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cheri-translates · 3 years

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Headcanon - When he sleep talks

Original title: 当他说梦话

Original author: 君兮耶君兮

[ VICTOR ]

It’s nighttime, and Victor is sound asleep beside you. With a practised hand, you feel for your phone from underneath the pillow. Tapping open the e-novel application, you start “committing a crime”.

Since he has repeatedly prohibited you from staying up late to use your phone, you carefully scrutinise Victor’s actions, deathly afraid that he’d suddenly wake up and catch you red-handed.

“Dummy...”

The rustling of fabric drifts from behind you as Victor turns over. A large hand wraps itself around your waist, and you instinctively lock your phone and hide it beneath your pillow, pretending to be asleep.

A long time passes without any further movements from the person behind you. Turning your head slightly to observe the situation, you discover that he’s still asleep. What happened earlier was simply him sleep talking. Relieved, you feel for your phone again, continuing with your little antics.

Soon after, the person behind you begins to mumble again. “It’s not that I don’t like you.”

Your finger pauses on the screen. You seem to have heard something interesting? As someone in the media industry, the acuteness in your DNA causes you to tap on the recorder app to capture what’s going on.

Victor’s chin rests against your head. Cushioned on his arm, you can clearly hear what he’s saying. “I’ll always like you.”

“Who?” You whisper.

“Dummy.” He responds quickly. If you hadn’t verified it earlier, you might have suspected that he wasn’t sleeping at all.

The corners of your lips curl into a slight smile. Closing the recorder app, you place your phone down. Scooting backwards against him, you sink into a peaceful sleep.

While Victor is preparing breakfast the next day, you lift your hand and wave your phone in front of him triumphantly. “Victor, you confessed to me last night!”

He cracks an egg into the frying pan. Hearing what you said, he remains unaffected as he continues to cook. “You had a dream?”

“No, it’s the truth!”

You knew he wouldn’t believe you, which is why you had the recording prepared.

“...”

After hearing it, Victor turns off the fire. He takes your phone to check its veracity, then returns it to you with a glance and a dry laugh. “You recorded this at 1.13am. Looks like a certain someone slept pretty late last night.”

Your heart sinks, and you completely forget about the recording as you retort. “No I didn’t! You saw wrongly!”

How could he not understand you? While he metes out the punishment, he places a plate of warm omelette into your hands. “From tonight onwards, you’ll sleep half an hour earlier than before. You’ll also give your phone to me.”

[ GAVIN ]

If you hadn’t witnessed it personally, you never would have believed that the all-powerful Officer Gavin would turn into a clingy little wolf at night.

Returning from a mission, Gavin manages to fall into a deep sleep when it’s still relatively early. Grabbing a book, you sit on the bed to keep him company. Reaching out to cover him with a blanket, you suddenly hear Gavin’s voice.

“I want a hug.”

Finding this humorous, you wrap your arms around his shoulders. As though you’re coaxing a child, you pat him on the back. “Here you go.”

“Don’t go. Don’t leave me alone.” You aren’t sure what he’s dreaming about, but his brows are tightly knit, and he seems uneasy.

This causes your heart to ache, and you respond gently. “Silly Gavin. I won’t leave you.”

Perhaps hearing this assurance, Gavin presses himself against you. After a while, he clicks his tongue, muttering hazily. “I want a homemade bento.”

This is the first time Gavin is asking for a bento directly. Before, he always dropped hints along the lines of, “Sometimes, my colleagues would bring homemade bentos”. You feel tickled by this. A childish Officer Gavin is especially adorable, and adorable children always get special treatment. “Okay, I’ll prepare it for you tomorrow.”

Gavin mumbles to himself softly. “The dishes in the canteen aren’t as delicious as what you make.”

Your smile falls. Didn’t he mention that STF doesn’t have a canteen?

Putting on a professional smile, you lean closer to him and whisper into his ear. “Gavin, what’s the salary of the aunties working in the STF canteen?”

“$620 a month.” Gavin responds without hesitation.

“Good. Very good.” You straighten up, smiling wryly as you flip to the next page of the book, as though nothing had happened.

“I’m off.” Gavin gives you a goodbye kiss, his spirits high as he heads out of the door carrying an exquisitely wrapped bento box.

“Be safe!” Your smile is the same as every morning.

“Gav, what delicious food did she prepare for you today?” Eli pulls Tang Chao over so he can experience the pain of being single too.

Mentioning the homemade bento brings a smile to Gavin’s eyes. While responding, he opens up the bento. “I don’t know either. She was really secretive about it in the morning, and said I should only look at it at noon...”

Very soon, he isn’t able to continue smiling. Slices of green bitter gourd are neatly laid out in the box. Aside from that, there’s nothing else inside.

“HAHAHAHA. Does sis-in-law want to help relieve your internal heat?” Eli chuckles boisterously, and Tang Chao’s shoulders tremble from suppressing his laughter.

The chopsticks in Gavin’s hand are on the verge of snapping. As they continue rubbing salt into his wound, the chopsticks curve.

He shoots them a glare. “Get out!”

“Gav, don’t murder your squad mates!”

[Trivia] One of Gavin’s “Go See Him” lines is - “There isn’t a canteen in STF, but the nearby eateries aren’t bad.”

However, in an official post about Loveland City, it’s revealed that there IS a canteen. This has been a running joke in the CN community because we still don’t know if it’s a mistake by Papergames or if Gavin really lied to MC so that she’d make him bentos (っ˘ω˘ς )

[ LUCIEN ]

Mr Lucien has always lacked a sense of security, and this is something you’re well aware of. However, the vulnerabilities he reveals to you are mostly meant to tease you, or used to stir up sympathy. You can only get a glimpse of his genuine unease after Lucien falls asleep.

“Mm...” Lucien’s eyes are shut tight, as though he’s having a nightmare.

Since you drank a cup of milk tea before heading to bed, you aren’t drowsy at all. Sensing Lucien’s movements, you pat the large hand wrapped around your waist. “What’s wrong?” you whisper.

Thinking that Lucien is feeling uncomfortable due to the heat, you attempt to put some distance between the both of you. However, the arm around your waist tightens. Not knowing if he’s awake or not, you don’t dare to move much.

Lucien embraces his treasure as he mumbles to himself. “My... Little Butterfly belongs only to me...”

You smile in resignation. Lucien has always been stubborn when it comes to staking his claim on something. This doesn’t upset you. In fact, you have the impulse to tease him even though he’s asleep. “Really?”

“We’ll see who dares to snatch you away.” Lucien’s brows furrow even more, dyeing his expression with an intimidating aura.

Having a bad feeling that you accidentally stepped on a landmine, you decide to soothe the atmosphere so that Professor Lucien wouldn’t feel troubled in his sleep. Before you can do so, you hear a dry chuckle. “A collaborative partner? Hmph.”

The threatening tone in his voice causes you to tremble, and an iciness travels up your spine and into your brain. You instinctively tense up, and you decide to wake him up.

“Lu...”

“Pete, could you bring me that box of scalpels?” His gloomy voice makes him seem like an entirely different person. “Little Butterfly, you can only be mine. Forever.”

You shut your mouth. The Ultima Bioresearch Centre measures its scalpels in boxes?

Sensing your movements, Lucien opens his eyes slowly. In the haze of drowsiness, he kisses your hair while speaking with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Your survival instincts cause you to shrink your neck backwards, and you nuzzle into the arms of the big fox. “Goodnight.”

[ KIRO ]

“Miss... Chips...”

A soft mumble rouses you from the world of novels. Turning your head, you watch as Kiro is sprawled on the bed, quietly tugging the blanket over his bare chest.

Kiro nuzzles the pillow with a slight frown. It seems as if he’s dreaming about something troubling. “Miss Shrimp Strips...”

Your fingers pause on the screen when you hear this familiar yet unfamiliar term of address. Although the both of you often eat shrimp strips, he has never called you “Miss Shrimp Strips”. Does Kiro have another snack in his life?

Thinking of this possibility, your expression turns cold, and you decide to observe further. After waiting for such a long time that you start to doubt if you were merely hallucinating earlier, he finally speaks. “Miss Drumstick...”

Okay. You didn’t mishear earlier. There’s a Miss Drumstick now.

“Miss Popcorn...”

It’s said that dreams portray the most genuine reflections of reality. What one thinks about in the morning is what one dreams about at night. You never imagined that Kiro would be this sneaky in his dreams. Taking a deep breath, you inch closer to him.

The arm of justice reaches out to the unsuspecting Kiro. The second before his head is ripped off, he suddenly twitches, giving you a fright and causing you to pause.

“No! All of you are fakes!” His voice carries with it a sense of righteousness.

There’s a dramatic twist in his dream?

Kiro releases a “hmph”. He shakes off the blanket with a hand before exclaiming, “I, Kiro Bohu, will find the genuine Miss Chips!’

You burst into laughter. If you’d known earlier, you wouldn’t have forced him to watch “Tang Bohu Spots Autumn Fragrance" with you earlier. Covering him with the blanket properly, you pat his golden coloured hair. “Your Miss Chips is right here.”

As though he’s able to hear this, Kiro curls his four limbs as he nuzzles against you. “Mm... Miss Chips...”

“Goodnight, Mr Chips.”

[ SHAW ]

“Tsk.”

A noise sounds in the quiet and still room, causing your fingers to pause. Did he realise that you’re staying up? You quickly turn around to look at Shaw behind you.

At this moment, his eyes are shut tight, his breathing is even, and he doesn’t seem to be awake. You heave a sigh of relief. As long as you don’t get caught, you'd continue using your phone.

“What’s that?”

Another sound drifts over, but it sounds a little unhappier than before.

“What’s what?” You find yourself responding instinctively after growing accustomed to retorting him.

Shaw purses his lips, and he appears to be having an unpleasant dream. You shift a little further away, afraid that he’d progress from simply retorting to whacking you.

Shaw turns over, unable to break free from his dream. “Dragonfly Eye. Don’t lose it again.”

“Your dream’s pretty exaggerated.” You roll your eyes. You’ve only lost the Dragonfly Eye once - and it was 99% due to a certain someone’s “assistance”.

Shaw doesn’t seem to have had his fill yet. He adds another grumble.

“Silly woman.”

The familiar term of address leaves absolutely no doubt that his current dream involves you. You take a deep breath. “Carry on if you dare!”

“Stupid.”

Even when he’s asleep, Shaw is the same as when he’s awake, meeting you head-on.

Fuming, you give him a kick to the butt, sending him off the bed.

Shaw is startled awake. He scans his surroundings in confusion, then covers his injured area while standing up, gritting his teeth. “What’s up with you!”

You respond with a glare. “You insulted me! Twice! You pig!”

Shaw, who was kicked awake but has no idea what happened: ???

More translated and original works: here

[ Permission to translate ]

君兮耶君兮: Can, just state the author and the source

#mlqc #mlqc victor #mlqc gavin #mlqc lucien #mlqc kiro #mlqc shaw #cheri shortcake

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leonardhoee · 3 years

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Matchup #2

Thanks for the request @aurora-morning 💜💜

So I match you up with...

Comte!!

Your Song

Okay now this man is a complete gentleman but he's also very secretive so it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking at first.

He was in love with you pretty much since you arrived but you would never be able to tell. He spoils you and takes you out shopping almost every week. He brings you to the finest restaurants and brings presents back for you from various business trips.

However, you think all of this is because he's just being nice. Truth is, with all the life experience he has, he doesn't really know how to handle his feelings and he deals with it in the best way he knows how. By spoiling you.

Your awkwardness isn’t a problem for him. If you think you did anything that might seem weird don’t worry he’s definitely seen worse (he’s seen naked, drunk Leo on a roof and he had to bring him back down, it doesn’t get worse than that)

He thinks that maybe you're better off not knowing about how he feels for the whole month you're there, because it might be scary being with a pureblooded vampire that's as powerful, and has as many secrets as he does.

But he tries to spend time with you every chance he gets and he secretly asks Sebastian to ask you to bring his rouge and tea to him so he gets to see you.

“Oh what a coincidence you're here Ma Cherie, why don't you stay a while and maybe help me with some paperwork? We can go to dinner together afterwards”

Speaking of dinners, he will leave a dress on your bed (that he designed specifically for you) with a note telling you to be ready by a certain time and he will take you to the best restaurants in Paris. Before you guys go home he takes you to his favorite bakery and gets you the best strawberry shortcake in the city.

“No of course its not a date I just didn't want to go to the restaurant alone” *nervous laugh

He is absolutely willing to make the first move. He’s a very perceptive man and can easily tell if social situations give you anxiety. He’s more than happy to be social for the both of you.

He thinks your glasses are adorable and sometimes he tries them on when you’re not around.

Both of you are basically flirting with each other by trying to impress each other and it’s quite hilarious to watch as a third party. (Pleaseee just admit your feelings already dorks)

It gets to a point where his feelings are blatantly obvious to Sebastian and Leonardo and they both encourage him to just tell you how he feels because he’s going to regret it if he doesn't. (Thats rich coming from you Leo)

He finally decides to do it and he brings a bouquet of Roses to your room and takes you on a walk in the garden where he had Sebastian plant your favorite flowers. (He figured he shouldn’t go TOO overboard but after that be prepared for the most extra dates ever.)

He is actually incredibly nervous but he looks perfectly calm on the outside as he tells you everything he loves about you and asks if you’d do him the honor of letting him love you as you deserve to be loved.

Doesn’t know how to tie a tie (hence all the clip on ties) and he’ll ask you to tie it for him.

He is a Feminist™ and he will never look down on you or talk over you. He values your intelligence and your opinions and he’ll always ask for your advice. He doesn’t just consider you his girlfriend, you’re his partner in every aspect of his life and he will treat you with the respect you deserve.

He is protective but he respects your independence and won’t overstep his boundaries. He just wants to support you in any way he can.

He is your number 1 fan and will be the first person to encourage and support your hobbies. He is so proud of you and will definitely brag about you to everyone.

He loves your voice and asks you to sing to him every night. He likes to lay down in your lap and have to stroke his hair as you sing to him. It’s his favorite thing to do to relax, he’ll usually fall asleep after. (Please do this, he desperately needs the sleep)

(One time neither of you realized Leo was sleeping under Comte’s desk while you were singing to him and both of them ended up falling asleep. You only found him after you hesrd a loud thump under the desk.)

He is incredibly affectionate and he hugs you and kisses you on the forehead and tells you he loves you every time he sees you. Everyone teases him for it but he couldn’t care less. He’s so whipped for you and he wants you to constantly feel how much he loves you.

As the two designated Mom Friends, you guys become the mansion’s parents. Congratulations!! You’ve just adopted 11 kids so have fun with that! Arthur will definitely come to ask you stuff Comte would otherwise say no to because he knows you can convince “dear old daddy” to do anything.

Gentleman in the streets but he’s a freak in the sheets. He is utterly devoted to your pleasure as you are a goddess in his eyes. Secretly loves to be bossed around by you and tied up.

He is incredibly romantic and he will send you love letters. He’ll speak French to you in bed if you want too. He quite literally treats you like a princess.

Being the person he is, he’s well versed in many subjects and will patiently listen to all your theories and will even give you more information on any of the subjects your desired. He’ll even teach you alchemy if you ask him.

He’s traveled a lot and tells you about history from all the different times he’s visited Philippines. He would love to take you there if you want to see what it looked like in this time period! He loves learning about other cultures and can actually speak a bit of Tagalog.

Your wedding would be a big deal (like inviting royalty kind of big deal. After all they ARE Comte’s friends) and will have multiple events. You’ll have two wedding ceremonies (one of them is a typical french wedding and the other one is a Filipino wedding ceremony) and he will host a ball at Versailles for your reception. (You already KNOW Leo is gonna roast tf out of him in his best man speech)

Anyways you guys are adorable!! Please adopt me.

Hope you enjoyed!!💜

Here’s my Comte playlist!

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikemen vampire comte #ikevamp comte de saint germain #ikevamp comte #ikevamp comte x reader #ikevamp leonardo #ikevamp matchup

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adellovesrowan · 3 years

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#7 from Pre-Relationship, and #11 and #12 from Love for Axel and Rowan, please!! ✨

pre relationship

7. What would their lives be like if they had never met?

i answered this in a previous ask so im going to copy n paste !!

sad and empty as hell ig🙄 JK AJDJFNJS theyre a package deal i literally cant separate them hhh. rowans part makes me sadder tho bc he has lots of trouble making friends, while adel is much more sociable and can make other friends, tho none of them are as sweet tasting as being friends with rowan. if they had never come across adel in diagon alley, maybe theyll find another friend. its what he deserves at least, but its just not the same as being with adel !!

alternate answer: rowan gives up on friendship and focuses on school and being head kid and professor. adel is figuratively lost and doesnt know where to go, probably ends up losing her shit and got killed or smth thanks to cursed vault business

love

11. What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?

still into you by paramore well describes their slowburn mutual pining even after they have grown up as adults. their feelings for each other were always there, even when theyre separated for years without contact.

when she loved me by sarah mclachlan pinpoints the time in fifth year where adel was too busy with cursed vault business, unknowingly leaving rowan to deal with everything on their own. his breakup with bill, their best friend avoiding her, false and nasty rumors going around about her “attempt”, and missing adel in general. rowan wished they could go back to the times where she actually felt loved by adel.

12. What kind of nicknames do they call each other?

once theyre finally in a relationship, rowan stacks up on nicknames and pet names for adel !! ranging from simple ones like honey, sweetie, love, darling, dear, etc. to more embarrassing names like ma cherie, munchkins, and shortcake. adel meanwhile uses nicknames sparingly — sometimes she calls rowan angel and gorgeous, and when theyre alone she calls her sunshine.

#theyre sappy little shits oh my god #THANK U FOR ASKING !! these r very cutee🥺#rowan khanna #adel young #jacob's sibling #rowan x adel #rowan x mc #hphm #harry potter hogwarts mystery #asks #resident-curse-breaker #mine

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i-wanna-be-cute · 5 years

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ILY ALL AAAAA

SO FOR 200 FOLLOWERS, IM DOING A GIVEAWAY

just reblog and comment with the name of one of my ocs, and dm me if you want to know what one looks like. ill pick three winners. (it can also be of just you- comment ‘just me’ if you want that) FIRST PLACE: fully shaded pic of you and the oc/just you with background SECOND PLACE: fully shaded pic of you and oc/just you without background THIRD PLACE: flat color of you and the oc with/just you no background List of ocs is as follows: Chery Yanchery Vanila Pure Vanila Orang Dusty Orang Grap Fermented Grap Pech Bruised Pech Banan Peeled Banan Bluebery Shinebery Choclate Melted Choclate Blu Rasberry Bleeding Blu Rasberry Lmon Lmonade Raspberr Overripe Raspberr Blacberry Squished Blacberry Appl Bad Appl Watermlon Rotten Watermlon Mngo Broken Mngo Ciinamon Ciinamon Sticks Starrlight Mint Wiintergreen Honeyy Honeyycomb Cofffee Espressso Straberry Failed Straberry Stawberry Shortcake Strawberry Shotcake Maraschiino Casino Maraschiino

#SADADFSF I LOVE YALL #200 FOLLOWERS #???#I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS #fave #i just love yall sdasda #so much #<333333333

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plentyofpetticoat · 4 years

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Homecoming

Sometimes it bothered Felicity that it took her 22 years to find “home.” When she looked around, at her apartment, her job, and her friends, she saw everything that she ever wanted as a child. The town provided for her in a way that her family of origin could not (and did not care to do). It was difficult to chase away the feelings of jealousy that overcame her when someone would rave to her about their parents of their hometown and what a fantastic experience it all was to have that love and security right from the start.

However, when Felicity looked around and saw all of the good that surrounded her, she could take a deep breath and release all of the envy and regret that poisoned her mind. She was lucky to have found all that she did at such an early age. She had an incredible mentor, friends who showered her with love, and a place to call her own. All things considered, that was all she needed to live a happy and fulfilling life. If she wanted to plant her roots in Echo Village and never budge an inch, she could very well do that. The only person who had a say in the matter was Felicity herself.

However, that did not mean that other voices could not sway her.

Out of all of the residents of Echo Village, Felicity was by far the closest with Clement. He was more than just her mentor and employer; he was her lighthouse amid uncertain waters. Though his love for her was not exactly identical to that of a father’s, it still filled a void in Felicity’s life that had been there for as long as she could remember.

And like any good paternal-figure, he always made sure to make Felicity’s birthdays a very special occasion. The first year that she had lived in Echo, Clement bought her a brand new laptop and then hired a band to play at a special dinner party. The year after, he presented her with a three-tier cake and a gift certificate for a boutique in the city.

And as Felicity approached her 24th birthday, she found herself tapping her toes in giddy anticipation. She was not in the business of lying to herself- it felt amazing to be dotted on, especially by someone so admirable. So when Clement simply asked her to stay late at the restaurant on the night of her birthday, Felicity’s curiosity was piqued.

Once all the customers had left and the chairs were flipped up onto polished dining tables, Clement invited her back into the kitchen, where he had set up a smaller table with wine and two big servings of strawberry shortcake. Felicity approached the table, smiled wide, and thanked Clement for the gesture. After a long day on her feet, a relaxing evening with dessert and wine was just what the birthday girl needed.

As they sat, Felicity happily partook in the cake while Clement twirled his fork with a pensive expression. It was not until Felicity asked him what was on his mind that he spoke up.

“Felicity, do you want to go to Paris?”

Felicity scrunched her nose at him as she smiled. “Of course I do! What girl doesn’t want to go to Paris?”

Clement laughed, “That was not rhetorical, dear, it was a real question.”

At first, all Felicity could do was blink at him, unsure if she understood what he was saying. The question was so out of the blue that she had not considered it with any weight. Thus, she had to wait for him to venture further into the conversation so that she could organize her feelings.

“You are passionate about food, yes? Well there’s no better place than Paris to embrace that.” Clement spoke with such certainty that it was clear he had thought long and hard about his words. “I want you to experience that while you are still young, but it is entirely up to you.”

Again, Felicity just blinked at him. However, this time, her head was rushing with thoughts. While the man who sat across from her had become her mentor and dear companion, he was still Clement Delcroix, world-renowned chef who found his start in the heart of Paris. His presence in such a small, quiet town was out of the ordinary. He could have easily remained in France, charging twice as much money for half as much food. But the quaint life coaxed him to stay in Echo Village, only returning to his home country a few times out of the year to visit family.

What were the odds that he would end up sitting at a table with a gawking college drop-out, whose link to the incredible chef was a passion project in the form of an online blog? Clement selected her as his second-in-command strictly based on her passion for good food. He had not even known her name at the time of their first meeting, addressing his initial correspondence to “Ella Versailles.” And yet, somehow, this was where they ended up. Some higher power had thought Felicity worthy of this incredible gift.

With her heart racing, Felicity asked, “You want to send me to Paris?”

“Not permanently, dear.” Clement shook his head. “I would never want to dismiss the best waitress I have ever had, but I think now is the perfect time for you to take a trip and explore more of the culinary world.”

“How long, then?” Felicity’s hands were trembling under the weight of this prospective journey.

“Well, let me begin by saying I have more than one reason for wanting to send you there.” Clement stifled a laugh that did not erase the sincerity in his eyes. “My sister had a baby some months ago, and because that emmerdeur she married travels for work, she has been very stressed. She wants to get back to work, but cannot because of the baby.”

For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Felicity smiled, and she did so with a raised brow. “You’re hiring me out as an au pair?”

Clement laughed again. “I suppose that is one way to say it. My sister does not need full time care for the baby, just someone to look after her when she wants to get work done.”

“Where does she work?”

“Oh, on her farm.” Clement gave her a big smile. “She inherited the family home in Villiers-le-Bâcle, which is on a beautiful piece of farmland. Right now, she just keeps goats and chickens, but I know she wants to start her garden before the summer months. Having an extra pair of hands around the house would do wonders for her sanity. And you would be paid for your time, of course.”

Felicity nodded as Clement continued.

“The family home is gorgeous and the commune is a lovely place, but on your days off, you could explore the city. Oh, ma cherie, it is a sight to behold. No city on this earth compares.”

In the grandeur of Clement’s words, Felicity found her excitement. The man who had already given her more than any one person deserved was offering her the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. With Clement’s blessing, she could immerse herself in a culture that she had only ever admired from afar. The obligations paled in comparison to the opportunities that awaited her in a food lover’s paradise.

Her passionate “yes!!” should have come without reservation, but she was hindered by the questions that spilled from her lips.

She asked, “What will happen here?”

Clement answered, “I will hire a new waitress for the time being, but your position will be waiting for you when you return.”

She asked, “How long will I be gone?”

Clement answered, “Annie and I thought that six months would be a good length of time, but you certainly can stay longer or come home sooner if you so choose.”

She asked, “Will it be a problem that I don’t speak French?”

Clement answered, “Not at all, dear. Most of the restaurateurs are well prepared for tourists. But if you would like, I could teach you some basic phrases before you leave.”

She asked, “Do you think I’d be good at taking care of a baby?”

Clement answered, “It will take some getting used to, but you are a quick learner. I would not have brought up this possibility if I did not have complete faith in you.”

I have complete faith in you.

It was that string of words that finally pushed Felicity to give him a certain and enthusiastic “yes.”

Clement had offered to throw her a going away party, but Felicity preferred to keep her “goodbye’s” low-key and intimate. In her mind, it would help with the inevitable home-sickness. If her last moments with her friends were calm and fulfilling, she could look back to them with ease.

Besides, she did not want her last in-person words with her friends to be muddled by wine. The tears would be hard enough to power through without the hindrance of alcohol.

It was no secret that she was going to miss her home and all of the things that had become her “normal” over the course of three years. She would miss baking cookies with Tina just as much as she would miss prying her heels off of her swollen feet at the end of a particularly arduous shift. She would miss Niko’s stories and fresh tomatoes from Rachel and waving wildly across the town square every time that she saw Rod. Paris was going to have food and fun and mystery, but it would never be Echo Village, this much she knew for certain.

So she hugged all of her friends tight, promising to return with gifts and stories in due time. They all expressed their excitement alongside their sadness for her forthcoming and extended absence. Felicity tried to battle her tears by reminding herself that this was temporary, and that she would come back to the same town and all the same people.

Clement escorted her to the airport, quizzing her on French phrases in between sentiments of love. He told her that he was proud of her for taking this leap and that his family would be indebted to her for her gracious help.

At the airport, Clement gave her one final hug.

“I’m just one call away if you need me, dear.”

“I know. Thank you.” She tightened her grasp around his shoulders and smiled. “Je t'adore.”

Her final goodbye was accented with tears, which fell even as she and Clement went their separate ways. This distance was not permanent, but that did not make the sadness any less real.

And yet, as the plane lifted off the ground and into the future, Felicity considered herself lucky that she had a home that she could miss so dearly.

Felicity could have picked out Annie in a crowd of thousands as Clement’s sister. She was similar to him in every way that a brother and sister could be similar, from physical appearance to mannerisms (though she was about a foot shorter and Felicity needed to crane her neck down to look at her). Her accent was on the thicker side, but that did not stop her from showering Felicity in words of adoration once they were both in the family home.

“Goodness! What a beauty!” She had reached up to pinch one of Felicity’s cheeks. “Are you sure you should be a waitress? You look like you could be a model!”

Felicity blushed as she waved a hand across her cheeks. “I’m very happy as a waitress.”

“Still, Clement has you hidden away in that tiny town. Such a shame. You will certainly turn heads here.”

And as Annie went to go prepare a pot of tea, Felicity sat nervously on the edge of a kitchen chair. Were she not frazzled after the long flight, she would have engaged Annie in a joyful conversation or offered to help with the tea. But this was uncharted territory for her. She was out of her element in an unfamiliar house, a stone’s throw away from a city that had fifty five thousand times the people than her home that was miles and miles and miles away.

Her face drained itself of color, and Annie noticed this as she placed two teacups with steaming water on the table.

“Are you okay?”

Felicity cleared her throat before she replied, “Yes. Sorry... I’m just nervous.”

Annie hummed quietly as she took the seat across from Felicity. “There is no need to be nervous- you will fit in well here. Clement says that you are a very determined young woman.”

As she wrapped her shaking hands around the teacup, Felicity smiled. “Did he now?”

Annie nodded in confirmation, but then expressed her desire to know more about her new household help. She asked questions about Felicity’s hobbies and interests and favorite foods (although she never touched the subject of family, which Felicity figured was Clement’s doing). It was an easy conversation, but it eventually turned to a place that made Felicity anxious again.

“Do you have a boyfriend back home?” Annie asked with a coy smile.

Felicity instinctively bit down on her lower lip, though she had no clue why the question incited such an immediate reaction. Her stomach felt like a pit as she choked out a, “No, ma’am. No boyfriend.”

“Aw, such a shame.” Annie offered Felicity an exaggerated pout. “A pretty girl like you should have a gentleman at home waiting for her.”

Felicity could feel the red threatening to take over her whole complexion, so she waved a hand with more fervor than intended. “Well the dating scene isn’t so active in our little village.”

“I suppose…” Annie looked down into her teacup. “You know, after all this time, Clement still brushes me off every time I ask him about marriage. He always talked about having a family, but at this point, he’s going to need to accept being a… er… beau-père.” She paused. “You know! He could marry a woman with a child.”

Felicity laughed and used the mention of children to ask about Annie’s baby, who had been in the next room over, fast asleep in a bassinet. This allowed Annie to segue the conversation into her own home life. She recounted her daily routines, some of which would become Felicity’s obligation in her new role. None of it seemed particularly daunting; besides changing diapers and feeding, it was all things that Felicity had done before. By and large, Annie was just in need of an extra pair of hands. Now, Felicity was not Clement’s personal assistant, but she was no stranger to the more menial tasks that could be pawned off to someone in her position.

So that’s just what she did. After a few quick lessons, she began settling into her new role. It was difficult at first- the only baby who she had ever been around for more than five minutes was her sister’s daughter. But Clementine (who was named for her Uncle Clement, who was named for his mother Clemence) loved her naps, which gave Felicity ample time in the beginning to update her loyal following on her new whereabouts.

Hello all!

I have some very exciting news and I just could not wait to share it with you guys!!

As some of you may know, I recently celebrated my 24th birthday. Much to my surprise, my dear friend has sent me to Paris! I will be staying here for the next six months and I am so excited to explore the city, see the sights, and (most importantly) eat so! much! food!!

I know that this is not what many of you follow me for, but I hope you’ll stay with me through this journey. I’m going to be stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying things that I have never tried before. If you are more interested in my local reviews, they will be back soon! As much as I’m looking forward to my time in Paris, I’m still eager to return home at the end of all of this.

As always, thank you for supporting what I do. I am so excited to share my Parisian journey with all of you.

Until next time!

À bientôt!

Ella Versailles

And exactly one week from that update, Felicity took her first short journey into the grandeur of Paris. She had to constantly remind herself to take things slow. After all, she had six months to see all of the things that she wanted to see. Even still, it was difficult not to run around the city like a kid in a candy store, eyes bright with wonder. She was in a sea of tourists, awe-struck, giddy, and overwhelmed.

Then came the food, from the breakfast nooks and teeny cafes to the street food carts and high end venues, the ones that presented her with some of the most intricate dishes she had ever seen. At first, it was difficult for her to not feel self-conscious in such establishments, especially considering the fact that she was eating alone. But when she looked around, she saw swaths of people who were so absorbed in their own lives and partners. No one would look twice at her, so long as she was quiet and following the dress code.

On occasion, Felicity would look up from her plate at the empty chair across from her and wish that she had a dining companion. Someone who could agonize over what to order… someone whose wine glass she could clink against her own. Making friends in a foreign country was proving to be a difficult task, especially considering the common language barrier. Annie was great company, but stayed firmly on her farm. And while Felicity kept in contact with her friends back home, it did not entirely make up for their lack of physical presence.

Her homesickness came to her in many different ways. It hit her when she read the morning newspaper and when she stopped to pet a particularly excitable dog on the street. Clement promised her that Echo Village would not be changing anytime soon, and that she would come back to something so familiar in due time. That was the saving grace that propelled Felicity through her difficult times…

… until a single email, three months into her journey, threw a wrench in her gears.

It came to her one evening as she was rolling her hair into curlers. She was used to the constant notifications from her phone, whether they were texts from Tina or notes from her publisher. However, this one was from an unfamiliar address, so Felicity opened it up with an edge of anxiety, a feeling that only increased as she read.

Hello Ms Versailles,

I hope that this finds you well and that you are enjoying your time in Paris.

I am contacting you on behalf of Ambulant Fille, a brand new travelling resource for women who are seeking unique travelling experiences that they cannot get anywhere else. Our team has been following your journey with Curls and Croissants and we absolutely love how passionate you are about good food! Because of this, we wanted to reach out to you to discuss a possible career opportunity with our company.

As soon as she finished reading through that first paragraph, Felicity felt like she could not breathe. The email went on for several more paragraphs. It outlined the structure, mission statement, and ultimate goals of the company. They exclusively hired women in hopes that it was the best way to reach and connect with their target audience. Then, they detailed just why they wanted “Ella” on their team. Just as Clement had done countless times, they applauded her passion. Their top criteria for their prospective “culinary correspondent” was just to simply love food. They wanted to trust this person and their opinions, as those would be broadcast to women across the world who were looking for the best Parisian experience as possible.

They concluded the email by essentially saying that the position was Felicity’s to lose, and that they were eagerly looking forward to her response.

Less than ten seconds after she read the final line, Felicity was on the phone with Clement. She frantically summarized the email to him, nearly forgetting to breathe between each sentence. She could hardly believe the words that were spilling out of her lips. It was surreal. It was strange. It did not make sense!!

Once Clement had the opportunity, he spoke to Felicity with a smile that she could hear. “That’s wonderful, dear! You have certainly earned this.”

“Well should I take it?” Felicity had to resist the urge to bite her nails down to stubs.

“Do you want to take it?”

“I don’t know!!” Felicity spoke into her fist. “I-I… haven’t thought about it yet.”

“Well,” Clement replied, “I suggest that you meet with them. Learn about the company. Ask a lot of questions. This is a big decision, so you should feel confident about your answer, one way or another.”

Felicity paused and pursed her lips. She had to give herself some time to process this new information, or else she would drive herself mad. The email did not give her the whole story, and she would benefit from an open conversation with the people who could quite possibly change her life. And as much as this prospect shook her to her core, she owed it to herself to give it a shot.

So Felicity wished Clement good night and took a sleeping pill, figuring that it was the only way that she would find any semblance of rest. And when she woke, she graciously replied to the email, stating that she would be more than happy to meet with the company.

They settled on a time the following week to meet at one of the cafe’s that “Ella” had given a raving review. There, Felicity sat across from two older women, both of whom spoke to her with reverence. This was not an interview, it was a job offer accented with fancy tea and pastries.

When they told Felicity that the job would require her to live in Paris, she had prematurely made up her mind to tell them “no.” There was no way that she could cast aside her roots in Echo Village just like that. She was not willing to leave Clement and Tina and Rod and so many others behind for a fancy new job… even if it had been her dream job for so many years.

Felicity could barely stomach her tea as she listened to the rest of their pitch, nervous about having to reject such an incredible offer.

However, her mood completely shifted when one of the women described what the position would ask of her.

“We would request that you live here for, say, four to six months. During that time, you will produce three to five reviews per week.”

The other woman continued, “We are looking to create a backlog of content that we will publish over time. Right now, our goal is to publish once per week. You would be responsible for two reviews for each issue, one for a high-end establishment and one that is more casual. There are over forty-four thousand restaurants here in the city, so you will never run out of places to try. And all of the food will be compensated, of course.”

Felicity’s jaw dropped. They went on to list other benefits and her stipend and all the while, she just stared. This did not feel real. How could this fortune have possibly fallen into her lap just like that? This was the sort of work that her colleagues and connections would dream about night after night. And there Felicity was, getting handed this opportunity on a silver platter.

Did she deserve it? Did it matter whether or not she deserved it? No. No it did not. All that mattered was Felicity’s answer, which she gave with a wide, excited smile.

“I would love to work with you!”

Felicity fulfilled her initial obligation and stayed three more months on Annie’s farm. And even as time ticked on, the turn of this journey did not feel real. It was nerve-wracking, having such a huge thing waiting for her on the other end of her first six months in Paris. She agonized over the quality of her writing and the impact of her words. Her reviews would be read by thousands of women, and Felicity felt wholly responsible for their culinary experience.

This was the first hurdle that she had to jump over in her new position. Every time that she sent a piece out for publishing, she wanted to beg for it back, just so that she could read it another five thousand times and make sure that it was as perfect as she could humanly manage. But this work that she was doing was so different than anything that she had ever experienced. Back home, her work was laidback and intimate. For the most part, she did everything on her own schedule and paid for her own meals. Curls and Croissants had never been particularly lucrative, and she was content with that. After all, she loved to write. The passion that she had for food also found its way onto her keyboard and motivated her to put out her best work.

It took three months for that passion to all but evaporate from Felicity’s life.

Writing on a schedule was stressful in a completely unique way. It was like she had an ever-present weight on her shoulders that would nag at her every single moment that she was away from her laptop.

Why aren’t you writing, Felicity? If you wait much longer, you’ll have to rush to meet the deadline. Then, your quality will drop and they won’t want you anymore.

Felicity didn’t want all of this time and effort to be in vain. She could not imagine the shame that would consume her if she were to give up halfway through. The last thing that she wanted to do was let anyone down, least of all Clement, who had put so much faith in her already. She had to see this through until the very end, no matter how bogged down or discouraged she got.

The following three months dragged on and on and on. Felicity spent so many stressful minutes staring blankly out of her tiny apartment window, missing the festivals and community and restful ways of Echo. Her contact with anyone other than Clement dropped off severely. If she was chatting on the phone, then she was not working, and if she was not working, she did not deserve to be there. All she could do was cross off the passing days on her calendar and beg the universe to hurry the hell up!!!

April approached slowly but surely. In the end, Felicity had produced over 120 reviews for the travelling company, keeping them stocked for quite some time. That was what gave Felicity peace as she all but sprinted out of her final meeting. Her luggage was already packed and her ride was already arranged. The sooner she got home, the better. She could hardly bear the sight of the Eiffel Tower anymore. By now, 364 days later, it was just an eyesore that reminded her of how far away from home she was.

But with every minute that passed on the plane ride, she felt her spirit lift. She was going home.

Felicity took the train in from the city to Echo- it was eight in the morning when she landed and she did not want to take Clement away from his meticulous daily preparations for too long.

She did not exactly look like the picture of grace. Her hair was wrangled into a bun, with her dark brown roots making an appearance (bleaching and dyeing her hair did not fit the criteria of a “necessary task”). Her sweater and leggings were wrinkled from her long journey, but she could not be bothered to change them. She was so, so tired. As soon as her feet hit the ground, all she wanted to do was sit with Clement and drink fifty cups of coffee.

Over the previous year, Felicity had forgotten what Echo smelled like in the spring. From her first steps in the town, she was embraced with a mixture of cut grass, newly blossomed marguerites, and freshly baked bread. Felicity made a beeline for the source of that last scent, her luggage bouncing behind her on the dirt roads.

She threw open the door to Chez Clement and shouted, “Bonjour!!!”

There was a clamoring from back in the kitchen before Clement rushed out to greet Felicity, immediately smothering her in a hug.

“Oh, thank heavens!! My angel is back!!” He planted a kiss on her cheek before holding her at arm’s length. “I’ve missed you so much!”

Felicity laughed away the tears that threatened to spill. “Is that so?”

“These other girls… they have no fire.” Clement shook his head with a frown. “Everyone has missed your passion. They will be thrilled to see you back.”

Felicity took a long breath and smiled at her boss. This one expression of gratitude did not completely fix her beaten down spirit, but it certainly felt good to hear those words.

Still, she had to take a step back and address him honestly.

“Is it alright if I wait a day or two? At least until I’m all settled back in?”

“Oh, of course, of course!” Clement nodded and then gestured for her to sit at one of the nearby tables. “Let me get you coffee.”

As she sat down with a huff, she thanked Clement. He read her mind (and would likely return with some form of pastry as well) and put her in the right mindset to face the rest of her day. She had given a heads up to her friends that today was the day that she was returning (Tina was given a more detailed heads up, as Felicity was going to be living with her for the time being after giving up her room at the inn), but she did not know best how to approach seeing all of them.

So Felicity took another deep breath and looked out the window. Something was stirring in her heart… something that she could not name. Was it nerves? Was it excitement?

…

Well, whatever it was, she hoped that it would fade and that she could return to the life that she had missed so dearly. That was all that she wanted.

#whew

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sl-shopomania · 5 years

Photo

Hello everyone! Now I have Legacy body and I really like it! So this post contains all the items that are compatible with this body too! I hope you like it!

Look #245

Necklace | LaGyo - Ankh Set (Fameshed jul) Nails | Ascendant - Nautical Love Bento Nails (Anthem event jul) Bikini top | Mon Cheri - Flor Bikini (Uber jun- until jul 22th) Skirt | SPIRIT - Kit outfit (Uber jun- until jul 22th) Slides | .miss chelsea. - kato slides (Uber jun- until jul 22th)

Pose by me

Balcony | MINIMAL - Paris Views Scene Palm | LITTLE BRANCH - Caribbean Palm (Uber jun- until jul 22th) Armchair & Table | Fancy Decor - Hampton Collection Decor bowl | Fancy Decor - Nannerl Collection Watermelon | [ Focus Poses ] from Feeling Tropical Vol.2 set Blueberries | taikou from strawberry shortcake set Cocktails | Dust bunny - watermelon vibes (Fameshed jul)

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cheri-translates · 3 years

Text

Headcanon - Your son isn’t cute at all

Original title: 儿子一点都不可爱

Original author: 君兮耶君兮 (jun xi ye jun xi)

[ VICTOR ]

You’re certain that the strength of Victor’s genes resulted in that little guy at home being an exact replica of him. Even Victor can’t deny that your son resembles him greatly in terms of appearance.

However, this doesn’t mean he acknowledges the resemblance of their personalities. At the very least, he feels that he wasn’t as studious during his childhood years.

Furthermore, Victor has half-jokingly pointed out that your son’s dislike for exercise is exactly the same as his mother’s.

“Victor, your son is bullying me again!”

Although your opponent is a little brat, you’re still unable to win. In this short round of Go, your white pieces have more or less been “eaten” by your son’s black pieces.

“Dummy. Don’t blame your son if your skills can’t match up to his.” Victor sets down the documents in his hand, walking over to observe.

Is this something he should be saying in front of the kid!? What about your dignity as a mother?

You turn around with a glare. “You were the one who taught me how to play Go. My teacher didn’t teach me properly!”

In the past, you’d typically respond to Victor’s remarks with a stubborn retort. Nowadays, you simply toss the bucket to someone else.

“If you make that move, you’d be sending yourself straight to a loss,” Victor comments, seeing that you’re once again putting a white piece where it’d definitely be “eaten”.

“Who says that I’m making that move?” You flick your wrist, salvaging the fate of the white piece, along with your pride. With a dignified air, you continue. “A true gentleman keeps silent while watching a game.”

“Mom, putting your piece here isn’t any different from the other spot.” Your son notes expressionlessly. With a thud of his black piece, he is only one move away from “eating” your white piece.

“...”

Despite the truth in his words, being ridiculed by your son truly upsets you. “We’ll continue. What happened earlier was a tiny mistake.”

In the following rounds, your white pieces grow sparse on the board while Victor observes the mother-son battle calmly. Or rather, watching as you get obliterated by your son.

Wanting to prolong the competition despite the lack of prospects, you courageously seek Victor’s assistance. “Hubby, help me out!”

Ignoring his son’s awkward expression, Victor rubs your head in a comforting manner. Picking up a piece and placing it onto the board, he instantly rescues several white pieces from a tragic ending. “Next time, give your Mom a chance. You need to give some confidence to opponents who are weaker than you.”

Your son nods in half-understanding.

“...”

Victor, don’t think I can’t tell that you’re calling me a noob!

[ GAVIN ]

Just as you wished, you had a son. However, there are times when you really think your son isn’t cute at all!

Your son watches you sternly, hands on his hips.

“Mommy, Dad said that you can’t eat ice-cream these days.”

“Be good. If you don’t say anything, your dad won’t find out. Also, I’m not the only one eating. You can have one too~” You attempt to bribe the little fellow who is utterly loyal to Gavin.

He rejects your suggestion decisively. “No way. Dad will get angry.”

This so-called anger is simply Gavin displaying a cold expression momentarily. Away from his son’s gaze, you’d play coy and Gavin would release a sigh of resignation before gently reminding you not to commit this offence again. To you, this isn’t a deterrence factor at all.

Since your son can’t find out about this little secret, you huff while returning the ice-cream into the fridge. Then, you grab a bag of spicy sticks from the snack basket.

Before your fingers touch the jagged edges of the opening, your son stops you.

“Mom, no spicy sticks either.”

“...”

It truly isn't a good feeling to be ordered around by a child.

Bored out of your wits, you bury yourself in the sofa, watching as your son stuffs the packet of spicy sticks back into the snack basket. “What other things did your dad prohibit?”

Your son tilts his head as he recalls. “Aside from ice-cream, mala soup, snacks, fried chicken, there’s nothing else.”

“...”

And he called that “nothing”!?

With the loss of snacks, you feel like your entire life has turned dim and gloomy. You get up coldly before walking into the bedroom listlessly. “I’ll take a nap. When your dad gets back, tell him to face the corner and stay there.”

Your son obediently agrees.

Close to dinnertime, your honourable husband returns home. Even before he removes his shoes, his son calls out to him. “Mom asked you to stand at the corner.” The little rascal gloats slightly.

“???”

Gavin is left dumbfounded, and has no idea what he did to anger you. “Where is she?”

“She’s asleep.”

After standing at the corner for ten minutes, there’s no stirring from the bedroom. Gavin pokes his son, who is sitting at the entrance and reading a book. “Go and check if your mom has woken up.”

“Nope.” Your son refuses instantly.

“Why not?”

“Mom said that if I supervise you until she wakes up herself, she’d buy me the latest model aeroplane.” The little child’s eyes brim with anticipation at the thought of the new toy.

“...”

So he abandoned his father for a new model aeroplane?

[ LUCIEN ]

“Mom, do you really not know how to do this question? Dad said that this question is very simple.” Your son looks up with a frown, only to see your frustrated expression as you rip up a sheet of rough paper.

“...don’t listen to your dad’s nonsense.”

The way Professor Lucien defines the word “simple” is completely different from ordinary people, all right?!

“Dad won’t lie to me. Mom can’t do it because she’s too stupid!”

Ever since the little fellow followed Lucien to the research centre, his admiration for his father has risen by another degree.

Having your self-esteem trampled upon, you toss the pen aside. “Why don’t you ask your dad then? I’m done with this!”

Isn’t making cream puffs more enjoyable than solving problems? Why should you continue torturing yourself?

“...”

The little rascal pinches the booklet and heads into the study room. “Dad, I think I made Mom angry.”

“What happened?” You rarely lose your temper in front of the child.

His son shows him the question in the booklet. “Mom couldn’t solve it, so I called her stupid.”

“Apologise to your mother!” Lucien thinks that aside from him, nobody else can bully his Little Miss. Not even his son.

“Okay.” Your son responds obediently before going downstairs.

By the time Lucien finishes his work and heads into the kitchen, he spots you stuffing a cream puff into your son’s mouth. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Next time, just ask your dad directly if you have any math questions.”

“All right.” The little rascal’s puffy cheeks resemble a hamster’s. When he sees Lucien arriving, he returns to his room to read books, giving the both of you space.

Amused by the mother-son interaction, Lucien waits till his son leaves before entering the kitchen and reaching out for a cream puff. Before he can even touch one, you whack his hand away.

“Hm? It seems that my wife is angry with me too?” Lucien wraps an arm around your waist and nuzzles his head into the crook of your neck. Even though he’s exerting very little force, you're still unable to free yourself.

“I’m so sorry that I can’t do a question which, according to Professor Lucien, is very simple.” While he continues hugging you, you transfer the cream puffs from the baking tray onto a small plate.

“That’s okay. Having one adult who can teach him is enough.”

You pout. “Your son called me stupid earlier.”

“Nonsense.” Lucien gives you a tap on the head. “My wife is the smartest. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken so long for me to win you over.”

Lucien’s sweet nothings are becoming smoother and smoother. Pushing him away with your elbow, you pick up the small plate. “Go and give the cream puffs to our son.”

Initially thinking that the plate was meant for him, Lucien is stunned momentarily. His son had a cream puff personally fed to him, while he hasn’t even managed to touch a cream puff. “What about mine?”

You release an icy “hmph”.

“Considering Professor Lucien’s high IQ, I’m sure he can make them himself. I want to give these to my son, who is also unable to solve that problem.”

“...”

Why does he have to bear the consequences when his son was the one who angered you?

[ KIRO ]

“I’m back~”

You’ve just returned from a business trip which swept you overseas for close to a month, and it’s been a long time since you saw the two suns in your home.

“Mommy! Welcome home!”

“Miss Chips! Welcome home!”

The father-son duo exclaim unanimously, rushing over to the door with their similar faces and equally dazzling golden hair.

Your adorable son stumbles over to you, and you respond by squatting down and stretching your hands to give him a full hug. The little fellow tightens his grip around your neck to express his joy and how much he missed you.

Apple Box leaps around beside you to convey his welcome, and you can’t help but reach out to give him a pat on his fluffy head. In the time you weren’t around, he had put on quite a bit of weight.

The small entrance hall brims with a warm atmosphere... aside from Kiro.

At this moment, Kiro feels that his position in the home has deteriorated, and he shoots a killer glare towards your coquettish son and Apple Box, who weren’t sidelined by you.

“Miss Chips, did you not miss me... QAQ”

Despite the passage of time, Kiro, who has even become a father, seems to have become more childish.

You purse your lips. “Who said so? I missed you very much.”

“But you hugged him first and even patted Apple Box. You didn’t give me a hug.” The more he talks about it, the more insignificant he feels.

“Dad, you’re so heavy. Mom won’t be able to carry you.” Your son rubs salt into his wound.

Sure enough, Kiro gets offended by this. With a darkened expression, he pulls his son away from your arms, lifting him into the air. “Say that again!”

The little rascal struggles for a while before escaping from his grasp, then buries himself into your arms again. “Mommy, I drew you a picture!” With this, he sends Kiro a competitive glance.

Amused by the usual competition between father and son, you feed off your son’s excitement. “Really? My darling is incredible!”

“I’m incredible too!” Kiro is deathly afraid of falling behind. “Go away.” He pulls his son away from you once again. His left hand reaches behind your knees, and he bends down to carry you up. When he feels your hands tightening around his neck, he lets out a satisfied “hmph”.

“I can pick your Mom up in a princess carry. Can you?”

“Once I’ve grown up, I can do it too!” Your son gives him a glance of disdain. “Also, you’d be old by the time I grow up. I’d also be more handsome than you. Mommy will definitely like me more~”

“Looks like you need a spanking!” Kiro places you down before reaching for his son.

“Kiro, you’re not allowed to hit our son!” You hurriedly stop him before he can do anything.

“He was challenging my authority as his father.”

You tousle his hair in a comforting manner. “Be good. Actually, our son wasn’t wrong. When you’re old, you’d...”

“Miss Chips!”

“When you’re old, you’d still be handsome!” You chuckle gently, tugging him on the sleeve to make him bend down slightly. A sweet kiss lands on the side of his face. “Superheroes are the most handsome~”

[ SHAW ]

“Don’t make a mess out of our house!”

The moment you see the unsalvageable mess on the coffee table, the only thought that runs through your mind is sending this troublemaker back to the oven to be re-made.

“Dad said that an overly neat doesn’t have a homely feeling.” Your son tilts his head upwards confidently, continuing with his work on hand.

“So why are you doodling on the wall?”

The originally pure white wall has been morphed beyond recognition. And why does the style of this abstract art look so familiar?

Your son wipes his hands on a damp cloth at the side, then picks up a crayon. “Dad said that aesthetic sense must be picked up since young.”

Seeing the patches of postmodern art on the wall causes your blood to boil. “Can’t you use paper?”

As compared to your frantic state, your son is much more composed. “Dad said that I should strike while the iron’s hot when it comes to being inspired. I didn’t have time to find paper, so I drew on the wall.”

No matter what, you have to find the main culprit.

“Shaw, get over here!” Your twist your head and roar towards the living room.

“Did you allow him to draw on the walls?” You glare at him fiercely, causing his initial “yes” to quickly turn into a “I did not.”

Your son lifts his head in confusion. “Dad, didn’t you say that I should draw wherever I wanted to? You even said a child’s talent shouldn’t be stifled.”

“...”

With a grim laugh, you toss him a rag. “Since you allowed him to do it, you’ll be the one to clean up.”

“...son, use paper next time. Don’t draw on the walls.” Shaw finds a smaller rag and hands it to his son. The both of them begin wiping off the colourful traces on the wall pitifully, wishing they could travel back in time to stop this from happening in the first place.

Sitting on your son’s small bed while scrolling through your phone, you occasionally look up to supervise their progress.

Once they’re more or less done, your son suddenly pipes up.

“When can we head out to do graffiti?”

“Graffiti?” Why weren’t you aware of such plans?

“...”

Shaw has a bad feeling about this.

“Shaw. Explain.”

“It’s just... nurturing his artistic side...” His voice dies off at the end.

“Okay. Right now, I’ll be nurturing his mathematical side. Stand at the corner of the wall and count from one to a thousand.”

After tidying your son’s bed, you head out to pour yourself a cup of water.

Shaw tosses a sympathetic glance at his son. “Every man for himself.”

“As his father, you’ll keep him company.”