crying all night sleepin till 3

happy birthday to our #1 babygirl casper 🎈🎂

(everyone say happy birthday to him or he'll be sad)

all the ADWD dlcs are on sale to celebrate!!!

go grab 20-30% off!!!

You were just trying to get familiar with the streets of Lowtown, that was all you had in mind for the moment. You never meant to do this, to act so irresponsibly, how could you have been such an idiot? How didn't you notice? How? You've been wrapping your hands with bandages all your life to avoid the consequences of touching someone with your cursed arms. You wished the soulless had ripped them off the first night you arrived in Eridia.

You don't know what to do, there's nothing you can do. You watch and stare in absolute horror as the atmosphere of kindness melts away and is replaced with a malicious and murderous air. The gleam of light and life in their eyes is forcefully dragged out, insanity taking its place as a twisted smile makes its way on their face. You freeze. You've seen this expression far too many times to count, you've hurt people with your inhuman hands one too many times; but you still can't get used to their newfound goal of murder, the goal they didn't have just a few seconds ago. The livelihood is drained out. Every time, and yet, you always find your guts wretched in guilt. Every. Damn. Time.

You see, you didn't mean to touch them, you really had no intentions of doing so. But you got overwhelmed in the crowd of people, the streets of Eridia never empty while all of civilians scurry to randomised places as they try to finish their errands. You were much less doing the same, you didn't differ from the rest. Your hands tucked in your cloak, you tried to the best of your ability to avoid contact with anyone, even when your hands were bandaged. After you had crossed a corner, entering an alleyway away from everyone; your bandages got stuck on some sort of object. You tried to untangle your bandages without ripping them, but to no avail. You huffed and groaned, cursing under your breath before you heard a light chuckle. A person revealed themselves, a soft and playful smile on their face as they watched you struggle. "need any help?" they had asked you, kindness dripping in their tone. You refused, obviously. But they had already set themselves into untangling your bandages from the object, your anxiety grew into fear and worry. Your eyes were a little wide as you promised that you can do this yourself, they didn't listen. Your bandages untangled, but it revealed your corpse-like skin. And before you could warn them or say anything, they touched you out of curiosity.

you still feel guilty about it, despite the fact the situation was out of your control. You stepped back in the alleyway, trying to keep a distance between the two of you. But all they did was look at you with their twistedly disgusting smile and a malicious intent in their eyes. "Die." you could hear them utter under their breath as they stepped closer, they repeated the word like a chant and you have never been so sick of yourself and your curse.

Your back hit the wall and you panicked, dead end. If there was a god out there, they hated you for sure. You wished for a miracle, you needed one right now, seriously. But all you could so was pull out the dagger that Leander had decided would help you in case of danger as the person walked closer and closer. Your hands shook, you didn't want to hurt them, they'd been nothing but kind to you and they suffered for it.

They leapt at you, hands on your throat as they squeezed, choking you. "Die." You could barely hear them chanting about wanting to kill you through their maniacal laughter. You squirmed and thrashed around, your free, shaking hand wrapping around their arm to try and helplessly pull them away but to no avail. They squeezed harder around your throat, cutting off air. If this continued, you would pass out in no time; and you doubted that they would stop until you were fully limp without a pulse. You tried to stab their arm with the dagger, but all they could do was chuckle dangerously as they pulled you up into the air against the wall.

One thing let to the next, and in a desperate attempt to free yourself; you stabbed them right in the chest. They didn't let go of you, one hand clutching their chest as you dove the dagger deeper into their body and twisted it. They let out a pained chuckle as they bled out, you twisted the dagger again before pulling it out and kicking them away from you. You both fell back, but they had no intention of letting you walk away alive even while their own life was bleeding away. They groaned and tried to get up, but you were a few steps ahead.

Still catching your breath and trying to black out, you manhandled them into the floor and pinned them down. Slowly pushing your dagger into their stomach and twisting it, before trailing your dagger up and down their torso. They groaned in pain, and tried to squirm and kill you, but they died before getting the chance. They bled out.

You heaved, eyes wide as your lips trembled. You felt like crying, dropping your dagger with a *klink* onto the floor and placing a hand on your forehead to keep yourself from breaking right then and there. The guilt was eating you inside out, you just killed someone. The words rang in your head like bell, and you wondered if you would ever forgive yourself for such an act. You wanted to excuse it by calling it self-defense, but you could have left them with the first stab wound and ran away. But what you did was inexcusable.

You use a handkerchief to wipe away any blood on you, your hands shaking while tears threatened to spill from your eyes. You hated yourself, your movements felt heavy as you cried for a bit, sobbed even. You needed to calm down, you couldn't just walk back looking like mess, it would raise too many questions.

You take a shaky breath, your body trembling as you got off of the now dead body and stood up; only for your legs to almost give out on you, so you balance yourself by leaning against the wall. You take another breath and put away your dagger and handkerchief while starting to leave the alleyway. Surprisingly, it was really late. How long were you in thay alleyway? You didn't even feel the time go by...

The streets were emptier than before, it became easier for you to find your way to the Wet Wick. And like any other night, the bar was filled to the brim with bloodhounds and drunkards. You sigh and move your way through the clashing bodies, feeling somewhat distant and distracted. All the voices and sounds around you were cleared out, everything was a blue as you made it close to the staircase before you felt an arm wrap around you. Your eyes widened and you flinched, looking to see who it was; a familiar soft green coloured eyes met yours. "Hey, (name)! Where have you been? Come, join us!" Leander excitedly spoke, you look back to see everyone you've met. Kuras, Ais, Vere and even Mhin were all here. Together. "No, I think I-" you tried to decline but Leander had already dragged you over to the bar and sat you down "Drinks on me!" He exclaimed and Vere's tail swished while a sly smile appeared on his face.

You tried to decline again but a glass of gin had already been pressed to your lips, you reluctantly drink as to not ruin the mood. You feel nauseous, disgusted with yourself. You're here drinking with acquaintances after mercilessly murdering someone in an alleyway, you really were terrible. Inhuman.

Though, nobody seemed to notice your self-directed hatred. Leander was too busy making some new combination of drinks for Ais while the latter and Vere seemed to be in some kind of conversation. Mhin didn't bother hiding their revulsion about being in the Wet Wick, while Kuras had a smile on his face. You were too distracted Ted by your thoughts and the ringing in your ears that you didn't even notice a gentle hand being placed on your shoulder, "(name)? Are you alright?", you flinch. "I...uhm, yeah. Why do you ask, Kuras?" Kuras looked at you with a bit of concern as he raised an eyebrow. "Your gin, it spilled on you..." He commented quietly. Your eyes widened, he was right, how didn't you notice?

"Bit of a clumsy one, aren't you, sparrow?" You heard Ais' deep voice ring in your ear, you just nod as you wipe yourself off. "I guess so.." your voice was quiet, almost weak and you cringed at how helpless you sound. Ais looked at you suspiciously, he expected you to retort with your shitty attitude but he decided to drop the subject and shrug.

You wanted to leave, to be alone without facing anyone; you could feel their concerned eyes on you and it ripped you inside and out. You thought of an excuse to leave. "I'm not reall-" you were cut off again, the sound of a bloodhound yelling and groaning in defeat as they lost a game with their fellow friends. You sighed for the umpteenth time today as another drink is shoved into your hands. "Drink it, your taste in liquor is sad enough to make me pity you." It's a glass of wine, you note. You look over to the direction of the owner of the smooth voice, your eyes meet pink ones; Vere. He's not as tense as he usually is, his body language relaxed and laid back. You couldn't tell if it was from the company or the alcohol.

"I think I'm okay..." you decline, again. The sly smile doesn't leave Vere's face. "Don't be a prude, (name). Just a sip, then?" he suggests and you sigh another time, your hands gripping the base of the wine glass. Expectant eyes are on you, you bite your lips as you take a sip from the wine. You make a face at the sudden bitterness, earning a laugh from those around you. The bitterness fades, leaving a sweet taste on your tongue. "....I think one sip is enough.." you grumble and Vere responds with another sly smile thrown your direction. "Whatever suits you."

You can tell that he has more to say, some kind of insult but he kept quiet; you think you might've responded a little more sharply than you meant to. You're about to mutter a small apology before an arm wraps itself around your shoulders again. You flinch, you recognize the arm but can't bring yourself to relax. "Why so moody, (name)? Did something happen?" That gleeful and friendly tone belongs to none other than Leander. You bite the inside of your cheek hard enough til you taste the taste of Iron on your tongue. "....I'm fine. Just...tired, I guess..." you sigh out while Leander chuckles, obviously amused. "Rough day today, hm?" You nod, but nobody gets the hint that you want to be left alone. Or maybe they knew but decided to fuck you over and ignore it.

You sit up, trying to show that you really aren't in the mood, but a hand places itself on your waist and sits you down. "Listen, I-" " you want to talk about it?" You freeze and your eyes widen, you look over at Leander who has a patient, warm smile on his face but you can't bring yourself to utter a word.

It felt like time had stopped, your hands clenched and your mouth dried up. You couldn't just tell Leander that you had murdered a kind-hearted person who was just trying to aid you in a time of need, how would he even react? How would everyone around your react? You doubted they would react kindly.

Thankfully, Leander took your silence as an answer, simply patting you on the back while the rest of the group looked at you suspiciously concerned. Why were they concerned, concerned about something as inhuman, as pathetic as you? For what? You sighed, getting up to evacuate to the safety and privacy of your room. You felt overwhelmed and exhausted because of the events of today, you needed out from everyone. "Hey...I'm not feeling in the mood today, I think I'll just head back for now..."

You mutter a small goodbye and tiredly and shakily go back to your room, locking the door behind you, at least you think you did. Everything feels like a blur, the ringing in your ears much more clear without the overwhelming sound of bloodhounds yelling and drinks clinking together. You collapse onto the floor beside your bed, pulling your knees closer to hug yourself as you begin to sob quietly. You couldn't manage to get the image out of your head, the sight of blood and the look of insanity....it weighed your heart down and your stomach churned in disgust at yourself.

You wanted to ask why, why the fuck you were so stupid as to kill someone in the moment. Was it because of terror? Or did you just want to kill them? Maybe both, maybe none. You didn't have an answer, no evidence to rely your excuses on. So, you did what you always did after forcing someone so kind to suffer; you punish yourself. It was only fair, right? That you do something a little more painful than before as heavier punishment?

You wipe your tears with your palm, but they keep coming. You pull out the dagger you used, the dagger you murdered with; and gently undo your bandages. Making sure your handkerchief was with you after removing all the bandages and setting them aside, you hold the dagger and press it into your arm. You wince, it burns but you deserve it. You make a cut. But one isn't enough, one cut is nowhere near enough to atone for the horrible sin you committed, you make another cut, a deeper one. Blood oozes out of both cuts, more blood out of the second cut drips down your arm.

You feel nauseous, disappointed, disgusted with yourself as you make another cut. You lose yourself in the feeling of pain, making about twenty cuts on your arm before you drop the dagger, shaking. Tears won't stop flowing down your face, you weren't sure if it was from the pain or because of the guilt, but you knew how much this hurts. And you find yourself thinking that twenty cuts isn't enough, it's such a small amount. And you wince and sob as quietly as you can as you make another twenty cuts on your other arm.

The pain is disgustingly bittersweet, you can't help but feel you deserve it. Your crying came to a calm, tears are still dropping down your cheeks but not as much as before. You probably look like a mess. Thinking if the word mess, you realise you bled onto the floor. Which you curse, you feel so useless, so stupid. How could you let your blood drop onto the floor? You idiot. You're such an idiot. You shakily wipe the blood away with you handkerchief, the ones that was still stained by that person's blood. You feel lightheaded. Maybe it was the bloodless, or maybe it was the blood on your handkerchief, but you suddenly felt really dizzy.

You wipe your tears away and look to your bandages, they're stained red. Apparently, you didn't put them far enough from the crime scene. You sighed for the millionth time today. You throw your bandages and handkerchief in the trash-can inside your room and clean up your wounds in the bathroom. Washing away the blood on your arms as you dab them with a wet tissue. You put your cloak back on, putting on the hood so nobody saw your tear-stained face as you shamefully walk down the stairs.

It didn't take you long to find Leander, problem was, none of the rest went home yet but you couldn't bring yourself to care anymore. As long as they don't notice your face or arms, you'll be fine. You walk over with your head down and leander greets you with a hug, you curse mentally and make sure to hide your arms behind your back.

"Hey! (Name)! Changed your mind? Didn't know you needed such a short nap to recharge?" He exclaimed, almost too happy to see you; he should be disgusted, you think. "It's...I-Its nothing like that...I uhm.." you hesitate and your hands clench at how shaky and weak you sounded "...b-bandages..." you whisper, and Leander raises an eyebrow "Sorry?" You curse. "Raise your voice, sparrow." You hear Ais call out and you cringe, you feel eyes burning themselves into your back. "B-Bandages....I need Bandages..." Leander hums, tapping finger on his chin as his eyes glance to where your hands would be if you weren't hiding them. "Something happen?" He asked, you shake your head. "They got wet..." you mumble, looking everywhere but at Leander.

You suddenly feel a hand hold your chin, causing you to look in their direction. Vere. There's no way he can't see the tear stains on your face and you hope to god that he's too drunk to notice, his eyes narrow while you keep yours averted. "You're acting off..." his words slur, and you almost sigh in relief. "Off?" You ask, and he slyly smiles. "Did you do something?" You close your eyes, refusing to meet his gaze. "That doesn't matter." You reply colder than you wanted as Vere hums in amusement. "Does it now?" You curse and pull yourself away, catching yourself almost touching your jaw with your hand and clearing your throat as you hid your arm quickly.

You turn around as you motion for Leander to put your new bandages in your pocket, sighing in relief that this was finally over. "What's going on with your arms?" Vere ask and you stop dead in your tracks as your blood runs cold. Your limbs shake, your eyes wide as your stomach churns in disgust and self-hatred. "...none of your business..." you barely utter out as you quickly fled the scene, running back to your room.

You slide down the door and curse at yourself while wrapping the bandages around your arms, you felt nothing but numb and just wanted to get this whole thing over with. You fall into your bed with a sigh after taking off your cloak and shoes and changing, you won't sleep tonight but you've never had a good sleep schedule anyway, not when you feared for everyone's life in the middle of the night in your old town. You sigh again. Maybe next time, you should let yourself die in your victims hands..

...you chuckle, if you weren't born as such a waste of space; you wouldn't have hurt with your curse. Funny, right?

------------------

I have a lot of drafts abt poly relationships, one of the last ones I'm working on is a wedding with the five, but I have no inspiration to continue it, so by now here's this one.

I had a really hard time trying to connect mhin and vere somehow, so by now lets say this are my headcanons abt them.

Longest one till now, took me around three days to finish it. Also, english is not my native language so I apologize if there's any mistake with mhin's pronouns or Vere's.

Idea suggested by my wife @mysticmelodiesoftheforest

Summery: After a quiet evening with Mhin and Vere, doubts about your worth begin to drown you. But in their warmth, and in their words, you start to realize that maybe, just maybe, you’re not as unlovable as you thought.

Warnings: mentions of eating disorder, body image issues, self-esteem issues, anxiety, negative self-talk, emotional vulnerability, comfort and reassurance, poly relationship dynamics, light angst, headcanons.

Words count: 18.7k

The moon, large and round, hung above you, bathing everything in a silvery glow. It was that same light that highlighted Mhin's pallor, giving them an almost ghostly air, as if instead of sitting next to you, they had emerged directly from the water and the sky. You watch them in silence, their hand resting against yours, as you sit at the edge of the pier, which stretches silently over the dark water, built of old but sturdy wood that creaked softly every time someone moved on it.

You had come here alone many times, even with Kuras, but over time you found Mhin here. At first, they avoided your company, as always. Now, as the months passed, peace came more easily when you were by their side.

The lake, wide and deep, calmly reflected the open sky, where the stars seemed to sink into the surface like moving embers. In the distance, the breeze carried the echoes of the city of Eridia, distant footsteps, scattered voices, but there everything sounded muffled, as if the world had been left behind when you reached this hidden corner.

The air smelled of fresh water, with that cool, clean touch that sticks to your skin, mixed with the damp wood of the pier and a trace of seaweed. From time to time, a fish broke the surface with a brief splash, rippling with the moon's reflection.

A strand of mhin's hair glistened in the moonlight, and without thinking twice, you gently tucked it behind their ear.

“You look handsome,” you whispered. “Although... you always do. It's just that the moon has a nasty habit of making you mesmerizing.”

The blush appeared on their cheeks as you expected, followed by the typical evasive look.

“Shut up and concentrate on fishing, will you?”

You smiled. And even though they were trying to sound harsh, the corners of their lips betrayed a slight smile. Then, just a whisper

“You're much prettier, anyway.”

You blinked, uncertain. You heard it, but you wanted to confirm it.“What did you say?”

“Argh...” they sighed, putting the rod aside. They turned toward you, their cold hands cupping your face with delicate firmness. “I said you're much prettier. Okay?”

You were about to reply, but Mhin quickly cut you off.

“And I don't want you to deny it again.”

The heat in your chest rose suddenly. Your eyes fell to their lips, lingering on that little beauty mark just below. The air between you became too heavy, too short. And they noticed.

“You know you don't have to ask...” they murmured.

They leaned towards you, pressing their lips against yours. It wasn't a voracious kiss, but a slow one, almost clumsy in its sweetness, laden with tenderness and a shyness that finally surrendered. Their hands sought your waist, pulling you closer with more confidence, deepening the kiss without haste.

After the kiss, Mhin slowly pulled away, their lips still brushing yours as their fingers cling tighter to your waist.

“I love you, Mhin...” you whispered, still feeling their breath mingle with yours.

There wasn't a second of hesitation. They reacted purely with instinct, kissing your face repeatedly: your cheeks, your forehead, the corner of your lips. Each kiss was clumsy, desperate, as if they had been suppressing that urge for too long.

“I love every part of you...” they murmured between breaths, their words trembling as they escaped, "without exception. Do you understand that?"

Your fingers tangled in their shirt, searching for something to anchor yourself to, something to confirm that they were there, that it was true. You've always had a hard time accepting compliments, looking at yourself in the mirror without the reflection feeling like a lie; your body has been a battlefield for so long... but Mhin never seemed to see it that way.

For them, there was nothing to fix, nothing to hide. They loved you with the same intensity you now felt in their mouths, kissing you with tenderness so honestly it hurt, slowly melting the barriers you had built against yourself.

You pressed your forehead against theirs, hugging them tightly, as much as your body would allow, and they returned the gesture. The hair tie in Mhin's hair fell out, letting their white hair wave gently in the cold night air.

A soft giggle escaped you as you gave them one last kiss before letting them sit down again, both of you breathing heavily. Before they could say anything else, your voice echoed: “We should head back now, don't you think? Vere is waiting for us.”

A long, tortured sigh escaped Mhin; the mere mention of Vere annoyed them, but they knew it was too late. Reluctantly, they began to pack up their things.

“Waiting for you, rather,” they muttered. “That perverted fox can't wait to get his hands on you again.”

You got up with Mhin, helping them carry one of their bags, and together you walked along a path that crossed the river, entering once again the vibrant streets of the Amaryllis district. You tried to distract them with light conversation, coaxing a smile out of them as you crossed the river and walked through the bustling streets.

Although you knew that the two of them would never fully get along, you have noticed some things change over time, Vere had toned down his teasing of Mhin a bit, although he still provoked them enough to keep them irritated, but without going so far as to make them try to kill him. You were glad to see their relationship becoming more tolerable over time.

“Hmm, we should give the cats names and stop calling them just that, don't you think?” you asked.

“I guess so... What do you have in mind?” Mhin kept walking, their brow relaxed a little.

“Hmm... how about Eli for the white one? And we should give the others a bath too, they're a little dirty.”

Mhin nodded, and the conversation made the time pass more quickly. Soon you both arrived at the house Vere had indicated. It was a normal house, but with a cozy touch of a lived-in home: candles lit up the living room, empty plates on the table, shelves with books and crafts, a comfy armchair with messy cushions. Mhin sat quietly while you walked around lighting more candles to get a better view.

Then, from the shadows of a dark hallway, Vere appeared. His presence was always impossible to ignore, his reddish hair, loose, fell over his shoulders, an earring tinkled with the movement of his ears. His clothing revealed part of his chest and abdomen: a light shawl that hugged his torso, leaving his softly defined muscles visible, his gloves were the same as always, covering only two fingers, and dark pants with silver chains hanging down the sides. The usual chain around his neck hung down on both sides of his chest, like a provocative adornment with a painful undertone, contrasting with the different shades of purple in his outfit. Every step he took seemed to measure the distance between you, his soft, purring voice brushing against your senses.

“There you are... I thought you weren't coming.”

“Where are the clothes I gave you?” he asked with a small, feigned pout, playing with you again. “I wanted you to wear them for this occasion...”

“I kept them in my room at the Wet Wick... you didn't tell me you wanted me to use them today...”

Vere's tail moved quickly, impatiently.

“Don't worry... I brought them here because I figured you'd forget. Very rude of you not to think about it... and I had chosen them with such care.” You knew he was playing with you again, and you smiled.

“Yes, I'll wear it, okay? Wait a minute, how did you get it out of there? And... whose house is this?”

Vere turned away without answering, letting out only a soft laugh as he vanished back into the shadows.

Without realizing it, Mhin appeared behind you. The faint sound of their footsteps was lost in the crunching of the ground, and their presence surprised you. They were holding the bag with the fish, the damp fabric showing the shape of the catch.

You turned to them, blinking with a slight start.

“Ah... what are you doing?” you asked, still recovering.

Mhin seemed slightly annoyed, though not with you. Their tense lips and the way they held the bag gave them away.

“I was going to cook this, but since Vere changed locations again... I don't know where the cats are.”

“If you want, I can help you—”

You didn't finish your sentence. Vere came back from the shadows of the hallway again, moving like a dark reflection. His hand rested on your shoulder and his cold breath brushed your ear as he whispered “Go to the end of the hallway. There's a room there. Change there.”

Then he turned to Mhin. Mhin's brow furrowed when Vere got too close to them.

“They're under the bed in the corner room, covered in dust and dirt. Are you planning on bathing them?” Vere raised an eyebrow and, with two fingers, removed a leaf tangled in Mhin's hair, throwing it on the floor with a gesture of disgust. “It's seems that is true that pets are just like their owners.”

He let out a dry laugh. You kept walking. The last thing you heard was Mhin's voice, full of annoyance, complaining about Vere's insufferable attitude.

The hallway was narrow, barely lit by the moonlight coming through the cracks. The old wood creaked under your footsteps. At the end, you found the room. The door gave way with a slight squeak. Inside, the darkness was kinder; a large window let in a silvery thread that fell on the bed. The furniture was in the center, the sheets rumpled as if someone had been sitting there before. A wardrobe stood in the corner, dark and heavy. On the bed, carefully folded, where the clothes Vere had chosen for you.

Vere had always been selective with your clothes, obsessive even, he always gifted you clothes with luxurious fabrics, shiny accessories that only make you feel uncomfortable, it made you think that you just weren’t in his standards. Your body was not something you wanted to show, every mirror was a condemnation. You had long avoided looking at yourself in them, your reflection seemed to become a little more distorted each time. Your relationship with food was just as fraught; rationalizing it never seemed enough.

You sat silently on the bed, feeling the weight of your thoughts. For a moment, you wanted to lock the door and stay there. Not eat. Not to see them. The fear of rejection was a lump in your throat. They were attractive, brilliant in their own way... but you? What were you next to them? The idea that they deserved better gnawed at you. And the fact that they hated each other made you feel like you were forcing them to be together for someone worthless, someone as horrible as you.

“They don't deserve this,” you thought, slowly curling up on the bed. Cold tears ran down your cheeks. “Someday I'll be enough for someone,” you told yourself, as you silently choked back your tears.

Then you heard it. A soft, warm purr coming from under the bed. When you looked down, a small white kitten with blue eyes emerged from the dust. She was dirty, but you didn't care. You picked her up carefully and put her on your lap. The kitten meowed, as if asking what happened with you. She rubbed against your stomach, moving her little paws in a gentle rhythm. Her tiny claws didn't hurt you; on the contrary, they brought a faint smile to your face. With your free hand, you wiped away your tears.

“Thank you, Eli...” you whispered, stroking her head.

You left her on the bed for a moment and got up. You walked over to the mirror in the corner. There you were, but the more you looked at it, the more flaws you found. You walked away, as if fleeing from that image, and picked up the clothes Vere had left on the bed. The kitten played with one of the bracelets, pushing it with her tiny paw. You smiled a little again, and, with slow movements, you began to change your clothes.

When you finished dressing, you looked at yourself in the mirror again. The fabric fits your body with an almost liquid sheen, reflecting the moonlight. Each accessory, made of silver, just like Vere's, sparkled as if it tied you to him in some way. Eli followed you out of the room, when you had enough courage to get out.

The hallway was still dimly lit, but this time the silence was filled with murmurs.

You recognized their voices.

“Stay still, will you?” Vere said, with barely contained annoyance.

“I would if it didn't move so much,” replied Mhin, irritated.

You heard the drip of a faucet and a slight splash. Curiosity led you to the half-open bathroom door.

“Don't you dare get me wet,” Vere's voice sounded closer.

There was another splash, louder, accompanied by meows.

“What? Are you afraid of a little water, little fox?” Mhin's mockery was evident.

“What about you? You need a bath too.”

Then there was the sound of a sudden waterfall: water fell heavily, splashing the floor. Mhin fell silent.

You pushed the door open and stopped in the doorway.

The scene took your breath away.

Vere, with an expression somewhere between amusement and resignation, covered his mouth with one hand while holding a dripping cat in the other. Mhin was completely soaked, their hair plastered to their skin, drops falling down their neck, and their clothes clinging to their body. Inside the tub, several cats stared at him with round eyes, motionless, like little witnesses to a crime.

For a moment, no one said anything. Then Mhin lowered their head, trembling... and burst out laughing. A sincere, unexpected laugh. Vere followed suit, laughing too, though not without Mhin insulting him between laughs —"You damn fox.”

Both noticed your presence then. Vere turned his head toward you; when he saw you wearing the clothes he bought for you it make his tail wag from side to side, until he turned just enough so you couldn't see it.

“See? I told you I have a great taste,” said Vere, with a smile that seemed more mischievous than cruel.

His gaze shifted to Mhin, who was still dripping wet and had flushed cheeks.

“It looks beautiful on you.” Vere caressed the trembling cat in his hand.

“That's the only thing I would agree with you on,” Mhin murmured, brushing their wet hair away from their face.

Your heart skipped a beat. You felt the air grow thick, that familiar lump rising in your throat again. Part of you wanted to believe their words; another part rejected them vehemently. Did you really deserve to be looked at like that?

You tried to smile, looking down.

“Don't exaggerate...”

“And who said we are?” replied Vere, taking a step closer.

He set the cat down on the floor, next to the others who were now curled up on the rug. Then he took a towel and draped it over Mhin's shoulders, covering them almost completely. With a gentle movement, he guided them out of the bathroom, although they were dragged rather than accompanied, muttering something under their breath.

When they passed you, Vere didn't give you time to move out of the way. He pulled you along with them, with that gesture of his that was somewhere between authoritative and casual. You were caught between them, Vere in front of you, staring at you with those bright eyes, and Mhin behind you, so close that you could feel the damp heat of their body against your back.

Mhin buried their face in your shoulder, leaving a trail of moisture on your skin.

Your heart was beating so hard you could almost hear it.

Vere cupped your face in his hands. His eyes, normally so vibrant and sharp, softened to gentle embers. He leaned slowly toward you and kissed you with unexpected tenderness. However, doubt remained anchored within you, and the kiss ended too soon.

They both knew something was wrong.

Mhin leaned towards your ear, their warm breath on your skin. Their hands moved carefully from your waist to your stomach, tracing slow caresses while their lips brushed your bare shoulder.

“Tell us... what's wrong?” they whispered.

Vere, without moving away, caressed your cheeks. His smile was almost shy, a rarity for him. His tail curled gently around your thigh, making you shiver at the warmth of his fur.

“Look at me, my love...” His voice was low, silky. “We can skip dinner if you want. It's okay.”

You nodded, but the lump in your throat remained. The mere thought of eating again filled you with anxiety. The more they touched you, the stronger your certainty grew that you didn't deserve any of it. They could be with someone better. Someone whole. Not you.

“Enough...” you said, your voice breaking. “You shouldn't be with me. I'll never be good enough. I'll never be able to... never...”

Your words were drowned out by your own sobs. Vere and Mhin stopped. You closed your eyes tightly, expecting rejection, a cold response, anything that would confirm your fears. But that's not what came.

“Is that what you think?” Vere kissed your cheek, right where a tear was slowly falling. “Do you think we would prefer anyone else more than you?”

“You're seriously mistaken...” said Mhin, and their hand didn't stop caressing you, now more gently, as if they were afraid of breaking you.

Their voice was barely a whisper, but it pierced you.

“I love you.”

Vere moved his hand down to your nose, touching it playfully, a sincere gleam in his eyes.

“And if we're here with you, it's because we chose to be.”

They both moved away just enough so you could wipe your face. They stood side by side, looking at you without haste or judgment. Vere's tail swayed from side to side, his ears pricked up, expectant, as if waiting for a signal from you. Mhin crossed their arms, but their expression remained open, vulnerable.

You swallowed hard and finally, your voice trembling, you replied

“I love you both... I really do.”

For the first time in a long time, you didn't think about what you were missing.

You thought about what you already had: them.

And even though they could both be unbearable at times, that's how it would be—and that was okay.Just as they learned to tolerate each other, you were learning to tolerate yourself.

You moved closer slowly, taking their hands in yours, one on top of the other.

For a moment, they looked at each other, sizing each other up as they usually did, but they didn't object.

They just let the shared warmth envelop them.

“We could sit for a while before you both leave,” you said, with a tired smile.

Mhin looked at you and nodded after thinking about it for a few seconds.

“I could stay a little longer... to feed the cats.”

Vere let out a soft laugh.

“You know I have something very important to do.”

You and Mhin knew exactly what he meant; his daily amusement could never wait.

Mhin shot him a sidelong glance, filled with a gentle, almost amused anger.

Before vere left, the three of you sat on the sofa, talking about everything and nothing.

The candles burned slowly, the cats slept nearby, and tiredness began to overwhelm you.

Your eyelids grew heavy, and amid the soft voices of Mhin and Vere, you surrendered to sleep.

You didn't know what they were talking about.

You could barely hear anything.

Only the murmur of the two of them beside you.

My name is Naser. War took everything from me—

my mother, my sister, my home, and the life I once knew.

In a single moment, my world was shattered,

leaving behind only memories and the weight of loss.

But even in the darkest moments,

I refuse to give up. ✊

Because I still have something worth fighting for—

my three younger brothers.

🔹 One dreams of becoming a doctor 🩺—to heal others so they don’t have to suffer like we did.

🔹 Another wants to be an engineer 🏗️—to rebuild what war has destroyed.

🔹 And the youngest? He just wants to be a kid again 🧸—

to wake up in a safe home 🏠,

to laugh, to play, to feel peace.

🏡 We need a home. We need education. We need hope.

Right now, we are not just fighting for survival—

we are fighting for the chance to live, to grow, to dream again.

We are fighting for a future where my brothers

can become the doctor, the engineer,

and the child who gets to have a childhood.

💙 This is where you come in.

I’m not asking for much—just a chance.

A chance to rebuild.

A chance to give my brothers a future beyond war.

Your support—whether through a donation or simply sharing our story—can make all the difference.

Even the smallest act of kindness can create ripples of change. ✨

🙏 Will you help us rebuild?

Together, we can prove that war doesn’t get the final word—

hope does.

You very silly swiper the fox looking guy, I hope you have some fun but not too much *heart hands*

“What a delectable looking cake. Now, close your eyes and open up!”

Happy Birthday Vere! 🦊

Arr arr Ais and Yeehaw Leander

Mhin~