Summary: When you express to Leonardo that you’re not a huge fan of your stretch marks, he shares his perspective on the matter.
“What’s the pout for, belleza?” Leonardo quirked an eyebrow as you examined yourself in the mirror, having recently taken a dip in La Thermae. You sheepishly hugged your towel tighter around yourself, shaking your head.
“Nothing, really. Just thinking.” Your eyes didn’t leave the mirror, like you were making eye contact with a girl who was equally unconvinced by ‘nothing’ as Leonardo was.
“You wanna tell me what you’re thinking now or do I have to get it out of you myself?” He dropped the book he was leafing through and sat forward.
“…Leonardo, I’m going to ask you something, and please be honest with me.” You turned back to face him as his face took on a serious expression.
“I’m listening.” His voice was low and you paused, before slightly lifting the towel to show the stretch marks that adorned your skin on your hips.
“These…I don’t like them at all. They make me feel…ugly. Leonardo, do you thi-” Big strong arms enveloped your frame as he appeared behind you in the mirror.
“Don’t even ask me if I think they’re ugly, cara mia.” Leonardo wrapped an arm around your waist and with his free hand took hold of the towel where your hand was.
“But I just-”
“You like paintings don’t you? And all the pretty techniques involved?” You nodded, now looking at his reflection before you instead of your own.
“Mhm. Have you ever heard of Scumbling? It’s a technique that’s been used for a while now. The strokes are layered in such a way that the colours of the painting look broken or speckled, like these…” His fingers traced lightly over your skin as you dropped your gaze.
“Someone up there spent a lot of time on my beautiful cara mia. Be it Venus or Apollo, someone seems to have perfected their scumbling to make these precious little strokes, hmm?” Not taking his eyes off of you, he cupped his hand over your hip and gave it a loving squeeze.
“I’m and old man, Y/N. I’ve been around for a long long time. I’ve seen more works of art than you can imagine, enough paintings to fill the Louvre a thousand times over. Do you want to know something, micetta?” His chin rested on your shoulder and he nudged your face forwards again.
“Of all of those artworks whipped up by geniuses and the like, I’ve never been more in love with any of them than the one I see in front of me. You see a flaw, I see details. And all of these details make up the only thing that’s ever truly taken my breath away.” Leonardo’s golden eyes were still piercing you with that knowing gaze. Not able to resist the smile that overcame you, you laid your head against his and finally glanced back up.
Your cheeks were warm by now as you let your hand rest on top of his, interlocking your fingers with his own.
“I never looked at it that way. When did you get so wise, huh?” You grinned at him as he gave you a squeeze.
“I’m not all that wise, but I know masterpiece when I see one. But don’t worry, I’m not going to let anyone stick you up on a wall in some stuffy old museum.” Leonardo chuckled.
“Well I appreciate that a lot, and I appreciate what you said. You know, about the…”
“Scumbling? Yeah, just don’t go showing these off to anyone else. If they see how beautiful this painting is they might try to steal it right from under my nose. Everything under this towel is mine alone, cara mia.” Your eyes widened as your cheeks grew hot again, his hand squeezing your hip. Leonardo shot you a wink in the mirror and you nodded quickly, earning you a kiss on the shoulder before he released you.
“Good girl. Now, let’s get something pretty on you and we’ll go get dinner, okay?” Your hand remained on your side for a moment even though his own was gone. Put it down to experience from his 'long long’ life, but Leonardo Da Vinci always found a way to change your perspective, to nurture the seeds of doubt in your mind into beautiful blooms. It might take a little while, but you were on your way to loving your scumbling as much as he did.
My cara mia hasn’t changed a bit in all this time. On the inside, that is. She doesn’t look the same as she used to, but she still looks like herself, see? Still beautiful. She walks a lot slower now, but I don’t mind at all. She grips my hand with all the might she has left, and I stay by her side. Her mind isn’t quite as sharp as it once was, memories coming to her with difficulty, and it kills me, but I smile like it doesn’t. I know my cara mia doesn’t have much time left but I promised her a lifetime of smiles and what precious life she has will be overflowing with my fulfillment of that promise.
What do I do when she’s gone? When I can’t smell her perfume or hear her voice? When I wake up to her side of the bed and find it empty and cold? Questions I don’t want the answers to, but the answers will catch up to me. We’ve been through a lot together, my beautiful cara mia and I, lotta adventures. Even as the days passed and her hair grew white, wrinkles appearing around those dazzling eyes of hers, she never stopped being herself. Grinning all the time and getting herself into trouble. There isn’t a woman like her on this Earth and there never will be again, eternity will be lonely without her but an old timer like me couldn’t love again. On the day I lay my beautiful lover to rest, I’ll be burying my heart with her. I know she’ll guard it for the rest of time, she’s a good woman like that. Keep my heart warm for me will you, dolcezza?
Hide and Seek - Leonardo Da Vinci x Reader (Fluff!)
°•.°•.°•.°•.°•.°•.°•.°•.°•.
(Takes place in the first few days of his route, enjoy!)
Relentless. If anyone were to ask you how you would describe Leonardo Da Vinci, famed painter of the Mona Lisa and sleepiest resident of Le Casa de Comte, it would be that word. Of course you could also describe him as a masterminded draughtsman, theorist, sculptor, architect or engineer, but relentless fit your personal experience with the vampire aptly. Your stay so far had been peaceful yet you couldn’t help but feel a sense of loneliness and longing for your own home in your own time. When chores and work didn’t quite keep the mournful feelings at bay, unbeknownst to you, a simple plan had been formulated by a certain golden eyed immortal.
…
“Will you leave me alone already? You took me out yesterday Leonardo, I’m busy!! No more games!” You barked at the man following behind you at a leisurely pace, grinning as he lit his cigarillo.
“No more games, you say? Well that’s no fun. Why don’t you stop mewing at me and just give up already, cara mia?” You sped up, breaking into a run and turning the corner as your feet pounded on the floor with determination. Leonardo shook his head in amusement, taking the cigarillo between his smiling lips and stuffing his hands into his pockets. He was relentless and you were predictable, and he’d already begun writing a list of predictions about your next move in his head.
Minutes later you had managed to securely conceal yourself in the garden shed, peeking out the window every few seconds to assure he wasn’t closing in on your hiding spot. The shed was full of weathered garden tools and the like, there was no way he’d ever think to look for you in there. Or so you thought.
“For someone who’s supposed to be a genius polymath, you sure do suck at hide and seek!” You stifled your laughter, not wanting to spoil your triumph by giving yourself away but when you spotted a familiar figure strolling over the grass towards your hideout, you realised you’d already been had.
“No-!” In quickly ducking away from the window and hoping you weren’t too late, you managed to knock over a shovel that went sprawling onto the floor, taking a rake down with it with a loud clatter. Your eyes were wide with panic as they darted around the small shed, looking for a last resort. A few polite knocks on the shed door stirred something akin to excitement mixed with anticipation within you.
“Anybody home? I heard a commotion coming from this shed right here.” His voice was slightly muffled through the wooden walls but you knew it all too well. Leonardo Da Vinci. The vampire circled the shed to get to the window, your previous lookout spot. He cupped his hands like binoculars to peer into the slightly dirtied glass as you crouched just beneath it, heart pounding in your chest. Give up the search already, stop looking!
“I know you’re in there, little lamb. It’s not polite to turn away a guest.” He laughed before finally unlatching the door and inviting himself inside.
“This is too easy, cara mia.”
“I told you to go away!” Grabbing the fallen shovel, you held it out in front of you and adopted the meanest look you could muster, which only made him erupt into a fit of laughter. Running a gloved hand through his hair, he gazed at you fondly.
“And I told you, not until I get you to smile! So what will it be, runaway?” You almost smiled at that but you managed to hold back, you were enjoying the chase as much as he was.
“You know my answer, please don’t grab me again”
Reaching for your shovel earned him a defensive jab and he sighed.
“Don’t say I didn’t try the gentle approach, cara mia.” Yanking the shovel and in turn, yourself, towards him, Leonardo caught you in his arms and threw you over his shoulder in a matter of seconds.
“Get off of me!! Comte, help me! Sebastian!” You called out to the pair that were on the other end of the garden as Sebastian served Le Comte some tea. Leonardo ducked out of the shed with you on his shoulder and didn’t flinch as you continued to wriggle and kick.
“Don’t be late for dinner, you two.” Sebastian called out as Comte waved you off amusedly. Leonardo halted and turn around to face the pair that were now a lot more distant as you gave your escape one last try.
“Cook something light, Sebas. I’m taking the little runaway out to be a cake tester with me for the day.” With a cheeky salute, he spun on his boot heel and continued strolling to the house.
“Cake testing? That’s what you’re kidnapping me for?” You asked, finally giving up and melting slightly at how gentle he was being with you still.
“Got any objections to that, cara mia?” You relaxed and rolled your eyes with a giggle. His sweet scent mixed with the cigarillo smoke made you feel at ease.
“Would it matter if I did?”
“Not really. Now, don’t get too covered in frosting that I can’t see that smile, got it?” Leonardo chuckled and gave your leg a squeeze and your heart jumped, face feeling warm.
“O-Okay, sure…” Your hands clutched his jacket as he let out another puff of smoke.
a/n: Remember when Leonardo’s family was a major obstacle in his route? Me neither! So now they’re a problem. It’s about time we brought it up with Leo. Different from my usual, which is all about the ✨ UwUs ✨ but I thought I’d give it a shot hehe. Inspired by @xxsycamore’s and @chaosangel767’sBe My Valentine, Prompt Feb. 14: “No matter what anyone says, you’re perfect for me.”
The tall windows of the mansion hallway illuminated your anxious figure outside Leonardo’s room. You stood face-to-face with the door that kept you away from your beloved, consciously aware of the passage of time while you remained indecisive.
Earlier today, the topic of marriage was brought up between you, Leonardo, and le Comte. Up until that point, you hadn’t felt the weight of the topic until you stepped away from the conversation. You and Leonardo were a couple for over a year now and even promised to spend your lives together, despite how different your lifespans were. ‘Naturally, The next stepwould be marriage then, is it not?’ you thought.
“Let’s get married,” he said.
The confidence with which he spoke touched your heart and made it swell with joy. But there was a great looming shadow behind this decision. Getting engaged to Leonardo, a pureblood vampire, meant that you would have a big red target on your back aimed by his family.
[⚜️IkeVamp⚜️ Scenario/Headcanon] Reactions to Reader Calling Them Cute
Napoleon
He sort of blinks first.
“Cute? You think I’m cute?”
He then smirks at you and lifts your face by your chin before you can confirm that that is indeed what you think.
“Are you sure you want to begin this game right now?”
Expect an avalanche of kisses.
“There, touché~. Oh and by the way, you’re cute too~”
Mozart
Cue him giving you the side glare.
“Are you saying this because you want something out of me?”
When you say you aren’t, he just makes a “tch” noise and gets back to writing his new music.
But of course you don’t miss the soft pink coloring his cheeks.
Leonardo
He smirks at you.
“Hmm~? Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”
He pulls you in his lap and snuggles you, making you flustered.
“May I remind you how adorable YOU are~?”
He teases you with compliments, making you blush at every word.
Vincent
His eyes widen a bit and he smiles.
“Aww thank you~ So are you! Adorable even~!”
He then gives you a smile that’s brighter than a thousand suns.
You literally feel love and positivity radiate from him.
He also pinches your cheek gently, and chuckles when you blush.
Theo
He raises an eyebrow at you.
“Hm? Cute? I’m not the dog here.”
He follows that up by poking your cheek.
“What do you want from me, a treat? Is that why you’re showering me with flattery?”
He follows that up with a boyish smirk that makes you melt.
Before you can say anything, he sweeps you in his arms and takes you to the bedroom where the cuddles commence.
Arthur
Arthur gives you that somewhat unreadable gaze.
And then makes you practically almost swoon by following that up with a charming smirk.
“My my~ Is the little bird trying to serenade me with her song~?”
Yes, yes you are trying to serenade him with your song.
What happens after this is all up to you~ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Isaac
He almost chokes on his applepie
“W-WhAT?!”
You’re almost scared by his outburst but then begin to laugh, repeating yourself.
He calms down a bit.
“O-Oh. W-Well… thank you I guess.”
He remains red faced for hours and, unfortunately, is the subject of teasing during the entire time.
Dazai
His initial reaction is similar to Napoleon’s where he just blinks at you.
But he follows that up with this adorable playful grin.
“Why, aren’t you a flatterer~?”
He then embraces you.
“But I think you’re the cutest one here~ And I want to prove it to you.”
He proceeds to tickle you mercilessly, enjoying your laughter while chuckling at the cute scene.
⚔️ Jean
His eyes widen in shock at your words.
Like, he actually felt time stop for a split second.
“I’m… what…?”
You repeat yourself and he says, “Mademoiselle… why do you say such things?”
You can sense the disbelief in his tone and explain, insisting that you mean what you say.
It takes some time to convince him, and you feel at ease when, despite the long silence, he nods, a faint blush on his cheeks.
“I… hm. Thank you, (Name).”
⏳ Comte
He has a slight look of surprise at first, but follows it up with a smile.
“Wow, that was slightly unexpected but thank you, (Name)~ You flatter me~”
He proceeds to tell you that you look dazzling today, to which you smile and thank him.
It’s a short and sweet exchange that leaves both of you feeling happy, and it ends with a kiss as a sweet cherry on top.
♂️ Sebastian
His first reaction is to give you a slightly confused glance and then laugh.
“Where’s this coming from?” He asks.
You pout and blush and he chuckles, reassuring you that he’s just kidding and that he appreciates the compliment.
He then suddenly kisses you, leaving you a flustered blushing mess, and Sebastian definitely feels proud after that.
William
“Hm? Cute, you say?”
He chuckles before standing from his desk, making his way towards you.
“But my love, I can never compare to you~ Your large doe eyes, your lush lips, the way your hair frames your lovely face… it makes me want to hold you and never let go~”
His palm caresses your cheek.
Soon, you’re in his warm embrace, listening to his heartbeat.
And as he said, he doesn’t let you go anytime soon.
REEEEEEEE Ik it was a long time ago but life has been a [redacted], so I figured better late than never HAHA
So without further ado, anybody who’s curious feel free to click for more–I’ll put it under a cut for spoilers as per usual~
So in this story it’s the usual, a few days before his birthday, and they’re discussing a bump in the road. Essentially, it appears a friend of Comte’s is going to be celebrating a wedding, and as such he’s going into the suburbs/affluent part of the region to be able to attend. It’s only a few hours away from the mansion, but he will be gone for a few days with the arrangements made for his stay.
While this wouldn’t typically be an issue, MC has some things to take care of and opts out of attending with him (preparing for his bday probably LMAO) and Comte is immediately big sad. My favorite dramatic fool is already pouting, though he fully accepts and respects her decision. Besides which, he fully intends to be back in time to celebrate his birthday as well. He notes that he’s always admired how driven and independent she is, and has no intention of getting in the way of that. He’s just going to miss her, is all.
He says as much, figuring there’s no point in hiding it: “I really wanted to bring you with me to attend…but I suppose it simply can’t be helped” … “That’s not it…I guess I’m just wondering if you’ll miss me as much as I’ll miss you while I’m away.”
And MC’s just like “Aw, it’s okay it’ll only be a few days.” While Comte’s response is a very mature, high-pitched whining sound at a frequency only King (Theo’s dog) and Theo himself can hear. When MC tries to reassure him once more, his Hamlet impression continues: “Even the prospect of a few days away from you feels unbearable.”
Naturally, as any man do that loves his wife, he draws her close and proceeds to bang the living daylights out of her. I would offer details, but I have no deets to give beyond: [Well MC, it appears I won’t be letting you get much sleep tonight.]
Brief intermission for the vague sounds of fangirl cardiac arrest.
The scene opens again to him doing his walk of shame (the slut) down the walkway and into the carriage that will take him to his friend’s house. His thoughts carry the regret of burdening her with his desire, though MC is pretty much on cloud nine and unable to stop thinking about the heady night they shared in a good way. Bruh and the sly look when he figures out why she looks like that–I’m boutta call the police, he is going to make women and men alike act up.
MC scrambles to cool his already returning desire by insisting he will be late if he indulges any further, and he laughs and agrees easily–albeit with the slightest hint of reluctance. My favorite part in this exchange is that he kisses her forehead, adding that it’s because she’s the most adorable person in the world to him (a moment of silence for our uwus).
Fast forward to Comte trying to get home after the festivities are over. Problem is, it’s been raining like a mOTHERBLEEPER, and as such carriages have no safe way to traverse the roads at the moment. He waited out the first day as patiently as possible, but after the second–and no sign of stopping–his Leeroy Jenkins instincts kick in. He notes to the coachman that he’s aware he’s asking a lot, but they fully intend to take the long way which invites the least risk–and the rain is ebbing, even if the progress is slow.
It’s interesting because there’s another echo of his main story in this moment. He essentially showcases a desperation to return before the day ends, though without context it’ll probably seem a little strange, so I’ll do my best to explain. Basically, in his main story, MC notes that she doesn’t really care how different they are. Different time, different species, different experiences, so on and so forth. She hammers home that what matters is that the present is something that they actively share. It’s theirs. And no amount of divisions he desperately tries to draw will change that fundamental reality.
And it’s a little moving to see how deeply he takes it to heart? I think it’s one of those wonderful phenomena, personally–the way a person can influence how you think and act with their sentiments. Sometimes someone says precisely what it is we need to hear, and it changes us–while it can be for the worse, it can also be for the better. He notes that he spent so many birthdays; among the people serving his house when he was little, raising hell with his friends in his younger days, so on and so forth. Not unlike Leonardo, he says that after so many “special” days the faces become a blur, the festivities lose their luster. It’s just another day, at this point.
Note, one interesting thing here that stands out to me is that I feel like this is a reflection of both of their larger struggles. Where Comte can’t stand the relentless flow of time rendering him the only constant (and something of a ghost, never fully present), Leonardo can’t bear birthdays because it means remembering people who still mean the world to him, but are long gone. People he can never see again, never laugh with again, never share his life with again. And I think that’s a very profound pain, an anguish that just keeps on settling its weight. (Oh, Sisyphus…)
Comte’s is similar, but different. He actively works to keep his distance– unlike Leonardo, he approaches immortality in the pragmatic way. He knows getting close will hurt, so he opts out of that–keeps a step behind, an easy smile on his face. Betrays only fragments to anyone, always has his guard up. But the downside of being so guarded means you eventually feel hollowed out and alone; nobody truly knows or understands you. There is a distinct loneliness in that approach, where memories only become reminders of how nothing ever improves and how bereft you are of warmth.
Leonardo, at least, gets to have the joy of being known from time to time. But loss and estrangement from those people means double the pain in the long run, because he loved them fully. Comte chooses to live in the cold to protect himself, but ends up in a kind of catch-22; the cost of forgoing loss means a constant deadening of his own feelings. It means living in a kind of fog, where there is a distinct discomfort in the silent obscurity of your own heart.
There’s something I’ve come to believe in my short course of living, so I guess I still need time to determine how true it is. But…I feel like, when people live this way, where who they are is a lie or it’s at the very least carefully concealed, we in part start to become that lie. I think it’s fascinating because Comte seems to have so much personality to him. He’s dramatic, he’s thoughtful, he has a sense of mischief about him, he has strong ideals, and he has an even more ironclad moral grounding. And yet, when he talks about himself, he always uses descriptions that hinge on emptiness. Like he’s worth so little, worth nothing. And that’s what I mean–he’s been trying so hard to glide on the surface that he has come to believe he really is equivalent to something that ephemeral. Like there’s nothing more inside him, or if there is, that it will never be worthy of much. I think it really speaks to the ways behavior impacts the psyche, even though the opposite tends to be considered the only possible cause and effect relationship.
He’s so determined to live for and in the future while he’s in the present, that he forgets to enjoy himself and really live. And while that approach is certainly understandable, I do think he loses parts of himself along the way. Only to be rediscovered and placed back into his hands by MC: [Today–this moment–our now, I don’t want to miss it for anything.] And that’s not even touching on how quick she is to make them a we; she’s not letting him keep that distance. It’s not “you have the ability to share this day with me” it’s “we’re here and in this together.”
I feel like what I love about this is that it’s not only about how sweet he is on MC, but also about how much he’s truly living again for the first time. His defenses are slowly inching their way down, he’s letting himself hope and want things and look forward to things again. The thing about being a responsible person is that–while responsibility is all well and good–sometimes you become so mired in doing the right thing and planning the most optimal outcomes that you just aren’t thinking of yourself anymore. That is, if you ever were to begin with. He went from the careful cultivation of a life as an aristocrat, to a life that spoke of more freedom and fun beyond those iron wrought gates, before he returned to the structure of what he knew. Freedom speaks to him I’m sure–we all need it in some measure to survive. But I do think a good portion of that was unfulfilling for him after a point. It was only feeding the void that was beginning to form inside him. He was instinctively retreating into himself to avoid pain, and in doing that the only result was feeling like a coward and a fake. He wasn’t happy, he wasn’t able to be himself, and nothing was fulfilling–every single day just another forward march.
I think it comes as no surprise he took up Vlad’s initial invitation so willingly.
But then I digress, back to the story. There’s another timeskip and it finds him racing down the hall of the mansion. He’s hoping to make it in time but knows he’s racing against the clock, and fully expects MC to be asleep by this point in the night. Midway along his path he thinks he spots MC and falters in his step, blinking. He decides to hang back, watching the figure enter his room with a great deal of curiosity and resists every urge to burst in after her. He hears MC speak into his pillow, her voice muffled but clearly despondent: “I miss you, Comte. I hope you get back home soon…”
Comte pretty much dies right there. I literally have no better explanation for it. He freezes, his heart sputters and stops. He’s just completely taken aback.
And then, naturally, he goes about feral with desire as is his modus operandi: “Oho, I heard something incredibly cute just now. Were you also having a hard time spending so long apart?”
MC:“…!”
[Startled, she turns around and her eyes widen and widen.]
MC: “Comte, how…”
Comte: “Took a detour in areas with less rain.”
MC: “?? Wouldn’t that still be hard in weather like this?”
Comte: “I told the coachman I wanted to see you as soon as possible. Even if it was only for a second, I wanted to spend today with you…”
[Everything I was thinking while in the carriage spills out of me long before I can help it. I am reminded again of just how utterly irreplaceable an existence MC is in my life.]
Comte: “Even so, it seems interesting that I would find you in my bed”
MC: “…! A–Ah, I’m so sorry for entering without permission!”
[I quickly grab hold of her before she can scramble out of my bed, coaxing her to sink back into the sheets.]
In between a lot of intense making out and [redacted], the larger overtone is that her reciprocated ardor just destroys him inside:
MC: “It was…because I couldn’t stop thinking about you, about wanting to see you…”
Comte:“!”
[You know just how to drive me mad with desire.]
Comte: “I’m the same…the first thing I did was look for you. Even though it was only a few days, your voice, your body, everything…I missed you”
[Because today, our ‘now’–I never want to lose a single moment with you as long as you’re by my side…]
Comte:“I’m so happy to be able to be with you, right here and right now.”
It gets funny too because Comte is trying to take it slow, but when she tells him “Happy birthday” and goes on to say she was so glad to greet the day he was brought into the world by his side, he just loses all control LMFAO. It ends with them getting more heated and [redacted], to the point where he doesn’t even hear the clock strike midnight.
And if him being the cutest and sexiest romantic wasn’t obvious enough, he spends the next morning just sighing blissfully with her in his arms:
[The next morning, when I wake up, MC is still fast asleep. I mean, given she only fell asleep a few hours ago. I’m still reveling in the afterglow of a sweet night filled with her cries, the way she looked at me and held me. MC…]
[I relax to the sound of her breathing steady with sleep, stroking gently at her hair as I hug her from behind.]
Comte: “I’ve had countless birthdays. In an endless life, I was convinced it was just a day that would come and go every time.”
Comte: “It was only after meeting you that I could understand there was no such thing as an overlapping or identical moment. I don’t want to miss a single second by your side…that’s what I think now.”
[I admit the truth of my heart, brushing a kiss against her cheek. Over and over and over again, showering her in my affection–]
Butdun dun dun!!! MC was awake the whole time, so when she fidgets a little at how ticklish his kisses are, he
[Oh, I see. Well then, two can play at that game…]
Comte:“Your punishment is to stay in my arms just as we are…how’s that?”
He gets his mischievous (and hilarious) revenge for being revealed (HORNY TIME), though it’s so suffused with love it’s hard to call it revenge hahaha. She reminds him to go easy on her because they have his birthday party to attend later, and he agrees~
Honestly after such killer hurt/comfort spice fluff, I can only tremble at the thought of what his 5th year bday story will be
It’s either going to be Some Angst^TM or even more killer fluff, and either way that means my days are numbered
A circus that only opens at nightfall. The same cast performs the acts, no matter how many years have passed. Individuals who once came as children recognize the smile of the lion tamer or the confidence of the acrobats, wondering if they are the same people from all those years ago. But of course, such a feat is impossible – even for a circus.
Elizabeth’s desire to stay remained even as the final night began, the flood of patrons at sundown a ferocious swell. She forced herself to enjoy the circus in a half-hearted attempt to ignore the feeling, spending her last evenings chasing Napoleon and Sebastian around through their favorite tents.
The Star Chaser tent had caught her attention when she had passed it by with Vincent and Theo earlier that week. It was rumored that incredibly lucky patrons might have the chance to catch a falling star while they wandered through the tent – the rare souvenir from the circus that did not come from a ticket stub or candy bag.
Under this faux sky, Elizabeth believed that they looked completely out of reach. Napoleon and Sebastian both confessed that they had yet to catch a star of their own, chalking it up to being members of the circus.
“All my wishes are already true, for the most part,” Napoleon admitted. “It’s just wanting to improve my magic now.”
“You still look so relieved when you say that,” Sebastian said, deadpan. “Are you that thrilled that she knows our secret?”
“Of course! Keeping it a secret this whole time, concealing our magic… it was more stressful than my first act!”
The three laughed, Elizabeth most of all. The now ever-present ache swelled up in her heart as she did so. She was going to miss moments like this, more than she could care to admit.
So when she opened her eyes and saw a falling star, instinct took over first. A silent wish trembled at the back of her mind, ever present since last night.
Then she remembered the stories of this tent.
A star would be something tangible to remember the circus by. To take home.
She went chasing after where she had seen it fall, leaving Napoleon and Sebastian behind. She knew that they would always be close, naturally following her two seconds later to keep a close eye on her.
The star had reached the ground. It was near-blinding up close, but began to decrease in intensity as she knelt down to pick it up.
Then she felt something else take hold. From one caught breath to the next, one moment ticking to another, Elizabeth was suddenly aware that her body was not her own. It forced her to hand, arms still stuck out awkwardly until pushed to relax.
Is this what Sebastian and Jean felt? When Vlad cast his spell? I— I don’t— I can’t—!
“Hello. It’s nice to get to see you again.” Vlad laughed darkly as he leaned over her shoulder, looking down at the star that lay at their feet. “You shouldn’t need to wish for something you can have so easily. If you just asked The Illusionist ever so nicely, I’m sure he would let you stay.”
She wanted to cry out – to demand that he let go of whatever foreign hold he had placed over her body – but instead he came and wrapped an arm about her waist.
“Forgive me, but I think we should wait for your ever-watchful protector to arrive. In fact…” He gestured down at the star at their feet. “He’ll be here soon.”
The star, which had been steadily dimming, now glowed even brighter, nearly blinding Elizabeth until she was permitted to close her eyes.
The Illusionist’s voice came before his figure did.
“I had to stop my show for this?”
He appeared when Elizabeth opened her eyes. Vlad let out a laugh as Elizabeth caught sight of The Illusionist’s dark and furious expression, unlike any face that he had worn before.
“It’s nice that you bothered to stop by and visit an old friend,” Vlad taunted, tucking his chin against Elizabeth’s frozen shoulder.
“I more see it as stopping a trespasser who knows that he has no right stepping foot into my circus.” The Illusionist gave Vlad a discomforting smile, all venom and no warmth. “You should have sent a notice ahead of time so that I could grind it into dust.”
“Still insisting on clinging to the circus, even when I know you’re just trying to fill the gap in your heart? Do you know how long I believed the lie I told myself? That you were gathering all these silly little students for another proper duel?” Vlad’s polite tone was soon spit through his gritted teeth, angry and harsh. “Only for you to disappoint me time and time again?”
“That’s what I was in the end – a disappointment. And that has not changed.”
“It changes tonight! I found two suitable candidates for the duel of a lifetime – the perfect vessels for my teachings. So, I saved you the trouble and found a partner with enough magic and mettle to fight them.”
“You know my stance on forcingstudents to take éternité.”
“Ever the gentleman to ask for permission. And that made your studentsweak. As soft as their master.” Vlad crushed the fallen star then, grinding it beneath his heel. “Too soft to offer this young woman a chance to change her destiny. Because I know he can sense how powerful you are. Can’t you?!”
The Illusionist stood resolute. “No.”
“What a load of shit. I know you can!” Vlad’s voice flared, frustration thinly veiled in his voice. Elizabeth felt a rush of instinct, pushing against his arm. She only earned a tighter grip for her efforts.
“Never,” The Illusionist declared, his voice thick with anger. “I will not force éternitéon helpless people who do not know what they are agreeing to. Who do not know the difficulties that will come with such a life. I will not do as you do and force it upon others.”
“And what does that get you? It gets you people with useless powers. Has your little inventor been able to do anything on his own yet? What have your artists and ‘conceptualists’ given you? You are wasting the power of Latent magic. There’s enough magical potential in her to leave even your best and brightest pupils behind! You can’t let her power go to waste! Give her éternité,or I’ll do it myself!”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I know you can’t stop me. You have this whole circus under your protection. You used up enough magic this past week trying to prevent every single one of my purposeful accidents before they occurred. All you did was tell your little students to watch out for me. Never once did you tell them to use their own magic to watch their backs.”
“They shouldn’t have to fear someone like you, who is too weak to resist temptation. Now, let her go.”
The command was accompanied by a thundering roar from above their heads.
The stars in the false sky shuddered before falling in a grand waterfall. Vlad dove back, dragging Elizabeth with him – his grip and magical hold loosening for a moment.
That was all she needed.
She pulled back, separating and rushing toward The Illusionist. The cascading stars that separated them were white-hot, their heat growing as she forced herself closer to them. Any distance would do, she told herself, to get away from Vlad.
But just as the stars singed strands of her hair, someone else grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the falling star. Their hold was less aggressive, more welcoming. It was then that Vlad finally caught sight of her and her unknown companion, lunging forward—
— and his hand struck an invisible barrier that neither Elizabeth nor Vlad could see. As Vlad stared down at her, the stars finally finished their fall. The tent went dark.
“I’m afraid you’ve encountered one of my specialties,” Sebastian’s voice said from behind her then, the same polite tone he always had. “I’m the one responsible for those protections you encountered around the circus, not our resident Illusionist.”
Vlad scoffed, pushing off the barrier. “It’s easily broken.”
“Then I dare you to break it.”
The man looked as if he intended to do just that, but a crackling fire snapped at him a second later, forcing Vlad to counter with a well-timed crest of water that forced it back. The Illusionist still stood proud and tall, manifesting and throwing a dagger that aimed true for Vlad’s heart.
It missed with a swipe of the Vlad’s hand, heading off into the depths of the tent. The Magicians resumed their duel, more aggressive than before. Their magical attacks lit up their grim, concentrated expressions.
Shakespeare’s fortune, told just over a week ago, echoed in the back of her mind.
“A strong, powerful figure. Currently very prominent in your life. Or possibly influenced your life’s path. The reversal implies that the figure is also concealing something. About themselves or the circumstances. They didn’t tell you everything.”
The golden outline of The Hierophant on his gilded throne had once seemed impossible to decipher.
But now he could have been either of the men that dueled before her.
Neither showed an ounce of fatigue, but as Sebastian continued to hold Elizabeth’s arm, she sensed his fingers shaking against it.
“Sebastian?”
“Just stay still, Elizabeth. And forgive me if I do not offer my usual pleasant conservation.” He smiled, gritted teeth visible behind trembling lips, illuminated by the sparking magical attacks around them. “It is taking every ounce of my concentration to maintain this.”
Her hand went to his. “You can do it, Sebastian. Hold on as long as you can.”
The trembling stopped a moment later, a quiet acknowledgement passing between the two that Sebastian could still keep going.
The duel had now reached a feverish pitch. A large arcing slide cut the tent fabric open wide, the pitched black of the space now open to the blue night sky. All could be seen now.
And that included Napoleon, who finally appeared from the darkness. At his side was Leonardo, who appeared from the darkness flanked by others from the inner circle of the circus. The fighting did not cease, but Leonardo’s voice carried over it regardless, magically enhanced.
“Did you really think that he wouldn’t take his necessary precautions?” Leonardo declared, a wicked grin on his face. “Every one of us has got a bit of the circus now. And speaking of that, your ex-friend told me something interesting… that, despite your students being the better players, our resident Illusionist was always the stronger magician.”
There was a break in Vlad’s expression then – bleakness flickered in his red eyes for but one moment – then replaced with a fiery anger.
“That explains it, then,” he spit out, The Illusionist pausing in his attacks as Vlad continued speaking. “This fight has felt unfair since the beginning.”
“You always did want me to acknowledge how good you were,” The Illusionist said with a wicked smile. “I suppose you will have to hear it another time. Give it another millennium or two.”
Vlad took one, two steps back – then his gaze snapped to Elizabeth and Sebastian. With swift strides, he was outside the barrier once more, joined by six floating swords. One at his neck, another at his back, and the remaining four hovering over where limbs met his torso.
“One more move and you will leave in pieces,” The Illusionist said coolly. “And I would rather not let the lady see that.”
“I just wanted to perform one last act,” Vlad said, a smile tugging at his lips. “Perhaps a trick far more effective than anything either of us can do.” Leaning down, he paid no mind to the sword’s edge that touched his neck as he did so, drawing blood.
“You have magic, my dear. And you’re better than the rest of them because you can already use it. This barrier—” he rapped it with his knuckles, no sound coming from the act— “It’s only still up because of you. So I suggest you reconsider going home. There’s something here for you after all. You’re stronger than you could ever believe. You don’t ever have to leave.”
“Vlad!”
The swords sliced through a thick black smoke. The barrier collapsed then, Sebastian falling against Elizabeth for unprepared support. The two tumbled to the ground. The Illusionist rushed over to them both.
But when Elizabeth looked to him with a mixture of hope and fear in her eyes, The Illusionist heard her question before she uttered it in a single, stunned breath.
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“I have magic?”
The Illusionist had not wanted her to come to this realization. Their meeting should have been happenstance – a chance encounter at the circus, a later return within five years to reassess her progress. To see if she was willing to throw her entire life away to join their traveling troupe.
He had felt her potential the moment she set foot in his circus. In his tent, the sensation had been even more apparent. He knew that the peak performance he gave that evening was due to her influence. An old, unwelcome sensation gnawed at his heart – a desire to stealher away from her life entirely and push magical studies on her until she was the perfect magician.
That desire was crushed as swiftly as the pen he crushed to black ink next to her seat.
However, all his resistance had been for naught when Vlad forced her into his circus. He knew he could send her back across the ocean with magic, remove her memories, and leave her behind.
But perhaps a greedy, undesirable part of him had wanted to keep her. Just to see if she would stay.
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“… Yes, ma chérie.” His words were tinged with a pained regret.
She did not ask her second question until Sebastian and the others had been safely tended to, and she was settled once more in The Illusionist’s tent.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked as she stood next to him.
The obvious second question. “It was not a fact you were prepared to hear. Despite being part of this circus, despite being forced onto our train – it was not my place to tell you. This is not part of your life’s path, not yet.”
“But I could have helped! Maybe I could have been able to fight off Vlad or protect myself!”
“Do you remember what I said about éternité? It was purposefully manifested to grant our students the lifetime they needed to learn their magic. It is a curse and a blessing in equal force. You could not have mastered the magic needed to protect you against Vlad, not in the span of three days.”
“That…” Elizabeth’s gaze dropped to the ground, shame in her eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Do not apologize.” The Illusionist reached out, tucking a finger under her chin to lift her head higher. “The fault of your arrival and lack of return is all mine. Therefore, it is my responsibility to see you safely home.”
“… Will you at least tell me about my magic, then? Before I go. Am I like you and Leonardo?”
“Not in the slightest. There are two forms. My form – and Leonardo’s – are Potent Magicians. Our magic is passed down through our families. It is far stronger than the magic that exists in humans like yourself and everyone else in the circus. We’re able to access it from a young age.”
“But humans…”
“You cannot dream of magic like ours. You possess Latent Magic, which we refine into Manifested Magic. It takes years, longer than lifetimes to gain the full potential of your magic. That is why éternité exists. It exists because two very selfish men wanted to see who was the better teacher. And now it propels this entire circus.”
Elizabeth knew the regret in his gaze now. It was beyond her mortal comprehension – centuries of pain and suffering that would have killed a weaker individual a hundred times over. This man wore it beneath a smile and a cryptic turn of phrase, so practiced that it was as natural as breathing.
She did not prod further – and nor was she given the chance to, as a mechanical machine soared through the flap in the tent. Elizabeth jumped back as it came to a shuddering stop above their heads, only able to examine it proper once The Illusionist reached up to bring it down from the air. A tiny bird had been crafted from gears and spare metal bits.
“Enchanting and manipulating objects is a fondness of Leonardo’s,” The Illusionist explained as he took a paper from the piler-tipped beak. “Which falls perfectly in line with what I asked him and Isaac to finish for me…”
“What did they make?”
The Illusionist rubbed the small note between his fingers, letting it fade into a small shower of silver sparkles. “Would you like to come see?”
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“Come look!” Isaac declared as they arrived. “We just put the finishing touches on. We were almost done, but…”
“No matter.” The Illusionist waved off the comment. “Thank you for doing it at all.”
Leonardo, clearly in the throes of wrapping up something, gestured vaguely towards the rest of the tent. “They’re on the table, Isaac. Get them for me.”
Last time Elizabeth had been inside this tent, it had been in order to help Jean after his horrific sword-swallowing accident. Now, she was permitted the moment to glance around the over-crowded space. Any surface was crowded with little mechanical parts, absent scribbles in two handwritings, and half-finished inventions that still miraculously moved on their own.
One invention suddenly jumped to life next to her – a large frog with pearl-like eyes – causing her to step back with a slight squeak. Isaac rolled his eyes, but picked up a box from next to the mechanical creature as it hopped off the table and out of sight.
“Here. These are for you. Leonardo helped to make them more stylish, since The Illusionist said we should. We hope these are something you’ll wear.” Isaac awkwardly thrusted the box towards her as Leonardo finally stood up from his desk, joining the group. “Let us know if you won’t.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile, accepting it. When she opened the box, she gasped at what was nestled inside.
She lifted the golden chain out from the box, a small golden butterfly dangling at the bottom. Iridescent wings caught the tent’s hanging lights, sparkling in a thousand brilliant colors. Left in the box was a bracelet of a similar make, the butterfly dangling from one of the interlocked chains.
“Oh! Isaac! You should have at least said they were beautiful!”
“The butterflies were Leonardo’s idea,” Isaac confessed.
“And something you sketched out,” Leonardo teased with a smile. “But these bracelets are meant to protect you from harm. We wish we could have finished them sooner, but…”
As Leonardo spoke, Elizabeth could not help but be distracted by the occasional gear or part that whizzed across the room, perfectly slotting itself into one machine or another. When one whizzed just shy of her cheek, Isaac finally let out an irritated sigh and glared at Leonardo.
“Can you stop fixing your inventions for two seconds?”
“I’ll forget the idea unless I do it or write it down,” Leonardo said back, his tone unbothered. “Ideas always come to me when I’m doing something else.”
“As they do for the best of us,” The Illusionist agreed. “Now, you were saying?”
“Ah, right. Someone in the circus will be alerted if magic is used on you or around you, whether you’re a country or an ocean away. Because we can’t really do anything depending on the distance, though I’m sure they’ll try—” His glance to The Illusionist did not go unnoticed— “It also generates a protective field around you. It’s a weak one, so the best bet is to start running if it goes off.”
“How lovely,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Thank you. I can imagine this took a lot of magic and time.”
“It was nothing.” Leonardo declared dismissively, Isaac nodding in agreement. “We even made some spares, in case something happens to the ones you’ve got in your hands.”
“The best thing to do now is put it on.” The Illusionist spoke as he reached out, taking the necklace in one hand and brushing her long hair aside with the other. He clasped it into place, letting out a relieved sigh as the charm fell against her collarbone. “There. Now I feel much more comfortable letting you go home.”
The weight of that four-letter word sank uncomfortably in Elizabeth’s heart.
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Several hours later, they were on a train back to Europe.
Everyone noted that this pace was a bit faster than their usual trips. Footing felt a bit more unsteady than the usual ride that they were accustomed to. The unchanging ocean appeared to whiz by a bit quicker.
Most members made it a point of showing up to dinner, if only to ensure that they could see Elizabeth off. Jean and Leonardo, in particular, made a point of sitting at her table one night so that they could properly apologize for such terrible things being her last memories of the circus.
At that, Elizabeth shook her head. “It’s all right. I still had a wonderful time, and I am honored to have had such an experience. And I was even thinking…”
The Illusionist paused then, fork halfway to his mouth. He set it down, giving Elizabeth a pointed stare. “If you are about to say that you want to stay with us…”
“I’d been considering it! Nothing more. But both you and Vlad said that I had magic like everyone else here. If I stayed, it would give me the opportunity to make stronger memories, and help you keep an eye on all of me.”
The table was quiet, and as she spoke, the rest of the dining car fell silent, too. All eyes were on Elizabeth and The Illusionist, the latter of whom set down his silverware and laced his fingers together.
“Elizabeth. Joining L’Éternel Cirque means that you could never leave. You would stay here to study your magic, live for an extended time thanks to the powers that éternité would grant you. The outside world would become a much more troublesome place to be. You could stay a human – as Sebastian did, for a time – but with Vlad active, I’m not sure if keeping you out of contact with your magic, but within the circus, is our best move.”
“Would letting me out of the circus keep me safer, then?”
“It would be us effectively cutting ties with you. Vlad cannot track you, even if you shared a previous link with us at the circus. I recall you saying that you came to the circus from far enough out of town – he has no idea where you live. I believe it is the safest measure for you to go home, with these protections, but… the ultimate choice is up to you.”
Elizabeth was silent for a moment, then nodded once as tears came to her eyes. “I understand. Then I’ll go home. I haven’t wanted to worry anyone this much, and I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for myself.”
“Ah, chin up, Newt!” Arthur’s voice suddenly rang out, a hint of sadness in his usual chipper tone. “It’s not like Lizzy’s leaving forever! Who knows, maybe we’ll get to see her sooner than we expect!“
"I’m not upset, you idiot,” Isaac shot back, but as Elizabeth leaned to glance at Isaac’s face, she caught the way he was biting at his lip and trying to hold back tears.
“I promise I’ll try to visit again when you all return,” she said. “And then you can show me all how much you’ve improved with magic, right?”
“Absolutely!” Vincent said, beaming. “We would all be happy to escort you around every night of the week!”
“I doubt you could make it out to your area that much,” Theo added, “but we’d arrange something with you ahead of time if we knew we were in the area.”
As somber subjects turned to happier plans for the future, Leonardo leaned over to tap The Illusionist’s elbow. The two men leaned in close, Leonardo’s whisper barely audible.
“What did you say her magic was again?”
“Well, I don’t think I ever said.” The Illusionist smiled mysteriously, glancing once at Elizabeth. "But if I had to hazard a guess, I would say that she is nearly limitless. The kind of power that would be the envy of all. However…”
Leonardo glowered as The Illusionist trailed off, laughing when he caught sight of his friend’s frustrated expression.
“Her natural magic is bringing out the best in others. She brings people together in ways they never imagined before. You surely noticed how much less fighting and resistance there was with her here.”
“That would definitely explain it.”
“The circus members were also more powerful. I have no doubt that even her sleeping Latent magic allowed Theo to break that spell or inspired one of the most creative bursts I have seen out of any of you. I think that, if she had chosen to stay with us, this circus would have remained a much more peaceful place.” The Illusionist leaned back, resuming his meal. “But, as usual, that is not my choice to make. It is hers alone.”
Leonardo leaned back as well, nodding once. “Agreed, old friend.”
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The Illusionist and Elizabeth watched as her proper train pulled into the station, prepared to take her home. He took those final moments to turn and ask, “Do you have all your belongings?”
“You double-checked before I left.”
“Do you have the bracelet and necklace that we gave you? Along with the back-ups?”
“I have them! I can show them to you.”
Letting out a gentle laugh, he waved his hand. “There’s no need. I know you have them. Just be sure to keep them safe and always know that you can find a way to contact me. Myself or Leonardo will answer.”
She cast a sidelong glance his way. “I’m thankful that you still trusted Leonardo and the others with more of the circus.”
The Illusionist shuffled his feet, coughing and turning away from her gaze. “They need to learn some independence. Leonardo in particular. I don’t want to be responsible for him for the rest of his life.” Her laugh made her smile, and he found himself saying, “But you did that, too. I think you changed everyone at the circus, ma chérie. Whether you noticed or not.”
“If you say so,” she said, a sad smile on her lips. “I’m almost sad to leave. It was nice getting to know everyone, and the past week and a half just flew by. It was like magic – real magic.”
“And it’s a place you can always return to, should we be in the area.” Taking her free hand, he pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Now, don’t miss your train.”
The Illusionist released her, letting her take those last few steps toward her train car. Allowing her to make the final choice for herself, as he always wished for her to have.
(But, for a moment, it appeared as if she was turning around.)
A circus that only opens at nightfall. The same cast performs the acts, no matter how many years have passed. Individuals who once came as children recognize the smile of the lion tamer or the confidence of the acrobats, wondering if they are the same people from all those years ago. But of course, such a feat is impossible – even for a circus.
In keeping his promises, The Illusionist had ensured that members of the circus’s inner circle were with Elizabeth at all times. He even accompanied her one afternoon to fill in after one member fell ill, allowing her a brief glimpse at his rehearsal process on the evening of the fifth day.
Even she could see the fatigue that the circus was taking on him. Mild curses slipped from his lips as the cards crumpled in the middle of his folding routine, as shifting the shade of his jacket only served to make a new color appear in splotches. When a thin bead of sweat started to appear on his brow, Elizabeth stepped up onto his stage, yanking the handkerchief out of his lapel pocket.
“This shouldn’t just be for show,” she murmured as she wiped his brow. “Leonardo mentioned that you protect the whole circus by yourself. Are you also trying to prevent all the incidents from happening around the circus?”
The Illusionist did not answer, instead taking the handkerchief from her and avoiding her gaze. “It is nothing. This is only a mild fatigue. It will pass once I adjust.”
“You don’t have to hold onto it for much longer, then,” Elizabeth said, taking a step back off the stage. “I’ll be leaving in a few days. Soon you won’t have to worry anymore.”
The Illusionist paused a moment, appearing surprised – before his face lifted into a smile. “Of course you are, ma chérie. Forgive me, I fear that we have all gotten far too used to your presence already.”
“That just means you’ll have to come back to my area so I can visit again!”
“Naturally,” The Illusionist said, finally stepping off the stage to join her. “I’m sure we will all be thrilled to see you. Speaking of the others, what are your plans for tonight?”
“For tonight? Well…”
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“Come on, Elizabeth!” Vincent tugged at her sleeve. “There’s definitely another statue over here!”
“We’re only going to get lost in the circus, broer!” Theo chastised as they raced ahead. “Keep track of where you are.”
“I know where we are! We’re between the Star Chaser tent and the Carousel! Somewhere near them, anyway. We’ll be fine!”
For her fifth evening, the first shift was assigned to the van Gogh brothers. When she confessed that she had yet to complete her list of statues around the circus, Vincent had suggested that they go on a scavenger hunt to find the rest of them.
And it was clear that, as the inventor of the statues, Vincent had an innate understanding of where they were from – for they soon came upon another. This one was decked out in golds and reds, standing proud over a sign that read: “Mother Nature.”
“Since it’s closer to autumn, she’s gotten out the appropriate colors,” Vincent explained. “She holds her arms aloft in summer, but slowly lowers them over the course of the season. See her dress? The leaves on it will fall off over the course the evening.”
Elizabeth finished marking her name and general location down, nodding as Vincent spoke. “She’s beautiful.”
“I think there’s another one just nearby, come on!” Vincent’s excitement was apparent as he dragged her around further. Theo did his best to stick close, casting the occasional worried glance over his shoulder while also watching their general surroundings.
“Broer! Look out for the crowd ahead. They’re coming towards us.”
“Oh! You’re right!” Vincent unexpectedly released Elizabeth’s hand, stepping to the side. Elizabeth did the same, but stepped the other direction. She heard half her name in Theo’s shout, cut short as the crowd finished passing before her eyes.
Theo and Vincent were not waiting for her. A shiver shot down her spine as she took two hesitant steps forward, unable to see any trace of either man.
“Theo? Vince—”
A force wrenched her arm back, the grip around her wrist painfully tight. She let out a cry of pain as she felt another arm about her waist.
“Hello, my dear.”
The voice did not just reach her ears – it touched every sense her body was capable of feeling. Her shoulders relaxed, her legs grew heavy, and every ounce of tension her body flooded out at once. As her body relaxed, her mind sounded an alarm.
This voice was one she knew verywell.
“Let go of me!”
“That’s no way to greet an old friend, especially when we had so little time to talk during our last encounter. We were in such a rush to catch that train, after all.”
Elizabeth attempted to pull out of his grip, but his next words had the same honey-like tone to them and only served to still her further. “I don’t care! Why did you put me on that train?”
“He hasn’t changed you yet, has he?” The man’s sigh was irritated, ignoring her question entirely. “Is this ‘Illusionist’ really such a soft-hearted idiot that he can’t take a gift that’s been kindly dropped on his lap?”
“What do you mean?”
“What?” The man paused then. “Has he not given you a choice? Are you not even part of the circus yet?”
“I don’t— what are you talking about?” Elizabeth’s question pitched high as she tried to pull away again. “I’m not part of the circus!”
“He hasn’t told you? The man who runs this farce of a circus hasn’t told you the secret behind it?”
Before Elizabeth could open her mouth to respond, there was a violent cracking sound.
The circus snapped back into perspective. The din of the crowd, the smell of caramel and sugar, the sensation of the ground beneath her feet struck her every sense at once. She saw Theo and Vincent pushing people aside as they ran towards her. A click of the man’s tongue from behind her was barely audible.
“Clearly, he’s been training at least a couple of you,” the man said, releasing his grip on Elizabeth. “They’re cleverer than I gave them credit for.”
As she fell forward, she felt Vincent catching her in his arms as Theo rushed past, cursing audibly as he threw himself at the now-empty air.
“Elizabeth!” Vincent supported her as she worked to stand straight again, concern in his eyes. “Are you all right? We’re so sorry we lost you!”
“I’m… I’m fine. I promise. I just…”
“Theo. Vincent.”
Everyone looked up as The Illusionist appeared next to them, giving each a glance in turn. Theo was the first to speak, his tone etched with regret.
“We’re sorry, sir. We let that bastard get away, and he managed to catch Elizabeth for a bit. It was hell and a half breaking his illusion, but…”
“No. You did exemplary work. You pass with flying colors for managing to break through one of his illusions, as they are often masterfully crafted. You are always good at finding the smallest flaws, Theo.” The Illusionist smiled briefly his way. “Now, Elizabeth. I cancelled all my shows for the evening, so I believe that gives us time to sit down and have a nice chat about what you heard tonight.”
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Back in The Illusionist’s personal tent, any storage and unnecessary furniture had been exchanged out for comfortable seating and soft lighting. Elizabeth had been ushered into a large chair and the bruises on her arm examined. When The Illusionist had concluded that they were not magically inflicted, he wrapped a blanket about her shoulders, gave her a warm cup of hot chocolate, and sat across from her in silence. He did not practice any magic, instead occupying himself with a book.
As was his preference, he wanted it to be her choice to start the conversation and ask whatever questions she wanted.
“… That man mentioned that this circus was a farce. That there was a secret behind it. What is the secret?”
The Illusionist let out a sigh, leaning back into his chair as he closed his book. A long silence passed between them as he appeared to debate his answer.
“… This circus is not simply a circus, ma chérie. It is also a school. It serves to teach students how to appropriately harness their magical potential and use it without causing harm to themselves or others. Though, I suppose they are all less ‘students’ and more ‘colleagues.’”
“And is this man a former student?”
“… He’s not. His name is Vlad, and he is my former rival. We are among the strongest of our kind, and because of that, we thought we could do anything. Blinded by power, we started to test who was the better teacher in drawing magic out of humans. We… used them.”
His voice faded into a regretful whisper, bringing a pause before it surged back. “Vlad and I would each take a student and pit them against each other. At the beginning, we were somewhat even. But then as the years passed… it started to backfire.
“The students taught by Vlad grew more aggressive and would be changed against their will. I always tried to bring my students on with their permission, but couldn’t convince some stronger ones. That is why they were always crushed by Vlad’s students.” The Illusionist’s face crumped. “Several wonderfully magical students, their potential squandered for two magicians’ silly duels.”
Elizabeth remained silent as he continued, watching as his golden eyes dimmed in sadness.
“Since our last match, Vlad has tried to convince me that his way of teaching is better. But I have refused to listen, and instead decided to dedicate myself to teaching as many students of magic as I possibly could.”
“You teach humans magic, then. Arthur, Isaac, Sebastian, Napoleon…” Elizabeth nearly let the mug slip out of her hands, The Illusionist catching it to suspend in the air. “Oh. They’re all—”
“They are all magically gifted students,” he confirmed as Elizabeth took the mug back into her hands. “I believe you have caught glimpses of it before. Isaac and Leonardo are teacher and student, crafting masterful inventions together. Arthur has some of the best healing magic I have ever seen in my long lifetime. Theodorus has a particular knack for spell-breaking and finding gaps in illusions. Napoleon has charming down to an art form.”
“And you teach them all?”
“Myself and Leonardo, yes. But it is a busy, hectic place, with lessons done in spare moments between acts and in the towns we visit. However…” The Illusionist stood then, patting the top of her head. “That is all I will share tonight. Instead of keeping you up with stories, I think you should rest. I will be up all night to watch over you, so please do feel free to sleep in this tent. I shall wake you when dawn—”
Before he could finish, the tent entrance flapped. A soft “Scusa”followed, but The Illusionist waved Leonardo in, Isaac two steps behind.
“Apologies, I didn’t realize you would still be awake, cara mia.” Leonardo flashed her a smile before heading over to The Illusionist, speaking in hushed tones. Elizabeth worked to listen, but their words came out muddled and foreign.
“Leonardo’s using a charm to twist their words backwards so we can’t overhear,” Isaac commented as he took the now-vacant seat across from Elizabeth. “It’s annoying.”
“It does seem like it. Is there a way to counter it?”
Isaac’s eyes widened as he looked to Elizabeth. “You know about our… wait, you can’t. How could you— unless you figured it out from Theo—”
Elizabeth laughed. “Don’t worry. The Illusionist told me about everyone’s magic after tonight. A lot makes more sense now.” She went to sip her hot chocolate, catching Isaac’s stare as she did so. “Isaac?”
“Your watch,” he said curtly. “It’s broken.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth tilted her wrist to face her, only to discover the face of her watch was cracked and the delicate hands were askew. “You’re right! It must’ve broken when…” Putting the mug down on the table next to her, she unlatched the watch from her wrist to take a closer look.
“… Leonardo?” Isaac spoke a tad louder, and the other man turned to look his way. “If she knows about us… can I try to fix something with magic?”
“Of course. Cara mia, would you indulge him?”
She nodded, holding out her watch silently. Isaac took it in hand, running his fingers over it briefly. Elizabeth watched as he laid it across his palm, then took a pen from his pocket and marked a few symbols into his skin around the watch face. His fierce rose eyes glowered down at the lifeless object, his lip turning white from how tightly he was biting it.
A moment passed. Then a few. Then several, with no visible change or progress. Isaac’s lip even began to bleed, a small trickle of blood running down his chin – but still his gaze did not waver.
Then, he shoved his hand back out toward Elizabeth. She barely caught the watch as she dropped it into her palm.
“I-I’m… I’m sorry. That spell didn’t work, and… I thought there was progress, but… excuse me. I have to finish our other project.”
“Isaac! Wait!” Elizabeth called out, but Isaac was already out of his seat and hurrying out of the tent. Leonardo sighed from behind her, and The Illusionist gave him a pointed look.
“His inventing is second to none, but you still have to charm a vast majority of his creations, don’t you?”
“Isaac’s just missing the last step, and that was no reason to deny him the chance to study.” Leonardo sniped at The Illusionist, before he strode over to Elizabeth and took her watch from her. “Forgive him. Isaac has more trouble with magic than most. I saw a lot of magical potential in him, and offered to teach him every form of magic I knew, provided he agreed to éternité.”Leonardo’s fingers closed over the watch as he looked back to Elizabeth. “Every time he tries a new branch of study, I wonder if I cursed him with it instead.”
Elizabeth instantly shook her head. “I don’t think so, Leonardo. I think you just have to keep searching and let him try. I know he’ll learn it soon enough, even if that means inventing his own kind of magic.”
Leonardo smiled. “I like your optimism. Maybe that’s it – that we just haven’t found it yet. I’ll keep my head and hopes up.” With that, he held up the watch before Elizabeth’s face. “And here’s your watch back.”
She was stunned to see the glass unscarred, a soft ticking coming from the watch despite the fact it had been crushed beyond repair moments before. Taking it back in disbelief, she latched it around her wrist before smiling to herself. “Thank you, Leonardo.”
“You’re welcome. Just take care of yourself, all right? We can’t have you getting hurt again.”
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Despite Leonardo’s fears and the whole circus being on high alert, the worst was yet to come.
The final night of the circus’s tour had the highest number of guests yet, thanks to the sign at the gate. Many had come out to get a glimpse of the circus before it went on break, fearing they would not be able to see it in their own hometowns.
If there was any night for Vlad to try one last time, it would be this night. Shakespeare had even done a unwelcome fortune at breakfast that morning, declaring to all within earshot that a fated duel would happen on this night.
It did not take a genius mind to figure out who the players would be. Even knowing that, Elizabeth now caught more glimpses than ever before of the “magic” that had been hiding under her very nose. When Vincent sketched next to her, she caught sight of his art breathing,whether the most mundane sketch or a fully finished work. On Arthur’s shift, Elizabeth was forced to chase him around the circus as he ran around like a madman, both commenting on tent arrangements and hidden corners to rearrange as well as examining any ailing within the circus grounds. A mere touch from his magic was all that was needed to help those in pain.
The circus was as mysterious as when she first stepped into it, but Elizabeth now felt that she understood it on a far deeper level than outsider ever had before.
And now it was her deepest wish that she had some magic of her own to protect it.
A circus that only opens at nightfall. The same cast performs the acts, no matter how many years have passed. Individuals who once came as children recognize the smile of the lion tamer or the confidence of the acrobats, wondering if they are the same people from all those years ago. But of course, such a feat is impossible – even for a circus.
The train pulled into a quiet, empty platform in the Grand Central Terminal. When Elizabeth checked her watch, she was surprised to see that it was closer to lunchtime than the early morning hours, but saw only an empty platform out the windows.
The doors opened to the platform, and she was among the crowd that disembarked in an uproar of excitement. The unnaturally long train spanned the length of the platform, and she spied several other circus members filing out of other cars, many of whom she had not had the opportunity to meet.
“It’s New York!” Vincent exclaimed from in front of her as he moved further onto the platform. “I’m excited to see America! This is our first time, right, Broer?”
“Our second. You were so swept up in planning your designs for the Astral Coaster that you completely missed our first American tour.”
She glanced behind her to see Leonardo talking with Arthur, discussing a new layout for the circus tents in one area. Next to her, The Illusionist was cupping his hands around small sheets of paper, which had formed into folded birds that soared over the crowded platform by the time he opened them. When he passed one to her, she discovered that it was a hotel address and check in time, giving her cause to glance at the clock overhead.
September 5th, 1899. In four days’ time, they were in New York. A place across the ocean that she never dreamed of reaching.
As the crowd began to thin, The Illusionist turned to her. “Since my train can travel a fair bit faster than the average steamboat, we try to wait a time before setting up the circus. The troupe appreciates the time to sight-see if they choose to, or they can take a vacation from the circus.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“I should never deny them the opportunity to explore and gleam inspiration from the outside world. Now, I would love to take you around myself before checking you into our hotel, but I’m afraid I have a few matters to attend to…” He looked over his shoulder, waving his hand. “Sebastian! What group are you going with?”
As Sebastian excused himself from the people he was speaking to, Elizabeth quickly spoke up. “Uhm, Mr… Sir…”
The Illusionist looked to her, offering a smile. “‘Mr. Illusionist’ or ‘Sir’ is fine, if you’re seeking a proper title. What’s the trouble? Do you not want to go with Sebastian?”
“Oh no, it’s just that… I know that both you and the others have said it would be easier for me to wait to go home, but I don’t want to be a burden. Surely, it will be easier to send me home now that we’ve settled on solid ground again? I can buy a ticket on the next boat home, even if it is expensive.”
“Naturally you could, but… this will be our only stop in America, as you heard prior. The circus will only be here for one week, and then we will make an express trip back across the ocean as soon as the week is over. I think that a steamship would only prove to be a waste of money and a rather uncomfortable journey home.” He paused a moment, crossing his arms. “While I can only assure you that you will want for nothing when under our care for the next week, and that we will see you safely home, I only pray it is enough. In fact…”
He reached into his pocket, producing another blank sheet of paper. This, he did not fold into a bird. Instead, he passed it to Sebastian. Elizabeth caught sight of writing etching itself across the paper without the aid of a pen or ink. “You are staying with my group at the hotel, and will not have to share a room. Sebastian has the address and directions, and you can decide when you get there if you want to stay or not.”
Sebastian made a face as he took the paper. “Sir, you already gave me the address. If this is—”
“These are also instructions,” The Illusionist interjected, giving Sebastian a pointed look until he examined the writing. “Please enjoy yourself in New York. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
As he walked off, Sebastian smiled and folded up the paper. “Well then, Elizabeth. If you will forgive the eccentricity of my group, I am sure you will have a lovely time. Come along.”
───────── ⋆⋅♠⋅⋆ ─────────
When the platform was empty, The Illusionist stepped back onto the train. The doors closed a moment later, the train taking off. It moved off the tracks in a matter of moments, moving at a leisurely pace through the countryside towards its destination.
As he went back to his car, he was not surprised to find Leonardo already waiting there, a paper in hand and a smile on his face. “New arrangement by Arthur. Thinks that the new vendors are a little too clustered together and took the flavor profiles of the new delicacies into account. Also, he thought that the new Aquarium Dive tent should be moved away from the Cloud Maze.”
“Both are fair statements,” The Illusionist agreed, taking the paper and memorizing the contents. “Now, you could have easily given this to me later. What are you really here for, old friend?”
“How did that little lady get on our train, Mr. Illusionist?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” As he went to the back of the train to hang his coat, the golden script on his carpet shifted beneath him. Leonardo watched as the circle around “Aquarium Dive” moved through the circus below, settling in a new spot.
“She didn’t find it on her own, though. You can eliminate that one right out the gate. Normal people don’t see through your deceit and trickery.”
Making a face, The Illusionist sat down across from Leonardo. “Naturally. What strength she possesses isn’t enough to break the spell I cast over the train.”
“Oh, so she is special, then? You conveniently left that detail out.”
“Special enough, but I do not plan on extending her an invitation.” The Illusionist frowned, staring out the window. “She did not come here on her own. That means she had help getting on the train.”
“Malicious or benevolent?”
“I am not sure. I do not sense a single thing from her, but it is clear that she did not intend to board this train. The fact she cannot remember how she boarded also troubles me.”
“Sounds like it was malicious on the part of whoever forced her onto this train then. Any candidates you can think of who might be out to get you?”
“… A couple.”
Leonardo waited for his old friend to elaborate, but stood from his chair with a sigh when he did not do so. “Then we’ll just keep an eye on her for now. I’m sure Sebastian has her under control, and the rest of ‘em should be able to stop her if she tries anything.”
The Illusionist nodded once. “I agree.”
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“So, where to first, gentlemen – and lady?”
Sebastian addressed the crowd around him – Napoleon and Elizabeth ahead, Jean and Isaac a step back. He first asked in French and then in English, catching the attention of all present.
“I know that Napoleon woke up late this morning and didn’t eat with us,” Isaac said. “I doubt Jean ate too, since he usually forgets.”
“Perhaps our first stop should be a bakery, then,” Sebastian noted. “Breakfast – or lunch, at this hour – for everyone.”
“That does sound nice,” Elizabeth agreed. The next moment, her stomach growled loudly. She threw her arm about it in a half-hearted attempt to stifle it. “Excuse me!”
At that, Napoleon broke out laughing. He nearly doubled over on the sidewalk, catching the attention of a few passersby as they continued moving past.
“It’s not that funny!” Elizabeth insisted, but Napoleon continued to laugh – the sight even earning smiles from Jean and Isaac. While she blushed furiously in embarrassment, Sebastian sighed while checking his pocket watch.
“Perhaps a sit-down breakfast would be easier,” Sebastian stated dryly. “I didn’t realize I had so many hungry individuals on my hands. Mr. Isaac, would you be all right with that?”
“Fine with me.”
The decision made, Sebastian escorted them through busy streets and around crowds of people to a decently busy locale. The five of them were seated in no time, and wasted no time assuming their roles. Sebastian helpfully translated tricker bits of the menu for Jean – who, it now appeared to Elizabeth, was more inclined to French over English – while Napoleon and Isaac scanned their own menus.
“So, Elizabeth,” Napoleon started as the server left with their order, “Have you ever been to New York before?”
“Never! I’ve never even left my home country! The buildings here are so tall – and I can’t believe how many people there are! Everything feels much busier here.”
“It’s very rare that we get to come across the ocean,” Sebastian commented. “But coming to cities like this makes the trip worth it. Though, it is harder for some us than others.”
Isaac grimaced. “It’s just too loud. You promised we could go to that new park they opened if it got to be too overwhelming.”
“That’s true, they started in 1858 and only recently finished the whole park, right?” Napoleon smiled. “The last time we were here, they’d just opened the northern section. Theo and Vincent haven’t even seen it yet!”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, then shut it as her face took on a puzzled frown. All the men looked to her as she stayed quiet and continued to stare at them before finally speaking.
“… How old are all of you? I figured you couldn’t be much older than me, but… when you were last here seems like it was a terribly long time ago.”
A beat of uncomfortable silence passed over the table, only to be disrupted as the server came to pass out drinks and coffees to those who ordered them. When they vanished, Elizabeth continued to glance pointedly at each member of the table before Sebastian spoke up.
“I think that it should be obvious we’re still around the same age as you. I think that you got the date mixed up, Napoleon – or that you’re thinking of something that one of the other tamers or animal caretakers told you.”
For a moment, it appeared as if Napoleon was going to protest – before then slapping a hand to his forehead and exclaiming, “That’s right! I’d forgotten. The older acrobats were talking about it, weren’t they? Saying how excited they were to see it open. I still say we should stop by.”
“Then that settles it. I know for a fact it’s only a few blocks up. In fact, before our food gets here…” Sebastian produced a map from his pocket, spreading it out across the table. People lifted glasses and mugs out of the way to make room for it. “Look here. We’re halfway there now. I’m sure there’s a few other stops along the way, so tell me if you want to go anywhere.”
Sebastian’s words were swift and his motions elegant, and Elizabeth found herself going along with his discussion without question. Any worries she had were pushed out of mind.
The map ended up staying out on the table even as food came, everyone asking questions and commenting on places they wanted to visit. More often than not, they were quoting what they had heard from others about attractions that had been updated or renovated recently, meaning they deserved a visit. (Elizabeth chose to not comment on the fact that it frequently sounded like an afterthought and was directed at her.)
Sebastian, in particular, was adamant about ending their tour in one specific area of the city. As he worked to take into account everyone’s desires and figure out trolley routes, it was clear that he was aiming to keep to a schedule and conclude at one particular destination. His timekeeping even extended to after they had left the restaurant and began to explore, encouraging all to keep pace with him and to settle affairs quickly.
They visited shops and a couple historical locales, wandered through the park and encouraged Jean and Isaac to feed some of the ducks swimming in the pond. But even such a leisurely stroll was held to Sebastian’s rigid schedule, and he urged them on before long. Elizabeth initially thought his rush was so that he could check them into the hotel, but, as they came to a stop outside a notable department store, she decided to ask him what the rush was.
“Well, the answer may surprise you, since you’ll see in a moment— ah, wait. There he is!”
Sebastian raised his hand to wave, smiling as he caught sight of someone that Elizabeth could not see. She lifted herself onto her tiptoes, just barely catching a glimpse of The Illusionist as he tipped his hat and came down the sidewalk towards them.
“You four did well. Thank you for showing her around.” He bowed slightly to Napoleon and Sebastian, then tilted his hat again toward Jean and Isaac. “I promise to show her just as grand of a time as yours.”
“We’ll hold you to it, sir,” Napoleon said, grinning. “See you back at the hotel, Elizabeth.”
“Don’t stay out too late or spoil her too much,” Sebastian chided. “You need to have a circus set-up briefing with Mr. Leonardo.”
“He already gave me the initial draft, and our second meeting is not until eleven this evening. But that aside…” The Illusionist offered his arm to Elizabeth, allowing her to loop her hand through it. “Let us have ourselves a nice little excursion, shall we?”
───────── ⋆⋅♠⋅⋆ ─────────
Elizabeth had nearly turned and left at the sight of such an elegant department store, catching onto his plot rather fast – but The Illusionist held fast and ushered her inside. Two swift hours had passed before they left with a series of new outfits and a proper suitcase.
The Illusionist had spared no expense for his unusual guest, guiding her through the store with a practiced ease and charm. He gave honest opinions about the clothes she picked for herself and offered his own selections, and the two gathered a modest ensemble. Staff helped where necessary, and Elizabeth felt most flustered when he paid for it all without flinching at the whispered price.
After heading to the designated hotel and giving her a key to her room, Elizabeth was escorted down to dinner in one of her new outfits, which garnered smiles and gentle applause from those who caught sight of her.
“You look nice!” Napoleon said first, glancing over to Isaac. “Doesn’t she?”
The inventor said nothing as he continued to poke at his food.
“There you go, Lizzy!” Arthur declared in the beat of silence as she settled at their table. “That’s a fantastic look on you.”
“Can the flirting and compliment-digging, Arthur,” Theo growled. “Leave her alone and let her be. She’ll be gone in a week, after all. There’s no point in starting something.”
“Well, maybe there is! And maybe youdon’t get— oh, whoops!”
A dramatic hand gesture backfired, knocking back Theo’s glass of wine and casting it over the table. The Illusionist, who had just finished pushing in her chair, reached out to right the glass. While a few flecks had splattered across the table, most of the wine had thankfully managed to remain in the glass.
The more miraculous thing Elizabeth noted was that, a few moments later, the stains were not there at all. But as the rest of the table made no comment, she opted not to either. They all appeared used to The Illusionist’s liberal use of magic. I wonder if he’s ever done it outside of his usual crowd and gotten in trouble before!
The dinner was a grand affair, some members cycling from table to table. Elizabeth was eventually pulled from her seat and dragged along to meet other members of the circus – but would always sigh with relief when she found herself with members from the core group once again.
As the night rolled on and some members retired to their rooms, a good number remained to continue celebrating. They convinced Elizabeth to stay as well, insisting that she should fully enjoy herself for the brief time she was here. The moment she accepted, someone discovered the phonograph and started playing dance music, and she was pulled onto the dance floor.
When the party reached its full swing, only then did she realize how exhausted she felt. Retreating to a corner of the room, she decided to watch the party, giggling when she caught sight of Arthur nearly bumping into The Illusionist as they danced with a couple other members of the circus.
It was then she felt a presence next to her. Turning with a jump, she was met with the sight of a man with soft pink hair pulled back into a ponytail. His gaze, one eye red and one yellow, bore a hole into her – until it dissipated, and his face relaxed into a smile.
“Good evening, Elizabeth. I’m afraid we haven’t yet had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries.” He extended his hand. “You may address me as William Shakespeare. I am the fortune teller of this circus.”
“Oh!” She stood and accepted his hand, shaking it gently. “A pleasure to meet you. I did want to get my fortune told at the circus, but I didn’t get the chance.”
“What a keen coincidence, then!” Shakespeare’s eyes lit up. “I did wish to provide you with a reading, and hearing that you did desire one makes me a merry sir indeed. Now, would you prefer a simple glance or a complicated insight? The latter may take more time, but it can provide more answers.”
“A simple one’s fine, thank you.”
“A proper choice for your apparent weariness. Then I shall do the most simple of all – a single card reading. Sit, sit,” Shakespeare settled on the other side of the table and produced a deck of white and gold cards as she returned to her chair.
“Think of your deepest, dying question, but do not let it pass thine lips.” He shuffled as he spoke, his two-toned eyes holding her gaze. His deft fingers did all motions with elegance, before holding it out to her in one hand.
“Put your hands around it. Tell them your question again, only in your mind.”
She did as asked, his other hand coming up to hold hers on top of the deck. The question rose to the forefront of her thoughts, not wavering as she silently asked:
Will I be safe here?
Shakespeare released her hand and let her draw them back, then shuffled the deck one last time.
“I’ll only show the topmost card.” Flipping it with a flourish, he laid it down on the table. Elizabeth took a moment to admire it, the golden outline of a figure seated upon a throne looking back at her. They were upside down, but the figure was still regal despite the inversion.
Shakespeare tutted. “A strong, powerful figure. Currently very prominent in your life. Or possibly influenced your life’s path.” He puzzled over the card, his finger stroking down the side. “The reversal implies that the figure is also concealing something. About themselves or the circumstances. They didn’t tell you everything.”
“… What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It is unclear without other cards to support it. All I can read is that someone of significance was not honest with you. Or is not honest.” As Shakespeare shuffled the card back into the deck, he gave her a low smile. “Perhaps it has to do with the warning I felt I should pass along to you.”
“… A warning?”
“I heard that The Illusionist took you to find those fine garments today. And that it appears as if he wants to keep you in the circus.”
“That’s not true,” Elizabeth said defensively. “He frequently insisted that it was just for my comfort. He promised to take me home at the end of the week.”
“Well, he can say pretty words all he likes. But I will share this: I would not trust the Illusionist. After all, he brought you here with magic. Why can he not use his powers to send you home?”
A circus that only opens at nightfall. The same cast performs the acts, no matter how many years have passed. Individuals who once came as children recognize the smile of the lion tamer or the confidence of the acrobats, wondering if they are the same people from all those years ago. But of course, such a feat is impossible – even for a circus.
At the Illusionist’s request, Elizabeth followed him to the dining car. As they left the compartment car behind, she noted that the next couple they toured through were akin to sleeper cars. There were no windows to reveal their interiors. Brass numbers were impressed upon each door, declining in value as they traveled through two more cars.
As he slid open the entrance to the third car and stepped inside, Elizabeth caught sight of a half-full dining car. Various members of the circus sat scattered around the tables – some she found herself surprised to recognize.
The Illusionist clapped his hands twice. “Everyone, forgive me for interrupting breakfast. While I understand not everyone is present right now, I have an announcement.”
Some gazes went to him, conversations dying down. However, The Illusionist did not say another word – he only stepped aside to reveal Elizabeth. As he did so, one chipper voice piped up: “Did you finally convince a woman to join our branch of the circus?”
All gazes snapped to attention then, some staring in fascination while others appeared skeptical. A couple hesitant glances were exchanged, but The Illusionist shook his head.
“Nothing of the sort. This poor woman appears to have boarded our train on accident. While I don’t know how—” he said quickly, cutting off a smattering of questioning voices— “What I do know is that she is a guest of ours. I suggest that everyone present introduce themselves and welcome her to the dining car, so that she can become acquainted with you all.”
“She can sit with us!” The chipper man from earlier called out once more, dark hair bouncing as he waved his hand in the air – only to have it be tugged down by the irritable-looking man next to him. “Theo! Come on! It’s not every day we get to engage with women like this!”
“I don’t believe that for a second. You surely flirt with the local ladies the second we land in each venue…”
As the two started to bicker, The Illusionist quietly pointed out a quieter table with one empty seat and led her to sit. The faces all present were familiar to her – she recognized the Lion Tamer, a man with black hair tipped with white and a striking emerald gaze. The two across were the same who had entered The Illusionist’s tent.
“Surprised to see you again,” the taller figure said. “Suppose we didn’t get to introduce ourselves to each other before that show. I’m Leonardo.”
“Elizabeth,” she said back. She smiled at the pink-haired man next to Leonardo and at the Lion Tamer. “And you two are…?”
“I’m Napoleon,” the tamer said, “and he’s Isaac. I’m responsible for the larger animal acts in the circus, and those two are the circus inventors. You would definitely see more of them than me if you ran around backstage.”
Elizabeth gasped, turning to the two across from her. “You two make things for the circus?”
“That we do,” Leonardo said. “But we’re not the only ones. We have a whole team.” He pointed at the table where the chipper man and the one he called “Theo” were still locked in a heated debate. Across from them, there was a man with blond hair and blue eyes was trying to break up the fight. “That man there’s named Vincent. He’s the circus’s conceptualist. His most recent idea was the moving statues – recruiting the talent from a host of intense auditions with his brother, Theo. You might’ve seen some of them this time around.”
“Wait!” Elizabeth gasped. “I saw him standing in front of one of the statues! I thought he was just sketching them. He thought those up? Those were phenomenal! I could scarcely tell they were moving.”
Napoleon leaned back in his chair, glancing over as well. “The two men arguing are Arthur and Theo – Arthur’s the black haired one. Theo manages the sales and management of circus functions, such as seeking out new acts when we go to town. Arthur handles the other parts of the circus, like the arrangement of the tents and what goes inside them. He’s also our resident doctor.”
“You wouldn’t think they work well together with the way they’re arguing, though,” Leonardo quipped.
“They don’t,” Isaac finally said, his tone gruff. “They bicker all the time when I’m listening to their ideas, and hardly anything gets done.”
“And yet, you always come away and invent exactly what they want.”
“What about The Illusionist?” Elizabeth asked. “He’s amazing. I thought he was just another performer… but, it seems like he’s respected around here. Who is he?”
The table was silent for a moment at her question. She wondered, briefly, if that question was too forward.
Leonardo finally let out a long sigh, slowly answering. “He runs the circus, actually. If we were a one-tent, three-ring act, he would be our ringleader. But honestly, if you got questions for him, you’re better off asking him yourself. Though I can’t promise the magician will reveal his secrets.”
“Understandable,” Elizabeth responded with a nod. “I would like to thank him at some point for helping me, though. And ask him about getting home.”
“If a meeting with him is what you want to arrange… Sebas!” Napoleon called out across the car over the rising conversation. “Can you come here a moment?”
A man appeared a few moments later from deeper in the car, dressed in a slightly more casual fashion than his companions. He smiled as he saw Elizabeth. “I wondered if you would call me over, Napoleon. Do you need something from the dining car staff, Miss…?”
“Just Elizabeth is fine. I was wondering if there was a chance I could talk with The Illusionist, but…”
“You’re his right hand,” Leonardo cut in as she trailed off. “Surely you’re able to convince the old man to spare a few moments for a concerned little lady?”
“I’m just a member of the acrobat’s tent,” Sebastian sniffed, “but I suppose I can ask him. I’ll come fetch you as soon as I can arrange a time, Elizabeth.”
“I would appreciate it,” she said with a smile. “Thank you.”
───────── ⋆⋅♠⋅⋆ ─────────
The following afternoon, Elizabeth received a summons from The Illusionist. Sebastian was the one who had come to get her. Extended conversation over dinner had brought a new host of characters who came to introduce themselves, ranging from the handlers who worked in Napoleon’s tent to three of the moving statue figures who wanted to thank her for her compliments.
Sebastian had been the “former talk of the train,” as Arthur later put it. While his initial retort had declared that he was only a member of the acrobat’s tent, he was in actuality among the newest members to the circus’s inner circle who had proved himself to be quite effective at settling arguments, assisting in the dining car, and ensuring the comforts of most members of the circus.
As she opened the door to her new sleeper compartment to greet him, he acknowledged her with a slight bow. “Elizabeth. The Illusionist wanted to know if now is an appropriate time. If now is not suitable, we can arrange another time. He also wishes to know if this sleeper compartment is good for you, or if you need to be moved.”
“It’s perfect! I’m thankful for his generosity. And now is a good time. I’m not doing much else aside from reading,” she said with a laugh. “Thank you for the books.”
“Train rides are boring, particularly when they last for several days,” he commented as they started walking down the hallway. “Without much to see out the windows—” he gestured to the ocean, still glittering outside— “there is little else to entertain yourself with.”
“Makes sense.” They walked in silence for a few more moments, heading into the next car. As they did so, Elizabeth asked Sebastian if he was close with The Illusionist and if there was anything she should know before meeting him.
“Not as close as some wish to claim, I’m afraid. All I know is that he trusts me to manage this rowdy circus. Aside from my acrobatic duties, my main job description is ‘enhancing and promoting their creativity and ingenuity,’ but it appears that all I do is ensure they eat and break up spats.”
Elizabeth laughed as they walked through the next car. “I’m sure everyone appreciates your hard work, though.”
“I’d like to think so. Now, here we are.” Sebastian pulled the lever on the door and slid it open, revealing a single spacious car. There were no compartments or seats. Instead, the car was tastefully decorated in rich blacks and golds. Deep purple and black furniture decorated the car, but a few spots of color were scattered about the car in the form of white doves on perches or multicolored playing cards across the floor – which was the most interesting part of the car.
Beneath her feet, an etched script glittered against the carpet. She recognized a few words that were encased in circles – “cotton candy” and “acrobat” stood out to her first.
Even the carpet is circus themed, she noticed, a smile rising to her lips. As she looked up again, her eyes met The Illusionist’s, who gave her a slight bow.
“Thank you for bringing her, Sebastian. Would you mind getting the tea? There’s a pot steeping over there, but I was too caught up in my practice to tend to it.”
“Of course. Elizabeth, please sit down.” Sebastian indicated to one of the chairs near The Illusionist before walking further into the car.
“Miss Elizabeth,” The Illusionist said as he sat down across from her, “I can imagine you have many questions about this train. I wanted to give you time to adjust to our strange environment before inviting you to my car, but forgive me if I have seemed an unwelcome host.”
“Not at all. I have already felt quite at home thanks to you and everyone else.”
“Good. That’s reassuring to hear.” The Illusionist leaned back in his chair as Sebastian brought over a tea tray, accepting the cup that was poured and passed to him. “I suppose it would be better for me to start with an explanation and see how many of your questions it answers. Will that be suitable for now?”
“Yes. Though I’m most curious about how this train is… where it is.” She cast a glance out all the windows around them, still only seeing the boundless ocean. “How are we traveling across the ocean?”
“This circus is a traveling circus, as you are already aware,” he answered without hesitation. “In order to bring everything with us, from our actors to our staff to our tents and props, we load it onto this train. Of course, the matter of physically moving from one location to the next… is a tricker matter to explain.”
Elizabeth paused as The Illusionist leaned forward in his chair, his golden eyes serious as he stared at her.
“Miss Elizabeth, do you believe in magic?”
The question was a surprising one, but an answer that should have been obvious died on her lips.
After all, her opinion on magic had changed two nights ago. Before that time, she knew that magic was never real – it was a deceit, an illusion designed to entertain where the fascinating part was not knowing exactly how the magician performed the trick.
The man who sat before her was the one responsible for her wavering belief in the falsehood called “magic.” When she watched his act, there was no indication that what he was doing was fake in any way. It was almost as if he was more authentic than any performer she had seen before. One that truly possessed magic.
“I… I don’t know anymore.”
“Then, if you are already halfway there…” The Illusionist set the saucer of his teacup aside, holding the cup in his hand – then tipped it over onto the table.
Elizabeth cried out, pushing back in her chair.
But the tea did not splatter everywhere, or even so much as stain her skirt and The Illusionist’s fine suit.
Instead, the splatter was suspended in air. The amber liquid was cascading down, suspended in perfect form just before it had hit the table’s surface. As The Illusionist removed his hand from the teacup, it too remained, the moment before them frozen in time.
Elizabeth could only stare in fascination as The Illusionist began to explain.
“There are two kinds of magic. There is the magic humans have invented through machine and trick to amaze their audiences. Such illusions are able to be replicated and reproduced by others. But this magic…”
As he spoke, he waved his hand. The liquid flew back into the teacup in one swift motion, righting itself and returning to his hand.
“This is real magic. It is an ability that very few have. In my case, I use magic constantly. It keeps this train running. It builds the circus and makes it what it is. I used real magic at the show you saw – and, the knowledge that magic is real should explain how I was able to perform the tricks I did.”
Elizabeth could only stare in awestruck silence. For a moment, The Illusionist wondered if he had perhaps given her too much information at once, before her lips stuttered out a timid question:
“Is… is the rest of the circus aware? That this is all because of you?”
“Oh, naturally. This would be impossible to keep secret. I decided it was easier to tell them than expend extra magic to create a false scenery outside their windows. Besides, the view of the ocean like this is much more pleasant, don’t you think?” He smiled as he turned to look. “As you were going to be with us for some time, I thought it right that you should know. But with that, do you have any other questions?”
Elizabeth slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t believe so.”
“Then allow me to ask one in return. Elizabeth… how did you get onto our train?”
She was silent for a few moments, her brow scrunching in thought. “I… I remember waiting for my train. So much time passed while I daydreamed about the circus, and I think I was worried I was going to miss my train. When it was on the platform…” she paused again, her thoughts clouded and hazy. “I remember rushing on. That’s all. I knew something was strange, but the train left before I could get off.”
The Illusionist was silent, scanning her eyes for any doubts. She spoke a truth – a truth to her.
Elizabeth let out a soft laugh. “Forgive me, I might just a bit overwhelmed, but…” A smile rose to her lips despite her words. “All in all, I am relieved to know that magic is real, and that I am not going crazy. I think I would like to see more of it, since I am on this train either way. Forgive me for boarding without your permission, sir.”
“Then perhaps, when you have cleared your head, you can come by again. I would not mind showing you more while answering your questions. Thank you for listening to this old man prattle on.”
“If you don’t mind my saying, you don’t look old at all.” Elizabeth set her teacup down and stood from her chair. “But thank you.”
“Do you need me to escort you back?” Sebastian asked, glancing over from a corner of the car. “I can assist you.”
“No, I think I’ll be fine on my own. Thank you, Sebastian.” She left slowly, as if reluctant to depart – but when the door finally slid shut, The Illusionist let out a gentle sigh.
“Do you think it was wise to tell her, Sebastian?” he asked as he took as a small sip from his teacup, frowning when he found it cold.
“I believe that you did the right thing, sir. After all, you saw what it did to me.” Sebastian smiled as he came over to collect Elizabeth’s teacup, noting the small waft of steam that left The Illusionist’s cup as he warmed it in his hands. “Maybe it will convince her to join the circus. Like Arthur said, it would be good to convince a woman into the inner circle.”
“Perhaps it will,” he said with a smile, pushing aside the more somber thought that accompanied it.
But I hope it does not.
───────── ⋆⋅♠⋅⋆ ─────────
On the third day, The Illusionist announced at breakfast that their only American destination on this go-around would be New York. A special sign would be posted at the entrance to declare a two-week break before moving on afterwards. There was no explanation for why they would require a break – but Elizabeth suspected it had something to do with her presence and need to return home. In an attempt to stifle the guilt, she tried to find out as much about New York as possible from the other members of the circus, listening as everyone told their own stories of the place and instructed her on the best destinations to see if she ever got bored of the hanging around the circus troupe.
After breakfast, all members left the car to go pack up anything they needed their rooms. She packed her few belongings into a single bag and had just settled in to read when there was a knock at her door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Leonardo. Can I come in, cara mia?”
“Of course!”
As he entered, he made a face as he scanned the relatively empty compartment. Extra blankets she had requested were already folded into a neat pile with a pair of borrowed pajamas on top. All that she held in her hands was a single day bag.
“Explains why you haven’t changed your clothes in three days.”
“I wasn’t expecting to come on a train and be heading to America, after all! I didn’t pack for a journey across the ocean.”
“Well, you’ll have to get something to wear. Maybe we can find you something from the other circus members. Or I’ll get the costumers on it.” Lifting a cigarillo to his lips and lighting it when she gave a nod, he let out a heaving sigh. “I’m sorry that you are swept up in this, though. Even Mr. Illusionist isn’t sure how you got on this train.”
“I’m afraid I don’t either. I just know that one moment, I was running to the platform and towards this train, mistakenly boarding… and then, after waking up in my compartment, we’re traveling across the ocean.”
“All we can do is make sure you have a good, proper week before you return home, then.” Leonardo turned to leave, waving over his shoulder. “I’m off to check on the others. Let anybody know if you need something.”
“Of course. Thank you, Leonardo.”
As the door slid shut behind him, Elizabeth noted that the smell of tobacco had left with him, none of it lingering in her compartment. The thought left her as she turned once more to look out the window at the vivid blue seascape.
It still feels so unreal – like I’ll wake up from a dream if I make one wrong misstep. But is this a dream I want to wake up from?
A little while ago I wrote a few drabbles of my one of my OCs Freda with her boyfriends Theo and Arthur; You can find that post here! And so I decided to do this for all of my OCs, how exciting (❁´◡`❁) This one is Jane x Leonardo and y’all can find Jane’s character profile at this link~
Please note that drabble 3 contains some suggestive content but nothing explicit, please proceed with caution.
Jane’s bright forest green eyes blinked a few times, taking in the space around for the first time with curiosity, “You library is magnificent, Monsieur,” she spoke softly, taking one small step further into the room. The former Queen smiled ever so slightly, her delicate little hands clutching at the green velvet skirts of her dress in anticipation, jumping a little in place when she saw a broad, olive skinned man curled up underneath the coffee table in the corner, “Monsieur, is that man alright?”
Le Comte chuckled warmly when his golden honey eyes found Jane’s concerned expression, resting his warm hand on her shoulder carefully, “Leonardo enjoys taking his siestas whenever the mood strikes him. He doesn’t seem to care where he falls asleep, ma chere.”
“I gather so,” the lady smiled carefully, her gaze finding Leonardo once again, her pale cheeks flushing pink when the man’s eyes opened and he smirked at her, “Oh! I apologise for staring, Sir.” Jane turned her gaze to the floor to hide her blush and curtsied to him as he began to stand up, “Jane Grey. Queen Jane. ‘Tis a pleasure to meet you … Monsieur Leonardo?”
“Si,”his voice was smooth and confident, alluring in it’s huskiness, “Leonardo Da Vinci, signora,” he took her hand in his own and kissed her knuckles affectionately, once again making the lady blush. Jane gasped softly as she heard his name. an excited twinkle bright in her wide India green eyes which made the Italian man’s thick brown eyebrows raise curiously, “Oh? Ya like that, Your Highness?”
“No non è quello,” she replied almost breathlessly, turning his hand over in her own to shake it excitedly, a grin spreading across her face, “È un piacere conoscerla Signor Da Vinci!“
Leonardo chuckled warmly, shaking Jane’s hand - which was tiny and pale in his own - in return, his eyebrows still raised as he glanced over at le Comte, “She speaks Italian?” He turned his attention back to Jane who had stopped shaking his hand but still held on to him, “Il piacere è tutto mio, cara mia.”
-
“Leonardo, I need your help!” Jane called from the mansion’s foyer, her arms full and her tiger red eyebrows turned downward with effort.
Leonardo walked briskly from the direction of the kitchen and picked up the pace when he saw Jane, rushing to her side and scooping up the large white and ginger cat from out of her arms, his amber eyes softening when Jane’s expression relaxed, “Cara mia, what is this?”
The lady let out a sigh of relief, now only holding one tiny white Persian kitten, and she smiled a little guiltily, “I saw them on the side of the road and - a-and they looked so helpless, I couldn’t leave them, Leonardo-” She held up the impossibly small kitten against her cheek, flashing her boyfriend her best pleading puppy eyes, “We can handle just two more!”
“You said the same when you brought our pup home, Jane, mi amore,” he smirked at her, his big warm hand already stroking the fat Norwegian forest cat in his arms. He sighed, giving in - though, he knew that Jane could convince him to do anything, he loved her that much - “We can keep them. Lumiere needs more cats to play with.” Leonardo wandered closer to Jane and reached out to the kitten she held, “Ciao, gattino,” he cooed down at the tiny cat, smiling fondly at it, “Have you named your new little friends, cara?”
“Mhm!”Jane nodded happily, gently stroking the back of the white cat’s head with the back of her index finger, “This is Lady Katherine - I think she looks like a little lady and that,” she cocked her head in the direction of the big fluff ball that her boyfriend held, “That gentleman is called Piero.” And with that, Jane and Leonardo now had taken in four strays between them: Lumiere, Lady Katherine and Piero, their band of troublemaking kitties and Edward, their loyal Great Dane who acted like a big grey lapdog.
-
“Mhm, principessa,” Leonardo hummed lowly, his saffron eyes fluttering shut as he pressed a kiss to Jane’s cheek and they lay in bed naked, cradling each other underneath soft cotton sheets, “I feel like we should stay like this forever.”
Jane smiled tiredly as she snuggled up to her boyfriend’s side, sore beyond compare but unbelievably happy when his arms tightened around her small frame. The lady felt the blush on her cheeks - that had been present throughout their entire evening - deepen as realisation dawned upon her, “G-goodness me … we just - Leonardo, do you realise? We just-”
“Made love?” He chuckled quietly, brushing Jane’s blushing left cheek with the calloused pad of his thumb, his brow quirking with curiosity when his gentle affection didn’t slow the racing of her pulse, “Somethin’ wrong, bellezza mia?”
The shy young lady shook her head smally, averting her big forest green eyes to look at anything else but her beloved’s inquisitive gaze, “But, we’re not married. Surely we shouldn’t have-” Jane was cut off by Leonardo’s mouth on her’s, his lips kissing away her worry slowly and carefully. When they parted, there remained a look of worry painted on her pretty face and that sinking dread in her heart.
“Do you regret it?”
Jane blinked, confused, “Whatever do you mean?”
Leonardo sat himself up and pulled his girlfriend up onto his lap, one of his large hands holding onto her slender waist and his other tenderly cradling her jaw. They held eye contact, the intimacy between gentle green and emboldened amber speaking volumes as their hearts beat as one, “Do you regret sleeping with me, Jane? Would you be happier if we waited until we got married?” Jane didn’t answer, stirring Leonardo to continue, a cheeky grin on his lips, “If so, I’d put a ring on your finger by morning.”
“No,” the queen thought out loud, placing her hands on Leonardo’s cheeks and craning forward to give him a fleeting, butterfly light kiss. She felt the stormy seas in her heart settle and self-assuredness wash over her like fresh rain in the garden, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you,” Jane smiled softly at her boyfriend who squeezed her waist with both of his warm, capable hands and smirked at her, “And an experience so heavenly couldn’t be sin, of that I am sure.”
-
Jane giggled in the summer sun, gently holding onto her shopping basket as she spoke with her friend William Shakespeare. Her white summer dress seemed to gleam under the bright sun but even that looked grey compared to her radiant smile and anyone who saw her would surely say she was sweeter than the season’s finest fruits. Despite her joyful mood, Leonardo, her darling boyfriend, scowled when he spotted her from the other side of the town square conversing with such an unsavoury character as Shakespeare. The artist handed the now-fixed violin back to the little girl he’d been sat with and hurriedly strode towards his beloved Jane. The lady jumped a little when she felt a squeezing hand upon her side, but relaxed at the voice that followed, “Sorry to interrupt, but cara mia and I have plans now. Scusa, Will,” Leonardo almost growled the poet’s name before grasping his lady’s wrist and leading her towards a secluded alleyway.
“Leonardo?”Jane’s thin eyebrows raised in surprise and confusion when the couple stopped, with Leonardo having pinned her against a wall, “Leonardo what has gotten into you?” She put her hands up against his broad chest and pushed him back so she had room to properly observe his face, sighing when she recognised his darkened expression, “You don’t need to be jealous of him, cuore mio.” Jane gently cupped Leonardo’s cheeks with her delicate hands and she smiled sweetly when he nuzzled against her touch before burying his nose against her neck.
Leonardo sighed into her pale skin, leaving a few careful kisses on her neck before he raised his head, his expression a mixture of a wounded lion and a heartbroken schoolboy, “I know, Jane, mi amor.” The taller vampire smiled guiltily, standing back a little and anxiously rubbing the back of his neck, “Scusa. I just …” he looked away, Jane’s rich Spanish green proving too beautiful, too much for his heart to handle, “I want you all to myself. I don’t want that scarafaggio crawling in here.” Leonardo placed his warm left hand over Jane’s heart, smirking smally when her pulse beat faster underneath his touch.
The lady smiled softly, throwing her arms around her boyfriend’s waist and snuggling up against his toned body, “Il mio cuore è tutto tuo.”
-
Leonardo chuckled warmly as Jane’s hand brushed his own when they both reached for the orange paint, “What are you painting with that shade, la mia tigre?” He squeezed her hand softly before withdrawing to grab a jar of dark green paint instead.
“Hm, you’ll see,” the former queen grinned confidently at her lover, sending Cupid’s arrow straight through his chest and filling his heart with overwhelming warmth and affection. They both turned their attention back to their paintings, comfortable in the warm sunshine that streamed through the windows whilst the radio played quietly somewhere in the background. Leonardo noticed Jane occasionally peeking up from over her canvas and gazing at him before turning back to her painting. Likewise, the pureblood was doing the same thing. Without much warning, Piero, the couple’s fat ginger and white cat jumped from his seat on Leonardo’s lap and onto the floor, knocking over several jars of paint as he padded out of the room. “Oh dear,” Jane sighed, kneeling down to clean up the bright splotches on the floor.
“Let me help, cara mia,” as he reached for a rag to wipe the floor, Jane swiped her index finger across her boyfriend’s cheek, giggling when his eyes widened in shock at the cool feeling of paint on his face. Leonardo glanced at himself briefly in the mirror, frowning slightly when he noticed the bright blue splotch on his olive toned skin, “Hey, not fair.” The artist smirked to himself as he dipped his finger into the puddle of sky on the wooden floor and swiped it onto Jane’s button nose.
The pair of them laughed at each other, continuing to splat paint onto one another until they were breathless, grinning in each other’s arms until Jane spoke quietly, “I finished my painting.”
“Oh yeah?” Leonardo stood up and walked around her easel to view a beautiful portrait of himself with the fluffy Piero in his lap. There was a serene smile on his face which matched the one painted in acrylics which he turned towards his beloved, “ ‘s beautiful. You’re beautiful.” The pureblood reached out towards his own canvas and spun it around to show Jane a portrait of herself in vibrant pigments, “Ah but, this doesn’t compare to the real thing.” He dropped to his knees in front of her and placed a warm kiss to her lips, making the lady gasp softly.
Jane muttered against her boyfriend’s lips, “You’re beautiful too, Leo.” And with that, Leonardo picked Jane up and carried her bridal style to the baths to help wash all the paint off of her porcelain perfect skin.
Good day @kitsune25 hows it going? I only take 3 suitors per request so I haven’t written Shakespeare for this one! You can always check my rules page if you’re ever confused about what requests I’ll take on ^^ This is kinda short since I wasn’t exactly sure what you were asking for but, I hope you enjoy it nonetheless~
- JJ x
~~~~~~~~~~
Arthur Conan Doyle:
Arthur is just grateful for the attention in all honesty; His work is exhausting and mentally draining, often leaving him in desperate need to some tender loving care after a long day at his desk. He might make a suggestive comment or two about his beloved being sat in his lap and how comfortable they may be there sans a few items of clothing but there is nothing but tenderness in his grasp on their waist and the soft look in his eyes as he watches them carefully. Arthur will grin when he sees the little braids in his hair in the mirror and kiss his MC on the cheek, expressing his pride and admiration for their hard work.
Le Comte de Saint German:
Le Comte will take any excuse to take time off from all of his paperwork and when his darling strolls into his office, looking listless and needy, he’ll be putting his pen down without hesitation. He’ll open his arms out towards his MC and let them settle in his comfortable lap, chuckling warmly when their hands tangle in his honey gold hair. He might tease a little, remarking that his MC stirs something within him, something that yearns to make a family together where their children would play with his hair like they did now. And for once, he’s at peace as the time ticks by, looking forward to what the future brings for them both.
Leonardo Da Vinci:
Leonardo himself was much like a big, sleepy cat - warm, lazy and a great lover of affection. So when MC slipped themselves onto his lap casually and began to run their fingers through his silky, rich brown hair, he let his eyes flutter shut and his chest vibrated with a satisfied purr. He leant back on his hands, his palms pawing comfortably at the soft bedding beneath him and letting his head lull back in relaxation. Leonardo may grumble a little at his MC’s work on his hair - the little plaits and the messy twirls - but he doesn’t really mind: His hair is usually messy anyway.
2021 Election Benefit Gacha Cards // 3rd Place in the Captivating Category (Leonardo)
“I’m unusually tipsy today, huh… I want to dote on you more than usual. So, make a mess out of me.”
“No matter how much time passes, I just can’t keep my eyes off you; You’re a woman that never ever fails to captivate me, you know.”
“You really are the tenacious, preserving type… Today, I’ll listen to all of your selfish (thoughts) and demands, and spoil you. Now come on— Sit on my lap.”
⋆ “Captivating” is a simple way to put it; it’s to describe someone who is very good at attracting people (+ since they’re hosts, specifically women); Magnetic, kinda. Also, in the last line, the term he uses is more like someone who stands strong when the going gets tough.
The count and leonardo’s power and willingness to show the tiddie is truly… inspirational
anyway um ikevam, can u pls do an in-universe scenario event this yr. preferably within next month. u have only released AUs this yr. i do not like reading intimate and/or romantic scenes where the Count is referred to as the Count and the AU acts like he has no name
This is a repost of a request! I hope you guys and the requester @ifthiswingscouldfly enjoy this ask once again.
Napoleon Bonaparte, there was not a day he could go without kissing you. In the mornings, when you’d wake up later than him, the lazy mornings are filled with slow kisses as he trailed those kisses over your neck and ears, loving the way you curled up to him as he wrapped his larger arm around you. His kisses are longing, slow, but always filled with love for you.
Isaac Newton, his kisses are not without hesitation. His usual affections consist of holding your hand, or leaning on your shoulder once he tires of his research. Isaac’s kisses… are for those moments when he truly desires you. In those moments he wishes to see no one but you, he holds your waist in one hand with another hand drawing you up to lock you in his kiss.
Arthur Conan Doyle, how he loves to kiss you to tease you. His kisses are quick, his soft lips making your skin flutter as you were held in his lap. You’d always feel the warm goosebumps as the coffee scent of Arthur began imprinting onto you, but how could you resist the gentleman when he’d always kiss your hand when he greets you? Or, in his bed, the melting kisses that simply draw you into him…
Dazai Osamu, his kisses favour towards kisses that surprise you, often kissing you before he leaves or when he arrives. The quick pecks on your nose, the breath of his whisper to the kiss on the tips of your ear, the press of his lips to the corner of your mouth… Those feelings would warm you up throughout the day, but his favourites would be the longing lip lock he gives you only in your shared bedroom.
Theodorus Van Gogh, to him, kisses are a form of reassurance. Morning kisses goodbye meant that you were wishing him well. Kisses to the tips of your fingers are promises to return to you. Kisses to your forehead are his way of telling that everything will be alright. Kisses to your neck are promises that he’ll spend the night with you. His most intimate kiss, to your ring finger, is a promise to wed you.
Vincent Van Gogh, he has the urge to kiss you every day. Not so much as a requirement from you, but a need for him. Whether it be a kiss to your forehead, a kiss to your palm or a loving kiss to your lips, it’s a need that he ever so indulges in. In those times where you allow to give him one bite, he’ll compensate you by a thousand fold in kisses instead. It’s locked in his heart, but the kiss he anticipates the most is the one he gets to share with you once you’re married.
Leonardo Da Vinci, how he’s a fan of lazy kisses. His kisses are slow, meaningful, and usually given with much care and thought. On days he’s active, he gives the quick kiss on the cheek as a farewell. However, having you in his arms, your head against his chest as you both drift off into a siesta. Just as you wake up, he bestows a very sleepy kiss as he holds you closer, perhaps for another nap session…
Jean D'Arc, his kisses are only given when he’s alone with you. He’ll do anything else to keep you close, for others to understand that he was yours whether it be holding your hand or standing next to you. How his heart flutters when he has you in his bed, and you grant him a kiss before sleeping. The most honorable of kisses to him would be when he bends the knee, your hand to his lips as he swears to be your knight forever.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his kisses are secretive yet filled with such passion that it causes you to get dizzy at times. Even when you two are alone, he keeps his kisses for the most intimate of moments, when he’s desperate for your touch, and when he needs to confide in you. His kisses are feverish, as his kiss demands for more of you with his arms wrapped around you.
Sebastian, his kisses are quick throughout the day, as both of you are busy. Often no one notices them, but he’ll peck your forehead instead of flicking it when you do a good job. Kisses that he finds pleasure in giving are when you’re on his lap, and he has your neck tilted to pepper kisses up along your neck to your jaw, smothering you in affection when you two are alone.
Comte Saint Germain, he shamelessly loves to kiss you. In his office, he doesn’t mind whoever walks in when he has you there, loving him so passionately. He often leans to kiss the tips of your ears as a way of teasing, or kissing the edges of your wrists as a way of promising you. The kiss on your lips that leave you breathless however, is a special promise from him to give you even more throughout the night.
William Shakespeare, doesn’t typically initiate kisses. They’re sacred to him, as if you two would only be united by true love’s kiss as the story goes. He’s no stranger to physical affection, but he’d never let anyone see him kiss you. It’s his personal method of devotion, as he’s on his knees to kiss your palm before your bed, finally pressing his own lips against yours.
Vlad, his kisses signify that you’re his and he’s yours. It’s almost as a status symbol, the way he leans to press a kiss to your forehead as his one arm is by your waist. For as much as your relationship was public, he loves to sneak kisses the way he used to when he was courting you, where he’d be on the window sill to sneak a kiss, or in the garden alone, as he uses his large coat to shield you both as he locks lips with you.
Johann Georg Faust, he was a prideful man, a smug one at that. How impressive it was, to see him fall apart at your kisses, to see his arms immediately coddle you as you bestow him a kiss, standing at the ball of your foot to reach him, his large hand cradling your head to deepen the kiss. It’s an action he’d only allow with you saying you want it, he’s not one for surprise kisses for as much as you were his own precious surprise.
Charles-Henri Sanson, he’s utterly shameless with his kiss. Sometimes when Faust demands to talk to him, he’d busy himself buried in the crook of your neck, peppering butterfly kisses up and down before reaching your collarbone, further busying himself with the scent of you. All he wants is to trap you in his arms as he deepens the kiss between you two, his soft hairs tickling your cheek…
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