noor

they don't even have to tie you down, you willingly sat on their surgery table, legs swinging off the high-up surface. "what're you doing?" you lean forward, trying to peer over their shoulder. "oh.., nothing. just a few... preparations." valdemar removes their mask, letting it clatter to the floor as if it were trash. "oh- careful!" you giggle, and valdemar feels an odd... warm feeling swelling inside their chest.

with the new emotion, valdemar freezes, turning to you with confusion. "ooh- quaestor, your hands are so... appealing." you smile, grasping their gloved hands, cascading your fingers over their palms and along their cold fingers. "they're so... slender, perfect! you'd be an amazing model for my work!" you beam, grasping their hands tightly. valdemar flusters, blinking with confusion. what are you doing to them? is this your way of discombobulating valdemar in order to escape their curiosity?

your adoration over their hands is met with a flustered stammer of words, i mean what could they say to that. "this is quite... embarrassing." they mumble, looking away. "oh.. am i embarrassing you? i'm sorry." you let go, and they find their self craving more. "no.. it's okay. i haven't- experienced this for quite a while." valdemar's voice is hushed, and you tilt your head slightly; doe eyes ever so curious. "experienced what?" you ask, and they shake their head, a gentle smile on their lips. "never mind."

you were very easy to talk to, valdemar found themself talking about things of their past with you, and listened to your excited rambling- watched you paint. your creativity is shown in an odd way, you're using yourself as a palette; including yourself in your work. the paintings hold so much life, so much passion- even when you use duller, more saturated colours.

in return of their company, you help them around their lab; gathering things for them. you watched curiously for a moment before growing distracted by something else, be it a tool on a shelf or a jar full of... past patients' body parts. valdemar has to whisk you away from any danger, you just can't be left alone for more than a minute. a protective fondness is cast over them, and they're in your company more than anyone else they've met.

the others tease, poke fun at the quaestor for becoming soft for you, especially valerius. "i'm surprised you haven't taken her apart yet, quaestor." the man chuckles into his wine, watching his acquaintance over the rim of his glass. "i don't know what you mean, consul." valdemar looks past him, uninteresting in his teasing. "you know exactly what i mean, quaestor." valerius prods, a grin spread across his lips. "i thought, when you lead her away that night, that she'd never be seen again." the consul's sentence is met with a glare, and the quaestor pulls their mask down.

"my business is none of yours, consul. i suggest you-" "quaestor." nadia sighs, pressing a tired hand to her forehead. the meeting was going slow. "my apologies, countess." valdemar sighs. great... valerius grins, smugly; clearly thinking to have won the tiny squabble. with the meeting taking longer than usual, valdemar meets you later than usual.

"it's okay! your meetings sound so important." you smile, ever so polite; even when they left you at the meeting spot for an hour extra than they said. "i'm afraid they're becoming more of a nuisance." valdemar sighs, rubbing their forehead with their fingertips idly. "oh, wanna talk about it?" you tilt your head, and they find that your gaze isn't compassionate. "it's nothing... just the consul is rather bothersome, that's all." valdemar stands, letting you follow. you always follow them.

your arm links with their's as the two of you stroll around the palace grounds. "aw, coworkers can be annoying. not everyone is going to get on- a lot of personality types can clash." you smile, as if you weren't self employed with no coworkers yourself. valdemar finds it humorous. "i suppose so." you gaze up at them, eyes filled with that damn curiosity. your smile is always so soft, so sweet, as if you were smiling at a person instead of a demon who's body was merely a trick to appeal to the human eye.

valdemar didn't want to tell you. of course they didn't want to tell anyone, but the truth would get out eventually... yet they felt the need to hide it from you, to protect you from it; from themself, from him. you were too naive, too polite, the devil would sink his claws into you if he ever caught word of your existence. "val?" you nudge their side gently, and they hum. "my apologies, i was just thinking." they smile, and you giggle. "i know, you were about to lead me into that wall." you point out, and valdemar chuckles.

it seemed the two of you were running out of path to walk on, and so valdemar takes you through the palace itself. of course... things don't go to plan; you both ran into consul valerius. "oh, what a sight for sore eyes." he grins, and you smile, not catching on. valdemar scoffs, going to push past him. "greetings, miss. i am consul valerius." the man bows, kissing your knuckles gently. "oh- hello!" you greet back, smiling. "i was just bursting to meet the person who had made our lovely quaestor go so soft." valerius's eyes flicker to valdemar; who was fuming. a triumphant grin is on his face, and it enrages valdemar to no end. you were so clueless to it, simply accepting an invitation to go drinking with him.

"i don't think so, consul. she's helping me." valdemar snaps, but your pout sways them. "please? it'll be fun." you flutter your lashes, and they silently hiss. "oh-! fine. but we can't stay long." valdemar pulls you away from the consul, letting the cocky man lead the way. you had seemingly forgotten valdemar's dislike for the consul, just going along with it. they couldn't blame you, they could never even imagine being mad at you.

so, they found themself sat next to you, trying to come off as unbothered as you speak to the consul; who was painfully clearly not interested in what you were talking about. he just wanted to bask in the glory of getting under the quaestor's skin. valdemar grits their sharp teeth, squeezing your hand tightly under the table. valerius sips his wine, eyes flickering back to you for a few minutes.

"y/n. we have to go." they snap, standing and tugging you with them. "what a shame, i was enjoying the talk." valerius sits back, crossing one leg over the other. "oh- goodbye, consul." you wave, letting valdemar pull you out of the room.

they're angry. so, so angry. you truly were too kind for your own good, and now valerius knew you he was no doubt going to spend more time with you just to piss valdemar off- "val?" you mumble, pressing into their back and nuzzling just under their shoulder blade. "yes?" they sigh, placing their palms on the table, gathering themself. "are you alright? you seem angry." you pout, arms wrapped around their waist. valdemar exhales, trying not to just throw you on their examination table and absolutely ruin you. "i'm fine, i just need to think..." they whisper, lying through their teeth.

thinking was making it so much worse. all their thoughts were of you, which lead to more inappropriate thoughts. in truth they couldn't handle it. you were so addictive, so innocent- they wanted to ruin you, eat you alive. "okay..." you go to let go, but they grab your arms with a single hand, holding you against their body with a single gesture. "what have you done to me?" they laugh, looking up from the desk. "nothing..? are you sure everything's alright? do you feel sick?" you ask, pulling from their loose grip and moving around them.

your warm hand finds their forehead, valdemar finds themself leaning down into your touch, letting you gently rub their cheek. "your freckles are cute." you smile, and they hum, stepping forward; effectively caging you against the desk with their arms. valdemar examines you closely, every detail, every fleck of paint, every smudge of charcoal and graphite... so perfect. "val?" you mumble, growing a tiny bit flustered as they lean in. their nose nudges yours, forehead pressed into your own.

"your presence has really affected me... i don't know how to explain it." valdemar sighs, letting you snake your arms over their shoulders. "try describing it." you smile, letting them pick you up to sit you on their desk as if you weighed nothing. valdemar hums, focusing on the weight in their chest. "i can't.. it's so... disgustingly fluffy. i'm not fond of thinking about it." they sigh. "maybe you're just happy." you giggle, fingers tracing small patterns on the nape of their neck.

"it's more... i don't know what to call it." valdemar's sigh is exasperated as they rack their brain for an answer. human anatomy they get, but feelings..? they don't. you hum, watching them think before adding your suggestion. "is it love?" your question almost makes them recoil, a feeling of realisation settling in. "..yes..." they whisper, and you smile. "aw! who is it?" you giggle, and they look rather shocked. "who else could it be?"

it was your turn to think, eyes wandering in thought. valdemar chuckles, slowly pressing their lips against yours in a quick yet meaningful peck. "oh- i get it." you giggle, kissing them again. valdemar smiles, pulling you closer by your thighs before resting their hands upon either side of the desk.

a relationship blooms, and they get you everything they can. your own personal quarters, a job as a painter for the countess. you enjoy painting nadia, and she doesn't find it bothersome as you didn't have to use a model! it was perfect, and you were close by, provided with food and protection. the only downfall was the other courtiers. volta adored you, bringing your attention away from valdemar. vulgora was just plainly rude, offering to spar with you. the thought of violence towards you bugged your partner, and of course, valerius was still being a thorn in the quaestor's side. vlastomil was rather rude too, picking apart all of your paintings with overly harsh 'criticism', showering you with negativity and causing doubt in your mind.

you took to confiding in valdemar, as they had you, pouting over the matter that seemed so small in their mind. rage fills their heart, they wanted nothing short of a slow death for vlastomil for bringing such negativity into your rather dull mind. "it's nonsense, my dear." they scoff, holding you tightly and trying to brighten your mood with other topics and activities. eventually, valdemar notices your lack of paintings, lack of spark. they immediately know what's wrong, and swiftly stride to where the praetor would normally be found.

you sit in front of your easel, staring at the messy canvas. maybe vlastomil was right... your paintings weren't very modern, an ugly mess thrown together clumsily. how could anyone find this appealing. you clutch your paintbrush, not caring how badly the solid wood made your hand ache. the painting wasn't finished, you hated it, hated all of them.

sparing the pile of canvases that lay across the room, all unfinished; all ugly, you get up, tossing the newest piece of work with the others. leaving your studio, you yelp as the door to your private chamber slams, and vlastomil is shoved towards you. "ah- y/n-!" the lanky man scrambles, and you look up at valdemar who stalks around him and straight to you. "i uh... i came to apologise..! w-what i said wasn't at all pleasant- uh... i'm sorry i-if it affected your work." vlastomil flusters under valdemar's glare, and you blink at him. "oh, uh... it's okay." you offer a small smile, and he seems relieved by your kindness.

"thank you so much for your forgiveness, small one..! you are very talented!" vlastomil gushes, shaking your hand vigorously. "it's okay..! thanks." you giggle, watching the praetor leave with a small bounce in his step. "perhaps you should finish a painting..?" valdemar suggests, craning their back to rest a head on your shoulder, lovingly nuzzling into your cheek. "maybe later, i'm not in a painter mood at the moment." you smile, moving to hug your lover tightly.