I'm Just Here To Pretend I'm Important

So happy I finished this thing before ep 8 oof

Anyway, the comic was born out of

my thoughts about Caine's model lacking many essential facial features (as if he was never intended to show any emotions) and yet him being literally the most expressive character in the circus despite everything.

me being low-key obsessed with the implications episode 7 left us with. Players questioning everything they've been told and Caine being in the center of it all.

I want them all to be healed and happy, little guy absolutely included, but man the situation is rough, and the odds are against us

Lorei

@lorei-writes

Writing & Production Moderator

My role is to keep track of deadlines and tasks we are yet to complete, so that our team can work without worrying about missing anything. I watch over our spreadsheets and announcements, help organize our files, typeset, and provide video editing support.

I’m also our writing moderator, which means it is on me to give you feedback, answer any questions related to it, and greenlight your work. >:)

Dice

@dicenete

Art & Graphics Moderator

My role is very self-explanatory, I will give feedback to the artists, making sure that the pieces will adhere to the guidelines. The default feedback consists mainly of logical errors (two left hands, missing fingers, possible readability issues), but artists can ask for more in-depth feedback and I try to help to the best of my ability. On top of that, as the graphics mod I will create most of the graphics used for the zine and its marketing.

Mystic Vixen

@kaizoku-musume

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My role is to help our organizers make sure everything is running smoothly and manage our social media (Tumblr). I can also provide feedback for any of our writers; the focus of the feedback is usually on things like grammar, punctuation, etc, but if writers want additional feedback, just let me know!

Dollie Lament

@dollielament

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My role? Managing our social media page, specifically our Instagram! I’ll make sure to run things smoothly and to answer questions to my best ability~

Whether you need proofreading for your fic or a second pair of eyes on your cosplay, I’m at your service!! I can’t wait to lend my skills in any way I can. ^_^

Kimi

@miyamizuna

Social Media Moderator

The sun was barely up, casting only a grayish tint across the sky as night gave way to day. It was a peaceful morning for sure, with only a couple coaches and carriages traversing Paris before it truly woke up. One particular coach gently rocked its inhabitants as the wheels rattled over cobblestone.

Inside the coach, Leonardo sat beside Dawn with his hands loosely folded in his lap. Dawn looked out the small window, but he could tell her eyelids were heavy, each blink slower than the last. 

It made sense, considering he knocked on her door at an ungodly hour to wake her up and urged her to get dressed with haste. He was actually impressed how quickly she came out of her room. She dressed practically—as he expected her to—in an ivory blouse tucked into a cinnamon brown skirt, brought together with a thick belt that made him think of the color of cognac. In preparation for a chilly morning, she covered her shoulders with a charcoal cloak.

As for her hair, she was in the middle of plaiting it with deft fingers behind her head when she exited her room. A copper-toned ribbon was held between her teeth until she had weaved her hair past the nape of her neck. Once she secured her hair near the bottom of her hairline, she finished by untangling the remaining length into a soft ponytail.

Now that they were in their coach heading to their destination, it seemed Dawn's sleepiness was catching back up to her. Only minutes after they began their journey did Leonardo feel the weight of her head lean against his shoulder. He looked down and saw she had completely succumbed to slumber, her cloak tightly wrapped around her like a blanket. 

All he could do was release a quiet breath through his nose, but smile softly at how peaceful she looked. It was going to be about 20 more minutes before their arrival, so he would let her rest. Leo kept still as to not jostle her awake, but made sure his compagna provvisoria remained comfortable for the ride to the market.

*~*~*

“Cara mia.”

Dawn's eyes began to move, slowly adjusting to the light creeping through the curtain of the coach. Her nose scrunched and her eyes squinted, her face and body slowly coming to life. It took her a moment to regain a sense of her location, to remember that Leo had abruptly woken her before the sun was even considering the beginning of the day and rushed them into a coach. 

It seemed she had drifted asleep, but the cat nap did her some good. She felt more refreshed than agitated, and the coach was surprisingly comfortable. 

… I am not leaning against the coach.

Her head had not moved yet, but her eyes were adjusting exceedingly fast. No, she was not leaning against the coach. She was leaning against something warm, solid… breathing.

Sure enough, the fabric she was feeling was Leo's overcoat, its wine-colored sleeve cushioning her cheek against his arm. As she slowly looked up, she was met with his warm eyes of gold. His long, dark ash-brown bangs fell to the front of his face, somehow making his already brilliant eyes shine brighter.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Leo did not move nor speak. She was worried he would have something snarky to say, like when she mocked him for snoring when they went to Le Pré-du-Bois, but he did no such thing.

Dawn slowly raised herself upright. She felt a yawn coming as she clumsily rubbed her eyes awake with the base of her palms. I can't believe I fell asleep, she thought to herself. She shook the thought away before looking up again. Leo barely moved at all. He simply sat patiently, waiting for her.

Awkwardly, she waved hello.

Leo let out a small laugh, finding her good morning gesture endearing, if not comical. “Come,” he said, finally breaking their silence, “we are here.”

He opened the door and exited, then held out his hand for her to take. She gave herself a moment to compose herself, breathing in deeply and remembering they were on a “date”, before smiling and accepting his hand.

Outside, the morning light was much brighter, warmer. There was a golden glow enveloping everything around her. She could see all of the vendors setting up their stalls, the sounds becoming a natural white noise. 

But the smell. Oh God, the smell. It was the warmest, sweetest scent that filled her nostrils. She couldn't tell where it was coming from. Maybe it was coming from multiple places. Maybe it was wafting on the breeze that tussled the loose strands of her hair that did not want to stay in her braid.

It didn't matter. It smelled absolutely divine. She needed to find the source.

Leo led Dawn down the street, nestling her comfortably into the crook of his elbow as they walked. She noticed how Leo took smaller, slower steps to match her pace, carefully guiding her around the passing people and the occasional uneven stone. Somehow, he made it feel as though they were in their own small bubble, untouched by the bustle of Paris waking around them.

Her nose lifted into the air, realizing the scents she had wanted to find were becoming stronger. As she looked around, she saw a bakery with its door open, and Leo was walking her straight to it. 

Inside, there was only one other customer being helped by an older woman. This woman was short, just an inch taller than Dawn was, with a plump figure but strength and energy abundant in how she carried herself. She had her gray hair pulled back into a bun with a sweet, welcoming smile as she spoke to the customer. Even her wrinkles had a way of smiling when she did.

Once she saw them come in, she flashed with a wide grin. “Bonjour et bienvenue (Good morning and welcome!)” Her greeting was so warm and energetic.

“Bonjour, Odette (Good morning, Odette),” Leonardo responded. It sounded like he was well acquainted with the shopkeeper.

“OH! Leonardo!” Dawn was amazed that Odette was capable of being even more happy to greet them as soon as she realized who Leo was. “Dis donc, cela fait un bon moment que tu n'étais pas passé nous voir. (My, it has been some time since you stopped by!)” She walked across the shop floor and she placed her hands on his cheeks, as if she was a motherly figure to him. “C'est tellement agréable de te voir. (It is so good to see you.)” Then, she eyed Dawn. Her eyes glistened with knowing excitement. “Et en compagnie! (And with company!)”

Suddenly, she smacked Leonardo on the arm. “Il est grand temps que tu trouves une femme pour toi. Tu es bien trop beau pour continuer à te comporter comme un séducteur insouciant avec toutes ces jeunes filles. (It's about time you found a woman for yourself. You're too handsome to remain a troublesome tease for all the debutantes.)”

And just as quickly, she turned her attention to Dawn. “Quelle chance tu as! (You lucky girl!)” she commented. All Dawn could do was smile in bewilderment, not sure what was going on. But, when she glanced at Leo for some context, he just smiled and nodded—utterly unhelpful—like she was just supposed to accept this without question. 

Odette approached Dawn and, similar to how she treated Leonardo, her hands were on Dawn's cheeks. They were surprisingly warm. “Tellement beau aussi. (So beautiful, too.)” She leaned closer, paying close attention to Dawn's eyes. “Hah, et avec des yeux tout aussi colorés que les tiens, Leonardo. (Hah, and with just as colorful eyes as you, Leonardo.)”

Is she supposed to be this handsy with someone she just met?

“Odette,” Leonardo chuckled, “Je pense que vous risquez de submerger mon compagnon par votre gentillesse. (I think you may be overwhelming my companion with your kindness.)”

The older woman took one last look at Dawn, seeing the forced smile that was too kind to say “please stop”, then stepping back some. Still, she held that same, sweet, genuine expression of happiness.  “Je vous prie de m'excuser, ma chère. Maintenant (My apologies, dear. Now),” she said, addressing them both, “que puis-je vous servir  (what can I get for you two?)”

Leo caught Dawn's attention and tilted his head towards the display of foods and pastries. They had a display case filled with croissants, eclairs, tarts, buns, and slices of breads ranging from plain to fruity to chocolate-infused. The warmth in the bakery already let Dawn know they were fresh from the oven—the best time to bite into a treat.

“Tout d'abord, une tasse de café pour ma dame (First, a cup of coffee for my lady),” Leo told Odette. “J'ai peut-être interrompu son sommeil réparateur pour l'amener ici le plus tôt possible… (I may have disturbed her beauty sleep to bring her here as early as possible…)”

Odette laughed, her sound ringing with joy, “Je devrais me sentir flatté que vous ayez risqué de vous faire réprimander, même si c'est peut-être mon devoir de vous en protéger. Je vous l'offre gratuitement en guise de remerciement pour votre fidélité. (I should feel flattered that you risked a scolding—though perhaps it’s my duty to protect you from it. I’ll offer it for free as a thank-you for your patronage.)”

Dawn could hear the lighthearted conversation, but her focus was on the enticing display of sweets. There were tarts covered in seasonal fruits, éclairs covered in glossy glazes, sweet buns of different shapes with different fillings, and croissants aplenty. Her mouth started to salivate, imagining how everything tasted. 

“Cara mia.” 

Leonardo's voice pulled her out of her trance to see him holding a small ceramic cup filled with steaming coffee. She graciously accepted, tapping her chin and pulling her hand away, thanking him. As she took a sip, the subtle bitterness of the coffee jolted her senses awake but the warmth as it traveled down her throat to her stomach eased her into a comforting bliss. 

She felt his hand press gently on the small of her back, urging her forward a step. Leo leaned toward her ear and whispered, “Pick whatever you like,” enticing her to choose freely. She looked up, asking only with her eyes if he was serious. Of course, all he did was direct her attention to the pastries again with a nudge of his head. 

Oh, crap.

Was the baked apple tart the right choice for this early in the morning? No, it was more dessert-like. Oh, maybe the éclair. But, the chocolate or the coffee-flavored one? She already held a cup of coffee, so maybe not the éclair dressed like a tiramisu. Although, the sweet buns looked delightful. The idea of cherries within the soft texture of a brioche sounded wonderful, and the honey bun with candied orange peels also looked sweet and quite bold with the flavors. Oh, but back to the tarts! Lemon tarts were so classic and punchy, almost anything that was a pastry with lemon was bound to be delicious. And yet, there was the raspberry and almond tart. And that cream beneath the toppings would probably be velvety…

Her eyes bounced back and forth multiple times. Fruity? Chocolatey? Classic? Which one?!

Leonardo watched her eyes move—too quickly, too carefully. Not the look of someone deciding what they wanted, but of someone measuring, weighing, editing herself down.

At last, she lifted a hand and pointed. Not at the tarts. Not at the buns. She pointed to one of the plain croissants.

Leonardo blinked once. Of all the things in the case—of all the color and sugar and fruit that had clearly held her captive only moments ago—that was what she chose?

Odette, feeling the slight tension between them, followed his gaze then looked back at Dawn. She didn’t comment.

Leonardo’s mouth twitched, thoughtful rather than amused. He nodded once. “Un croissant (One croissant),” he said calmly.

Odette reached for it.

“Et une tarte aux framboises et aux amandes. (And one raspberry almond tart),” Leonardo added just as easily.

Odette’s brows lifted—just slightly—but she complied, setting the tart beside the croissant.

Dawn’s eyes widened. She shook her head quickly, lifting her hand and signing, “No.”

Leonardo paid no mind to her plea. “Et la tarte aux pommes cuite au four (And the baked apple tart),” he continued.

Odette glanced between them now, understanding dawning in her eyes. She made eye contact with Leonardo before placing the tart down with deliberate care.

Dawn tugged lightly at Leonardo’s sleeve, her movements flustered. She pointed again to the croissant, insistently this time.

Only then did Leonardo turn to her. He leaned in—not touching, not crowding—but close enough that his voice was meant only for her. His mouth brushed near her ear, his tone low, steady. “I see what you are doing, cara mia,” he murmured. “You’re holding back because you don’t wish to be a burden.”

He paused, just long enough for that truth to land.

“I brought you here because I want to know what you like,” he continued softly. “Not what you think is acceptable.” He straightened, giving her space again, and gestured gently toward the display. “Show me what you really want.”

Odette, bless her, didn’t rush. She simply waited, hands folded, eyes warm.

Dawn hesitated. Then, slowly, she lifted her hand again. She didn't point to the croissant this time, but rather the brioche bun filled with cherries.

Leonardo smiled—not broadly, not triumphantly—but with quiet satisfaction. “Celui-la (That one),” he said.

Her hand hovered, then pointed again. The raspberry almond tart.

“Et celui-là (And that one),” he added.

She stopped there. Looked up at him, searching his face for some sign she’d gone too far.

He only nodded. “That’s enough,” he said gently. “For now.” 

Dawn swallowed, then took the final sip of her coffee. He wasn't going to let this go.

Odette wrapped the pastries with care, her smile saying everything she politely didn’t.

As Leonardo paid, he leaned down once more—not to whisper this time, but close enough that she felt the warmth of him beside her.

“You did well,” he said quietly. She glanced up, feeling more than just the warmth of his body but also the warmth of his smile and his gaze.