#[ thank yooou so much for sending!! ]

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@grislyintentions•*⁀➷ &. 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥 / 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 | available

╰┈➤ ❝ [  ❛ for every great ruler, there is an equally great assassin poised to kill. ❜ -for Blade from Kafka c: ]  ❞

"you're really enjoying all of this." blade's blood shot orbs circled around before he simply looked ahead, seated on a chair in a small restaurant in one of the side streets in the underground of belobog. gladly the two of them hardly made an impression on people here which couldn't have been said for penacony. they stuck out like a sore thumb, might not even have been blade's fault but kafka had a certain aura when she strolled through the streets like they belonged to her. what even was her wish? what could elio promise such a lady? maybe she didn't have one. maybe she wasn't like all the others, blade never questioned anyone of them openly for he knew it wasn't his business.

and meddling in other's affairs was fairly unproductive.

"like they're all dancing in the palm of your hand, but we are not assassins." killing monsters was the daily ordeal but not other humans. they might have questionable motives but blade could say usurping a throne or wrestling for world domination didn't seem to be part of the plan.

[jonathan-cranes-mistress-of-fear]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR! Sending lots of love your way.. <3

Oh, and this little guy!

Omg I was not at ALL expecting art from you, you seems so busy hahaha but I can tell you--this means a whole lot to me. I adore this drawing so very much!! THANK YOOOU

[mothwingwritings]

Y&B for taiju shiba I love you❤️

I love yooou and thank you for sending an ask for the LOML bless you <3

Warnings: Abuse, getting the shit beat out of you, brutality, mentions of murder (hashtag just Taiju Shiba things)

Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

Taiju actually has the capacity to wait a rather long time before he snaps. Not necessarily because of patience, but more so because deep down he wants YOU to be the one to come running to him. He fantasizes endlessly about how you’re gonna fall into his arms, confessing to him how much you love and need him, crying over how hard it’s been living without him in your life. He’s had countless daydreams of you initiating the relationship, consumed with the thought of you whole heartedly reciprocating his affections just as strongly (if not more so) than he does.

He KNOWS you love him. He’s seen it in the way you look at him, how you get all blushy and bashful whenever he comes near, unable to even speak without stumbling over your words because of how excitable his presence makes you. When you flinch away from his touches and affections, or go out of your way to avoid him, he knows it’s only because you can’t handle the rampant feelings surging through you. It’s cute as hell, and only makes him want you that much more.

So though it’s nearly unbearable, he’ll wait for you. He knows the moment you finally give in and concede to him it will be the sweetest moment in his entire life, worth the wait and then some. Knowing the prize that is awaiting him at the end is the only thing that gets him through the excruciating waiting period. (Well, that and fucking his fist to thoughts of you, excitement coursing through him when he muses on all the ways he will be able to ravage you in the near future).

That being said, there are certain triggers that will make him IMMEDIATELY drop all pretenses and assert his authority right away, mainly if someone else makes a move on you. It doesn’t even matter how small that advance is, if someone so much as bats an eye at you in a way that can be mistaken as flirtatious it’s over. You’re his from that point on, whether you are ready for the relationship or not. He’ll be damned if he’s gonna let some asshole try and stake a claim on his darling-the mere thought of it makes him sick with rage.

If it’s the other way around and you happen to have someone else that you have your eye on, then it would be in both you and your crush’s best interest to nip that in the bud ASAP. The moment Taiju gets an inkling of it you won’t come out of it unscathed. Regardless of the fact that he never got your express consent to be in a relationship, your loyalty is something he expects unconditionally, and should it falter at any point he has no qualms over correcting your behavior. But while you may be holed up in bed for a few days healing from a brutal lashing, the person you are smitten with will get it 100x worse if they are even allowed to keep living. Needless to say, you will neither see nor hear from them again after that.

You belong with nobody else but Taiju, nowhere else than at his side. He’s not afraid to beat that into you. You’re lucky he’s forgiving, and that he loves you so much, otherwise you would be MUCH worse off for the shit you pulled. He’ll even tend your wounds once your properly apologize for what a harlot you’ve been.

Blood: How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?

Extremely. There really is no limit. He will destroy everything and anything around you to keep you at his side. He isn’t stupid about it either, which makes him that much scarier. He has the connections, the money, the power, and the brute strength to make just about anything happen for his benefit. Anyone trying to prevent you from being his, whether they are friend or foe, he will take care of them. The disposal can range from paying them off or heavily threatening them, too far worse things. He would destroy someone’s entire livelihood in the blink of an eye for you, and if he could get away with it strangle a person to death with his bare hands if they terrorized you.

Whatever is necessary, whatever is needed, he will do it without hesitation. He loves you. You are his family, his heart, his EVERYTHING. This man would rip God himself asunder to keep you in his life, so you’d do best to never question his devotion to you.

[mellozheist]

Hi guess who got no sleep last night (thanks doctor's appointment) and decided to watch your animatic again

I quote myself about 1 hour ago in a treebark channel on a discord server my friends and I made (to anybody that reads this i am so sorry):

(Also I'm sorry if somebody's uncomfortable with swearing :'D)

"[Link]

I'm sorry I still can't handle this animation's existence peoples

I can't with it

I'm crazy

Like REN PUTTING HIS HEAD BACK ON AND CALMING DOWN MARTYN WHO'S PANICKING?????

REN BEING SO CALM AND THEN FUCKING CRAZY IN THE NEXT SHOT?????

FUCKING HELLO????

THE VERY FIRST FEW SHOTS WHERE MARTYN IS LOOKING AT REN BEING ALL EXCITED AND BLUSHING??????

THE END????????

THEM HAVING THEIR PINKIES WRAPPED AROUND???? I EVEN SENT MELLOZ AN ASK ABOUT THAT AND THEY TOLD ME "oh yeah they indirectly promised to see each other in the next life series :3" MELLOZ IS SINGLEHANDEDLY KILLING THE TREEBARK SHIPPERS WITH THIS ONE

MARTYN HOLDING REN'S HAND AND KISSING IT BEFORE DYING ALSO

GUYS I BEG

I CAN'T WITH THIS

I CANNOT

I AM UNABLE TO

Oh my gosh FCUKING REN PUTTING HIS HEAD BACK ON AND LOOKING AT MARTYN WITH THOSE DANG EYES

Guys I need to resist spamming this thing in here

But at the same time IT'S SOOOOOO TEMPTING

FUCKIN

LOOK AT IT

[Link]

GRIPPING MY HEAD FURIOUSLY

THIS WHOLE BEHEADONG SCENE

I JUST NOTICED REN'S NECK DOESN'T LIGN UP PROPERLY IN THE SHOT WHERE MARTYN KISSES HIS HAND

GUYS I'M INSANE

GIYS I'M INSANE

LOOK AT THISSSSSSS

Furiously rattling the bars of my cell is that what it's called

Honestly I never thought I'd go insane over a ship called treebark

IT'S FUCKING BAUMRINDE IN GERMAN

BAUMRINDE IS SUCH A SILLY SHIP NAME ISTFG

I don't think I've ever loved an animatic thid much

I'VR NEVER LOOKED AT AN ANIMATIC SO CLOSELY

THE FACT THE FIRST SCENE IS SO SWEET AND THE SECOND ONE IS ALREADY REN BEING BEHEADED

I wish they won. I wish Ren or Martyn was the winner of 3rd Life

CAN'T I HAVE L8KE

A LITTLE FAIRY THAT MAKES MY WISHES COME TRUE?

C'MOOOOONNNNN [insert a bunch of screaming emotes here]

AGH I CAN'T

...what if i copied every single message and sent melloz this as an ask to show my appreciation

CUZ I SURE DO APPRECIATE THIS ANIMATIC

[Link]

WATCH THIS. WATCH. OBSERVE. NOW. I BEG.

I'VE WATCHED THIS FOR 5 TIMES IN A ROW NOW

I'M VERY SANE

I STILL CAN'T GET OVER REN'S NECK NOT ALIGNING PROPERLY

also the feather and the poppy but this is the treebark channel

Not

Not desert duo

I CAN'T

.........do i send this as an ask i am very sane i promise

One of my very favourite scenes though is the beheading scene, funnily enough

Me literally passing out when I see gore but not here cuz idk baumrinde <333333

Also here

HIS NECK.

IS NOT.

ALIGNING.

Or what if it's his head falling off after death cuz he died and that determination is no longer there to keep dogwarts, causing his hesd to fall off

New headcanon i think

And I just noticed I watched this like 6 times now DESERVED THOUGH

Gonna watch it again

I love them so much

I love this animatic so much

Guys I can't

WAIT DID MARTYN'S EARS TILT DOWN IN THE REN DEAD SCENE

HOLD

WAIR YEAH

HIS EARS TILTED DOWN

I CAN'T

Somebody stop me

Actually no

Oh also the song choice IS PERFECT????????

WAIT REN'S PONYTAIL IS GONE IN THE LAST SCENE HIS HAIR IS OPEN

YAAAAAYYYYYY

Anywhoozles

[Link]

WATCH THIS.

I BEG

EVERYBODY THAZ DOESN'T IS MISSING OUT THIS IS SO COOL"

And with that, Melloz you're amazing, EVERYBODY WATCH THE ANIMATIC EVER >:D

I have so much fun reading this, It's like I'm in a theater seat watching this happen with 4D sound surrounding Lmaoooo

Thank you for sending this to me I really appreciate this <3333

I'm so happy you eating all the details I put in hehe

though the part where you describe Ren's neck as not aligning is probably just my error in art but that's also a really cool headcanon!

I might adopt that headcanon :d Like drawing Martyn carrying Ren's head

you really made my day Thank yooou :D

hope you get a good night sleep bud

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

The Question of Debt

Hi! I've read a few Merlin fics recently where Arthur finds out that Merlin hasn't been paid what he should, if at all, 'cause no-one ever trained him or told him anything about his job. I'd love to see your take on this if you want to write it? With lots of Merlin & knights friendship too. Thank yooou <3 – anon

Read on Ao3

Warnings: none

Pairings: merthur

Word Count: 4232

Look, alright, Arthur does try to give Merlin the benefit of the doubt, but when he walks into his room to see him immediately stand up straight, hide something behind his back, and that something is jingling, what exactly is he supposed to do? Well, if Merlin is to be believed, state his business and leave Merlin to his. But when a pouch of coin leads to a confrontation that reaches far beyond their normal spats, Arthur starts to uncover something very troubling about Merlin's time in Camelot.

Look, alright, Arthur does try to give Merlin the benefit of the doubt, but when he walks into his room to see him immediately stand up straight, hide something behind his back, and that something is jingling, what exactly is he supposed to do?

Well, if Merlin is to be believed, state his business and leave Merlin to his.

”Oh, and you’re King of Camelot now?”

“No.”

“Then what makes you think you can give me orders?”

”That wasn’t an order. It was a suggestion. One you asked for, by the way.”

“Merlin.”

Merlin just grins that stupid little grin that makes the tips of his ears stick out a bit more and Arthur is not being distracted by it, thank you very much. “Did you need something?”

“You’re late. Am I supposed to dress myself?”

”You’d be amazed what most young children are capable of, sire, most of them can actually dress themselves by the time they’re four or five.”

“Merlin!”

“Look, I’m just saying that it’s not a bother if we need to go over it again—“

Arthur picks up a pillow and smacks Merlin on the arm, which makes him laugh, yes, but more importantly it makes him let go of the coin purse he’s holding behind his back. It hits the floor with a clunk. They both look at it. Merlin scrabbles over the bed but Arthur’s faster and snatches it up.

“Hey! Give that back!”

He fends Merlin off with one hand, peeking inside. It’s hardly anything, really. “What is this, your tavern fund?”

“Give it back.”

”Is there something you’re saving up for? A pretty new tunic, perhaps, or one of those reck scarves you’re always wearing?”

“Arthur—“

“Or is this what you’re doing with—“

Whatever he was going to say is knocked out of him when Merlin slams into his side, hard enough to send him stumbling into the wall. His mouth opens in a wordless yell, righting himself and preparing to chew Merlin out because that could’ve hurt, you idiot, what were you thinking—

—and stops when he sees Merlin glaring at him.

Not the play-scowling they do when they’re bantering back and forth, but actually glowering at him like he’s made him angry. It’s enough to throw him off long enough for Merlin to shove the pouch into his pocket and storm past him, mumbling something about how they’re late for things already. He’s left there, staring at the painfully thin mattress with the moth-eaten blankets.

That was…strange.

He gives himself a shake. Merlin got like that about things sometimes, it’s probably not anything to worry about.

***

It’s definitely something to worry about.

Merlin’s never so much as breathed a word about what happened in his room that morning, which is concerning in and of itself. Merlin never hesitates to throw their previous arguments back in Arthur’s face if he thinks it’s deserved—and Arthur will be gracious and humble enough to say it is, most of the time—but he won’t even mention it. He doesn’t bring it up even if Arthur gives him the opportunity, he won’t even acknowledge what happened. And every time Arthur tries to talk about coin, or Merlin’s family, or anything that could be even remotely related, Merlin clams up faster than Gwaine when they say there’s no more ale left.

So, Arthur does what any concerned King would do, and snoops.

Gaius won’t say a word about it, and not in the way he normally does where he says he doesn’t know anything but secretly does. No, instead Gaius gets oddly stern with him. At least, as stern as he ever outwardly gets when he’s talking to Arthur. It’s that strange disappointed-not-quite-angry voice that just makes Arthur feel like he’s a boy again. He tries to sneak in there once when Merlin and Gaius are out collecting pots and nearly gets caught by a patrolling guard and decides that no, he won’t be doing that again.

It has nothing to do with the fact that Merlin and Gaius came back to a cauldron with some sort of potion in it spilled all across the floor. Absolutely not.

Then he goes to ask Gwen. Gwen and Merlin talk about things. Maybe Merlin has talked to Gwen about…whatever that pouch was. But Gwen looks at him with a frown and says that she doesn’t know.

“I’ve never seen him with a pouch like that before. Are you sure it was his? Not someone else’s?”

“He nearly tackled me into the wall over it, that doesn’t sound like something he’d do if it wasn’t his.”

Gwen snorts. “He what?”

“Didn’t work, obviously, he’s not strong enough.”

“Of course not, My King.”

Still, he can hear her snickering as he turns to go.

As a last resort, he turns to the knights.

“I don’t know what that could be,” Elyan says as they take care of their armor after a long day of training, “it’s not like Merlin’s known for hoarding great treasures, he’s not a dragon.”

“Maybe it’s just something of his he wants to keep secret?” Lancelot hangs the training sword back on the wall. “We can hardly begrudge a man his privacy.”

“It was just a small amount of coin. Barely more than a month’s pay.”

“Perhaps he’s sending it to his mother?”

‘“I’ve asked if it’s that, he didn’t answer.”

“Maybe he’s saving it.” They all turn to look at Gwaine. “What?”

”He’s been working here for years, and he’s saved not even a month’s pay?”

“Well, if he’s spending his days in the tavern,” Arthur grumbles and Gwaine laughs. “Are you the one encouraging him then?”

Gwaine laughs again, like Arthur’s made a joke, but when he sees Arthur’s expression, his face falls.

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

If Gwaine is hiding something, then this is far bigger than Arthur thought.

He does not follow Gwaine that night, because he is a King and kings do not spy on their knights, but if he happens to be outside Gaius’s chambers that evening when Gwaine and Merlin are also there, then that’s just a coincidence. A very lucky coincidence.

“Arthur told us something after training, you know,” he hears Gwaine say through the cracked door.

A thunk as Merlin sets down something heavy. “What, that he needs his armor polished until you can all see his face in it?”

“That he found you in your room with a pouch of coin.”

The room goes so silent that Arthur starts to fret they’ve vanished into thin air. He holds his breath.

“That’s all he said?”

He winces at how cold Merlin sounds.

“That and he thought you were spending all your money at the tavern.” Merlin laughs at that. It’s a humorless thing. “He doesn’t know, then?”

Know what?

”No,” Merlin says lowly, “he doesn’t. Did you—“

“No one told him,” Gwaine says firmly and Arthur moves as close to the door as he dares, “he thinks I’m the one dragging you there every day.”

Merlin’s sigh of relief is palpable. “Good. That’s alright, then.”

There’s another moment of silence. Then Gwaine shifts and his mail rasps against the table.

“Was it to send to your mother, then? That coin?”

Merlin huffs. “No. That’s all I’ve got.”

“All you’ve got? But Arthur said it was less than a month’s pay, how—“

“A month? What, for him, maybe. That’s all I’ve ever gotten.”

Arthur blinks. And blinks. And blinks again. That can’t be right.

Gwaine seems to agree. “You—aren’t you being paid more because you’re Princess’s manservant?”

“News to me if that’s true.”

Arthur’s heard enough. He moves quickly and quietly back through the halls, sitting down at his desk and folding his hands. The candle snaps and crackles as he stares unseeing into the shadows of his room.

Two things. First, Merlin is not being paid what he should be, clearly. He needs to go and have a word with the steward, find out exactly what Merlin is being paid, how often, and how much he is owed in lost wages.

Second, Merlin is hiding something. Something that at least Gwaine knows, if not the rest of the knights. And it has something to do with the fact that Merlin is not, in fact, at the tavern nearly as much as Arthur thinks he is, if at all.

Sleep comes fitfully that night.

***

”If you glare at that parchment anymore, sire, you’re liable to burn a hole through it.”

Arthur doesn’t care. He’ll set fire to this whole office if he damn well pleases. Especially this rude, blasphemous, audacious piece of paper.

“How did this happen,” he snarls with enough venom to make the steward and even Leon shuffle, “did we not increase all servants to a minimum payment after my coronation?”

“We did, sire.”

“Then explain this.”

“Merlin was not chosen by you initially,” the steward says, voice remarkably even as Arthur glares at him, “he was appointed by your late father.”

“So?”

“So,” Leon continues, “the King’s appointments exist outside the normal agreements for servants. They have their own terms and conditions, including modified pay rates.”

”Show me.”

The steward gets up and goes to a chest of drawers, opening one and rifling through it. He produces a single sheaf of paper and carries it back over to the desk, adjusting his glasses.

“Here, sire, if you would?”

Arthur does not snatch it, because he is a King and kings do not snatch, and the paper was certainly already torn when it found its way into his grip.

Not for the first time, he wishes his father were somewhere he could talk to him, so he could shout about the man’s hypocrisy for serving the people when he would give them a barely-livable wage and call it fair.

“What is a King’s manservant supposed to be paid?” The steward slides another sheet of paper towards him. “Good. Change it to that right now.”

“Right away, sire.”

“And give him what he should’ve been paid before.”

“How much?”

“As much as he’s owed,” Arthur growls.

“We would only be able to excuse that if we went back as far as your coronation, which would be—“

”Fine, fine. Whatever makes it so you give the man what he’s owed.”

The steward looks far too pleased to carry out the order, which just gives Arthur more motivation to shout at Uther, but he pushes that down because he is a King, now, and kings do not scream at people who do not deserve it, if they scream at all.

“Will there be anything else, sire?”

“Not at this time. Thank you.”

”My pleasure, sire, as always.”

Arthur nods and turns to leave, striding down the hall with Leon at his side. The man is as inscrutable as always, not offering any condemnation or encouragement as Arthur mutters to himself.

“Didn’t so much as say anything, idiot, barely a livable wage for someone in the poorest part of the city, honestly…”

Leon doesn’t say a word until they reach Arthur’s chambers. “If I might?”

“Please, old friend, come in.” Arthur all but collapses into a chair and buries his face in his hands. “I don’t—why didn’t he tell me?”

”Merlin is a private person. It’s likely he preferred not to discuss such things, especially with you.”

Arthur peeks out between his fingers. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Aside from the fact that you’re his employer, the two of you don’t exactly have the…typical relationship between a king and his servant.”

Arthur huffs. “Which is why I thought he’d tell me.”

“Perhaps.”

“I know that tone of voice, or perhaps what?”

“Or perhaps Merlin didn’t know that something was amiss.”

Now Arthur does sit up, frowning. “What do you mean?”

“As the steward said: you did not choose Merlin upon his original appointment. He saved your life and the then King had him assigned to you. He was not trained to be a servant, much less the Crown Prince’s manservant. I seem to remember many complaints when he was first starting?”

“But that’s—but he did get training.”

“Only after he began working for you, and only from other servants who were not experienced with being your servant. The exception to this would be Gwen, but—“

“But I’m not Morgana.”

“Quite.”

Arthur slumps against the back of his chair. The worst part is that it makes a disturbing amount of sense: Merlin fought against him on how he was treated, how Arthur treated most servants, but not about the coin. Because he knew that people deserved to be treated better than that, but he didn’t know anything about how servants were supposed to be paid. And how could he? He wasn’t a servant—he came from a relatively poor village, how could he know? And so when he was asked by the steward originally—and probably with Uther ushering the process along as quickly as possible, he hadn’t known that he could ask for a better wage.

“Damn,” he mutters. Leon hums. “Damn.”

“You have a council meeting in a few hours, sire. The new allocation of funds is likely to be discussed.”

“Wonderful.” Leon chuckles at his tone. “Will you be there?”

“Of course, sire.”

As he goes, Arthur moves to his desk and starts writing out some of the formalities that the steward will need to add to the record. It’s mindless enough work that he starts to wonder about that other half of things. His gaze finds the door where Leon had just vanished.

Did Leon know?

It was almost a certainty. If there was one person Arthur could rely on to know almost everything that happened in Camelot, it was Leon. Something about the man’s quiet nature made him the ideal confidant, not just for the upper echelons but the lower as well. He swears Leon could put together a list of everything he had ever been told in confidence and it would run the length of the city.

So Leon knew, most likely. And with that came the conclusion that Arthur would never, ever be able to get it out of him.

Gwaine was probably the easier bet, but Gwaine isn’t about to come to this council meeting.

With that in mind, he quickly finishes the paperwork and sets it aside before Merlin comes sweeping in to make sure he’s ready. They manage to get there early, for once, and take their places before the rest of the lords come in to talk about whatever it is the lords believe is worth discussing.

“And as the last thing,” the steward says as the meeting winds to a close, “is the budget allocation for this next period.”

“I expect everything is the same?”

“With the exception of the compensation fund we discussed earlier, yes, sire, all the same.”

Arthur nods and moves to close the meeting when one of the lords speaks up.

“Pardon the interruption, sire, but…what compensation fund?”

“It has come to my attention that someone in the castle has not been paid what they are due, and so we are compensating them for their lost wages.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Merlin look at him.

“But surely that is not a sum worthy of factoring into the crown’s budget, so…” The lord trails off as he catches sight of said sum over the steward’s shoulder. He stands up with a horrid screech. “Have you gone mad?”

“Your tongue, my lord,” Leon says lowly, stepping forward, “you will address your king with respect.”

“I’ll address him with respect when he’s not spending a mountain of coin on a single person!” The lord tries to snatch the paper but the steward holds firm. “What is the meaning of this?”

“They were not paid the proper amount for several years,” Arthur says calmly, “we are rectifying this.”

“But this—this—this would put the crown in debt!”

“And any proceedings from a legal standpoint would as well. Or would you rather the crown be taken to a formal trial and then forced to pay owed wages?”

Leon steps up to contain the lord’s fury, but Arthur couldn’t care less. Not when Merlin is looking at him with his mouth open and something suspiciously shiny about his eyes.

He risks only a glance at him before he stands and brings the meeting to a close.

***

”That was good of you,” Gwaine says, quiet enough that it’s hidden under the clang and clash of swords on the training field, “making up his pay like that.”

“It’s what he’s owed.”

”Still.” He wipes his blade with a rag. “Never seen a King stick his neck out like that for a servant.”

“It’s Merlin.”

“That it is.” Their shoulders bump. “Still. Good one, mate.”

Arthur just nods. Merlin is across the field, tending to a table of armor that needs to be repaired. He sees Lancelot, Elyan, and Percival each go up to him in turn, talking to him or ruffling his hair. Even Leon glances over from where he’s supervising a group of younger knights and gifts him with a softer smile.

“He looks happier.”

“He does,” Gwaine agrees, stretching out next to him, “he’s sleeping better too.”

Arthur whips around. “How would you know how he’s sleeping?”

“Whoa, easy, Princess,” Gwaine laughs, “not like that. He’s finally bought himself a proper mattress, that’s all. Heard him talking about it with Gaius this morning.”

“Oh.”

Gwaine chuckles. “Don’t worry, none of us would dare.”

“You’d better not.”

“Oh, I like myself intact, thank you very much.” He sniffs. “Not that you’d actually manage to do that much damage.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Gwaine shoves him lightly and they both laugh. It trails off and they go back to watching the men train. At least, ostensibly they’re watching the men train. Really they’re both watching Merlin.

”I wish he’d told me,” Arthur says, almost too quiet to hear. He knows Gwaine does by the way he hums.

They look at each other. Arthur searches his expression for a long moment. Gwaine’s eyebrow twitches.

Tell me, he pleads silently, please, tell me.

Gwaine doesn’t say a word.

With a sigh, Arthur looks back at Merlin. Their eyes meet across the field. Merlin’s brow twitches in a silent you alright? Arthur nods. Merlin grins.

With a grunt, he heaves himself to his feet, readying his sword to go and relieve Percival from his bout with Lancelot, when Gwaine catches his arm.

“Arthur.”

“Yes?”

“Next time you and Merlin go on a hunt, don’t kill anything.”

He frowns, a thousand questions building up on the tip of his tongue, but he nods. Gwaine nods back and loudly goes to make a nuisance of himself.

“Sire,” Elyan says as he approaches, “is everything alright?”

“Fine, fine. Shall we?”

“Ready when you are.”

***

“I still don’t understand why you insist on these hunts,” Merlin grumbles as he shoves something else into a pack, “it’s not like we don’t have food in the castle.”

“Maybe it’s not about the food, Merlin.”

“Oh, so you just want to go kill something. Should’ve guessed.”

He cuffs him lightly upside the head. “Just get the horses ready.”

Merlin grumbles something unflattering about Arthur’s resemblance to his horse as he goes. Gwaine’s words turn over and over in his mind as he packs up the crossbow. He truly isn’t planning on killing anything, but the woods aren’t exactly free of dangers. At the very least, if there are bandits that decide to attack them.

Merlin can say all he wants about not enjoying hunts, but he can’t hide the way his shoulders slump when they leave the walls of the city. He has that terribly earnest and whimsical look on his face as they make it into the woods, the breeze ruffling his hair and the birds calling out from the trees. Arthur has to remind himself to look where his horse is going and not just stare at Merlin the entire time, but Merlin’s not exactly looking at him either, so he can get away with it.

He may have claimed this was a hunt, but Merlin hasn’t seemed to notice that they’re not hunting anything. They pass more than a few obvious deer tracks that Arthur completely ignores and any smaller game like rabbit scatter well before Arthur could so much as reach for the crossbow. Instead, Merlin is in a little world of his own, marveling at the forest like it’s the most splendid thing he’s ever seen.

Arthur supposes he can’t talk, that’s how he’s looking at Merlin.

Eventually, he calls for a break near the river. Merlin just hums and gets off the horse, taking the bit from its mouth so it can graze, and loosening the saddle’s girth. Arthur sets the pack on the ground and rifles through it for their water skins.

“I’m going to fill these up, set up the rest of camp.”

“But we haven’t caught anything yet.”

“No harm in taking a rest, is there? Though if you want to keep going—“

“No, no, rest is good.”

Arthur chuckles as he heads off through the trees, listening to Merlin bustle about behind him. He manages to get down to the river in a few short minutes, holding the water skins under a small waterfall to fill them.

”Hey,” he mutters to himself, “so I’m glad we sorted out the thing with your pay, but now apparently there’s something else I don’t know about. What is it?”

Yeah, like that would work.

“The knights know something about you and I’m worried it’s similar. What is it?”

Also not likely to work.

“I’m worried about you and also quite hopelessly in love. Help.” He scoffs at himself. “I’d have better luck telling my father I want to court a servant.”

He mutters half a dozen more to himself, each worse than the last, before he realizes the sun is going down and he’s been ‘getting water’ for far too long. He drags his feet through the brush as he goes back, still muttering, when he hears something from the direction of their camp. Instinctively, he crouches and reaches for the dagger on his hip.

He peers around a tree and—

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Merlin is sitting in the middle of camp with golden tendrils of magic—it must be magic, it couldn’t possibly be anything else—creating a suspended web of leaves and flowers in a sphere around himself. Butterflies flit around him like he’s some forest nymph. His fingers move and twirl through the air and it responds to him like a living thing. Arthur is speechless.

Merlin has magic.

Merlin had magic.

And it’s beautiful and incredible and so very Merlin and Arthur is done for.

Just as he’s coming to the conclusion of how irrevocably bollocked he is, Merlin turns and sees him.

The yelp he makes is heartbreaking and all the things crash down around him as he scrabbles away. But he goes too fast and ends up flat on his back, staring at Arthur with his eyes so wide he can see the whites all the way around. Arthur quickly decides that this is unacceptable and Merlin is never allowed to be scared like this, and so he raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Merlin doesn’t move.

Slowly, so slowly, Arthur starts to make his way across the clearing. Merlin flinches and bites his lip to stifle his whimpers whenever Arthur accidentally snaps a twig or crushes a leaf. It takes an age and Arthur’s shoulders ache by the time he makes it, but then he’s standing over Merlin and he reaches out a hand.

Merlin takes it. He can feel it tremble.

Carefully, he pulls Merlin to his feet. The poor thing still looks so scared and Arthur wracks his brain for something, anything he could say to make this better, let Merlin know he would never, that it’s all going to be alright…

But he’s never been particularly good with words.

Actions, on the other hand…

Telegraphing his movements so Merlin can stop him, he cups the side of Merlin’s face, feeling his jaw tremble. With a courage he does not feel, he leans in.

Merlin makes a surprised noise when he kisses him, but slowly, slowly, he kisses back.

Camelot could go to war, bandits could ambush them, Uther himself could stride into the clearing and Arthur would tell him to wait.

They break apart but dare not separate, still breathing the same air. Arthur swallows heavily and pulls Merlin closer.

“I’m going to legalize magic.”

Merlin’s breath stutters against his cheek. “You’re—you what?”

“I’m going to legalize magic.”

“So…you’re not going to kill me?”

“No. Never.” He tangles his fingers in Merlin’s hair. “I would sooner throw myself on the sword.”

Merlin huffs a strangled laugh. “Will you kiss me again?”

Arthur doesn’t hesitate.

Gwaine is never going to let him live this down. But he’s the King, so it doesn’t matter.

[sharpace]

Hi! Chapter 1 of the Divorce Era was so so so good! Loved getting those background gaps filled in!

Question: I’m not super familiar with kofi… what’s the best way to comment and leave love on those posts?

Very excited for what’s in store!!

🥹🥹 thank yooou. I’ve… been very sweaty for the last 24 hours. I don’t consider myself a writer so this has been entirely nerve-wracking. So thank you for sharing the kind words!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! The next few I’ve had fun with and will have comics too.

As for commenting/leaving love… uh, I’m open to suggestions… because I was so focused on everything else, I forgot. Oops! But thank you so much for taking the time to send a message!!!

[amazing-cool-blog]

Heyyy! Can I request a doodle of Hero Oak? I love her so much

TFW you have a pizza delivery job but also an internship at NASA and also ur the chosen one

(psps doodle requests r still open pls send more okay thank yooou)

[fictionalsillies]

What are 5 things that make you happy? Also please put this in the inbox of your friends to get to know them better :3 No obligation ofc! I care yooou <3

Hi ! Thank you for sending me this , I really appreciate it :D

I wasn’t having the best day today , I’ll be honest , so finding this in my inbox helped me out a lot :,)👍

I actually ended up making a bit of a list featuring 5 things that make me happy :

First and foremost , I’d say my f/os ( predictable , I know ;C; ) : they help me feel less lonely , especially since I can carry them with me wherever I go … thinking about those silly little characters always brings a smile on my face ^^ ❤️

Drawing is also something that makes me happy : it lets me express myself and share my thoughts , and while I’m definitely not an expert at it it brings me joy !

Next there’s animation projects on YouTube : they give me something to look forward to , and the joy I feel whenever I see new content being released is indescribable :D

The past few months I’ve been especially obsessed with Monkey Wrench … it’s just so good ( and it has my favorite skeleton man in it , so that’s a plus ://] )

I really gotta add listening to music to the list : it’s an escape when things get too much for me to handle , and the fact that someone managed to express such a great variety of emotions through words or a melody always gives me hope !

And lastly , videogames : the Ori games ( still finishing TWOTW , though since it’s phenomenal it definitely counts ) , Hollow Knight , Stardew Valley and Minecraft are kinda the “comfort games” for me , always bringing a smile on my face when I play them :D

Sorry if this got long , I get really passionate about this stuff !! Again , thanks for sending this over , have a great day/night !

[hood-ex]

omg i totally thought your bday was the 21st, happy birthday Emily!!!!! you are so so so speculative and thoughtful, you bring so much joy to the people around you, and i am sooo happy to be mutuals with you on this earth

🦋🩶🦋🩶🦋🩶🦋🩶🦋🩶🦋🩶🦋

Thank yooou, I love yooou!! That means a lot, and I'm so happy we're moots as well because you always get me in my feels 💙. Now I want to post that panel of Leo hugging Mikey bc Leo looks so cute, but Mikey looks so freaked out bc he's like?? Older brother bowing to me and hugging me?? No no but the feeling translates to here, and thus, I'm sending you a virtual hug as well as all the love that transcends my little heart.

[wolveria]

Happy early Valentine's day!!!

I cannot recall when I stumbled across your Tumblr but I have been well fed ever since! It's been wonderful to read each chapter of TRH and to send you things in our dms.

Thank you so, so much for writing and willing to share that writing with us. Truly an oasis in the SCP fucking desert

Thank you!! Right back at ya. And I don't remember either, my memory is extremely bad, but it's been very fun talking to you <33

Trust me, I really wanted someone to write a nice big 049 story so I wouldn't have to, but alas. My thirst overrode my senses. I have played myself. Can't say I regret it, especially since it's brought a lot of amazing people into my life

Thank yooou, you're sweet <3

[twotales]

Yknow I’m ~ 10 years younger than you. Reading all your slice of life posts always makes me happy. Because it shows me what my life could be like in a few years time. I’m sure not everything is perfect, nothing ever is, there are always problems and stressful situations. But your posts radiate with so much Love between the lines.

Just read the post about the 4 year olds birthday party. I wish your kiddo all the best, from all the way over here in Germany

Thanks for sharing all that :)

DUDE! BAWW! This made me so happy! Taking the time to send this is incredibly sweet of you! ��

Our family is number one to us, so I'm glad that sharing our little moments is something that also makes you happy and springs positivity toward the future life you could have.

You're right, nothings ever perfect, and it's funny you say this because literally in my vows I said: "Nothing is truly perfect, but you're perfect to me." Which yeah doesn't negate the imperfections, but having a person that fits you, is as close to perfect as we can get, for us at least.

I sincerely hope despite imperfections, that your future, and the family you could have, makes you happy, and that you will have all these special moments with them too and that they just fill you with love!

Again, this is so sweet! Thank you! 💛💚🦊

-

O says: "Thank yooou!!! My cheetah birthday will be awesome!"

[kushami-hime]

Hime-sama!! Congrats on the new job and hope this week started out awesome for yooou! Just had to take a moment to say thank you so much for going beyond and all the amazing content you have put out already for the start of 2023, you are fucking killin' it and truly making this year your bitch already and you keep getting better and better!!! You already know none of our mental healths are your responsibility and you have to take care of yourself first so don't ever feel like you have to apologize, hence, why I am always hesitant to make any requests but the week you put out not just one, but TWO Baku (my fav) wavs especially DoS truly made what started off as a shit birthday week to an incredible one and the horni brain took over and demolished my depression brain and was an instant serontonin boost that was sooo needed and a total answer to an unspoken request with that perfect timing so just wanted you to know that you sharing your many gifts and talents and overall awesome vibe here in this community matters so much and I'm sure IRL as well! Stay awesome and hope this year continues to be amazing for you, rooting so hard for you! <3

Anon I'm gonna start crying at 5 in the morning omg and thank you ;3; also happy belated birthday! :D

Lemme say when I started doing these wavs I never intended or even imagined that they would blow up, I was just following what everyone else was doing and still have to credit them for inspiring and/or pushing me to put myself out there and holy shit did it take off-

The fact that I have what it takes to not only give out the horni like pamphlets in church and make someones day a little bit better gives me such a goddamn serotonin boost it isn't even funny, and the fact that you even took the time to send in this ask just started my early day off so much better and on the best foot so thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️

SO THANK YOU NONNY for giving your support and letting me know that you appreciate what I put out (and also thank you for being so sweet cause I do tend to beat myself up a bit and also might be suffering from imposter syndrome xux)

[dreamy-jaeger]

Hi hi! I don't normally send asks or anything but I just wanted to say I absolutely adore and love your new fic! I love tlou so much and this fic is everything I needed now <3

oh my goodness!!! this is the sweetest darn thing you could ever say, THANK YOOOU!! it warms my little heart 🥹

and YES you are my kindred soul, tlou is one of my favorite things ever! so i’m glad im doing it justice with this fic (hopefully hehe)

thank you so much for messaging me! it really makes me happy! and i hope you have a fantastic day :))!!! 💖💖💖💖

[selfshippinglover]

Aaand lastly for this spam a reminder that your F/Os, Micheal, Actor, Clay nd Rick included love you sososososo much and are thinking lovey dovey thoughts about you as you read this >:3c ~@soft-f1sh-yearnings

Finally gonna answer these Angle! Thank YOOOU FOR SENDING SO MANNY <333

A fuy reminder that alll the Dragon Cookies are thinking of you! Hoarding you, giving you sweet cheek kisses, wrapping you up against their tails, getting easily flushed whether they mean to or not(hee hee Pitaya)

Just, they are allll so endeared to you <3

[katistrophe]

🌷, 💐, and 🐸? ^_^

Aaah, thank yooou!

🌷 - Do you like to garden or keep plants? What plants are you currently nurturing?

I do! I’m trying to get my basil and chili through the winter indoors - the basil is due some new pots, I was planning to do that today. Aside from that, the roses I planted outside luckily settled enough they got through fine, so did some of the kitchen herbs, and I’ll just have to hope the berries did too. The summer lilac is hanging in there, I think. And the catnip… well, the neighborhood cat loved it too much, but it may come up again, I’ve heard.

💐 - I'm sending you a bouquet! What flowers and plants would you like to see in it?

Already answered, but goodness, I’m flattered by the amount of bouquets I’m getting ^^

🐸 - What is your favorite animal that you can find in your backyard, or near where you live?

Well, the favorite animal I have actually found in my backyard is…

KITTY

(Soft nature asks!)

[technicallysideacc]

Hi there love! How are you? I hope this week’s treating you well, and that you’re having a bit of time to rest! 🌸✨

Here I am, for our weekly fic-talk!😂

I totally agree with everything you said about the rose of Whitechapel! Have you been able to read a bit more of it? How are you finding your re-read?

Talking about the last chapters: there’s so much smut going on! 😂 love to see that h/l are enjoying each other! I totally understand Louis’ struggles and fear of possibly falling in love with H! I mean it’s soooooo so hard to think that something that could be so beautiful could hurt the other that much, you know? But it’s heartbreaking to see how both suffer because they can’t be together for real, like they would’ve wanted! It’s so hard to see Harry hurt because Louis can’t stay away from him but just can’t afford to love him (or being loved by H), and at the same time to watch Louis suffer for the same reason, just the same, even more maybe, knowing that if he just lets himself go he will hurt the person he loves and if he just put H away he will lose (and hurt, anyway) the person he loves! Ahhhhhh

I think it’s beautiful the relationship that’s created between all of them!! How they put aside their differences just to come together to find a way to save Louis!! I LOVED what Harry did to finally be able to free Louis, just soooooo selfless and brave, and Liam, Zayn and Niall trusted him and helped him and just WOW!

The happy ending was just soooooo needed and good to read! After all that dark, all those scary things (okay, reading it at night: NOT A GOOD IDEA😂)…being able to see them happy, living the life they dreamed and soooo in love! Just so cute and lovely 🥹

BUT!!!

the real end???! I mean, I didn’t expect it? I was like happy crying for h/l/Clifford and then SBAM! What is that!?? Whyyyyyyyyy!? I feel like, I’d like to know what will happen from there? Like give me a sequel?😱😂

Anyway. As always…I wrote A LOT. Sorry 🥹

I am now reading a looooooong (like: LONG) fic, it’s about like 630k words I think?

It’s called Of Mates And Men and I’m loving it so far!! I’ve been in a bad mood lately so I find myself reading more than usual because it calms me down…so I’m already 20% on the fic🥹 but oh god! It’s so so so so well written, the characterisations are wonderful and the whole story is just amazing! I’m really enjoying this read and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next!

Have you ever read it?

Well, that’s it for today, I think it’s more than enough 😂

I really hope you’re good, sending you a biiig big hug, all the positive vibes I have left (sorry, I hope they’re enough🥹) and all the love you need! Here’s a box full of love: 📦 please, feel free to take all you need from there! Biiiiiig hug!💖✨🌸🌈🌻

Morniiiing, love!🥰🩷 How are yooou? It's finally the weekend, so I finally have some time to answer your lovely message!!🩷 It's been an intense week, but I've survived hahaha How about you? Hope you've had a good ending of your week and that the weekend is being nice as well!🥰🩷✨

About The Rose of Whitechapel - I haven't been able to read much but today is going to be my day! I'm really planning on spending the morning reading, so hopefully that's gonna help me advance a tiny bit more, at least! And I'm enjoying the re-read a looot, thank you! I just wished I had more time to read consistently, so that I don't have to think "oh, where was I?" before I start a scene hahaha but oh well, that's adult life for you, sometimes, right?😅

And omggg yessss @ everything you were saying about the last chapters of the fic! I totally agree with everything!🩷 I remember their dynamic being super interesting but heartbreaking at the same time - how Louis doesn't want to give himself completely for obvious reasons but at the same time can't resist Harry; and how Harry needs that duality to end. So heartbreaking - but also so satisfying when it comes to an end, right? I also confess I'm a sucker for a good and well-developed drama (as long as it has a happy resolution, of course!). And omg, yesssssss, the resolution is so good! The way Harry is so selfless and does what he thinks is best for Louis... so engaging and amazing to read! Hahaha and I totally agree with you about the ending - it feels like grounds for a sequel, but I'm not sure if that's gonna happen, from what I've read from the author! It feels more like an 'open ending' of sorts, I think, but I may be wrong!👀

And about Of Mates and Men - oh myyyyy, that's a long one, for sure!!!! I had heard of it, but the length always scared me, so I've never read it hahaha but I'm glad to hear it's been helping you wind down! How are you finding it?🩷 Hope it's being an enjoyable read!😍✨ I'm already intrigued by what you said about characterisations being nice - I'm always in for fics with a good characterisation!!😍

Awww and thank you for your box full of love, I definitely took some!!!🥰🩷✨ Hope that you're well and having a fantastic weekend! I'm sending you a really biiiig hug and all my positive vibes for your day (and the beginning of next week!). Big loveeeeee!🥰💕🌹🌈✨🩷🌸