@wordhost : ‘ you are brilliant , charming , obviously gorgeous . ’ (childe for aika)
A performance —— !! That’s all it is, all Aika ever is ( something more than stage - makeup always - perpetual, body and heart false as each other ) and somedays it’s fun, like these, attending some event on the arm of the FAMED HARBINGER. Somedays it’s even fun, with him gazing down at her with affections so sincere and a smile so delighted and so teasing that it can only be false, her smiling happily up at him, the picture - perfect couple. It’s a performance / that’s all Aika is / but it’s fun and sad because it’s so hard to discern where the falseness ends and where true affection begins — maybe, broken as they both are, there’s no line between them at all.
It’s fun for him, to pretend to be a kinder man than he is, the loving partner. And it’s fun for her, to pretend to be the sort of silly, loving creature that could match that. Both are at least a little true, at least for now. Both could be true, if they were better than they are.
( aika could be better than she is. as for childe ——— )
“People are staring,” she whispers, playful, leaning up on her tip - toes as he bends to meet her halfway. Her smile is pleased, not concerned, and he laughs loudly at the words.
“Obviously. Look at us.” He grins against, head ducking a degree further. The smile is something unbroken, almost tender. “Look at you. You are brilliant, charming, obviously gorgeous ——”
She giggles, cheeks flushing ( whether its natural shyness or the glamour to affect it, who’s to say? ) and head shaking and happy, really, happy in the performance as something better / simpler than herself. “Stop it, you’re so embarrassing.”
He laughs and tugs her close for a moment, affections so sincere and smile so delighted and teasing, and nestled within that smile is the desire to devour her. Tenderness made brutal. She hears his sharp teeth slot together, and feels hers do the same.
( aika could be better. she is, even if not knowing it. she is using, yes, but loving too, but sincere in her affection, but sincere in her heart. as for childe ——— )