"Just Imagine!" Julian Said Playfully, Continuing To Gesticulate And Laugh:

"Just imagine!" Julian said playfully, continuing to gesticulate and laugh:

"Me – walking down the street. Handsome! Dangerous! Proud and unapproachable!.."

"…And awesome, as an army with banners, doctor №069?" Valdemar raised their eyebrows ironically.

Another person immediately disappeared and there was silence.

Julian stopped speaking, looked at the Quaestor and felt his face rapidly flush scarlet:

"Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?"

Valdemar shook their head in response:

"How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us? Return, that we may gaze at you."

Without delay, Julian turned to Valdemar, and took a step towards them.

"But I beg them, don't they turn away their eyes from me, for they have overcome me".

Then he came closer, bowed his head and added:

"…for love is strong as Death".

"Strong as Death, you say?"

Valdemar replied after several seconds of silence, grinning, "Shall I consider you a worthy adversary?"

"Unless it's Song of Songs quotation challenge, Quaestor", Julian replied with a laugh.

/thx Apostle Jay for inspiration, indeed. I love kinda complicated relationships between protagonists and antagonists. As much as I love complicated headcanons, you know.🖤/

/godsend song, brutal growling with classic cello is what I absolutely needed/

Something behind the scenes.

Me and my co-author:

*see this magnificent tea set*.

Apostle Jay:

- This is the tea set that Valdemar and Nadia drink tea from on Fridays*.

/*HC based on the comic "Valdemar Schedule" from the Nix Hydra era and, in fact, the scene in PSL where Valdemar drinks tea/

Me:

- And Nadia periodically asks to borrow the tea set for, say, unpleasant conversations with unpleasant ambassadors.

Apostle Jay:

- And now I imagined Julian like this:

Me:

– "Quaestor, tell me, is there really cyanide in my cup?" asks Doctor №069 with a sly glance over the cup.

"Don't flatter yourself, young man. You've just pulled on the marzipan too hard," answers Valdemar with a calm expression and sets the cup on the saucer with a thin, light clink.

Julian's reaction:

Apostle Jay:

- HOW DID YOU GUESS I LOVE MARZIPAN?!

Me:

- Oh, really, how did I guess that? :}

-I am Half Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott-

Gallant, V. E. Schwab

"Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,

As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel;

For well thou know'st to my dear doting heart

Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel.

Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold

Thy face hath not the power to make love groan:

To say they err, I dare not be so bold,

Although I swear it to myself alone.

And, to be sure that is not false I swear,

A thousand groans but thinking on thy face

One on another's neck do witness bear

Thy black is fairest in my judgment's place.

In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds,

And thence this slander as I think proceeds".

Sonnet 131, William Shakespeare

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