Cheese!
"Emilia-tan, say cheese!"
"Cheese?"
SNAP!
Before Emilia could process what happened, a flashing white light blinded her. It set the half elf in such a disoriented state even after the photo shot was taken.
Last thing she remembered was she sitting by the desk, busy finalizing papers before a courier would arrive and deliver them to the capital.
Then a track suit wearing boy Natsuki Subaru just popped out of nowhere with this flip flopping mechanism he had.
"Smile, Emilia tan! The camera loves you!" He had a proud boast full smile as he pressed buttons and it made this weird beebing noises after each prompt. "Saved!"
"Wow Subaru! What was that?" Her eyes were still trying to recollect her bearings.
He gave her his brightest good morning smile. "Sorry for the scare, Mili. I'm just trying to make some memories with photos!"
"Photos? Memories?" He wasn't making a lot of sense.
Subaru lifted his phone as if it was his crowing achievement. "Yes and with the power of my cellular phone I can make this all come true! Just think of your portrait being done in seconds!"
Emilia was slack jawed. Now this was a concept that was too good to be true. She had to see it with her own eyes. The chair screeched as she ran to see this machinery up close.
Subaru immediately gulped and blushed when their shoulders rubbed
together. He could smell her silver hair, which had a hint of lavender.
"Is that...me?"
Emilia sat by the desk with furrowed eyebrows, trying her best to figure out what's going on. Despite it not being her best moment, she had a smile.
"Subaru that's amazing! I can't believe your...foam... did all that! And in a split second too! Uhhh..may I?"
"Go ahead Mili. What's mine is yours!"
She delicately took it from his hands to her own, observing it much closer now. She was still trying to decipher this enigma. Emilia hanged it upside down, giving it an odd look
"Is there...tiny painter men in your contraption who made this picture of me. I have to thank them!"
Subaru chuckled over the idea. "No, my Silly Milli, it's all just technology!"
He continued but then realized there was no way of putting it into simpler terms for an half elf in a fantasy word. "It's uhhh...complicated but you'll get hang of it."
"Mmm-hm!" All the girl knew was that she was immediately addicted. She went into the settings and... "WHOAH Subaru! Now it's me but in black and white!"
"I know right. You can essentially change the entire mood of the photo using the filters!"
She really didn't get it but regardless, Emilia continued with her experimenting. "Too dark, too bright! This one is really colorful!"
The half elf's face immediately sagged down in horror. She quickly felt her nose and hair. "Wait why do I have a doggy nose, tongue and ears!?"
"That's just the doggy filter you're using my gracious Lia-tan! It really emphasis your cuteness. EMCEWF! Emilia Major Cutie Even With Filter!"
"What's this, Subaru?" She squinted her eyes as she read the screen. "Homework...folder?"
That made him break into a cold sweat. Blushing, he diligently took the phone from the curious half elf. "Heh that's a bit private Mili. Sorry"
That aside, he thought it went well. "So what did you think Emilia-tan? Care for another photo shoot! Something that really captures the spirit of Mili."
Emilia twiddled her thumbs. She did have some paper work left but couldn't let such an opportunity slide. She pinched her fingers. "Just for a little bit longer, okay?"
Subaru was on cloud nine. His hands clasped together in prayer. "Fantastic news Emilia! As your personal photographer, I promise I won't let you down!"
"You better not make me ugly!" She pouted.
"That's impossible!"
Emilia sat on the desk, crossing her legs and adjusting her hair. She cleared her throat. "Like this, Subaru?"
With his phone camera aimed toward the beautiful half elf, he couldn't help but admire her first. He nodded and smiled.
"Say cheese!"
"Cheese!" Emilia smiled ear to ear.
SNAP!
Emilia couldn't help but laugh. "Geez Subaru. What does cheese have to do with it!?"
Eventually, her short break turned into the entire afternoon. Emilia wanted to seize the opportunity with this foam. She heard that this mobile contraption had limited life and it needed a thing called a "charger" to preserve it.
Honestly, it all sounded like hocus-pocus but she couldn't help it. This was the most fun she has had in ages.
Emilia and Subaru stood by the entrance hallway of Roswall's mansion. She was deep in thought over what sort of photo she wants next, Subaru couldn't help it. He pulled out his phone and took a photo of the half elf in her chain of thought.
"Subaru! I wasn't ready!"
Subaru only gave her a smile. "Sometimes the best moments on camera are caught off guard.
"Geez how would you feel if I took a photo of you!" Then it dawned upon her. The photo she had wanted, it didn't involve her. She wanted a photo of him. 'That's it!'
"Say Subaru, can you pose for a photo?" The half elf even had her hands clasped together begging the recluse.
Her smile dropped when she noticed his had too. Did she overstep some boundary? She wanted to stomp her foot down. It's only fair if he does the same! However, he looked genuinely uncomfortable when she asked that.
In actuality he was never one for selfies or any pictures of himself. The family photos they had taken happened was because his father had outwrestled him. He knew one mean arm bar.
"My eyes don't look scary?"
Emilia was no stranger to having insecurities about her own features, whether it was her silver hair or her elf ears. No matter how hard she attempts to ignore the comments of people, it still gets under her skin.
Coincidentally, one of the things her sharp half elf ears had overheard from passerby's was unpleasant things about Subaru's appearance and how scary his eyes were.
"Not at all Subaru! You look really handsome!" Emilia assured him.
She didn't get them. If anything his hazel eyes was her favorite thing about Subaru. There were many other things to admire about him too.
With a more relieved look on his face, Subaru tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned against the hand railing.
Emilia took a moment to appreciate him. Despite going through hell so bad that he can't speak about, which makes him such a bigger mystery to her but that's a story for another day, he continued to smile.
She quickly broke out of her daydreaming. This picture wasn't going to take itself.
SNAP!
On the subject matter of their next photo, Ram was busy cleaning vases and to her unfortunate stumbled across the two. "Ram do you want to be in the picture with Subaru?"
A picture of herself? Sure. A picture of her with Natsuki Subaru? "No thanks Emilia sama. I'd rather be mauled to death by mabeasts than to be remotely close to any picture with Barasu."
Her personal attack merely deflected off him. "It's your loss!"
She gave him a blank expression. "I assure you, I have everything to lose."
"Oh yeah." He crossed his arms. "Like what?"
"My self respect for starters."
The two continued bickering back and forth.
They saw Emilia pouting behind the phone "Geez, you two are really like me and Puck sometimes. Ram, just one teeny tiny photo then we'll be out of hair. I promise!"
Ram shoulders sagged down as she groaned, finally giving in. However, she wasn't doing it for him. She's doing it so she can be left alone. "Fair enough, one photo with Barasu then I really have to go back to work."
Subaru smiled as the pink haired demon stood besides him. "See Ram, you can get along with Subaru."
But her patience was wearing thin
"Emilia sama, please take this supposed picture now, so Barasu can gallivant in town and tell people this fair maiden is his girlfriend." She proudly placed a hand on her chest.
"Pfft! You wish!"
"Trust me. I wish I was anywhere but here."
Emilia was close to finding that sweet spot. She aimed towards the two, holding the phone steady.
His hand touched Ram's shoulder.
"Barasu if you touch me, I swear I'll break your arms and shove it where the sun doesn't shine." Ram said it with a straight face too.
Needless to say his hand simply hovered over her shoulder.
"Say cheese!" Emilia said.
"Cheese?" Ram raised her eyebrow over the weird custom Subaru's world had.
SNAP!
"See that wasn't so bad!" Subaru smiled for Ram. She merely rolled her eyes at his statement, giving him a hard elbow in the side before taking her leave.
"Now if you'll excuse me!" Ram took the broom. Then an idea struck her. Since Emilia did put her in this awkward position, she felt like teasing the half elf and recluse boy too.
Funny enough Emilia was already wondering what the next photo should be while she was conspiring her plot.
"Say Emilia sama, why don't you stand with Barasu? I'll take this "photo" you speak of." The maid smiled.
Emilia quickly showed Ram how the phone functioned. All she had to was press the center button to take the photo.
Needless to say, Subaru was beyond ecstatic. Emilia walked up the stairs, smiling. She was as beautiful as ever.
"So how shall we do this Subaru? I'm still new to this thing." Her shyness and uncertainty just made things even more adorable for him.
"Get real close you two." Ram suggested with a smirk, holding the phone.
Emilia climbed two steps higher and stood behind Subaru. She placed her hands on his shoulders. "Like this Ram?"
'Not entirely no.' It was a bit too formal for her. But she took the photo anyways. She'll get her on the next one.
"Now hug Barasu, Emilia sama." She instructed the half elf. Without a moment's hesitation, Emilia wrapped her arms around Subaru's neck. Her chin was resting on his spikey hair.
The tracksuit wearing neet was blushing hard. Ram was enjoying every single minute of seeing him flustered.
"You know Barasu. They say tomatoes belong in the fridge!" The demonical pink haired girl had a smug face as she held the phone steady to take the photo.
SNAP!
Emilia suggested that all three of them should take a photo together. Ram said she'd rather be caught dead than to subject herself to further torture. Besides, the original agreement was that they'd get one photo and they should be grateful she agreed to it.
She took her leave with what little dignity she had left. However, the demonical maid had one more trick left up her sleeve as she rubbed her hands together at her scheme.
"Oh Emilia sama. One more thing..." She whispered to the half elf her plan. Emilia simply nodded along, which gave Subaru a concerning eyebrow raise.
'What are they planning?' Subaru wondered. They didn't have long. His phone battery was going to die in a few seconds. He wanted to take atleast one more picture to commemorate this moment.
"I'll do it!" Emilia agreed
"Hey Subaru! Take a photo of this!" Smooch. She blew him a kiss. The floating heart made its way towards Subaru who was struggling to open the camera application. He had little time to react before it struck him like a love dart. He collapsed on the stairs.
The red battery flashed on screen in his hand. The phone died and so did Subaru. He was lying on the steps, clutching his chest with a smile on his face while blood seeped out of his mouth for Emilia had finally showed affection for him.
"Subaru!" Emilia yelled.
Ram looked completely shocked. As if she had not orchestrated this ordeal. She shook her head, covering her mouth as she lamented the dearly departed Barasu. "What a sinful woman!"
Author's Note: I'm current hard at work with two BIG Emilia projects (Both are going to end up being my longest written stories ever) but I still intend to release smaller side stories like these because Emilia is running around in my head like a hamster on a wheel. Smaller scale ones will include a drunk Emilia that might get a mature rating and Subaru taking care of a sick Emilia. Thanks for reading and continuous support!
I hope you're having a great new year thus far. Rest assured progress will be faster now that my treatment has ended.
Also Season 3 hype!
Aidan.