Furina grinned up, and Neuvillette found himself smiling, albeit slightly, back as he eyed the cake she had plopped onto his desk. It has been a rare occurrence to see her within the walls of the Palais ever since she left, but it only made every moment she stopped by all the more special. He had come to look forward to these sporadic visits. She had called it a surprise; for once, he understood why some humans enjoyed such a novel action.

"Good day, Lady–" The cross expression on her face had him correcting himself. Years of habit did not leave quickly. "Furina, what brings you here today? Were you in need of something?" It was their standard conversation, one he always asked whenever he saw her. Did he want something? Did she need something? Was she alright? It had once been so easy to know how she was, but now…now they had distance between them.

"Oh, none of that now; we both know I don't  need  anything." And he would like to disagree.

"I am here to invite you cordially ~" he watched as she fished through her bag. "To my show tomorrow night!" He took the invitation with a chuckle, finding that lately, that little noise of pleasantry became much more manageable when she was around. His brow, however, rose as he stared at the flyer enclosed in her envelope.

"Dracola?" The name was foreign to him. "Is this a new piece?" He tucked the invitation and flyer away in a drawer, safe from eyes and safe from accidentally being shelved with the rest of the papers across his desk.

Furina's eyes glimmered with her enthusiasm, and Neuvillete felt the corners of his lips lift more. "Yes! This was written by one of our new playrights. It is about a cursed dragon that can only come out at night–" He only half heard her explanation, too fixated suddenly on a strange sight. He sat up straighter.

"And the dragon can turn into a man that–" He let out a slight noise of understanding, but his eyes narrowed on the four marks indented on her arm.

Four equally spaced marks…that looked suspiciously like fangs.

A surge of something hot and raging flitted through him. The sensation took him by surprise. He blinked in confusion, but the embers he had felt in his heart were still burning.

Furina had long fallen silent; her brows were pinched in the middle when he raised his gaze. "What is wrong, Neuvillette?"

His mouth opened, but there was no answer. He closed it again and shook his head, trying to disperse the heat. "I…your arm. Was there an attempt on your person?" He resisted the sudden urge to hiss. The thought of something, someone, hurting her made his mind race, but to bite? To get close enough to– he forced the rising ire to lessen as he noticed her face flush. Her shoes tapped against the floor, and he found some amusement.

"Is that's what– this thing? Well…not exactly?" She knew he would drop the question from the unwavering expression on his face. Looking to the side, Furina let out a huff. "Well, if you must know, I got this…on accident. After studying it, I put my vision on my desk and fell asleep…you can surely put together the rest."

So it was from the vision. His…vision. The embers that spread this time flared brighter, and he stared at the spot again. It was when she cleared his throat that he realized that he was being quite improper. "My apologies, I was worried that something untoward had happened," and he had been. Now, though, he did not understand the sheer feeling of satisfaction that filled him. It was as if he had drank the sweetest untainted water in Teyvat. A deep-rooted sense of pride followed that. He was utterly perplexed by the strange blend of feelings that had taken hold of him. Now, however, was not the time to dive into the phenomenon of his feelings, for Furina was looking at him as if he had grown a second head.

"Now that your worries have been mollified, you can answer my question," she huffed.

"And…it was?" He truly did feel sheepish for ignoring her like that. It was unbecoming and undeserved.

"Will you grace my opening night with your presence? I'll even save you a special seat!" 

He was almost affronted. When had he ever missed one of Furina's shows? Opening night at that?

Her answer was a huff before he nodded his head. "Of course, Furina. I will be there." He would never miss her shows, not if he could help it. The sun would need to cease to exist before he was even late. Time…was, is, precious. His answer seemed to be a satisfactory one as Furina smiled at him. With her main goal achieved, he watched as she slid over a slice of what was a 'raindrop' cake from Inazuma. Her voice filled the office. His pen scratched against the contract before him, and for a moment, he was back to a summer day 50 years ago. Furina eventually sat up. Her farewell was as swift as a river current as she remembered the time. The dragon's pleasantry was returned, and he waved her off as she scampered off for the show's rehearsal. A small smile dropped as he watched the door close behind her.

It was astounding how quickly he missed her.

Turning back to his work, the sovereign dragon sighed. Between the tedious monotony of paperwork, his mind flitted back to an image growing perpetually present in the forethought of his mind. 

Those four little marks. Those are four fang marks.  Four…of his prints on her body.

The surge of pride was unmistakable alongside a foreign heat. He was bewildered. He had known Furina for centuries, yet he could not understand why he felt these strange emotions. Was there something wrong with his mind? Or was it just a passing feeling that would soon vanish like smoke? Perhaps, he mused, the feelings would disappear within a day. He was likely suffering from sleep deprivation, Neuvillette mused; he hadn't gotten a proper restful sleep in two days.

Sleep blessed him with their presence that night. Restfulness, however, did not. He woke at midnight, his body feeling warmer than ever. Sweat trickled down his face as he desperately tried to calm his racing heart. He gulped from the carafe, hoping for some respite, yet it was in vain. Images of Furina overlaid with those four damning marks on her skin, from her neck down to the soft flesh of her thumb. He fought against the swell of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him and buried his face into his pillow. His thoughts were forbidden yet alluring; this was not how one should think of her. They were friends! Just friends.

A more minor, typically quieter part of himself seemed to speak in the cover of darkness, alone with his traitorous thoughts. Eleven little words that would keep him up. But what if she is not? What if she is ours?

For a second, he cursed Focalors for awakening that dragon part of him when she returned him whole. The rest of the night bled by excruciatingly slow, her breathy whine of his name an echoing reminder in his mind.

The dragon was aware of the sight he made coming into the office as the man gave him a wide breadth. His mood was foul as he wrangled with the newly awakened…desire. A bothersome notion he attributed to his freshly awakened self. It was not as if his previous self had these…perverse inclinations.

Right?

He took a moment between his endless work to contemplate.

Neuvillette knew, deep down, that he had some love for Furina—a deep love borne of their friendship. After 500 years together, it was impossible to feel anything. It is a complicated thing, this feeling of his. He knows her, yet had not in the same breath. It was 500 short years of his life, but now it was nothing but a blip in hers. He is less inclined to be impartial now. She was, no is, the exception to his rule. He knew Furina would never hurt Fontaine or anyone. No, unfortunately, she would rather perish before that could happen. The thought is enough for him to hold his teacup tighter. The fragile porcelain was barely resisting his grip. His errant mood is enough to warrant the smattering of clouds across the sky on an otherwise sunny morning.

A loud tap at his door jolted him out of his thoughts. Sedene blinked up at him when he ushered her in, ever sensitive to his moods. She is professional enough to question it as she hands him another stack of papers. 

"Sorry, Monsieur Neuvillete, someone came by to drop off some urgent papers. It's about the laboratory explosion."

The sovereign dragon clenched his jaw, struggling to keep the grimace off his face as he grabbed the stack of papers to go through. His mind wandered to the days when Furina filled the room with endless chatter. Despite all her mischievousness, she had a knack for seeing beyond people's appearances and understanding them in ways not everyone could. It was her love for humanity that had helped him pass many laws during their time together.

"Thank you, Sedene, you may leave." He adds the paper to his ever-growing stack and settles himself back to work with another glance at the clock. If he were diligent about this, he'd be able to make it to the opening act of Furina's newest musical. He would meditate on these feelings later. After all, he would never miss her show.

Fate had other plans, however.

It is with a sense of slow awakening horror that Neuvillette realizes just what kind of Opera Furina is participating in this time around, not only as a director but also as one of the star singers herself. It had been his mistake; he should have listened to her explanation. The strange feeling starts low in his gut, floats up his chest, and makes his lungs feel heavy and his heart palpitate faster than usual. His grip on the chair he knew would leave marks, and he is glad he is using the one higher above the crowd. No one needs to know or hear the creak of wood beneath his fingertips. Moments like these remind him that he, too, is changed. His jaw hurt from the effort it took to keep it shut, and the less human side of his mind turned its ugly head. Logically, he knows he should not be bothered by this. They are acting; this is her job,  and it is within her rights and purview to lovingly embrace another man on stage. It is not like the kiss she was to share as the two -not, his mind supplied- lovers parted way meant anything.

It should not matter to him that the man was a - fake!-  dragon turned human.

It was not like he had any right to be this…this irrational. It was not like they were…like that.  He forced himself to watch as she sobbed over the man's chest after plunging a knife through it and then kissed him on the lips after setting him free from the curse. The fact that Neuvillette is holding onto it keeps the piece of wood in his hand from clattering noisily onto the floor and interrupting Furina's scene. He owed her at least that much. The dragon pretends that the errant desire of the actor's demise does not cross his mind once that night. It was not like he was lying to himself; he thought about it precisely nine times instead.

Nine gratifying times, now if only the man would stay– The Iudex ceased the thought. How would the people react? No, how would Furina react, knowing his damned ideas? The curtain fell to a round of applause, and Neuvillette felt himself relax again. As the broken chair arm clattered noisily to the ground, he reminded himself that he had promised to meet with her later that day. The reminder was enough to settle the idiosyncracies of his thoughts and heart. He had a particular lumitoile-shaped item to give away, and his…affected behaviors should not delay that. He could keep all these feelings under strict management and scrutiny. He refused to let his…impulses -that must be it - from ruining what they had.

It was already tentative enough as is, and Furina deserved him on his best--

The will to be good crumbled before it fully manifested as he watched Furina embrace the actor she had been singing with. An actor whose hand was resting too low on her back to be friendly. For once, he and that…beast inside him agreed.

"Furina?" He could almost coo in satisfaction when the petite woman turned towards him. Her smile was bright as ever as she removed herself from her co-star's grasp.

"Neuvillette! So you did make it after all." He refused to glance at the other man as he handed over the box he had tucked in his pocket.

"I did promise you I would make it," and he would never forsake her again. "I believe congratulations on your opening night."

Pretty was the only thought in his mind as a rosy hue warmed her cheek. Adorable joined it when her eyes widened as she opened the present. The earrings sat within the velvet case. He had spied her peeking at it a few weeks back and knew he would eventually get it for her. As he watched her quickly swap the ones she was wearing with his,  he realized it was too late to escape the cacophony of emotions in his chest. He barely had the urge to cradle her cheek before her peers.

And then she hugged him. Short, sweet, and unintentional as she flushed and darted off with a squeak, leaving him lost in his thought against the sea of knowing looks and giggles he missed in his stupor.

He was utterly and inelegantly  fucked.

He loved her.

He, perhaps, had always loved her.

And right now, as he too ran from everything, he realized that he irrevocably, madly, fondly loves  Furina.

The realization brings no comfort. Fontaine drizzles that night as the dragon tosses and turns in its bed. When sleep finally takes him, it grants him the horrible nightmare of guillotines, unspoken words, and bitemarks. He woke up with more resolve than when he had gone to bed.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Resolve, however, does not mean immediate action. It was not like he had pursued anyone before this. Not in his relatively humble 500 years of existence, the thought never crossed his mind. Not even once. Yes, the curiosity had been there, but no one, except one,  could fit his preferences. These are preferences that, in hindsight, he had unwittingly made since the day he met her. Those thoughts now were relatively useless in the grand scheme of attempted courtship. He lacked information now that he had the appropriate amount of desire.

Bound to his desk, Neuvillette drummed the tip of his quill against the ink as he mused over his options. His handwriting was messy as he scribbled his signature on yet another building remodel reapproval. 

Where would he look to obtain knowledge on this particular subject? He may confide some of his closest co-workers, which would breach work propriety. He could always turn towards the musicals and opera pieces Furina was fond of. Still, half of the ones she liked ended in abject tragedy, and that was the last he desired of their eventual union -for failure was also not an option. There was only one logical solution to his problem. He must consult the expertise found in books. 

"Now…which one would suit us?" He would have to find material similar to the source to gather the most accurate examples. He wracked his brains for titles only to come up empty. He rang the bell on his desk and waited until he heard the soft tap of familiar footsteps pass through his door.

"Sedene, I have a request of utmost importance for you." He watched as the Melusine straightened her back. He could always rely on her.

"I need you to purchase some books for me." He watched as she nodded in understanding, a pen and paper in hand to take notes on what he needed. "I am looking for works that focus on relationships of the intimate and romantic kind. One that involves courtship." Despite his stone-faced seriousness, he could feel the tip of his ears heating up as he stared down her look of disbelief.

"Monsieur Neuvillette…are you asking me to purchase some novels?"

White hair rustled as he nodded his head. His fingers laced together across his desk as he straightened his back. "Yes. I lack proper…knowledge in those fields, and I believe I can find some answers in these literary pieces. Novels are sometimes allegory or metaphorical, yes?"

There was a hesitant nod.

"So, if you can, please place a few books to be ordered and sent to my apartment," he watched as she wrote it down. "And perhaps if there are books that…contain dragons and the likes, please prioritize those." It was as if she suddenly realized as she stared him down. He tried not to squirm under her observation. Melusines were too astute and honest at times. He felt a shiver run down his spine as her gaze turned, knowing. The giggle sealed his fate.

"I will ask for the correct recommendation then, Monsieur!"

"Oh, thank you. However, there is one last thing, Sedene. Please…do not tell Lady Furina."

The Melusine practically skipped out of his office with a chuckle of agreement. Sometimes, he forgot that, despite their innocence, they were a few hundred years old, and they had watched them for centuries. He turned back to his paperwork and heaved a sigh. Why was it that being a leader entailed so much paperwork?

It was past midnight when Neuvillette finally cracked open one of the books that had been delivered to his abode. Out of curiosity, he had split it available in the middle. It took precisely four seconds before he slammed the book shut, his cheek growing a steadily brightening pink.

Did Sedene know what she was ordering?! He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. He did not want to see the answer to the previous question. Deep within the recess of his chest, he felt his still assimilating dragon side stir. The dirty words scrawled across the pages were etched in his mind.

He ignored the burning curiosity to turn to the front pages. If… this courtship goes well, those lewd pages may be helpful. It was best if he was not too eager.

With a resolution in his heart, he began his studies.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step one: Present your intention with a gift that showcases your competence.

And that was why, at precisely eight am, Neuvillette found himself standing in front of Furina's house with his entire water collection. It was his pride and joy, his years of dedication contained in individual flasks. Wedged to the side was a thick tome wrapped in a black ribbon. Each was packaged neatly in a new vial and sealed with wax. He eyed the basket, ensuring everything was in order in his hand, before reaching up to knock on her door.

His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for her to open the door. His patience hung on a thread as the seconds ticked by. The corner of his lips rose as the sight of Furina blessed his day. She must have just woken up. Her hair was in disarray; sleepiness caused her to yawn, and her eyes were tired as she peered at him. He felt a stab of guilt in his negligence to recall that she tended to sleep in on days after the performances. 

"Neuvillette?" And now he was squandering his rest with his recriminations.

"Ah, my apologies, Furina; I simply wanted to drop off these gifts before I head to the office." He watched as she blinked up at him once and then twice.

"Gifts? Did you not give me one a fortnight ago?" She canted her head to the side, and in the early morning light, he could spy the lumitoles on her ears. His head felt fuzzy from the rush of endorphins that flooded him. She was wearing his gift. Neuvillette cleared his throat.

"Ah yes, but I felt that it was…insufficient. I also realized that, belatedly, I never got a chance to give you a housewarming present." It had been months,  but better late than never. The doubt only grew on her face as he grew restless. "These are a split of my collection of water. I chose the finest just for you." A niggle of relief soothed the ache in his chest as she took the basket. The question was still written on her face, and he felt his throat dry up at the amused huff she gave. Was she going to reject this like a few of the other items he had brought over before? He hoped not.

"This is not because I think you need water; I simply feel like you'll be able to appreciate the collection," he felt compelled to clarify. "I believe it is also customary for friends to give each other gifts… occasionally." 

"I can not say this is expected, but…thank you, Neuvillette." His jaw ached from the urge to beam at her.

"The pleasure is all mine, Furina." His gaze tracked how her own drifted towards the bound book between the bottles. "That is a collection of cases I presided over that I thought you would be interested in reading. They were the ones we have made public, so there is no breach of privacy. Some of them are quite similar to the plays you direct, so they would be quite useful as references." He had wracked his mind on how to display his competence. He had no other skills to demonstrate. Not one with such a high success rate.

"Neuvillette…" He could not quite disciple the look on her face. He straightened himself before giving her a wry smile. Perhaps he had botched this present, but at the very least, she had not outright tossed it back at him. This was merely…a baby step in the long process of courtship. He needed to be steady.

"I must depart now.." The rigidity melted as confusion flitted across her face. He gave in to the urge to brush her messy hair out of her face. "Please go back to bed. I must have interrupted your rest." A degree of satisfaction filled him as he watched her flush. Not the one of mortification that he had grown familiar with, but a different one, a softer one that made her look shy. "Have a good day, Furina." She was left on her stoop, stunned as the dragon walked away.

Back in his office, Neuvillette checked off the box on his list. One step down, eight more to go.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step two: Show what you can provide.

This task would be the hardest. Furina never asked him for anything despite promising he would provide anything she needed. She argued that to learn to be human, she must adhere to their lifestyle, even if that meant earning and using her own means. She had done well for herself so far, and from what the Melusines and Clorinde have told him, her salary was quite good. Enough for her to freely spend and donate as she pleased.

So, for him to complete this step, he had to get creative.  Yes… creative,  for he refused to call his mechanism a  trap. The last time he laid one, it had not ended as he wanted.

So when he arrived at her practice with a treasure chest full of fur at the ready, he was also…ready with his sound reasoning. Furina would never accept if he gave this to her outright, but she would have trouble refusing if he were to gift them to her troupe. After all, she owned them.

When her troupe members were fawning over the costumes they could make with the newly acquired furs, he answered her sharp, prodding gaze.

He had prepared for this, too. "I…went hunting," the thing with becoming more dragon-like was the plethora of excuses he could now leverage, such as his rather… bestial need to hunt for food occasionally. The understanding slowly dawned on Furina as she nodded her head. He felt a flush of glee at how well she understood him. "If you are not opposed to it, may I drop off more hides the next time these urges surface? It would be a shame to waste." Like water, he waspicky about his choice of cuts. From the corner of his eyes, he watched as she contemplated his offer. He desperately wanted her to accept.

"Well, I suppose if it is not too much trouble, it would be a shame to waste perfectly good material." He refused to preen.  Not now. He would do it only when she donned a costume made of the furs he provided.

"If it is for you, it is never any trouble." He watched as she turned to stare at him fully. Those beautiful mismatched eyes were narrowed in thought. He felt a shiver rush up his spine. Her attention, however, was stolen by another as one of her castmates called her over. She spared him a single glance, and he waved her off with a small smile. It was best he retreated now lest she pick up on his plan. Furina had never been as foolish as she seemed. After all, she handled joint cases with him before her retirement.

When Furina did,  in fact, wear a tutu fashioned out of the white pelican feather and mink scarf he had painstakingly taken apart a week later, there was not a single cloud in Fontaine for an entire week, despite it being the middle of winter.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step Three: Share her interest.

This one was the easiest on the list, he surmises as he stares at the itinerary in his hand. While Furina did own a troupe of hers, hers was not the only one with a monopoly on Opera Eclipse. A traveling troupe hailing from Liyue was to hold their own show tonight with tales of their own nation, and he had managed to convince her to join him. Not that it took much this time around. Her eyes had glimmered like starlight when he had asked her.

So here he was, escorting her on their once-shared private aquabus all the way to the Opera house. He had insisted, citing the need for some privacy. Despite her retirement and his less-than-affable public disposition, they were still public figures known by Fontaine. He would never say out loud that it was also because he missed sitting in one with her. To listen to her humming as she watched the scenery float by, to watch her as she relaxed safely out of the eyes of the public. He liked seeing her like that, at peace.

He also liked watching her make a variety of expressions as she watched the performance, from how her eyes blurred with tears as she was moved to how she would have to muffle her gasp with her fingers when the actors' act took her in. He soaked it all in despite having been truly interested in the performance in the first place. She could enjoy herself in their balcony seat away from prying eyes.

"Neuvillette, look! That singer, Yunjin, is she not amazing? Her vocal control is impeccable," he barely held back the urge to tell her that she was even more amazing. "Her voice is unique." He agreed at last. Liyue's own style of Opera was quite different, not unpleasant, but a surprise on its own. The rest of the show passed in a blur of colors and song, but he only had half a mind to pay attention. The rest was riveted on Furina. It had been too long since they had been this close.

He pretended not to notice when she clung to his arm in her excitement. Relishing the stolen moment for what it was: an experience.

He made no move to remove her hold for the rest of the night, especially when he felt like he was floating in her presence.

He considered this step a roaring success when she thanked him at night's end.

"Thank you, Neuvillette, maybe next time there is uhm…another show…I can invite you, in thanks, of course?"

He found himself agreeing despite his packed schedule. He would make time, paperwork be damned.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step Four: Take your partner flying.

"I have…what?" Furina echoed.

"Have you ever been flying?" Neuvillette reiterated the question. There was a pause and then a frown. Furina's brows furrowed, and he wondered what she was trying to dissect in her head. Was his ask that strange?

"I…have on the balloon ships?" They had, after all, gone to test it together when the researchers had first launched it. But that was centuries ago, no?

"I meant, without the aid of a mechanical component." This time, he was the one that shifted in his spot in her dining room. The cup of water she offered him -from his collection at that -was left untouched as he mustered the courage to refrain from his thought. "What I meant to say is, would you like to go…flying with me?"

"With…you?" 

"Yes. I will hold you, and we can float above the city. The view above is quite beautiful at this time." He would know. He had tested out multiple locations before even proposing this idea. "If you are not too averse to heights."

"Wait, when did you learn how to fly?"

He cleared his throat, looking sheepish. "When I became…whole?" A noise of understanding parted her lips.

The clock ticked in the kitchen, mocking him as time slipped by, and Neuvillette waited for Furina to answer his proposal. He watched her sigh heavily, open her mouth, then snap it closed when he gave her a pleading look. "I…I don't think I am opposed to flying with you?" She smiled, though it did not reach her eyes. Her words seemed hesitant. "Is there a reason as to why you are asking me to fly with you…at 11 at night? Is everything alright?"

The dragon couldn't bring himself to bear his true intentions at the moment. So, he provided an authentic reply instead. "I wanted you to see the city you fought so hard for. To show you what you managed to preserve." He spoke with determination and certainty. At the end of the day, he only ever wanted to give Furina what she deserved for her unwavering dedication. He held his breath as she stood, worried that he had misspoken. It was his turn to be confused as she held out her hand towards him. "Show me."

There was no elegance in how he scrambled out of the seat, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He shrugged off his coat to bundle her up.

He felt like he was holding the world when he held her aloft in the sky. When she cried softly into the collar of his jacket, he pretended he did not see. He merely held her tighter until her exhales were one of relief.

"Thank you."

For a change, he sensed that he had unquestionably done something right.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step Five: Make your intended feel appreciated.

He came home after the flight to cross another extra step off the list. He looked proud as he stared down at all the marked boxes. He was doing so well. So, so well.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step Six: Make your intentions known.

This was easier said than done. For all of the sovereign dragon's previous success, fate must mette out an appropriate exchange. For the next month,  he barely got to see Furina. With the upcoming spring, the paperwork continued to grow, and with the weather finally getting warmer, there was an increased attendance to shows. On the days he was free, she was not, and on the days she was free…well, he could barely find the time to find her, and when he did manage to shelve away a break, she was absent from her normal spots.

It was worrisome, it was maddening, and his mood was foul by the time the second week had rolled around.

By the third, even Sedene was sending him worried looks. By the fourth, the entire Palais worked in absolute silence, worried that one misstep would set off their only leader. It was Clorinde who was brave enough to advise him after seeing him in front of Furina's doorsteps on a drizzling Tuesday.

"Just send her a letter." She had not offered to share the umbrella she was using. Instead, she was looking up at the second floor in thought. "Since you are both so busy and all that…" She waited just long enough to watch him return to his office before heaving a sigh. For being so old, they sure were stunted.

Step Six. Two: Make your intentions known. Attempt 2.

Dear Furina,

I hope this letter finds you well. As I sit down to write, my thoughts turn to the time we've spent together, and I find myself reminiscing.

It has been precisely four weeks and two days since our last meeting, and during this time, my professional commitments have kept me occupied. Work demands often leave me tired, and I hope yours has not made you feel the same.

I am aware of the upcoming grand Opera that commands your attention and dedication. The anticipation of witnessing your artistry on center stage brings both excitement and concern for your well-being. While your commitment to perfection is commendable, I encourage you to prioritize self-care amidst the preparations. Your health is paramount, and I hope you find moments of rest amid the whirlwind.

As the hours unfold, remember the importance of timely repose. May this letter convey the earnest sentiments that words alone sometimes struggle to express. Until our paths align once more, know that my thoughts are captivated by our shared moments. I look forward to seeing you on your splendid opening night at the latest.

 

With warm regards,

Neuvillette

No one needed to know that it took him eighteen tries to pen the perfect letter.

The reply he got was brief, but he was grateful to have received any response at all.

Dear Neuvillette,

I look forward to seeing you again soon. I know work has been…well, busy, but I do hope you make it to my show. I promised to take you to the next play, but instead, here are some tickets. I…Hope to see you soon,

Furina.

 

As he watched her performance that night, it felt like the world had righted itself. The dragon's heart beat harder as he noticed the vision she had affixed on the back of her neck. The surge of possessiveness he had managed to suppress resurfaced. The pride he felt was insurmountable.

He was unable to resist the overwhelming sensation. This insatiable desire within him was impossible to ignore. He intensely craved her.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Step…seven? Confess(???)

Neuvillette had a plan for this. One that he had painstakingly crafted after months of courtship. However, that very plan had gone out the window as he stood in the middle of his office, still as a statue. In Furina's hand was the very outline of his confession. He had been ecstatic When he arrived at the office with Sedene's happy announcement of Furina's premature arrival after lunch. Now, however, he was filled with dread. She was not looking at him, eyes riveted instead on the plan. In his haste, he must not have put it away.

If it had been anyone else, he would have been furious at the breach of privacy. Instead, he exhaled shakily and took a step forward.

"So…now you know." His voice was gentle, soft as if to keep her from spooking and running away. Sometimes, she reminded him of a rabbit, easy to scare, easy to hurt. Other times, like now, when she turns her head up to look at him with resolve, he is reminded of her indomitable will.

"What is this, Neuvillette." There was no point in hiding anymore.

"That is my outline for what to do when I confess to you." Not that she needed him to repeat it; he was quite sure he had titled the paper that way. His heart hammered in his chest as she gave a shaky exhale. The paper crumpled as she placed it down on his desk.

“Oh Neuvillette…why did you…” Her voice petered off as she studied him. He dropped his files on the coffee table to reach for her hand. He was glad his gloves kept her from feeling just how nervous he was.

"Why did I what?" Was she that adverse to him? Did she not like his affection? Had what he tried not work at all? 

"Neuvillette, if you keep doing this, I may misunderstand." Furina's smile was strained as she peered at him. Her hand slipped from his, only to be captured once more. His grip, this time firm. "Misunderstand how." He was resolute in the face of her doubts. He had turned away once before, and that had cost him too much. It had cost them time. "Furina, please tell me so I may explain myself."

He watched as she took a shuddering breath. "I may think that you…lo…like me. Truly." His eyes narrowed at the way she seemed to shrink. How could she seem to be assuarded yet not in a single breath?

"I do." The dragon had never been a subtle man and was not about to mince his words for a situation of this magnitude. "No, that is too tame. I love you. " Was there a way to assuage Furina's doubt? He placed her hand over his heart. Beneath her fingertips, Furina could feel the rapid pulse, but all she could focus on was the intensity that bordered on more in the gaze he gave her.

"I have loved you before. I knew what that feeling was. I have loved you before I understood the significance of loving someone." Admitting this out loud was not as terrifying as it seemed. It was as if a dam had finally broken. "I want you, all of you."

"I missed you terribly. Every day, we are apart. Work seems more bearable after you smile at me. This heart of mine, selfish as it is, only wants you. I love you desperately, even if I do not deserve you." He pulled her close and exhaled as Furina did not pull away. "Is it so strange that I would come to love you? This brightly, beautiful, kind, selfless you?"

A smile adorned her face, though it bore the traces of tears tugging at his heart. "Truly?"

"Truly." There was no room for doubt. Furina's gaze softened, and a subtle warmth enveloped the space between them.

This time, doubt crept into him.

"I think I love you too." He held his breath. "I believe I may have been in love with you for much longer than I realized." There was a laugh, a warm chuckle that was a balm over his frazzled nerves. "We've…both been so foolish." All that time and perhaps more, but… his thoughts were interrupted. "I love you, too, Neuvillette." Her words were more confident this time around as she cradled his cheek. "I love you."

It was as if he was soaring through the skies. It was as if the stars had come down and landed on his palm. If this was love, if this was a miracle, if this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up. Fangs peeked as he grinned unabashedly. The smile dimmed. Worry flitted through him.

"What if…" Neuvillette exhaled. "What if I want to keep you for  eternity ?" His desires were selfish, but she needed to know the entirety of his madness. It would be unfair of her not to know what loving him may entail. "What if I never let you go? What if I refuse to give you to even death?" His thumb caught a stray tear as she peered up at him. His heart clenched at the tentative hope on her face.

"I was…hoping for that. So if you do not mind me…all of me, please love me and let me love you too. Though…I don't think you'll be able to take me away from death, right–" His mouth sealed her nervous rambling. Oh, he would scour the world for a way. For he was a sovereign born from this world and would twist its rules until she, too, could be anchored to it. 

"I would try anyways," his mutter brushed her lips. His lips were once again pressed against hers.

"I love you."  He whispered. 

"I love you."

"I love you."  Madly. So, deeply, he basked in her giggles as he peppered kisses across the bridge of her nose, to the tip of it, to her lips, and across her cheek. His heart has never felt so full. His finger slipped beneath the garter on her thigh–

A cough echoed from the vicinity of his door. Their faces flushed as they were met with Sedene's amused expression. "I would like to remind you that this is an office. " The Melusine looked too amused as she watched Furina flush the shade of an apple and all but flee his office after giving him a cheeky peck on the cheek.

"My apologies Sendene. I'll lock my door next time." He brushed off her disgruntled look with a smile as he turned back to his desk.

Now that plan seven was done…

There were only two left.

He peeked at his list beneath the stack of paperwork.

Hold your intended close, and never let go.