𝐂 𝐎 𝐍 𝐍 𝐄 𝐂 𝐓 .

❝ i was, for about... 20 minutes. ❞ he shrugs, letting it go unsaid that he actually spent the time exploring. it was dangerous to go exploring on his own, especially with all that was still unknown about life on the surface, but he didn't feel bad about sneaking off either. ❝ but yeah, that's probably a good idea. i doubt our little camp in the middle of a clearing is going to keep any rain away. ❞

𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 , — closing the distance —, Lightning lays an encouraging palm atop his shoulder, the small smile still lingering on her lips even as she looks down at him & asks : ❛ Do you still remember the way back, or should I take the lead ? ❜ a playful jest, the question imbued with a thread of camaraderie before she's flicking his forehead.

❝ i suppose a apology's in order for that then. though seeing the warden of meropide in a less intimidating light could be more beneficial than you think. ❞ the thought of wriothesley being seen in a softer light, the gossip saved for tea time and children's tales, almost makes him laugh again. they both knew that that would never happen, the other's aura too frightening even with his quips and jokes. shaking his mind free of the thought, neuvillette gaze drifts to a nearby food stall before shifting back to his beloved. ❝ how about we save your reputation among the populace by indulging in some food then ? while your blush is quite charming, i don't wish to embarrass you any further. ❞

❛ A bit of indulgence has never hurt before. Besides … if I remember correctly : I'm not the only one between us with a reputation to uphold. ❜ he adds playfully. / soon allowing himself to be led towards the nearby food stall by his beloved, Wriothesley asks : ❛ What's your craving ? ❜

entangled in a challenging predicament, sora acknowledges the daunting odds but remains resolute in salvaging the surprise for kairi. “ n - nothing! nothing at all! ” he stammers, stepping back as kairi closes in, fingers clasping the concealed present tight. an anxious chuckle escapes, “ hehe, nice weather, huh? —— HEY! look! a pink bird! ” a desperate attempt to divert her attention from the unraveling secret.

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 at the chosen hero's feeble attempt at diversion falls flat. ⸻ Kairi can practically see the gears turning in his head as he struggles to keep the surprise hidden! … but it's no use against her keen intuition. ( that & the handful of years she has spent at his side through pranks, games & secrets ). ❛ I'm not falling for that ... you should know me better than this ! Come on ! What are you hiding ? ! Is it an ice cream ? ❜ the princess presses on, her gaze steadily fixed on Sora with a mix of curiosity & anticipation dancing in indigo eyes.

“ bhunivelze? test? serah talked to you? what the hell are you talking about? ” his voice, unwittingly escalating in both pitch and volume, resonates with a crescendo of disbelief. there is an anguish that permeates his being, an ache that swirls within the depths of his gaze as he finally turns his attention to her. “ if you don't understand it, then why are you telling me this? what? what do you want, lightning?! ”

𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 & 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 that strikes a chord within her : & despite the devotion she should harbour for Bhunivelze, the growing, deep desire to challenge fate itself ( to confront God & put an end to the world's suffering ) peeks from behind her shoulder & torments her on the path to the final day. only two days to go. ❛ First, I want you to listen. ❜ Lightning continues, her tone softening just slightly as the communicator in her ear starts to transmit a few notes of complaints from the boy up in the Ark. ❛ I want you to understand that there's still hope … and I want you to be there for Serah when she returns because I may not be there to see it myself. ❜

his grip on the other's hand tightens minutely, and he blinks out of his thoughts to have his smile return as he looked at the other. ❝ yes, i suppose that's true... we'll just have to enjoy this as much as possible then. though even if we spend our rare free time doing nothing, all my time spent with you is the most cherished time for me. ❞ the honesty makes him feel exposed, though he gently pressed a kiss to the other's cheek to hide any potential embarrassment he might have.

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 & the warden tilts his head slightly in a dismissive gesture ( left & right, left & right ), trying to retrieve bits of his typical cool composure … & still. anyone can notice the flush that stubbornly clings to his features as he meets the Chief Justice's gaze. ⸻ despite the effort to maintain the facade of an ever-more solitary demeanour, the Meropide's duke can't help but offer a small smile when looking at Neuvillette. ❛ One of these days … you'll be the reason for my public disgrace, monsieur. ❜

❝ i heard that there's a film directed by a few melusines and the cast is predominately melusines as well. i believe it's called the pearl under the sea, i would like to view that since they wouldn't let me have a preview. ❞ if there was a faint hint of a pout in his words, well, that for wriothesley to hear only. ❝ that isn't until later though, so for now i'm content with walking around and potentially getting a bite to eat. what about you, mon cheri ? ❞

❛ Directed by melusines and featuring a predominantly melusine cast ? How fascinating ! ❜ & really … the hint of a pout is impossible to miss in his beloved's words ; an entertaining secret shared exclusively between them. Wriothesley's chest warms at the thought. ❛ We'll attend that later, then. I'm plenty happy just by the idea of walking and eating with you at my side, mon coeur. ⸻ Who knows when we'll be able to do something like this again ? ❜

I'm here to write and gush about how talented other people are. I'm here to write stories. I'm here to analyze a character I love. I don't have the time or desire to invest any level of care into this site beyond that. I'm literally too old for a lot of the shit that goes on here, or to be pulled in a million different directions. Clean up your space. The majority of us are 30+ ⸻ some with kids. Ain't no way this hell site is more important than your family/life offline to the point where it's taking over energy that should be spent with them or on your own health. And if my dash as of late is any indication, we're tired af. A lot of people here are.

“ uuuuhhh ── ” sora suddenly freezes; he pivots with a quick, playful twirl, and in a heartbeat, he slyly tucks the item behind his back, forming that little boyish grin of his. “ ahh, kairi! didn't know you're here! heyyy. how ... how are you doing! ”

𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 , a mischievous grin lights up the princess' lips as she narrows her eyes at the hero's feeble attempt to conceal his hidden object. ❛ Ha-ha. Nice try. ❜ sounds Kairi's taunting, the playful glimmer in her indigo orbs revealing that she is fully aware of his tricks ; ever so slightly, she leans forward. ❛ What do you have there ? ❜ a teasing inquiry, one made with a voice that's all too melodious while blending both curiousness & amusement in the moment she takes a step closer.