#//🍎 light answers

[neigepomme]

˙ ✩°˖ ✈️ cute guy next door / caleb x reader

synopsis; you're woken up by your new neighbor moving in loud as hell on a saturday morning, but upon seeing his face, maybe you aren't that mad anymore.

🍎 pomme's notes — pushing my mark lee caleb agenda and experimenting because i have not written a series in a while but i think caleb boy next door/uni crush? the greatest thing ever. LET ME HAVE HIM

⋆ 700 words / fluff / fem reader / uni au (no evol!) / 2nd person

it was saturday early morning when you were brutally woken up by loud steps coming from the apartment next door.

god, your head was ringing. you had two ethics finals yesterday, and you couldn't even rest because your manager needed you to come in for a late night shift. today was supposed to be a sleeping-in kind of day, waking up at 12 or something — but instead, here you were, forced to listen to the steps of several movers at 7am on a saturday.

rough weekend start.

draping yourself in a cozy hoodie, you head out to check out all this commotion and provide your new neighbor with some strongly worded opinions about making so much noise on a weekend. when you swing your door open, though, you're met with resistance and a groan.

great. you just hit your stupidly loud new neighbor in the face with your damn door.

“oh my god, are you okay?? i'm so sorry!”

hands outstretched in the direction of the tall brunette in front of you, he peers at you with quite possibly the most gorgeous eyes you've ever seen. he waves you off with a bright smile, his hand still rubbing his reddening nose.

“all good, don't worry. i wanted to say hi and apologize for the noise — i'm caleb, your new neighbor.”

and man, was caleb a hottie.

clad in a sleeveless tank top and black sweatpants, you had to hold yourself back from ogling the guy you desperately wanted to tell off this morning. sweat trickled down his muscled arms from carrying boxes into his new place, and what a delightful sight it was. in his hands was a small glass container, which he handed over to you, and before you can even ask what's in it, you're interrupted.

"braised chicken wings. as an apology for all the noise," he laughs (and what a cute laugh it was, you think), “my specialty. hopefully, you aren't allergic?”

“no, no allergies at all. thank you, caleb.”

his name rolled off your tongue so nicely. you really needed to get to know him soon. maybe he attended the same uni you did? leaning against your doorframe, you look into his eyes again, and you thought the "getting lost in one's eyes" pickup line was a gross exaggeration until you met him. it's as if a million sunsets took place within his irises, and the way they'd close a bit when he smiled? was this love at first sight? after introducing yourself to him, you ask the question (to which you pray the answer is yes).

“are you here to attend skyhaven university? this place is pretty close, that's why i chose it.”

caleb gives you a nod, his face lighting up when you mentioned it. 

“yeah, aerospace engineering major! i transferred from linkon uni. will i see you around?”

oh my god, he's cute, he knows how to cook, AND he's smart. yep, you were definitely going to get closer to him — even if it's just as friends. the sight of that face was going to help you not end it all when your philosophy professor assigned you a horrible team for your group projects.

“mhmm, i'm a humanities major. pretty sure the departments are pretty close by, so we'll definitely see each other around!”

while you two talked, the movers were getting close to finishing the job. they glanced at caleb and motioned for him to come check if anything was missing — your conversation had to be cut short. he turns to you before stepping away, and he ends up being the one asking the question lingering on the tip of your tongue.

“can i have your number, dear neighbor? since we'll be seeing each other a bunch in the next few months.”

and with your number on his phone, you return to your bed, a wide grin on your face, your day significantly better than how it started. caleb was about to be the highlight of your uni experience.

— secretly, caleb was also looking forward to seeing you around. a pretty girl as his neighbor instead of an old man, and you attended the same place? he'd have to 'run out of sugar' soon and knock on your door again.

🍎 pomme's final notes — think of this as an appetizer.. i need to figure out a plot soon but i needed to put this idea out in the world before i fell asleep and lost it LOL

[jadeshifting]

🍒 — FRUIT ASK GAME

( reblog … send a fruit … get an answer !! what will the fruit oracle tell you about other realities hmm )

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— 🍋 TERRIBLY SOUR LEMON … who’s your least favorite person in your DR? a poisonous ex, a toxic professor—maybe someone who tried to straight up murder you. who do you truly go sour in the face at the thought of?

— 🍎 SHINY RED APPLE … what are you the absolute best at in your DR? the thing that, when people need help with it, they let out the most gigantic sigh of relief when you walk in the room—everyone knows you do it best

— 🍓 SUGAR SWEET STRAWBERRY … what’s the most romantic, sugar-sweet moment you’ve had or will have in your DR? something so terrifically soft and perfect it could’ve come straight from a wild strawberry patch

— 🍆 DEEP UMBER EGGPLANT … what’s the most thrilling fantasy you have about your lover in your DR? no information is too much or too little, it’s all according to your comfort—a midnight rendezvous, a sudden vacation for two, or maybe just a night in with one-or-two extra glasses of wine and hanging out :)

— 🥝 FUZZY BURST KIWI … what’s something about you in your DR that people wouldn’t expect to be true? it doesn’t quite line up, some fabulous detail about you. when people find out, they’re positively shocked

— 🥭 TROPICAL LUSH MANGO … what adds the most dynamic, vibrant color to your DR? a person, a place, an activity, a part of your identity—its presence lights up your existence there like sun rays on a blank canvas

— 🍏 CRISP GREEN APPLE … what’s a memory from your childhood in your DR that stands out amongst the others? the edges of the picture are crisp, it may not be particularly good or bad—but intricately memorable

— 🍈 HONEY BLISS CANTALOUPE … what’s your favorite season in your DR? do you enjoy sun-drenched summers, an exhilarating back to school time in autumn, or perhaps some particularly festive Christmas traditions that make the wintertime special?

— 🍒 BLOODRED CHERRIES … what is your biggest fear in your DR? you don’t have to get deep if you don’t wanna—it can be as small and horrifying as a spider or the dark. something that truly rattles you to your bones

— 🥑 EARTHY AVOCADO … what’s the most comforting part of your daily routine in your DR? it’s grounding—something that no matter where you are or what you have going on, will always give you reprise and solace

— 🫐 DEWY BLUEBERRIES … what’s your comfort meal or dessert in your DR? maybe it’s something your parents make for you, something you order from room service while you’re reclined in a hotel room, or something simple you prepare for yourself—it makes you feel better the second you sink your teeth into i

— 🍑 OVERRIPE PEACH … what kind of a future do you imagine for yourself in your DR? white picket fence material, with marriage and a couple kids? perhaps childless but continuing on your adventures til old age, or all of the above?

— 🍌 SUNNY BANANA … what’s a piece of art, literature or music that truly moved you in your DR? perhaps something that shaped your identity, something that you enjoy for purely academic reasons, or just your favorite

— 🍅 SCARLET TOMATO … what’s the juiciest secret you’ve ever kept or will keep in your DR? the kind of scandalous thing that would positively burst into drama if revealed

— 🥥 SUN-KISSED COCONUT … what would your ideal vacation be in your DR? a tropical getaway, with white sand and bungalows? a secluded retreat into the foggy mountains? where would you go, and who would you bring with you?

— 🍉 JUICY WATERMELON … what’s your favorite thing about your lover in your DR? the way they smell like home, how they make your chest hurt with laughter, how they take care of you. maybe the way their hair falls in their face just so

— 🍍 SPIKY BOLD PINEAPPLE … if your life in your DR had a color palette, what would it look like? perhaps pastels, or a range of jewel tones? maybe a collection of shades that seem totally random, but that make perfect sense just to you

— 🍐 MELLOW PEAR … what’s a dream or goal you’re pursuing in your DR? it could be as small as reading more often, or going out with your friends more, or as large as saving the entire cosmic universe. whatever you’re working towards!

— 🍇 TART PURPLE GRAPES … if you could bottle the scent of your favorite memories in your DR, what would the notes be? base notes of parchment and ink for your academic pursuits? middle notes of jasmine and rose petals for a lover you hold close to your heart? perhaps top notes of sea salt and sand for a place you find solace in?

— 🍊 SUNSET CITRUS ORANGE … what’s your favorite kind of outing to go on in your DR, with your friends, family, or your partner? whether it’s a classy art gallery, a carefree rocky beach, or an urban jaunt to the mall, you know you’ll have a good time every time

— 🍋‍🟩 ZESTY SOUR LIME … do you have any scars in your DR? a little mark on your knee from a childhood mishap on a scooter, or some gigantic mark left as proof of your world-saving tendencies—one that tells a story, big or small

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[deathdetermineslife]

100 this or that selfship questions !

answer these however u want ! I'll keep most of em vague so you can have freedom to interpret however youd like ! :) remember to practice reblog karma !!!! and since there's so many, send a handful to whoever you send asks to :)

🎉 - big celebrations or small gatherings ?

🎊 - parties or alone time ?

🎈 - circus date or musical date ?

🎂 - home baking or going to a bakery ?

🎀 - casual or fancy ?

🎁 - expensive gifts or homemade gifts ?

🎇 - bonfires or cook outs ?

🎆 - fireworks or fairs ?

🧨 - play fighting or play arguments ?

🪩 - dancing or singing ?

💐 - bouquets or chocolates ?

🌹 - home grown flowers or store bought ?

🥀 - selfship hurt/comfort or selfship hurt/no comfort ?

🌺 - pomegranate metaphors or dog metaphors ?

🌷 - butterfly coded or moth coded ?

🪷 - info dumping or listening ?

🌸 - cats or dogs ?

💮 - writing and history or science and math ?

🏵️ - ball of sunshine x dark and brooding or silly goofy x always serious

🪻 - selfship art or selfship fics ?

🍓 - fruits or veggies ?

🍒 - sweet or savory ?

🍎 - cooking or buying out ?

🍅 - breakfast or dinner or dinner for breakfast ?

🌶️ - spicy or mild ?

🍉 - summer or spring ?

🍑 - muffins or cupcakes ?

🥭 - coffee or tea ?

🥕 - share a milkshake or share a sundae ?

🥭 - diner date or fancy restaurant ?

🦭 - touch tank or petting zoo ?

🦈 - sharks or seals ?

🐬 - ocean or space ?

🐟 - aquatic pet or non aquatic pet ?

🦐 - seafood or steak ?

🦑 - be able to breathe underwater or fly ?

🐙 - jewelry as gifts or stuffed animals as gifts ?

�� - aquarium date or zoo date ?

🦪 - pearls or diamonds ?

🪸 - sea shells as gifts or rocks as gifts ?

🌱 - planting veggies or planting flowers ?

🌿 - best dressed or casual attire ?

☘️ - lucky or unlucky ?

🪴 - fake plants or real plants ?

🌵 - yo momma jokes or deez nuts jokes ?

🌴 - road trip or cruise ?

🌳 - day in the park or day in the woods ?

🌲 - big city or countryside ?

🪵 - carving your initials into wood or putting a lock on the love lock bridge ?

🪺 - funny movies or scary movies ?

🎨 - painting date or pottery date ?

🫟 - making mementos or making memories ?

🖌️ - history museum date or art museum date ?

🖍️ - have a fandom for your selfship in universe or being a rarepair ?

🪡 - fixing things or buying new ones ?

🧵 - hotdog is a sandwich or cereal is a soup ?

🧶 - hand made blanket or hand made sweater ?

🎮 - unlimited bacon but no more video games or games, unlimited games, but no more games ?

📷 - photos or memories ?

🎲 - video games or table top games ?

🎹 - hand written poems or love songs ?

🎷 - have a popular fan song for your selfship or have a popular fanfic for your selfship ?

🎸 - selfship playlist or selfship theme song ?

🎺 - listen to music online or live ?

🪕 - movies or tv shows ?

🎻 - instrumental music or lyrics ?

🪉 - opera or concert ?

🥁 - fairs or festivals ?

🪈 - plays or musicals ?

🎧 - loud music or soft music ?

💫 - gold or silver ?

⭐ - stargazing or birdwatching ?

🌟 - fate or coincidence ?

✨ - ghosts or monsters ?

⚡ - be feared or be loved ?

🌞 - sunset or sunrise ?

🌛 - night owl or early bird ?

🌚 - scary stories or myths ?

🌕 - sun coded or moon coded ?

☄️ - meteor shower or eclipse ?

🌈 - light or dark ?

🫧 - baths or showers ?

🌊 - beach trip or mountain trip ?

🔥 - hot weather or cold weather ?

🌪️ - wind storms or hail storms ?

🌧️ - thunderstorms or snowstorms ?

💧 - sunshine or rain ?

⛄ - snow men or snow angels ?

❄️ - snow or rain ?

⛅ - peaceful walks or hikes ?

❤️ - big spoon or little spoon ?

🧡 - introvert or extrovert ?

💛 - physical affection or words of affection ?

💚 - day in or adventuring ?

💙 - acts of service or gift giving ?

💜 - silly nicknames or serious nicknames ?

🖤 - biting your f/o or being bitten ?

🤍 - wedding or no wedding ?

🩷 - only be able to give kisses or only be able to give hugs ?

🩵 - getting compliments or giving compliments ?

I tried to make all the emojis correlate but. you know . 100 questions . n all that . okay hope u like bye bye !!!!

[huxhsz]

🍎 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ the most optimal way to hug

— synopsis: it's too hot, but you want to keep hugging caleb. luckily, you know the most optimal way to hug.

— note/s: literal na lutong-luto na ako. para akong nilagay sa kalan tapos tinakpan ng takip. di na nga air fryer to bro sunog-levels na. i JUST stepped outside for five minutes and i swear i felt my soul leaving my body. yung electric fan? useless. parang lang siyang sinampal ako ng mainit na hangin. "oh gusto mo ba ng hangin? o eto, lasang impyerno!!" braah ang init talaga gr LIKE BRO. I STEPPED on this innocent-looking banig sa sementeryo as in, "oh wow, ganda ng view, tahimik dito, imissyoulolo" TAPOS BIGLANG BLAZING CIRCLE OF PAIN. BAKIT PARANG I NAPAKO SA KRUS NG KALDERETA??? barefoot ako syempre respectfullll. tapos BOOM. pag-apak ko, kinuyog ako ng init. hindi ako nakiramay AKO 'yung nilibing. pinadala ako ni banig sa kabilang buhay. BRO I LOOKED AT THE SKY LIKE "lord, si lolo po yung dinalaw ko, bakit ako yung sinusundo?" and syempre, pinilit kong hindi mag-react in front of my fam like, "hmm yes, solemn moment, deep thoughts" rest in peace sa talampakan ko. kasama ka na kay lolo.

the room is quiet, the kind of quiet that feels deep and comfortable, like everything is perfectly in place. the air conditioning hums softly in the corner, providing a steady coolness that contrasts with the warmth of the blankets. you roll onto your side, eyes squinting at the ceiling as you try to get comfortable. the heat from the covers is way too much. you can feel your body starting to overheat, but you’re not quite ready to let go of the cocoon of warmth either.

caleb's already in his own little world next to you. his back is to you, his chest rising and falling in slow, rhythmic breaths. the dim glow from the nightlight illuminates his silhouette. his arm is thrown across his face, shielding his eyes from the soft light.

you lie there, thinking about it for a moment. you really do want to cuddle—just not the typical way. you need to be close, but you can’t handle the heat of your arms all tangled up with his. it’s like having a personal heater shoved right into your side.

so, without much thought, you turn to face him, adjusting the blanket and maneuvering to settle your legs around his body, one leg draping over his waist, the other over his thigh. it's a bit of a sideways hug, your legs winding around him like a gentle vine. you nestle your head into the pillow, satisfied with your makeshift solution.

you can’t help but feel a little pleased with yourself. this is perfect. cold, but still hugging.

you hear caleb shift, and you peek up at him through half-lidded eyes, watching as he slowly pulls his arm from his face, blinking sleepily at your creative, chilly embrace.

“...are you wrestling me in your sleep?” his voice is rough with sleep, a little groggy but still playful.

you don’t answer at first, instead squirming closer, adjusting your legs to get even more comfortable. “nope. not wrestling. hugging. with my legs.”

caleb stares at you for a moment, the corner of his lips twitching. “that’s… not how hugging works.”

you giggle sleepily, the sound almost drowning in the softness of the room. “it does now. arms are too hot. legs are more efficient.”

he lifts his head a little more, watching you with amusement as he takes in your ridiculous but endearing position. “you’re strange, you know that?” he mutters, still with a smile in his voice.

“i’m cool.” you roll your eyes dramatically. “i’m hugging you with my legs because i’m too hot for a regular hug.”

he snorts, trying to hold back a laugh, but he can’t stop it. the warmth in his chest builds, but it’s the good kind. the kind that makes him reach out, fingers grazing over your leg where it’s draped across his body, a touch that’s casual but tender all the same.

“you’re cold enough that i might need a blanket for both of us,” he says, his voice low and teasing. his fingers slowly trace the outline of your leg, making small circles against your skin. it’s a simple gesture, but the affection behind it makes you feel like you’re floating.

you stretch your legs a little further, the coolness of your toes brushing against his side, and he shudders lightly. “see? optimal cold hug,” you say, snuggling in deeper, your head resting against his shoulder now. you don’t care about the position anymore; it’s the closeness that matters. “arms are overrated anyway. legs are the future.”

caleb can’t help but chuckle softly, the sound warm and lazy. “future of hugging, huh?” his voice carries that playful edge you’ve grown used to, but there’s an undertone to it—a softness, a quiet affection that he doesn't bother hiding. he pulls you closer with a slight tug of your leg, his chest now pressed to your back, and his arm wrapping around your waist as if it’s second nature.

you let out a contented sigh, your body relaxing under the weight of his arm and the warmth of his presence. there’s a certain magic in the way he always knows just how to make you feel safe—whether it’s through small gestures like this or the way he always seems to understand you without words.

for a long moment, there’s nothing but the sound of your breathing, the soft rustle of the sheets, and the faint hum of the air conditioning. you can feel the heat of his body mingling with the coolness of yours, and despite the small, almost ridiculous hug you’ve devised, it feels perfect.

“you’re so weird,” caleb murmurs into the silence, but there’s no bite to it. it’s not a complaint; it’s more of a resigned observation, like he’s just come to accept it. “but you’re also the best, you know that?”

you smile, the kind of lazy smile that only comes after a long day of being with someone you care about. “yeah, i know. i’m awesome. you should be grateful you get to hug me with my superior leg-hugging technology.”

he laughs softly at that, the sound vibrating against your back. “i am. believe me, i am.”

there’s a comfortable silence again, the kind you only find when everything feels right. the kind where, even though you’re half-arguing over leg-hugging efficiency, there’s nothing you’d rather be doing than lying next to him.

caleb’s hand moves, absentmindedly rubbing up and down your leg, and you feel the warmth of his fingers sink into your skin, the slight pressure a reminder of how close you are. how much you mean to him.

eventually, his hand stills, and his breath evens out. you’re not sure if he’s asleep yet, but you can feel the rhythm of his heart slow, his body relaxing into the mattress beneath you.

“hey, caleb?” you murmur, your voice soft, barely above a whisper.

“mhm?” he doesn’t open his eyes, but you can tell he’s listening.

“just so you know, i’m never letting you go.”

his lips brush your forehead, soft and brief, before he answers in that low, almost-dreamy tone of his. “good. i wouldn’t want you to.”

and with that, you both drift off, a tangled mess of limbs, warmth, and coldness, two halves of a whole.

[mscherub]

Cuddles!

Tags!: Cuddling, comfort, fluff

Warnings!:

My sense of humor

These are just headcanons

Heartslabyul; Savanaclaw; Octavinelle; Scarabia; , Pomefiore; Ignihyde; Diasomnia (you're here :3)

Vil🪞:

he actually doesn’t mind, so long as you just rest on him and you don’t try to drag him around in bed

He sleeps on his back, it’s just something he’s grown accustomed to for the sake of his beauty, so just keep that rule in place

He’ll wrap an arm around you

He actually likes it, it helps him sleep better, and he knows that it does, knows it will help sleep for the both of you

Also, skincare you must follow before getting in bed with him, learn the protocol

Rook 🏹:

He loves it. Love loves it. Just how he is cause it’s so cute having you cling to him, obviously! Ironically enough, it’s like his prey has willing fell into his trap! He’s weird, so…

He also sleeps on his back and doesn’t move around too much, and he’s also a light sleeper, so just be careful

He’ll hold you back, and he prefers to be the one doing that, anyhow, just feels more natural to him in a sense

If you ever catch him watching you sleep at all, no you didn’t :)

He’s just admiring your beauty <3

Epel 🍎:

Things cuddles are kinda dumb, shows “weakness,” and they’re too lovey dovey

But oh, here yall are, Epel quite literally glued to you in bed without a care in the world, happily snoozing away

Yea, he pretends he doesn’t like them, but he does, he’s a sucker for them, but he ain’t gonna show that…

Prefers to hold you at first, feeds his ego, but then just from moving around, you’ll end up being the one holding him

He does move quite a bit…but he always ends up with you again

(NO ORTHO)

Idia 🎮:

Remember how I said like half these characters are gonna be stiff, Idia is another. Sure he’s hugged pillows but this is totally new

He does like them though, he prefer them, only problem, bro like never sleeps…surviving off energy drinks (that’s real, though…)

He likes to be the one held, so, just squeeze him nice when yall even get the chance to cuddle if he ain’t gaming away the night

He’s a heavy sleeper, and he drools, I’d also think he’d move around a lot from restlessness, but you being there kinda gets rid of that factor

Expect to wake up with hair in your mouth. Thanks Idia 👍

Malleus 🐉:

Smug about it because he loves it. He’ll also do like whatever you want. You wanna hold him? Sure. You want him to hold you and keep you safe? He prefers that latter

He’s cuddly, but he’s also very polite about it in a way, never going too overboard with anything

Heavy sleeper, and he also goes to sleep at a later time, but he won’t force you to stay up, he’ll get in bed with you but probably lie awake for a bit

Also another type to gaze at you if you fall asleep, he can’t help it, you look peaceful and he’s just happy about it

Lilia 🧚‍♀️:

He likes them, that’s not surprise there in my opinion. I feel like he’s also another one to find it funny how you hold on to him, but he also finds it sweet

He also stays up late, probably gaming along with Idia but, whatever…he’ll hop into bed soon after he’s done

He likes to cuddle and to be cuddled, he’s versatile in whatever you’d like to do, and he’ll follow along

He drools, probably kicks in his sleep, and he moves around a lot. He’ll blame that ok being old

Silver⚔️:

Do I even need to say anything? Answer is no, but I will anyways

He loves to, like it’s his favorite thing, but he does fall asleep even more quickly thanks to your presence

He prefers to hold you so he can keep you safe, even while in dreamland. He just wants to make sure you won’t get hurt while he’s blissfully knocked out

He’s a heavy sleeper, and he doesn’t move around a lot, so you’ll be trapped for a bit until he wakes up…

Sebek ⚡️:

Another one who’s stuff, although he’s painfully stiff, like he doesn’t even know what to do and where to put his arms

He does like to cuddle, but it’s complicated for him because he believes it distracts him from his duties a little

He prefers to hold you as well, the same reasons as Silver, to protect you while you’re with him. It’s instinct for him

He’ll awkwardly hug you back, like I said, he doesn’t know how to go about the situation but he’ll make it work. Trust

He snores. Loud

He’s also really still and will barely move during the night

Comments and likes are appreciated <3

Master List

Please don’t steal or copy any of my work! You may, however, reblog if you’d want to!

Pictures belong to Disney Twisted Wonderland but are edited by me :)

[ladsheadcanoncorner]

sfw first kiss headcannons please? 🍎

aww first kisses! this was so much fun to write! thank you for the ask, dear <3 i saw the apple emoji, but wrote for all five boys, so i hope that is still okay.

rating: sfw cw: kissing ✉︎♡: ask box open, tumblr users + anons

Xavier: -It sort of happens…accidentally? -Xavier has been ignoring your text messages, and you sent him some funny videos that you knew he would love -Since he just lives upstairs, you decide to take it upon yourself to make sure he is doing okay -When you knock on the door, it takes him a while to answer it. When he finally does, his hair and clothes are rumpled and he is rubbing his eyes -“Is everything okay? I guess I fell asleep early.” -His voice is that scratchy sort of sleepy and you feel your cheeks flush at how adorable he is -You: “Everything is fine, you just weren’t texting me back so I got worried.” -He smiles, eyes softening, and then invites you in -You’re sitting on the couch together and while you watch the videos you sent, he is starting to doze off again -You: “Xavier are you still tired?” Xavier: “Mmm, a little. Nap with me?” -When you agree, you both reach for the blanket that fell off the couch, and collide into each other, bumping heads -Giggling, you move to pull away, but Xavier tilts your chin up and kisses you -“I don’t want you to worry about me,” Xavier murmurs in between kisses. “I’ll always be by your side.”

Zayne: -This man has been stressed trying to plan the perfect time to finally kiss you -He’s thought about it since you were children, but never actually worked up the courage to do it until now -First, he plans to do it right when he picks you up to get the nerves out of the way, but when you answer the door you look so cute he feels tongue tied. He tries again at dinner, but a bunch of waiters come out singing ‘happy birthday’ to another table. Then he plans to do it at the coffee shop, but you point out that he has whipped cream on his upper lip, so he chickens out again -He resigns that it won’t happen today, but then you decide to take a different turn on the way home from your date, out across the bridge that overlooks Linkon City -He’s holding your hand as the two of you stare out at the water and twinkling city lights -He thinks: Now, just do it now. Don’t lose your nerve -You: “Zayne…I…” Zayne: “Yes?” -He is completely caught off guard when you stand on your tiptoes to give him a swift peck on the lips -When you pull away, both of you are furiously blushing and you stutter out some sort of apologetic excuse -Zayne takes this moment to cup your face in his hands and kiss you more tenderly, more gently, trying to infuse each moment with how much he has wanted this to happen for so long -You: “I was worried you would take it badly.” Zayne, chuckling softly and brushing your cheek with his thumb: “And I was worried I’d never actually get the chance."

Rafayel: -Rafayel is lamenting his lack of inspiration when you visit one day -Dramatic fishie moping around the house, wondering if he lost his talent, until he gets a lightbulb moment with that familiar mischievous grin -Rafayel: “You could always pose for me, cutie.” You: “Me? Why?” Rafayel: “If you don’t, these artist hands that bring magic and joy to the world will go unused forever.” -Cue eye roll, but you agree -You feel awkward, having never posed for a portrait before -Raf is looking from his canvas, to you, and then frowns. Holding out a thumb and squinting with one eye, he says, “You’re a little lifeless.” -You tell him it’s because you’ve never done anything like this and he laughs, hands in his pockets as he walks over to you -Rafayel: “You just need a little more color in your cheeks.” -He leans forward and silences the question you are about to ask with his lips. You’re stunned for a moment, but then you kiss him back, letting your arms loop around his neck and pull him closer -He pulls away, cheeks equally as flushed as you feel, and then says, “There we go, but I don’t know if my painting could possibly do you justice now.”

Sylus: -On your way to work one morning, you see a flyer about a local Night Market, and you text the details to Sylus -Sylus responds with: “Trying Linkon cuisine with a local? Hmm, alright sweetie. I’ll be back in town tomorrow. Be ready by 6:00.” -The next evening you arrive at the market, but angry gray clouds are starting to appear overhead. You brush it off, ready to enjoy your time with him -You meander all the way down to the end of the stalls (he orders one of everything that you say sounds good), talking about everything and nothing, trying to ignore the way your heart pounds in your chest whenever he catches you staring at him -You: “Want dessert? They have a cotton candy stall here that shapes it like different animals.” Sylus: “Sure, then I’ll have two cute kittens to look at.” -When the kitten shaped cotton candy is ready, Sylus holds it out for you to take a bite together -At this moment, the sky takes the perfectly inopportune time to open up, and it begins to rain -Sylus lifts his jacket to shield you from the rain as you run towards a nearby tree for cover. By the time you get there, the cotton candy has all but completely dissolved  -Disappointed, you look down at the stick Sylus is holding and say, “I’m sorry about the kitten.” -Sylus, drenched from the rain, laughs in a way you’ve never heard before. A jovial sounding chuckle, that is loud and sincere and real -He tilts your chin up to look at him, brushing strands of wet hair out of your face as he leans in and says, "My favorite one is still right here in front of me.” -He brushes his lips against yours, tentative at first until you kiss him back, and then he lifts you off of your feet to kiss you more fully. -As droplets cascade from the sky, you wonder if anything will ever be as romantic as a first kiss in the rain

Caleb: -Let’s be honest, the two of you shared at least one kiss when you were younger -But Caleb wants a redo because no way that time you dared him to kiss you in the attic actually counts -He’s helping you clean out your closet, because you told him that he owes you a favor but also because he wants to spend time with you. He stumbles upon a big box labeled “Memories,” dusty and shoved up on the top shelf -When you come back into the room with lemonade for both of you, you’re mortified as he rifles through the box filled with your most precious memories -You: “What are you doing?” Caleb: “What, are you embarrassed about what I might find?" -He holds up an envelope with your ten year old handwriting scrawled “super secret future plan, DO NOT OPEN!” on the front. -You lunge towards him, needing to get the envelope away from him before he opens it and sees that your super secret future plan was a drawing of a house and two kids with him -In your determination, you haven’t noticed that you’ve fully straddled him until your chin bumps the top of his head  -The fear of him discovering your secret dissipates, and it is replaced with a tension in the air that you can both feel -“You don’t have to hide anything from me,” Caleb says, nuzzling his nose against yours -Caught up in the moment of it all, you lean in and kiss him -Just enough to catch him off guard and just enough to snatch the envelope away -“Ha!” you say triumphantly, but the telltale blush on your cheeks tells Caleb all he needs to know about how you really felt   -Still though…guess he’s going to need another do over

[space-station-nursery]

◜ 🌈𓂃 Rainbow Ask game²! ‧ 🎨 ◞

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

Just like This post, we have created a new rainbow game! Just click the "Mail Time" button and ask away! Be sure to include your anon tag (if asking anonymously) and We will happily answer! OR feel free to reblog and have others ask you!

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

꒰ 🎸 ꒱ Do you have a fictional CG? What are they like?

꒰ 🍎 ꒱ What is your personality like when regressed?

꒰ 🦊 ꒱ What are your favorite nicknames to call your CG/sitter?

꒰ 🎃 ꒱ What are nicknames you like to be called when regressed?

꒰ 🧈 ꒱ Do you post agere content on other platforms?

꒰ 💡 ꒱ What is your ideal playdate? do not rewrite and post as own

꒰ ⛺ ꒱ Do you act more in line with your regressed age?

꒰ 🥦 ꒱ What foods do you like when regressed but not when big? What's the reverse?

꒰ 🐳 ꒱ Do you prefer the aquarium or the zoo?

꒰ 🌊 ꒱ What's one place you would like to go when regressed?

꒰ 🪻 ꒱ What is a piece of gear that you really want?

꒰ ☔️ ꒱ Do you have gear? Do you make your own? Do you buy it?

꒰ 🩷 ꒱ Do you want sibbies/have sibbies? if you do, introduce them!

꒰ 🌸 ꒱ Do you have a special comfort item?

꒰ 🎻 ꒱ What are some things you do when big that you cant do while little?

꒰ 🦔 ꒱ Do you wear dips or wish to try them?

꒰ 🐻‍❄️ ꒱ Markers or crayons?

꒰ 🦢 ꒱ How do you fight off the dark?

꒰ 🐈‍⬛ ꒱ Do you like nesting?

꒰ 🎩 ꒱ Dinosaurs or Dragons?

⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

Fact OTD: Double rainbows are caused by light being reflected twice inside the raindrop. As a result of this second reflection, the spectrum of the secondary rainbow is reversed: red is on the inner section of the arch, while violet is on the outside.

[natsaffection]

Hiii, 22 years old, she/her. feel free to write me about EVERYTHING! THIS BLOG IS A SAFEPLACE for all Topics! So if you have questions, need advices or just venting, please reach out! 🦋

(English is not my first language, so please point out any mistakes, thank you.) 🩵🇩🇪

Lovely Anons: 🐅,🗿,💋,⭐️,🧸,🌷,��,🏎️,🪿,🧈, 🥋,🪩,💀,🛸,🐦‍⬛,🥀,🍿,🫥,🐆,🐎,✨,🤍,🪼,🔮,🍎,🐥,🍓,🕷️,🫘,🐈‍⬛,🦖,👾,🍄,☁️,🦇,🌲,💧,🍡,🌸,🦥,🍸,💪,⏳,🦦,🍹,🎧,👑,🩵,🦭,🧿,🐠, 🩰,🚓,🤸🏻‍♀️,🌙, 💗,🪶,👽,🦝,⚓️,🐺,🫡,🏀,🦽,🦢,☀️,🚧, 🍒 ,🪖, 🎤,🪻, 🪐, 🌹 , 🐻

M's MASTERLIST:

Do not copy, repost, translate or claim my work as your own! Reblogs are appreciated though. <3

Most of the work is 18+ DNI, so if you’re a minor, do not interact with it!

Series:

[Natasha]: My sweet Baby. (NSFW)

• You took your long awaited four-day vacation, for which you had saved your money for two years. That you had almost no money would be an understatement. You just manage to get through your college with two part-time jobs (for which you get far too little money).So what happens when you meet the most successful CEO in the world in an unknowingly overpriced café?

[Natasha] : Mafias Mistress (NSFW)

• Your life takes a drastic turn when you accidentally meet Natasha Romanoff, who lives a mysterious and seductive life behind her facade. Despite Natasha's initial resistance, your light and attraction ignite a fiery romance that sets both your worlds on fire. But as your love grows stronger, so does the danger, especially when you discover Natasha's true identity. Surrounded now by wealth and danger, you become the new center of Natasha's universe and your bond is put to the test.

[Natasha]: I hate you! (Angst)

• You were glad you escaped the hell trip. Even if it wasn't entirely your merit. You could finally smell the freedom you could only dream of before. However there was one person that disliked your presence since the moment you stepped foot on the campus. No matter what you do, you always get on her bad side. What happens when you find out the truth about her and she about you? Will her rivalry turn into your jobs or will it become something else?

[Natasha]: My sweet Student. (NSFW)

• You read and you dreamed about it. What if you fall in love with your teacher (who is also twice your age) and you can live your dream? She shows you your deepest sexual ideas and lives them out with you. On the shelf with the books and hello reality.

[Natasha]: Kingdom of secrets (NSFW)

• A story unfolds in the realm of celestria in which the younger Princess Y/n Dawn finds an unexpected connection with Lady Natasha Romanoff, the kingdom's revered and feared first female knight. Natasha, a skilled warrior known for her bravery on the battlefield and icy demeanor, is tasked by the king with protecting his daughter. As Natasha watches the princess grow, a complex and unexpected bond emerges between them that transcends the boundaries of age and status.

[Natasha]: Wait and Hope. (Angst/Fluff)

• You and Natasha retreat to focus on your new life together. You finally want to start a family and decide to adopt children. While Natasha forms a strong bond with them, you struggle to find one. Your resolve is tested when you and Natasha are called back for a critical mission and everything went wrong. Natasha must maintain her composure while balancing the weight of her love for you and the safety of your children, while also feeling the fear of losing the family you both fought so hard for.

[Natasha]: Redline (Angst, NSFW, Fluff)

• You swore you’d never race again after the crash that nearly killed you. For years, you stayed in the shadows, avoiding the world you once ruled. Then Natasha Romanoff came looking for a driver, and she chose you. You fought her. You refused. But Natasha doesn’t take no for an answer. But coming back means facing everything you ran from: the fame, the pressure, the past. And with the world watching, one question remains: Are you still the driver you once were, or will the past catch up before you can prove it?

Bonus1, Bonus2, Bonus 3, Bonus 4 Bonus 5.1 2

[Natasha]: Code Red. (NSFW, Angst, Fluff)

• As a new intern at a prestigious hospital, you never expected to catch the eye of Dr. Natasha Romanoff, brilliant, older, and completely off-limits. But the tension between you grows with every stolen glance and late-night shift.

pt 2, pt 3, pt 4

[Natasha]: Innocence (Fluff/Angst)

• You thought the mission would make you a hero. A young soldier, eager to prove yourself, you were thrown into a world nothing like the ideals you believed in. Instead of honor, you found chaos, rubble, and a silence louder than gunfire. As the lines between right and wrong blurred, a hardened Sargent became your anchor in the storm. But war doesn’t wait for you to find your footing and the battlefield has its own way of leaving scars.

[Natasha]: Not like the Storys

• Everyone says Natasha Romanoff is a heartbreaker, cold, careless, and dangerous. A player who leaves a trail of broken girls behind her and never looks back. But when she catches your eye across a crowded place and starts to unravel everything you thought you knew, you realize the stories might not be the full truth. Because beneath the reputation and the swagger is someone quieter. Softer. Someone who sees you in a way no one else ever has, and doesn’t ask for anything in return.

Pt 2, Pt 3

One shots:

SFW

[Natasha] Trust. (Angst/Fluff)

• You dealing with drug addiction post the loss of your girlfriend, Kate. Natasha aids you through withdrawal, relapses, and recovery.

[Natasha] Together. (Fluff)

• Sugar!Mommy Natasha is helping you through exams

[Natasha]: Afraid of loosing you. (Angst/Fluff)

• Natasha is your girlfriend of two years and is always overprotective over you. So what happens when you both get under an attack which priority it is to kill the black widow?

[Natasha] Paramedic. (Angst/Fluff)

• you have a motorcycle Accident and Natasha is a Paramedic

[Natasha] One step at a time. (Angst/Fluff)

• Natasha and the team help you cope with the loss of your leg.

[Natasha] Lines Crossed.(Fluff) Pt 2 (NSFW)

• Natasha and you are Enemies till you get hurt.

[Natasha] Fury and Friction. (Fluff)

• You both deny your feelings to each other and it leads to Anger

[Natasha] Whatever it takes. (Angst/fluff)

• Football!Player Natasha thought youre playing her and wants to brake your Heart first

[Natasha] I see you. (Angst/Fluff)

• You thought the forced marriage would be the end of you. But it turned into something more.

[Natasha] Walking through Fire. (Angst)

• Natasha can't handle your job and eventually regrets ending the Bond you once had.

[Natasha] Trough Darkness. (Angst/Fluff)

• You and Natasha meet a little girl who will need your help later.

[Natasha] Showing everything. (Fluff/Angst)

• Natasha is supposed to get close to you for an undercover mission. But she falls in love.

[Natasha] How she smiles. (Fluff)

• Natasha looses all her flirting skill, when she met a beautiful barista.

[Natasha] The Weight of you, Part 2 (Angst/Fluff)

• Natasha’s worst nightmare came true.

NSFW

[Natasha] Apologize.

• Natasha let you apologize to her employees

[Natasha] Reward. | Pt. 2

• Coach! Natasha x Player!Reader

[Natasha] Happy anniversary.

• Sugar!Mommy Natasha celebrates her anniversary with Sugar!Baby Reader

[Natasha] Oh, Baby.. | Pt. 2

• You break Natasha’s first rule. (NSFW)

[Natasha] Teacher!Nat x Teacher!Reader

• In a school where Prof!Natasha and Prof!Reader teach different languages, they have quite the contrasting reputations. Despite their differences, Natasha and Reader engage in playful flirting at work..

[Natasha] Cure.

• You got infected with the sex pollen and a red haired ..acquaintance offers to help you.

[Natasha] Distraction.

• Smutty hate sex with Boss!natasha and her assistant

[Natasha] Hidden.

• Natasha gets to know the real you.

[Natasha] Lesson.

• Jealous Natasha is teaching you a Lesson

[Natasha] The Van.

• G!P Natasha sits you on her member during a trip

[Heated] Heated. PT2

• It's Hate right?

[Natasha] Interrogation.

• Natasha use a different Method to get informations about you

[Natasha] Morning.

• you wake up a little too needy

[Natasha] I'm not going anywhere.

• Bodyguard!Natasha is falling in love with your stubbornness

[Natasha] Mine to Use. Pt2

• you habe to pay off your depths to Natasha

[Natasha] The Ticket.

• The officer had a good offer to let you trough your ticket

[Natasha] Never say Never.

• Your father's best friend, who is twice your age, has feelings for you

[Natasha] Never letting you go.

• You thought you were too late. But Natasha comes back to you.

[Natasha] Relaxing.

• Natasha ka giving you a Massage ans it leads to more.

[Natasha] Footage.

• Natasha fucks you inside the quinjet while the security cameras are filming.

[Natasha] Healing Touch.

• You are faking your orgasm. Natasha is helping you tobget a real one.

Natasha and Wanda:

[Natasha] Reversed.

• Natasha is dommed for the first time.

[WandaNat] Unholy. (NSFW)

• Wanda is a stripper and Nat took an interest in her

[WandanNat] Something different. (NSFW)

• Natasha and Reader are Dating and have a threesome with their friend Wanda

[WandaNat] Save Heaven. (NSFW)

• Natasha and Wanda are both fucking Reader and their Aftercare

[WandaNat] Bond. (NSFW/Fluff)

• Reader is calling out the Safeword

[WandaNat] Truth and Desire. (NSFW/Fluff)

• You got infected with a truth serum and they use it against you

[WandaNat] Helpless Desire. (NSFW/Fluff)

• Tied to a chair, you have to watch them pleasure themselves

[WandaNat] Comfort. (NSFW)

• They Comfort you after a Horror Movie and got inspired by a scene

[WandaNat] Lights out. (NSFW/Fluff)

• You calling your safeword

[WandaNat] The Widow and the Witch. (NSFW)

• The two mafia bosses want to find out who can make you feel better

[WandaNat] At your Pace. (NSFW/Fluff)

• The two women take your virginity and your father comes in

[akin2u]

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡, a shifting ask game reblog this and let people inbox you to get know more about your realities ! bonus if you even answer in character for full immersion

🍎 what is your biggest temptation? in your lives, there may have been many different kinds of temptations. maybe it’s someone dangerous, someone you shouldn’t fall in love with. perhaps it’s a career so dangerous it could kill you.

🕸️ something you won’t let go, yet you’ll let it rust? this might be photographs of your old best friend that you had a falling out with. you’ll never look at the photos, fearing the sadness comes washing back. still, you just can’t throw them away.

🐝 what’s the recent buzz? what kind of gossip you’re willing to share in this reality? someone cheated with someone? co-worker has been sleeping around? your rival’s insecurities? share with the class!

🧭 why do you live as you do now? are you a celebrity who's struggling after a massive scandal? maybe you're in a fantasy world that got in a prestigious school—did you get good grades or were you sponsored to go there? some people live in situations that aren't easy to get to.

🍀 when has luck refused you, yet you did it anyways? maybe you had a tough championship fight that looked like odds were against you, yet you reign at the end. sometimes you may even be fighting for your life but manage to escape with your quick wit. some things you don't need lick in, you just need skill.

☀️ what makes you want to see the sun again? it's a motivation. the world is in shambles and you crumble to the earth. but there comes the sun. it's just above the horizon. you look at it and it embraces you in its warmth. who or what is this for you? can you survive the night just one more time for the sun?

🌱 how do you think people view you? this isn't about accuracy. what's an assumption you make people have of you. you could be kind in their eyes, yet to you everyone sees you villainous. you'd be deluded to think you have a heart of gold and yet everyone sees you as sand in the rain.

🌸 do you have a word to say to your past self? our past can be ugly. it can be more beautiful than what we have now. for a moment, you can give yourself just a word to say. a warning, a compliment, or an apology. take the time to say it—don't explain it, just say it.

🐇 one day you won't run away from it, what is it? there's fear in you. maybe something small or something large. it hinders your path. to others, a rock; to you, stone. one day, you'll stop running. get it out of your chest. it's the small steps.

🦋 is your path made from destiny, or is it carved? somewhere along the line, you chose to do something. move out, fight crime, or stay out of flashing lights. is this the path made for you or one you fought tooth with? the world is not kind. even if it is carved, it's the path most suited for you.

[painted-flag]

Snow White and the Seven Bandits - Jacaerys Velaryon.

Story I of Between the Pages: a HOTD x fairytale series.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ series masterlist here. main blog masterlist here. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ pairing: jacaerys velaryon x reader .𖥔 ݁ ˖ warnings: depictions of violence and use of poison. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ word count: 11.4k .𖥔 ݁ ˖ note: this is a long one. the others in the series will be the same, perhaps even longer for a few, so would you be interested in me dividing them into parts for the future or just keep them as one text around 10k and release at once?

“It is imperative that you both exhibit the best of manners,” The voice of the kingdom's Queen, Rhaenyra Targaryen, carried throughout the carriage. The wheelhouse held her, Jacaerys, and Lucerys. The youngest, Joffrey, had stayed in Kings Landing with their father Harwin - as he is the prince regent and can act in Rhaenyra’s stead. The carriage rocked as it made its way down a country road. 

“Mother, we are always on our best behaviour,” Jacaerys responded, though it seemed his attention was somewhere else in pure boredom. Lucerys, who had been sitting across from him, sent a look of doubt his way. 

“Be that as it may, the Lady of Stonehill is… sensitive. The Lord of Stonehill lost his previous wife on the birthing bed. A few years after marrying a new wife, he passed. His daughter followed him in death a month afterwards. So please, do not bring up any subjects around Lady Alicent that may offend her. It may have happened years ago, but those scars do not fade.” Rhaenyra pressed the importance of their behaviour for their visit to Castle Stonehill. 

“Yes, mother.” Lucerys gave her a wide smile, the candied lemons he was snacking on made his cheeks puff out. 

Rhaenyra leaned to the side to enter Jace’s field of vision as he stared out of one of the wheelhouse windows. She raised her brow and waited for an answer. 

Jace broke out of his trance and smiled at his mom, though it did not reach his eyes, “Yes, we will be on our best behaviour.” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎 ༻⊰───⋅

The afternoon sun shone down on the walled-in garden of Castle Stonehill. The white quartzite with streaks of gray reflected the sunlight, casting glittered specks of light across the garden. Songbirds chirped as they flew from tree to tree. The abundance of foliage covered every open area in green. The types of flowers present filled all of the colours of a rainbow and butterflies flew from patch to patch to suck the nectar from the plants. 

It was an area of peace and safety which you frequented often when not working. After the arduous hours of work throughout the morning, you relished the break of rest you got in the afternoon. They were spent in the garden, tending to the flowers that grew there. It was the only place in the castle that your stepmother, Alicent, never touched. 

Your birth had caused your mother to pass, leaving you with your father. He was a kind and gentle man, who often spent more time with you than he should have given his lordly duties. He did all he could to raise you on his own. His gentle voice and demeanour rarely fit his appearance, for the man looked strong enough to snap a log over his thigh. Many years after the loss of his wife, he married again. The woman, Alicent, had presented herself as nothing but a dutiful and godfearing wife - a trick most wicked. While your father had lived, she treated you with kindness. It was a veiled sweetness that covered up the foul taste beneath; jealousy, want, and animosity. 

Never was there a facade more barbarous than a woman who cut another woman down. 

Upon the death of the Lord of Stonehill, Alicent’s cloaked contempt compounded. The inheritance of the castle would pass to you once you came of age, an outcome most ardently rejected by Alicent. She spared your life under the guise of benevolence, should you fake your death and take up a job as a scullery maid in the castle. It was merciful, in your stepmother’s words, to keep you alive. However, the pain of losing your father and your previous life stung the heart that lay in your chest. A torture disguised as mercy.

Through the years your resolution did not sway. There was a resilience in your kindness, both inwards and outwards, that you displayed to the world daily. What had angered you at first became nothing but a small sting. There are worse fates that people could meet. 

The day had been ordinary, inexplicably so. You found yourself in your usual routine, picking flowers and singing in your few moments of daily rest. The knife in your hand cut the stems of some of the flowers and you placed them in a wicker basket on the ground next to you. Upon turning your gaze to one of the hedges, you saw that it appeared down, as though lacking water. You put down the knife and walked over to a well placed at the centre of the garden. 

Your voice continued to carry a tune as you pulled on a rope to lower a bucket down. As you went about your way, your voice carried over the walls and into the courtyard next to the garden. 

Now, Jacaerys had not wished to go for a walk, but quickly upon their arrival at the castle he and Luke were sent away. The adults were talking, and therefore the youth must let them be. A total disgrace, in Jace’s mind, as he was set to become king and therefore felt he should be included. Alas, the stern gaze of his mother had led to him walking aimlessly in a courtyard with his brother and hoping that the day could finish. 

Jace was walking with Luke beside him and the younger brother had not stopped talking. He was explaining his thoughts on everything they had seen during their trip, waving his hands around to emphasize certain points. Jace nodded along to his observations. It was during a particular rant about the knights of the castle's armour that Jace heard a voice in the distance. The tune carried over the gentle wind, gracing his ear in sweet pleasantry. 

“Do you hear that?” Jace interrupted Luke’s rant. 

Luke halted, “What?”

“That voice… it sounds like singing.” Jace did not wait for any response before he picked up his pace, marching across the courtyard. He followed the wall to his right until the voice got louder. 

“What in the seven hells are you doing?” Luke had been confused by his brother's actions. The whole trip he had been unusually bored, often unfocused and inattentive. Now, it seemed that life was breathed into him again. 

“Don’t you hear that?” Jace looked at the thick growing vines on the wall, rapt by the singing. 

“Someone is singing, does it matter?” Luke responded, “We should go back to mother.” 

“In a moment,” Jace spoke. He stepped forward and grabbed onto one of the vines. His gaze swept across the wall as if he was unsure of his movements. Deciding not to question it, Jace tugged on the vine to test its strength. Upon finding the results he wanted, he began to climb.

When Jaceaerys reached the top, he took in the sight. It was a flower garden. Despite the countless different flowers all mixed around, it looked organized and well-maintained. The singing that he heard came from a woman by a well. She was fetching water and dressed like all the maids, in rags made of cloth. However, Jace was not a blind man and could clearly see how beautiful she was. He paused for a moment and debated on whether or not he should disturb her. His mother taught him better, that a proper man should have manners and not disturb a lady. However, there was an enchanting allure from her. 

“Well,” Luke began, “What do you see?” At that point, Lucerys had become intrigued by his brother's actions. 

“She’s beautiful,” Jace muttered. Luke was unable to hear his brother's response and watched as Jace moved to climb down the other side. He stood there, agape at his brother's impulsive nature - a trait he knew he would never get used to. 

“What an idiot.” He muttered.

You were oblivious to the pitfalls of steps coming from the other side of the well; too lost in your song to care. You were pulling the bucket of water up and had it settle on the edge when an unknown voice broke you from your daydream. 

“Hello.” It was not a very deep voice, but the timbre notes were warm, like the sun's rays on a hot day. 

“Seven Hells!” You shout in fear, the pail of water falling back down the well when the rope in your hands is dropped. The man in front of you rushed to the well wall on the other side. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He assured. 

You looked back and forth across the garden, scared that Alicent would be looking in. She did not like it when you talked to servants, and you had no idea how angry she would be if she found out you were talking to the prince.

“I am fine,” You did not wish to prolong this conversation any longer than it had to be, so you hoped a curt response would be a hint for him to leave. 

“I’m Jacaerys Velaryon,” The man spoke, “Who are you?” 

You froze at his words. He was the prince. Oh gods, you had just rudely tried to dismiss the prince. There was a moment of rushed thinking, wondering how you could get yourself out of this situation. There was no shame in running, perhaps. Maybe wish for the ground to open up and swallow you whole.

“Nice to meet you, my prince,” You bowed lowly and kept your gaze lowered to the stone on the ground, “I am simply a maid.” Your hands smoothed over the scratchy fabric of your gown, inwardly cringing at how underdressed you were in front of him. 

“Yes, but what is your name?” Jacaerys stepped around the well to be closer. He was dressed like a prince. Rich, finely woven fabric of dark blue matched the silver embroidered embellishments on the ends of his sleeves, around his collar, and down the front of his surcoat. The garments themselves were sure to be made by a multitude of servants, a look of divinity next to the one-colour floor-length dress you wore, which was accompanied by a light beige apron stained slightly from the dirt of cleaning and tending to the garden. 

“I must go, my prince.” You grabbed the sides of your dress and held them out as you moved down in a short curtsey. He looked confused at your insistent need to be away from him, something you were sure he was not used to considering his status. You turned and began your way to a servant's entrance at the side of the castle.

“Wait! I’m sorry if I scared you, truly,” Jace spoke up and positioned himself in front of you, “Please, I just wish to talk.” He looked as though he wanted to reach out but refrained from doing so. There was a certain glint in his eyes that was unrecognizable. You were used to the way men would threaten you with their gaze, an unsaid selfish want, but Jace did not have that look. It was something kind, an emotion you had not been on the receiving end for many years. 

“There is nothing a servant can say, my prince.” You curtseyed again - a signal of a final dismissal - and moved to the small oak door. The heavy metal of the hand felt cool under your grasp. You yanked it open and closed it behind you. The transition from the warm sun-soaked outside to the cold and damp servants' hallway gave a temporary shock to your body. 

Back in the garden, Jace stood defeated. He felt horrible for scaring a woman - something his mother would sharply scold him on if she ever found out, of which Harwin would sure to join. That was not how you were raised… to corner a woman like that, what were you thinking?

At a window far up on the castle, Lady Alicent stood looking out, having watched their meeting transpire. 

He retreated to the wall he had scaled and grasped the vines in his hand. Lugging himself up, he returned to the top of the wall to his brother standing on the other side. Lucerys was close to going for help because of how long his brother was gone. 

“What in the seven hells was your reasoning for that? Mother told us to be on our best behaviour, yet here you are scaling the walls of Lady Alicent’s castle!” Lucerys scolded as Jace dropped down next to him. 

Jace adjusted his clothing as he huffed to catch his breath from the drop, “You should have seen her, Luke.” 

“Seen who?” Luke had his arms crossed and a look of vexation moved across his face. 

“The lady in the garden.A servant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone like that.” Jace looked sort of dazed. 

“So… you saw some random servant?” Luke said. 

“I’m telling you, there was something about her… she did not act like one.” Jace marched along the courtyard path and to the nearest entrance to the castle. Luke followed closely behind. 

“All the servants here look the same. Rags and all.” Luke dismissed his brother's whims. 

“Rags cannot hide her gentle face.” Jacaerys’ tone left little room for further resistance from his brother. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You sat in your room and skillfully embroidered a patch of fabric. The wooden loop was clutched between the fingers of your left hand as the right held the needle. It was a patch of vines being woven, like the ones the prince climbed to get into the garden. It had only been a day since your encounter with Jacaerys Velaryon, yet the memory clung to your mind and refused to let go. He was kind, uncharacteristically so compared to the people you have met in your life. 

The sudden opening of the door to your small chambers had you rushing to get up. The sewing fell from your lap and to the floor. You were frustrated by the sudden disturbance but swallowed it once seeing who was at your door. 

“Lady Alicent,” You bowed to your stepmother and watched as she stood in the doorframe of your room. Her judging eyes moved around the small space, cluttered with books and other belongings - the few you were allowed to keep. A look of disgust twinged at the corner of her mouth. She stepped into the room, her emerald gown glimmering in the small streak of light from the tiny window placed well above viewing height. Your room was ultimately like a cage but disguised as a servant's quarter.

“You have done well with your chores as of late,” Alicent began, “Good work should be met with rewards, I am generous that way.” Her words were short and snippy like it burdened her to even speak to you.

“Thank you, my lady.” You bit back the array of insults boiling within. 

“Ser Erryk will escort you to the woods, where you can pick wildflowers. Perhaps there may be new ones you can add to your garden.” Despite the kindness of her words, the tone dripped with false sincerity. 

“You are very kind, lady Alicent.” While there was an unsettling nature to her gaze, you were excited to go out in the woods beyond the castle. Since your father's death, you had been kept secluded in the castle walls, unable to even venture into some of the halls. 

“Yes, well, you best get ready then,” Alicent muttered before vacating the room as quickly as she could. The door was open still and a guard stood where she once was. 

“Good morrow, my lady,” Ser Erryk was perhaps the only guard in the castle who clued in on your identity. He was only a young man when your father died and his memory of your face stayed with him. When you were allowed to leave your room many years after your staged death to pose as a scullery maid, he instantly clocked into your true identity. He kept it a secret, for fear of what Alicent would do to him if she found out that he knew. 

“Hello, Ser Erryk. Let me just get my basket.” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You hummed away as you tended to the wildflowers on a hill. You were taken on a carriage ride deep in the woods. It had been the most excitement you ever had, for the feeling of freedom rippled through your body. Ser Erryk stood by the carriage a few feet away, watching as you went about digging up dirt and roots of pretty colours you have yet to add to your collection. 

A shadow loomed over where you sat, and your head turned to see Ser Erryk had gotten closer. He stood above you with his sword raised in the air. You did not have it in you to scream, for a wave of hopelessness crashed over your body. A sense of betrayal seeped into your bones. One of the only men who had yet to treat you with antagonism or lecherousness had hidden their evil deep below the surface. 

Ser Erryk’s arms had stopped with the sword raised. They shook ever so slightly in his frozen position. His face was twisted, pain and uncertainty carved across the skin. He stumbled back and threw the sword to the ground, curses flung from his mouth. His breathing was laboured and his chest rose up and down. 

“Run.” His gravelly voice hitched slightly. 

You paused, unsure of his display of goodwill, “What?” 

“I am sorry I ever tried, my lady. Alicent has my brother… she said she would kill him. Go, run far from here.” Ser Erryk spoke. 

“And your brother?” You questioned. 

“I will think of something,” He responded. He reached to his side and pulled out a long dagger, holding it out to her, “Take this and go, my lady.” 

You got up on shaky legs and slowly grasped the hand of the dagger. It felt awkward in your hand. There was never a point in your life where you ever held something sharp besides a kitchen knife or sewing needle. It was heavy and unnatural. 

“Thank you, Ser Erryk. I will never forget this.” You nodded to him. You turned to the woods, looking into the looming dark depths. The fear you had felt towards him had now moved to the woods. The dark trunks stood like knights on the ground, their looming presence instilling dread. Whatever nocturnal beasts lurked within the murky bowels of the forest suddenly seemed less frightful than the beast that would be waiting should you return to the castle. 

Death in the woods felt more merciful than whatever Alicent would do to you. 

Steeling your emotions, you surged forward. Your jogged movements quickly picked up to a steady pace. You leapt over each root and bush in your way. There was no path you followed, only faith to guide you from this terror. The trees surrounding you morphed into figures like monsters. The winding branches twisted around and appeared as hands reaching out to grab her. 

Your feet carried you beyond the winding hills and scattered foliage. Tears stung at your cheeks as the cool wind dried the saltwater on your face. What felt like hours, but had only been a single one, passed as you stumbled over a branch and fell. The choked gasps of your sobbing echoed in the forest. You were hunched over and crying. 

When you pulled back to sit on the ground, you looked up and spotted a decrepit cottage in the distance. You had happened across an open space in the forest. A stream cut through and there was a small shoddy built bridge over the water and a path leading to the cottage. It was a plaster and wood building with a thatched roof. A single chimney was seen going from the bottom of one of the sides to the top of the roof. It appeared to be two storeys high. 

You approached cautiously, wondering who may be around. 

“Hello?” You called out and then waited, but no reply came, “Is anyone there?” There was no response. You moved to one of the windows and saw it covered in dust, you tried to wipe it away, but it only smudged. The cottage had been left a long time ago. Your hand reached for the nob and turned. Surprisingly, the door opened. 

You peered in to see the state of disarray inside. What little furniture could be seen was covered in a layer of dust. When you moved inside the cottage, the dust made you cough violently. 

“Oh, this place is dreadful.” You mutter. There was a broom placed beside the fireplace, also covered in dust. You picked it up and shook the dust off, with only one thought in your mind. This is going to be a nightmare to clean. 

You had spent the next few hours cleaning the cottage from top to bottom. Countless tasks were completed as time went on. While it was exhausting, it felt like a piece of freedom. Here, you were cleaning because you wished to and for yourself, not to the demands of Alicent and any of her friends. 

Earlier, in the upstairs area of the cottage - which was more of a loft space - you found seven beds placed beside one another. It filled you with sadness. At one point in time, this cottage had been full of a loving family, something you had little experience with. You could not help but wonder what could have happened to them.

You finished the last of your tasks and sighed loudly. Your hands rested on your hips as you scanned around the open living space. It looked like an entirely new place as if you tore down the old cottage and built a new one. Your exhaustion was something never felt before. The events of the day finally came down on you; the early morning picking wildflowers, Ser Erryk sparing your life, the run through the woods, and lastly your cleaning of the cottage. The beds upstairs in the lofts seemed comfier than ever. You pranced up the stairs and plopped on one of them. The soup stewing over the fireplace could be left unattended for a good long while, so with that worry out of your mind, you drifted off to sleep. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

It was in the deep stage of your sleep that the door downstairs opened up. A figure stood in the doorway with their sword raised high and scanned the room. Once they entered, six other figures followed behind. 

“The whole place is… clean.” One of them spoke in a sleepy voice. 

“I thank you for your astute observation, genius.” The one in front wielding the sword grumbled, his grumpy countenance exacerbated by his lack of patience. His free hand moved up to adjust the eyepatch on his face. The group moved as one. They surveyed the ground floor and found nothing except the almost extinguished fire and a cast iron pot strung over it. 

One of the men reached forward and pulled the lid off, exposing the wonderful smell of stew. It simmered just barely. Before they could inspect it further, the man sneezed loudly and dropped the lid back on the pot. The clattering sound emanated around the room. 

They all hunched slightly, ready to attack, but nothing came. The one who sneezed rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. They migrated to the wooden stairs and one by one made their way up the steps. Upon reaching the lofted area, a figure underneath the covers of one of the beds was spotted. 

“What the fuck?” The grumpy one spoke in a hushed whisper. He separated himself from the group and approached the bed cautiously. He adjusted the sword in his grasp. Once he stood at the foot of the bed, he reached out with his sword and nudged the covers. The figure shifted. 

Your state of unconsciousness began to wear off. The exhaustion you had felt earlier depleted. A yawn left your mouth as you moved to sit up in the bed. The covers fell to your waist and you stretched out your arms. After stretching your arms, your hands rubbed the sleep from your eyes. Blinking a couple of times to clear your bleary vision, you opened them to see a man at the foot of the bed with a sword pointing at you. Six men stood behind, all with varying faces of curiousness to skepticism. 

There was only one reaction that seemed fitting, which was to scream. When you did, the six men standing at the top of the stairs screamed as well. The one with the sword, who had silver hair and an eyepatch over his left eye, groaned with frustration. 

“Who are you?” He demanded. 

Before you could answer, a man behind him spoke up, “Stop pointing your sword at a bloody woman!” The man had a bashful expression on his face. 

“We don’t know her, Addam.” He responded to his friend and turned back to face you, “What are you doing in our house?” 

“I… I thought it was abandoned.” You responded. Shock still froze your body. It seemed as though wherever you would run, men would always follow. 

One of the men laughed at her words. He looked to be old, with silver hair and a beard. “Well, you’re not wrong about that assumption.” The man stepped forward and to the man with the eyepatch, grabbing the sword from his hands and placing it on the floor, “I apologize for scaring you. My name is Viserys, but most people call me Happy.” 

“Happy?” You questioned. 

“They are our cover names,” Happy answered, “My friend with the patch here is Aemond, but he goes by Grumpy.” 

“Not willingly,” Aemond complained. 

You mulled over their names in your head and thought on it for a moment. For some odd reason, the names felt familiar. They settled at the back of your mind, poking at your consciousness. A heartbeat passed before it struck you. The two names and the fact that there were seven of them in total.

“As… as in the seven bandits?” You gulped a bit of air after you spoke. 

“You’re corre-” The man who spoke up sneezed abruptly, “Correct. I am Laenor, but my nickname is, well, Sneezy.” 

“Let us just all reveal ourselves. Might as well just tell her all of our secrets while we are at it.” Aemond crossed his arms and stared her down. He looked at her as though she was a threat; some hidden weapon made to kill them. 

“You suck the joy out of everything, Grumps.” Another man stepped forward and nodded to you, “I’m Aegon.” 

“Dopey,” Aemond added on. 

Aegon glared at him and crossed his arms, “At least I’m not a killjoy.” Aemond squared his shoulders and stood chest to chest with Aegon, domineering over his frame.

“Well maybe if you were smart for once-” 

“That's enough.” Viserys spoke and placed himself between them, “Both of you can leave if you won’t get along. Stop crowding around the poor girl.” They backed off and joined the other men a few feet away. 

“I’m sorry, truly. The place appeared empty and I thought that I could stay for a while. I will leave.” You push the covers from your body and maneuver off of the bed. 

Viserys raised his hands in a peaceful motion, “Please, do not feel rushed. If I may ask, who are you and why are you here?” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

Over the seven jewelled hills and beyond the seven falls, you happened upon a home of seven bandits a half year ago. Upon revealing your true identity, they had taken you in - much to the chagrin of Grumpy. However, you provided the skills learned as a maid to contribute to the house and were allowed to stay permanently. After a few weeks of asking, the men had begun to train you in the ways of the sword. 

You were beyond skilled at it, having nicked yourself and a few of the others many times over. It was a learning curve you gradually got over, though you had a long way to go. Despite all your learning, you have yet to join them on their missions. Happy assured you that your talent with the sword was enough, but truly did not feel good to have a woman join them, for he was worried about your safety. 

It was in this group of misfits that you found a family. While Grumpy was still not too keen on your presence, the others welcomed you relatively quickly. You got to know them all on a personal level and truly understand how fitting their cover names were. Aemond fit the Grumpy name. Viserys was always happy, Aegon consistently had a dopey look on his face, while Laenor sneezed near constantly. Addam had the nickname Bashful. He always blushed when you were around and got incredibly flustered when spoken to, but he was very loyal to his friends. Harrold, another one of the older men, was called Sleepy; something he proved nearly daily because if he was not training, he would be found anywhere around the cottage taking a nap. Corlys, or Doc, seemed to take up an almost leader-like role; even though they all worked together as a collective team.

Doc and Happy built you your own room in the cottage. There was a lot of open area on the downstairs level, so they picked a corner and set up walls for your privacy. That was a month after you agreed to stay permanently, and it felt like the final moment in truly becoming family. 

It was the early hours of the morning. You were making breakfast with the help of Dopey. While he was not the brightest, he followed directions well and seemed just pleased to help. The two of you were working diligently. He went to set the table as the others started to wake. They made their way down like clockwork, each settling down in their designated seats. 

When everyone sat and had a plate of food in front of them, Happy spoke, “We think it is time for you to join us on a mission.” His gaze was directed at you. You lowered your fork and tilted your head. 

“Really? I can come?” You held back the excitement that brewed within. 

“A short raid, you will stay back and only interfere if necessary. It is just so you can watch.” Happy reiterated, but you were already smiling widely. 

“Thank you!” You shot out of your seat and walked to his, wrapping your arms around him in a hug and kissing his forehead. Happy turned a shade of bright red. 

“Yes, well, don’t expect to do much,” Grumpy spoke up, “These rich folks always hire terrible guards. There won’t be a need for you to fight.” You walked back to your seat and rolled your eyes. 

“Rich folk aren’t always bad.” You tried to defend. 

“Like that prince you met?” Bashful asked. You groaned internally. A few months prior you let slip of your encounter with the prince and the kindness he showed, regardless of the rudeness you shoved his way. Since then, the men have teased you about him. 

“Not that. I am rich… well… I haven’t been for a long time.” 

“Once a rich girl, always a rich girl,” Grumpy mumbled. 

The morning was spent preparing for some scout work on one of the main roads. The group would wait for a carriage to pass, one that was obviously belonging to a rich person, and they would rob them. Half of the earnings would be distributed to one of the nearby towns, while the other half would go to supporting themselves. 

You now find yourself halfway up a tree that lined the main road through the forest. All of the other men were scattered among other trees, each within view of one another but not from any on the ground. Multiple people had passed, but all appeared to be townsfolk. It was after a few hours that a carriage began to pass. The wood had been carved delicately and embellished with gold. It was beyond a doubt that the person was rich. The only thing that threw her off was the amount of guards on horses surrounding it. 

There had to be no less than twenty men and you were unsure how your friends would handle this. You had never seen them in action before. They all shared looks and communicated through bird calls. You were still learning the meanings of the calls, but one immediately got your attention. It was the call for an attack. 

You watched as your friends descended from their hiding spots in the branches of the trees. They fell like lightning on the soldiers. Upon a closer look, you recognized the armour of the guards and almost gasped. They are royal guards. 

A figure emerged from the carriage with a sword in hand and prepared to fight. You immediately recognized who it was. There was no way you could forget the face of Jacaerys Velaryon. His unruly dark curls fell to his sharp jawline. His stature revealed how strong his form was. The sword in his grasp caught the light. 

You had to intervene. His soldiers were exceptionally trained and you could not leave your friends unaided. You swung from the rope that helped suspend you. Landing on the ground a few feet from Jace, you were intercepted by a guard. Your sword had only ever been used for practice combat, not a skilled soldier. You unsheathed it and blocked the guard's attack. 

The two of you went back and forth. Each time you struck he blocked it, with the same happening to his strikes. He pulled you in and turned your back to his chest. Just as he brought his sword up to plunge into your neck, you elbowed his face and kicked his groin. Once the guard was on his knees and more on your level, you used the hilt of your sword and swung at his helmet, effectively knocking him out. 

When his body fell to the ground, you looked up to see Jace standing there, having watched the whole thing. 

“It’s you!” He spoke. The two of you stood still, each grasping your weapons and unsure how to proceed. You did not wait to respond and swung first. He stepped back and dodged. 

“You’re that maid!” Jacaerys never swung at you but rather deflected your hits. The two of you were engaged in some kind of dance. 

“I’m her,” You responded. Your strikes got harder and Jace pushed back a few times. 

“I don’t want to fight you. Call off these men and we can go our separate ways.” Jace tried to reason. 

You wanted to do that, but knew it was not possible with your friends, “No can do, my prince.” 

The two of you were so focused on the fight, that you failed to notice one of the guards throw a dagger your way. It lodged itself into your shoulder and you cried out in pain, stumbling in your spot. It was then that Dopey called out your name. You watched as realization swept over Jace’s face. He quickly processed the words. 

“Wait, Lady Stonehill? You’re supposed to be dead!” Jace recognized the name as the lady who was said to have passed a mere short months after her father years ago. The name was unique and he pierced it together with you also having been at Castle Stonehill.

Dopey came up on the back of a horse he stole from a guard. He leaned down to lift your injured self onto the horse. Your stomach lay on the saddle behind him. You and Jace had yet to stop looking at one another. There was an underlying force to look at him that would not yield. You wanted to stay, to make sure nothing would happen to him, but it seemed with your injury your group decided to retreat after seizing everything of value. The point was not to kill, that was something that had been emphasized in your training. 

It was always reiterated that the jobs are a swift robbery of goods and nothing else. With that goal achieved, you repositioned yourself on the saddle and wrapped your arms around Dopeys waist. All of the others had clambered to other horses and swiftly fled down the road. The horse you were on followed. You looked back over your shoulder to see the other guards recovering and Jace staring you down. He did not look angry, but rather confused. You hoped he could forgive you. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

“I humbly apologize for the raid while on your travel here, my prince.” The words of Lady Alicent rang out through the great hall of Castle Stonehill. “Those miscreants have targeted these parts for years, it is time my men put a stop to it.” 

Jacaerys had arrived at Castle Stonehill for a momentary visit to discuss taxes for the Crown, but the interception on his travel seemed to be the only topic of focus. None of his men were gravely injured, but he had lost a few pouches of gold and jewels. 

“Thank you for your kind words, Lady Alicent,” He paused for a moment, “May we speak in private?” Jace asked. 

Alicent waved off her guards and the hall cleared, “What is it you wish to speak about, my prince?” 

“I mean no offence, but there seems to be no other way to inform you of this. Lady Alicent, I believe your stepdaughter is alive.” Jace informed. Alicent’s face shifted from curiosity to something bordering on indignation and distaste. She blinked rapidly. 

“What, um, what makes you say such a thing?” Alicent’s hands placed themselves on her stomach in an attempt to keep herself calm. Jace interpreted her actions as reminiscing of grief. 

“The visit I made with my mother months ago, well I ran into this girl who I thought was a maid. When the raiders attacked my travel company, she was there as well. One of them called out her name and well, I believe it is your stepdaughter. She matches the description as well. Maybe-” 

“I am sorry, Prince Jacaerys, but I cannot hear anymore. My stepdaughter is dead, that is final.” Alicent stood firm on her words. 

Jace nods, “Yes, I understand. I am sorry for the distress I have caused.” He nodded to Alicent before making a hasty exit from the great hall. He kept thinking back to his encounter with the woman. He finally, after months of thinking about her after their encounter in the garden, had a name to match her face. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You shifted uncomfortably to try and grab a broom propped in the living space. The bandages on your shoulder moved and you hissed in pain at the sharp feeling hitting you. In the days following your injury in the raid, none of the men had let you lift a single finger. While months ago that would have been a horrible thing for the chores, you had whipped them into shape and they were able to clean properly. However, you still wished to contribute to the house. 

The group marched down the stairs with weapons in their arms. They were going on another raid, as the last few days they opted out so they could watch over you. You stood by the door and opened it for them. One by one, you hugged them goodbye on their way out, giving each a kiss on the cheek for all the help they had given you. The last one, Grumpy, stood in front of you with his arms crossed. 

“You don’t have to worry, I won’t hug you.” You joked. 

Grumpy tilted his head to the side and hummed, “What I said about rich women that day… you’re one of us, not them.” It was the closest thing to an apology you would ever get from him, to be sure. Instead of acknowledging his apology, which would surely elicit a huff of annoyance from him, you chose another option. 

You move forward and wrap him in a gentle hug. His body went stiff, unfamiliar with such kindness. One of his hands went up to put your shoulder awkwardly. After a moment he huffed as a signal to let go. You backed off and flashed him a smile. 

“You secretly care for me, I know it.” 

He moved out the door and began to walk away, “Whatever makes you feel better.” 

You closed the door and looked back at the empty cottage. Making your way to the kitchen area, you decide that you should get started on making food for them when they get back. With your injury, it was bound to take longer than usual, so the sooner the better. 

Hours passed of you prepping pies with one arm. The other would sting in pain each time you tried to use it, so it would be best to get used to your current predicament in hopes it would speed up the healing process. While rolling out the dough, a knock sounded on your door. You stopped your movements and backed from the table. When you walked to the door, you reached for a long knife placed beside it. 

You opened the door while clutching the weapon behind your back. A man stood in a hooded cape. He carried a cane in one hand and a basket in the other. His leg appeared to be in some bandage, but something about it did not look like a temporary injury. 

“Forgive me, sweet girl, but I seem to have lost my way.” The man smiled, “My name is Larys. Could you help me find the right path to the local market?” 

“Oh, I can help you with that,” You notice the man looked bleary and most likely dehydrated, “Come inside and rest for a while, I can get you something to drink.” You ushered him into the cottage and to a seat while stealthily placing the weapon back in its hidden place. Once you served him a cup of water he thanked you immensely for the help. 

“No need to thank me, sir. Kindness always goes a long way.” You sat across from him at the table. 

“I have nothing to repay you.” The man muttered. 

“Oh, you don’t have to.” You spoke. 

He lifted the lid of his basket that was on the table, “Here, at least take one of these apples. I grow them back home.” He reached in and pulled out an apple. It was the most deep shade of red and covered in a shiny gleam. His hand held it out to you and you decided to pick it up. Holding it in your hand you inspected it. 

“Well, I was starting to get hungry. Thank you, sir.” You took a bite of the apple and relished the taste. Some juice dribbled down your chin and you wiped it away. “Oh, you’re low on water. I’ll get you some more.” 

Just as you get out of your seat, your body swayed oddly. Tingles made their way across your limbs and the edges of your vision dimmed. You stepped forward but stopped when your sight blacked out for a moment. It felt like you were losing control of your body. A sick feeling developed in your stomach. The apple fell from your hand. The sound it made when hitting the floor was muffled as if you were underwater. Your knees buckled under your weight and you felt yourself falling to the floor. Before you even made it there, your vision went black. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

The band of men strolled merrily down the path to their home. It had been a successful day and they had just given half their share to one of the nearby villages. They joked with one another. Sneezy held Dopey in a headlock and began to mess up his hair, much to Dopey’s protest and Grumpy’s amused smile. 

Doc went to open the door and noticed it was unlocked and slightly ajar. He raised his hand to signal the men to be quiet. They all hushed up and saw what Doc spotted. All of them pulled out their weapons. When Doc opened the door, they funnelled in. The cottage appeared empty. Grumpy took charge and moved in further, but dropped his sword in shock upon reaching the other side of the dining table. 

The other men rushed to him and had similar reactions. Your body was on the floor, collapsed and unresponsive. Doc rushed forward and flipped you onto your back. He placed his hands below your nose but felt no air. He fell back from his crouched position as grief struck him. 

“She… she’s not breathing.” His voice came out in a helpless whisper. While the words were light, their meaning felt like iron chains on the men. They all stood around her body, both shocked and driven to hopelessness. Grumpy moved first, his eye having caught something peculiar. He reached down under the table and came back with an apple in his hand. A single bite had been taken out of it. 

After a moment, Grumpy spoke, “It was Alicent.” 

“We don’t know that for sure-” Doc began but had been caught off. 

“Seven hells, even I know it was her doing,” Dopey chimed in. 

Grumpy placed the apple down and marched upstairs. They followed him to see him rummaging through one of their large chests. Second after second he pulled out varying types of weapons and placed them methodically on the ground. 

“What are you doing?” Happy questioned. 

At first, he did not respond, not until everything from the chest laid out on display, “We are going to Castle Stonehenge and we are killing her for this.” 

“Grumpy, we don’t kill.” Bashful interjected. Some of them shifted in their stances. 

“So Alicent gets away with it?” Grumpy raised his voice, “We stick up for our own, and she was one of us.” 

Dopey crouched down and picked up a longsword, “I’m with you.” 

Grumpy looked at all the others with the hope they would join in. One by one they assembled their own collection of weapons. She may be dead, but there was no way they would let her memory die with her. Now, more than ever, they would fight stronger than they have in the past. Only one mission was left in mind, to avenge her death and spread her story - so that she would never be forgotten. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

It started as a warmth building in your stomach. It spread throughout your body further, and the more it did the more that heat increased. It clawed its way through your veins, burning the capillaries and tearing through your muscles to burn the bone beneath. Your lungs worked in opposition, for every breath you took seemed to only increase that cursed fever that took hold. It was in your ceaseless torture that dreams spread forth; wicked and wild. 

Taunts of your lost childhood flickered on the backs of your eyelids. What-could-have-been’s propositioned like a devil's deal of a promised future, staked on the trade of your soul in exchange. Given the chance, you may have been persuaded to pray for such a deal. Your father's voice rang through your mind, but it was so faint and muffled you could not make out the words. Truthfully, to the regret and pain of every fibre of your being, you had forgotten his face and voice over time; even more so your mother. 

It was cruel, beyond any punishment that could have been warranted for transgressions in your past lives. Surely, the gods could be cruel, but to be so minacious in their plan for you bordered them on the side of the cursed souls in the seven hells. Perspiration covered your body as it fought off the fever. No amount of ice in the world could aid your affliction. Your mind fought for control, or really for any semblance of consciousness beyond that of the haze plaguing your mind. 

You could feel the thrashing of your body and the hands holding you down. They felt cold in comparison to the heat of your skin and you welcomed it. A voice, as foggy as the meadow outside your cottage and refreshing as the dew on grass in the morning, spoke through your haze. It was familiar, but you could not place its origins. 

“Come back to us, my lady.” 

The depths of the boiling ocean you were swimming in gave rise to creatures below. Faces of evil men in your past voyaged through those depths, like sharks surrounding prey. However, the most fear you felt was in the memories of your stepmother, Alicent. Her cruel sneer and wicked tongue that always seemed to be ready to fire a quip of the most vile of insults coated in a thin veil of sugar; sweetness afflicted with poison, her greatest weapon. 

Time was an illusion. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, and weeks made no sense in your haze. For all you knew years could have passed suspended in this torture. It would not surprise you. But just as quickly as hopelessness seated itself in your soul, the heat was doused in water and you felt yourself clear again. Your muscles ached and your head pounded, but the relief of no longer being under such a curse took priority. 

Your eyes blinked open and struggled to see through your blurry vision. When you managed to get a hold of your sight, the roof of a canopy bed was all you could see. The engraved wood was familiar. It took many minutes to get up, but once you were sat in the plush bed you recognized where you were. 

Your childhood bedchamber appeared to have gone through no change at all since your father's death. You could not even remember the last time you were in this room, having been cast out and forbidden to go in. Perhaps you were dead and this was your afterlife. You had no idea if it was heaven or hell. The happiness of being in this room was undercut by the pain you felt for what could have been. 

It was then that your memories came like an opened floodgate. The man you helped and the sudden feeling of blacking out. The apple… it had to have been the apple. You understood that it must be a plot construed by Alicent. Your placement in the room was not a gift, but one last taunt she made before killing you for good. You’d be damned if you went out without a fight now that you’ve learned well enough from your found family. 

You scrambled out of bed and searched around the room, looking for anything that could be of service. In a drawer in a random dresser, you found a sewing collection with some shears. This will have to do. 

You positioned yourself on the side of the door that would be covered when open and waited with bated breath. Shuffled footsteps sounded from outside and you prepared to strike. The door creaked open and the person walked in. You surged forward with your hand preparing to plunge the knife into them, but a hand caught your wrist with the shears. 

“It would be regrettable to stab me, for killing the crown prince is the most heinous of crimes. I would hate for you to meet such a sudden end on your twice emergence from the dead.” The voice of Jacaerys Velaryon shook you from your adrenaline-filled mind. You dropped the shears. 

“Prince Jacaerys?” He released your wrist from his grip and took a step back to give you space. 

“It’s a relief to see you awake, my lady,” Jace spoke. 

You swayed in your spot, the fear your body ran off of ebbed away, “What…” You stumbled forward and Jace moved quickly to catch you. One of his hands wrapped around your waist while the other supported your back. 

“You should still be abed,” He uttered. Jace guided you back to the bed and helped you sit down. Your back rested against the headboard. The prince grabbed a nearby chair and moved it to the side of the bed you sat on and settled on it. 

“I am sure you have… many questions.” 

You huffed, “That may be the biggest understatement of the century.” 

“You got me there,” Jace smiled gently, “Your, uh, friends stationed themselves outside the room and wouldn’t leave while you rested. There would never be more than two gone at a time. They’re staying in the room across from yours, I can wake them up so they can speak with you.” 

He made a move to get out of his chair, but you interrupted, “Wait, no. Let them rest. How long have I been out?” 

Jace hesitated before answering, “Two weeks.” You gaped at the answer, but he continued, “Honestly, no one was sure you would wake.” 

You looked down at the blanket strew across your lap and traced your fingers over the delicately sewn design of vines. Two weeks of missed time, suspended in that state of burning pain. You blinked back the tears that pooled in your eyes and cleared your throat. 

“Forgive me for my language, my prince, but what in the Seven Hell’s happened?” 

Jace rested his hands on his thighs and leaned back, conveying his openness, “To be honest, my lady, I am not entirely sure. It was a shock. I was having dinner with Alicent when your… friends descended. I still have no clue how they got past both the castle and my own guards. They were a fury to be sure. Hurling such accusations at Alicent.”

You wanted to speak, but violent coughing raked through your throat and had you seize for a moment. Jace got out of his seat and reached for a cup that was placed on the bedside table. He poured the water into the glass and held it out for you. When you went to reach for the cup, Jace grabbed your hand and moved it back down to the covers. He brought it to your lips and tilted it so you could drink. Once you had a sip, he pulled back and waited if you wished for more. You shook your head, muttering a thank you, and he put it back on the table before settling in the chair again. 

Jace continued, “They claimed Alicent faked your death to take your inheritance. That you had been ultimately killed by her with poison. I must admit, I did not believe them at first. But, a knight, Ser Erryk corroborated their story. Only then did Alicent fumble under the pressure, her story of innocence did not match up and began to crumble under scrutiny.” 

You were in a state of shock. Never, in any dream or wish, could you have ever thought of Alicent being seen as the true person she was. That her crimes would be revealed. 

“I had her arrested.” Jace’s words had rung in your head. The picture of Alicent in a cell came to mind, and the relief in that image could not be measured. Perhaps, finally, you may be out of reach from her conniving talons. 

“I… How am I still alive?” You questioned. 

Jace cleared his throat, “Well, I sharply questioned her for information regarding the poison. The castle healer knew of an antidote, but we were unsure if it would work, given how long it took to get to you. I am glad it did.” The corners of his lips turned up slightly. 

“I need to see her.” You spoke. 

“Absolutely not, I cannot allow that, my lady.” Jace shook his head. 

“I have a right to see her. I am the lady of this castle, am I not?” You retorted. Your eyebrow rose in challenge and Jace nodded. 

“You could barely stand for a few moments. When you are strong enough, I will personally take you to her. And yes, you are the lady of this castle so for you and your people, you must rest.” He emphasized the final three words, pausing after each. 

The finality in his tone had you lean backwards and close your eyes. The pounding in your head had yet to cease, but it had eased. You pinched the bridge of your nose and began to breathe in and out. 

“I sent word to my mother. She is coming to oversee Lady Alicent’s trial.” Jace lowered his voice, “Ser Erryk has physical evidence of a box meant for your heart. He was sent to carve it out of you… Um, another man was found, the one who gave you that apple. He is locked up and will be put on trial with Alicent.” 

That day when Ser Erryk helped you felt like years ago. You were a different person then. Naive enough to believe Alicent would do something kind for you for once. While it had been the lowest point of your life, without it you would not be who you are now. A changed woman, with a true family and purpose. 

“I wish to see my family now.” You whispered. Despite the conversation sucking all your strength, you wanted to see your friends. Jace stood up and nodded. He did not say anything further, in case he would stress you more than you were at that moment. His hand gripped the door handle and he opened it. Jace turned back around to you and looked as though he wanted to say something but refrained. His figure went through the door and closed it, leaving you to stew in the overwhelming amount of information you were fed. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

The following week waiting for the arrival of Queen Rhaenyra was spent recovering. The shoulder wound you had sustained in the raid against Jace and his men had almost healed. Your body had fought off the last of the poison days ago, but everyone around you still treated you like glass. It had begun to grind down on your nerves. 

Visiting Alicent had been a decision you turned against. There was nothing you wished to say to her and nothing she could ever say to you that would be worth your time. It would only ever throw you into more distress. Your new family settled into castle life surprisingly well, a fact you often teased them about. However, they still showed some form of distrust towards Jacaerys. 

The prince had become a close friend in the short time spent together. He would visit you often in your chambers as you recovered. When you were cleared to walk, he would escort you around the caste. In his words, he accompanied you in the event that you collapsed, but you knew he did not have to as there were plenty of guards that could have done the job. 

Despite the closeness between you two, some of your friends - mainly Grumpy - were still put off by him. Grumpy had approached you at one point to question Jace’s intentions, a conversation that made your cheeks flush and heart race. After clarifying that Jace was just being a gentleman, Grumpy acquiesced his hostility to the prince but still watched him with a piercing gaze when he went near you. 

It was not just Grumpy that had become more protective over you. All of the men had heightened awareness of every little thing that happened in Castle Stonehill. There was rarely a moment when no less than two were by your side. They went so far as to have you dismiss your night guards and take shifts outside your door. When meals were made for you, Doc and Happy would watch over the cooks in the kitchen. 

It was an unspoken fear they had; of the possibility of Alicent getting someone to come for you. You knew that so long as she was alive in a cell they would continue to act like this. Jace often joked about you having your own mini army, or legion of defenders that safeguarded your every waking moment. You would laugh if it was amusing. At first, their actions were endearing, but now they felt more stifling as of late. 

When Queen Rhaenyra arrived, you were surprised by the soft warmth she brought to whatever room she occupied. She was strong-willed and an excellent conversationalist. Her kindness was refreshing, and you could see the resemblance in personality between her and Jace. Though, you were able to note he must carry more of King Harwin’s looks than his mother. A small piece of yourself was jealous whenever you would watch Jace and Rhaenyra spend time together. They were close, and you yearned for what kind of relationship you could have had with your mother. 

A part of you wondered, had Alicent not been as vain, if you and her could have been close. 

You were in your chemise and struggled to change the bandages on your shoulder. Regret for having dismissed the doctor washed over you. You were standing in your room, with your head tilted to look at the stitched wound. The door abruptly opened. You looked up to see Jace had walked in. Upon seeing your state of near undress, he let out a surprised yelp and turned his back to you. The sound of his startled voice made you laugh. 

“I am so sorry, my lady. I do not know what I was thinking to not knock like that- oh, my mother will be furious. Again, I express my deepest condolences. This-” Jace began to frantically apologise. 

You began to laugh harder, finding this situation amusing.. Had it happened to you months ago, you would have been mortified. Now, it does not bother you. Especially since it was him who happened to walk in.  

“It is alright, Jacaerys. I know you meant nothing nefarious.” The two of you had common ground. When away from the listening ears of court, you could ignore propriety in referring to one another by your titles. It pleased a part of you to hear him address you by name rather than Lady Stonehill. 

He still kept his back to you, “I will, um, come back later.” 

“Could you…” You debated if you should ask, given that it was not entirely appropriate, “Could you help me?” Jace turned around to face you, but kept his gaze in line with your face. He coughed to clear his throat. A vibrant red flush spread from his cheeks to his neck. 

“Yeah, uh, of course.” He moved forward hesitantly. The table next to you had a silver tray with some ointment and wraps. He cleaned off his hands in the bowl of water beside it and took some of the ointment. Standing next to you, the height difference was apparent. His chin when looking down only reached the top of your head. Jace’s breath was calm as he applied the ointment to the stitched area on your shoulder. 

You had cursed yourself inwardly for asking him to do this. Your brain only seemed to focus on his calloused fingertips gently applying the cool ointment. Your mind ran wild and you closed your eyes in an attempt to calm your mind. He methodically wrapped up your shoulder. When he finished, his hands lingered on the skin around the wrap. 

You coughed subtly to get his attention. Jace blinked and backed away, moving his gaze to the floor as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“Thank you, Jace.” You were unaware of the effect it had on him to use his nickname rather than his full name. You moved behind a room divider for some privacy and began to put on the other layers of your clothing. 

“Are you… okay? With everything going on.” Jace spoked to you from the other side of the wood divider. Today was the day of Alient’s execution. You had ruminated on it for countless hours during the last few days. 

“I thought that maybe I would feel bad about her death… I truly feel nothing but relief. I guess Sir Erryk never needed to cut out my heart, there seems to not be one.” You shuffled your dress over your head and adjusted the ties on your back, having perfected the routine by having to do it yourself for many years. 

“You have every right to feel that way about her execution. Everything she has done to you… you have a heart, I hope you know that.” Jace reassured. You walked out from behind the divider to look straight at him. 

“And you’ve suddenly become an expert in matters of the heart?” You raised a brow with challenge as you teased him. However, Jace did not seem as though he was joking. 

His gaze held an intensity you could not decipher, “Yes, recently so.” 

You ceased your jesting face and came to understand the gravity of his words. It was not a surprise, for this was something the two of you had been blatantly ignoring as of late. The two of you failed to evade one another. It was an invisible force that pulled you together. Jace took one step forward and there was only a few inches from you. 

“Jace, I…” You sucked in a breath. 

“You don’t have to say anything, I will not make you feel forced to. Nor do I wish for you to feel compelled to reciprocate what I feel. But, I know you have noticed it. I only ask for consideration.” Jace’s eyes held nothing but sincerity. He looked down at you and the closeness felt more intimate than anything you have experienced in your life. 

“I feel insane even saying it,” Jace clarified, “It has happened so quickly, feeling this kind of love, but I would not have it any other way.” 

You were finally able to respond, “I will be honest with you. I don’t know if I love you, Jace, I hardly know you. We have spent a lot of time together and I know there is something there, something I do wish to pursue. Why don’t we start by continuing to get to know one another?” 

Jace nodded desperately at your words as if he clung to every syllable. You reached out to rest your hands on his chest because of how close he was. When you did not push him away, Jace took that as a positive sign and moved his arms to wrap loosely around you with his hands resting on your back. He moved his face closer but stopped just short of yours. He waited for a sign of approval from you. When you gestured with your head in approval, Jace leaned forward and connected your lips. 

In that moment, everything around you ceased to be a reality. It was a promise of protection and devotion given by Jace. His lips were warm and soft, a reflection of his personality. His nose pressed into your cheek. The two of you moved in sync with one another. Normally, you are hyper-aware of all of your senses, but with him, they all seemed to fade away. All you could focus on was him; his arms around you, his lips on yours, and the feeling of desire coursing through you. 

Jace pulled back enough to rest his forehead on yours. Both of you inhaled deeply to catch your breath. Upon opening your eyes, you saw that Jace was already staring at you. He held a dazzling smirk on his face. 

“I hope I do not disappoint you.” He spoke. 

You decided to tease him a little, “I don’t think it could be as disappointing as that kiss you gave me.” 

Jace feigned a look of hurt, but it was tinged with a smile. “Oh, so that is how this will be?” 

“Of course, my prince. I will always have the upper hand.” You giggled. Jace moved his hands from your back to wrap around your waist and pulled you flush against him. The feelings that action elicited from you were all too new and addicting. The closeness of your bodies set your veins alight. This was something you would have no shame in getting used to.

“Well then, my lady, I shall rise to the occasion.” Jace leaned back in to kiss you. 

_____________

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ note: that was part 1 of Between the Pages! i am super excited to start off this series, as I had developed plans for this back in 2022. there were entire storyboards planned, but i never got to writing them. thank you for all the support <3

if you want to be added to any of my taglists, click here.

𖥔 ݁ ˖ taglist: @uniquecutie-puffs @dracaryxzs @beebeechaos @libdarkheart @whodis? @void21

[linkons-most-wanted]

Diagnosing the LIs

This is just for fun! 💕 Not a serious commentary or diagnostic advice.

Zayne ❄️

Autistic, obviously

It's in the way he BLINKS, like, c'mon. They knew what they were doing.

Flat affect, dry sense of humor, others initially see him as cold/robotic, etc

Precise and deliberate in every aspect of his life

Has a set of consistent routines that are very important to him (including exercise and rest)

Sensory seeking through sweet food and physical intimacy.

Carrots are sensory hell--either weird and stringy or too mushy.

Special interests: MC (of course), Cardiology (especially application of Evol)

ETA: And he canonically arranges all the plushies by type and color.

Xavier 💫

ADHD - Inattentive

Literally daydreaming in the back of class when he's in school.

Constantly falling asleep / zoning out

Cannot remember the rules of Kitty Cards to save his life

Pretends he didn't hear questions he doesn't want to answer

Has an extremely loose relationship with showing up to work consistently / on time

Really able to enjoy the moment and take solace in the little things, day dreaming, etc

But when it comes to what he finds most interesting, i.e. training and battle, he's locked in

Rafayel 🐡

ADHD - Hyperactive

Implusive, e.g. walking off mid-conversation to go do whatever came to mind

Whines about being bored, looks to you for entertainment/stimulation

Hyperfocuses on painting and completely ignores Thomas/the world

Big, heartfelt emotions and mood swings. He can't help it--you make him feel a lot of things

Knee is constantly bouncing if you make him sit still for too long (idk if this is canon but it FEELS canon)

Sylus 🏎️

AuDHD

Frequently shifts hyper-focuses, always executing to a high standard but not sticking with the same thing for long. Weapons, jewelry, horse back riding, real estate investments...

Excellent pattern-matching is why his businesses are so successful. He can juggle a crazy amount of logistics at once.

The special interest that never fades is MC, of course

Rather than avoiding eye contact, makes overly intense eye contact

Did he miss a social cue or is he being playful on purpose? You'll never know.

ETA: I cannot BELIEVE I forgot to mention the sensory thing about hating bright light! And also collecting shiny rocks!

Caleb 🍎

OSDD 1B

Extreme example of having a "work self" and a "home self", though seems able to access memories from both states. Tendencies present since before the Toring chip (due to childhood trauma) but extremely exacerbated by the chip

Dissociation is adaptive--allows him to protect his vulnerable, sensitive self and still show it to MC while dealing with all of the everything

Puts his feelings aside and blocks them off, to a fault

His cheerfulness is just as genuine and heartfelt as his longing and concern 💕

[drowsyapple]

hiiiiii i just had the worst day in a while lol 💔

so I'd like to humble request the cutest, fluffiest Caleb thing you could possibly think of 🥹

(I'm gonna do this on anon but we're moots, I'm just too shy and sad rn lol)

AWWWW ANON!! I HOPE YOUR DAY GETS BETTER <3 thank you so much for coming to me for a little pick me up :’) this is the first written work I’m putting out there (other than a headcanon) and it’s ALL FOR YOUUUUU <333 

For anyone else having a bad day, pls enjoy some domestic Caleb fluff :)) 

wc: 913

🍎🍎🍎

The rain pattered against the window in a steady, melancholic rhythm, matching the heavy weight in your chest as you trudged through the door of your shared apartment. Your day had been a relentless parade of frustrations—missed deadlines, a spilled coffee, and a crushing sense of loneliness that clung to you no matter how hard you tried to shake it.  

You kicked off your shoes with a sigh, not even bothering to turn on the entrance light as you shuffled inside. The apartment was dim, the gray afternoon light casting long shadows across the living room. You just wanted to collapse onto the couch and disappear into the cushions, letting the day dissolve into nothingness.  

But then, a warm, familiar scent curled into your senses. Vanilla, apple, and cinnamon. Your nose twitched, and your tired eyes flickered toward the kitchen.  

And there he was.  

Caleb stood by the stove, humming softly to himself as he stirred something in a pot, his broad shoulders relaxed, his movements effortless. The golden glow of the stove light haloed him in soft warmth, making the scene feel almost dreamlike. He hadn’t noticed you yet, too focused on whatever he was making, but the sight of him alone was enough to make your throat tighten.  

You didn’t realize you were crying until a tear slipped free, rolling down your cheek.  

A soft clink of the spoon against the pot. Caleb turned, and his entire expression shifted the moment he saw you. His purple eyes widened, then softened with instant understanding.  

“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, abandoning the stove in an instant.  

You barely had time to wipe at your face before his arms were around you, pulling you into his chest. His embrace was warm, solid, safe—like coming home after being lost in a storm. You buried your face against him, fingers curling into the fabric of his sweater as the dam finally broke.  

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled, voice muffled against him. “I don’t even know why I’m crying—”  

“Shhh,” he soothed, one hand cradling the back of your head while the other rubbed slow circles between your shoulder blades. “You don’t have to explain. Just let it out, ‘kay? I’ve got you.”  

His voice was so tender, so unwavering, that it only made you cling tighter. He didn’t push, didn’t ask for answers—just held you, his heartbeat steady beneath your ear, his presence a silent promise that you weren’t alone.  

When your sobs finally quieted into shaky breaths, Caleb gently tilted your chin up, his thumb brushing away the last of your tears. His eyes searched yours, full of nothing but warmth and concern.  

“Bad day?” he asked softly.  

You nodded, sniffling. “The worst.”  

His lips curved into a small, understanding smile. “Well, lucky for you, I happen to be an expert in bad-day remedies.”  

You huffed a weak laugh. “Oh yeah?”  

“Mhm.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead before guiding you toward the couch. “First step: comfort.”  

Before you could protest, he had already grabbed the softest blanket from the basket nearby, draping it over your shoulders like a cape. Then, with exaggerated care, he fluffed a pillow and placed it in your lap.  

“Second step,” he continued, straightening up, “sustenance.”  

He disappeared into the kitchen for a moment before returning with a steaming mug. The rich, sweet scent of hot chocolate, real hot chocolate he made from scratch, filled the air. You accepted it gratefully, the warmth seeping into your chilled fingers.  

Caleb knelt in front of you, his hands resting on your knees as he peered up at you with those endless amethyst eyes. “Third step,” he said, voice dropping into a playful whisper, “distraction.”  

You raised a brow. “What kind of distraction?”  

His grin turned mischievous. “The best kind.”  

Before you could react, his fingers skated up your sides, tickling mercilessly. You shrieked, nearly spilling your drink as you writhed away, laughter bursting out of you despite your earlier gloom.  

“Caleb! Stop—!” you gasped between giggles.  

He relented, but not without pressing a smug kiss to your nose. “There’s that smile,” he murmured, satisfied.  

You swatted at him half-heartedly, but your chest felt lighter already.  

Caleb settled beside you on the couch, pulling you into his side as you sipped your hot chocolate. The rain continued outside, but now it felt cozy rather than oppressive, the sound blending with the quiet hum of the apartment.  

“You know,” he said after a moment, fingers idly playing with your hair, “I was thinking we could order takeout tonight. That new place you like. And maybe put on that terrible rom-com you pretend you don’t love.”  

You tilted your head to look at him. “You’d subject yourself to that?”  

He smirked. “For you? Absolutely.”  

Your heart swelled. This man—this impossibly kind, patient, loving man—had a way of making even the worst days feel bearable.  

You set your mug aside and turned fully toward him, cupping his face in your hands. His expression softened, his eyes flickering between yours.  

“Thank you,” you whispered.  

He leaned in, pressing his forehead to yours. “Always.”  

And just like that, the world felt right again.  

[violettressedd]

.ᐟ introduction .ᐟ

[dni cishet men and minors, i'm a raging dyke]

─── · · · ──── ✪ ──── · · · ───

[ personal info ]

⭑ lesbian | brat | sub lean (i'll dom if it sounds fun)

⭑ they/she/he | nb dyke | 18 | masc4femme :]

terms: prefer neutral and masc terms, but i'm not picky

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[ general ]

!FREE PALESTINE!

DNI: cishet men ! minors ! racists ! homo/transphobes ! zionists ! pedos ! terfs !

⭑ asks/dms are open but i'm famously bad at answering dms. i will respond but it'll take a while. don't dm just to sext

⭑ if you just want to get a quick answer, send an ask! i'll respond much more quickly there and i love all my anons.

⭑ not looking for an online relationship at the moment. all flirting i do is just for fun :]

¡TRANS RIGHTS! disrespectfully fuck off if you disagree

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[ kinks ]

⭑ overstim ⭑ biting/marking ⭑ bondage ⭑ degradation ⭑ praise ⭑ edging ⭑ teasing ⭑ bratting ⭑ free use ⭑ light cnc ⭑ masochism ⭑ corruption ⭑ begging ⭑ choking ⭑

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[ sfw stuffs i love ]

⭑ messy kisses ⭑ cuddling ⭑ classic dates ⭑ obsessive romance ⭑ non-sexual praise/worship/devotion ⭑ playful flirting ⭑ info-dumping ⭑ literally any fluff i am a hopeless romantic ⭑

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[ no ]

⭑ scat ⭑ watersports ⭑ age-play ⭑ race-play ⭑ incest/fauxcest ⭑ zoo ⭑ feederism ⭑ rape ⭑

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tags:

#vt asks - responses to asks

#vt ramblings - my horny/shitposts

anons:

🍒🧩💝💋🪐🐾🍀🐌🦕🌷🍎🪨🔮☀️🩰🐶🤎🌙🐦‍⬛🚬🐎🐈‍⬛🪸🪽🖤🐇🧭🥕🎀

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[vikkirosko]

Okay, I need something about Nightmare. To tell the truth, I basically need something on Undertale and AU, but there are no requests on this topic, so I'm doing my best

🍎 Nightmare x Reader headcanons Accused without guilt 📚

Nightmare has visited other universes. The negative emotions he found there attracted him, but one universe he was drawn to seemed strange to him. There were a lot of positive emotions, but there was a corner in which negative emotions accumulated. This piqued his curiosity and he decided to go there, ready at any moment to go back to his castle, away from such an unpleasant positive. The place he found himself in was strange. It reminded him of a castle. Stone walls, and the only weak source of light was the candle you were sitting in. You were the source of negativity in this universe, and there was enough of it for him to notice it and pay attention to you. You looked like you rarely left this gloomy, empty room, there were dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep, and in principle you didn't look very well, but as soon as he appeared in the room, your gaze darted to him, even though he was hiding in the dark. The fact that you noticed him couldn't help but make him smile faintly

He asked you why you were in this room, and when he heard your voice, he frowned a little. Your voice was quiet, hoarse, as if you hadn't spoken in a very long time, but you told him, even though you needed to take breaks. You're obviously not used to talking for so long. You told him that you were locked in this room when you were a child and since then you have hardly left this room, and the only people who came to you were those who brought you food or hurt you again. Your words made him frown harder. Your story reminded him of his past. He asked you why you were locked up, but you couldn't answer his question. They never told you the clear reasons, only what you considered nonsense, like that you were cursed, that you attracted failures. It's like from the moment you were born, everyone you met thought you were bad, but no one could tell you why. The more he listened to you, the more anger burned in his chest. He hated when innocent people were being tortured, and he wasn't going to let it continue

The only thing you managed to ask him was who he was. Nightmare said he was the king of negativity, and then he disappeared. He didn't see your faint, faint smile and quiet gratitude for talking to you. You were trying to sleep again. Only in your dreams were you free. It would seem that you could accept your fate and then you might feel a little better, but you couldn't. You hated those who locked you up, even if you once considered them your loved ones. It's been too long for you to continue to have any warm feelings for them. The screams and noise outside brought you out of your slumber. You didn't know what was going on, but you sat there listening to the screams start and end. This continued until the screams finally died down. You didn't know what happened, but you weren't sure if you wanted to be found or not. Both options could have ended with your death. When the door opened, you squeezed your eyes shut because of the bright light and heard voices. Unfamiliar voices that said that, apparently, Nightmare was talking about you. One of the skeletons, and it was them, helped you get up and reach the portal through which you entered the castle of the king of negativity

You were able to see your mysterious guest better and he felt that the negativity in your soul had not gone away, but now he could use it to his advantage. Just as he took Killer, Dust, and Horror to himself, so he took you. He sensed magic in you that was fueled by the pain you had experienced throughout your life, and with proper guidance, your magic could become a powerful force. But first you had to at least start living. He assigned it to Killer, who explained to you where everything was in your new home, he told you about everything, and Nightmare watched you from the sidelines. But he didn't expect to find you in his library. You were sitting right on the floor, quietly muttering to yourself the text written in the book. It was like you were trying to figure out how to pronounce certain words. He watched your efforts for a few minutes and finally interrupted you, asking what you were doing there. You quietly told him that you would like to read the books that were in his library, if he didn't mind. Your request seemed strange, but he saw no reason to refuse it. You often began to come to the library, and Nightmare watched you, feeling satisfied with how books fascinated you, as if it were the most interesting thing you had seen in your entire life, and perhaps it really was

Every day you were filled with life. You looked better, you spoke more confidently and louder, but even when you had a smile on your lips, Nightmare felt the darkness, the negativity that settled in your soul. You couldn't get rid of it even if you wanted to, and he wouldn't let you. You were one of his confidants, you were the one who connected his life with negativity, even if you haven't fully realized it yet. He wasn't ready to admit that he saw himself in you in the past. But he didn't have anyone who could help him, but he was able to find you and now he wasn't going to let you go. But he didn't know that you were and wasn't going to leave. You were grateful to Nightmare for saving you, and you weren't going to betray him. You were bound to him until your death, and nothing could have changed that

[distressed-bride]

🍎 Sometimes I wonder if Caleb ever had a "Ragnar Dreams of Home" moment..

It's been months since the explosion, he hasn't returned to Linkon yet not even to admire you from afar. You still believe he's dead. Sometimes he wonders if you cry for him.

The whirrings, beeps, the cold darkness and the agony in his chest are his only companions in the Deepspace tunnel right now. He sent away his team because right not the sheer octaves of their voices, irritates him.

This is the life he chose to play a puppet in. A cold colonel but a victim at the hands of a fate he couldn't control. His career as a fighter pilot?Gone. His ideal life in Linkon? Gone. It'a better than seeing you fade before his eyes again and this is the price that he must pay. Your safety and life is why he does this.

He treads a path full of hyenas and snakes in Skyhaven, careful to dodge them all. When you open your heart to beasts, they smell blood so no one will see not even a smile from him here.

Sometimes he thinks of how he failed his friends, his family and especially you. He loved you all of his life, dreamt of you all of his life but would you want a man with one arm, a chip in his head that makes him do deeds even he is ashamed of? King of the Playground, the DAA's Golden Boy and a Colonel now, he should feel ontop of the world but instead he feels like a locust under the boot of life.

Rubbing his eyes, he sighs, looking around, the control room is lonely at this time but he prefers it this way.

He turns to look at the window and gasps loudly, outside isn't the dim light of the Tunnel.

502 Bloomshore District bathed in golden orange light greets his shocked eyes. The trees lining the street sway, the old cat prowls around, the wind he imagines is warm yet cool.

His old house that he shared with you, grew up with you and watched you blossom into a young woman is still intact.

Gideon is in the yard, grinning and waving at him, when they see Gideon's eyes look away, Timothy, Blythe and Professor Louis follow his gaze, their expressions light up immediately. That is how Caleb used to feel; bright. People used to smile at him, wave him over, now they just want his power. Caleb's lips quiver.

"Hey Caleb, come here." They say with a laugh. He wants to leave his seat, find a way out of the craft, take off the stiffling uniform and run to them but he stays frozen in place.

On the other size of the yard are the neighbourhood bullies turned to friends, climbing ontop of the wall, they're frozen in time as children. Each is holding a paper a plane, they throw it towards him but the planes will never reach, Caleb. A simpler time, when his worries were not so much. He could walk around the neighbourhood, deal with any kid who dared to try him and have a shelter to return to.

But on the wooden porch with the shadows of twilight dancing across it stands Gran and you. His breath hitches as his heart hammers in his chest. Caleb does a double take. Gran is alive and you are waiting for him.

The old woman looks at Caleb with great pride, it sparkles in her eyes. His chest caves in when she mouths "I'm proud of you." He wished she could see him now, if only he wasn't the monster he was now.

But next to her, is the reason he pushes through the pain, the darkness, the reason he clings to whatever memories he can, the reason why this tsunami called life hasn't pulled him over and why he will claw onto any piece of driftwood that he can. His sanctuary, his hope, his one slither of light; you.

You're just as beautiful as he always remembered with your radiant ____ eyes, beautiful hair, lips ready to call him a big dummy then laugh. He can hear it in his mind, dainty and melodious sometimes, loud and unladylike at other times. Which one would you show him if he returned to your life?

When your eyes light up brighter than the others, your lips part almost as if in a prayer. A prayer of his coming back home, that has been answered, Caleb feels a warm, comforting sensation, as if he's returned home. Relief washes over your eyes when you see him. He wants to feel you in his arms, feel your hair through a right arm that is his, he wants your scent yet he is trembles at the thought of how you've changed as time passed on without him.

Leaving grandma behind you run off of the porch past the children, Timothy, Gideon, Blythe and the Professor, your hands raise from the side as you try to keep up with the ship, outstretched you try to reach for him in this illusion. Time slows as he watches you, yearning melts into his flesh. Caleb wants to stop, he wants the pain to end, his breathing becomes laboured in a twisted mix of sadness and relief. In his dreams you want him and you're reaching out for him.

He sees himself as a child, running with you in the summers, taking your hand to the store or to the playground. The little boy in him aches for you to play with him again, to tell him everything will be okay.

"Please tell me that I am strong and I can handle anything in the world again, pipsqueak." Adult him pleads.

Subconsciously Caleb raises his hand as if to grab yours but a screen blocks it. In a strangled sound, he realizes the dream is fading, you are blurred, fading and static.

"Caleb, come back. Don't leave." You mouth, leaving the yard and running on the pavement, an animal flies past you; a crane.

But the ship sails past, the illusion of you can't keep up and it's back to the blue flashes of screens and maps swallow you up into an abyss.

Shaking his head, he comes back to reality, his heart hammers quickly, with trembling fingers he touches his chest. A thin line of hope swells there as he looks at the windows again, hoping to see a glimpse of Bloomshore one more time.

Nothing but empty space as far as the eye can see. His old friends, family, home and his life are gone.

Caleb is alone again once more. In his mind he should have never left _____.

[maravdrs]

Hiiii. For your cowboy dr if it's ok!!

🍎 what is your biggest temptation? in your lives, there may have been many different kinds of temptations. maybe it’s someone dangerous, someone you shouldn’t fall in love with. perhaps it’s a career so dangerous it could kill you.

🐝 what’s the recent buzz? what kind of gossip you’re willing to share in this reality? someone cheated with someone? co-worker has been sleeping around? your rival’s insecurities? share with the class!

🍀 when has luck refused you, yet you did it anyways? maybe you had a tough championship fight that looked like odds were against you, yet you reign at the end. sometimes you may even be fighting for your life but manage to escape with your quick wit. some things you don't need lick in, you just need skill.

🌱 how do you think people view you? this isn't about accuracy. what's an assumption you make people have of you. you could be kind in their eyes, yet to you everyone sees you villainous. you'd be deluded to think you have a heart of gold and yet everyone sees you as sand in the rain.

🦋 is your path made from destiny, or is it carved? somewhere along the line, you chose to do something. move out, fight crime, or stay out of flashing lights. is this the path made for you or one you fought tooth with? the world is not kind. even if it is carved, it's the path most suited for you.

　　　ꪆৎ 　 it's completely okay! thanks for the ask anon <3

　game: the garden ask game 　answering for: cowboy dr

🍎　⁀➴　what is your biggest temptation? in your lives, there may have been many different kinds of temptations. maybe it’s someone dangerous, someone you shouldn’t fall in love with. perhaps it’s a career so dangerous it could kill you.

　　my biggest temptation is roy goode. he is an outlaw, someone who has a terrible reputation due to his association with frank griffin. if he had showed up on anyone else's doorstep, he would've been kicked out of town. despite this reputation, i am tempted by him. his reputation, for the most part, is a lie and he truly does not want to live that sort of life. the only time he likes the false criminal reputation is if he has to intimidate people to save those he cares for.

🐝　⁀➴　what’s the recent buzz? what kind of gossip you’re willing to share in this reality? someone cheated with someone? co-worker has been sleeping around? your rival’s insecurities? share with the class!

　　the most recent buzz is that our make-shift sheriff (our community is led by a group of people but we gravitate toward one person to lead the meetings) is going blind. he won't admit to it but we can all tell by the way he holds his gun. additionally, two widows might also be secretly in love with each other. they have the full support of the town but nobody is brave enough to acknowledge it yet.

🍀　⁀➴　when has luck refused you, yet you did it anyways? maybe you had a tough championship fight that looked like odds were against you, yet you reign at the end. sometimes you may even be fighting for your life but manage to escape with your quick wit. some things you don't need lick in, you just need skill.

　　my grandfather's horses got out. he has more than twenty of them on his large ranch. he was having a bit of trouble wrangling them up and was convinced he would never get all of them back. i went out at dusk and came back at dawn with all his horses. being the fastest rider and an expert horse-handler comes in handy, especially when i helped raise almost all of those horses. i was exhausted afterward, but i did what was deemed not possible.

🌱　⁀➴　how do you think people view you? this isn't about accuracy. what's an assumption you make people have of you. you could be kind in their eyes, yet to you everyone sees you villainous. you'd be deluded to think you have a heart of gold and yet everyone sees you as sand in the rain.

　　i believe people view me as the quiet, reserved farm girl who knows too much for my own good. i'm educated and i try to get many people in town to read the various books i find, which they have most likely grown tired of. i also keep to myself on my ranch just outside of town, so i'm rarely around to socialize. they think i'm quiet but, personally, i feel like i talk a lot. they also most likely think i'm cold and standoffish but i like to help people, i just keep to myself a lot.

🦋　⁀➴　is your path made from destiny, or is it carved? somewhere along the line, you chose to do something. move out, fight crime, or stay out of flashing lights. is this the path made for you or one you fought tooth with? the world is not kind. even if it is carved, it's the path most suited for you.

　　i believe the moment my parents became bounty hunters and began to lead a dangerous life just to make mine safer, my path was made for me. after their passing, my grandfather was more careful with me. he made sure i didn't fall into a path of seeking revenge since that can consume a person. i became disinterested in the life they led and more interested in helping those around me. i wanted to take advantage of the peaceful life they'd carved out for me and not let their efforts be fruitless. i believe the moment i helped roy goode, i began to carve my own path.