roznnreads

[roznnreads]

The Wedding Guest

Conrad Fisher x Reader

Tags: use of y/n, second tense,

Summery: Conrad finds love again in college, at his brothers wedding, set after the events of season 2

a/n:  in honour of season 3 being released here's something that's been hiding in my wip folder for 2 years (might write a part 2), This was written before season 3 aired so it doesn't follow that timeline like at all.

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The invite came one day, in a badly damaged envelope that clearly used to look very pretty, but its journey in the post had done its number on it. Conrad had walked down to the res life office after getting an email about a package he had ordered. A letter waited for him, not a package, as he walked back up the stairs when he opened the envelope two pieces of paper fell into his hands. 

The first read on card-stock with beautiful calligraphy,

Isabel Conklin and Jeremiah Fisher Along with their families cordially invite you to join in the ceremony of their marriage The Fourth of July Twenty Twenty Five At Two o’Clock in the afternoon Cousins Beach, Massachusetts, USA RSVP by the Twenty-Fifth of May This invite is for the addressee and ONE plus one 

The second was on printer paper a familiar writing Conrad had grown up with

Hey Con Listen I know we haven’t spoken in a while and this invite is probably out of nowhere, but we wanted to get married as soon as possible Don’t worry no one is pregnant I tried calling but it went to voicemail anyway I guess I’ll just ask, plead maybe, but could you be my bestman for the wedding,  I know these past few years have been crazy but it would mean the world to me if you could come, the invite still stands if you don’t want to be the best man, it's a big responsibility, but I hope you know it would mean a lot to me, to Belly, to Mom.  Just text me a response, yes, no, just talk to me Jeremiah Fisher P.S. Belly doesn’t know that I slipped this in, nor that I couldn’t reach you otherwise just keep that to ourselves

Conrad sighed, reading the letter, after returning back to school he blocked Jeremiah and Belly, he felt bad about blocking Steven but hadn’t exactly been vocal on keeping in contact with him, no doubt had they known they would have taken Stevens phone to pester him, or recruit him to their cause of breaking the no contact. 

A Wedding though, 

It’s only been two years since they started dating, and he had devoted his time to university. They must think it’s puppy love or some soulmate bullshit. 

It would be a slight to not turn up, everyone would know it, especially in the small town of Cousins, where everyone knows everyone, watched us grow up, He would be missed and whispered about, He could probably not return without the rumours sprouting up. 

It would also make it seem like he was still jealous, a loser. But Conrad was better than that, the no contact was good for him, a chance to step away and grow, away from his childhood. It was nice to breathe without someone overthinking it.

For once his summer wasn’t busy, and he had a break for Independence Day. To make their wedding day the fourth seemed wrong, it would make any future year a double celebration, and with both the families' histories with the day being a massive celebration it felt like an invasion. Conrad pushed the thoughts away, he was overthinking it, it was probably just because of the memories of the day, nothing wrong with that. 

Making it to the dorm, he had thrown the letters onto his bed, pulling out his phone and staring at it, it wasn’t on, but nevertheless he was thinking, It was no doubt he had to attend the wedding, but to be the best man, to stand there on the side with the rest of the wedding party, everyone looking, staring, that invasive thought of waiting for an objection. 

Conrad would prove them wrong.

He had moved on, he was fine with this, surely, he was fine. 

The promise of the plus one, It was standard for wedding invites, usually for partners or a child. He could go alone, but it would be lonely enough with Steven and maybe Lauren being the only ones who he could stand, and he would have to act happy and overjoyed, especially as the best man, for his brother. Someone solely in his corner would be nice. A friend would be nice.

~

Conrad >What are your 4th of July plans<

You were friends with Conrad since sophomore year, we were staying on the same floor and attended a few of the same lectures. Now finishing up with your junior year swamped with exams and essay submissions, Summer was the last thing on your mind

y/n >its may<

y/n >why would I have plans<

Conrad >I’ve got a wedding invite<

y/n >good for you, whos engaged<

Conrad >My brother<

You knew of Conrad’s tentative relationship with his brother and past, you didn’t pry, it seemed like a difficult time, and well in the past, it didn’t matter, Conrad was fun to be around, which was difficult as learning to be doctors was a stressful and a full time degree. 

y/n >oh, are you going<

Conrad > I was asked to be best man, so I kinda have to<

y/n >that sucks, or is great, how do you want me to react<

Conrad >Do you want to come with and come to your own conclusion<

y/n >what<

That was a surprise, you didn’t think that he would want anyone to know about his past, more than what was necessary, and attending a family wedding felt more than necessary.

Conrad >Be my plus one, one weekend that’s all I ask<

y/n >i wouldn’t want to intrude<

Conrad >They asked for a plus one on the invite they’re expecting people they don’t know to show up<

Conrad >It’ll be fine, if your ok coming<

y/n >i’ll come, be your sounding board for complaints,<

y/n >see where you grew up, find out all your secrets<

Conrad >hey<

Conrad >I didn’t say you could do that<

~

Exams came and went, and grades came trickling in. You had gone home for the summer, moved out of your dorm. The last time you saw Conrad in person was a few weeks ago, before you drove home, he had double checked that you were still on for the wedding, his voice sounded nervous, that you would say no, or had changed your mind. 

You told him yes and that he would pick you up and drive us to Cousins, it wasn’t an overly long drive, only two hours. But the longest you would have spent in close quarters with him without escape. 

You had packed way too much than what was needed for one weekend, with one casual outfit per day and 3 different formal dresses, all different colors, with a rehearsal dinner and not knowing which color the bridesmaids would wear, this way you made sure you wouldn’t match, the last thing you wanted was to make a scene, in front of people you didn’t know. 

A car honk draws you out from your thoughts, looking out the front window and smile, seeing Conrad, sitting in his car, window down looking towards the house. 

You grabbed your bags and ran out the home, careful to lock up before heading to the car. 

Seeing you leave the house Conrad got out of the car. Opening the trunk, as you approach, placing your bags into the back. Conrad shuts the trunk and turns to me “What a first date,” he jokes

“Hold on it minute, is this your plan all along,” You say and he laughs

“No no no, but are you sure I’m not some guy trying to kidnap you,”

“Well then you're caught on camera,” You gesture to the security camera fixed on the front of the house. He laughs again and walks over to the passengers seat, 

“I thought you were driving?” You say confused, Conrad looks shocked and over exaggeratedly put his hand on his chest

“I'm trying to be a gentleman and this is the thanks I get,” you walk to the passenger side as he opens the door, you slip into the seat, hand grazing his when you grab the door. Once inside fully he shuts the door with a satisfying click, quickly shifting into his seat and turning on the ignition. We pull out of the parking space and away from my home. 

It was a nice silence, I was staring out the side window looking at the cars and trees marking the highway. Around half way into the drive did you decide to speak up,

“So” You start “What am I to expect from the weekend”

“Well, it's a wedding so the rehearsal dinner is on the saturday, the ceremony is the next day, I’m not staying longer than I need to be, so I’m leaving Monday morning,”

“Thanks, but your family, what should I prepare for?”

“Ah, Well my brother Jeremiah is the groom, my dad will probably be there but we aren’t close,” He laughs “I could say that about all of them now, but me and my dad grew apart well  before that, The bride is Belly, we grew up with her family, we would spend every summer at Cousins together, she has a brother Steven, who is the only one I keep any sort of connection to, he’ll be there, her mom is nice as well, I guess, It’s been two years since I’ve seen any of them,”

“So how were you invited?”

“The good old pen and paper,” He says with a sigh

“Old fashioned, I like it” I joke, Conrad laughs, his laugh, oh his laugh, higher than his normal voice, loud and infectious, it comes out of his mouth in short bursts filling the car with giddiness. 

~ 

Driving into Cousins beach was like entering another world, the never-ending highway left behind as we took the exit down to the shore. Barely any cars driving by anymore, the sun shone brighter, the breeze smelled like the sea, it felt like the summer really began. 

“Your smiling” said Conrad

“Hm” turning your head towards him

“You were smiling”, a smile breaking across his face

“It’s just so nice here,”  You say “It must have been nice to come here every summer,”

“It was, the last time I was here wasn’t the best though, I haven’t seen them since,”

Right, part of the reason why I’m here, now it’s awkward. The picturesque little town had almost made you forget the complex family dynamics you barely grasped. 

“Hopefully it’s better this time,” You offer. The car turns into a road, you can now see the sea through the gaps between the homes.

Pulling into the beach house’s drive made it clear this weekend if not fun was going to at least be pretty. What a place to hold a wedding. 

“Hey, It’s going to be ok, ok,” You say

“Sure,” He said uncertainty 

The car comes to a stop and you notice people coming onto the porch. This must be Conrad’s family, glancing at his face made that clear, he looked uncomfortable seeing them, let a deep breath out and plastered a smile on his face, opening the car door and walking towards them, You take this as your cue to get out as well.

Conrad was standing by the car, he hadn’t moved forward, Someone who looked like his brother had walked to him.

“Con! You made it,” exclaimed his brother, Jeremiah, by the stories Conrad told. He barreled Conrad into a hug making Conrad have to correct his stance to not fall over. 

At this point the others came over, giving greetings to Conrad, His dad, and what you assume is the bride and her family. Feeling left out you take the bags out of the trunk. 

Rounding back to the house, arms full, does the flock seem to notice someone else is there

“Hello!” said the bride “I’m Belly, who are you?”

“Oh, I’m y/n, just a friend from college, you're the one getting married right?”

“Yep, so your Conrad’s… Friend,” She said skeptically, “odd,”

You are confused “how is that odd,”

“I mean who invites a friend as their plus one,”

“A lot of people,”

“Belly quit messing with her, come inside there's still the center table decor to make, let them settle in, freshen up for dinner,” yelled Belly’s mom Laurel, the Fisher-Conklin family backed off of us, Conrad leaned close

“You ok?”

“Yes, of course,” You say “Lets get inside,”

Conrad grabs the bags out of your arms and bids you to follow him inside. 

The inside of the house was something out of a movie, the perfect furniture and picture frames, the decor matching the wallpaper, like a Pinterest board called coastal beach home if not for the wedding supplies strewn on every counter. Conrad leads you upstairs to his room, what you would think would be a typical teen boys room was a clean and tidy room, frozen in time from the last time Conrad was in the house, American football trophies on a shelf, letters from colleges sitting on the desk. You shut the door behind you, Conrad puts down the bags and sighs 

“I’m sorry, there’s no where else in the house so you’ll take the bed, I’ll take the blow up,”

“I’m not stealing your bed,”

“It’s for 2 nights chill, I can rough it up,”

“Fine, but when you wake up on a deflated mattress complaining about back pain, remember this decision”

Conrad’s hand grabbed his chest open mouth in fake shock “I would never,” You raise your eyebrow laughing at him, you throw a pillow at him, he catches it with ease. 

“I’m going to freshen up, you should too,” you say

“Uh, Ok,” he says 

You grab your clothes for the dinner and make your way to the bathroom down the hall, you had a little black dress and kitten heels for the dinner, Out of the window in the bathroom you had a clear view to the back garden, a table was placed outside, fairy lights were strung across the trees and homes, crisscrossing over the table, the sun had begun to set and food was beginning to be set at the table. 

Heading downstairs it became clear what the family dynamic was like, the kitchen was a blur of frenzy, the family were dancing around each other, helping around with each other as they were making the final preparations of dinner, it smelled lovely, you are handed a plate of steamed broccoli and instructions to place them on the table outside, heading outside you feel the breezy air, the weather had broken from earlier and being by the ocean made the air feel nice. 

~

The rehearsal dinner was delicious, there was fluffy rice, garlic steamed broccoli. On top of all that a beautiful fish that was grilled by Mr. Fisher was sitting as the crown jewels of the table. The fish fell off the bone, the taste was light and fresh. And still smelled of the sea. You are sat next to Belly’s friend Taylor and her mother, Conrad sat across from you. 

The dinner passed pleasantly, you didn’t say much, just listening in on the conversation, fearing that if you spoke up it would break the fragile peace, you were the rock thrown into the lake, watching the water ripple outwards without slowing down, one small rock causing mass disturbance for all. 

When the desert came out, the air filled with tension. Conrad’s dad had brought cute little french pastries from some fancy bakery in New York you had never heard of before. But as if the coin had flipped, everyone was put on edge, the easy conversation had stopped, no one spoke, all waiting for the shoe to drop. 

“So were you not charged with bringing a cake? Not pastries” said Lauren flatly

“It's fine mom,” Belly said to Lauren “The pastries are nice,” to Mr. Fisher

“No, on the fourth we always have cake, its tradition, maybe you forgot after all your time away from the beach house but we never stopped, even after” Lauren’s voice trailed off

“Truly it’s fine,” said Jeremiah leaning across the table to pick up a flaky cream puff, taking a bite he says “They are delicious”

“If you’ll excuse me,” said Lauren standing up and walking back into the house, 

“Mom,” yelled out Belly as she also stood and followed after her. The silence stretches over the table, the food remains untouched, no one moves, the crickets and waves being the background sounds to the rehearsal dinner gone wrong. 

“So, umm, how did you two meet?” said Steven pointing at Conrad and You

“I don’t think this is the right time for that, Steven,” said Conrad

“I think we are all curious, you disappear for years and then turn up after no contact with a girlf-” said Jeremiah “We’re friends,” Conrad cut off 

“Regardless, how’d you meet,”

“We met in a group project, at uni, we were the only ones to actually work on the project,” you say

“Oh, fun, well not the group project, but it’s nice you met,”

“Thanks?”

~

The cool air from the lake hit your face as you step out of the fisher house onto their dock, the humid summer air dissipated with the sun, leaving cricket’s chirping and the fireflies flickering near the bank side. 

The dock at the Fisher’s summer home jutted out from the back garden, the old wood weathered by time creaked underneath your feet, the sun had set not too long ago, but it was quite late, Belly and the bridal party had retired to their rooms to get their beauty sleep before the ceremony tomorrow the pre-wedding jitters rampant in the house.  So here you were, leaning against the railing at the end of the dock. Staring into the lake at the lights of the homes across the water flickering off one by one as the world retires for the Fourth of July. You could hear someone walking down the dock, the boards creaking under their feet, Conrad cleared his throat making you turn to face him. The top buttons were undone and his tie was loosened. He looked nice, 

“How you holdn’ up?” You ask

“Its going better than I thought, well the pressure is on dad now but” he sighed “it just feels like something isn’t being said, like everyone’s dancing about something when I enter the room,” he said leaning on the dock railings. 

“Well it has been two years,”

“It’s not just that, it’s, I don’t know”

“You’ll be ok for tomorrow, if you want to flee in the middle of the night, I’ll come with, hell you can crash at mine for a while, if you don’t want to fly back to California straight away,” you offer

“Whoa, talk about jumping to conclusions much,” Conrad laughed, “no I have to stay, I made a promise, and well its a small town, fleeing the wedding, I’m not even a bride, but it would be the talk of the town, I’d be the town pariah”

“Hey, I’m just offering you a way out, it’ll always be available, I’ve got your back, you know that,”

“I know,” he said, turning to look at you, “I know, sorry about earlier” at the confused look in your face he continues “with the dinner, this weekend is a difficult topic for everyone after my mom,” 

Conrad gets a teary look in his eye and turns back to look at the water, you reach out to him, holding his face in your palm

“I know I can’t say anything to make this better, but there is nothing to apologize about, I knew things would be tense coming here and I am still here, hey look at me, none of this is your fault so don’t blame yourself for any of this,” you say to him, his face crumbles as he leans into your hand, he lets out a shaking breath and brings you closer into a tight embrace. 

The two of you stand like this for a long while, Conrad leans into you pressing his forehead into your shoulder, all you can do is hold him as he silently cries into you.

“Hey lovebirds!” yelled a voice from up near the house, the two of you pull apart startled and as you look towards the house you can see Jeremiah,

“What do you want” yelled back Conrad, annoyance breaking through his attempt at a steady voice.

“I just want to chat, to you, mind coming up here so the whole town doesn’t hear my business”

Conrad and you look at each other, you wipe the tears from his cheek, and smile, whispering in his ear,

“Maybe now you can find out the secret?”, 

He smiles back at you, and whispers back “as if”

“You’ll be alright, talking with him?”

“Of course, you’ll be okay being out here on your own”

“Of course,”

[roznnreads]

She Likes a Boy

Maysilee Donner x Mrs. Mellark

Summary: In working at her fathers sweet shop she meets the various members of district 12 but one girl keeps catching her eye

a/n: Yes I made Mrs Mellark a Cartwright, what of it, it's not like district 12 has many families named in the series and since she is still without a name after sunrise on the reaping what can you do. And yes I am pushing the Maysilee Donner lesbian agenda. I am right if you think otherwise you are wrong.

wc: 964

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Ding 

The bell above the door rings as Maysilee looks up at the would be customer, Julie Cartwritght, if Maysilee was the most stuck up person in town, Julie would be battling it out for runner up, her family ran the shoe shop a few buildings down and she always flaunted that her shoes were perfectly shined, not brand new but when you mother and father have access to shoe shine you could make your second hand shoes look brand new. 

This poor girl, well she’s not from the seam but instead pining desperately over Otho Mellark, one of their classmates, man is built like a brick, nothing could knock him off his guard, yet Otho was also desperately pining over someone, not Julie but Asterid March, another town girl, who in turn was dating Burdock Everdeen, a seam boy, destined for the coal mines, It was an awful game of telephone which all were destined to call with no answer on the other line. It didn’t matter what Maysilee said to Asterid that their romance was doomed to fail, romance between seam and town were always steeped in tragedy, Asterid stood strong in her conviction that she and Burdock were different, that they would be happy together forever, and who was Maysilee to stand in the way of true love.

“No, Don’t order, let me guess… Lemon Drops,” Maysilee said

“You know me too well,” replied Julie

“It's hard not to we are practically neighbors and your in here like every other week,”

“Well this week I would like Lemon Drops and whatever Otho likes,” 

“Whatever Otho likes, what's your scheme,”

“Oh, you know, it’ll be a gift,”

“Don’t you think a baker's son would be tired of sweet treats, with all the cake decorating he does” “You know as well as I that the Mellarks don’t eat what they sell,”

“Fine, how many grams of mint imperials do you want,”

“Aren’t those a little basic?”

“Bring it up with him, it's not my favourite sweet,”

“Right,” she said, “So what is yours?”

“My what?” Maysilee says

“Your favourite sweets” She said in a sickly sweet tone laced with annoyance

“Cinnamon Taffy”, I say and Julie smiles

“I haven’t heard of that one before”

“Well its new, not on the shelves yet, I’m trialing it, but boy is it delicious” “I’ll keep that in mind when they're in the jars, see you at school Maysilee” she said as she waved and left the shop. The bell rang again signalling her exit.

Maysilee sighed and placed her head on the cool counter, this will be the death of her

~

Ding

Another day, another shift after school,  another customer, always more sweets to sell, I sigh, facing the wall of candy jars turning around and I see Asterid, 

“Hey, hows life treating you”

“Same old, pa’s making me still work here”

“Well only you could make up brilliant stuff like this,” Asterid said pointing at the jar of mint and lemon flavored hard candy shaped like ribbons. 

“One day I’m going to leave this place and never come back,” Maysilee laughed

“The Candy store?”

“Sure, the candy store,”

“And where will you go”

“I don’t know, maybe down the street, the woods, who knows, certainly not me”

Ding

Looking past Asterid, I see Julie, enter the store

“Oh, is this a bad time, I’ll come back later,” Julie said, and turned on her heel and re opened the door and fled down the street.

Ding

“Well that was weird,” Maysilee questioned

“Yes strange, I’ll take 50 grams of licorice and 50 grams of that fudge you make so well,” said Asterid “Coming right up” Maysilee says getting a little striped bag of sweets together, handing it to Asterid, As she turns to leave she says

“Maybe she’ll comeback”

“Oh shove off” Maysilee laughs

It takes 2 weeks before Julie could even look at her at school, a further week for her to speak to her. Maysilee didn’t know what she did to her, what she did wrong.

A month after that weird experience at the sweet store did Julie walk in, like nothing was wrong she pranced into the store.

“What can I get you” said Maysilee apprehensively

“I want to apologise, I shouldn’t have avoided you for so long”

“Ok?”

“So do you have those Cinnamon Taffy treats you mentioned you liked?”

Confused Maysilee said “Ya, just got on the shelves a few days ago, yu want some?”

“Of course, I’d love try, how about 100 grams”

“100 grams!” Maysilee nearly screamed “are you serious”

“Yes, I saved up my money, I can spend it how I want” said Julie matter of factly 

“But on sweets?”

“Why not, here” she said and slid her cash across the counter, “take it,” she smiled

“Ok, let me ring that up for you” said Maysilee smiling back

Handing Julie the bad of taffy, she took one out of the bag, taking a bite and making a satisfied noise, 

“I told you they were good,”

“And I believe you now,” Julie said taking another out of the bag, leaving the rest on the counter, “here so you can have some fresh treats, for after the reaping”

“Oh don’t remind me, here’s this, take the bag come back here after the reaping and we can both have some, to celebrate another year safe,” said Maysilee

“Ok, good plan, at least next year the odds will be better, only 2 of us not 4 like today,” laughed Julie

“If I get reaped next year its your fault,” Maysilee jokes

“See you later, I have to get all primed up and nice for the capitol” 

“Don’t say things like that, I am serious”

Ding

Maybe things are looking up for Maysilee

[roznnreads]

CodyWan week 2024 Day 3

Soulmate au (Sharing Injuries)

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When Obi-Wan was 1 he was given to the Jedi Order, the concept of a soulmate wasn’t necessarily forbidden but was frowned upon, but Obi-Wan was too young to even know the concept or even why they would be frowned upon

When Obi-Wan was 5 he learned what a soulmate was, they weren’t always romantic, half the time they were platonic, it was extremely unlikely to even meet as the entire galaxy was a potential option, some people had known their soulmate for years before even realising. As quickly as he learned of the concept he learned why it was frowned upon, as the undivided loyalty one feels towards the soulmate falls in contrast to one of the main testaments of the order, the one that forbade attachments, as the order had to come first in a Jedi’s life, nothing more. 

When Obi-Wan was 16 he became Qui-Gon’s padawan, and his slow change from rebellious youngling to a rebellious to his master, who himself was rebellious of the order, began. Obi-Wan had resigned himself to the face that he was a outlier and would never have a soulmate, it was easier to admit that than having the live with the knowledge of having to turn away his soulmate eventually

When Obi-Wan was 25 his master died and he was suddenly thrust into being a Jedi Master to Anakin, a child, his grief over Qui-Gon changed Obi-Wan, he was willing to trust but to put his love into another person, let alone a soulmate, which he didn’t have. 

When Obi-Wan was 34 he started noticing injuries that weren’t from him, it was a strange feeling, the injured part would feel tingly before falling numb until the wound healed, Obi-Wan could only guess they were in a dangerous profession as the range of injuries were far too disconnected for a normal person, one day when he was walking through the gardens of the Jedi Temple with Anakin, they were late to some meeting or whatever, but in a short span of time Obi-Wan felt the hit of a stun blaster and fainted onto the soft dirt.

When Obi-Wan was 35 The Clone Wars started, after the battle of Geonosis he was told that the Jedi would be joining the war effort and commanding armies to fight the droid armies and keep the peace, this is when he met the 212th. When he met Cody

They became friends fast, they could move around the battlefield with ease, knowing where the other was instinctively. It was part of the reason why Obi-Wan’s lightsaber ended up attached to Cody’s belt by the end of battle. They shared similar injuries by the end of battle but Obi-Wan never fully thought about it.

One day the 212th was stationed on Trandosha, there were reports of bandit and bounty hunters harassing the locals, the battalion was simply a deterrent, to prevent fighting. But then the faint feeling of numbness trickled from his forehead to around his left eye, he moved his hand up to his face, it was wet, looking back at his hand he saw the familiar red shine of blood, the injury quickly was cauterised. Obi-Wan’s soulmate was clearly not in a safe environment. 

When Obi-Wan was 35 he saw Cody, with a fresh scar, the same one that appeared randomly on his face, a little while earlier, when the Squad of troopers came back to the base, they looked at Obi-Wan and promptly looked away, walking at a brisk pace to the barracks, leaving Cody, his hemet was off, resting on his hip, broken and busted, his face had a cauterised wound around his eye. 

When Obi-Wan was 48 he was still getting the occasional bruises and injuries, it was one of the only comforts in his monotonous life, that Cody was alive, probably with the empire, one of the many stormtroopers, but alive.

When Cody was 32, well he looked like he was in his 60s, he was on Yavin 4, joining the rebellion against the empire after the failed clone rebellion. There weren’t many clones left, most went into hiding, wanting to escape the war and stop fighting. A small group of them joined the rebellion to end the empire and bring back democracy, it was a part of the coding in their brains to be loyal to the long dead Republic and democracy. Cody was sitting in the dining hall with his brothers when he felt the burn of a lightsaber in his side before his body went numb, but he knew what that meant.

[roznnreads]

CodyWan week 2024 Day 2

Beating rival suitors off with a stick

a/n: I'm not overly happy with this, I might rewrite or delete it later, also I forgot to post this yesterday but whatever

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Cody knew that Jedi’s aren’t meant to form attachments, he knew that Obi-Wan knew, yet here he was standing slightly behind him listening as he was being flirted with by almost every senator walking over.

They were on a diplomatic mission, the senators of both the Republic and the Separatists were meeting for the first time for peace talks, Cody and Obi-Wan were only here for the protection of all involved in case some war profiteer or terrorist wanted to strike. 

Obi-Wan had just been introduced to the Senator from Onderon and started saying “it is a pleasure to meet you master Jedi,” leaning all up into Obi-Wan’s personal space.

Cody’s throat constricted, a familiar feeling rose through his body, it was all the same. Time after time, people would see the Jedi, more specifically Obi-Wan and think maybe they had a shot, like those weird forbidden romance holos and novels written about the order, which Cody definitely has never read. 

The senator placed one of their hands on Obi-Wan’s chest, and he just stood there, Cody stepped forward and placed his arms around Obi-Wan’s waist protectively.

“Excuse me, but we must be going”, Cody said before realising the words were leaving his mouth. Obi-Wan looked over at him, confusion flashing across his face for a moment before making a cordial goodbye to the dignitaries and senators, Cody dragged him across the room away from them, they were now leaning against a wall

“Cody, what are you doing” he questioned

“They were overstepping, didn’t you notice, we’re here for peace talks not flirting” “They didn’t mean anything by it,” said Obi-Wan

“I just don’t like it” said Cody, “How easily people want you, it’s selfish I know”

“We can all be a little selfish sometimes, this is one thing that being a little bit selfish might not be a bad thing”. 

[roznnreads]

CodyWan Week 2024 Master List

I will be doing the orange prompts from the list

Day 1 : No/Different Order 66

Day 2 : Beating rival suitors off with a stick

Day 3 : Soulmate AU

Day 4 : ‘Subtitle’ witty banter during the war

Day 5 : Original Kenobi Series Script

Day 6 : Touch starved

Day 7 : Dimension travel (by one character)

[roznnreads]

CodyWan week 2024 Day 1

No/Different Order 66

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The War is over, he repeats over and over in his head, but the visions before his eyes were so visceral, the images of his friends, his family fighting and dying in front of him, he couldn’t save them, he couldn’t move, he couldn’t use the force, he was helpless.

That's the funny thing about dreams, even when you know your dreaming, when they go against all that you know is true, there is a part of you that acts like it is real, that the people and objects in the dreams can touch you, sometimes you even feel them, the pressure against your skin, your throat, you know it isn’t real, it can’t be, but it feels real, alive.

For Obi-Wan seeing Anakin, Ahsoka, Cody, his men, being struck down night after night, dream after dream they never let up.

The dreams end the same every night, with whatever is destroying his friends would turn to him and would be about to strike the final blow he would wake with a start, shooting up in bed, in the familiar dark room.

The glare from the clock read 3:10 am, with a sigh Obi-Wan flopped down into the bed, his head hitting the pillow, He heard a soft from the body next to him

“Another dream” said Cody

“Like clockwork” Obi-Wan sighed, Cody moved from next to him to moving Obi-Wan onto his chest, Obi-wan’s head hearing his heartbeats,

beat,

beat,

beat,

In the dreams Obi-Wan knew that the war was over, in Cody’s arms he knew that all would be okay in the end.

[roznnreads]

The Beast Within

Tamlin x Beron

Tags : Smut, Sub!Beron, Dom!Tamlin, Blow Job, m!receiving, making out

Summary : Stripped of his power Beron runs into Tamlin’s Court and his arms

18+ Minors do not interact / Read at your own risk

a/n : thank you Elain-Gate for planting this crackship into my brain, I wrote 70% of this on vacation on a literal beach, Welcome to pure shit posting 

wc: 1.6k

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Following Eris’s takeover of the Autumn Court stripping Beron of his former power, He was banished from the lands, never to set foot in Autumn again. 

Beron hearing of Tamlin’s mercy of his ‘son’ his first move once escaping the forest palace was to run to the southern border, his neighbor, Spring.

He was stripped of his royal regalia, his fine clothes, his jewels he fought so hard to keep were ripped off and thrown to the side, forgotten. Like his fate would eventually be. 

For the first time since he was a young boy he felt fear, not of being killed by his own son, it was expected, but of feeling powerless it had been centuries of living with the might of Autumn running through his veins it became second nature to call forward this power. No more.

On foot Beron was running through the forests, the autumn leaves dotting the trees and forest floor, making the world look the same, he was bound to get lost, stumbling over a protruding tree root caused him to tumble to the floor, pain sprung from his hands and knees, looking down Beron could see the skin shredded and the blood beginning to pool, this was bad, more than just being injured but the beasts that lurked in the forests, that Beron himself had let run wild, unchecked, would stalk towards him at lethal speeds, eat him raw and leave only his bones to be retaken by nature. 

Getting up Beron picked a direction and ran he would not have to rest and heal himself using normal fey means, sprinting away the trickles of blood from his hands and knees that marked his movements began to fall, he had to make it to spring to beg for mercy from Tamlin, it was mortifying but the only way to regain his power and give himself a chance to survive.

~ 

Seeing the green in the distance gave him the brief sliver of hope, he was almost at the border, he could hear the footfalls of both beast and fey alike gaining ground he could see his life ahead and his death behind, when had everything gone so wrong 

Reaching the green leaves he could feel the thrum of power wash over him running through the border, the wards over the court allowing him entry looking behind him he could see Autumn soldiers and the mythical bloodthirsty animals in their tow. As they approached the border a spike of fear ran through Berons spine. If he could enter why not them. But they were not granted entry instead being bounced off Beron would have laughed if he was sure the High Lord would house him in the court. 

~ 

After walking through the court the fawna was unlike those in Autumn they were vibrant and lush the dew on the grassy ground supported his steps as he wandered through trying to find a sign of fey life. 

A rustle of the trees was all he needed to know he wasn’t alone. The voice of the High Lord rang through all sides of the forest surrounding him like he was disguised as the green around him, it was unknown how Tamlin’s shapeshifting worked and the limitations of it, it was a well kept secret of the royal family.

“Beron are you blind”

“-what” Beron said confused 

“You seem to have stumbled into the wrong court”

“I was let in, the borders” said Beron, Tamlin walked towards him his beast form was a hulking wolf like form with antlers adorning his head, 

“I hear there is a new High Lord of Autumn, I’m surprised you're still alive” Tamlin said shifting into his high fey form the bones and muscles reshaping in a gruesome display of contortion remaking themselves into form. 

Beron flinched back 

“So am I” Beron said “I hope you will not take it too soon”

“You were a faithful ally, it would be regretful to kill you where you stand”

“I would like to claim sanctuary in your court”

“I assumed so, I accept your claim, follow me”

And with that Tamlin stalked away from Beron leaving him nothing other to do than follow 

~

The day progressed and Beron was wined and dined by the Lord of Spring the ornate dining room had been destroyed when Hybern made their stay in Spring so they ate in one of Tamlin’s private rooms, one of those rooms you would dine with a confidant out of the eye and ear of the courtesans and staff. 

For two people who historically had disagreed on many subject and it was true they had different dispositions and temperament, the dinner was more than amicable but one of the first likable dinners Beron had in years, Tamlin dispute his faults provided a decent meal and his features provided a more than decent display.  

Six glasses deep into Spring wine, truly Beron should have imported more of it into his stores, fey naturally have a higher immunity to alcohol, a high lord even more so, but Beron underestimated his tolerance and was now laughing deeply at Tamlin’s stupid jokes his cheeks were blushed, if he had more sense in his brain he would have been embarrassed at his lack of propriety. Tamlin had held his wine better, with grace, yet his half lidded eyes staring into his dripped with lust, more than the wine warmed Beron’s body as his blood rushed towards his dick.

Berons thoughts were betraying him, he was across from Tamlin the low light from the candles softened Tamlin’s harsh features, his arms resting on the table were cover with sleeves but the toned arms were still clearly there, his hands

oh

his hands

What Beron would do to have those hands wrap around his throat, to squeeze and have his breath constricted, his dick twitched at the thought, Beron saw the monster lurking under the beautiful male’s skin, he knew the stories and rumors about the High King of Spring’s trists, he could only imagine what power that beast would unleash, and he craved it, after years of being the one in control, the domineering one in any relationship, he had lost his centuries long control over Autumn and it was if the dam broke, he needed it, he craved it 

“You see something you like?”, Tamlin said breaking into Berons mind, hearing Tamlin’s voice broke him from his trance the fork in his hand was bent crooked and partially melting in his hand, 

“So what if I do, what are you going to do about that?” leaning forward in challenge

“If you're that desperate why don't you come over and show me what you like so  much”

“You bastard”

Tamlin laughed a deep guttural laugh, which Beron quickly shut up by pouncing over the table, their lips connect, Beron kneeling on the table leaning onto Tamlin for support, One of Tamlin’s hands holding his waist, another palms his face. 

He moans into his mouth, the strong capable hands keeping him in place. 

Breaking apart for a moment, Tamlin breath is as ragged as his arms are tense, Tamins mind and body at war, Beron could smell him, his musk smelled of the dew in the morning and crisp wind

Next thing he knew Tamlin’s mouth was on his neck, his smoothly shaven face attacking his bristly skin. Sucking a purple mark on his pulse point, Beron let out a pathetically loud whine

Tamlin Chuckled into his neck as he pulled Beron onto his lap, straddling him, the contact of their bodies made him moan again, he needed more of him, to feel his bare skin, the thought of that made Beron roll his hips he could feel Tamlin he was hard beneath him and he let out a wanton moan.

“So Needy, Are you truly that desperate” Tamlin laughed

Beron snarled at him but his heart wasn’t behind it it sounded almost like a moan

“Aww, do you like that, the high and mighty Beron Vanserra, do you like to submit” teased Tamlin, Beron lowered his head in embarrassment

“Don’t make me beg” Beron said in a low voice, pleading

“What is it that you want then ” Tamlin said grasping Beron’s chin harshly to make him look at him “Tell me”

Beron tried to speak but his words couldn’t find him instead he palmed at Tamlin’s pants

“Use your words” He said sternly 

“Let me” He grabbed at Tamlin, trying to untie his pants in his fervor failing to do so but getting the point across 

“On your knees” He commanded, Beron quickly shuffled onto the floor in front of Tamlin, looking up at the High Lord he saw a flicker of surprise, quickly masked by a smug smile,“I would have thought you put up more of a fight, with fathering seven children I thought you would be well pleased or are you just a wanton male”

“Perhaps there is not a supply of what I want in Autumn” Beron says now successfully undoing Tamlin’s pants and pulling out his cock. It was long and girthy standing upright it almost slapped Beron in his face. Precum was leaking from the head

Beron thumbed his head smearing precum across him before licking from the base to the head, then he took him whole,  he started at a slow pace wanting to feel all of him but he soon felt Tamlin’s hand grip his now tousled hair, Beron is forced into a relentless pace and it isn’t long before the salty taste of cum in filling up Beron’s mouth, he does his best to swallow what he can but when he forces Tamlin to break his hold on his scalp, the white liquid dribbled from his mouth and onto his shirt.

Beron looks up at what he did to the Lord of Spring, his a sweaty ragged mess looking down at him, and he can’t help but smile at the thought that Tamlin wanted this as well.

[roznnreads]

What if the High Lords chose not to revive Rhysand

This is an idea that came to me randomly so I wrote this in about an hour, sorry if there are any spelling or grammer issues.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Warmth seeped across Feyre’s face, only then had she opened her eyes, the Cauldron stood unmoved infront of her, the cracks gone, as if they were never there.

They had done it. 

They.

Feeling out for the familiar bond Feyre had grown used to over the past month she found nothing, as if the cracks of the cauldron had torn into her shredding the connection between her and Rhysand. 

Looking next to her did she see the cause of the skipped beat in her soul.

Rhysand was dead

The world fell silent as the voices in her head faded, she fell to her knees grasping her lover. she began to scream

Screaming and screaming and screaming

The screams were never ending, the screams of grief morphed to screams of pain. 

The emptiness in her chest filled with power, it was overwhelming, it felt worse than becoming fey, like her already heightened senses made it worse, magic burst into her soul filling the space Rhys left, her connection to Night grew, like her life force was tied to the ground. She would come to realize later that the power and magic of the high lord came from the primordial magic of the court, ancient magic needing an outlet to seep out of so it wouldn’t implode. Shadows swirled around Feyre and Rhysand, they emerged from his chest and pierced into hers. Feyre cried out, feeling the shadows enter her soul was like a thousand daggers stabbing again and again and again.

Azriel, Cassian and Mor were just standing there, unsure whether they could approach her, scared of her, they were already deeply injured swaying back and forth, the siphons being the only thing keeping them upright. 

Only when the shadows ceased did they step closer, muttering farewells to their leader. 

Friend.

Brother.

“Healing,” croaked out Feyre “Please”

She was on the ground, as she willed her body to turn to the high lords, they were kettling the Inner Circle, keeping their distance, some knowing what had happened, some with confusion.

When the dust settled, Thesan moved towards Rhysand his hands tough his neck feeling for a pulse, Feyre grabbed towards him in fear and delight. He could heal him, surely. 

Feyre couldn’t live like this, she couldn’t breathe, the emptiness was over taking her senses, her only thought running through her head was how Rhysand was no longer breathing, he needed to be breathing. 

Thesan made to move away, Feyre had grasped his pant legs

“Please, You have to do something.”

“I can’t” he said apologetically

“You did it before, to me, all of you, you did it before”

Trying to get Feyre to let go Thesan respond “That magic, It doesn’t work like that, you were human-”

“You have to try” Feyre cried, tears streaming down her face, eyes red from the exertion, Feyre collapsed onto Rhysand again her fingers scraping against his armor

“I’m Sorry” he said

“Bring him back” Feyre barked at the High Lords

She screamed “BRING HIM BACK”

Nothing, they didn’t move, Mor approached Feyre kneeling in front of her, her arms grasped around Feyre in comfort, She didn’t want her comfort she needed his. 

“There is nothing to be done,” said Helion, “The spell cannot be cast, it breaks the laws of nature”

“What use did you have for nature when I was made” Feyre snarled 

“Your mate, Rhysand was an awful person, why should we bring him back, we have no loyalty to him or your court” Beron spoke up, those words had pierced Feyre’s heart said with such malice and discontent 

Mor pulled out her sword and held it meer millimeters from his throat “Do as the lady wishes” she said, her voice filled with determination

“You hold no power over me nor do your threats scare me, you should know of the limitations on necromancy, the limitations of night” said Beron

“But” whispered Feyre

“Child,” said Kallias her voice was stern and full of power “you are suffering a great loss, one beyond imagine, but Beron speaks true, you do not wish to hear this as you were blinded by love, Rhysand tormented the Prithian before and during Amarantha, in truth he still did so after being released from her clutches, there are lives that can never return to life because of him, children, Feyre, He would continue to live in his narcissism if there was even a sliver of a way to bring him back, I hope that Night becomes better in time, under a different High Lord, but that would be in spite of Rhysand and all he stood for”

Feyre looked at Kallias, at Beron, at Helion, at Thesan, at Tarquin, at Tamlin, feeling hopeless in her request being unheard. She roared in grief

“If you won’t I will” she cried, and in a moment she winnowed her, Rhysand’s dead body, Mor, Azriel, Cassian and her traumatized sisters to the House of Wind.

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Chapter 5

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation, slow burn, fake dating

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter Summary: Autumn Court courting traditions, and the Eris's hounds

a/n: I am running out of steam with this fic, I'm getting tired from it so I might take a break from writing for a while

last part, next part

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2 days later

I am sitting in my chambers, on the balcony drinking my tea, the night was light enough for me to know it was day everywhere else. The stars in the sky sparkled in the night, dazzling stars waiting to be noticed by someone, to be pointed out by a little child or a couple saying look, look how pretty that star is. Stars remind me that I am not alone, there is always someone looking down at me, I hope he is looking down on me. I hope he understands what I am doing, that I am not betraying him. I am not disloyal, not untrustworthy. 

In my heart I know he understands, He knew me, he knew that I didn’t belong in the Night Court, I wanted him to run away with me, to escape the palace life, not many people would miss the sister of the High Lord, one who had a Bride and heir, I am not needed here. 

A soft blow of air whips at my hair, I look up from my tea to see Eris winnowing in. 

“Dear” he started

“What are you doing here? If my brother sees you” I interrupted, I was panicking, he was in my chambers and if anyone was to walk in they would he Eris in there close to me, Eris would be killed, and I’d have to start all over again. 

“Oh don’t worry about that, I’m here to take you to Autumn” he said easily

“Are you crazy that will start a war” I said, this man is going to give me a heart attack

“Only for a moment, I am not kidnapping you, it is simply a date, this is what you wanted, a proper courting” he said puffing his chest out

“Make it quick” I say

“Oh I do nothing quick, but don’t you worry you’ll be back before anyone notices” he said

“Then let's get going,” I reach out my hand, touching his waist, looking in his eyes as the world shifts around me.

~

I haven’t often left Velaris, the last time was when I was under the mountain. Even before that I left sparingly, for the High Lord Summet in Summer, or some ball to show a united front. But I had never been to Autumn. I’ve heard stories from the Inner Circle, it is meant to smell of death, a rotting court of the near dead, a transitional court that is full of tricksters and deceit. I’ve found that every court is full of deceit, no one is only truthful, anyone can lie.

When we finished winnowing, the warmth warms my skin, it perforated it spreading through my body in a way I never could have known. It isn’t the sticky blistering of heat from Summer, but like a warm day with a blistering wind keeping you cool, but never cold. Looking around from where I just arrived, We are in a garden, surrounded by Azaleas, Sunflowers, Roses and Petunias, the growth of trees surrounds the garden, they grow high like giants, looking down upon me and Eris, watching us, judging us like a grandmother might a child.

“Lost in thought?” He said startling me

“It’s beautiful,” I pondered

“Yes, it is,” he said. I look back at him but he is looking at me already. 

“What have you brought me here for,” I said

“A proper courting in Autumn court fashion requires this” he said, pulling out a necklace, it is beautiful, it is shaped like a burst of fire moving around the necklace, the gems simmer in the light, it look like it’s moving. Eris moves behind me leaning in close.

“May I?” he said. I move my hair out of his way, he moves the necklace around my neck, using heat from his hands to melt and reform the necklace to connect permanently to me.

“Is there some hidden significance?” I ask

“Every courting necklace is purely individual to the pair, it is meant to be worn until the wedding ceremony is complete, or the courting is broken off, which rarely ever happens. It shows the longevity and how committed we are to be together” I turn to face him, our bodies close together I can feel the warmth radiating from his body, his hands moved to running comforting circles on my arms. 

“Your serious about this, aren’t you” I joke “It’s only been two days”

“Let’s say I was prepared,” Eris said with a smile. I smile back at him. I hear a bark from in the distance, I look for the the source and see a pack of four foxhounds, bounding towards Eris, 

“Hey girls”, he said, falling to his knees being pounced by the dogs, accepting the kisses the dogs give him

“So these are yours” I say laughing at the sight of my future husband, kneeling on the ground getting bound upon 

“They’ll be your once we get married officially” he said looking up at me 

I kneel next to him, not worrying about the dress I am wearing reaching my hand out carefully at the closest hound, he sniffs my hand carefully before giving it a lick and nudging my hand getting closer before he jumps at me causing my balance to tip and I am in a heap on the floor the dogs licking my face.

“Ok, Ok, girls, off you go” he said, whistling with his fingers near his mouth, the dogs run off bounding together barking and playing together

“I think it is best that I head back now” I say, composing myself, standing uneasily.

“Are you ready for that?” he said his fingers ghosting the necklace welded to my neck

“I have to be, I’ll be fine” I say “there is nothing they can do about it now” I say reassuringly, bringing my hand to hold his near my neck. Letting go I give one last smile before winnowing back to the Night Court

~

“Your Compromised” was the first thing that Rhys said to me as I winnowed in from the Autumn Court Gardens, His eyes garling at my neck. 

“Is that so” I retort

“Do you know what that means, who are you married to now” He said 

“I am not married, yet, and the who is Eris, he loves me” I say with determination in my voice “Don’t be naive, Eris doesn’t love you he is attached at the most. And that necklace is a promise of marriage, In autumn women don’t just reject a courting once they are entered in one, the man has to, and if Eris gave you this he intends to marry you” He said dripping with malice. 

“And what if I want to marry him” I say “Why would you want that” He exacerbate

“He will treat me well, I can make my own choice of who to marry, I would have thought that marrying the Heir to a Court would have made you proud”. I say close to tears, I really don’t want to cry, to be emotional right now, It's not like I am really in love with him, and Rhysand can’t stop the engagement if Autumn wants a bride.

“He’s using you,” he said

“Like your not, or anyone who I align myself with is going to use for political power, I’ve accepted that” I say

“And what of your mate” He yelled

“He is dead, there is nothing to do about it, He would want me to move on, I know I will never love someone like I loved him, but I can’t be wallowing in self imposed sadness, I believe that a life with Eris will make me happy, why can’t you be happy for me” I yell back.

“I’m trying to protect you” he said desperately 

“Then let me do this” I plea, I reach out to him, taking his hands and bringing it close to my chest, I don’t like begging, but he needs to know I am willing in this arrangement, that I want this, I know what he is thinking, that I will regret this engagement, that it won’t be suited for me, just like Feyre was with her wedding, it isn’t much different in his head, a woman who is being wed to a Lord that is not her mate feeling forced to be married out of obligation not love. I need him to see it is not an obligation, I need him to see that I am in love, I am not but he needs to believe that, for his own peace of mind. 

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Chapter 4

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation, slow burn, fake dating

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter Summary: Eris and Reader decide on a deal to make their lives better, working towards a common goal

a/n:  So here might be the place for me to say i hate the soulmate trope in general, like there is no sense of choice in the characters and I love the dynamic of characters choosing to be with another, and I thought it might be interesting for a world where mates are meant to be rare but still exist (although for the books plot everyone gets a mate) why would anyone try to fall in love with anyone else, you can live for centuries, the chance of finding your mate is higher than a human lifespan.

last part, next part

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“You can drop the act, your making a fool of yourself”

“I don’t understand what you mean Eris?” I say feigning ignorance.

“Don’t take me for an idiot, I know your not interested in a romance my dear”

“How do you know what I am interested in Eris” the annoyance dripping from my mouth. 

“Then tell me, what do you wish” said Eris cruelly 

“I don’t wish, I need power,” I said

“Then why didn’t you say so my dear,” he said, but he was not loosening his grip on me.

“Why don’t you let me go, and we can discuss this like the mature adults we are” I smile at him, he laughs, short and cruel. 

“If that's what you want, that is what you get” he said

“Then you’ll give me an out”  say delight escaping my lips

“Define out” he said

“You want me to spell it out I want out of here, this palace” I say

“And you think I can grant it” He said, his tone was low

“I know you can, and I know you want something as well, I can help you”

“You don’t know that” he sneered

“What do you want then, and I shall know” I retort, Eris leans even closer to me, in almost a whisper he says “to be high lord”. 

I scoff, “That’s all, I can do that all you want is power, we are similar in our goals”, 

“Then we shall join in a common goal, be my wife” His grip loosens on my arms, leaning his head back to still an improper distance.

“Cauldron Eris, what a way to propose, why not take me on a date first”

“With you as my wife, you can have all the power you want, I will give you what you need, you’ll never be in want, and when you agree, you will help me become the high lord”

He is playing to my greed, I’ve admitted my deepest wants to this man, wants I barely admit to myself. I know he wants an answer now, I can’t deflect, the look in his eye betrays his facial expression, his wants are obvious. 

“Fine” I say, looking him in the eye, “I expect a proper courting, if you want my court to believe the farce is real”

“Nothing but the best for you” He said, a phrase seeming romantic poisoned by his tone. “And what of your mate, it seems like the night Court has nothing but luck in finding that rare connection, I don’t want to end up like a certain Lord of Spring”, Eris said 

“There is no need for worry, my mate is, he… he is no longer here”, I say “He won’t be an issue anymore”

Realization floods Eris’ face “that man, the one during the war, that was him wasn’t he” my silence answers his question “I am truly sorry”.

“It was centuries ago, you didn’t kill him, but you should have left me as I was” I say dismissively. 

“I saved your life, you should be grateful” Eris said raising his tone

“I didn’t want to be saved!” I yell back, a heavy tightness filled in my chest I take a deep breath in “Forget it, what am I to expect from being a wife to you” sensing my discomfort he said “Well, you’d be expected to act in a proper fashion, although I won’t judge you if you take a lover or two, others might so a word of warning if you do, I’ll stay loyal if you were wondering, a bastard isn’t going to help me for being the High Lord” Eris stated like he was going off a list he had gone over in his head a thousand times. 

“Then I should warn you, as soon as we go out there, make what this is public, my family will try to harm you, threaten you. You cannot give in, you must not give in” I say deathly seriously. 

He smirks,“Deal, How ‘bout round 2” he presents his hand as he takes a step away from me maintaining the guise of propriety.

We dance for hours, Although it feels as though my feet have been bled raw from the motions. Our faces, close enough to kiss, one hand low on my hip the other high up on my back, this performance is different from any I’ve performed before, they used to be about malice and distrust, this was… freeing, the dance felt right, Eris felt right, Dancing with Eris felt perfect, we understood each other, Eris took the lead in the beginning, then I took over, It was seamless switch, making the performance look even more believable. 

As the ball starts to wind down, I break free from Eris’s hold. 

“That was a nice first date, until we meet again Eris,” I say, he leans down and kisses my hand, not looking away from my eyes.

“I will come for you soon, dear”, and we split, I returned to the dias I left hours ago and he winnowing away back to his Court. 

“Your High Lord wishes to speak to you”, said Azriel. Ah I see. Your High Lord, a reminder of where my loyalty is supposed to lie, all formal, I’m in trouble, but I can’t find a reason to care. 

~

“What do you think you were doing”, said Rhysand cooly

“And to what are referring to Rhys” 

“You know exactly what I am referring to, your dancing with the enemy”

“And here I thought that you and Eris were on the same side”

“Not if he is flirting with my little sister”

“I’m not a child anymore Rhys, I can do what I want”

“I want to keep you safe”

“Safe from what, you can’t keep me in this court forever”

“I want what is best for you”

“Then trust me to make my own decisions, I know what I am doing, I know the ramifications of my actions. It was just a dance, there was nothing to it”

He laughs “Just a dance, you dance once, disappear for a few minutes with him, then dance for the rest of the evening. I think that is more than a just a dance” he pauses for a moment “we could use this, if you could seduce him”

“No. Enough. I won’t do that, I won’t be your pawn in the game of politics.” I say, turning my back to him,  leaving the room, I am not dismissed, this is a slight to Rhys power.

I am getting tired of the showboating my brother does even when there is no court dignitary or audience for him but friends. The hierarchy of the Inner Circle is tiring, every one of them vying for the High Lords attention, for his admiration. Everything is a show but I am tired of this farce, and I need a new one. 

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Chapter 3

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation, slow burn

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter Summary: A Ball for Feyre's birthday, where the two leads dance around what they want

a/n: This was the chapter I thought up first and built the story around it

last part, next part

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When I entered the room I knew that my apprehension towards tonight was wrong. Not that I was looking forward to the pleasantries given to other gentry of the court, But Eris Vanserra was in attendance. 

The Hall falls silent as the High Lord and High Lady rise from their thrones. All eyes were on the dias, on the Lord and Lady of the Court, no one was looking at Nesta, Elain, Cassian or Me, despite standing next to them. Well further behind them, the thrones were situated near the front of the dias, and we were standing near the back, Me and Elain on one side and Nesta and Cassian on the other. 

“Thank you all for coming, the efforts put into tonight have not been for nothing, drink, dance, celebrate, all in honor of my darling wife Feyre” Rhys spoke to the room, his power radiating from his voice, and with a nod to the musicians the music began, couple pairing off to begin the first dance of a long evening, The High Lord and Lady walk of the dias to the middle of the dance floor along with Nesta and Cassian, Elain heads to the banquet table to grab a glass of wine and wait for a partner to whisk her away to the dance floor, Azriel never made an official appearance but instead was slinking around the room searching for anything of note to the High Lord. 

I remain at the dias surveying the room, making sure everything is going well. Although it is Feyre’s party, I feel like it is also mine, not in my honor, but I’ve put hours into this and I need it to go well. A flash of auburn hair catches my eye, no, it is too early to meet him tonight. I need him to want, to need, to need to take me away. I can only hope that tonight will end well for me. 

The Ball passes by quickly, fast dances warp to slow dances and back again. Once I was sure that the ball wasn’t going to fall into a tragedy, I move from the dias, nodding to the Feyre who had made her way to sit on her throne. I lean against a wall, on the edge of the dance floor, grabbing a glass of wine from a servant’s tray. I search the crowd for Eris, he is still in attendance, good, I look at the side of his face, his jawline is as sharp as his smile. He’s laughing with someone, I wonder what his laugh sounds like. It is curt and short, loud and hearty, polite and reserved. I long to know what it sounds like.

“May I do you the honor of this dance my lady” said Eris startling me, his hand open in suggestion. I was lost in thought, the words catching me off guard, I hadn't even noticed Eris walk toward me, I’m losing my touch. Plastering a smile on my face. 

“Why, of course”, I take his outstretched hand, letting him lead me into the middle of the dance floor, We take our places, 3 paces away from each other, Eris bows and I curtsy, the music begins, it is a slow romantic melody,

“Eris, did you pick the dance on purpose?”, I say, leaning into him as I am held in his arms,

“Now how would I have control over the music, didn’t you plan this whole night. You did splendidly my dear” he says, I blush at his compliment, Cauldron this is embarrassing, one compliment and I am blushing like a teenager again. It has been a while since someone has complimented my efforts, it's probably just that, I refuse to think too deeply into this. 

I am spun out then back into his chest, my back to his front, now that I am not looking at Eris I can see Azriel, he is standing arms crossed and glaring at us. I am spun, my hand held in the air by Eris, until I am standing across from him again. His eyes look at me filled with lust. His hands are warm, even in the Night Court at true night, his body is radiating warmth, I feel the need to lean into him, to chase the warmth, to catch it and never let it go. 

I am forced to pull away from him as the song dictates, dancing in a circle with another partner, I don’t know who I am now dancing with, they don’t matter. The few seconds seem like an hour until I am back in his arms

“Have I told you how hideous you look in black” said Eris

“I’ve worn black for the past few centuries, why comment now, is my dress that reprehensible” I say

“Oh, no, I oft think you would suit the colors of Autumn” pondered Eris

“How bold lordling, is that a proposition?” I say glancing at his lips not trying to hide it.

Eris’s face moves towards me, for a moment I think he is going to kiss me, but he moves to my ear

“Follow me, my lady” said Eris, his words low in such a tone where I knew I could never say no. 

He leads me off the dance floor, moving us onto an adjacent balcony, the cool breeze hits me playing with the bottom dress. Eris pushes me against the wall we are out of sight of the party but all seduction leaves his eyes as he says

“You can drop the act, your making a fool of yourself”

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Chapter 2

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter Summary: snippets of time over the next 500 years

a/n: so this is a longer one, but bear with me on this one. I know that Mor’s backstory was before the wall was made but ignore that for the plot. For the high lords summet I was just imagining PMQs (Prime Minister Questions) if you are in the UK you’ve probably heard of them. I have put a Great Comet reference in there. If you can find it, I'll give you a cookie.

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6 months after the war

Something was wrong when I awoke at 3am, Azriel had flown to my balcony and forcefully woken me up, my eyes bleary. 

“Come quick, meet in the main hall”. Yelled Azriel, my vision coming clear and he was already gone. I grab a robe to cover myself and leave my room. 

I’m half way down the great stairs to the foyer, eyes already adjusting to the darkness, when I see her. 

Mor, my cousin, looking as if she crawled her way halfway across Prythian. There are stab wounds that are trying to heal themselves yet are struggling, her dress is thin and muddy, the look in her eyes is one of a prey animal. I know that this is not the Mor, she would have wanted anyone to see, the carefully made mask ripped from her as the nails that ripped through her lower abdomen. 

“Mor!”, I sob, running towards her, taking the robe from me and wrapping it around her crumpled body, her shoulders hung low, she isn’t crying, her face is blank, not all the way here. 

The Men standing around the scene are surveying us closely, Azriel stands next to his brothers arms crossed, the three of them look like the Judge, Jury and Executioner of Mor’s fate, they are still and not moving, 

“Take her to her chambers”, stated Rhys in a blank expression, I knew it was directed towards me. I position Mor so she can put her weight on me and rise, with a curt nod towards my High Lord, I stagger with Mor by my side up the stairs, when I’m nearing the top I can make out the conversation below in snippets

“Keir thought–”

“Cassian what–”

“-was in autumn–”

“That bastard–”

I take Mor to my chambers, where she normally stays is farther from the foyer than mine. I lead her to the bed and lie her down, taking her soiled shoes off and covering her in a blanket. As soon as her head hits the pillow she closes her eyes. I thought that she might have died until the soft lowering and rising from her chest. With Mor asleep and not at risk of collapsing in on herself I take my time examining her stomach, pus surrounds the gash, I grab a water basin and a rag. I gently dab at the wound, when the wet rag touches the open skin I feel Mor flinch but didn’t wake up. I gently clean up the gash, the healing looks much better now it's clean, it doesn’t look as messy which is good. It might scar but you can never be sure. The pus is a good sign, she still is fighting whatever infection is still inside her. 

I don’t leave her side, I stay awake, waiting for the worst, for the rise and fall to stop, but it doesn’t, she’s still alive in the morning. Thank the Mother. 

64 years after the war

The High Lords Summet, another performance. Everyone dresses up and pretends to be civil with each other even though half of the attendees want to kill each other and the other want to fuck the other. When you are basically immortal these yearly gatherings always are filled with drama in our otherwise dreary lives. Without this summet the continent would be a much darker place of endless war and strife. It’s fun to sit and watch the members squirm in their seats as the imposed politeness of centuries past remains with the High Lords and their allies use cleverly worded language to get around the insults they throw at each other. 

Nothing ever gets truly done, if anything the opposite happens. 

With the War over the relative peace is wavering as a power vacuum is left, the unity that led to the fey win has split as fast as it was formed, which is to mean slowly yet sudden. There will be talk of a danger to the West with Hybern but nothing will be decided. 

Of course the Night Court is masking our true intentions as well as a good 1/3rd of the court's existence. I’ve perfected a natural sneer, it feels normal to wear, no one wishes to approach you if you look like you hate their existence, But no one would approach me other than a power grab for the Night Court. 

Beron and Helios are ‘arguing’ over Cauldron knows what, the eldest Autumn son catches my eye, he is looking at me with a confused expression, I don’t drop my gaze, I am tired of being perceived weak, The confusion warps to a seductive smirk. I drop my sneer, raising an eyebrow at him in question. 

He has never looked at me this way before, I started attending these events a few dozen years ago, and only after the war ended. I have seen the heir occasionally throughout my life, never paying much attention but with the look in his eye I am frightened. 

200 years after the war

I made up my mind. Well I did 136 years ago, but I never let myself truly believe this will become my future. Since the High Lord Summet I always knew in the back of my mind that Eris Vanserra would make the perfect companion, a chance to leave my crushing depression behind, a new environment. His gaze rarely leaves mine when in the same room. 

Rhysand wasn’t happy, Azriel ever the watchful eye snitched when he saw Eris try to approach me when he came to visit Velaris. I was told to stay away from the Vanserra, for my own safety, to never lead on his advances. I didn’t heed the warning. 

450 years after the war

This is stupid, I should have stayed in Velaris, It isn’t safe here, yet I am compelled to be here. 

I am making no attempt to hide my entry, the entrance was unguarded,  like a venus fly trap waiting until the fly gets deep enough inside before ensnaring it, devouring it alive. 

The dark gray rocks, jagged like they were cut recently, have not formed after years of erosion and nature. It is a disgusting recreation at Hewn City, there is nothing real about this place, all artificial. 

Voices ahead of the path get louder as I draw near, I can hear a commanding woman, her voice shrill, echoing down the tunnel, I hear the murmuring of a crowd, in response. 

Entering the room from the back, I walk out, pushing through the mass of courtesans from all seven courts. 

I stand before the queen on the stone throne, she has deep red hair, a black crown dressed in a low cut black dress, wearing the guise of power. She frowns at me 

“Were you trying to hide someone from me Rhysand, you know what would happen if you tried something of this kind”

“I had no intention to hide anyone, I just never mentioned it, you never asked” Rhysand said calmly. Amarantha wheeled at him breaking her gaze at me

“Don’t you lie to my Rhys” She says with her hand cupping his cheek. I know my brother, the look of love he gives Amarantha, is not true love, with a look like that he could make anyone believe he was their mate from one look in his eyes. 

“I am not lying, just don’t hurt my sister”, he pleaded. 

500 years after the war

Lucien was being idiotic, perhaps it was the 50 years in Spring that made him weak to authority, I doubt less than a year in Spring was enough to build a unwavering loyalty to the human alone, it was probably the unyielding loyalty to Tamlin, it truly is a shame, he was one of the nicer Autumn royals, he is going to die. That is as clear as day, I am watching as Amarantha is whipping Lucien, each lash leaves a resounding echo in the hall, it pierces my ears, Lucien slighted Amarantha, broke a unspoken rule, I can’t look away, I want to but I can’t. 

In a room with all eyes on the kneeling man, I can feel a burning stare into my head. 

I look up.

Eris. You would think that with his brother getting beat he would be focused on that, but he was looking at me, were across from each other, the scene splitting us, Eris is looking at me, I can’t decipher his expression. 

500 years after the war

This is wrong, my brother, someone who is forced to be a whore for Amarantha, making the poor human dress and dance like this. I am surprised Amarantha has allowed this to continue, the first two of the trials have been completed. I know that she is dragging out the time between them but it has been 2 months since the last, and every night we party, perhaps the only fun we will ever have. Rhysand has forced this girl to dance on him, Amarantha doesn’t like to share. It's disgusting. The poor girl can’t dance that well either. It truly is pitiful. 

I realize I’ve been staring at them for far too long, looking away I feel a figure stand beside me, I’d not noticed before, but they must have been there awhile

“And here I thought the Night Court was better than this” said the man, I glace at him, seeing the Autumn Court Heir.

“And what gave you that perception Lordling”

“I met you, Surely, I thought, a beauty like you could not survive such a evil environment”

“You thought wrong Vanserra” I say, with the bitterness I struggle to conceal. 

“My dear, what have I done now,” he said moving in front of me, blocking my view of the Amarantha’s whore and his harlot. We're so close together now, I can feel his breath on my face, as he peers down at me waiting for a retort. 

I meet his gaze, moving slowly closer, glance down at his lips. When he moves in, I back off, moving farther back then before, a modest 2 feet between us, something that would have been considered proper if not for what happened moments before. 

“Excuse me my lord, I need to rest for a moment”, I say. I turn my back to him and make my way to the chambers, he doesn’t follow. 

501 years after the war

The curse breaker's wedding is in two hours, Rhysand has not shut up about her since we returned to Velaris, he’s acting like he is 100 again, a poor little school boy with a crush.

The news of the Wedding reached the Night Court last week, not an invite, just the announcement, It could be seen as a slight but considering how Tamlin and Rhysand hate each other, an invite wasn’t expected, The announcement had unnerved the high lord, currently he is pacing around the war room, waiting to build up the nerve to fulfill the deal made 3 months ago. 

“There’s no way for you to stop this” said Mor “she loves Tamlin, her love was shown in front of all the High Lords, it is that love for which she is alive right now”

“If you feel that strongly, object to the wedding, make the bond known to her”, I said

Rhysand’s pacing slowed.

“Why don’t you just speak to her, you could have taken her any time over the past few months, told her then, you still have two hours until the ceremony starts,” I snip. 

“No, as much as I can feel her suffocating spiral, in her mind all she is saying is that she must marry him, and if that is her choice, I must follow it, no matter how much it pains me” said Rhys taking a seat in on a couch

“Marriage is not the end, she is now fey, divorce is an option, The Spring isn’t that strict on women regardless” Mor states “she must fulfill her end of the deal, eventually”. 

506 years after the war

There is to be a massive celebration for the birthday of the High Lady, A week of revelry ending in a ball with members of other Courts in attendance, Feyre’s birthday shall be the day before with an intimate get together of the circle. 

Large groups of people aren’t my favorite thing in the world, spending the day surrounded by the inner circle. That is what I truly dread.

Preparations are being made, I’m in charge as the sister to the High Lord with a wife there is little for me to do other than plan social events and tend to the house all in the assistance for the High Lady, A glorified ladies maid. Despite my resentment I think the ball will turn out spendley, as long as certain members invited can keep the dick measuring contest to a minimum. 

“Are you alright” said Elain leaning into my view “You’ve been zoned out for quite some time”

“Oh, It’s nothing, just going over the plan for tomorrow evening” I state in a blasé tone. 

“Enough of that, it is a time for celebration, you’ve spend so much time on this you need to enjoy it before the next one comes around” says Elain

“I’m sure you’ll have fun, it’s like your glued to the dance floor”

“If you danced you would understand, we are in Velaris I’m sure if you asked someone they would accept” said Elain, she held my hands in hers, hand covering mine, a sympathetic look in her eye.

“I haven’t danced in many centuries, you don’t know why, so I forgive you but I won’t dance with just anyone”

[roznnreads]

hey this is going to sound insane but did you post a part of chosen not fated a few days ago? because i feel like i remember seeing it under the eris vanserra tag (which i may or may not check compulsively) but then i couldn’t find it and it’s been bugging me since but i saw your post just now and thought i’d ask?? very excited to read, thank you for sharing your work!!

Thank you for reading my work. I did post a part a few days ago, I've been thinking of this story for quite some time and word vomited the first 2 parts fairly quickly. Hope you enjoy the story

I also check the eris vanserra tag almost daily

[roznnreads]

masterlist

my ao3 account (all fics need an account to read so ai can’t steal it as easily)

ACOTAR

Chosen not Fated Eris x Fem!Reader

prologue, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 (15 planned)

What if the High Lords didn't revive Rhysand

The Beast Within (Tamlin x Beron)

Star Wars

CodyWan week 2024

The Hunger Games

She Likes a Boy

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Wedding Guest

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Chapter 1

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter Summary: After the battle is won the depression hits

a/n: writing this instead of uni coursework

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The Inner Circle keeps to themselves. They are a reclusive group that rarely allows new people into their lives, let alone into their hearts. 

But even within the Inner Circle I felt separate, They found companionship with each other. My Brother, Azriel, Cassian and Amern, They could rely on each other,  yet here I am sitting at the dinner table in silence eating my food, surrounded by the loud illyrians. My mate, although brought into the circle through me, was suited to them better than I ever was. 

The war was won, the humans were pushed back to their land and a barrier was created, keeping the faerie and human races separate forever. Treaties forged and signed, a promise for peace that should last centuries

I should be celebrating, I should be happy. I am empty. My soul has been torn in two. We were to be married after the War was won, we were waiting for peace, for a chance to breathe, to make our love a celebration of being alive, of seeing another day. If he was here I would have someone to talk to at dinner, to make it seem like I am just like them.

“Do you think the treaty will last?” said Amren piercing through the noise

“I hope so, If anything it will last through many human lives so they won’t have the same knowledge as they do now, for us anything is possible.” replied Rhysand

“So we are never going to be done with war,” I say quietly, my throat hurts from the crying. 

“We are immortal, war comes with the the price of life”, Rhys sighed “I can’t know what you are going through, but I am truly sorry, but there is nothing that can be done”

My chair scraped against the floor, I stood abruptly.

“Excuse me”, I state, leaving the dinner hall. I walk slowly out of the room with careful consideration, once out of sight of the circle I run down the hall, to my chambers.

The large room full of ornate furniture and sweeping bookshelves was situated high above the city of Velaris, a darling view. All I can see is memories of my love, from the books he had gifted me, to his side of the bed that was left unmade. 

I can’t bare to sleep in the bed without him, to smell him and know that he will never lie his head on the pillow and hold me as I fall asleep. 

I wish I could fly, to gasp the cool fresh air, to feel nothing around me. To get away from it all.I walk towards the balcony’s edge grasping the fence. If I jumped from the balcony right now I would not feel the air pick me up, only the hard ground would find me. Maybe that would be the better outcome, to join him.

No. 

If I am to join him it shall be by another's hand, just like he was. In battle would be nice, then for certain I could be with him in whatever afterlife awaits us, me. 

Perhaps we don’t have an afterlife, what would be another eternity, would it be like our lives now, maybe this is the afterlife, where one lives forever and to die in battle grants you a new one. 

I lie in our… my bed. I clutch the bedsheets that would hold him, they’ve gone cold from disuse. I can’t cry, I have no more tears left in me. 

I need a purpose, I need something to spend my days, a distraction. It would feel wrong to find a lover to occupy my days, knowing my one love is gone. Maybe a friend perhaps, to share thoughts and opinions, to visit - on occasion.

A friend. I need someone not of this court. Someone who cannot be bought out or manipulated by the circle, someone who could not be persuaded to report back to Rhysand about our dalliances, someone powerful. 

[roznnreads]

Chosen not Fated Prologue

Eris x Fem!Reader

Tags: marriage of convenience, rhysand slander, depression, suicidal ideation

Summary: Tired of a life in the shadow among the inner circle, Rhysand’s younger sister decides to take her life into her own hands and makes a desperate grab for power.

Chapter: During the war against humans

a/n: I have only read the first 2 ACOTAR books so apologies in advance for any inaccuracies. Tags will be updated as I progress the story. I do not own ACOTAR, or any of the related characters. ACOTAR is created by Sarah J Maas. This is just for fun!

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Dust swirls in the air as the clash of swords surround me. Smoke fills in the air causing my throat to feel tight. I move my way through the suffocating mass defecting weapons absentmindedly.

I need to get to him.

I can feel him.

I can feel him dying.

I reach him but a moment too late as I see a ashwood arrow fly into his arrow ridden chest through his heart, my soul rips open with his as he collapses to the ground. 

I clutch him in my arms, holding close not wanting to let him go.

“My love… please”, he gasps as blood begins to pool in his mouth, spilling down his beautiful face.

He looks so tragic. Like a fallen angel. I cup his face with my hands rubbing soothing circles onto his cheeks

I know the moment his heart stopped. There was nothing I could do. Just hold him. Hold him and wait. 

Wait for another arrow to rip through me and then I can join him, wherever we will end up. 

I see it, an arrow flying true. I doubt that whoever shot it thinks they're shooting someone who wants it. It’s coming closer. I look at my mate. I want nothing more than my final look to be his face. 

I was expecting a sharp pain, some quick death, nothing too tortuous. Heat came instead. A warm sensation. This wasn’t death. I whip my neck around to see a man with short auburn hair, arm outstretched, piles of ash and bones carve a path to him. And in a instant I’ve lost him in the crowd of people 

He had done this. He had stopped my salvation. I despise him for this.