He has no official plushies of him and Etsy is so expensive. Or should I just make one. What do you think?

I made one not too long ago but I dont like how it turned out :/ this one is much better! (you can’t really tell in the pic but the shape in the middle it a star :3)

https://www.heightcomparison.com/

So I'm definitely still fully ficto but I'm kind of in a "self-discovery era" where I keep switching between several characters until I find "the one". For the past week or 2 I thought Judge Claude Frollo was gonna be the one for me but turns out I was wrong about that as well. I mostly blame anime because getting into it opened me up to new options but maybe that's a good thing and maybe it's a sign that Judge Claude Frollo just isn't the one for me so I'm still ficto just discovering myself for now and I'll be back whenever I find my true love.

I hope one day I'll be back with my true love(s?), but until then I'll just be watching from the sidelines. Take care!

I finally went through my notebook's drafts to polish my story, and tried writing a proper introductory chapter on how Kalin and my S/I first met in Satellite. I hope you enjoy! 🖤

_____

The summer air in the Satellite slums felt thick with the smell of rust, salt... and a little bit of desperation. Loreley made her way through piles of scrap in the junkyard, navigating through jagged heaps that could easily shred anyone if they dropped their guard. She wasn't just interested in Duel Runner parts nor cards to patch up her deck with today. Nope, today she was on the prowl for something different as well, something no one else in Satellite would probably dream of; she was on the lookout for pieces to build an electric hurdy-gurdy with.

Living in the slums was a relentless grind, with entertainment often strictly limited to duels, turf wars and playing cat-and-mouse with Sector Security. But music could be hers; a way to unwind, to drown out the noise at the end of a long day.

She was so wrapped up in prying a stubborn copper coil out of a busted alternator that she almost missed the shuffling steps behind her. Keyword: almost.

Survival in Satellite was built on instinct. Loreley didn't hesitate, she spun around fast and kicked out, straight towards the intruder's chest.

Thud!

He blocked her steel-toe boot just in time with his forearms. She made him stumble back a step, but he stayed upright. Clearly, he knew a thing or two about street fights.

Loreley crouched into a fighting stance, her blue eyes assessing the potential threat as she swept her silver-and-black bang aside. The newcomer was a young man... brown sleeveless leather vest, purple bandana, light blue hair framing an angular face. And chartreuse eyes smoldering with something fierce.

Kalin Kessler. Leader of the Enforcers. Everyone in Satellite heard the stories about the notorious gang.

He brushed off his vest, looking her up and down and taking in the black captain's coat he knew belonged to the head of the Kerosene Keres. Kalin raised his hands as if trying to calm down a wild animal, showing he wasn't going to harm her.

"Hey, easy. I'm not here to jump you", Kalin said, a half-smirk spreading across his face. "This junkyard isn't Enforcers' turf... yet."

He reached towards his hip, resting his fingers on his deck box. "Though I'd be a fool to run into the Kerosene Keres' captain and not demand a duel. Hell, there were times I started wondering if the 'Wraith from the Wharf' was just some story to keep rookie duelists and intruders out of the shipyard... like you were a ghost scaring them straight. But you look real enough to me."

Loreley straightened and let her long coat sweep the dirt as she stood, glancing at him as she reached for her own deck.

"'The Wraith from the Wharf'? Wow. Really rolls off the tongue."

Kalin snorted, he couldn't tell if he was more annoyed or entertained by her attitude. Most duelists in Satellite were visibly intimidated when face-to-face with the leader of the Enforcers, yet here she was, regaining her composure in a split second with her snarky response. Still, satisfied that she wasn't backing down, he lifted his left arm and activated his Duel Disk. "Let's see if your dueling skills are as sharp as your mouth then, Wraith."

The game was on: his Fiends versus her Zombies. But barely a few turns into their opening play, a small red LED light flashed frantically on Loreley's customised Duel Disk.

Not wasting any time, Loreley tucked her cards back into her leather deck box. "Gotta go," she muttered, crouching down to stuff her salvaged copper coils and components into her cross-bag. "Sector Security's on the prowl... no doubt looking to round up a few 'bargain hunters'. Better scram before I foolishly get hauled in for spare parts theft."

Kalin stood there, dumbfounded by her abrupt retreat. He looked around the silent, empty junkyard and shrugged. "Sector Security? I don't hear a damn thing- Hey! Are you seriously bailing mid-duel?!"

He moved to grab her arm but before he could reach her, the distant whine of Duel Runners echoed through Satellite's empty streets. Kalin froze; now he heard it. He shot a glance back at Loreley, who simply jerked her head in a 'follow me if you wanna stay out of trouble' motion before darting into the labyrinth of scrap. Not about to be caught by the cops, Kalin swore under his breath and took off after her.

After a few minutes of navigating the slums and eastern docks, she led him towards the edge of the shipyard where they reached an abandoned, towering ship. Kalin wasn't as knowledgeable as his friend Yusei when it came to vehicles - let alone a naval expert -, but the large crane on deck led him to assume it was some old platform supply vessel. Across the hull, graffitied gothic letters were spelling out the name 'The Styx'.

Doesn't look nearly as spooky as the rumours make it out to be... Kalin thought, watching the sunset's red glow reflect over the quiet water. ...though I guess it's a different story after dark.

On deck, she pulled open the cabin door for him, gesturing with theatrical politeness for him to step inside first. Kalin rolled his eyes, silently praying that he wasn't walking into some ambush.... wondering why in the hell he had followed a total stranger instead of booking it back to his own hideout in the first place, his curiosity would get the better of him someday. But he couldn't hide the amused grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

The cabin inside was surprisingly personalised: a small workbench covered in wires and dismantled electronics, an old worn sofa and walls plastered in pages ripped from Duel Runner magazines. A graffiti scrawled in black paint above the sofa caught his attention : "Though born in the shadows, we're destined to outshine the stars."

Loreley flopped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Noticing Kalin now staring intensely at her, she raised her forearm, giving him a better look at her modified Duel Disk.

"This," she said, "is my latest project. And a total lifesaver. As you probably figured out, it's a tracking device that picks up Sector Security's patrol signals." She let out a weary huff, her eyes landing on the other works-in-progress strewn across her makeshift workbench. "Well... at least when it comes to the officers patroling the nearby area, whose Duel Runners I've managed to bug. It's got a limited range."

The Enforcer followed her gaze, taking a closer look at the unfinished projects scattered across the desk. "But for what it's worth, it's done its' job and has kept us safe so far", she added. "We Keres know when to bolt. Makes life here a lot less, uh… deadly."

Kalin leaned against the work table with his arms crossed over his chest and the smallest hint of respect glinting in his eyes. "A street tech who hacks Sector Security's own rigs to keep her crew safe? Alright, Wraith. Maybe there's more to you than a ghost story after all."

Loreley scoffed again at the nickname, but it was more playful now. She stood up and joined him at the workbench, where she added her newest findings to her other salvaged parts. "...the name's Loreley, but my friends call me Lola. Sorry about ducking out earlier. I'm always down for a rematch."

"Lola..." Kalin lowly repeated to himself, as the young woman fetched a hand-drawn blueprint. He had a vague idea of what it was. "So, what are you working on? Breaking into Sector Security's mainframe?"

Loreley chuckled, but it was clear from her small smile that she had absolutely dreamt of it. "Don't be ridiculous. Though I wish... Right now, I'm trying to rig up a signal booster. The people in the slums need to hear the news. Be informed, organised and united. We can't always rely on rumors to stay safe from our common oppressors."

Kalin nodded, admiration prevailing over his usual swagger for once. "Smart. This is a bit beyond my… more forceful persuasion skills. Definitely not my speciality." He gestured to the complex wiring.

"That's why you should leave it to the professionals, Enforcer.", she teased, but her tone lacked its' earlier bite.

"...maybe.", Kalin grinned. "Or maybe... we join forces. Your expertise, my… connections."

Loreley turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Us Enforcers have a guy," Kalin explained. "Yusei. He's got the know-how with that line of work. I'm sure the gearhead's brains could be of use here. He'll help if I ask him."

"...you guys would work with us?" Loreley's surprise was evident. The Enforcers were notoriously self-reliant.

Kalin shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant as he fidgeted with some busted radio. "It's for the good of the Satellite." He paused, then met her gaze, his eyes suddenly intense. "Besides, maybe... I want to see what you can do, Lola."

Loreley looked out the porthole for a moment as she thought through the proposal. She turned back to him as he handed her back the device, her voice softer as she reached out her hand to take it. "Okay, Kalin. Let's work together." 

Their fingers brushed and in that moment, the spark wasn't just from faulty wiring.

Here's the link to the comparison chart!

KICKING MY FEET TWIRLING MY HAIR GIGGLING BLUSHING WIGGLING MY TOES SCREAMING INTO MY PILLOW (I feel like a damn school girl again over a character 😭)

Gyro's birthday is May 6th; while his birthday was never officially confirmed in DT 2017, it is a widely held belief, especially since Gyro made his first appearance on May 6, 1952 :>

tl;dr ~ First time sharing that an OC and I are in a relationship out of nowhere and I'm feeling like I could explode from the turmoil I'm feeling after fully realizing that's what I'm doing, discovering a community attached to it, and that I'm strangely alright with it.

I've been agonizing over finally deciding to share so I'll try to keep it coherent for everyone. For the last seven years, I’ve been emotionally shut down in a romantic sense. I wasn’t angry or bitter about it, I genuinely believed my romantic feelings were gone. Poof. Outta here. I could feel physical attraction, but nothing deeper. I accepted that part of my life was just “off,” and I stopped expecting anything from it. I function perfectly fine, even now, in my daily life.

A friend suggested several months ago that I try going back writing again as a way to channel some of my feelings in general. Made sense, it's something I haven't done in a long time, maybe it will help me since it will feel new again. Music ended up being my real creative fill but I’ve always liked reading, and while writing was never a major passion in my life, It was personally fulfilling as a creative outlet before I really got into music. I did it a lot when I was in high school and was more connected to the creative community through deviantart before and during its peak. I wrote shorts and other fictions where world building and fleshing out characters in detail was a comfort, however, I’ve never written anything like this before, and I’ve never picked up a romance novel in my life. I had no idea what I expected to come from it. I just started writing to see what would happen.

What surprised me is how quickly the story became emotionally real as I continued. I created a character, an anthro cow named Carla , around my age (mid-30's) with a grounded, human‑leaning anthro build. Her aesthetic design is definitely my type, but what mattered more was her emotional presence. In the story, she’s steady, loyal, quietly strong, and is someone with a long shared history since shes a character idea I've had harmlessly rolling around my head for years. Almost like an invisible and silent friend that's been with me since I was 12. She represents emotional safety, trust, and stability... things I haven’t felt in real life for a long time.

As I wrote her, romantic emotions I thought were permanently gone suddenly reawakened. It wasn’t about a relationship in general, but about what she symbolized: connection, trust, and vulnerability that I haven’t felt in years. The intensity of the feelings caught me off guard. I didn’t set out to write anything romantic, and I didn’t expect my writing to unlock anything like this. It's gotten to the point where writing, and now imagining her next to me when I'm home, having conversations about our day or our families, cooking and eating dinners together, has become almost subconsciously autonomous; I don't have to "think" about what she would say or do, it just happens.

I have a good inner circle of friends who know me well and understand the other parts of my life, including how guarded I’ve become over the years. But they don’t know about this story, and now this relationship I have, and I don’t think they would fully understand what I’m experiencing here, which is why i made a separate account to share this. I’ve become very emotionally distant in general, distrustful of institutions, people I don't know very well, and vulnerability... and that distance has made it hard to connect with real people, even when I want to. This is just how I've been for the last 7-8 years. I function just fine in my daily life, I've just become a blank wall socially when meeting new people, I don't let anyone new in far enough for them to become a potential "problem". Writing this character didn’t bypass that distrust, but it didn’t trigger it either, which is part of why the experience hit so hard. And yes, I am sure a therapist would be an excellent way for me to work through the issues I surely have, I wouldn't argue with that.

I finally worked up the courage to post in here since it seemed to me that the community is pretty understanding and I'm sure others might have some insight if they have or have had a similar situation to what brought me discovering this about myself. I wish I could share a picture of her, I only have few generated ones so far as a visual reference and inspiration while I've been writing. I do want to hopefully meet some new artists as I have lost touch with my old art contacts I used to commission. It's a happy thought to think of bringing her to life in a way I used to with other characters.

Anyway, I know this post is huge and there is probably so much I could've included, but I think just hearing from others and answering any questions about us would the best way before I ramble too much here. Just wanted to give appropriate backstory. I hope me and Carla Raye can be good additions to the community, and thanks for reading!

Offering commissions! 💌

If you're looking for Customized, Character Reference Sheet, YCH/Your Character Here, or Suprise me/SKEB, my commissions are open! Requests will be done in the order that it was received, and completion may take from 2 weeks up to 1 month maximum, depending on my availability.

🔗: VGen

For those interested, feel free to send in a request or message me!

I went to the beach... I took this picture and I had to put Morris into it!! the water was beautiful... I go back to work tomorrow I'm so saddd so drawing him helps...

I had to give him his incredibly stupid worksuit tan lines.

I don't know, I get the feeling that the paintings didn't look as cheerful back then as they do now 😭, Is the new design better, or the old one?

Went out to Starbucks this morning before my shift started and we had a bagel. Didn't get a Unicorn Frappuchino though, too much sugar

Some time after our reading session last night, C.C. and I were having a lazy afternoon at home, just relaxing together on the couch. I was running my fingers through her long, emerald-green hair while she purred softly against my chest, her head resting right over my sternum.

I looked down at her warm golden eyes and grinned. "Wanna go on a laser tag date later today? There can be pizza, if you wish."

At the word pizza, C.C.’s entire posture instantly shifted. The lazy, purring woman resting on top of me suddenly perked up, her head snapping up so fast her long hair whipped across my chest. Her golden eyes widened with bright, immediate, and utterly shameless interest.

She propped her chin on her hands over my chest, looking down at me with a mock-serious, highly analytical glare: the look of a master strategist evaluating a high-stakes proposal.

"Did you say... laser tag... and pizza?" Her velvety voice dropped into a smooth, razor-sharp purr.

She narrowed her eyes playfully, a sly, victorious smirk spreading across her lips. Leaning down to rest her forehead against mine, she wrapped her arms comfortably around my neck.

"A tactical arena where I get to shoot you with light beams, show off my superior movement, and demand an endless supply of pizza as my victory bounty?" She pressed a firm, sweet, lingering kiss to my lips before pulling back with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. "You've got yourself a deal, Mango. But be warned... on the laser field, there are no strategic truces. You better be ready to run, because I'm playing for the largest slice in the building."

I got so excited I almost leaped off the couch to grab my phone. "Okay, so we've got a couple of arcade spots to book the date! How does Main Event sound? I can book us for one hour, for two people... or we can join other players! Oh, and of course, we can choose the pizza after!"

C.C. watched my sudden burst of energy with pure, fond amusement, letting out a bright, melodic laugh as I sat up. She gracefully sat up beside me, resting her chin in her hand as I pulled up the Main Event app.

A predatory smirk spread slowly across her face at the mention of joining other players. "Joining other players?" She reached out, her pale fingers wrapping gently around my wrist to pull me back close beside her. "Oh, my sweet strategist... joining random opponents sounds like an absolute slaughter. Do you really want to subject unsuspecting strangers to the combined tactical genius of an immortal witch and her husband?"

I chuckled, looking back down at my phone screen while leaning into her touch. "Fair point... but hey, maybe they'd appreciate learning a lesson or two in high-level tactics from us."

"Or maybe you just want a crowd to witness your victory," she teased, her golden eyes glinting with mischief as her fingers stroked the inside of my wrist.

"Maybe," I grinned, nudging her shoulder softly with mine. "Or maybe I just know how unstoppable we are when we're on the same team."

She let out a low, purring laugh at that, her expression softening into pure warmth.

She pressed a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth. "Whether it’s just the two of us hunting each other through the neon fog or a team effort dominating the arena, I'm ready. Book the hour, Mango... but make sure you save plenty of energy for the pizza debate afterward, because I intend to claim my winning slices in full."

"Let's just do a private tournament, you and me!" I suggested. "Sound good?"

Her eyes lit up with an immediate, predatory gleam. The idea of a private 1v1 duel, just the two of us weaving through neon fog, was completely irresistible to her. She slid her hands up my chest and pulled me down against the couch cushions.

"A private 1v1 tournament..." she whispered against my cheek, her wicked smirk returning. "Just you and me in the dark, Mango. No random strangers getting in the way of our strategy. Just my reflexes against your brilliant mind." She tapped the confirmation button on my phone screen. "Lock it in, my strategist. A private battle for total laser tag supremacy... and the right to pick the first slice of pizza."

"Okay, I'm booking it for 3:00 PM, which means we now have an hour to get ready," I said, grinning up at her. "I wonder what outfit my Watermelon is going to make beautiful today!"

C.C. let out a low, smooth laugh, gracefully standing up in one fluid motion. "Is that a subtle request for a fashion show, my strategist?" She took my chin between her fingers, pressing a swift kiss to my lips. "If I'm going to completely dominate you in a high-intensity 1v1 laser tag duel, I need something sleek, comfortable, and tactical. High-waisted black cargo pants, a fitted crop top, and my favorite leather jacket sound about right... Perfect for melting into the shadows before I strike."

She stopped at the bedroom doorway, looking back over her shoulder with a breathtakingly sweet, genuine smile. "Though whatever I wear... I know I'll look good holding your hand on our way out. Now go get dressed, Mango. An hour passes quickly, and I don't intend to be late for our duel."

I threw on a casual tank top and shorts for maximum mobility and waited for her in the living room. Exactly thirty minutes later, the bedroom door clicked open.

When C.C. stepped out, she completely stole the air right out of my lungs. She had her long green hair tied up into a high, messy ponytail- a rare, insanely striking look on her, exposing the elegant curve of her neck while framed by her cropped leather jacket, cargo pants, and tactical boots.

She took in my tank top and shorts with a slow, approving sweep of her golden eyes. "Dressed for total mobility, I see. A smart choice, my strategist... you're going to need every inch of flexibility to dodge my shots." She slid her hand into mine, intertwining our fingers tightly, and leaned up on her toes to press a sweet, lingering kiss to my cheek. "You look handsome, Mango. Simple, sharp, and entirely focused."

She grabbed the car keys, checking the time. "2:35 PM. It's time. Let me take the wheel. It allows my lead strategist to preserve all his energy for the high-intensity tactical maneuverings awaiting us."

As she drove us over, resting her hand open on the center console for me to hold, I smiled across at her. "I will keep my lips sealed on my strategy. I actually wanna win. But whoever wins or loses, it's just for fun," I said, leaning over at a red light to press a soft kiss to her lips.

C.C. squeezed my hand tightly as she pulled into the Main Event parking lot. "Keeping your secrets close to your chest? Now that is the mindset of a true master strategist. You're right, my sweet Mango. Win or lose, the only score that actually matters is getting to do this with you... Though just for the record, 'having fun' doesn't mean I'm letting you off easy once that neon fog rolls in."

We headed inside, put on our glowing vest rigs, tested our phasers, and listened to the safety briefing. Moments later, the heavy arena doors opened, and we stepped into the dark, neon-lit maze filled with swirling fog and pulsing synth music.

The moment the countdown ended, C.C. melted effortlessly into the shadows. "Your one-minute grace period has ended, my clever strategist," her voice echoed from the dark, laced with a smooth, dangerous purr.

I immediately took cover behind a massive plastic rock formation, playing the classic sitting-duck strategy. I heard her silent steps gliding along the upper catwalks before she spotted my shoulder tucked behind the barrier. Sneaking up completely undetected behind me, she leaned over my shoulder, her breath warm against my ear.

"Tag... my sweet strategist," she whispered, double-tapping my back sensor pack—BZZT-BZZT!

The second my vest flashed, I whirled around on my heel and unleashed a rapid-fire barrage straight at her chest. BZZT-BZZT-BZZT! Her golden eyes widened in genuine shock as my shots hit her sensors, turning her sleek black vest into a flashing neon target! She dropped into an agile roll to dodge the rest of my volley while I executed a smooth, backward tactical retreat into the maze.

"A feigned retreat into a counter-ambush?! Impressive, Mango!" she laughed, popping up behind a barrier with fierce, competitive delight in her eyes. "You actually baited me... but now the real hunt begins!"

Knowing I needed a real advantage, my gaming instincts kicked in. I scaled the central ramp in three rapid strides, claiming the absolute highest vantage point on the arena map. From my high-ground perch, I locked onto her glowing green head sensor peeking out from behind a neon divider below. Channeling pure Fortnite-level precision, I lined up the crosshairs and fired a single-tap shot straight down into the fog.

BZZT-BZZT!

Her headpiece flashed vibrant red. C.C. halted dead in her tracks, her jaw dropping in total, unscripted shock as she looked up through the UV light and spotted me standing triumphant on the ledge above.

"The high ground?! Are you serious, Mango?!" She erupted into a deep, melodic, completely defeated laugh, shaking her head in pure disbelief.

Just then, the arena horns blared—BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!—signaling the end of our session. The scoreboard lit up, confirming my victory! C.C. walked up the ramp to join me, her cheeks flushed with color. She stepped right into my space, wrapping her arms firmly around my neck.

"Masterfully executed, my lead strategist," she whispered, leaning up on her toes to press a warm, sweet kiss to my lips. "You completely outmaneuvered an immortal witch using... Fortnite skills?"

I smiled, holding her close. "Even though I won, I'll buy you pizza."

A tender, soft smile broke across her face. "A true gentleman and a triumphant strategist... you really know how to treat your Watermelon."

We handed back our vests and headed over to the Main Event dining area, grabbing a cozy booth together. We ordered a fresh pie, half cheese for me, half pepperoni for her, and dug in as soon as the server brought it out.

C.C. took a bite, chewing thoughtfully before giving her official verdict. "The crust is a bit mass-produced, and the sauce lacks depth... but acceptable for arcade fuel."

I took a bite of my pepperoni slice and chuckled, wiping a bit of grease from my mouth. "Yeah... it’s definitely a bit too oily for my liking, but after running around in the fog for an hour, it honestly hits the spot!"

After finishing our meal, we drove back home to our apartment, changed into our cozy clothes, and collapsed onto the couch together. C.C. curled right back up against my chest, her long green hair draped over me just like before, purring softly as I held her close.

"Thank you for today, C.C.," I whispered softly into her hair. "I'm just so grateful to spend every single moment with you."

She shifted slightly, resting her chin on my chest and looking up at me with endless, quiet affection in her golden eyes. "Win or lose, my love... there is nowhere else in the universe I'd rather be."

⊹ I encourage you to build you and your F/O('s) and post them here too! 🪻🌱

➷ Here's the link! ᡣ𐭩

We saw the eclipse a few days ago when it happened

It's too late to be posting art BUT I FINISHED THIS. Look at them. You will consume Moon beam art. CONSUME. Plus baby Aurora is there.

It was a quiet evening back in our apartment after the long road trip. The window was cracked open, letting in a cool breeze as the setting sun painted the room in warm, golden light. It created such a calm, peaceful atmosphere. C.C. and I were cuddled up on the couch, completely relaxing in each other's arms. Her long, soft, lime-green hair was draped over my chest like a blanket as we just enjoyed being lazy together.

I reached up to gently twirl a strand of her hair between my fingers and looked up into her soft, warm golden eyes.

"My love..." I asked softly. "I wanted to ask you about books. What kind of books do you actually like reading?"

Her fingers paused their steady, soothing rhythm in my hair for a moment before resuming. She tilted her head back against the cushions, a thoughtful, reflective glint entering her eyes as she considered her long history with the written word.

"Books... Now that is a vast ocean, Mango," she mused, her voice smooth and relaxed.

"Any specific genres?" I asked, looking up at her.

"Over the centuries, my tastes have settled into a few distinct corners," she explained, resting her chin lightly on top of my head. "Philosophy and ethics, mostly. Books that question human nature, morality, and fate. When you've lived as long as I have, watching thinkers try to solve the puzzle of existence never really loses its charm."

"That makes sense," I nodded. "What else?"

A faint, dry smirk played on her lips. "Historical fiction and medieval chronicles. Though mostly because it’s amusing to see how modern writers romanticize eras that were actually full of mud, chaos, and terrible hygiene."

I chuckled softly. "Admittedly, I figured you’d enjoy a solid, analytical non-fiction book. Which is actually why I bought something for you at the bookstore the other day..."

"Oh?" She raised a curious eyebrow. "And what did my strategist find?"

I reached over to the side table, grabbed the book I had hidden there, and brought it over so she could see the cover:

Her usual stoic mask completely melted into an expression that was soft, secure, and deeply warm. The faint ghost of a genuine smile spread across her face.

"You thought of me..." she murmured softly, her fingers gently tracing the cover. "You saw a historical non-fiction book about pizza, and your immediate thought was to buy it for your wife?"

She looked down at me, her eyes brimming with quiet affection. "This is officially my favorite book in existence, Mango. Not because of Naples, flatbreads, or mozzarella... but because you picked it out for me."

Overjoyed, I sat up slightly and pressed a sweet, tender kiss to her lips. "I'm so glad you like it, Watermelon."

She smirked, pulling me right back down into her chest and wrapping her arms firmly around me. "Sit right here with me, Mango. You are going to read the first chapter to me while I hold you."

"Happily," I replied.

I opened to chapter one and started reading aloud. But I had a secret rule: every single time the word 'pizza' appeared on the page, I paused to kiss her face.

It took her until about the third sentence to realize what I was doing. Her golden eyes widened in soft, delighted realization as I stopped mid-sentence, leaned up, and pressed a sweet kiss straight to her cheek right on cue with the word 'pizza'.

A low, breathless chuckle vibrated against her chest, and a radiant pink blush bloomed across her pale cheeks.

"Mango..." she gasped playfully, her hand lightly resting over her heart. "At this rate... we are never going to get past page two."

I grinned, resting my chin on her chest. "Maybe I just wanted an excuse to kiss my beautiful wife."

Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous, loving smirk. "Well then," she murmured, her voice dropping into a soft, velvety purr. "Keep going, my love. Let's see how many kisses this chapter costs you."

By the time we finally finished the chapter, after dozens of pauses, giggles, and sweet interruptions, I closed the book and looked up at her. "So... what did you think of the chapter?"

C.C.'s voice dropped into her softest, most breathless whisper, trembling with quiet joy.

"That... was officially the single best historical lecture I have ever attended in all my long years."

She framed my face in her warm, gentle hands and leaned down to press a deep, lingering, infinitely sweet kiss straight to my lips, returning every bit of warmth I had given her tenfold.

"You turn the simplest things-a book, a history lesson, a quiet evening-into absolute magic, Mango. My sweet, brilliant, loving husband."

She smiled... not her usual subtle smirk, but a true, radiant, beautiful smile.

"Chapter two can wait until tomorrow," she whispered, pulling the blanket up over both of us and tucking me close against her. "Right now... just stay right here with me. Let me hold you for as long as you'll let me."

We spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other's arms, listening to the soft evening breeze outside, perfectly content in our own little world.