Dr Ratio X Jien Yuexia - Tumblr Posts

Pairing: Dr. Ratio x Jien YueXia

Summary: Dr. Ratio was sent to assist a team of Armed Archeologists but the meeting with the team's supervisor went unexpectedly.. good?

Words: 3767

Sharp ridges slanted from the sandy dunes towards the sky, a long stretch of rock and bronzy metals  that hid people within. Houses those were, and entries to tunnels underneath. The people of this world had gotten accustomed to the scorching sun and dry winds, they sought reprieve and solace under the blankets of heavy earth for colder winds. During the day there was scarcely anyone to be seen, but when the sun would begin to tip towards the horizon and open the way for the moon, the planet was as lively as any other. Markets sprouted from the sands and campsites and festivals here and there. What little flora there looked dead and dry in the sun, long leaves and branches swaying limply. Puffs of grass spawned in the lower grounds, near the houses and they grew more abundant near the oasis. It wasn’t quite so dead if one only looked closer. The world slept during the day, and woke during the night. 

Jien watched this world come to light since dawn broke the skies, sitting in some shade of the many slanted houses and languidly waving her hand to cool herself. The clawed rooftops reached up to the open azure skies, and with not a cloud in sight it proved to be a mesmerizing view. Jien had watched the unchanging view for a very long time, her gaze only occasionally flickering to the book in her hand or around at the sands before going up again in thought. Lukewarm air breathed across the ground, stirring grains of flickering dust, ash and sand, spraying it across the feathers of her limp tail that sat on the ground. It should be near 10 o’clock now, she thinks, they should be here soon. 

She had traveled ahead of her squad long prior on private business, and it just so happened their next venture was marked here. However much her team had grown on her, in whatever capacity that was possible, she misliked to travel with much company, if any for that matter. It made her uncomfortable, and alone she only had to think of her actions and words, and not of anyone else. Such a thing could mean friend or foe in foreign worlds, and it was better to not risk it, or risk growing exhausted by someone ineptitude or slowness. 

Her heavy lidded eyes closed for a brief moment, exhaustion plaguing her mind. A quick flick of her tail got rid of the sand that gathered on top of it, and she soon got up to stretch her long legs. And as if on cue, a large blitz of light in the sky caught her eye. A pebble of silver appeared within view, seemingly unmoving across the sea of the sky, but it grew bigger and approached faster. And before long, the long legs protruding from its pale silver belly emerged for landing, sinking into the sand upon contact. Even from afar, the sand kicked up as the spaceship stirred the air. The whirring from the engine slowly became a low groan that faded into nothingness, replaced by the mechanic sliding of the doors and the sliding of the catwalk.

Leaving her cool shade Jien took several steps forward to stand in view and to greet her team. Young Lan was first to emerge from the belly of the ship, and was the first to spot her, lifting a long arm up and waving her way. She returned the wave with a brief one of her own, holding her leatherbound book close to her chest with her other arm, a silent solace. Her second-in-command came out next, and he was followed by a short trail of the remaining of her team, along with one unfamiliar head of hair she could only guess was the doctor that would be joining them. He stood out like a sore thumb among them, wearing colors much more vibrant in comparison to the duller colored attire her team wore. Blue and white and gold; she worried he’d find the trip uncomfortable if that was his only style to wear here. Her team blended in, while he stood out among them.

Swallowing her thoughts down she moved once more towards them, meeting them halfway and greeting them with a soft “Good morning” and a few shakes of hands. 

“I hope the trip wasn’t too exhausting for you all, you look in good spirits” she noted, looking at the faces of her team as they gathered up. Kaiya, the second-in-command, broke through the people and came to stand before her, giving a cordial nod in greeting “Besides a few hours of restless sleep, the journey has been quick and fair. I do apologize for the lack of communication, we have lost signal for a while” spoke Kaiya, adjusting the gloves on his hand, to which Jien simply shook his head and dismissed the apology. 

“It’s no worry. You’re on time for the schedule we set..” her eyes turn to the sharp gaze of the stranger, “And you must be ..Dr. Ratio. It is good to meet you in person now” she turned to him, having felt his heavy eyes on her from the moment he approached. “I’m Jien YueXia, the team supervisor. I wish you a warm welcome, and I hope you find what you’re looking for in this place” Jien had only texted with Dr.Ratio briefly prior to this mission, simply exchanging some basic courtesies and some intel on the expedition, but besides that it was all devoid of anything much concrete. 

Dr. Ratio regarded her with an odd look for a moment, seemingly sizing her up, evaluating her on this first, real, impression. “Hm. Pleasure to make your acquaintance at long last, miss YueXia, you’re quite the difficult person to get a hold of” He didn’t mince his words and neither did he soften his tone, but Jien had predicted as such. Just from the rumors that she heard of his character she could surmise he may be a bit…difficult - stubborn perhaps would be a kinder and a better word for now until she converses with him more. 

“Yes. But I don’t doubt many would say the same for you, doctor, which is why I value your presence here all the more. My schedule lately has been too busy to indulge in any chit-chat. I do hope Kaiya has filled you in on the rest of the details while you were traveling?” She could glimpse a few uneasy looks and stiff shoulders from her peripheral, an uneasy indicator to the Doctor’s presence. It would be no lie to say her team knew way more about this Doctor than she did, but she found it puzzling that they seemed to be afraid. It set her to be quite more defensive and wary than she already was. Her team was closer to her than he was, and she felt a responsibility to protect them, even if it meant putting herself on the possible chopping block.

The corners of his lips twitched ever so slightly before he gave a curt nod, taking a quick look at Kaiya and then back at her. “Yes, he seemed quite eager to help me in that regard as well. Although those details were rather vague, and left much more to be desired. I have done my own work and research on this environment, so to say I am not informed would be a fallacy”. At that Jien showed the curl of her lips, a faint smile that was more of a mix of necessity and slight courtesies than actual joy.

“Why, that is a relief. But if a question does happen to spring forth from this realm of the impossible, you can ask me about it. For now, let’s retreat to some shade before we burn up” With that she ended their chatter and led them to entry to what anyone else would assume was just a giant mountain of sand, but inside there were more people, and there was life. Green plants decorated the corners and they bloomed with the faint sweetness of flowers. Jien walked up to the desk set up in the room, and after a short chat it became evident this would be their residence. A hotel perhaps, or an inn - both words could be used, depending on whether you saw this place as fancy or not. 

For all it lacked on the outside, the mountain of the hotel made up for it on the inside. It was evident the planet had much to offer, and their technology was on par with that of their HQ, which was quite a praise considering the planet has only been in contract with the IPC for only a handful of years. Prior to that, when Jien was not yet a  member of the Intelligentsia Guild, expeditions to this place were quite the risk. The people here were unfamiliar with these “extraterrestrial strangers”, and while they were not hostile, they weren’t friendly either. The lack of shade was enough for missions to end sooner than they began, and the endless rocky slopes didn’t reveal their secrets easily, nor did the wild monsters that lurked just underneath the earth’s blanket. Jien was here before, and she knew enough of their language to go about on her own without issue, and that was evident in her records as well with how many times and how much time she spent here in the last two months alone.

With their luggage in hand, they all found their designated rooms, leaving spare items there before meeting up again at the dinner after they got some rest. It was just about lunch time when everyone had come down and took their seats at different tables. Some members were chatting amidst themselves about mundane, everyday things, and in passing Jien had caught word of some wedding in one of their lives, and another spoke of getting some new digging equipment. She passed by them and had come up to the mostly vacant table where Dr. Ratio sat, his eyes puzzled at the menu and its foreign tongue. 

“Dr. Ratio, may I join you? Or do you wish to have some more time for yourself?” Her question did pull his nose from the menu and up at her where she stood behind a chair, with one hand on the wood carved backrest. “Or have you scared everyone away from you?” She posed an additional question, although with the flatness of her voice it proved difficult to see whether she was serious or jesting. Nonetheless, Dr. Ratio motioned with his hand, inviting her to sit with him, a small scoff flying out from him at her wording. 

“Please do. You may be the only one to approach without any.. hesitation. They do say ignorance is bliss, and these poor sods would much rather remain ignorant than enlightened” Just as the words tumbled from his lips he could see the light grimace on Jien’s face that did nothing to hide her displeasure at the way he spoke of her team. With a huff from her nose she was quick to set the record straight, in the gentlest way she could - she still hoped to have an amicable relationship with him if they are going to work side by side. “From what I know, your way of dealing with people and speaking to them, as well as your reputation precedes you by a long mile. And just because you have not spent enough time around them does not qualify them as ‘sods’, doctor. I’d appreciate it if you spoke more kindly about them, even if you yourself may not like them”. She had seated herself not opposite of him but on the next turn of the table, her back against the chair as they chatted, although Jien hoped to get to the menu soon. This would be her breakfast, technically, and she felt starved. 

With a sharp and observant gaze he analyzed her features and the way she positioned herself and the tone of her voice and the way she moved. Although at first glance she appeared mild-mannered and quiet there was a hint of something else underneath all of it. Perhaps he really did hit a nerve with his remark. Perhaps he didn’t like someone challenging his words so bluntly.  “Fine. I have no problem with them on a personal level in the end, but I have no interest in coddling them or treating them with excessive kindness. With that being said, I will attempt to speak more.. kindly, as you put it, if nothing else but for your sake, Miss YueXia” His fingers picked up the menu once again, his gaze finally leaving her face, and for a moment Jien felt a bit of reprieve. She had no doubt he shared the opinion that it would be better to be softer than to provoke unnecessary conflicts or unease in the team they were supposed to be working together with. And most importantly, this wasn’t his territory, he truly was just a stranger here. He knew.

Jien nodded her head in silent gratitude for his compliance. “That is much appreciated, Dr. Ratio. Now, unless my eyes deceived me, you looked to be a bit confused by the menu here. Can I help you?” she asked, crossing one leg over the other as she got more comfortable in her seat. He let out a throaty hum, rubbing his chin before sighing. “I’m simply a bit confused by the names of these dishes, they are quite.. odd. That is odd. You’ve been here before, what would you recommend?” he switched topics swiftly, stubbornly avoiding any questions directed solely at him now.

“Hmmm… Well, it depends on your taste preference. This place is quite known for more exotic delicacies which are plant based, but they don’t lack in meaty dishes either” Jien spoke, leaning forward slightly as she eyed the menu in his hands, which he promptly turned for her viewing. After pointing out a few options and selecting the one to his liking, Jien was a bit quiet as she scanned the menu for her own choice. The waiter was walking around in the meantime, taking orders and ringing them back to the kitchen, and by the time the young waiter arrived at their table they were set to order. Dr. Ratio went first, and Jien soon after.

While they waited, they were served freshly cut fruit and water. There was a light tone of music coming from the front of the restaurant. The sound bounced off of the cold stone walls, but it was not disruptive or too loud - it was quite relaxing. The occasional yell of the chefs was the only noise that was somewhat odd amidst the chatter and song. 

“Do tell me, you’re a Vidyadhara, correct?” 

The question came out of the blue, even if Jien had expected it as she chewed on her round red fig. Up until then, Dr. Ratio had spoken briefly on how he had prepared for this expedition and what he expected, but Jien had remained mostly quiet as there wasn’t much to add. It was bordering on awkward in certain moments.

“I am not” Jien replied curtly as her tail curled closer to the legs of her chair, feathers rustling softly together. While she chewed on her fruit she could practically hear his thoughts as his eyes flickered from between her horns and her eyes, and the thought of her tail… 

“Really? That’s quite hard to believe, given your resemblance to their kin.” There was a breath of sarcasm in his words which was absent up to that point in their conversation. “Well then, perhaps you could indulge my curiosity. What are you, if not a Vidyadhara?” 

“Human, just like you” she responded with little thought behind it. “I hate to disappoint you but that is the truth. I am not anything special, and if it would be easier to understand, these horns and tail are all decorations of sorts..” It would be difficult to explain how they look so real and organic without them being machinery, and she hoped he wouldn’t probe.. “I have spent quite a significant amount time with the Vidaydhara however, so I suppose I picked up quite a lot from them”

Now that response seemed to take the doctor off guard, his eyes widening for only the briefest of glimpses before his sturdy composure was back on like daylight. If only for a moment, he genuinely looked perplexed. 

She was hoping to assume it would be fine to be truthful with him, he was quite the intellectual and has prided himself for all he knew about a variety of subjects. But even in the official register of the Intelligentsia Guild they have noted her down as a Vidyadhara, as she truly didn’t have any other explanation for her looks, and she often did simply roll with it to avoid any confusion and over complicated attempts to explain that she was able to make this from mere pages of her book. Dr. Ratio leaned in, elbow resting on the tabletop as his eyes now openly swallowed every detail of her appearance. “Mere decoration you say? They certainly look as real as you” he commented as Jien instinctively leaned back, her eyes following the way his own flickered across her features. A moment of thought made her feel as if she was under the limelight and she wanted to shrink underneath it. 

Dr. Ratio could not deny the possibility of this being true, he has seen everything and this was nowhere near the most absurd things he has seen, nor the most fascinating. Yet it piqued his interest nonetheless. He does wear a plaster head, and she wears her horns, perhaps the two were somewhat alike, but that could have been only Veritas’ mind trying to reason with this answer.  He remained silent for a time as he watched her shrink under his gaze. Not out of malice, but merely from a strange fascination of sorts that perhaps even he didn’t understand to its fullest extent. He was no stranger to the unexpected; from his research alone he had delved into areas that even he wasn’t entirely sure how to process and accept in certain moments. Though, he didn’t  hate the unexpected.

“Fascinating..” he had muttered, the words slipping from his lips before he realized it. Jien broke into a small grin, flustered or uncomfortable by the overwhelming attention. “Ah, thank you, I suppose..”

His gaze didn’t falter for another few moments, focusing in on every ridge of her horns and down to the base which was obscured by her bangs and rest of her hair. Dr. Ratio could simply not resist asking further about it. “How did you procure such a.. realistic pair, and an even more realistic tail more importantly? They certainly look real.. Though, this is very much a compliment to your craftsmanship in making them, if what you say is true” he inquired, tilting his head very slightly. But finally he leaned back, giving back the air she began to crave more than the food on the table. She plucked a slice of a fruit from the plate to ease herself back into the conversation once more.

“It’s a.. complicated process. I am not sure where to even begin.. but I did start off with simply drawing out many patterns on paper before I settled on one I liked the most, before going further and ..assembling it, giving it shape and structure…” She trailed off, her brows meeting together at the center as she realized the lack of sustenance her answer provided, it was simply too vague and Ratio looked at her as if she answered wrong, even if he himself lacked the correct answer. He wanted more detail, it was evident, but how does she explain to a scientist she simply pulled it out of the paper of her book and that there was no ‘assembling the pieces’ process. Just as she was about to say some more, their plates of food were served in front of them, along with their drinks and utensils. Thanking the waiter they brushed the topic aside for the time being. 

Even so, Dr. Ratio was quite insistent on asking further. Not even drinks could drown his curiosity, nor the food. No matter which way their conversation swayed, she could still feel the question looming over her head.  

“Doctor, I do not wish to lie to you, but it is also not the right time for me to tell you exactly how these were made. I do have hope you’ll figure it out over the next few days however, you are a genius after all and you do not lack in observation skills.." She pierced a piece of meat on her fork and ate it, watching his eyes regard her curiously, but this time it wasn’t something directed at ‘hows’ or ‘whys’, but rather something else she couldn’t quite place her finger on. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he chewed down his bite. Jien had to stop herself from raising a brow at the sudden change in demeanor, but she had an idea what it was now. 

Dr. Ratio left out a huff, not out of annoyance but amusement. There was a peculiar warmth in his chest, despite being called a genius by so many people, even he had begun to forget their faces. As this realization entered his mind his smile fell as fast as it appeared on his lips. “If this is your way of testing my intellect then so be it, I do not look away from a challenge for the mind. I look forward to what you have to show for all these words you served. I truly do hope it is not a set up for nothing” he told her as he reached for his glass and took a sip, glancing at her over the crystalline rim of it. 

Jien let out a chuckle at that and shrugged her shoulders. This Ratio was more amusing than she gave him credit for - stubborn to a fault, but he did not lack in some manners, at least. He wasn’t dull, Jien will give him that for now.  “Well, we’ll only be able to tell when this is all over, right?” Dr. Ratio nodded and as he opened his mouth to talk she could spy from her peripheral vision a few looks casted their way from the rest of the team, but she paid them no mind. 

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

Art of Jien is made by me.

Some fake chats between these two nerds, I love them sm.

I need to make more once I get the time these are so goofy, look at them 😭

- Lustrous Ballroom Event

A/n: My piece for the ship event hosted by the wonderful @xianyoon <3 Thank you so much for organizing this event, and I hope everyone enjoying this will also enjoy reading it :)

Prompt: ethereal - a clandestine kiss under the moonlight threatens to turn into more

Contents: Dr. Ratio x Jien YueXia, fluff, a bit suggestive at the end but not NSFW, doesn't follow the canon storyline

Warm hues of gold showered the ballroom from the high ceiling, the hanging lights flickering with a shine of white and specks of red as the crystals would catch any reflecting light. There was a particularly big candle chandelier in the middle whose candles didn’t seem to melt, no matter how long the party stretched on into the night. All the big windows were opened at the start of moonrise, filtering in the cool summer night air and stirring the thick curtains tucked at the sides of each window. And there was a certain magic to it all, yet suffocating with so many people flocking all across the floor.

It would be the first big event that Jien had attended in a long, long time. The event was long coming, and between work and rest, she had found herself walking from one store to another for a gown fit for the occasion and one that matched her picky taste. Too many stores offered seldom good options, so in the end Jie had opted to purchase a simple gown as a base on which she could commission additional work to be done on. What was the result was a beautiful and long golden dress with a V-cut collar that revealed a little more than her work outfit, split sleeves and a slit that reached up to the middle of her thigh. It hugged her figure, but left ample room for movement and comfort and for the breeze to lick up at her skin. Even her horns were not left from decorations as pale a golden ring enveloped the thin curve on each horn, connected by a thin chain that held a single faded gray moonstone. Jien felt like a completely different person altogether. 

Over the crowds of people she hoped to spy her partner, yet she couldn’t find the familiar golden laurel on anyone’s heads. It has been well over an hour since she had stepped foot with Veritas Ratio through the heavy open doors of the ballroom, but somewhere along the lines of conversation with other party guests and searching for a drink, the two had separated. His absence made the sudden tension in her throat all the harder to bear, and a hardened expression replaced the initial wondrous look that gazed upon everything in curiosity and awe. A couple of friendly faces reminded her too much of old friends she could no longer reach. 

All too soon, the celebration ended for Jien as she climbed up the pale marble steps to higher ground, taking a moment to look at the floating orbs of light that exuded a comforting cool breath. The building was full of these little things, which one could easily call magical, as at first glance there was nothing logical about their existence. The same thing ran through both Jien and Veritas’ mind once they glimpsed a painting that seemed to swim in its paint, a living painting hanged on the wall, watching guests walk by.

Finding herself overlooking everyone, away from anyone’s touch and gaze, she fished out her phone from her pocket, quickly sending a message to the first contact on the list. Just as she tapped on the sent button, asking where the other person was, she saw the three dots appear below, bouncing as they heralded the presence of Veritas. Glee glowed within her chest and a smile made its way up her face, solidifying when he replied that he was on his way out to the gardens where he asked to meet up with her. It was such a simple request, yet it weighed more on her heart than this entire ballroom combined. Too many people, too much noise - Jien thought as she made her way back down and out the first door she could find, greeting a few familiar people along the way. The clicking of her heels soon became a more prevalent sound as the cacophony of the party got drowned out by the sound of silence of the dim-lit gardens. 

Out of pure habit, Jien had grown quiet as well, her very step becoming lighter and cautious as her figure slipped beneath the bow of a rose bush. Moon flowers blossomed at the sides of the paved path, the pale petals outstretched like little fingers grasping at the moonlight. Green leaves and bushes had grown to a color almost black in the absence of any light, aside that of the moon that bathed the surfaces in silver. A sound of flowing water caught her attention on the path in front, her gaze landing on the giant fountain at the center of the gardens, the figure in the middle fashioned from pure marble in the likeness of a creature half-horse and half-fish. The long curling tail of hind end wrapped around the post the horse sat on. It was forever made to look like this, flowing mane and front hooves bent in the air, ready to dive into the very waters it guarded. 

“I finally found you” - Jien’s voice came out hushed and relieved, yet with a hint of playful sharpness. Mirth made its way to the crinkles of her eyes as she approached the figure standing at the side of the fountain. He had already heard her coming, and was patiently waiting for her to come to him. A smile was rare for him to do, at least in such situations as this, some may even find it like a sneer, but this was nothing like the crowded room they had lost each other in, and fresh air had enveloped them like old friends. Veritas let himself smile and be at ease. 

“Yes, it was about time”, he agrees, closing in the distance between them. The trouble of not feeling her presence at his side for so long made him feel starved of the same, something Jien seemed to read off of him like words off a paper. “You sure know the best ways to go running off and out of my sight, it seems to be your talent”.

“Oh, spare me the scolding, it’s not as if I did this on purpose, and it’s certainly not something I wanted either. I looked all over the place for you - I could very well say you were hiding from me” Jien rebutted, tilting her head at him with a playful smile plastered across her red-painted lips. In the moment, Veritas scoffed at her response, and Jien let her shoulder slack, breathing a sigh of relief now that they found their way to each other. And the distant clamor and music was merely a buzz that neither of them paid attention to now. The music was replaced by the soft call of crickets and a distant hoot of an owl. A comforting notion, besides the more obvious one that stood in front of her, and in front of him. 

“And to think this whole thing is barely half-way through.. I’m not sure whether I’ll fall asleep on the tables first or if I’ll flee back to our hotel” she chuckled as she took a step to stand at his side. Already sensing her next move, Veritas moved to the side until she could lean her head on his shoulder, her arms wrapping around the bend of his elbow. His suit still smelled like the light musky perfume he put on at the start of the evening, and it held additional tones of wine and her own perfume. He smelled warm and familiar. 

“Don't think of running off from this. There's appearances to be kept up, more hands to shake and smiles to be shared”. 

Jien snorted at that, a grin breaking her face as she lifted her head to rest her chin on his shoulder, looking at the way his eyes held the guised mischief and mirth. “Hah, don't talk as if you wouldn't leave this party at first chance”, she teased, admiring the full golden laurel that wrapped around his head before tracing her way to his eyes. She could nearly feel his breath across her skin as he uttered “You know very well what I think of gatherings such as this..”.

The night twinkled with peculiar light of stars of different shades, and Jien’s body dipped to sit on the edge of the fountain, her touch leaving a lingering feeling across his arm. "What are you doing?" Veritas questioned as his keen eyes observed her motions of unlacing the strap around her ankles of her heels.  

“My feet have been killing me since a good half an hour ago. What does it look like?” Jien responded in their usual back-and-forth fashion, holding no malice or bite as she slipped her feet onto the paved cold ground. Ease filled her ankles and the soles of her feet and she breathed another sigh of relief.  The party was looking better, now that she was away from it. 

“I'm surprised you're not choking up in that suit of yours. It looks uncomfortable” 

“I assure you, the material is thin enough, I'm feeling fine now that I'm out here. Inside though…hmph, I'd rather not go back to the memory” Already he had his arms folded over his chest, the crinkles of his shirt looking strained over his chest and shoulders. One had to wonder if this was his size, but the Doctor did prioritize his comfort too.  Nonetheless, this knowledge didn't stop the horned woman from looking down on the chest window and the buttons barely holding in place; trying, and failing, to keep her smile to herself. 

“What?”

“You couldn't have picked something more… modest?” She asked, her voice still holding onto a sense of ease and her characteristic bluntness.

“Is there something wrong with my attire for tonight, Miss YueXia?” His eyes regard her now in the style he regarded someone who he was scolding, lips drawn in a thin line. This reaction prompted Jien to rise from her seat and approach him, step by slow step like a doe as she held his gaze, face expressionless and soft. Long accustomed to his demeanor, she took no offense to the way he was at times, knowing much more lay beneath this tough exterior he wished to keep up at all times. 

Tilting her head at him, she allowed herself to be a tease, but earnest nonetheless as she gripped onto his forearms, mind brewing words to spew. “Nothing is wrong, perhaps that's the problem”, said Jien, searching his eyes for that little glimmer she was chasing.  “You look too good for your own good, Doctor. Even with that alabaster head you insisted on wearing for the second half of the night”. At that, Veritas found himself speechless. Faced with such blunt flattery and compliments he was tongue tied, and could only mimic her motions by tilting his head, his eyes drinking in the lines of her face. Without a pardon, his eyes roamed, following the line of her eyeliner up to her brow, then down her nose and to the curve of her lips. 

Lifting one arm and releasing it from her hold, he brings his fingers to tilt her chin up, noting the way her eyes widened and flickered behind her black rimmed glasses.  Yet she seems to lean further into it, gentle breaths fluttering against his knuckles.

“You're really being awfully affectionate today…it almost makes me think there's something more to it, is there?” His tone had mellowed out along with his gaze, observing her and seeing the thoughts flow through her dark eyes. 

“Nothing has happened, and nothing can force me to be affectionate. If it is uncomfortable for you, you need only say so. Do I make you uncomfortable, Veritas?”.

 There it was. The slip of his name from her tongue that felt like honey flowing through his ears, attracting more of his focus - as if she didn't have it all already.  

“No..no..” Veritas refuted in a hushed tone, eyes flickering away from her, at nothing else in particular, wholly lost within the confines of his brilliant mind, in which he didn't feel so brilliant right now. He felt sluggish, nearly ready to go to bed, but not without this warmth Jien exuded. 

“Something wrong? Is there something you want to say..?” it's a whisper, her amused expression falling as her chin tilted to the side, as if to follow his gaze, and Veritas had half the mind to play with her here and banter some more, but he decided against it. 

“...you look…beautiful” he says at long last, and Jien could swear she never heard him talk so quietly. She could feel her heart climb up to her throat, lodging itself there and giving her little control over the smile forcing itself over her lips. God damn you, Veritas, she wanted to say, for being the only man to be able to reach so deep into my heart, my soul. 

“You flatterer-” she averts her gaze, nearly escaping the hold he had on her if he had not slipped his palm onto her cheek. “Pfft..” 

Her hand lands over his own, nuzzling her reddened cheek into his palm. Whatever worrying thoughts she woke up with today were all gone now, evaporating in the wake of his display of affection. Neither of them indulged too openly in affections, not like this, not so boldly anyway. It nearly felt as if it was all being done for the first time. Veritas would much rather them spend time in each other's company, working on their separate tasks; Jien would rather opt to show her love in the same manner, or by doing things that could ease his time or by cuddling up to him in the night. Both of them found this bold language of love foreign, yet no less compelling and tempting. 

“I only speak truly, you know that” His gaze searches for hers, watching how the silver light made her hair cascade over her shoulders in silver-kissed waves, forming an ethereal picture held in his very hand. 

Questioning him now, or denying his words, was out of the question. 

Jien swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt his other hand slip onto her hip and without a second thought she snaked her hand up his chest and onto his shoulder. “Hmm..”

There's a shift in his eyes and brows, a subtle quirk that asks her wordlessly- ‘What is it? Talk to me’.

There's not much of a question in her mind. Save for one. Looking up into his eyes she watched as he leans in slightly, stealing her air and pulling her closer to him. The whole garden suddenly feels like a lonely stage made solely for their perusal. Her hand slips to his nape, playing with the thick strands of hair that grew there. 

‘Kiss me..’

Where her words failed her, her eyes spoke for her. Pulling Veritas closer to her, feeling him press his forehead against hers before she made a short motion of tilting her head upward, meeting his lips with her own. 

Her eyes flutter closed, both arms wrapping around his shoulder, fingernails slightly digging into the material of his suit and feeling the muscles underneath. The kiss lasts only a couple heartbeats, but upon pulling away both of them prove to be rather breathless nonetheless. Veritas thumbs at her cheek, staring her down as she does the same to him before she catches a glimpse of his lips, stamped with her lipstick. 

All the buzz of crickets around them returns once Jien chuckles heartily at the sight, finding it endearing and soul warming; her displayed mirth catching Veritas off guard as she pulls him down again, stamping her lipstick across his cheeks and the corner of his lips. 

“Jien-! You-”, Veritas tries to growl, to tell her of the aforementioned image they had to keep up, but it's almost as if he can feel the whole garden giggling at his flustered stance and at his very thoughts that present nothing more but a jumbled mess.

So he gives in, and the next kiss she goes to give him is stolen by his lips, a fiery passion unlocked deep within his heart as he claims her plush lips again. He can hear a sound of surprises coming from her, but she doesn't pull away, nor does she try to stop him. Both of his arms dip to circle around her, pulling her flush against his chest and until he can pull her up to her tiptoes; up until then it was him who had to lean down just a bit to kiss her. Jien smiles into the kiss, her heart drumming loudly between her ears.

Pulling away proved to be harder the second time around, a deep hungry pit having been opened deep within their bellies. 

As Jien smiles like a fool over smudged lipstick, staring at him in admiration of his, now disheveled, looks, Veritas huffs after inhaling the much needed air, already thinking of ways to slip away from this place. 

“That opportunity you mentioned before…to leave the party…” Jien nods, urging him to say what she knew was running through his mind. “I believe this is more than enough reason to leave. We'd be much better off celebrating off at our hotel. It's much more comfortable to enjoy a celebration when it's just the two of us and not a ballroom of strangers waiting to see who'll get drunk the fastest… Do you not agree, Jien?”

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

We're being sad tonight hoes. Ratien angst because why not..

This is something I did with some new brush I wanted to test out in Medibang. It's...alright??? It's definitely cute but now what I've been looking for. Guess I'll have to stick to the good ol' pen for now while I test some others.

And here's some IX Jien concept sketch

Jientio Doodle dump

I found a sick reference for the first one and I knew it was destined to be a Jientio doodle, so it was. Messily colored but idc I like it, my goofy guys, my stupids TM, my comfort ship lowkey- The second doodle up there is from the meme I recently posted. I love how he turned out so I'm posting it here too.

How Ratio handles Jien vs How Jien handles Ratio

It is the cutenes agression in her you can't blame her. She's usually gentle but listen, he's too good looking. She gotta get her hands on him.

And last one for now:

Idk what this is but it is what it is. I saw that one still of Tom Hiddlestone in some play, I genuinely don't know what it was I just grabbed the reference pic and ran. And now it is Jientio.

LISTEN.

I missed Layla...and initially I was going to do absolutely nothing about it but then I saw this trend everywhere and my hand did the drawing on its own accord. I did not consent to this but oh well.. I think my colors on my tablet are off because all of it looks so pale help. Just a colored sketch mess but it's alright.

Gonna leave this here and run, gonna go throw up because they're so disgusting I hate them sm (I say as I keeep drawing them)