Chapter Text
As the days continued to pass, the group of fugitives reached a mutual agreement to stick together under the name Advent due to how seamlessly they seemed to bond with each other. Hundreds of years in the Cell together had the tendency to do that but neither of them has any complaints.
Together, they all settled into a place of their own. A simple house sizeable enough for all of them, located in a blind spot of the Gods courtesy of Shiori. Exactly how she managed to achieve that was a complete mystery and anyone’s guess but because it was Shiori , not many of them questioned it.
Irrespective, they learn of the new world they find themselves in, they adapt and eventually, they settle into a routine where they all go about their day living a more normal life or what counts as a normal for them.
Nerissa loves it all the same.
Especially in moments like these.
“Is that better?” Nerissa hums as Shiori’s touch lingers at the base of her broken horn, massaging the area around it one last time before regrettably pulling away. “Very. Thank you darling.” “No problem.”
Nerissa lifts her head up from Shiori’s lap and rolls her shoulders, a satisfied sigh leaving her lips as she sits up on the couch. “I still wonder how you do it. It’s like you’ve practiced your whole life doing that,” she comments to which Shiori smirks. “If I said it was forbidden knowledge only the Archiver had, would you believe me?” Nerissa gives her an unamused look, “Am I supposed to assume all massage therapists are wielders of forbidden knowledge then?”
Shiori’s smirk widens, “I don’t know. Have any of them matched up to me yet?” Nerissa scowls as she crosses her arms with a pout. “You know they don’t, Shiorin,” she grumbles.
The woman in question giggles, the sound of it bouncing off the walls of the living room and Nerissa ignores her as she cuddles up to Shiori’s side. As soon as Shiori’s laughter dies down, Nerissa whispers her thanks. “But genuinely thank you Shiori. The headaches were getting unbearable.”
“Don’t mention it,” Shiori says good-naturedly, conjuring a book in her hand to read while Nerissa rests her head against Shiori’s shoulders for a moment of respite. She glances at the book in Shiori’s hand curiously and winces. “Agh– careful of your horn Rissa. I don’t want to lose an eye yet,” “Sorry…” Nerissa apologizes. Shiori briefly looks down at the demon in concern, “Is your horn still bothering you?” Nerissa hums in lieu of shaking her head, “No, it’s your book.”
She closes her eyes to try to soothe the pain throbbing in her head and bit by bit it ebbs away, helped along by Shiori who reaches up to massage the top of her head again with her free hand. “Not a fan of reading?” Shiori asks and Nerissa sighs.
“I don’t know. I just get headaches whenever I try and it’s hard,” she explains, the frustration evident in her voice. “It’s a shame really, reading seems fun.”
Shiori keeps quiet, continuing her ministrations until Nerissa noticeably relaxes at her side. “I see. Don’t push it then.” Nerissa hums, her eyes fluttering close again and the two enjoy a second of peace together in the living room when they hear the sound of gems clicking against the floor.
The demon doesn’t have to open her eyes to know who it is.
“Hey you two.”
“Hey Beebs.”
The Gem of Emotions glances between her friends with a raised brow as she takes a seat in the lounge chair, in her hands one of her portable gaming consoles. “You guys won’t mind if I game her for a bit right? Mococo needed to borrow my PC.”
Shiori shakes her head, turning to another page. “Go ahead Beebs.”
The living room falls silent again after that. The only sounds being the ones emanating from Biboo’s game that was thankfully turned down and the occasional turn of the page. Nerissa’s ears twitch when she hears the sound of a book being closed shut and the demon instinctively leans more into Shiori as if to anchor her down.
“Rissa?”
The woman in question screws her eyes shut as if that would magically put her to sleep right then and there. “Rissa, can I get up? I need to get to the Archives.” Nerissa hesitates, a million things wanting to be said, to be asked but as she hesitantly pulls away from Shiori and musters the courage to do just that, they all get stuck in her throat. All that does come out is a soft, “Okay…”
With sad eyes, Nerissa watches as Shiori gets up and quietly bids them farewell before heading up the stairs to her Archives. Shiori wouldn’t be coming back out for a while, at least not until dinner. Nerissa lets out a heavy sigh.
“Still no luck?”
“Nothing,” Nerissa huffs, refusing to look the gem in the eye. She doesn’t have to look to know there’s a sympathetic look on Biboo’s face.
It was no secret to anyone in Advent that Nerissa yearned for Shiori. Well, anyone except for Shiori herself apparently. At least, it seemed that way. Ironically or perhaps fittingly enough, the Archiver wasn’t an open book to read. Her way of thinking, what she knew, what she didn’t, it was all a mystery. Her actions even more so.
And yet ever since Shiori had held her hand, had accompanied her the first night they escaped, had been there for her the first time her horn had caused her problems and everytime after, Nerissa wanted her. More than anything. And as they spent more time with one another, either alone together or with the rest of Advent, her heart only longed for Shiori more.
“Honestly, I don’t know what you’re so worried about.”
Nerissa leans back against the couch and stares up at the ceiling, feeling like she’s answered this a million times before. “I love her Biboo. I just want her to know that.”
Biboo clicks her tongue, “Try again Nerissa. My title has power, you know.”
The demon frowns, not really expecting that kind of response from Biboo of all people. That normally works. She often forgets not to not underestimate the Gem of Emotions. “I just don’t get why she keeps pushing and pulling with me Biboo. I can barely tell what’s going on in her head half the time. Sometimes I think she does love me, then the next second she teases me and then another it’s like she’s scared of me,” Nerissa lets out a sigh, “I just don’t get it. I love her so much, what is she so worried or confused about?” she admits, feeling like a weight being lifted off of her chest but it doesn’t last.
“No offense Nerissa, but don’t you think that’s kind of selfish?” before Nerissa has the chance to interject, Biboo continues. “Shiori does love you. I think it’s pretty obvious.”
“She rarely shows it.”
“Doesn’t she always ?”
Nerissa stays quiet as she sits up on the couch. Despite her stature, she had never felt so small. “Then why does it feel like she doesn’t?”
Biboo pauses her game and puts it aside which has Nerissa on all ears if she wasn’t already. Biboo was a great gamer, she could probably talk while gaming no problem. The fact she put it aside can only mean she was serious.
In spite of her appearance as well as personality, Biboo could be wise when she wanted to be. Being the Gem of Emotions, it made all kinds of sense too that she was very knowledgeable in emotions.
Not to mention, the gem understood her and Shiori well. A tad too well if the way she teases them and particularly her by flirting with the Archiver was any indication. Nerissa considers it both a blessing and a curse. Right now, it was a blessing.
Biboo moves to sit on the chair with her legs crossed and she stares at Nerissa with a serious look on her face. It looks silly and Nerissa wants to joke that it looks cute but she keeps those thoughts to herself for the time being.
“She does love you,” Biboo assures, “It’s just that sometimes Shiori struggles showing that, especially when there are problems. The same goes for you too. Just because you love her doesn’t mean all those problems will magically go away you know? That’s sort of unfair to Shiori to think.” Nerissa’s head hangs low as she stares down at the ground.
“Don’t get me wrong, Shiori’s amazing but she’s not an actual god and honestly it’s not like those guys are cool either.” Nerissa snorts at that and Biboo laughs too but her tone is back to serious in a heartbeat, “What I’m trying to say is she doesn’t have that kind of power and love definitely doesn’t work like that. The world isn’t perfect and sometimes things happen. You can’t blame Shiori or love for that matter for that when things do happen to go wrong.”
Nerissa’s shoulders slump and she balls her hands into fists. “...what should I do then?”
“To be honest, I’m not too sure about that part. Love is confusing to me a lot of times too,” Biboo tells her to which Nerissa promptly asks, “What is love to you then Biboo?”
“To me? Love makes things a lot more fun. I don’t know how to describe it but when I get to play games with people I love like you guys, it makes me really happy and pumps me full of energy. Like if we have anything planned, gaming or whatever, I can spend the whole week just looking forward to that,” Biboo explains.
Nerissa keeps silent, in deep contemplation when feels the area on the couch next to her dip. “I may not have the answers but what I can confidently say is from what I’ve seen and understand, love is the most powerful emotion there is and with that power comes struggle and a lot of effort. Recognizing it isn’t easy is the first step.”
Biboo reaches out to hold Nerissa’s hand. They’re much smaller than the demon’s, much smoother compared to Shiori’s familiar calloused ones but Nerissa appreciates the gesture all the same. “For the second step and after, that’s something you and Shiori have to figure out yourselves. The dynamic you share with Shiori is something special between you two alone so I can’t really help even if I did have the answer. I guess my only advice is to try understand that dynamic better yourselves with the framing that love isn’t exactly how fiction makes it out to be all the time.”
Nerissa holds her breath for a moment before laughing breathlessly, “Wow Biboo, I never thought you were so knowledgeable in this.”
“I tried, but it was still cool right?” Biboo says, back to her usual self with a smug look on her face. “Didn’t expect me to be able to say all that huh?” Nerissa shakes her head, “Not really, no offense”
“It’s okay, I’m just glad that I could help as much as I could,” Biboo says to which Nerissa nods. She runs a hand through her hair, all kinds of emotions in her chest but the most prevalent being the need to see Shiori. She may not understand everything yet but she wants to see Shiori. Soon, preferably.
“Thank you Biboo, for helping me all this time. I honestly don’t know how to repay you,” Nerissa says and Biboo smiles innocently, “Well… some extra dessert during dinner for the next few months would be greatly appreciated.” Nerissa rolls her eyes but she still shows a warm smile, “Okay.”
Biboo pumps her fist in the air. “Yes!” “Only for a month and a half though,” “What?! That’s so short .”
Nerissa scoffs as she crosses her arms over her chest, “Hey, that’s pretty reasonable. You already drink so much coffee. “ The demon quirks a brow, “Is this the reason you decided to help me? For snacks?”
“Hey! I’m just looking for extra benefits okay? I had no ulterior motives whatsoever, I’d like my parents to stay married thank you very much.”
“Excuse me–!” Nerissa stutters for several seconds, her previous sorrows forgotten as she goes completely red in the face. Biboo merely laughs at her. Nerissa manages to eventually compose herself after a deep breath, “I can’t believe you know so much about relationships and love.” Biboo grins, “You ever heard the phrase I guide others to a treasure I cannot possess?”
“ Where and how are you learning this?”
“Shiori told us a story about it, remember?”
“She did?”
“Of course you forgot, Mococo did say you were making googly eyes at her!”
“I was not–!”
The Archives hadn’t changed.
From its sheer, almost overwhelming size, its towering bookshelves and its dreary, intricately carved walls to its more personal details like the stack of books in the corner that could never seem to be cleaned or the old tea set collecting dust on the table, nothing had changed.
All that had changed perhaps was that it was more quiet now and there was more dust in the air. Signs that its owner had been gone for a long time, and it was true. The Archiver had been gone for a while.
Shiori is grateful though.
Everything was where she placed it. Everything kept how she wanted it to be. Everything planned according to her needs. It brings her comfort, the familiarity of it all. A safe place to retreat where every aspect could be controlled.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t long for some memories.
Sometimes she foolishly hopes she won't find a book in its place. Hopes there would be freshly brewed tea on the table when she returned with stacks of books or something or someone to pull her away from her work once in a while.
The Archives hadn’t changed. And yet in a way, it has.
Shiori suppresses a yawn as she lazily flips to another page of the book in her hand, the edges worn from countless years and times it’s been gone through. Shiori could memorize almost every single word in it yet she skims through each page all the same under the guise of lest she missed something.
The truth of the matter though was that Shiori wanted to reminisce. Just for a little bit at least. A moment to cherish these artifacts of memory.
Remember to take care of yourself. So long as you live, the Archives will live.
The Archiver winces at the sudden memory. She recalls vividly the fear that had taken hold of her when she had found nothing but a rocky stone wall on the other side of the door disguised bookshelf. The horror that she had truly lost everything. But the Archives was here now. In Advent’s house, with everything still intact.
The old piano she had practiced on all those years ago still remained too, untouched and needing a little bit of fine tuning but it was there. Shiori still played it from time to time. Her time in the Cell had done little to erase her muscle memory. She played most often when it felt like her heart had nowhere else to go. When her mind couldn’t put her emotion into words and when her mouth couldn’t voice her worries, the piano was where she would usually be found.
Nerissa likes coming in during those times. Fascinated by the melodies Shiori would play. For her own sake, Shiori chalks it up to coincidence and curiosity.
Just then, the door to the Archives swings open and Shiori watches as in walks the Demon of Sound herself. Nerissa glances around for a bit, clearly looking for Shiori until her eyes land on the woman in question sitting at a table amongst stacks of books half the size of a certain Gem of Emotion. “Shiorin,” Nerissa says as she walks over and Shiori gives a little wave of greeting. “Hey Rissa.”
Nerissa takes the seat opposite of Shiori. “What’re you doing here?” Shiori asks and there’s something mischievous in Nerissa’s eye before she starts to pout dramatically. “Am I not allowed here?” the demon bats her eyelashes for added effect, “Is it so bad I just want to spend more time with you?”
“I only asked cause you don’t come here often,” Shiori answers calmly, already used to the demon’s antiques. “Besides, just wanna make sure it isn’t serious. If you wanna hang out, just say you wanna hang.” Nerissa grins, propping her chin on her hand. “You love me.”
Shiori hums, shrugging her shoulders “You can believe whatever you want, Rissa.”
Nerissa rolls her eyes before absentmindedly glancing around at the forest of books on the table, wondering why and how Shiori managed to stay here for long periods of time. One particular stack catches her eye, for on the spine of every single one of those books was her family crest. How did she get those? Nerissa looks around the Archives. Would this place really have something like this?
To her knowledge, her family had never published those books. They were family mementos, found only in the Ravencroft Manor. Not even I’ve gone to visit them yet.
Another look around has Nerissa now keenly aware that the other books, though not bearing anything as surprising as her family crest, all had the word ‘demon’ in its titles. A little naive, but Nerissa’s heart melts a little inside.
“Rissa?”
“Hm?” the demon lifts her head to meet Shiori’s gaze. “You okay? You zoned out on me there, horn still giving you trouble?” the Archiver asks. Nerissa shakes her head, glancing at a few more titles on the table. She smiles, “Just lost in thought.”
Shiori raises a brow, skeptical, “You sure?”
Nerissa nods. “Positive.”
I’ll only give you two months max Biboo.
“If you say so…” Shiori trails off. “You haven’t answered me yet by the way. Did you need anything or are you really just that bored and want some company?” The demon’s smile softens alongside her eyes and Shiori feels heat rising up to her face. “Can I? Have some company that is?”
Shiori’s lip quivers, the reaction hidden behind the book she holds in front of her face. When she pulls it away, a Chesire cat-like grin is in its place.
“Can’t get enough of me huh?”
Nerissa giggles with a sultry smile, “Oh you know I can’t Shiorin.”
The Archiver stands up from her seat abruptly, “Well, don’t let me stop you then.” She walks off and for a moment Nerissa stares in confusion before it finally clicks that she was supposed to follow when Shiori plops down onto the couch nearby. The demon makes her way over and wastes no time in leaning up against Shiori, not unlike how they were positioned before. Nerissa lets out a pleased sigh.
When Shiori does her usual magic to bring out a book to read, Nerissa notes it was an entirely different book from before and a genre she hadn’t exactly expected.
“You read romance?” Nerissa blurts out to which Shiori hums in response. “Believe it or not Rissa, I do like romance.” “I didn’t mean it like that…” Shiori giggles, patting Nerissa’s head. “There there, Rissa it’s okay. I get it.”
“Have you read a lot of romance?” Nerissa asks to change the topic and Shiori stops her ministrations to think on it for a second. “You could say that, yeah.”
“Huh, let’s say I do pick up reading one day, do you have any recommendations?” Shiori pauses. “Recommendations?” she repeats and Nerissa nods. The Archiver laughs sheepishly, her mind suddenly unable to come up with any despite the countless she’s read. Shiori stares at the book in her hand.
“Well Rissa,” Shiori starts, “To tell you the truth, I actually didn’t like the romance genre that much when I started out–” “Oh…”
“But, there is one book,” Shiori gestures to the one in her hand, “This one. My favorite one of all time, topping even my other favorites from other genres.” Nerissa furrows her brows as she takes a look at the book in Shiori’s hand. The phrase ‘never judge a book by its cover’ existed for a reason but Nerissa couldn’t help but wonder what exactly was so interesting about it because the cover clearly didn’t show any of that.
Must be the plot. Shiori does care more for the plot after all.
Still Nerissa feels compelled to ask, “Why do you like the book so much?”
Shiori laughs softly, grazing her fingers over the cover of the book tenderly with a fond smile on her face. When Nerissa looks into Shiori’s eyes, she looks far away.
“I liked the story,” Shiori said gently. Her tone of voice the one she normally uses when consoling the younger members of Advent or when comforting Nerissa herself when she had her own troubles.
“It was because of this book that I looked back at the others and appreciated them a little more.”
Nerissa blinks, now intrigued. “How did it end?”
“The book isn’t finished.”
“It isn’t ?”
Shiori shakes her head but the smile never fades from her face. “Is the author… still around? Any chance they’ll finish the book?” Shiori swallows the lump in her throat after a bit of difficulty, her voice now barely above a whisper. “No, sadly not.”
Nerissa frowns, now feeling bad for bringing it up. She places her hand on Shiori’s that was between them and gives it a comforting squeeze. “It’s okay Shiorin,” Nerissa coos, “Look on the bright side, maybe you can be the one to give an ending to the story hm? The Archiver can do that right?”
Shiori giggles. No. We aren’t meant to do that.
She looks down at the book in her hand. But for this case–
“I guess I can.”
“That’s the spirit Shiorin. Self-insert to your heart's content,” Nerissa jokes. Relieved when Shiori lets out a laugh. “Guess I have to read the book now at some point,” the demon says. “Want me to read it to you instead?” Nerissa’s eyes widen as she pulls away to stare at Shiori. “Would you?”
Shiori shrugs, “Sure, I’m about to reread it anyways. I don’t see the problem.”
“Will your voice be okay?”
“It’ll be fine. If anything, I just worry my voice isn’t–” Shiori abruptly cuts herself off and Nerissa raises her brow as the former stares into her eyes deeply. She does that often. Nerissa wonders why at times. Anytime it happens, it was like Shiori could see something Nerissa wasn’t aware of.
The demon never questions it though.
Despite how unsettling people often described it as, Nerissa didn’t mind. Not when Shiori’s lips curl every time it happens. If that’s what it does, Nerissa thinks she’ll never say a word about it.
Just this once though, she pulls Shiori out of trance. “Shiorin?”
The Archiver blinks as she comes to herself, an apology leaving her lips. “It’s okay,” Nerissa says, nuzzling her face into Shiori’s shoulder, “You were going to say?” Shiori stays quiet and Nerissa worries she’s lost her again but Shiori answers. “It’s nothing.” Nerissa would’ve questioned her, would’ve doubted if not for the soft smile on her face.
If Shiori’s happy, Nerissa’s happy.
“So, you going to read it to me, my beloved Archiver? I do love a good romance,” Nerissa says and Shiori nods, “I will, I will. But be prepared, it’s pretty long.”
“I have time.”
And so the Archiver tells the tale to the Demon of Sound. Perhaps it was her title, a sort of innate ability that came with it to effortlessly weave the words together to paint a scene that has Nerissa feeling a strange connection to the story, even from the beginning. As if she was the one there experiencing it herself.
She wonders if it was the same for Shiori too. What with the way she perfectly describes every detail. But she pushes that thought aside for now because at that moment, Nerissa can focus only on one thing. That she gets it now, the message Biboo had tried to tell her.
Love is not perfect or obvious or clear. Love is not the panacea. Not the cure of all problems.
Love is the gentle hands Nerissa uses to comb through Shiori’s hair. Love is the words of comfort Shiori whispers in Nerissa’s ears during tough days. And love is the existence of each other in their lives. Always there for one another when they need it most.
Their love may not solve all their problems, but it motivates them to try, to work things out together, all the while making this life all the more worth living.
Nerissa sees it now, the subtle way Shiori loves and the way she too returns that love.
“Rissa, are you even paying attention?” Shiori huffs, pulling the demon out of her thoughts, “Am I really that boring to you?”
Nerissa gasps, faking offense. “I am listening, what do you mean?”
And if showing their love comes with a little teasing?
“You were closing your eyes. You hate my narration, you hate me, I knew it.”
“I like the sound of your voice!”
That was just their dynamic. Their own little ways of showing love.
“Whatever you say Rissa.” “Shiorin…”
Nerissa will love Shiori all the same. Now properly safe in the knowledge that Shiori undoubtedly loves her too.
“Continue Shiorin, I was getting into it.” I love you.
“Alright, alright. Anything for you Rissa.” I love you too.
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Fin.