[ in the end, yves is always looking for a love that he can believe in.
so he takes in a deep breath and sighs. at least for now in the garden it's just the two of them. he's not sure if he can walk around without his mask freely for the rest of the evening, but at least this. at least for her. he can manage this much. so he lets go of her only so that he can reach behind his head to where the tie of his mask is. it's so secure, because he truly never takes it off.
the black lace slips down and reveals the blooming red and black beneath. it is not a normal scar, it has not faded with age. rather, it still looks so monstrously angry. the skin charred so dark and the lines of red against it, though the red pulses with every heartbeat as though there is also something alive on him. as if he is being consumed.
and yet, the colors are so reminiscent of the lycoris flowers that surround his halo. colors that reflect hades' bouquet.
he doesn't say anything. in fact, he closes his eyes and tenses, as if waiting for the screaming to start. ]
[ she's quiet, as she watches him take so much care in taking off the mask he never parts with. she neither flinches or looks away from a second, her gaze sure. she will take in every part of him with all of her heart.
she has never tried to envision what his scar must look like, only ever hoping for the day he felt he could trust her enough. it is more vibrant and alive than she thought a scar could be. she notes how it matches the flowers that he holds so dear.
how much must have it hurt for something to cause so much pain to also be so like something that was supposed to give him comfort? but she knows how he received this scar, and she knows he doesn't regret his choice, even years later.
she reaches up and brushes her fingers against his scar, her touch featherlight. his eyes are closed, but she smiles all the same, all warmth and affection, and she breathes out: ]
I was right. It's as beautiful as the rest of you.
it's so quiet and when her touch comes, he nearly flinches away in surprise. his eyes open in surprise, because he didn't think she'd stay so close. maybe he was hoping that she would, and yet...
and yet...
despite everything, tears line his eyes, just so close to falling. all his fears and hopes tumble together against his ribcage. ]
there are a million beautiful words that he could pull to describe what's happening in this moment. the feelings of acceptance, healing, and salvation. the fact that if this is heaven then he finally believes it. the ways in which he is moved and the tears fall without his permission in quiet rivers in his shock but it all boils down to—
he loves her.
he loves her so much that his heart feels like it's ruptured with the feeling, a pain that he's never felt before but one that he welcomes so readily. if this is the ache that comes with being loved then he will encounter it everyday for the rest of his life if he could. he wishes he could. elysia is on her way to destroy her world and disappear, and that is why he cannot follow, and for a few traitorous seconds he thinks—
ruin me too, if only so i could still get a chance to be with you.
he parts his lips to speak before finding that there are no words that can come close to what he is feeling. so he brings his hand up to gently cradle her face and leans down to close the space between them again.
it is a kiss that burns with all the fires of hades even in the light of heaven—that speaks to all the selfishness and greediness in his heart for the way that he wants to keep her when she is already so poised to walk way.
he murmurs against her mouth, sincere and desperate at once. ]
[ if elysia could choose, her love would save every time, instead of leaving heartache every time she leaves. for however much she paints her life or her death to be a certain way, she knows there are some harsh realities.
her heart is so full of love for him, and she only wishes it could be enough. she has only ever wished her love could be enough for as long as she could remember.
she's about to reach up to wipe away his tears when leans down to capture her lips again. she can only respond in kind, with equal fervor, equal greed. her hand finds its way to the back of his head, to keep him close in the way he wants her to stay.
she presses another kiss against his lips before she sighs, aching and full of longing. ]
I know. I am, too.
[ she only wishes her love could save them both. ]
he remains as close as she wants, not wanting to part from her in the slightest. there will be so much of the future and he wants to take advantage of every second that he can get now to be at her side. so he lets his face rest against hers, mirroring that sigh.
it is everything he wanted and soon it is what he will lose. ]
... alright, I can't start our date with tears. Isn't that too embarrassing of me?
[ he pulls back only enough to press a kiss to her forehead, so adoring and affectionate. ]
Will you let me have just a moment? I want to get a gift for you. Give me just one minute, and close your eyes.
[ for all that she can't give him forever, there is very little she can refuse him. it's something that will remain true for what time they have left, and even after.
she releases him and clasps her hands behind her back. ]
I like to think it's because you thought I was so beautiful you started crying.
[ obviously joking but also a little sincere. ]
Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?
[ if only because she doesn't want to waste any second if she can help it, but she does as he asks, once again, and closes her eyes. ]
[ well, she can hear him run off cartoonishly fast.
a minute and just one minute. he doesn't have time to be careful, but he will endeavor to do his best. he's far away enough she probably can't hear his rapier get unsheathed, so it's fine. from his pocket, he pulls a handkerchief out to help bundle everything together.
and then he returns to her. ]
Okay, Ellie, you can open your eyes.
[ and in all his devotion and sincerity, with every romantic bone in his body, he offers everything he is to her.
on one knee, bouquet of roses outstretched—red, pink, white, and black. in all their matching hues. devotion, innocence, grace, new beginnings, stark endings and most of all—true love. ]
For the girl as gorgeous as dancing petals, please accept a bouquet that is only humbled by your beauty—but nonetheless is made up of all my love. Please be with me and let me love you.
[ it's funny how she's spent thousand years waiting in her elysian realm for proof of her existence, and while the minute doesn't feel quite that long, it doesn't feel quite as short as it should. she does smile at how fast he runs.
she opens her eyes, and her heart melts. she reaches for the bouquet in one hand and for his hand with her other. fondness and love radiates from every move and gesture from her. ]
Your love is as resplendent as the flowers we both cherish. How could I refuse when it's what I want most from you? You only have to let me love you back.
[ he takes her hand and he smiles down at her so adoringly, interlacing their fingers without missing a beat ]
I'll accept all your love, for as long as I get to be lucky enough to receive it.
[ they're together for one night, but the next week will probably just be dancing around more of the same. at least for tonight, it can feel as vivid and real as they want it to. ]
But you're right, I think we should be in time for them. Shall we?
[ she cradles the bouquet of flowers in her arm like it's the most delicate of crystals, precious and rare and coveted.
she tugs ever so gently on his hand, reveling in the warmth shared between their hands, as if they won't keep holding hands whenever they want in the following days. it's tonight when everything matters the most. ]
Mm-hmm. It's too bad the champagne there is still cursed.
You know, there's some urge I have to give other people a shot...
[ a little teasingly. he does think richie and shadowheart are so cute even if they're not confirmed,, but he just drops a kiss to elysia's hair affectionately ]
But I'm afraid I'd be lying. To me, there's no one lovelier in the world than you.
[ there are so many cute couples out there, all she'd be happy to talk about, but if she's going to be selfish, if she's going to so completely herself, there's no other truth than the two of them. ]
And I'd be lying if I didn't want to be the loveliest person in your eyes.
[ she would never mind him falling in love with others and having other people in his heart, but if she's allowed any semblance of greed... her ego has never been unhealthy. ]
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so he takes in a deep breath and sighs. at least for now in the garden it's just the two of them. he's not sure if he can walk around without his mask freely for the rest of the evening, but at least this. at least for her. he can manage this much. so he lets go of her only so that he can reach behind his head to where the tie of his mask is. it's so secure, because he truly never takes it off.
the black lace slips down and reveals the blooming red and black beneath. it is not a normal scar, it has not faded with age. rather, it still looks so monstrously angry. the skin charred so dark and the lines of red against it, though the red pulses with every heartbeat as though there is also something alive on him. as if he is being consumed.
and yet, the colors are so reminiscent of the lycoris flowers that surround his halo. colors that reflect hades' bouquet.
he doesn't say anything. in fact, he closes his eyes and tenses, as if waiting for the screaming to start. ]
no subject
she has never tried to envision what his scar must look like, only ever hoping for the day he felt he could trust her enough. it is more vibrant and alive than she thought a scar could be. she notes how it matches the flowers that he holds so dear.
how much must have it hurt for something to cause so much pain to also be so like something that was supposed to give him comfort? but she knows how he received this scar, and she knows he doesn't regret his choice, even years later.
she reaches up and brushes her fingers against his scar, her touch featherlight. his eyes are closed, but she smiles all the same, all warmth and affection, and she breathes out: ]
I was right. It's as beautiful as the rest of you.
no subject
it's so quiet and when her touch comes, he nearly flinches away in surprise. his eyes open in surprise, because he didn't think she'd stay so close. maybe he was hoping that she would, and yet...
and yet...
despite everything, tears line his eyes, just so close to falling. all his fears and hopes tumble together against his ribcage. ]
... you think so?
[ she still
loves him? ]
no subject
[ if he doesn't move away, she leans up to gently kiss his scar.
of course she still loves him. ]
There's no way I could think otherwise.
[ in her eyes, there is no one more beautiful than he is, tears, scar, and all. ]
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there are a million beautiful words that he could pull to describe what's happening in this moment. the feelings of acceptance, healing, and salvation. the fact that if this is heaven then he finally believes it. the ways in which he is moved and the tears fall without his permission in quiet rivers in his shock but it all boils down to—
he loves her.
he loves her so much that his heart feels like it's ruptured with the feeling, a pain that he's never felt before but one that he welcomes so readily. if this is the ache that comes with being loved then he will encounter it everyday for the rest of his life if he could. he wishes he could. elysia is on her way to destroy her world and disappear, and that is why he cannot follow, and for a few traitorous seconds he thinks—
ruin me too, if only so i could still get a chance to be with you.
he parts his lips to speak before finding that there are no words that can come close to what he is feeling. so he brings his hand up to gently cradle her face and leans down to close the space between them again.
it is a kiss that burns with all the fires of hades even in the light of heaven—that speaks to all the selfishness and greediness in his heart for the way that he wants to keep her when she is already so poised to walk way.
he murmurs against her mouth, sincere and desperate at once. ]
I love you. I'm so in love with you, Ellie.
no subject
her heart is so full of love for him, and she only wishes it could be enough. she has only ever wished her love could be enough for as long as she could remember.
she's about to reach up to wipe away his tears when leans down to capture her lips again. she can only respond in kind, with equal fervor, equal greed. her hand finds its way to the back of his head, to keep him close in the way he wants her to stay.
she presses another kiss against his lips before she sighs, aching and full of longing. ]
I know. I am, too.
[ she only wishes her love could save them both. ]
no subject
he remains as close as she wants, not wanting to part from her in the slightest. there will be so much of the future and he wants to take advantage of every second that he can get now to be at her side. so he lets his face rest against hers, mirroring that sigh.
it is everything he wanted and soon it is what he will lose. ]
... alright, I can't start our date with tears. Isn't that too embarrassing of me?
[ he pulls back only enough to press a kiss to her forehead, so adoring and affectionate. ]
Will you let me have just a moment? I want to get a gift for you. Give me just one minute, and close your eyes.
no subject
she releases him and clasps her hands behind her back. ]
I like to think it's because you thought I was so beautiful you started crying.
[ obviously joking but also a little sincere. ]
Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?
[ if only because she doesn't want to waste any second if she can help it, but she does as he asks, once again, and closes her eyes. ]
no subject
a minute and just one minute. he doesn't have time to be careful, but he will endeavor to do his best. he's far away enough she probably can't hear his rapier get unsheathed, so it's fine. from his pocket, he pulls a handkerchief out to help bundle everything together.
and then he returns to her. ]
Okay, Ellie, you can open your eyes.
[ and in all his devotion and sincerity, with every romantic bone in his body, he offers everything he is to her.
on one knee, bouquet of roses outstretched—red, pink, white, and black. in all their matching hues. devotion, innocence, grace, new beginnings, stark endings and most of all—true love. ]
For the girl as gorgeous as dancing petals, please accept a bouquet that is only humbled by your beauty—but nonetheless is made up of all my love. Please be with me and let me love you.
no subject
she opens her eyes, and her heart melts. she reaches for the bouquet in one hand and for his hand with her other. fondness and love radiates from every move and gesture from her. ]
Your love is as resplendent as the flowers we both cherish. How could I refuse when it's what I want most from you? You only have to let me love you back.
[ their love is in full bloom. ]
Is it the fireworks next?
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I'll accept all your love, for as long as I get to be lucky enough to receive it.
[ they're together for one night, but the next week will probably just be dancing around more of the same. at least for tonight, it can feel as vivid and real as they want it to. ]
But you're right, I think we should be in time for them. Shall we?
no subject
she tugs ever so gently on his hand, reveling in the warmth shared between their hands, as if they won't keep holding hands whenever they want in the following days. it's tonight when everything matters the most. ]
Mm-hmm. It's too bad the champagne there is still cursed.
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That's alright. I want to have my full wits about me tonight.
[ he's such a lightweight ]
We can share a drink anytime.
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she knew he was a lightweight from the party all those weeks ago, but for champagne.... ]
Somehow, that makes you impossibly cuter. Okay.
[ she reaches up to comb her fingers through his bangs. ]
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To hear that from the cutest girl in the world does make me happy.
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Hmm... well, there's no denying we're the cutest couple tonight, is there?
[ she says it like it's fact. ]
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[ a little teasingly. he does think richie and shadowheart are so cute even if they're not confirmed,, but he just drops a kiss to elysia's hair affectionately ]
But I'm afraid I'd be lying. To me, there's no one lovelier in the world than you.
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[ there are so many cute couples out there, all she'd be happy to talk about, but if she's going to be selfish, if she's going to so completely herself, there's no other truth than the two of them. ]
And I'd be lying if I didn't want to be the loveliest person in your eyes.
[ she would never mind him falling in love with others and having other people in his heart, but if she's allowed any semblance of greed... her ego has never been unhealthy. ]
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Would you like me to say it again then? To praise your beauty and kindness a million times over?
For you, anything.
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I'd be silly to refuse, wouldn't I?
[ this bitch would never refuse a compliment. ]
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I do love your confidence, Ellie.
[ and he'll lean down to steal a kiss, because why wouldn't he ]
You have a heart so radiant, I think I've loved you since the day we met.
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The first day? How could I ever be so lucky? I don't think I did anything to stand out.
[ because she does do some theatrics on purpose. (most of them.) ]