Work Text:
- Walking
It feels like a dream to Cardia, to be able to walk side-by-side with the man she loves.
- Waltz
Impey listens intently to Saint-Germain’s lessons, already breaking into a cold sweat and praying that he won’t trip over his own feet at the wedding.
- Wishes
In a wild blur, it seems that their desires are being fulfilled one after another; to Cardia, it’s as if the world has finally deemed them worthy of happiness.
- Wonder
Impey can’t get enough of Cardia’s quiet enthusiasm, and he merrily introduces her to anything and everything worthy of her interest.
- Worry
“Impey, stop looking at me like that, the explosion wasn’t that intense today!”
- Whimsy
While Cardia may appear the restrained and logical of the two, spend an hour listening to her and Impey think up experiments and you’ll see otherwise.
- Wasteland
While Impey has never comprehended hatred, he refuses to let his village’s destruction repeat; Cardia supports him wholeheartedly.
- Whiskey and Rum
“Your eyes are sooooo green, Impey,” Cardia slurs before curling around him like a boa constrictor.
- War
The next day, Impey covertly smuggles all the booze he can find out of the mansion’s larder, unaware that Cardia planned on making wine sauce that evening.
- Weddings
The festivities went on for three days, a delightful combination of wedding and science fair that had Steel London’s tongues wagging for months afterward.
- Birthday
Cardia lunges for Impey as soon as he makes for the kitchen, determined to keep his birthday cake a surprise, even if she has to smother him to do so.
- Blessing
Naturally, Saint-Germain is the priest at their wedding; he’s the only one who wouldn’t bat an eye at their vows, after all.
- Bias
It’s an indisputable fact that Cardia charms people; another indisputable fact is that she’s the only one wholeheartedly charmed by Impey.
- Burning
“Impey, is this enough whiske—oh no oh no I’m sorry!”
- Breathing
They thought ahead, keeping water buckets in the kitchen at all times, but Impey still worries Cardia’s going to hyperventilate any second now.
- Breaking
Impey is always, always mindful of his strength; privately Cardia thinks he worries a little too much about that.
- Belief
Impey doesn’t understand why Cardia calls herself a monster sometimes, even after she explains to him; in the end, he knows all he can do is embrace all her facets as best he can.
- Balloon
Cardia is determined to test if balloons can carry people, and so she and Impey buy out an entire store’s worth in bulk.
- Balcony
Impey loves watching Cardia lean over the mansion’s balcony and excitedly call him in from the garden; with her hair tumbling in waves over her shoulders and her voice ringing across the grounds, who else can she be but a princess?
- Bane
Sisi doesn’t trust the Loud Human, even if he treats Nice Human so gently; Sisi’ll protect Nice Human to the end!
- Quiet
The mansion isn’t quite the same as it used to be, no longer filled with the gentle hum of the others—while it’s nice to be together, Impey and Cardia both feel that silence keenly.
- Quirks
Impey grins to himself as Cardia lies very, very still on their bed, and watches her slowly remember she can sleep any way she wants to now.
- Question
“But, Impey…how will we breathe on the moon?”
- Quarrel
It’s almost a relief when they have their first foot-stomping, voice-hoarsening row over something as trivial as who put the wrench in the wrong case—it feels like a moment of clarity.
- Quitting
Impey looks at the remains of their latest failure, then at Cardia’s dejected face; with a sigh and a grin he reaches for the next blueprints.
- Jump
Cardia laughs and splashes through the rain puddles to a rhythm only she knows; Impey follows suit, brandishing their umbrella like a baton.
- Jester
When it comes down to it, Impey doesn’t mind being his princess’ jester instead of a knight—her laughter warms his heart better than any hearth-fire.
- Jousting
If others begin mocking Impey, and he isn’t around, Cardia gladly stands up for him with icy politeness and sincere praise.
- Jewel
On their wedding night, Impey soon learns that Cardia’s been reading erotic tales and biology texts in preparation; she voices her desires in a fascinating mix of clinical and vague that make Impey glad he's the one to hear and obey them.
- Just
Cardia flushes as Impey proclaims her “The most well-read lawyer in Steel London, without a doubt!”
- Smirk
“…That’s an unexpected face, Cardia; ooh, are you going to ravish me?”
- Sorrow
Sometimes, Cardia needs to walk the grounds on her own, deep in thoughts of her past—Impey doesn’t mind, but he does make sure to make a mug of hot chocolate when she returns.
- Stupidity
Cardia wonders sometimes if Impey’s more foolish moments are a byproduct of his genius, or something he does to put others at ease.
- Serenade
Impey stares in stunned silence as Cardia whispers a sweet song, the halting notes competing with the birdsong around them.
- Sarcasm
When it comes to Impey, dry humor is often lost in the whirlwind of his enthusiasm.
- Sordid
When Cardia learns men can wear corsets too, a whole erotic world opens up before her.
- Soliloquy
“Hey, Old Man, can you see how lucky I am, where you are…?”
- Sojourn
All their friends come to visit from time to time, sometimes for months, sometimes for a night; they are welcomed with delicious food and warm embraces regardless.
- Share
It doesn’t take long before Impey’s toolshed becomes their toolshed, but somehow the mansion always feels like Saint-Germain’s.
- Solitary
Impey and Cardia both have moments where they need time to themselves, whether that’s cooking, tinkering, or reading; they enter and exit each other’s spaces with the ease only trust can provide.
- Nowhere
While even Van Helsing can at least hint at what he and Delly have been up to and where they’ve been, Saint-Germain is notoriously tight-lipped despite Impey’s begging him for details.
- Neutral
Cardia sometimes wonders if she’s not as emotive as other girls, but Impey always reminds her he cries plenty for both of them.
- Nuance
The blueprints have become more detailed, now that Cardia’s around; careful cursive swirls between Impey’s chicken-scratch like a counterpoint harmony.
- Near
It takes Cardia a long time to get used to Impey’s affections, due to worrying about her poison, but she appreciates the warmth of his body and voice all the same.
- Natural
By the time their wedding actually arrives, Cardia holds no shame about their honeymoon; it’s simply another pleasurable act she can do with someone she trusts deeply.
- Horizon
While the moon is obviously far, far away, to Impey it feels like it grows closer to their joined hands day by day.
- Valiant
Cardia’s refusal to back down from seeing justice served means that Impey on more than one occasion has to keep an eye out for shady people lurking in dark alleyways; more of the same, basically.
- Virtuous
“Impey may sing his own praises, but I assure you, there is no kinder person on this Earth!”
- Victory
The picture from their victorious airship race hangs proudly in the living room, a testament to their bright past and future.
- Defeat
Thousands of hours, thousands of blueprints, thousands of setbacks and re-tries, and even if they eventually fail Cardia and Impey consider it time well spent.