Garofano had been living with you for a while now. When did you fall and when did she fall harder? You were so sweet and delicate, perhaps a little too stubborn or determined in some areas, but all those traits she found all of those too adorable.
The way your eyes would lit up like stars everytime she praised you with your work. She could've done all these orders herself, it'd be much quicker and a way for her to relieve some stress. However these days, she would let you handle some of the smaller orders, the small fixes that she knew you could handle. Times she would watch you work, times she would gently guide you to the right direction whenever you felt lost.
This feeling... It was different. A nature she thought she lost, and long buried with all the identities and masks she had to wear.
“I know even if I get lost, you'll always find me.” A simple phrase you said that day in a festival. So full of warmth, trust and care.
She couldn't believe it.
Some may call it naivety or stupidity considering you knew her actual profession. But that only made you fall harder it seems. She was unsure if normal people acted the way you do. No, you were special in her eyes. Far more than the Chief she served—that one belonged to dozens of sinners in the bureau.
But you? You belonged to her and no one else. That smile, those lingering touches and laughter that would make her day. All of it, all for her. So unique and worth protecting. The sun in her eyes, the light of her life and the only one she had dreams of every single night.
Everywhere she looked from the work in projects on her desks, towards the flower vase on her side and the pictures plastered on her walls. Each one reminded her of you.
A dress she had been working secretly for the past few days.
A flower vase you bought. “It looks like your hair and it'll bring more life in your room” is what you told her during your shopping spree.
But your presence alone brought more life than all the things she owned.
Of course, how could she forget the pictures? The celebration of your five year anniversary. She never thought she'd had someone that long in her life. Mostly it was because of targets, but you're not a target or even a previous target like the Chief. She chose to keep you out of her own choice.
“Gare-bear?” A voice brought her back to the present. She stopped sewing.
And turned around. Her gaze landed on your nightgown, another piece of clothing she created just for you. A sleepy, tired face greeted her. How adorable.
“Ah darling, apologies, did I wake you up?” She stood up from her seat and wrapped her arms around your waist.
She pressed a fleeting kiss on your forehead, down to your cheek and then a playful kiss on your nose. Your laughter soothed her mind, the way you held her as if she was the only important person in the world.
She hoped it was.
“Just checking up on you, why are you still awake?” You looked over her shoulder, she immediately blocked your view.
“Its a surprise.” She mused and held your hand, tracing your fingers down to the palm. “Don't look until I'm done.”
A pout on your cute face. She moved her hands to squish your cheeks before she could stop herself.
“I promise, it will all be worth it.”
“Then come back to bed? It's late.” You stepped closer, pressed your chin against her chest to look up at you. “Please?”
Oh you... “How could I say no?”
Another laughter filled the room and you took her by surprise by stealing a quick kiss on her lips. You tried to leave, but she already seized you by the wrist and gently pushed you on her desk. No, no, you wouldn't escape her this easily.
“Aren't you such a tease?”
“I learned from the best.” You proclaimed proudly with your arms wrapped around her neck.
“And who would that be?” She murmured, lavishing your neck with kisses, trailing down and down, nipping your skin as she went.
That adorable little gasp. The way you pulled her close asking for more. She pushed away all the work in progress clothes and other sewing materials.
“Who did you learn it from?” She pressed you against her desk until you were laid out to her like the most beautiful person she ever saw and trapped beneath like a prey on a spider's web.
“I'm waiting, my sweet.” More lingering kisses descended on your neck, her hands wandered to worship every part of you.
The desk wouldn't be the best to continue this endeavor but it has been awhile since she did this...
“Y-you—” A sharp gasp left your lips as her hand brushed your heated skin beneath the nightgown. “Its always been you...”
Garofano chuckled, eyes twinkling in delight as she pulled away and took you with her. It earned a soft complaint from you, did she work you up that already? Another smile, another chuckle as she pressed a kiss on your forehead.
“We can continue this back in our bed if you wish unless...” She looked at the clock. “Hm, it's past midnight.”
“I don't care.” Is what you said when you practically dragged her back to the room. A blush blossomed on her cheeks from your eagerness to please and perhaps the thought of spending time with you made her miss it all.
“Alright, but it won't be all night as you would always say.” She knew you could barely last and so did she. “And remember, we should always take—”
She was pulled by the collar of her shirt as you pressed your lips against hers. A slight surprise, but she smiled on the kiss. Her hands wrapped around your neck and with a quick pivot—she found herself beneath you.
Oh.
You were the first one to break the kiss. A smug grin on your face as you tucked a stray hair away from her face.
“Do you know how much I love you?” You murmured against her skin, lapped her neck like a woman starved or parched.
God. She doesn't know. Her thoughts already come to a screeching halt from your words alone. A breathless sigh as she pulled you close.
“I know, darling…” She cupped your cheeks and kissed you once more. Passionate, slow, full of want and need. All the love she could ever have, it was right here above her—close to her.
“I know.”
And she wouldn't have it in any other way.
A/N: It's related to that specific ask because I couldn't resist myself. But really, I just needed a reason to write something than what needs to be written like my wips. Anyways, I tried to cook and I'm still working with my title name........
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Chief: Delighted and then allocating budgets already for the pup. The whole MBCC found out about the little pet. You know the puppy will be spoiled rotten and somehow trained too. Chief doesn't have a word, but you'll see her somehow taking a nap with the puppy on her lap.
Iron: “You brought home a pet when you couldn't even take care yourself?”
She said in such a grumpy way but is already tossing the ball for the pup to play with. She's the person who acted she doesn't need a dog, but you'll catch her bonding with the pup. Somehow, that kind of fixes her sleep schedule too.
Milly: “Oh they're so adorable!”
Immediately welcomes the puppy with open arms and the one reader has to be careful of, because she will not stop giving them treats and easily gets convinced if the pup cries. However, the pup rarely cries, always following Milly around. You brought the pup home, but they preferred her more than you. The puppy will always smell like honey and is spoiled rotten, and treated like a princess. Very calm around her, would bark as a response whenever she asks a question as if the puppy could understand her.
Rise: “Have you bought all the necessary things to take care of the pup?”
If you said no, she's gonna call you irresponsible while dragging you to the store to buy everything immediately, no buts or ifs, even if its late in the night she would buy all the essentials. If you said yes, she's gonna take it more easy and bond with the pup then and there. Would use the puppy as an excuse for you to take breaks. Sbe will train the puppy to hold swords and sword combat because she thinks it's cool.
Pine: “I've expected this.”
The one who figured it out before you could even say. She knew you'd bring home a pup from the times you mentioned of getting a pet and her checking your last locations. She's gonna be a menace, train the pup as a "distraction tool" if she needed an escape. Basically the pup is gonna be her partner in crime lmao and a "nuisance" because she couldn't just feed the pup like her lifestyle so somehow her living improved slightly better than before.
Siglinde: “It's good to start their K9 training immediately.”
She will train the pup with all the commands that she deemed important to know. Hell, she might've train you too if you keep siding with the puppy. There will be a rare moment she will smile when the puppy licks her hand. You'll find both of them sleeping together, but you knew she's just "resting her eyes" and if you tried to pic her, the picture will be gone from your phone the next day. Though she have a picture of you and the puppy as a literal photo in her person.
Synex: “Oh you did?! I brought a cat too!”
Based on the supervision event, Synex already brought home tons of pets with you. Good luck managing everyone and Synex believes on free roaming so... cables, wires or anything on the floor ain't safe. A menace, an adorable menace to you and with the pets.
Vanilla: “Oh... they're... hyper...”
The one who just observes for the first few days, but you know she got everything under a schedule. Potty time, feeding time, time for play and breaks in between she already got it all covered and time allocated for the rest of the day and the whole week. Bath times on Saturday unless the puppy got way too dirty which sometimes happens when it rains around in the garden. Then there will be nights she's curled around the puppy, one hand where she could feel their heartbeat."
tldr: You bugging Oak Casket, confusing feelings and her trying to make you remember
To Be With You
The sun sank on the horizon as the skies turned red and orange; a lovely hue and a signal of the day came to an end. Oak Casket strolled around the cemetery with ease. She talked to the spirits in hushed tones, listened to their woes, their goodbyes and held a silent prayer for the ones that crossed the boundary.
And then there was you.
“You are such a peculiar thing, aren't you?” Oak Casket mused. “I have never seen someone so stubbornly cling here. How many times have I sent you away?”
You grinned, floated aimlessly beside her. Out of all the other spirits, you looked a little more alive, put together if not for the fact how the sunlight passed through your form, your skin paler than normal, and your fingertips tinted blue. No memory of who you were, where you came from and above all too stubborn to pass on until you find more about yourself.
When you learned Oak Casket can see and hear you, you've chatted her ear out endlessly day and night. She had sent you away, but your spirit had a strong hold in this mortal world because of one reason or another. And so, this enigmatic woman has helped you recover your memories instead. You were stuck with Oak Casket in one way or another.
“Two times, third if you'll send me away again.”
“I've grown weary, so no.”
“Awww, is it because you'll miss me?”
“Solitude without you has been suffocating.” An immediate answer, you swore she had a small melancholic look on her face as she walked past you. “Out of all the spirits I have converse with, I find yours much more stimulating than the usual regrets or anger I've experienced.”
You blush, can you even blush as a spirit? No time to think about that. You never expect the afterlife to be wandering for who knows how long, but at least you got someone that can hear you than not. It does feel a little less lonely... You float behind her, watch her soothe the other spirits and cleaned away tombstones that never got visited anymore.
As much you itch to help her, everything you touch goes through you. You can't even kick up a breeze to push away dried leaves or move items like the things you saw in the movies. There was one thing you could do...
You slowly held Oak Casket's hand. It goes through, but it was an attempt. She shivered from your touch, fingers curled to your nonexistent form.
“You have to rest, how long have you been awake today?”
“Enough to get by, no need to fret.”
You gave a look and gently 'tug' her hand, she followed the action and let you 'lead' her to somewhere.
“Ironic that I'm the one whose dead and fret over the living.”
“I'm alive but I still feel closer to the ones that are dying.”
You two were truly a strange duo.
“So, any progress in reclaiming your memories? I have acquired the information I could get based on what you've given. Does it ring any bells?”
Ah, those files. Hospital records of the deceased and some alive but in a comatose state. That part was interesting but throughout the files you've read with Oak Casket, none of their names, their stories or even their time of death sparks anything.
You gave a sad smile to the gravekeeper and a shake of your head. She looked away from you, and noticed the small sigh she made. They were days you almost want to give up, just let the memories be and create things anew. However, Oak Casket has always been persistent even if she did try to send you away two times, but you barely had any memories of those moments too.
You couldn't just give up like that. When this woman whom you barely knew always does everything to make you remember the past. She is so sweet and kind, no matter what she says. Your unbeating heart beats for her.
“It's fine, we can look at it again some other time. For now, let me show you this place I saw!”
“Alright, if you insist.”
After a few minutes of walking, you led her to the quieter place of the graveyard. No spirits will be here and the perfect view of the river. Oak Casket sat near the riverbank and you did too. It was quiet, peaceful and the weather was perfect to see the stars later in the evening.
A moment to contemplate. Isn't that what you've been doing for days now, weeks maybe? The days blurred together and the only thing that remained constant was Oak Casket's presence in your undead life, and the memories you try to remember with her; maybe that's why you were still here. You missed the feeling of being alive—missed an opportunity to meet someone like her when you were still alive. Then again, would you even meet her? You don't even remember yourself.
“If I truly went away, would you miss me?” A question that has bugged you for a while now. You turned to face her. Oak Casket's gaze settled on the river, humming a soft tune as if tasting the words you spilled.
“You should be at the other side with the others.” She answered slowly, almost rehearsed compared to her usual aloofness. “It is what I expect for a spirit like you should do.”
You're not surprised; this was her after all. The one who soothes spirits so they can cross peacefully, but why does it hurt?
“I see... I'll miss you though.”
“Give it a few decades and we'll see each other again. And then we'll have all the time in the world.” She answered a bit too quickly, a flicker of surprise on her face that you managed to catch it.
You laughed, giving her a slight push that goes through her. Agh, damn this spirit body.
“Fine, you better meet up with me again. I worry if we could even find each other.” Or a worry that Oak Casket wouldn't remember you once she does die. It happened to you, how could it not happen to her? With a sigh, you lie down so casually on her lap and close your eyes.
“It's hard not to spot you, dear.” Oh, not this nickname again. “For a spirit, you are full of life, like dandelions that grew on things where they shouldn't; a persistent will to live despite all the odds that already happened.”
You opened your eyes and saw Oak Casket staring straight at you—in your soul. Her hand ghosted over your cheek, tracing the bridge of your nose, to your lips, and down to your neck where your pulse no longer beats. You knew you couldn't feel it, couldn't feel her warmth, but the closeness and the sudden intimacy in the air—all of her touches felt real, solid and true.
“Dandelion huh...” You laughed, leaning against her touch. You watch her shiver, so you move away—She placed her hand closer to you.
“Aren't you getting too cold?”
“If it's you then I do not mind.”
“You and your words...” You muttered, burying yourself deeper into the ground until you disappeared from her sight.
You were already dead for crying out loud, but your heart fluttered so easily with such a compliment and that endearing nickname. Do you have some screws loose in the past? Were you this weird of a person when you were still alive??? You don't know at all, but it was irritating and scary to wonder if you're falling for Oak Casket—who is pretty much alive compared to yourself. You have limitations. You can't truly bring her all the happiness with just your presence alone, right? No, you should be thinking if a spirit and someone alive could make a relationship even work!
“Are you still there?” Oak Casket's voice rang through, and for the first time she sounded... worried, distraught.
You poke your head out of the dirt with an apologetic smile. A flicker of relief washed over her eyes.
“Do my words make you uncomfortable... unhappy?”
“No, no, of course not!” You float closer to her. “Your words made me happy, I just don't know how to process it.” More of process of how you actually feel for her.
Oak Casket slowly nodded. “You have a habit of leaving without a word, do you know that?”
“Because I'm a spirit, that's why.”
“Yes that is true, but at very least let me hear your last message before you truly leave this realm...”
She looked at you almost wistfully as a gentle breeze ruffled her hair. Silence lingered in the air. Not suffocating, nor waiting but observing. Oak Casket has a glint in her eyes, scooted closer to you and let her hand hovered above your head.
An attempt of a pet, a gentle caress. Truly you couldn't feel it, but the motion of it makes you want to bury yourself deeper in the ground. You can't feel warmth, you don't remember what warmth is now, but everything this gravekeeper does sends your heart and mind to a confusion—in denial—of a spiral.
“Would you come up so I can see you properly, dear?”
That nickname will be the death of you, twice.
And so, you float back up, settled beside her with your knees tucked close to your chest. Your gaze overlooking the river as she did the same.
“May I?” She asked, holding her hand out to you.
You placed her hand over hers. An action that felt familiar but so distant.
She traced the lines on your palm, her fingers danced around your wrist and back to your fingertips. Every action was meticulous, her gaze held so much focus as if she was trying to commit your whole being in your memory.
The sun finally set and the moon made itself known in the skies, the stars shining brightly with the crickets chirping from elsewhere. You truly don't feel 'tired' but staying in one place for too long always gives you that sense of dread. You have to keep moving.
But you don't want to interrupt Oak Casket who kept touching your hand so reverently. The feelings crept up again at the back of your mind.
“Oak?”
“Yes?” Her gaze finally met yours once more—so intense, held so much emotions that she barely shows with that polite she wears.
You gulped. “I'll roam a little bit. I'm feeling it again.”
“Ah, of course...” She pulled her hands away, almost reluctantly so. “Return to me when you're done or not, if you wish to tuck in for the night.”
With a nod and a smile, you bid goodbye and float over the river to view whatever fish or night creatures you could spot. You briefly glanced at Oak Casket whose gaze only settled on you and only you.
thud. thud. thud.
No, stop, there's no chance—A flicker of a memory, blurry and nauseating. Feeling overwhelmed, the clash of memories of what is real and made up, you surged to the waters below to calm yourself down.
There's no chance...
....
.......
............
Oak Casket watched you sink in the waters. She waited in the riverbank for you to resurface, but she got a simple message from you that you needed some space. Did something finally spark in your memory? She hoped it did. As much as she wished to be by your side and to help you go through it all, she knew how you liked to be alone whenever you think.
She left the graveyard that day feeling a little closer to her goal. It was a lot of work, but in the end everything will be all worth it. But first, she must pay a visit to someone.
Only a few minutes left before the visiting hours come to a close. The chemical smell of the hospital never fazed her, the voices of the spirits were more loud here and place she wished to bring you, but you have a hard time doing so. If only there were other ways...
The nurse greeted her with a small smile as she entered the private hospital room. Inside, it was dark. A small beep of the machine as the only note the person was still alive and breathing, but asleep. She settled on a chair beside the bed and held their hand.
Your hand.
“Return to me, my dear, if you still don't want to pass...” She whispered, her cheek pressed against your hand.
You were still here, still alive, still breathing but asleep and yet your spirit wandered with no memory of her, of the time both of you spent together.
For the first time, she felt how cruel death was. For the first time, she wished the dead to come back to the living. Is it considered death when your body is still alive? Confusing, never in her life she experienced something like this and out of everyone, it was you.
A blessing or a curse?
How much she wished to tell everything, to make you remember, to make you hers once more, but she knew forcing it all would only make it worse. No matter how many days, weeks, or even years, she'd make you remember her again.
She kissed your hand, the steady pulse beneath your wrist and your forehead. Each one reverent than the last, warmer and solid—a proof you're still here with her even if you couldn't remember.
How beautiful you still were in her eyes even if you lay so still on the bed, your chest rising slowly and down—still breathing. Just open your eyes, look at her like you always do.
One with familiarity, with love, with adoration.
“Don't toy my heart like this, dear.” Oh how weak you made her be. “Either you stay or leave, how indecisive you must be?”
She chuckled, yet her grip on your unmoving hand is firm.
A knock on the door, a signal it was time to leave.
One last kiss on both of your cheeks, then gently caressed the tip of your nose, down to your lips and settled on your neck; feeling the steady pulse underneath your skin.
Finally, she stepped back and casted one last glance at your sleeping self.
“I'll see you soon…”
A/N: This kind of thing has been in my mind for awhile now. It's a shame I didn't get to finish this during Oak's birthday. I was swamped with school work. I hope it wasn't too OOC, but I just love this kind of idea for her :D
Fluff, showing how they appreciate one another and just a tad bit short
“Here, I have something you can use for your things.”
“I have... food... for you.... I... made it.”
Both women hold out their gifts. Both stood there in silence. Slowly, they accepted each other's gifts and mumbled thanks. Ceto, who quickly stored the container away; a meal after her evening perimeter check. Meanwhile Vanilla opened a tool box, some were from the old world. Small trinkets, extra screws, nuts and bolts wouldn't hurt anyone.
A smile, brief it may be while a grunt of approval for the lightkeeper.
“Be... careful... out there.”
“It's not my first time, but you know...”
A quick glance. The hallways were empty, no cameras on sight or anyone who might try to pry out of curiosity. Ceto leaned closer and placed a tentative, small kiss just at the edge of Vanilla's lips. The mechanic stiffened.
What an awkward thing to do. Both of them were still getting used to this affection, both willing to try until they found something that could call it as their own way of showing love to one another.
“Happy?” Ceto looked away, a blush creeping out from her bandages, up to her cheeks. Red like her eyes.
The mechanic nodded, hands intertwined with the other. They stood there in silence. Her hand traced the scars then fingers pressed against Ceto's wrist for her pulse.
thump. thump. thump. thump.
The thrumming heart beat—oh, it became a bit faster. Vanilla's hand continued to wander. The brand new bandages that she wrapped this afternoon, caressing the scars on Ceto's shoulder and finally two fingers pressed gently on Ceto's neck.
The lighthouse keeper leaned against the touch. Eyes fluttered shut. Vanilla's hand was cold, her heart beat always at a constant rhythm like a ticking clock even if she became flustered, angry or not. Steadfast and unwavering.
Ceto's hand wandered, feeling where the skin and metal meets on her neck. It was cold, smooth and electrifying if she poked at specific edges. No words needed, they don't need to or rather, both knew that's where they always failed at with all the experiments they did together.
They soaked up each other's presence, warmth and heartbeat. Silence wasn't suffocating anymore for Ceto; warmth wasn't just a fire anymore for Vanilla. Finally, a person—not an illusion from the past or future nor a tide crawler anymore.
Ceto was the first one to pull away, coughing to keep her heartbeat in check. Vanilla stopped herself from chasing after her. They still have work to do and the time they have, their break was almost up.
“I'll see you in the early morning, as usual. Don't wait for me.” Ceto huffed, wearing back her jacket, smoothing out any creases and folds.
“I'll... always... wait... for you.” Vanilla affirmed and placed a small hedgehog made of scrap metal on Ceto's palm. “For... company... think... of me?”
Ceto held up the hedgehog close to her face. How could someone bend a metal for such a small little figurine? A thought she always had, but this was Vanilla.
“I always do.” And placed the hedgehog in her breast pocket. Its presence felt heavy, but comforting. “I'll be leaving now...”
Vanilla cupped Ceto's cheeks and pressed a quick kiss on her lips. Eyes wide in surprise, blinking rapidly to process it all. It was soft, slightly chapped, and a taste of oil but it wasn't that bad.
“My turn... to try... it.” The mechanic chuckled.
Oh there goes Ceto's heart leaping and doing a somersault. Face hardened to keep her emotions in check, but Vanilla's smile seemed to grow. Of course she can hear it, just as she can hear her heartbeat.
“Hmph, we shall do it again... later.” She quickly turned away, almost stopping and heading towards the exit.
“I'll... see you...” Vanilla waved goodbye, and placed her hand where her heart lies.
Rendezvous done.
Time Check: 10:45 PM
Wait for the sunrise. Wait for Ceto.
A/N: CeNilla? VaniTo? Heart of the Light House? Yeah idk their ship name here... Oh and @l-writes-other-things , thanks for the idea, I guess this is my truth now too lmao XD Just a quick writing for now.
tldr: Rise being affectionate after you had a long day
Home is You
You returned home. Shoulders slumped from all the work that transpired today or maybe for the whole week. The days blurred together, but Rise's presence kept you grounded—sane enough and all of the stress seemed to wash away.
Rise, who was sitting on the couch with a laptop on her lap, looked up at you. “Tough day?” She asked while she put away the device.
You could only nod wordlessly, and haphazardly removed your shoes. Then you sat beside her and let out a deep, long sigh. Eyes fluttered shut—the tiring day only seemed to swallow you up again.
Rise's arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you to rest atop of her. No words needed as you hold her with whatever leftover strength you have. Smooth fingers combed through your hair, massaging your scalp and a kiss on your head. You melted further in her arms, face firmly pressed against Rise's neck.
“Thanks...” You whispered, breathing in the scent of ink and old documents—cinnamon too.
“Don't mention it, just relax.” Another kiss, another pass of her fingers through your hair, her other hand caressing your back. Down to your spine, then up near your neck. Slowly, gentle, drawing small circles. Rise tucked a stray hair away from your face to kiss your cheek.
You wanted more of her, to return the favour, but this blissful feeling of being taken care of would be such a waste if you move right now. So you didn't. You soaked up her attention, her care, the soft praises you rarely hear and the affection she only shows to you.
Hands wandered in all the right places. To be loved and taken care of after a day's work... How lucky you must be.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” You lifted your head to meet her gaze. Her glasses were gone, her head propped up on a pillow as she looked at you.
The edge of her lips curled to a small smile.
“You always have.”
"Then let me say it again..." And you pressed a chaste kiss on her lips. “I love you, Rise. I'm glad... and happy you put up with someone like me.”
Rise chuckled, cupped your cheek and returned the kiss. The taste of oranges, strawberries... Tilting your head to kiss her deeper, wanting more of her until both of you were breathless, until one of you finally pulled away—You did. Rise chased your lips again, light and quick. Butterfly kisses all over your face down to your neck as she brings up your hand and leaves another kiss there, just at the back of your palm.
“You're more than what you think of yourself, have some faith.” She huffed, shaking her head and gently flicked your forehead. “Remember that, alright?”
“What if I don't?” You gave a half-smile, settling beside her, so snug close with her. Maybe it was time to buy a bigger couch.
“Then I'll keep reminding you just like you remind me how much you love me.”
“Mhmm, I like that.”
Rise rolled her eyes, but nevertheless intertwined her hands with yours.
“Now go to take a nap, I'll wake you up when dinner is ready.”
“You should wake me up before dinner, I want to help you with cooking.” You gently jabbed her side, she immediately twitched, holding back the jolt of surprise.
“No, you have to rest and that's final.”
“But—”
“Don't tire yourself more today, let me take care of you.”
If Rise set her mind on something, it'd be difficult to make her change her mind especially when it's about you. Having no more energy to fight or maybe even cook even with the nap you'd get—you just nodded and kissed her cheek again.
“You're a lifesaver.”
“I'm only doing what I must do, hun.”
You giggled, smirking while Rise frowned and buried her face with one hand.
“Oh shut it.” Rise playfully glared at you.
“That's the third time this week. First babe, yesterday was darling and now hun... Are you trying all the nicknames?”
“I'm just testing which fits you better.”
Now it was Rise's turn to nuzzle against your neck, either to hide her embarrassment or to hide the growing blush you can see at the tips of her ear.
“I like all of them, don't be shy calling me all those nicknames~” You teased, poking Rise's side again. She softly yelped in surprise and gave you another look.
Ah, an angry cat. You couldn't help but laugh some more.
“So you don't mind if I called you my dear espresso?”
You blinked. “What?”
It was Rise's turn to smirk. “You love espresso and you're dear to me, so I think it fits.”
“New nickname.” You groaned, now getting up but she held you by the wrist, legs wrapped on yours—essentially trapped in her embrace.
“My dear espresso~” She purred, now laughing as you tried to get away from her—you couldn't.
“Where are you going, my dear espresso, you still need to take a nap.”
“Stop it!”
Was this punishment calling her an adorable cat days ago? Yep, maybe it was considering all of the other embarrassing nicknames you called her in public. Nevertheless, hearing Rise's laughter soothed your soul.
“I'll take a nap if you stop it with that nickname.”
“Okay... my beloved sun.”
....Maybe that one wasn't so bad.
With nothing to say and happy to end in that kind of nickname, you shut your eyes to get your much needed nap for today. Still, your mind wandered and thought of what dinner would be for later. Maybe some soup, fried, roasted or her—
“My beloved espresso—”
You immediately smack her with a pillow while she laughed.
A/N: Just a simple, slightly short scenario than the usual stuff I do. Maybe a bit self-indulgent but bah! that's fine... This week has been nuts for me. I can't wait for the weekends
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Hmmmm I'll toss her back to the light house for this one lmao. Its been awhile since I last played Ceto's event but I did recently her interrogation. I swear, they needed like something where we can view about rancors or any terms used in PTN, I know they already have it but felt like it wasn't up to date as much I wanted... Anyways the writing is below the cut, I hope it fits :3
To Live Another Day
Word Count: 1 151
Ceto-centric, just another night with the tide crawlers and her thoughts.
“Kill them all!”
Rain. Thunder claps at the distance. A lightning strikes the ocean forming a clawed hand in that brief moment. The smell of sea breeze, the howling wind whipping Ceto's hair in all directions and the recognizable shrill of the tide crawlers. Tonight wasn't her night at all.
“Such a pathetic being, no wonder you're the only one left.”
“Feed us, feed us!”
“Shut up!” Holding the blade tightly in her palm as she slashed an incoming tide crawler into two. Using her momentum, she side stepped and plunged the sword into a second, then the third, fourth, fifth—it never ends. Never will be until the sun comes up, but today felt heavier, difficult. The scent of blood spurred the blade, latching itself tightly until it crawled and twist around her forearm.
A maniacal laughter bubbled out as she cleaved another tide crawler and another one lunged right in front of her. Ceto's whole body flied few inches off the ground, a sputtered cough but the smile—grin remained. Immediately, she stabbed it right under its chin. Eyes ablaze with mania and madness. Bathed with monster flesh; wipe away the excess with her bloody hands. Get up and do it all over again.
More... More. More.
The blade calls for her.
Let her body be thrown like a ragdoll, chewed like a dog's bone and be slammed until she heard a crack deep in her ears. An endless horde every night, but that's fine. Everything will all be healed. She wasn't meant to die. Never meant to die. Will never die. She can't die. Atone for her sins. Atone to be the weakest link and the only one left standing. Atone for her cowardice and her inaction.
They would never say that. Maybe they will.
Ceto's consciousness kept flickering. Thoughts raced for hundred miles and yet, time within her vision seemed so slow. There goes her left arm, limping and her skin chewed open. Blood oozing beneath her feet. She clamped her mouth shut at the enticing smell; so sweet and delicious. Her stomach grumbled in hunger. No, she shouldn't—Her right arm moved to slash an incoming target, her target cut to pieces of meat. Keep moving like she was merely a puppet on strings. The blade, the whispers, everything pressed down on her to break.
Stop. Her blade stabbed a tide crawler at its forehead.
I'm tired. Her voice, not her own, laughed with glee.
Let me rest. Her feet carried her to the next horde.
Just a passenger of her own body.
“Surrender to us.”
“It will be far quicker... Easier.”
"Be one with us.”
“Like your mentor, Fy—”
That memory burned like a beacon flashed in her eyes. She could never forget that moment, could never forget her words and her promises. Through gritted teeth, she spoke: “She never joined you.” and never will be.
“She died because you're weak.”
“A miserable one.”
“Your life is meaningless without us.”
No she wasn't, and yet, her whole vision shifted. She fell on her knees. The dark sky blurred to white, the monsters became shadows of her former comrades, her family. Each one looked at her with a disapproving glare, a disappointed sigh or barely acknowledging her existence. Nothing left protecting except her own and the memories she held dear, no home to return to except the lighthouse.
There was no one waiting for her. No one knows her anymore; forgotten as everyone else.
The voices grew louder and belittled every single moment she could remember from them. All the things she held so dear were nothing in the grand scheme of things. She tried to stand up much more, battered and bruised her body, but the shadows closed on her. Wrap its dark tendrils around her neck with mocking glee.
She already tried this before.
A scream tore out of her throat. Desperate, guilt, longing to be free and the regret she shouldered.
When will it be the end?
Her hands fell on her side. The sun was already rising from the horizon when her consciousness came back. Standing on a pile of dead tide crawlers, Ceto felt the buzzing of the blade. It was still insisting to fight, but its whispers had been reduced to a garble of murmurs. The wounds all over her body ached, her body heavy with exhaustion as she slowly fell flat on her back. Blue sky, and barely clouds on sight; there won't be a storm anytime soon.
2 015th time.
She lived another day.
A blaring horn brought her back to the present. Rhythmic. People. She slowly got up, staring at disbelief at the ocean. Despite the protest of her body, she quickly got up and ran towards the light house. Up where the beacon lies, she used her telescope to spot the incoming ship.
A rescue after all these years? How? What? Were her answers finally answered?
Searching through the deck, she spotted a crew working and using their own telescope to look at the lighthouse—at them. No cannons on their ship, it was filled with crates and other technologies she doesn't know. She spotted one of them dressed in white, skirt black as the night and carried such elegance that no ordinary sailor has.
The woman looked at her as if she could see her. Ceto felt her gaze, so warm and inviting. The ship blared its horn again signalling for a landfall. Skepticism rose like the whispers of her blade, but it was overridden by the simple fact someone has visited this place after all these years. She went over to what was left of the port, trying to fix up as best she could for the upcoming people, her visitors.
One by one, the new faces, these strangers boarded out of the ship and asked Ceto numerous questions about the island and her work. All meant with a steel gaze as her hand itched to attack.
The elegant woman stepped out of the crowd. They shut up. Good, this must be their captain.
“Hm, we never thought we'd find this island.” The woman mused, glancing past Ceto and back at her. Her brows furrowed with worry and concern. “You need some medical assistance, quickly.”
“You skipped the introductions. State your name and your business.” Ceto tried to hold back her sneer as much as she could. There were too many people for her liking. Each one filled with curiosity or bare their own skepticism.
“Ah my apologies,” The woman bowed, “My name is Shin, I'm an oceanographer. We only came here because of curiosity, we never saw this on our map. So, we decided to check it.”
It could be a lie. All of her instincts were telling her that this woman and her crew were dangerous. Did the world truly forget their sacrifices to keep DisCity safe?
Ceto regretting leaving the light house, Shin wants to break her.
Surrender
Over and over and over again.
In this hellish landscape that never ends.
Bones break, claws that snatch, jaws that snapped.
A flicker of humanity still shines through the dark.
Again. Ceto cleaved everything from her path. Roared and growled like a fearsome wild animal. The guts and bloods stick on her skin, the smell of rotten engulfed all of her senses, but her eyes still ablazed by anger—a small beacon of hope. Despair she once already tasted. Heavy on the tongue up until the back of her throat and settled on her stomach like a piece of moldy hard tack.
2 018 days—times she tried to send her battered and worn body to all kinds of pain to meet them at the other side.
2 018 times despair and pessimism followed her like a fog in the night.
2 018 times she waited for a rescue that never came... until it did.
A ship sailed close to her lighthouse. A team of scientists and explorers. Skepticism and irritation filled her; it should've been a clear sign that this specific event was unnatural. The only day—few days the tide crawlers never came ashore during the nights. Her blade was quiet, buzzing at the back of her mind, but the silence was deafening and loud. For a moment, she felt at peace.
Belly full of actual food provided by them.
Clothes—blanekts that kept the chill away.
Warm.
But the safety was dreadful. Illogical. Strange.
Her mind was elsewhere, tainted and tamed by sweet nothings of the oceanographer; her body moved all by itself—surrended herself on this sweet bliss of kindness and hope. Meanwhile, her senses kept screaming at her to run, to fight—to hide.
“Would you like to come back to DisCity? We're on our way there.” Shin asked one night while combing through Ceto's hair. “How many years has it been since you've seen your home?”
“I grew up here.” Her reply came in immediately, softly disarming that surprised herself.
Shin looked at her pitifully—understanding as she placed a hand over her shoulder. “There's nothing for you here anymore. Why continue fighting and protecting this island, this lighthouse? Me and my crew are leaving tomorrow, come with us Ceto.”
Stay. Fight it off. The audacity to say such words.
Ceto nodded. Eyes misted up as Shin smiled and held her hand like a mother would to a child. She was colder than the Black tide and had a skin with a slimy and sticky texture. Move. Ceto remembered screaming at herself, but her body continued to move, step by step up in the platform with nothing but her clothes on her back and her blade.
The dogtags were gone, removed and placed elsewhere by Shin for so-called safe keeping. The hedgehog went missing. A carved sail boat submerged into the ocean.
Her lighthouse dwindling bit by bit until it becomes a spot in her vision. The ship sailed back to home as Shin said—back to DisSea.
2, 161—142 times she repeated this hellish landscape. Trapped in a loop, in the jaws of an abyss, its sickening influence far greater than her blade. Over and over she watched it all play out, to see the team full of researchers happy and grand to explore the unknown reduced to nothing but a shell of their empty selves. Repeatedly observing—she couldn't change the outcome. Again and again she replayed the horrors that plagued the ship, her mind and soul. The guilt that ate her whole, the regrets that shackled her. Again. No matter how many times her bones break, her insides turned out, her skin pruned and fell; she'd find herself at the very start.
At the time she boarded the ship.
She became a plaything to someone far greater she could comprehend. Forcing her to surrender at the call, to accept this sickening reality and the promises to be adored by her once more.
She would never trade her life for this. She already dishonoured the legacy of the light keepers leaving that place against her will. She laughed at its face, bare her teeth and blade.
“Come at me!” She roared, twisting her blade again on this sea creature. “I've endured far more things than your petty little tricks!”
Cleave. Slash. Rip and tear everything apart.
Be ripped and teared from the outside and within.
Let her voice be drowned by their screams, her screams.
Forced her body to move even if it's already one step closer to death—how sweet it'll be.
“Not yet, my dear. You have far too much untapped potential.”
And then came those tentacles, twisted and disfigured wrapped around her broken and battered body. Gently—mockingly cradled with such care, but firm on its grasp as the ship—the people—all events morphed back at the start.
Another loop. 143th time.
“I have never met someone so stubborn as you since like...” Shin murmured, chuckling softly as she held Ceto's cheek.
Move. Ceto screamed internally. Her head against Shin's lap, eyes forced to look upon this monster's face.
“I take it as a compliment, all humans are merely monsters underneath their so-called rationality and consciousness, don't you think?”
Ceto snarled, eager to bite off the hand that ghosted over her lips. Forced her mouth to open as Shin pressed her thumb against her fang. Panic immediately settled and seized her body. Shin laughed softly, eyes crinkled with delight and dark wonder.
“Blood spurs you on, why fight it?”
Ceto stared daggers, tried to lift her hand, to grasp her blade but couldn't. Shin smiled and pressed her thumb until her skin finally broke. Metallic—sweet scent of blood. The voices growled and rejoiced. Lapped it up. Drink it up. You needed this.
Shin moved her thumb and pressed it against Ceto's tongue.
“Don't be shy my dear. Let it fill you, let the whispers guide you.”
Against her will, Ceto greedily sucked the blood, gnashed her teeth against the flesh and ate until the whispers in her mind calmed down.
She didn't want this. She didn't want any of this.
“You won't become this powerless if you accept its gift, Ceto.”
She rather die.
Shin laughed. “Oh, not yet. I'll be saddened to see you go. Maybe this time it'll change. Look at yourself, how far your humanity has fallen. Just shed your human skin and become with it, become with me.”
Body worn from the countless battles, new and old scars littered her skin. Eyes that still hold on to the very last spark of hope. Only her hair seemed to be properly maintained and cared for none other than Shin, herself. Blood messily dripped out Ceto's lips; she couldn't spare any drop. Eat it all up, use it against her. She promised to never fall, to never continue living and be the last legacy of the light keepers.
“Mhmm sooner or later misery will claw you just like what it did in the light house. One day you'll break and I'll be there to catch you.”
She would never become a monster like you.
“You already are.”
A monster needed to be to fight a monster like you.
Shin nodded, tentacles sprouted behind her back and carried Ceto's body back to bed. Plush and soft. Warm and safe. The oceanographer took out a med kit, then began to clean up and bandaged all the wounds Ceto sustained. This damn song and dance again.
“I still care, don't you believe?”
Ceto groaned at that thought.
“Not to worry. As much I wish for you to break, I wish for you to accept it wholeheartedly and not because you've fallen by something else entirely.” Shin said while dabbing a saline solution on Ceto's cheek. It stings but the pain was a reminder she was still alive.
“And that's a good kind of thinking.”
Eyes narrowed in displeasure, Ceto did her damndest to not think of anything else. To observe and name every item she could see in this room. A desk, documents, map, blankets, Shin, a chair, a flickering light, her stomach grumbling, slimy tentacles exploring her body, a compass, a foggy window.
She repeated the process over and over. Ignored how Shin washed up the dirt and dirt blood with much reverence and care. Disgusting. Why does her heart betray her thoughts? Was this another influence of the damn abyss? Ignore how the tentacles seemed to twist to elicit a reaction; she tried not to give it.
Shin laughed as she pressed a chaste kiss on Ceto's scar.
As the final bandages were used, Shin got up and pressed a cold kiss on Ceto's hand. A dreadful shiver racked her entire body. Shin's lips curved to a small smile.
“I'll see you again, rest up, my dear. As always, dinner is ready by 6.”
She walked away, heels clicking against the wooden floorboards. The door opened to the outside and closed with a soft click. Ceto stayed on that bed for who knows how long. Her plans already failed, all kinds of back ups destroyed by this woman—thing.
No matter. Slowly she got up with a groan, finally relieved to have autonomy again. She flexed her hands and checked the bandages. Clean as always—perfect, even. Disgusted at the thought, she grabbed her blade and immediately went straight to the door.
To face this chaos head on.
To face the madness.
To escape this hellish ship.
A/N: When you wake up 4 in the morning and saw this. So now, you got a spur of motivation to create this thing. May my sleep be peaceful and free of nightmares after what I put Ceto through in this writing of mine; atp she's becoming my favorite.
“You have other people, I’m not the only one in your life.” Ceto remarked but leaned closer to Vanilla for more. Head on her shoulder. ”They’ll keep you company more than me.”
“But.. I want you… only you..”
Stars covered every inch of the sky and the North Star lost to the sea of its milky white. A full moon tonight. The clock strikes 12.
5 hours till the next sunrise.
Time ticked and marched forward like her heart. Vanilla turned towards the desk. The cup half empty. The crackers were reduced to crumbs. Her scent lingered in the air—metallic and sea salt. No need to wait. The sun will rise again for a new day. It will greet her with warmth and gentleness just as always.
Footsteps echoed at a distance. Heavy and sure. Vanilla stood up from her seat and went outside. The moonlight cascaded over the figure who walked near the shore. Blue hair, black coat and eyes red like crimson—the sun is here, her sun.
“Hey,” Ceto stopped in front of her. Stiffly, hands that couldn't sit still. A comb through her hair, a gentle scratch on her bandages, or fiddling with the hem of her coat's sleeves.
“You’re early…” Vanilla reached out, right hand hovering just above Ceto’s chest. The lightkeeper stepped closer.
Warm, beating and true.
“I am.” Ceto placed her hand atop of Vanilla’s. “Chief told me I should take a break, can you believe her?”
“I do…”
Ceto scoffed. “It was rhetorical.”
The mechanic’s hand—fingertips traced over a scar. A new scab, still fresh. “You’re… hurt?”
“Just a small incident. No need to fret over it.”
Vanilla hummed in thought but tugged Ceto back to the light house, back to their home. However, home is wherever her sun is. This place is only temporary and time will erode it like everything else. But Ceto is true; a brief presence that became permanent.
“Sit…”
Ceto sat down near the windowsill. Vanilla gathered up the medical supplies, old and new but still usable.
“How much… does it hurt?” She carefully removed the bandages. Dispose it all beside her, and then unwind the new ones.
Ceto huffed, and looked away with a frown. “It's the same. I'm still alive, aren't I?”
“But… your injury—”
“Look at me.” Ceto pointed at her scars. “I’ll be fine, I survived.”
Vanilla stilled for a moment. Her gaze settled over the years-old injury that littered Ceto’s skin. Some were deep and jagged, then others were shallow and a clean cut. Every wound had a story to tell like the new one across Ceto’s arm up to her shoulder. She resumed cleaning the wound first, then bandaged it with much care and attention. Ceto pursed her lips together, and tensed at the sting of the alcohol or was it because of Vanilla’s lingering touch?
“Please… value your life… a little more…” Vanilla finished patching her up, but her hand stayed over the wounded area. “I’d be lonely… without you… here…”
Why must her sun bleed so much? Why must her sun go through so much pain and misery? She glared at the rancor blade. Its voice already silent and controlled like Chief said, but influence never went away with just a snap. It could still be there waiting for the right moment to strike.
Vanilla tilted Ceto’s chin to face her. A tentative small kiss just at the edge of her lips. A small reassurance that someone cared for her, not just Chief or any sinner who merely values her for her skills and for what she could offer–someone who loves her just the way she is.
All broken and wounded parts just like her.
“You have other people, I’m not the only one in your life.” Ceto remarked but leaned closer to Vanilla for more. Head on her shoulder. ”They’ll keep you company more than me.”
“But.. I want you… only you..”
Silence. Nothing but the crash of the ocean wave as their sound and their mingling breaths together as one. Vanilla held her close, kissed the top of her head and guided the lightkeeper to their bed. A simple mattress on the floor, thin sheets and blankets, but the cold was a friend to them. They have each other to keep themselves warm. The first to lay down was Ceto, her eyes still were glassy but never once she looked away from Vanilla. Arms spread wide to welcome her as the immortal sinner lay atop of her. Ear on her chest—hear the gentle beat of her heart; a proof that her sun is truly here.
“Do you really mean that?” Ceto asked in a quiet voice, almost fragile and bewildered.
“Why… would.. I lie?” She looked at her, eyes filled with honesty. “I like… love… your presence…”
Leaning close, closer until their nose brushed against each other, closer until their lips finally meet. Awkward, slow and sloppy, but she neither cared of it—both of them were. Hands intertwined together, one feared this would be their last, and the other hopeful this connection would be the anchor through the storm. Breathless sighs, a mumble of soft praises and a quiet ask for more.
Trace each scar with her fingertips, her lips, her tongue—Ceto’s heart spiked, thrummed louder in Vanilla’s ear. What an interesting reaction. In the dim light, her sun glowed a deeper shade of red, mouth agape, both of them couldn't believe it.
“Too much?” Vanilla asked, rising up to meet her gaze.
Ceto gulped, shooked her head. Words stuck at the back of her throat. Eyes blinking rapidly like her breath. “Just new, I suppose…”
“Do you want… to continue?” She tucked a stray hair away. The once blazing anger became warmer on her touch. “I can… wait…”
“Yeah, maybe next time, if it's alright.”
“Of course…” A chaste kiss just at the top of Ceto’s head. “I will… always… wait…”
And so, the night come to a quiet close. Ceto lie awake for who knows how long, count until she fall asleep—she never make it past a hundred ever since Vanilla showed up. While for the Immortal sinner, ever a fortress and still like a machine waiting for an order held Ceto as if her life depends on it; maybe it was.
The sun will rise again for tomorrow, and her sun already safe in her arms.
a/n: New format, not sure if I like it... New Year's right around the corner and here I am writing about ptn, fun.
