Jane Austen, George Sands, Murasaki Shikibu. Welches Buch würde einem Mann zu einem gepflegten Kaffee an der Innenalster an einem sonnigen Sonntagnachmittag besonders gut stehen? Für Inspirationen waren diese Klassiker immer gut, aber wer würde sie schon gern auf dem Eis sehen wollen?

Marc konnte nicht leugnen, dass er Kostüme reizvoll fand. Ihre Eleganz und Schwere, wie sie den Körper in seiner Schönheit glänzen ließen. Als würden sie etwas im Menschen hervorbringen, was ihm innewohnte. Ob er in diesen Zeiten hätte leben wollen, konnte er nicht sagen. Aber es gab doch bestimmt eine Möglichkeit, dies einmal an sich selbst auszuprobieren.

Lovely! What pretty pictures you've just put into my head... Marc trying on costumes at length, rolling in all those elegant fabrics. Mhmmmm.

Marc meets them at the airport. It's raining harder in Hamburg, and the winds are colder. Roman's stomach is in knots, despite all the long talks with Deniz and late-night phone conversations with Marc.

All the talks in the world can't grant him reassurance. They've taken their whole lives and come north on this mad gamble, and Roman wishes he were at least a little more sure of its outcome.

But Deniz takes his hand as they walk towards Marc, who awaits them with a crooked smile and a "hi" that includes them both, and Roman breathes a little easier.

*

They must have said things, but Deniz doesn't remember, later. Stiff, stupid things, probably, the kind he has no patience for. If it were up to him, he'd blurt the challenges and awkwardness out right here in the airport, but Marc is cautious and polite, and one look at Roman's pale face makes Deniz reconsider.

Outside, the wind blows hard, messing up Marc's hair as they pack up his car. Deniz has never seen it ungelled. On impulse, he reaches out and ruffles it, grinning at both of their surprise.

He shrugs. "Looks better that way."

Roman smiles too. "Agreed."

*

The apartment is his, as they are all much too aware. Marc talks rapidly about flat-hunting, listing neighbourhoods they might like.

Roman squeezes his hand and smiles warmly. "It'll be fine until we've found something bigger. Right?" The last is to Deniz, who has been looking around. He gives them both a nod before leaning in to nudge Roman's forehead with his own. Marc takes a step back and is surprised when Roman's hand pulls him in too. Deniz doesn't protest. For a moment their heads all rest together. Marc doesn't dare breathe, for fear he might break the spell.

OMG this is beautiful. Truly. Roman's nerves. Deniz's desire to charge right in. The triple forehead bump. It's all so perfectly in character and you make it work in 300 damn words. Crazy genius woman *bumps forehead*

Excuse me while I just go into mad squeees of delight here. Three perfect little glimpses of the start of their new life - this could not be any better, even if it was longer. In fact, it's the preciseness I love in each snapshot, and how you captured the slow progress from nervousness to icebreaking and finally to possibility in just these three steps.

Gahhhhh this is wonderful. I love their nervousness and how it seems so fragile and yet you come away with hope because you get to see all sides and how they're trying to make it work.

So lovely.

When I read the prompt, I braced myself for sadness. I love you for turning "the end of all things" into a new beginning and such a lovely, hopeful one. I love the brittleness of the characters here, their fears of making a wrong move, their determination to make things work and the warm feeling this piece leaves in my heart, convinced that these three will rock this. Beautiful!

Lars sits in his chair, IV attached, looking out at the lake frozen beyond him. He’s been watching the same pair for hours, they keep messing up the same combination and he wishes he could call out to them and show them the link they’re missing. But this is his third stroke and he can barely speak at all now.

Mike rolls up behind him. No problems with his voice and the liver failure means he uses it pretty viciously still. “He needs to catch her with his left hand.” He murmurs. Lars nods gratefully and Mike wheels him inside.

Great. I was just perving over their girly makeup kink and now you're breaking me with OAP woe. Oh Anna, dammit, I love this, that as maddening and painful and frustrating it is for them to age, that they're still together (and still haven't changed). Damn, you're good!

And and and Lil, in my head, Oliver is there in the background, fussing and caring and being all doctor-y while they bicker/glare. OAP OT3 <333

So much love for this! OAP OT3 <33333

PERFECTION!!!

Oh god, woman, what are you doing to me?? *sniffles* This is such a gorgeously captured moment - they're still THEM and still insufferable twats, but argh, the underlying things, the fact that they're still squabbling after so many years! (and yes, Dr. Oliver MUST be here too, lol). I AM AWIBBLE! *clings*