Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of The Arcana: Vesuvia Weekly
Stats:
Published:
2025-04-29
Updated:
2025-05-07
Words:
3,115
Chapters:
7/?
Comments:
2
Kudos:
58
Bookmarks:
3
Hits:
1,230

Vesuvia Weekly: Headcanons

Notes:

I know, I know, the prompt is "your MC/their LI's dynamic", but I just play as myself and I keep my blog character neutral so @vesuviaweekly platonic selfships, here we go -

Chapter 1: Jan 10th: Brainrot and the M6

Chapter Text

With Julian: this guy is my adopted older brother. We get to unleash our inner theatre kids and make excessively dark jokes about our trauma together. The drawback is that neither of us has a speck of self preservation -.-

With Asra: when I tell you that the vibes just boil down to "warm, fluffy, and creatively unhinged" XD I would make us homemade hot chocolate so they could add peanut butter to it. He would show up at 2 AM to help me dye my hair

With Nadia: we'd have difficulty connecting at first, not gonna lie. until we find something interesting to analyze, like canal patterns or the courtier's psychological patterns. now we have tea parties and build profiles together

With Muriel: shared physical trauma aside, I have a mighty need to bake and cook large quantities of food and then fill someone's plate multiple times. I'm about to visit this guy weekly, right after bread baking day, with soup

With Portia: she's a bookworm. I'm a bookworm. we're going to swap each other's favorite novels and have heated character and plot discussions while we try to trick each other into sharing baking secrets/tips and tricks

With Lucio: look, I know he's done some awful stuff, but that guy could use a hug. I'm giving him a hug. and then I'm going to task him with finding good places to party because he has a much bigger social battery than I do

Chapter 2: March 1st: What it's like to hold them

Chapter Text

Julian

  • The sounds of leather folding and bending and creaking, of a pent up sigh, of a noble, anxious, too-big-for-its-own-good heartbeat fluttering against those thin, bird-like ribs
  • The smell of - yes, more leather - with a slight hint of sweat and the faded scent of the crushed herbs used to stuff doctor's masks
  • The feel of a well-worn, weather tested, oversized coat falling around both your frames, a cold set of bony fingers tangling into your hair through protective gloves
  • The sight of folded black cloth and slightly dulled metal buttons, a pale neck cradling your forehead, auburn stubble shivering over a bobbing adam's apple
  • The bitter taste of sea-salty lips, self-sacrifice, and coffee

Asra

  • The sound of an airy chuckle, a curious whisper, a deep, relaxed sigh, a heartbeat that touches your own with every gentle thump
  • The smell of smoking incense, sparkling spices, and syrupy vanilla, lurking beneath the petrichor of sunny spring rains on the dust of a far-off highway
  • The feel of a soft shawl on your cheek, sturdy linen body-warmed and slightly rough under your arms, heavy, heated hands running soothing pathways along your spine, cloud soft curls on your ears, a deceptively slight frame
  • The sight of golden metal and silvery blue stone on smooth skin, the barely-there rise and fall of a body slowly relaxing into yours
  • The taste of smoky tea, home, and desperate dedication

Nadia

  • The sound of rustling silks, the quiet clink of bracelets and rings, the hush of long, thick hair falling over chiffon-clad shoulders, a contented, throaty hum, a lofty heartbeat
  • The smell of jasmine, rose, pepper, and amber, of warm silk and chilled white wine, of flower gardens and powdery cosmetics
  • The feel of a heavy curtain of hair against your face, body warmth passing quickly through thin, gauzy sleeves wrinkling under your movements, of strong fingers tilting your chin into her collarbone
  • The sight of glinting gemstones and finely crafted metal, intricate embroidery stitches swirling across lustrous fabric, scalloped hemlines along sculpted shoulders
  • The taste of spiced fish, wine, and plush, commanding adoration

Muriel

  • The sound of heavy, rough cloth slowly dragging across itself, breaths hitching deep and slow, a grumble quiet and low enough to shake the earth, a nervous, powerful heartbeat
  • The smell of myrrh hanging around you like a cloud, of warm fur and chilly forest air, of falling leaves and running water and smoke
  • The feel of muscle and scruff, of radiating body heat, of massive, calloused palms alternating between gently splaying over your shoulders like blanketing weights and hovering cautiously around your waist in fluttering, feather like touches
  • The sight of thick, dark hair falling in choppy lengths over stubble and scar tissue, of thick green cloth over sinew
  • The taste of grilled forage and mead, of healing and steadfastness

Portia

  • The sound of an excited giggle, springing footsteps and jingling keys, a happy gasp and unstoppable heartbeat, a mischievous secret getting laughed into your ear
  • The smell of air-drying laundry and soap, hair oil and cocoa butter, fresh bread and sizzling butter and caramelizing berries
  • The feel of strong forearms, small, calloused hands, the push of energetic bouncing against your shoulder, of hair flying around your face, the plush squish of a no-holds-barred bear hug
  • The sight of fiery curls spilling over clean, pressed cotton, freckles speckling creamy skin, the occasional grey and white cat hair clinging to black ribbon, the dusk of a happy blush
  • The taste of yeasty bread, and the comforts of adventure

Lucio

  • The sounds of nearby dogs panting, a cutlass clanking in its sheath, the mechanical whir and musical hum of an alchemical arm, a confident, snorting chuckle and a devoted heartbeat
  • The smell of fresh sweat, warm metal, cinnamon alcohol in a journeyman's flask, hair gel and worn cologne
  • The feel of a padded, quilted vest, the quick rise and fall of an active chest, the slight tilt of a shoulder forever sloped in favor of a heavy arm, the sinewed grip of a warrior's touchstarved fingers and the cool, metallic touch of a careful clawed hand
  • The sight of sharp collarbones and glinting curved gold, fine flaxen hair at the nape of a snowy neck, crimson cloth and leather straps
  • The taste of grilled meat, traveler's wine, and new beginnings

Chapter 3: March 20th: Secret Skills

Notes:

some random headcanons for the @vesuviaweekly prompt "Where did you learn to do that?"

Chapter Text

Julian: whistles better than he sings. once, while less-than-sober, he was dared to whistle an aria and did it so well he put a local opera soprano to shame. the only performance he's oddly embarrassed of

Asra: early in your recovery, on bad days, they would read some old, carefully kept storybooks to you and enchant the words to act it out. doesn't say where the books are from or how he learned the spell

Nadia: understands most of Julian's medical references because she was Nazali's favorite practice patient. also the source of numerous medical equipment innovations but hates hearing about how they're used

Muriel: can wiggle not only his eyebrows independently, but his nose and ears as well. you found this out when he was describing a rabbit encounter to you and started subconsciously mimicking it

Portia: if she's not overthinking it, can instinctively understand most languages on a basic level even if she's never heard them before. this has given her a terrifying reputation for reading minds as an emissary

Lucio: terrible actor, but amazing at impressions. if he meets someone once, he can mimic their accent. meets them twice, mimics their body language too. thrice, and he's got their whole personality

Chapter 4: Apr 3rd: When you have wings

Notes:

~ put a spin on this so I could apply it to the vesuvia weekly prompt: "Nightmares and Daydreams" ~

Chapter Text

-- to set the scene --

You like having wings. You really do, but sometimes you wouldn't mind forgetting about them for a bit. Just putting them away, where they can't catch on door frames or whip into people's faces or make you wince every time the sensitive feathers snag on something. Folding them out of sight and being able walk around without the stares is so nice, it becomes your new normal.

Until one day, the pain that's been slowly twisting knots into your shoulders and back becomes too much to bear, and you pull your wings out for the first time in months. They're crushed. Ruffled. Just looking at them is the stuff of nightmares.

Thankfully, your beloved seems to think they're the stuff of daydreams.

Julian

  • He'd known that something was wrong with your back - the only other person he knows with that many knots in their shoulders is himself - but he'd had no idea it was because of this
  • Why didn't you say anything? Did you think you'd be asking him for too much work?? Don't you know that taking care of you and seeing you depend on him makes him the happiest man alive???
  • He's rummaging through his overstocked medicine cabinet, rambling between self deprecation for not noticing more and nerding out on winged human anatomy
  • Doesn't think to ask if it's okay to help until he's already seated behind you, reaching for your wings and realizing your closeness
  • Excellent at wing care once you tell him what he needs to know, his eyes and hands are trained for spotting physical issues and delicately treating them. He touches you like he's cherishing you
  • Can't stop daydreaming about how romantic it would be if you ever saved him like this, swooping through the air and snatching him from a burning pirate ship where he'd been held hostage ...

Asra

  • They'd been the one to teach you about how to manage your wings, and they'd been hinting at maybe taking care of them sooner, but they'd also done their best not to interfere
  • Approaches you quietly with a pained but sympathetic look on his face, bringing you the stuff you need and telling you however bad it is, you'll fix it together
  • Has the softest touch, running their warm hands over your shoulders and back as they work through your feathers, easing the pain both in your wings and through your muscles
  • The funny thing about his daydreaming tendencies (and goodness, does he love to spend time doing that -) is that when he's relaxed, he mumbles
  • Which is how you begin to hear all kinds of muttered whispers about how gloriously soft they are, how much they just want to hold you in their arms while you shroud them in your wings
  • All wrapped up in a tiny, feathery, world of your own, with nothing in your shared space but each other - MC, why are you blushing??

Nadia

  • Let it be known that this Countess is the queen of self-care and values it so highly that she sets aside a weekly budget for it
  • Which is why seeing your state is enough to horrify her
  • Your wings! Your glorious wings, they're in such poor shape, you must be in so much pain, her darling deserves so much better
  • She's dragging you to her private bath. She'll put you in a robe that lets your wings loose and set you up for an afternoon of recovery
  • Her perfectionist tendencies make for a thorough preening. She'll sit with you between her knees, carding through your wings feather by feather, straightening each one
  • And with the top quality products from her own personal stash, you slowly begin to glimmer in the sunlight through window
  • It captures your Countess's attention, making her linger over each feather and cover your wings in loving touches
  • She wants to see you glorious - she wants to cover you in fabrics and adornments so fine you look like you've stepped from a stained glass window, her own angel on earth

Muriel

  • He knows you have wings and he'd falsely assumed that the reason for never seeing them was because you didn't want to risk him crushing them with his big, clumsy hands and rough touch
  • (Note: his hands are not clumsy and his touch is actually quite delicate, he just needs help believing that he's not a danger to you)
  • Thankfully, the painful state of your wings when he sees them causes enough concern to override his anxiety
  • He'd be lying if he said you didn't remind him of a very tired, gorgeous bird who's been roughed up by a bad storm
  • Starts by silently bringing you everything you need, and then standing watchfully nearby until you invite him to help you
  • He's cared for wings before (though never ones this big, or attached to a human) and he doesn't need much help to get started. Feeling your feathers between his fingers is grounding
  • He keeps seeing visions of you at peace, the sunlight between the leaves dappling your wings as you walk through the trees, his own heart in the forest bringing beauty and wholeness into the world

Portia

  • Her first reaction (to someone who doesn't know her well) is anger
  • How could you do this to yourself? You have the most beautiful wings, they're such a big part of you, and you neglected them like this?? How dare you cause yourself this much pain -
  • All while she bustles around you, pulling out every product you could need and plenty of other comforting items, pulling up a stool behind you and rolling up her sleeves like it's her calling
  • She'll figure things out as she goes if she needs to, so don't even think about trying to tell her that you'll handle it yourself
  • With her background in Vesuvia's version of cosmetology, she understands quickly what you need to get done and already has the skill set to do so. Her hands are fast, thorough, and gentle
  • The longer she works with you, the more excited she gets. How often are you supposed to care for them? How high can you fly? How sensitive are they? Can she keep one of your feathers?
  • Soon she's telling you snippets from her favorite novels, about flying together through the sky, an angel and their lover

Lucio

  • He doesn't really notice how bad your wings are at first, because he's busy being briefly jealous. How come you get to have them and not him? He could totally be trusted with wings!
  • It's only as he pouts a little closer and gets a better look at the pained look on your face (and the frankly terrible state of your feathers) that he shifts from annoyance to concern
  • You're the best thing in his life, MC, why aren't you treating yourself like it? Why would you neglect such an awesome thing?
  • He gets your reasons, but he's also asking right away if he can help
  • (Because he loves you and he doesn't like seeing you in pain, but also because he really, really wants to touch them, please let him touch them they look so cool and soft and ... safe?)
  • It's the safety that gets to him. When you nod and let him sit behind you, literally watching your back, showing immense trust and vulnerability by letting him hold your wings
  • He wants to know what it's like to hold onto that safety, the brief respite from violence, securely hidden and shrouded by them ...

Chapter 5: Apr 23rd: Their rare smiles

Notes:

~ for the prompt "rare smiles" ~

Chapter Text

Julian:

a peaceful smile. his face relaxes, the tension around his mouth smoothens, and the look in his eyes has a rare stillness, as though the anxious energy permeating his brain has finally found a moment of rest. it's a small smile. his lips are slightly parted, his blinks are slower and heavier, and the world stands still for a moment to breathe

Asra:

a vulnerable smile. their guard is down, the carefully maintained relaxed energy of their poker face disappears, and they become more expressive than you could have imagined. he meets your eyes with unimaginable levels of trust as emotions flicker across his face like pages turning, and responds to your safety with a wobbly grin

Nadia:

a grateful smile. still elegant, still dignified, but the cold edges of her regal bearing thaw just enough to let her eyes soften in your direction as she mouths a "thank you" after you've helped her. for someone who hates accepting help, she finds she enjoys depending on you more than she thought possible and loves to share that joy with you

Muriel:

a laughing smile. he does laugh more often with you around, but it's usually something pulled from him begrudgingly in the form of a brief snort. this is the smile of a belly laugh, his head tossed back and oh-so-briefly carefree, shoulders relaxing enough to shake with chortles as his eyes crinkle shut with laughter. it's a sight for you and you only

Portia:

a sad smile. for someone as comfortable with her emotions as she is, she doesn't like people seeing her sad unless she mixes it with anger, or jealousy, or concern. but you get to see the wobbly midnight smile, sent your way after she's gazed into the fireplace next to you and spoken about all the things she's missed with tears on her cheeks

Lucio:

a thoughtful smile. it's no secret that, for all of his smart instincts, he doesn't like spending any more time thinking than he has to. you, though - you make him want to think, about the future, about who he is, about what he's lost and gained, about fixing mistakes. never for more than five minutes, but the contemplative smile is beautiful

Chapter 6: May 12th: Them saying "your other left!"

Chapter Text

Feat. some more poorly done brainbroth doodles -

Julian: whisper-shouted frantically from backstage when MC forgets their blocking during a South End play:

Asra: snickered into their wrist while they're trying to teach you a new spell and you lift the wrong hand:

Nadia: laughingly shouted when you're out riding together and you take the wrong fork in the path:

Muriel: flustered mumble as you dig through the wrong pocket while his arms are full of groceries:

Portia: giggled into your shoulder as she leads you blindfolded to a surprise picnic date in her garden:

Lucio: panicked screech as the two of you navigate through a cave of startled bats (they're harmless):

 

Chapter 7: May 15th: First (platonic) kiss

Notes:

~ because affection doesn't always have to be romantic! ~

Chapter Text

Julian: dropped on the top of your head when you went in for a comforting hug, immediately followed by his gloved hand ruffling your hair as he tried to cheer you up with a silly joke

Asra: pressed between your eyebrows when you've just achieved something that was harder for you to do than you were willing to let on (may or may not be accompanied with a basic healing spell)

Nadia: brushed against your cheek in a friendly greeting - the same gesture she used to reserve only for family members, and one she hasn't done in quite some time. greets you that way from now on

Muriel: very, very carefully placed on your temple, after he found you alone in the woods seeking refuge for a good old-fashioned breakdown, followed by him leading you back home as he listens

Portia: less a kiss and moreso a friendly, gentle bite - your arm was right there while you traded idle gossip and the urge to hold it between her teeth was too strong for her happy, unguarded state

Lucio: on the back of your hand when he can tell your insecurities are getting to you. he knows how nice being treated like nobility can be for tired self-esteem! (and he'd be lying if he wouldn't like the same)

Series this work belongs to: