offers the man a once over as they purse their lips, “Aha! I’ve got it,” He shouts and offers Mars a cheeky grin, “You’d be the ferocious beast that the prince in disguise would have to slay to save the princess, or prince.”  

Arthur isn’t what sure came over them when it came to Mars but the man seemed to bring out a different side of the human and his face flushes even more as he realizes he just insulted him, even if it hadn’t been how they intended it. He clears his throat and bows slight;y, “That was...incredibly rude..I’m not sure what came over me but I sincerely apologise, Sir Marswyn.” He turns back to the books, and lets out a little sigh, “I also apologise for not giving your research my full attention, truthfully...I..your sword... I wish to hold it...I’ve never seen one in person or up close...but that is not an excuse. You have my undivided attention from here on out.” 

ariella was delighted by the soft ringing of a bell over the door she had just pushed open. her eyes went wide when she saw the large interior of the bookstore. it was a shame she’d never visited before–in all fairness, the palace’s library was seemingly never ending and never needed replenishing. the princess was eager to make up for lost time, an awestruck smile lighting up her face as her gaze followed the shelves all the way to the ceiling. there were even titles ariella had never seen before, seemingly even some from outside of atherion. she was following the titles at the top of the shelves, head tilted back even as she walked forward. it was this sort of foolishness that had her walking straight into a complete stranger. ariella’s face turned bright pink in an instant and she stumbled backwards. apologies spilled out of her lips, gaze stuck to the ground. “i am so sorry! i should have been paying more attention!” ( @mercyclaim​ )

Arthur had been buzzing with excitement all morning, they’d just received a whole stack of new titles, most of which they’d hadn’t even heard of, and he’d spent most of the morning flicking through pages and pages of different titles, making little notes here and there on how and where he wanted to store the books, which they’d just been about to start, rolling ladder pulled up to the section they needed. Just as Arthur was about to climb up, something, or rather, someone collided into their body, the handful of book in their arms toppled to the floor, a soft exclaim escaping past his lips. “I- oh my gosh, no! Please don’t apologise, it’s my fault, really! i didn’t hear the bell ring...Are you okay?” They look up at the person, glancing over them to double check for any injuries, “Nothing hit you did it? I’m so sorry.”

Arthur was not one to normally indulge on his impulses but having since met Mars, it seems whenever the other was around, they could barely contain their control, and Mars had seemed to make his goal to annoy Arthur as much as possible, which was already a hard feat to accomplish, and Arthur had begrudgingly agreed to help Mars with his research, and with anyone else, they’d have no problem focusing, and even contributing but the younger had fallen into a distracted silence as deep brown eyes kept glancing at the sheathed sword attached to the man’s hip. 

They’re pretty sure Mars has asked them a question, and Arthur merely responds with an inattentive hum and shrug before shaking his head and clearing his throat, focusing back on the book that’s resting on the desk between them. “Sorry, what were you saying?” He questions, twisting his body to stare at Mars with a slightly disapproving look, “Also, no more swords when you’re in my store.” They state firmly, trying to appear more authoritative, but there’s a hint of the pout tugging at the corner of pink lips at the thought of not being able to even touch the sword even for a second.