#character: matvey alexeev | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gildedink · 5 years

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The warm, early summer air felt great in Yun’s lungs. There was a light breeze, playing with the grass and her hair as she came slowly out of her meditative state. The days were getting longer and soon it would be Tenshi’s birthday. She opened her eyes and saw the sparkling sea. With the sloped nature of Umi No Hoseki, most places had a wonderful vantage point of the sea. With a stretch she stood, enjoying the feeling of relaxed muscles. Things were going well and the little vacation of hopping from city to city in Mikaizu had been surprisingly enjoyable.

With a flush she remembered last night and the sweet things that had been done. She knew under her clothes were love marks and she smiled softly to herself. It had been a bit awkward at first; there really wasn’t anyone to ask or a guide of some sort when dealing with three people. Plus, there were the lines between herself and Gali. Still, it had been wonderful and she felt light and full of gratitude. She hoped Tenshi and Sasami felt as happy as she did when they were together. The sound of someone walking up the hill made her turn, tense. Supposedly there was safety in this little valley, protected by shark-guarded seas and a huge, sheer mountain, but experience told her never to relax. The person crested over the hill.

“Oh… good morning Azusa-san.” She greeted, using the honorifics employed by the region.

“Good morning Qi-san.” Azusa replied. He was soaked, water dripping messily from his hair. He pushed it out of his face as best as he could. “Meditating?”

“Yes. It’s been a while unfortunately. Being able to meditate properly.”

The teen smiled. “There’s a group of waterfalls the local priests use to meditate. I’m sure cool water would be preferable during the summer.”

“That’s a wonderful suggestion. I’ll look into it. Thank you.” Azusa nodded but continued to stare at the woman. She shifted uncomfortably. “Yes?”

“Sorry.”

“… it’s how I look, isn’t it?”

He bowed. “Again, I’m sorry. That was rude.”

“It’s fine… never been out of the village then?”

“Not often, no. I’ve seen a few traders that have the blood of the Far North but… none of them have ever looked like you. May I… look closer?”

Yun hesitated for a moment. She hated being stared at. She hated being so othered. But Azusa was asking out of genuine curiosity, not cruelty. She nodded and the boy came closer, still slick with water. His eyes slowly took her in, like observing an interesting puzzle of piece of art. The expression was very reminiscent of Sasami. There were siblings after all. He took in the pale, messy curls, the milky skin, her short frame. Finally, his eyes landed on hers. Looking right into the eyes of a Jurai, Yun could see how Tenshi had been so captivated. The irises were as silver as moonlight, as mirrors, as frost, as the winter sea. To the woman’s shock, she saw a deep, heavy sorry that didn’t match Azusa’s youth.

“You have his eyes. Like tanzanite.”

The priestess blinked. “Pardon? He?”

Azusa stepped back and bowed. “Thank you, Qi-san.”

“What did you mean?”

“Mean?”

“’His eyes’. Who’s eyes?”

“Who’s he?”

“You said he.”

“I did?”

“Of course you did.”

“You were the one to bring up a ‘he’. Are you talking about Keo-san?” Azusa tilted his head. “You two are involved, correct? I smell his scent on you… and another's.”

Yun flushed. She was getting confused. “Didn’t you say, when you looked at my eyes, they were like ‘his eyes’?”

“No.” The disagreement was emphasized with a headshake. Droplets flew from the wet tips of his hair. The two stared at each other, one glaring and the other wide-eyed innocence. “I will take my leave.” He bowed again and left down the hill. Yun stared after him; she’d heard him correctly… hadn’t she? Who’s eyes had the teen seen in hers?

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Laughter rung through the air as the sun shone. Alexander dragged Matvey by the arm, pushing through the throng of people surrounding those dancing in the middle. A band was struck up, playing a tune fast and lively. “Come on, come on!”

“You won’t die if you don’t join the dance.” Matvey complained. “I hate the dances.”

“Bullshit. Come on, let’s show off. Maybe we’ll get lucky this year.” They reached the inner edge of the crowd leading to the large circle where men and women danced. Some danced in pairs, others in clusters. Spring fever was in the air and the people of Rutsia were eager to shake off the harsh cold for however long they could. Alexander rocked back and forth on his feet, trying to find a good opening. “Come on, come on….”

“Just go without me. I don’t want to dance.”

“But you used to love it before!”

Matvey scowled. “Shit changes.”

The shorter teen sighed but let the matter drop. He cared far more about joining the dance and letting off steam. After a bit he saw his chance and jumped in, falling in step with the other men. The sun was brilliant, nature’s spotlight. He jumped and kicked and spun and danced. At some point he haphazardly threw her jacket off, leaving him in his shirt and vest. A pretty girl with vines and snowbuds in her hazel-colored hair was his partner, her red and blue skirts swirling as the spun. Alexander laughed, loving the thrill of the dance, the warmth of the air, the scent of new life. It was these moments that made him happiest, that made life worth living. He remembered his mother’s skirts as they swirled in spring, how his father would lift her up, spin her around. How he would then, too be picked up and spun.

In the dance he was with them again. In the spring he was home, if only for a few moments as ephemeral as the warmth the season brought.

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With a lazy sigh, Matvey sunk into the bed. He was tired. The constant chatter of know-nothings, arguments and hissing matches wore on him. Here, he could have some peace. The servant added more logs to the fireplace, bowed and left. He didn’t bother to take off his boots, letting his feet simply dangle off the bed’s edge. He wanted to just let his body sink for a moment, feel the heaviness of it.

He still had to give an answer. Would he contract or not. Would he damn himself or not. He wanted to break the man that had broken him but something made him hesitate. A nagging. Memories of a perogies offered. Of warm smiles and a gaze that not only saw him but loved him. Was power worth crushing the little bit of sweetness he’d gained in life, leaving nothing but diamond dust? He thought of the beatings, the yelling, the cursing. The cold. The loneliness. The fact that Alexander had been offered a better life and had never looked back. The choice should be easy.

Still, hope kept burning in his chest. Hope that things would mend. Hope that the loneliness would end. Hope. Hope. Hope. That horrible, disgusting thing that drove him and other abandoned souls to keep being abused in a world that didn’t give a damn. He wanted to rip it to pieces. He wanted hope to stop existing. …he wanted his best friend back. His only friend. He wanted those eyes to stop looking at others and look at him again. He wanted his sanity back. He knew too much, he knew too little. He was a missy conflict, a being who craved power, fame, adoration from all yet from the one that truly mattered it never came.

Matvey wondered if he was always destined to be damned. Damned by a contract with the forbidden or damned by the chains of hope. The true question was which shackles could be stand.

- Shards of Emotion, Snow

#series: legend of the red comet #series: legend of the moving mountain #character: yun qi #character: alexander makaar #character: matvey alexeev

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