[Shiro laughs, full and genuine. He's glad Darc seems to get the joke, how absurd this all is. Crash-land on an alien planet, become the consort of some alien Emperor... That was the story everyone back at the academy wanted. Nothing about arenas and alien arms and vague nightmares in purple and red. Shiro's chest feels tight and full, delight tumbled with a dull, distant sadness. Mostly delight. ]

I'm usually the responsible one—So this is a first.