Ilovekentonanamin - Certified Simp

Which one is the real Uni? :3

Angel manta ray (what if fish was bird??)

me, on the verge of a breakdown and wanting to walk into the ocean:

tumblr ads:

me: NOT NOW JESUS

Gabriel (Christmas),

Michael (Christmas),

Raphael (Christmas)

likeability comics - spoilers below!

I didn't expect to get these comics so early, but what a surprise. A true Christmas miracle

Do we… see God for the first time here?

They're mood lol, I guess they haven't conquered hell because they're busy beating each other up. Everything is wrong with them lol and that's why they are so funny

Honestly, although I'm not the biggest fan of angels, I think I will become one. They are well-developed as characters, they have their own depth, their own history and relationship, I didn't expect that we would get to know them so quickly… and that they would be so silly.

But since I'm still faithful to Andrea, nope, don't do this to me, I don't want to sympathize with Rafael, I'm just a weak person, don't show me such things-

DEMON SLAYER: YEAR OF THE DRAGON ILLUSTRATIONS 🐉 FINALLYYYY 🐲

𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, (𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝)

(the title is a lyric from the song 'what was I made for' by billie eilish).

𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘅 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀! 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗨)

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝟏): 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 (𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥)

(A/N): hello there, lovelies!

or should I say... dearest gentle readers.

satorou's series has come to an end but not to me being obsessed with bridgerton. hence here comes a whole new series focused onto nanami (my beloved).

as always, pls be patient with the gentle writer, as I am a bit in a struggling situation, as I think that I burned out with my writing of the previous series and I am going to stick to (1) fic per week. (and the next one shall be the poly! satosugu continuation).

as always, though: reblogs and comments always have me writing faster and better, so don't forget to leave some if you wish to.

tagging, @arcielee!

SUMMARY: what could go wrong when for one night you pretend to be a lady?

«Wait, my lady!». You were startled by the command, obeying it without thinking as you turned around to catch the sight of the man being a bit disheveled and throughout even the dark shield of the night you could tell he was flustered, as if embarrassed.  You dreaded the thought that either your behavior or the one of Utahime had put him in discomfort and waited to apologize when he spoke again. «… I… I didn’t … well, I didn’t catch your name».

WARNINGS: angst and romance, period-typical misogyny and poverty, slight mention of previous series and of the reader's traumatic past, lies and treachery, slight manipulation, utahime being the bestie we all deserve, afab character/she/her pronouns, regency au.

«Isn’t he so dreamy?».

It was probably the umpteenth time that you spoke about a specific gentleman among the ton while quickly handling the ladies’ overcoat and dresses that needed a quick stitching at the latest ball of the season. 

Your friend - as the numerous times before - simply rolled her eyes as she wetted the thread between the lips before rushing to get it through the needle.

«If he is so dreamy, why don’t you go and talk to him?».

The sole thought had your cheeks heat up as you almost let go of the fabric that you were stitching back together; two ladies had almost lost a foot through a battle of stepping on each other’s dress over the attention of a particular man. 

After all, the main attraction of the season had been settled since Satorou Gojo had been married to lady Haibara, last year and the best of the least was to be contended among those who had been his suitors.

«I could never» you said as you finally found the ripped fabric and went to examine if in your bag for a matching thread so that the obvious stitching up wouldn’t be too visible. 

As balls seemed to bring forward as many victims among fabrics as among squealing mothers, your employer and infamous modiste Mrs. Mei Mei, had thought it smart to send a pair of her fastest and most talented seamstresses at the season balls, to stitch up dresses and to offer new ones.

The ladies whose dress you and Utahime were promptly stitching up, were already on the dancefloor with another dress while you both stood in the servant wing with a candle and pricked finger.

«Why?» Utahime questioned genuinely, as if she couldn’t tell the obvious problem: you were a commoner, no matter your expertise as a seamstress while Nanami Kento, the specific gentleman who had stolen your heart this season, was a lord. 

«His last marriage prospect was lady Haibara, before count Gojo snagged her up!» you promptly protested with flustered cheeks and a general unease at your station as you regarded the prompt difference between the dress you held in your laps and the one you were currently wearing. 

Not ratty nor disgraceful but it certainly lacked any trace of the elegance of the other one.

«… a love story between us? It’d be good in a novel, not in real life!».

«It isn’t like he’s utter and pureblooded nobility» still Utahime insisted and you knew she could be quite stubborn whenever she wished, hence why you were dreading your own loud mouth and festering feelings «… his father gained the title by making a lot of money and marrying a fallen lady. It isn’t like he wouldn’t know the struggles of us working class!».

«I doubt that he knows them» you muttered as you recalled the richness of his simple but elegant ensemble of the night that you had caught as you passed by the ballroom to be delivered the dresses. 

You had had to enter through the servants’ door, which felt a bit humiliating as the governess handling the house called out to you with an utter rush as if you were medics for somebody who had fallen beneath a fainting spell.

Hence a further reason not to even think about lord Kento Nanami, as you were sure to just break your silly little heart.

«Either way, I am done with this!» Utahime thrilled as she raised up alongside the dress to adjust it in the slightest and ensure that the stitch was done well enough in the little time that you were given «Gods, am I wrong or is this your size?».

You laughed at the vain chance that it had to be as you regarded the elegant and warm orange color of the fabric, gently caressing it with wonder; you’d have thought it to be imported from some wondrous country as you noticed also the precious jewels stashed among the silhouette to have it appear slimmer.

«It’d be wonderful if we were able to wear such pretty dresses, wouldn’t it?» you joked lightly although as soon as such a comment exited your mouth, your friend was promptly smirking at you with what was one of her usual devilish ideas «… Utahime, that’s a terrible idea!».

«I’d take it as a sign» she promptly shot back «… you like the dress… it’s your size… Kento Nanami is in the crowd…».

«I think that will get us in trouble!».

Mrs. Mei Mei wasn’t half a bad employer, although she ran you raggedly and she could be a bit… tight with the paycheck, but she wasn’t as brutal as many under which you had served before ending there. 

Still, you doubted that she’d have appreciated it much if you had shown up at a ball in a client’s dress, not to talk about that specific client.

«What if… what if they notice that it isn’t my own? What if they call me out on it?».

It was a risk for such a brief thrill that it wouldn’t have ever passed through your head, but Utahime kept on lightly pushing you, shoving the dress against your chest and the further you felt it onto your body, the more you noticed just how beautiful and fitting it was.

«I have heard that as her rival got the boy, she went back home» Utahime muttered to try to cease your worry promptly, as she noticed obviously that you were starting to consider it «… at least try it on! For my eyes, my beauty!».

You chuckled at your friend’s dramatics, eventually worn over as went to ditch your own and tried it on, and it did fit like a glove, enough that you didn’t need a mirror to know that it looked decadently gorgeous upon you as Utahime’s deep admiration was evident on her face. And she wasn’t one for easy feelings.

«Well, if you wouldn’t catch lord Nanami’s eyes all dolled up, like this!».

«I highly doubt it as my hair is a mess and I haven’t any blush» you shot her down promptly, going to undress yourself although Utahime stilled your hands promptly.

«Isn’t it Mrs. Mei Mei’s policy that it’s the dress which makes the lady out of even a pauper?» Utahime feigned Mei Mei’s low baritone voice with the slight pitch at the end of each phrase much to your hilarity «… alright, alright… no ball for you, my lady. But what about a stroll in the garden? I don’t know about you but this closed storage room with no windows is getting to me».

And although you felt like it was still risky you eventually agreed as you were in no rush to get out of the dress and you doubted that there’d be anybody in the gardens when the balls were inside. 

Especially as Utahime ditched you for a bathroom break on your way out through a sneaky attempt to avoid any of the house servants as you basked in the cold air of the night after the stale feeling of the small room.

With the dress on you could further feel like an appropriate lady, low key imagining yourself in a life of refinery and no thoughts, instead of calluses, tiredness and little sleep as you stressed over your big dream to open a shop of your own.

«Gods, it’d be a dream» you told yourself, sure that you were alone in the garden.

So, you startled when a male voice called out for you right as you were turned to observe a pair of beautiful nighttime flowers, captivated by their resilience through the night and shocked by how the flowers seemed of a close color as your own dress:

«My lady».

You turned as if being caught wasn’t enough, it was by none other than the special gentleman who had your heart, as Kento Nanami held out a hand to you, although keeping a comfortable distance.

«… I… I didn’t mean to startle you, my lady».

You weren’t able to process the thought, as you felt like you should have said something, but the sole thought that your brain retained was that this distinguished gentleman thought you to be some kind of lady, while you were the furthest thing ever from that.

«My… my lady?» you had meant to have such a comment more for yourself than to anybody else, although lord Nanami was quick to catch onto it as he murmured.

«If lady isn’t the title I shall address you with, please do let me know».

He was far kinder - and patient - than any of the lords that would sometimes flirt with you at the shops behind their wives’ backs, and you couldn’t help but further enamor yourself at the thought. 

You had fallen in love with his sight upon noticing him on one of the first balls of your season, sneaking a look at the way he always seemed so posed and detached.

Mature and elegant in a way that you knew that if he had to be a dress, he’d be worn by the finest of gentlemen. 

And the most royal.

You had always thought, though, that it was an infatuation - nothing long-lasting once you discovered he wasn’t that different from the others - although the gentleness with which he regarded you although discomfort was clear in his honeyed brown eyes had you wishing that he wouldn’t disappoint you.

«I… no, I am… I am sorry… you just… startled me. I thought… I thought I was alone».

«It isn’t… well, it isn’t my role to act paternalistically but… should you be out? All alone?» while others might take advantage of the situation, he meant it with genuine concern.

«I am not… I am not alone, I…» you looked to where Utahime had wandered off - that bastard - and hoped to sound truthful enough as it was the sole lie you had said «… my friend… she… she found some lovely flowers she wished to sketch and wanted a closer look… she’s … she’s around no worries!».

«Oh that’s a relief, as I don’t mean to well… compromise you, my lady» he commented a bit awkwardly, which you found… strangely endearing «… we already have had one scandal too many this season».

«No… well, no scandal with me, kind sir. Although I am grateful… not many men. Well, you are… thank you, my lord» a further reason why you shouldn’t ever be talking with lord Nanami to express to Utahime, who you saw with your side eye and waved over promptly «… here’s my friend… my dear, how were the flowers?».

«The…» at your slight kick in the shin Utahime cursed underneath the breath and you refused to look at Nanami happy that in the dark light of the night he wouldn’t be able to see your obvious impoverished looks, sullen faces and messy hair «… they were delightful, my dear. But I have had enough of looking at flowers, why don’t we go back inside?».

«I need to use the powder room though» you pointed out to her as there was no doubt that lod Nanami would have happily suggested to accompany you and that’d have ruined your whole pretense. 

Although, you still felt the anxiety coaxing through you for having done such a bold move, you couldn’t help but be glad that for once, you got to see the man whose face haunted your every waking night.

You turned to him one last time, emboldened by the thought that this would be probably the last time that you’d see him forever in your life.

«Thank you again, my lord» and you made to turn around quickly as you knew that Utahime wouldn’t be holding out on the laugh written all over her face for long and you’d have preferred not to cause general hilarity because you were sure you’d have started to hysterically laugh as well.

«Wait, my lady!».

You were startled by the command, obeying it without thinking as you turned around to catch the sight of the man being a bit disheveled and throughout even the dark shield of the night you could tell he was flustered, as if embarrassed. 

You dreaded the thought that either your behavior or the one of Utahime had put him in discomfort and waited to apologize when he spoke again.

«… I… I didn’t … well, I didn’t catch your name».

Shit, you told yourself in your mind as you thought that you couldn’t give Nanami your own name as if he meant to seek you out he’d have found somebody directly him to the modiste and in turn he’d have known of your little infraction of pretending to be a lady and it might cost not only your job but also your reputation in his eyes.

«Lady … ahem…» you sent a look to Utahime hoping and praying it wouldn’t send as suspicious as you knew the two of you to look «… Tsukumo!».

It was the name of the last client of the day that you had served that day, as she had needed a few reparations and adjustments on the dresses that she had ordered being quite the tall lady and you knew that she wouldn’t be around as she had ordered many of what she had bought for a trip in Italy, to enjoy the lovely season.

So, she wouldn’t be around to call you out on the bluff.

You had saved the day - and your ass - happily.

«Well… lady Tsukumo I… I do hope to see you back inside» were you wrong or his words seemed genuine and a slight blush coated his cheeks.

«Of course, my lord».

And like that you turned on your heels because in five minutes, Utahime erupted in a loud laugh.

«And you said you weren’t ever going to speak to him!».

You had said such a thing but while you were trailing around with Utahime at the market browsing for cheap appliques for your own future dresses as you had wished to stitch up something in the fashion of the one worn at the party. 

The one that had caught lord Nanami’s eye, although you had an inkling that it might have been less fascination and more the curiosity one would have in front of a carriage incident.

Still, your thoughts were elsewhere when you were startled by a gentle hand on your shoulder, turning around to find that it wasn’t Utahime’s own - who had moved nearby a flower stand - but instead a manly one with slightly blondish hair on the back of it before your eyes bore into tired brown ones.

Lord Nanami, again, on your path.

«Lady Tsukumo» he seemed almost relieved by your acknowledgement although you flustered beet red at the obvious implication that he had fallen into the lie «… I tried calling upon you but you must not have heard me!».

No, it was more like you hadn’t acknowledged him because you weren’t a lady and your family name wasn’t Tsukumo and to accost himself so openly to you, it had you definitely near panic as you looked around yourself to see whether anybody had heard the lord’s words.

Probably noticing your unease, he was quick to mutter.

«Oh, I must have… interrupted you» no, you were just panicking because the man you had been harboring an idolizing crush on thought you were a whole other person. 

Still, you couldn’t tell him such a thing.

«After all, we are strangers who met at the ball a few nights ago. In my haste, I didn’t even give you my name».

You wished to tell him that you had been the hasty one and that your panic wasn’t created by him coming onto you, although your fluster was definitely the direct consequence of it.

«I am lord Nanami» he bowed to you properly as one would to a lady and you were quick to rush him back to his proper standing position before anybody noticed him in such formality.

«No… no need for formalities and I do know your name» oh what a faux-pas «… I… well, you are… you are on the talk. I think I even read a pamphlet from Lady Murasaki about you!».

Oh, as if that wouldn’t have you be further vapid in his eyes, but maybe if you played the role with enough boredom, he’d have relented, although something rotten filled your stomach at the thought of being willingly cruel towards Nanami, albeit you were enough by impersonating another in his presence.

«Well, I do hope it was only good thing» was that a jest, as his face slightly opened in a softer expression of contemplation «… you may never know with such a lady».

«You are right, my lord. It is always better to attest to things in person» you trudged on simply although not without a slight giggle.

«That’s a good motto, lady Tusukumo» and he must have seen the way your stomach dropped at the name as he immediately became more stoic «… still, please forgive my slight intrusion upon your roundabouts, I didn’t… well, I just thought to approach you as you must know that after that ball… after that night in the gardens…».

This time your tummy filled with something that felt very much like alive butterflies slamming against your ribcage. A violent image to explain perfectly the nature of your feelings.

«… you must know that you have left me with a curiosity».

Oh, you flustered deeply, all cheeks heated and an hand upon your mouth to hide your expression at the man’s kind hearted but very obvious honesty; you wouldn’t have expected such a direct approach from a man that was defined by everybody as cold and collected and you were startled that such a sight was reserved for you, a mere stranger.

A mere stranger that you were deceiving.

The thought immediately bittered up any of your feelings as the lord went on, much to your sinking heart.

«… and I had wished to invite you to take tea with me, one of these days».

Oh, you couldn’t dig yourself further into this mess, especially when you didn’t want to take advantage of lord Nanami’s availability, although you found it… confusing that such a distinguished gentleman would go for somebody like you. 

A dress might make a lady but one moment with you and he’d have recognized immediately that you weren’t anything but such a thing.

«Such an offer is… wondrous, my lord» you tried your hands at the rich-folk speaking as you went to use the words that left the young ladies attending the shop upon seeing the final creation of the dresses «… still, I sadly shall have to decline it».

Oh the way that you caught but for one moment, the lord’s tight expression you couldn’t help but immediately regret your words.

«I hadn’t meant to come onto you too strongly, my …».

«Oh no no! No such a thing!» you felt flustered, palms sweaty and again that rotten feeling in your lower body. 

If this was a way of the universe to get back to you for having played pretend that time in the garden, you thought that it was being far harsher than it needed to be.

«… you see, I just… I’ll be leaving… in a few days. For Italy! So, ahem… I sadly won’t be able to attend many gatherings».

He didn’t question why you’d be leaving right halfway through the season, thankfully and the slight hurt that filled his brown eyes was but for a swift moment - that lasted far more in your own agony - as he eventually gave you a softer smile, regaining his tight posture.

«Of course, my lady. I thank thee for your honesty. And I do wish you safe travels» he was genuinely and you couldn’t help but feel yourself fluster: no other man had ever treated you like this, with a genuine concern and respect and although it should have been far more common, it felt extraordinary to be regarded as an actual human being «… I have my own trip coming into. A business one, so not very pleasant, but…».

You startled as you had thought it’d be a good time to sneak away also as Utahime was harshly gesturing for you over lord Nanami’s shoulder.

«… if you ever return here, my offer for tea is still open».

«This is the best job we ever got!» Utahime screeched as her head hit the pillow of the luxurious guest room you had been given for your following work, while you stayed a bit frazzled at the threshold of such a wondrous place. 

As big as your whole apartment above the modiste’s shop and filled with enough commodity that you’d have echoed Utahime’s feeling hadn’t it been for the brewing sense of unease in your stomach.

You had been startled when Mrs. Mei Mei had called you over and beside her you had noticed a familiar blonde figure with an elegant dress of your manufacture, lady Yuki Tsukumo. You had startled thinking that your bluff had been caught, immediately wishing to go down on your knees but instead, lady Yuki - as she had insisted on calling you - had shut you down promptly.

“Would you be able to do me a favor?” she had promptly questioned you “... you see, after my trip in Italy I shall travel a bit Southern than here to my own hometown as…”.

She had then lightly shown off her hands, as a bright red ring in a silver band was making its presence known.

“... I am getting married!”.

You had wished your congratulations although with your mind still at unease and wondering what she meant by telling you all of this. 

Thankfully, Mrs. Mei Mei took over for her.

“You see, my darlings, lady Yuki was startled by your talent with the dresses that she gave you and she asked me to have my best seamstresses sent to her hometown to begin with the preparations for the wedding dresses while she’s away”.

You were startled by such a request as it was the weird and excessive kind of request that you guessed only noble women and rich ladies could afford.

Especially as she must have paid quite the expensive amount of money to have you and Utahime - the best and sole seamstresses - in the shop away from it.

“You’ll be treated as my guests in one of my properties, and I will have my servants suffice you with any fabric that you might prefer. Silk, brocade or lace” lady Yuki had insisted, as if you had ever meant to deny such a request “... you’ll have nothing to worry about and you’ll be rewarded handsomely”.

Hence you and Utahime had had just the time to pack up and be sent to lady Yuki’s hometown after the first draft of her wedding dresses had been approved, with Mrs. Mei Mei kindly but also threateningly telling you this was an occasion for both the shop and you.

“See that you attend to the matter well and properly, as I have taught you” she had spoken as she had accompanied you to the carriage, before sending you off with a bare wave.

Now, in lady Yuki’s property - attended by a few servants - you were both startled by the beauty of the place and the richness that you hadn’t ever tasted.

The governess had insisted to have you furnished with food and especially that you tasted everything that was typical till you had rolled to your rooms, just to be further startled as Utahime had so perfectly conveyed.

Unlike her, though, you held a pang of anxiety for such a task and not even the advantages made it all that much worthy, especially as you regretted having left the season so you wouldn’t have been able to spy on lord Nanami anymore, although that could be actually a good thing; he had seemed to chase after you - for whatever stupid reason that might come from his kind heart, as you were doubtful that he had meant to simply court you - and you didn’t wish for rumors to spread about your presence onto your employer, lady Tsukumo.

It’d go well, you promised to yourself, telling Utahime that you’d be visiting the garden on the backside of the property to have a breath of fresh air before going to undo your luggage.

You even picked up some flowers after assuring yourself with the gardener that it’d be alright, as you wished to press them and use them as decoration for some hats for lady Tsukumo, enchanted by the beauty of the white arums, and going to gently grab one just to accidentally lose your balance while being on your tiptoes as they were on an higher shelf than the rest.

You immediately cursed yourself, not as much as for the impact of the rock ground, but for the way it’d have inevitably stained your good journey dress as Utahime - who seemed to enjoy all this pretending much more than you - had insisted that dressed up as ‘proper ladies’, although traveling with a communal coach.

Mrs. Mei Mei might have received a large invoice but she hadn’t certainly meant to spend a dime on your comfort.

You cursed underneath your breath and closed your eyes but the hit never came as, instead a pair of arms was enveloped around you swiftly. 

Your mind immediately went to the gardener but you startled upon turning around and being faced not with a fifty-year-old somewhat gruff man but instead, none other than lord Nanami.

This had to be a curse put upon you.

«Lady… lady Tsukumo?» he asked confusedly as you noticed that he was also wearing comfortable travel clothes, far more relaxed than his usual prim attire and with the sleeves of his shirt raised as to show his arms. 

You felt your fluster just deepen as something akin to a burning feeling heated in your stomach.

«… shouldn’t… shouldn’t you be in Italy?».

Oh shit.

Right, you had… you had told him that you were in Italy. Which you weren’t.

You must seem such a huge liar in his eyes and thinking that you couldn’t worsen the situation, you were quick to add a soft-spoken.

«Yes, I… I should have» you muttered shyly, trying to come up with a proper excuse as to why you might not be in Italy «… but you see… my… my friend. The one… that was with me in the garden… she’s… she’s recovering from a bad… a terrible sickness!».

You hoped such an excuse to be believable as it explained the swift change of plan and as Nanami knew and had seen Utahime, you had further proof that you weren’t lying.

Nanami’s expression from tight wound seemed to relax a bit as the realization of your presence there settled into him.

«That’s … that’s very kind of you, my lady» no, you were but a dirty liar «… and although I am displeased for your friend, I am glad that our roads have met again».

And while you were glad to plunder yourself with his interest and his beautiful appearance, you were nothing but anxious at your exchange as you were risking far more than simply pretending to be somebody else. 

You were actively feigning to be your employer, which might not just cause a scandal but also have you fired.

Then how would you have sustained yourself? 

Your father had died when you were young and your mother had become ill while you finished your apprenticeship as a seamstress, leaving you when Mrs. Mei Mei agreed to hire you in a new city. A clean cut that was settled onto you not misbehaving nor conducting yourself unfairly.

You were playing with fire and while you should have ushered lord Nanami quickly with the explanation that you had to attend your friend, instead you asked him:

«What about you? What…».

«I am here for a job. Setting some business straight, as I did think that I had told you that I’d be traveling soon».

«Oh! I do remember I just…» you hadn’t expected for him to be constantly close to you by Destiny’s orders.

«… I hadn’t mentioned where I’d be staying but I couldn’t… well, I didn’t expect our roads to match again» and then he did the worst thing possible: he smiled. So openly and sweetly that it had you in a choke hold «… but I am glad for such a trick of the Destiny».

And you were, as well, hadn’t you been that he didn’t know who you truly were.

«In… indeed…» you muttered feigning shyness while you were still processing the whole matter at hand «… I am … terribly pleasured by such a… meeting, my lord. I was… saddened by my inability to fulfill your offer and thought that you believed me rude and…».

«No such thing» and what was terrifying was that he meant it truly «I was… sad that I couldn’t stench my curiosity of knowing such a … an interesting lady but I… I wouldn’t begrudge you when traveling is something that I  adore greatly. And Italy! Oh, I do hope that you shall travel to it as soon as your friend recovers».

«That should be the plan» 

Such as ditching the whole city once you finished the body and reinvent yourself under a new name because there was now no way that you’d survive so many meetings without leaving a lasting impression in the man’s mind and although you knew it was dangerous you hoped that such a thing would stay 

«… in the meanwhile, if your duties to your friend ever allow you some free time, I’d love nothing more than to have that tea» and he sent a slight look behind himself to an equally elegant mansion behind him «… as it seems we are neighbors».

From worst to worse.

«Oh, oh… I hadn’t… noticed».

«Yes, it’s just… a house I rented for the sake of this trip and its comfortability and…» thank God, at least your bluff wouldn’t be discovered all that soon «… so, indeed. Do come and ask for me… I am not… my business it to be mostly handled in the mornings so I have many afternoons free… obviously if you don’t have…».

«My days are mostly spent entertaining a sarcastic friend with little gratitude for my work» that wasn’t at all a lie, probably the first truth that you spoke as Utahime fit perfectly that description «… tea with somebody like you, my lord, would be… in the least … refreshing».

And it hit you only when you came face-to-face with him and his slightly upwards lips - oh God, you couldn’t simply fixate yourself on a smile - that you realized that you had indeed set yourself on the worst road possible. 

And all for the sake of somebody that you couldn’t have.

This would have ended up badly but with the way the lord’s brown eyes lingered gently on your lips, you couldn’t find yourself to care too much.

credits for dividers: @/saradika-graphics