#“WELCOME TO PLAYFUL LAND” TOO??? I'm so smart

[yippieitsarvensart]

"So darken your clothes, and strike a violent pose!"

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

i'm so happy you liked it!!! wow, you're just as insane as I am. life is good. our thoughts are in sync. the tragedy that speaks to the core. thank YOU. it's refreshing to let your slightly crazy thoughts out there and be welcomed. im absolutely insane for their dynamic (im dying to live this). you have no idea (im losing it). i personally think gojo would be relieved once he's king, he's in control now, it's natural to him. there are more possibilities and he's so prepared. but you know what? becoming king has its duties and one of them is that prince!gojo's hand has been promised before he was born. i wonder how he'd cope with that knowing he belongs to someone else. i like to think he'd rebel and refuse the marriage completely (for personal, selfish reasons), but again he isn't childish in the sense of ignoring politics completely, yes? behind playful comments he is indeed a smart man. after all, he was raised to become this. he knows how to navigate the world and understands that his decisions can have massive political impact (and that this can also be negative for his knight, right? he cannot risk losing the power and privileges he owns, how would he be able to protect them? he must play the game as is). i think this might be one of the moments in his life where he'll be the most conflicted. but he'd play nice and polite when his fiance comes to visit him (i think due to gojo's natural disdain for his fiance, casual visits would be encouraged a few weeks before marriage). the first sting of jealousy knight!reader feels and oh. that's when they realize the nature of their feelings for prince!gojo. that it goes a little beyond what they thought. their dynamic might shift a little, things become uncertain and confused. knight!reader might dissociate between it all, not allowing selfish feelings to get in the way. and gojo's so annoyed and he wishes the whole building would just collapse and burn with everyone in it. and there knight!reader is, not so far away, shining only for his eyes. prince!gojo looks at them like begging for forgiveness, help, love and sadness all together while the lady by his side tries to get his attention. it's pathetic, he thinks. but his heart is somewhere else, it belongs to someone else for fucking sake!!! can't anyone see that? their first kiss would probably happen during this time I think. i can see him finding knight!reader at night, carrying the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders. and when his eyes land on them relief washes over him. soft moonlight shyly on knight's confused face asking 'satoru, are you okay?' vulnerability! comfort! home! because they belong to each other deeply, a mere look on each others face is enough to understand something is wrong. the kiss!! his little act of rebellion. he's so proud of it after, it's cute af. can you see? the blushing and all!! difficult times, ah the hurt!! at the end,,, i think ruling by himself is much gojo like, right? it would be somewhat controversial and there would be implications but to him it wouldn't be fair to fill a promise he didn't make, plus he's committed to his knight!reader already. ye? he'd learn so much and mature during this period as well. he'd find strength in his love and his love alone. it fills him with a supernatural sense of responsibility that he finally understands that knight!reader went through (though only a little, as he doesn't get his hands dirty nor commit acts of violence (i hope he does, sincerely)). and yess,,, sorry, it was too much again. or if it doesnt resonate with you, haha. omg. i am simply happy in my element talking to you. yes, uhm. you can call me momo/crazymomo if thats ok? it was supposed to be 'crazymomo' but i guess it kind got f'ed up in the way and i just didnt care about fixing it. im bringing you cake ok!!!!!

HI MOMOOO u r feeding us yet again!!!!! and same same same, its so fun to be insane together i appreciate u sm <333 mickey rlly is a genius bc ive never seen a character/reader dynamic thats caused as much insanity as knight!reader & prince!gojo they had me in a chokehold from the get-go

and OHHH these thoughts momo!!!! so tasty and interesting, i lovelovelove hearing more abt how u interpret them!! when it comes to dynamics like these i feel like everyone has their own take on them at least to some degree and i think its SOSO fun to compare!!!!

BUT OKOK let me get thru this!!! i had so much fun reading this and thinking abt it, u brought up so many things i hadnt considered yet!!

OK SO. king!gojo…… after some contemplation i think i definitely agree w u momo. i feel like satoru relaxes once he has the throne. its tough and a huge responsibility, a weight on his shoulders, but its no longer hanging over him as a burden he’ll one day have to bear, its something he’s gained and grown used to and i think he earnestly loves making a change in the society he lives in. and!! i think he is soso loved. i see him as the type to visit poorer villages all the time, financially support struggling mothers, speak to their babies and hold them all gently HES JUST SO… hes such a good man im gonna be sick. ABSOLUTELY helps all orphans he comes across they may or may not remind him of a certain knight so he cant bear to look away from them

(i do think he still longs to run away w knight!reader tho…. its just a nice daydream to him atp bc its impossible in so many ways but i think he hates the fact that being king means hes moved even further above them on the social ladder)

BUT ANYHOW ANYHOW lets get to the juicy bits. the engagement bits. i have my own take on this that differs from urs a little bit momo but i think urs is soso good and nice and romantic… and i agree on a lot too!! specifically this ohhh u get him soso well!!

behind playful comments he is indeed a smart man. after all, he was raised to become this. 

(…)

(and that this can also be negative for his knight, right? he cannot risk losing the power and privileges he owns, how would he be able to protect them? he must play the game as is.)

^ i agree soso much!!!! i think prince!gojo is very very clever, he enjoys acting goofy and has a very genuinely silly side but i do think hes both intelligent and mature. especially when it comes to politics, both for the sake of his own sense of duty AND what you said — for the sake of knight!reader!! they’re his motivation to become king in the first place, so i don’t see him doing anything that’ll cause too much of a stir; but at the same time… he gets away with a lot.

i do think rejecting his fiancee completely as a prince might be too much (his parents let him do as he pleases for the most part, but theyre not fun to deal with when they start to feel threatened lol), but once hes become king… well.

i think you’re right, momo!! he chooses to lead the nation on his own, with no queen by his side — only one very loyal knight. 

(on the topic of heirs though since thats kind of connected to this… obviously his decision causes quite a stir. who will lead the kingdom when hes gone? a king with no firstborn — how scandalous. and so on.

but satoru doesn’t care. he continues to live his life, do his duty. visiting villages, dealing with neighouring countries… and, well. maybe one day he happens to run into a particularly clever assassin, with a scar on his bottom lip, escaping by the skin of his teeth and thanks to his knight — and, who knows? maybe said assassin, bleeding out, murmurs something about a child, a run-down building, a young life soon to be lost… and maybe satoru finds said child. maybe he even feels compelled to look after him, just for a while, because that unruly hair and those guarded eyes remind him a bit too much of a certain someone.

and if satoru grows fond of said boy, if he raises him as a candidate for the throne, but with an understanding and sympathy that he never received himself — then that’s no one’s business but his own.)

my bad i got carried away PHDKFJFJ back to the topic at hand. (i just needed to bring gumi into this narrative hes my special little boy ALSO maybe just maybe suguru finds an orphaned boy in the woods w pink hair who he takes in and raises as a knight hmmmm.. wonder what that’s all about…..) SORRY IM SORRY theres. so much to think abt when it comes to this au…………..

but anyways. i think satoru abolishes the marriage the moment he becomes king — but until then hes polite, well-mannered, maybe even a tad friendly w his fiancee. just to make it easier for the both of them. he does however make it very, very clear that this is a business partnership in his mind — its not a marriage of love, it never will be. and he’s firm about it. he has no intention of leading her on.

i think he might even go as far as to say his heart belongs to someone else (hes giggling on the inside bro gets butterflies at the thought of belonging to his knight in any way shape or form), with no specifics since he doesnt want to get knight!reader into any kind of trouble with the royal court.

but yes!! this is where i think our takes differ a bit (not at ALL a bad thing i just need to make that clear!!) bc i dont rlly see knight!reader being jealous!! i see their relationship with satoru as very comfortable, w a strong sense of understanding between them. it isnt entirely romantic or entirely platonic — if i had to put it in simple terms i’d just call them soulmates. they were born to save each other. and i think both of them understand that! knight!reader is well aware that satoru doesnt feel a single thing for his fiancee, because he makes it so clear that no one has a place at his side except for knight!reader themselves. so in that sense i dont see that uncertainty appearing!! i think the only one between them who feels frustrated is satoru.

and gojo's so annoyed and he wishes the whole building would just collapse and burn with everyone in it. <- THIS IS SOOOO CANON TO ME BTW i think that when ppl are being annoying around the castle a tiny voice in his head is like ”i hope this building fucking explodes” PHDNDBD HES SO DRAMATIC…. but in this case i think hes just so frustrated, especially if his fiancee/parents make the whole engagement more troublesome than it has to be.

on that note i just gotta mention;

and there knight!reader is, not so far away, shining only for his eyes. prince!gojo looks at them like begging for forgiveness, help, love and sadness all together while the lady by his side tries to get his attention. it's pathetic, he thinks. <- GOD THIS ONE GOT ME THIS ONE GOT ME GOOD momo pls stop im in agony </3 ohhh the way his eyes reflect his soul those sad sad puppydog eyes ☹️☹️ i would fold instantly

so in simple terms!! i think knight!reader and toru feel very at home in their dynamic. i dont think knight!reader would mind at all if satoru got a fiancee — if she made him happy i think they’d even grow fond of her. theyre just very kind and accepting, and dedicated to their prince’s happiness above all else. (but, of course, satoru’s happiness only ever lies with them 😔 stupid silly dense knight.) 

BUT THE KISSSS OHHH THE KISS MOMO…. i see your vision so SO clearly. i picture their kiss by the riverbank like this too — satoru does it w/o thinking overcome by fondness and hes all giggly and giddy after. hes just happy to be alive PDJJDFJ 100% goes for a forehead kiss right after bc his heart is just bursting at the seams and his favorite person ever is right there in front of him!! all blushy and unsure!!! ohhh hes OBSESSED momo u get it ofc u do… ur version of events is so lovely and sweet!! i can really picture is so vividly!!

ANYWAY that was so fun pls never apologize, i lovelovelove long asks like this!! it was such a treat to read!! <33 IM BRINGING U A BIG CAKE TOO tysm for blessing us w this 🎂 (lets share it hehe 🍰🍰) (+ extra piece for mickey in case they see this here u go mickey 🍰)

[cvbullshit]

Heaven, Inc.

As a brilliant light shines within a cloudy area, a man holds the light within his hands before sending it off. Past the golden bridges, past a shining lake, as the light moves, the area around it becomes less bright despite nothing changing. The light then slowly forms as a angelic being is created, spreading it's wings before letting them fold in. It takes a deep breath and lands, opening it's eyes. It looks around in awe... Before that awe becomes confusion. It's... An office building? The angel blinks and rubs it's eyes, "Wait..." It says out loud before looking confused at the ground, "What's an office?" It asks, dumbfounded.

"Ah! The new worker!" Another angel says, going close to the new seedling. The angel looked as if it was too uptight and smart for it's own good, it's bronze framed glasses were too dull to shine yet it had a very outgoing way of speaking. It quickly moves to the new angel and begins pulling it along with it, "Now, dear, my name is Dana and I'd like to wholeheartedly welcome you to Heaven! To your way of living- AND! Your new job!" It said with a smile on it's face, it's eyes not having opened once despite them moving around and facing directions just fine. "Dana...? Isn't that?" The new angel begins to speak, before being interrupted by Dana, "A more humanish name? Yes, I know! Our lord sort of started running out of ideas!" It responded, laughing a bit while dragging the new angel with it, "Now what's your name dear?" It asked, tilting it's head in an impatient manner. "I'm... Erm... I-" It began to say, before being interrupted once more, "Ermi? Perfect! Now, I'm going to need you to sign here, here, and here- Oh! Don't forget there!" Dana said, pulling out a golden colored piece of paper and practically shoving it into Ermi's face, "Once you sign, you'll be ready to go!" Dana finished before dragging Ermi past a opening that led to some worker cubicals and desks. "Wait! Wait!" Ermi spoke up quickly, sputtering and not getting any of it's questions out for a moment, "How do I know what an office is?!" It's voice could be heard asking.

An angel peaked out from the opening that the two angels passed by, sitting in a chair and looking slightly confused, "What's with the new guy??" It asked. Soon, another one across from it spoke up, "Oh uh, the guy in the basement got sent to Hell, I think." It responded. The first angel groaned, "Ughhhhh! What did they even do?! Let me guess- Messed up the flow by questioning why things are the way they are??" It said, saying so in a mocking voice that sounded a bit like Dana's. "Ebel." The second angel said in a warning tone, giving Ebel a look. Ebel sighs, "Tch, not sorry, you know how I feel about that sort of thing." Ebel grumbled, looking away and crossing it's arms, "Mm- No." The second angel said, checking their notepad before writing something down, "I was going to say, at least wait a bit before you mock Dana. Dana literally just past our door." It said, pointing to the opening with it's pen and looking up at Ebel. Ebel glances to the opening and shrugged, leaning back in it's chair and setting it's feet on the desk, "Oh well, Dana can kiss my sorry ass." It retorts in a uncaring manner. Another angel passed by Ebel and it's companion, smirking childishly while holding a stack of papers, "Ooooo!~ Ebel said a bad word again!~" The angel teased before going to it's desk that was behind Ebel's companion, setting the papers down with a hefty huff. "Oh, can it, Tili, I hear you cuss like a sailor under your breath!" Ebel spat back, quickly shifting it's feet off the desk with a stomp as it leans forward and places it's arm onto the desk instead, it's posture a bit aggressive. "Asher, control our bestie, will you?" Tili commanded in a snarky yet playful manner. Asher sighs, "Tili, stop messing with Ebel, you know they're in a bad mood today." Asher said in a slightly drained tone before looking at Ebel, "And Ebel, you need to relax, okay? I'm saying that for your own good so you don't end up pissing off the wrong angelic beings!" It said in a stern tone.

Ebel groans in annoyance, "I do that on the daily by simply existing!" It complains. "No. You do that on the daily because you won't shut up about your thoughts and ideas- OR your constantly snarky remarks about other angels or the system!" Asher retorted in an even more stern way. "Tch, so what? Angels are only so pissy about that sort of thing because-" Ebel began another mock voice for Dana, "Mr. The lord, the great, our creator forbids this and that, your thoughts and questions, because he's sooo much better than THAT!" It said, putting it's hands on it's hips.

"Indeed he IS much better than that sort of display, Ebel!" Dana said, slightly offendedly, but still with a smile, now behind Ebel. Ebel gains a drained and annoyed look on it's face as it slowly turns it's head towards Dana, looking at it silently before giving Dana a forced and fake grin, "Dana. I missed you. So glad you could check up on me right when I longed for your existence." Ebel said sarcastically. "Not doing your work AND goofing off on the job, Ebel? Tsk, tsk! Always the same with you!" Dana said, writing down something on it's clipboard. "I think that's because all we do is work but fuck my idea, right?" Ebel comments, looking away and mumbling. "Indeed! You all do nothing but work, just like you're told! Well.. Most of you." Dana said, looking at the others before glancing to Ebel, "Which is why- Hoorah! Our lord has finally gotten to the office wide request of giving you all breaks! Even though, none of us really need any of that, do we? But your little minds just don't care about our.. Infinite energy that keeps us going forever!" It says in a passive aggressive tone, giggling a bit, "Oh, just to hold up schedule! Mhmhmhm!" Dana hummed as it wrote more down on it's clipboard, though more aggressively.

"To celebrate this, you all get to have your break... Now!" Dana continued before leaning towards Ebel and pointing it's pen at it, "Apart from you! Due to your lackluster performance today and your little impression of myself, you will be going down to the basement to do some of your undone work from the past week! Doesn't that sound fun?" It asked. Ebel blinks and goes wide eyed, "Wh- That's not fair!" Ebel spat, now angry. Dana leans back and walks out of the room, "Nothing is fair for the rude, you know this, Ebel!" It said before completely leaving. Ebel watched Dana leave before heavily leaning back in it's chair and groaning loudly.

[chicksung]

My Youth || Nishimura Riki

part of my sweet sixteenth collab series!

Genre: royalty au, fluff, angst

Pairing: prince!niki x princess!reader

Warning/s: Arranged marriage, mentioned prince!jay x reader, running away together, foolish teen love, light swearing (fuck is used like once)

Prompt: “Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean we can’t dance”

Word Count: 4.5k

Synopsis: From the time you were fourteen, you knew you wanted to be with Niki, even if it meant risking everything for each other.

A/N: This is bit of birthday present for me! Anyway I hope you enjoy this prince!niki

Networks: @houseofincantations @ficscafe @kpopscape

Now playing: Youth - Troye Sivan

Up next: Young Again - Morgan Evans

You had known Niki for as long as you could remember, which he bragged that he remembered longer than you did, and there wasn’t a moment where you weren’t together in some way. You luckily still remember the first time you met him too.

“You know how I’ve been teaching you the geography of the land and the surrounding kingdoms?” Your mother asked you one sunny morning as you sat at the foot of her bed as she tied a pretty ribbon to your hair. You nodded with certainty.

“Yes mama, I remember,” You replied, getting distracted by the way your fingers danced with the ruffles of your skirt.

“Good. Do you remember how I told you about the Nishimura Dynasty?” You nodded again, craning your head around to look at your mother. “Well, they’re coming to visit today. The Queen is one of my good friends. They have a son around your age too. Maybe you two could be friends.” Her voice was soft and melodic, like her words were the lyrics of the siren’s song.

“But he’s a boy, and boys have cooties,” you claimed childishly, folding your arms. 

She feigned shock.“Who would tell you such heinous things?” 

“Juyeon did! He said I'm his favourite royal and he would never lie to me,” Her symphonic chuckle was enough to make you laugh as well.

“Of course he would say that,” the Queen was more than aware of Juyeon’s playful manner towards you, and she found it endearing, “Their carriage will be here shortly, dove. Why don’t you go to the library and ask Heeseung to read to you. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to do so,” you perked up at the sound of the royal librarian and your tutor’s name and nodded vigorously. You had always loved Heeseung’s stories. 

“Their Majesties King and Queen Nishimura, and His Royal Highness, Prince Riki,” the head guard announced to your family. Your father and mother stood close together, with your chubby little hand holding your mother’s free one, her other arm being wrapped around your father’s. Three royals, with a family dynamic almost identical to yours, stepped through the tall arched door, sunlight radiating behind them like a blinding vail. 

“Welcome to our kingdom,” your father greeted with a warm smile, one that was quickly reciprocated by the other two royals.

“It’s been too long, your Majesty,” King Nishimura bowed, shortly followed by his wife. 

“Look how big Riki is now. He is growing  up so fast,” your mother cooed as she bowed her head slightly to get down to the prince’s level. “How are you today, Prince Nishimura?”

“Good, thank you,” he replied with a large grin, a few teeth noticeably missing from it. You looked at the young boy, quickly scurrying into your mother’s skirts, shyness taking over you “Now Y/N, don’t be so shy. You were so excited to meet the Prince this morning,” your mother attempted to calm you down, but you only shook your head and refused to speak a word. 

As the adults began to talk, your father suggested that you and the prince should play in the palace gardens or go to the library. 

Once you had reached the garden, the prince turned to you,with a small smile on his chubby face,“What’s your name?” It was the first time you had gotten a proper look at him. His hair was slicked back into a smart combover, his suit bore his kingdom’s colours of white and gold, symbolic of innocence, beauty, wealth and high status. He had friendly eyes that matched a cute smile that curled at his lips ever so slightly at the edge. His most noticeable feature, in your six year old mind, was the little mole that sat upon his chin. Heeseung’s wife, Brooke, had told you a legend that people with moles had been kissed by fairies in their past lives and now wore the mole as a gift. 

“Y/N,” you stammered, your fingers once again finding a sense of serenity within the ruffles of your skirt. The boy smiled again, lighting up his face as if a bright flame was being held up to it. 

“My name is Riki, but you can call me Niki. Only very special people get to call me Niki, and I can tell already, you are a very special person,” he stated, stopping just beside the peonies in the garden. When you gave him a bewildered sort of look, “I just have a feeling,” he explained with a shrug.

From that day forth, you befriended young Niki. You had begged Heeseung to teach you how to read and write so you could write him letters during the times when the stars refused to align to let you see each other again. You would exchange small gifts for each other’s birthday. You would often send him a pinecone, or a little bouquet of flowers and in return, he would send photos of his duck pond and his favourite servant in the castle, that he had taken himself. Sure, your families had wealth to buy each other the most extravagant gifts, expensive food and goods, but it didn’t mean as much to you. Not as much as small things from the other that they liked and hoped they would too. You became inseparable, in spite of being several villages away. You told each other secrets that you wouldn't dare to tell any other soul. 

“Did you really? Oh god, if your father found out,” the twelve year old beside you gawked at you with a shocked expression. You nodded, a devious smile on your face. 

“Yes, and he can’t technically get angry at me since Mother was in on it too, but hey, I now have a horse so maybe one day, I can ride her over to your kingdom,” You sat up from the picnic blanket, staring down the hill at the royal stable, the newest addition being a beautiful deep brown mare named Nutsy. Niki nodded vigorously.

“You should! Then we can ride our horses together and I can show you through the village.” You nodded in return.

“I think I would like that.”

Despite your closeness, as you grew older, the days you saw each other grew scarce. Murmurs of official business gave your parents the perfect excuse to not explain the situation about your future to you. You confided in the librarian's wife.

“He and his family are most likely busy, love. There haven’t been a lot of times where your paths would cross recently. I’m sure you’ll be able to see him again soon,” she smiled sweetly, caressing your head.

“You promise, Mrs Lee?” She laughed.

“I promise, your Highness.”

At fourteen, you learned that upon turning sixteen, you would be married off to the prince of another kingdom. At fourteen and a half, you learned you couldn’t marry Niki.

“But why? Why can’t I marry him? I know him better than I know myself. He’s a prince, he’s of the same age as mine. I don’t understand why I can’t marry him, Father.” you were arguing with your father, and neither of you were backing down.

“Y/N, it doesn’t work like that,” he grumbled, rubbing his temples in frustration.

“How does it work then?”

“We gain nothing from you if you were to marry the Dynasty’s prince,” the King huffed, folding his arms over his chest, “We are just as wealthy as they are, we have the same size of army and protection. On both sides, there is nothing to gain. In a few weeks time, we will start looking for suitors for you. You must choose one before your sixteenth birthday.” You stood there flabbergasted. How could someone marry their child off to a complete stranger.

“But this isn’t-”

“This is non-negotiable. Do I make myself clear?” He bellowed. He was quite clearly finished with conversation and more notably annoyed.

“Yes, Father,” you whispered, folding your hands over one another in front of you and bowing your head to avoid eye contact.

“Good. Now if you excuse me, I have better things to be doing than arguing with you.”

“My parents said the same thing. Something about ‘nothing to gain’,” Niki grumbled. You had snuck out to the front of the castle after sending Niki a message to discuss urgent business. 

“It’s so stupid. It would seem like the easiest option. I’ve never had a friend like you, and our families are friends, so why not?” You huffed, resting your head on your hands, watching the cool breeze away the long blades of grass. You and Niki shared a long silence, just enjoying the presence of each other.

“Hey, Y/N?” Niki broke the silence.

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever thought about kissing someone?” You perked up, slightly shocked by his question.

“Why do you ask?” His face now carried a pink hue in the apples of his cheeks. 

“Well, um, I don’t know how to say this but-”

“You like someone, don’t you?” He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, an awkward laugh escaping his lips.

“I guess you could say that.” Your face had noticeably fallen, even he could see it.

“Tell me about her,” you plastered on a fake smile. If you can’t compete with her, you might as well be nice about it, you thought. Niki gave you a small smile, starting to ramble on about her love of reading, her unique sense of humour, the stories she was always so excited to tell him and about her horse named Nuts- hold on a second.

“Nishimura Riki, are you talking about me?”

“Guilty as charged,” he put up his hands in the air, as if he were surrendering. You huffed, folding your arms.

“It isn't very prince-like to play with a young woman’s feelings like that,” you pouted but couldn’t stop laughing, giggling like a giddy schoolgirl. Niki nodded.

“Why do you think I was encouraging the idea of us getting married?”

“Maybe one day, they might change their mind. Do you think they ever will?” You looked to your best friend - if you could even call each other ‘friends’ at this point - who only shrugged. 

“I really hope so, but I guess only time will tell.”

From that day forward, you begged any star that twinkled that your families would change their minds. You admit, it was a childish idea, and you admit that you were, in fact, fourteen and a half, but you were desperate. You hoped the stars would dance into an alignment that would do you both some good. However, as the months, years dragged on, and your father shoved prince after prince in your face, trying to persuade you to move on from Niki, you realised that was never going to happen. Eventually, you were left with the decision to either choose a suitor or be shunted from the family tree and be left to survive in the streets of your kingdoms and the backroads of the country’s map. You begrudgingly selected Prince Jay, of the Park Province. He was a nice kid, and he seemed sweet so he wasn’t the worst suitor you could’ve picked. Preparations were well underway for your wedding, meaning you had to spend every waking moment with your soon-to-be husband, meaning you had no time to even think about seeing Niki. You were either rushed to dress appointments, or reviewing the menu for the post wedding celebration, or deciding the colour theme for the wedding. You were being pulled in so many different directions, it felt like you were going to tear at the seams. 

“It feels like they’re trying to make sure I don’t even do much as think about doing anything else,” you complained to Heeseung, slumping in your seat. Heeseung shook his head. 

“A wedding can’t be planned in a few days. Goodness, you should’ve seen how much planning went into mine and Brooke’s wedding,” he chuckled, the memories of all the paperwork flashing through his head. You groaned, your forehead hitting the table with a thump, hearing a distant sigh from the librarian, “Look Princess, there’s nothing I can do to cease the wedding. Just try to enjoy it, I mean, the ball is tomorrow, isn’t it?” 

You nodded, “Yeah, it is. I do hope that he shows up. It may be the last time I can see him before I’m shipped off to the Park Province,” Heeseung took your hands in his and offered you a warm smile.

“Enjoy these moments. Trust me, the process won’t seem so tedious in the future.” 

Three days until you were to be married to Jay, and you were trying to keep your mind off it. It felt like this was your final night to let loose, be free. 

“It’s not all bad,” your handmaiden Elle spoke up as she tightened your corset, “Prince Jay is quite an attractive young man, not to mention charming.” You scoffed at your handmaiden’s words.

“There’s just one problem with him,” you responded with a pointed tone.

“And what might that be?” Elle knew the answer, you knew she did, but didn’t feel the need to comment on it.

“He’s not Niki,” you sighed glumly, casting your eyes down to your gown. A royal blue, outlined with gold trim and subtle net overlay that displayed small silver stars, the dress was stunning, so why didn’t your emotions reflect the same? Maybe because the colours should have been white and gold. Alas, those are not the colours of Park Province as they belonged to the Nishimura Dynasty. 

“I know it’s tough on you, your Highness,” Elle sighed, tying the ribbons of your corset into a dainty bow, “but there is nothing we can do to change this. Even if it’s too late to change your mind, let tonight be a good one. It is a party after all. Have fun for me,” she offered you a smile that made warmth spread through your chest and caused the corners of your mouth to turn upwards.

“If you insist.”

The ballroom was extravagant. Balloons bounced on their long dainty strands of white ribbons in every corner of the room, a feast fit for any royal laid out on a pristine red table cloth, not a single plate out of place. There were dozens of floral arrangements that decorated small rounded tables for guests, all of which held marigolds and hydrangeas. Strings of light and pale coloured net fabric unanimously connected to a gorgeous glowing chandelier, its crystals twinkling in the light. You stood in amongst a sea of staff members, scurrying to serve the hundreds, if not thousands, of guests. Outside the door however, you felt like a fish out of water, a sickening wave of dread hung over your head like a raincloud. The setup was so beautiful, so why did you have such an ugly feeling? Your head buzzed with too many thoughts and feelings, it was almost headache inducing. You couldn’t hear anything, which is why you didn’t hear him approach.

“Hey,” a voice with an airy lilt to it. One that was familiar, but not as familiar as you would’ve liked, “are you alright?”

You looked up at Jay and nodded, giving him what your mother called ‘The Public’s Smile’. One that acted as a mask, a facade to show the people of your kingdom. Jay nodded in return. Despite how you felt about the marriage, he looked as handsome as always. Hair slicked and parted in two different directions, blue velvet suit buttoned up to his midchest, allowing a small portion of his white undershirt to be seen. You locked elbows with him, allowing him to guide you into the ballroom. As if an alert had been issued with your arrival, every pair of eyes set on you. Most gawked at the site of your matching outfits, some of the women whispered to the friends whilst giving you a sideyed glance. Either way, you had the whole room’s attention and you could feel their stares crawling down your back like insects as you and your fiance glided through the ballroom. You grasped Jay’s arm tighter, however, trying to play it off to avoid worrying him. Your father smiled at you, a genuine smile, full of joy and excitement. The sight of it made your stomach drop like a rollercoaster. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I could please have your attention,” the King brought the attention from the two of you to him, “now as you know, this occasion is to celebrate the marriage of my daughter Princess Y/N and Prince Jay of the Park Province. I cannot believe my only child is going to be married off in less than three days time. So without further ado, let us cheer for the new couple!” The room roared with applause and  joyous commotion. You looked around at the crowd in front of you, seeing some you recognised, seeing some you didn’t, however only one stood out to you. In the back corner stood a blond haired boy, no older than you. Niki.

It was almost as if your father had planned every way possible for you to avoid Niki. Whenever he walked in your direction, you were whisked away to some other noble family to accept their congratulations. Whenever he looked in your direction, your attention was taken away from him by some butler or a random prince asking you to dance, most notably Prince Soobin. As minutes, possibly hours passed, the room began to spin, your head silenced all noise and replaced it with its own. After curtly excusing yourself from a conversation between Jay’s mother and your father, you made a beeline for the door. The air outside was crisp with a slight chill, a nice contrast from the sweaty and claustrophobic environment that was inside that party. With your back against the cold stone of the old castle walls, it felt as if you could breathe again. No noise, no thoughts, the only sound being the short puffs of your breath and quiet drizzle of rain. You felt free, like for a second you weren’t anybody. You weren’t currently avoiding a ball that was arranged especially for you, you weren’t getting married and you weren’t hopelessly in love with your best friend. 

“I saw you leave,” Speak of the devil, “is everything alright?” 

“Everything’s fine, Niki,” you replied dismissively, glaring down at the stars bedazzling your dress. You heard Niki snicker.

“How stupid do you think I am? You don’t make eye contact when you’re lying,” you mentally cursed yourself. He’s known for so long now, of course he would be able to identify your lying habits. You let out a bittersweet laugh.

“You got me,” you raised your hands in mock defeat, “it was getting too crowded in there for my liking. What’s your reasoning, Nishimura?” 

“You never call me by my last name,” he pointed out, slightly shocked.

“Well, I just did,” you hissed, “I am simply not in the mood for informalities,” you finally glance at him, “do you have any idea of how many princes I’ve had to dance with tonight. My head would cave in if I even began to think of the numbers.” Niki laughed at how overdramatic you were being, reading your body language like a book he had read time and time again. 

“Well, there’s one who's been wishing to request a dance from the one and only Princess Y/N,” Niki bowed down, extending his left hand towards you. You looked down at his head, unable to hide your shocked expression.

“Right here?” He nodded, “Sweet boy, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but it’s currently raining,” you looked out to the royal gardens. When had the rain gotten so heavy?

“Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean we can’t dance,” he shrugged, taking your hand in his. You didn’t stop him, giving him full control over your body. He walked you into the middle of the garden, each raindrop falling heavily on your face. Having had ballroom dancing drilled into your memory for as long as you could remember, you knew the formation like the back of your hand. With one hand joined harmoniously in his, you placed your left hand upon his shoulder, feeling the now damp material beneath your fingertips, while his right hand rested on your waist. Slowly, your bodies began to dance to the melodies of your beating hearts, twirling and smiling as you stepped along the wet grass. Your clothes and hair had completely been ruined by the weather, but if anyone were to look at you, they would immediately know that neither of you could bring yourselves to care. In fact, Niki looked somewhat more ethereal with droplets of water trailing down his forehead, his fringe sticking in all different directions. The pale reflection of the moon became your spotlight and for the first time in a while, you felt untouchable, free, or as others would say, in love. You recalled Heeseung telling you that young love made you do stupid things (he would know but even then, his story had a much easier and happier ending). Maybe this was stupid, but you couldn’t care less. Right now, Niki was the only person in your world, only he mattered to you right now. 

Slowly, Niki dipped you downwards, bringing you close enough for him to kiss you. Your hands left their initial position to cup his cheeks, returning the kiss. The moment felt so wrong, but so right at the same time. It’s not like you two hadn’t kissed before, but certainly not at the other’s celebration before their marriage. You both retracted, a pregnant pause caught in between you. You stood upright, a small smile appearing on your lips, one that was quickly returned by him.

“God, I wish it could’ve been you I married instead,” you blurted out, the adrenaline rush of the moment leaving no filter between your thoughts and your speech, “if only I could run away from it all.”

“What’s stopping you?” There is no joking tone in his voice, no indication that he was, in any way, kidding.

“It’s not that easy. I’m three days off of getting married, and where the fuck are we supposed to run to?” Niki simply shrugged, before giving it a little more thought.

“I have a friend. He has a little cottage on the outskirts of one of the kingdoms that he keeps vacant in case he or a close family member or friend desperately needs it. Jungwon, his name is,” Niki enveloped both your hands in his, optimism sparkling in his eyes.

“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m getting married,” you reiterated, giving his hands a light squeeze. 

“Is Jay where your heart lies?” His smile dropped, his tone dropping with it. “Do you really want to live out the rest of your life in a fruitless marriage with a man you met weeks ago?” Niki’s words jabbed into your heart like the sharpest daggers. They left large scars, and hurt beyond comparison, and as much as you didn’t want to admit it, your best friend was right. You had only met Jay less than two weeks ago and yet, here you stand on the outskirts of a party that was to celebrate your marriage. 

“No,” you replied, your eyes dropping to the wet grass that the two of you claimed as your stage moments ago. 

“Then I’ll ask again. What’s stopping you?” Niki hooked his index finger underneath your chin, returning your gaze to him. “Come on, run away with me.”

You had slipped away without detection, with nothing but the clothes on your backs, a map from your father’s study and your horse. It seemed that people were so caught up with the fun of the night that they hadn’t noticed that the princess never returned to the ballroom. Suspicions were raised when you hadn’t arrived for breakfast the next morning, or the morning after, or the morning after that. Your father had knights on patrol within the kingdom’s village, relentlessly searching but consistently returned to the palace empty handed. Jay was also frantically searching for answers, putting a statement out in his own kingdom and a hefty reward for anyone who came up with answers, but alas, nothing. 

“Any sign of my wife?” Jay spoke, not even bothering to look away from the window of his study.

“I’m afraid not, your Highness,” Sunoo bowed his head to his superior, “but we are trying the best we can.”

“Then why are you here?” Jay turned his head towards him, a mean catlike side eyed glance sharp enough to pierce through any soul. Sunoo was leading the investigation to find you, so you can imagine how much pressure he was under, between the nagging from both royal families and the public. Sunoo looked behind him to make sure no other personnel was eavesdropping on their conversation. 

“I was able to obtain some information from a staff member who was at the ball that occurred a few nights ago,” Jay’s ears pricked up at the mere mention of the ball. He gravitated towards the younger boy, opting to sit on the corner of the desk that Sunoo stood in front of. 

“Well?” Jay prompted, “I’m busy, you know. Don’t bother being here if you are only going to waste my time.”

“They said that they had seen the princess before they had left,” Sunoo explained, almost falling from the speed Jay had grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Where did she go? Which direction?” Sunoo seemed sullen for a moment.

“Sir, she wasn’t alone. According to the staff, she was with Prince Riki of the Nishimura Dynasty. They’re childhood friends.” Jay’s face fell at the mention of his name. 

“That bastard,” Jay cursed under his breath, letting go of Sunoo and stomping behind his desk. 

“What do you suggest we do?” Sunoo’s voice shook as he spoke. Normally, the prince was level-headed, but this was not his normal state of mind. Jay looked back at the investigation’s leader, a mocking smile on his face.

“What do I suggest you do?” He almost laughed aloud, “I want you to find that bastard and bring my wife back to me. Without our marriage, both our kingdoms will fall.”

“What if she doesn’t come willingly?” Sunoo questioned again. Jay paused, turning on his heel.

“Kill him for all I care, but you shall return Y/N unharmed, do you understand?” Sunoo nodded vigorously, scuttling out of the room like a frightened mouse. Jay moved back to the window, watching the people of his kingdom out on their normal routine, and a few royal guards spotted amongst the crowd. 

“So you have her do you, Nishimura?” He spoke to himself, the power of his words causing the window to fog up. “Well, two can play at that game, and trust me, you won’t like the way I play it.”

[taeyamayang]

hi angel ! im joining your 200 follower event. my name is pearl, and i'd like to be paired with a dude lmao. its hard to give a condensed description of my personality and still stay true to my nature, so this'll be a little inaccurate descriptiom of me. its way easie to just be my friend instead ;) but anyways, onto the matchup. i'm a short, studious little bitch who is also interested in philosophy, maths, science, history and fashion. existential crisis and debating is common (i'm a writer and a philosophy enthusiast. literally what do you expect, thats like the criteria for being insane), so my types are usually smart and witty people who can keep up with my speed of thoughts, keep me interested and preferably out of madness. indian in ethnicity, which means desi parents who'd not let me date. i love sewing, and i sew for others a lot too. i also like to write (my writing is pretty sentimental and dramatic, maybe humorous is an old fashioned way). funny at times. sleepy. i'd sleep through the apocalypse if it would happen, i'd sleep through the asteroids that destroyed dinosaurs. literally. very physically clingy. i'm trying to make this short and its hard, so lets rush through my ideal type. funny, witty, almost best friendy relationship, with some gossiping about others; maybe an ear for music too. well, thats about it for now, i hope you have a good time. thanks for being wherever you are right now, and running this blog, dear.

i am pairing you withㅡOsamu Miya

↬ okay hear me out, i was torn between atsumu and osamu but i figured osamu's the the type to have witty comebacks when he's annoyed and frustrated at his brother. i also think he could be a great friend. personally, bestfriends to lovers trope is his dynamics/genre. between the twins, i think osamu is more interested in academics compared to atsumu because that boy only have volleyball running in his head 24/7 so i think osamu would make a great input about philosophy or be more opinionated on general things. finally, for me he's calmer and more in tune to his emotions.

your dream has finally come true. your foot has touched down to the land of the rising sun. you have read thousands of blogs about what to expect and what to do once you visit japan. as presumed, you listed quite a few places that you want to visit throughout your trip here.

one of those is a small yet phenomenal onigiri store located at the heart of hyogo prefecture. you fold the paper containing your list back to it's creases before pushing it inside your pocket. your hand push the doorhandle of the shop. the sound of the chime resonates within the small shop and instantly a tall grey haired boy greets you by bowing his head.

"welcome!" he says. he's wearing a black cap and a white shirt with a japanese character written on it. you have no idea what it meant but let's go just go with it.

your eyes feast on various kind of onigiri displayed inside a glass cabinet as you walk to near it. physically, you could feel your stomach grumble at the sight of delicious food.

"if you're into spicy savory food i recommend you try mentaiko. it's spicy pollack roe. but if you're on the sweeter side then you can try umeboshi. it's pickled plums." he points at flavored onigiris.

"tourist?" he adds, changing the subject. you tear your eyes away from the food only to realize he's had his eyes on you the whole time.

"yeah, im from india." you smile at him.

"is that so?" he raises an eyebrow before turning around to fetch a tray resting on top of the counter top. "ill give you free taste." he slices the onigiris into half before setting it on the tray for you to taste.

"thank you." your smile widens in delight. the door to the kitchen at the far end of the counter top blares open to a person with identical features as him. unlike the guy who gave you free food, his hair is dyed in blonde and his eyes are sharper.

"asshole, where's my jacket?" the blonde dude cocks his head at him.

"not infront of a costumer, jerk." he murmurs to himself, diverting his gaze from the other.

"you just called me a jerk infront of the costumer." the blonde puts his hand on his waist and uses his other hand to point at him as if to prove a point. the grey headed boy purses his lips before slowly turning his head up.

"isn't that your name?" he sarcastically remarks in a calm yet condesing tone. your eyes rally back and forth from one twin to the other. your mouth chewing on your second onigiri as you watch them banter.

"you are exceptionally rude and unforgiving today." the other twin wrinkles his nose in disgust.

"everyday that i get to deal with you and skip on the idea of of murdering you i develop a sense of wit to shut you down."

"just tell me where you put my jacket!" the blonde's voice increases.

"i have no idea where your goddamned jacket is!" the grey headed boy throws his hands in the air in frustration. "people who deal with you on a daily basis reduces their life sentence up to ten years. i wouldn't be surprise if i would be dead tomorrow."

you snort out laughing as soon as the boy behind the counter finishes his sentence. the twins turn their head to you in surprise.

"sorry, go on." you keep your head down as you stifle a laugh. you stuff your mouth with another onigiri to keep your mouth shut.

the chimes tied on top of the door clangs signaling that the other twin has left the place. for once, silence dominated the small store. you crack your head up.

"your onigiri tastes good." you say between chews. you have one hand covering your mouth and the other supporting your weight on the counter as you lean closer to him.

"you won the chaff." you lower your voice before winking at him. your playful behavior earns a smile from the grey haired boy. he keeps his head down probably embarrassed of what just happened.

"ill take two of every flavor displayed." you add, "im pearl."

he looks up to meet with your eyes. the right corner of his lips pull into a half smile. his eyes reflect the lights inside the store. he meekly pulls his hat down.

"osamu miya." right then his half smiles turns into a grin.

a/n: please, when you said that you only write sentimental and dramatic pieces i refuse to believe that! i mean lmao when i was reading through your ask i was giggling to myself. you have humor and it shows! btw, this is the best i can give you in terms of witty banters and comebacks cos i am the type of person to fuel the banters,, probably a few ooh's and laughs here and there to keep the argument blazing. anyway, i hope you like this one. also, the last sentence of your ask made smile. thank you, sweet soul ♡

join the event!

[lostadrianda]

The house of wolves

Part I

*версия на русском языке по ссылке:

https://ficbook.net/readfic/8551009

There are dark times. I thought that the death of my parents was the worst thing I would ever see in my life. But now it's so bad… I have to admit that it's worse.

Smoke from the fire rises into the sky, twisting and dragging sparks with it. An axe clatters, and a tree falls with a crunch, breaking neighboring branches. I have almost no life left in me. Almost nothing is inside. People are scurrying around. The camp is growing in front of our eyes, turning from a temporary to our permanent campsite. I look at it, trying to figure out what’s going on. I'm not used to being in camps. The detachments held out successfully for four years in the Dominiana, where we took over the houses, and everything went well. But recently we were forced out of those lands, and the Sly Fox moved all of us to the Islands. It seems to be logical decision. But on the Islands we are not welcome. We could have gone to the south to sparsely populated areas and stayed there. However, we did not do this. But why?

I was the only one who seemed to be asking questions. I don't know. I didn't have much contact with anyone from the camp. I glance at the people sitting next to me. Their faces are dry and earthy. Only the reddish glare of the fire is on them. And their eyes are fixed. You always had to keep in mind that those were wolves around you, not people. They look alike, they even show humanity from time to time. It's all a lie. And if there is any kindness in someone, it will soon be beaten out of them. It's the only way around here. I am among the enemy, I am in their ranks. I help put up new tents. But I have a feeling that I will soon be finished with. It's about time. But the Sly Fox keeps stalling. I think he understands how much this torments me. That's why he keeps me close to him. He's not stupid, no. Therefore, his decisions are not discussed.

It's funny that the Fox has committed so many crimes, but if somebody asks to show the main bastard, everyone will point the finger at me. I betrayed my family. Not native, adopted. Yes, they are all dead now, too. I guess my life didn't work out. But I didn't betray anyone. When the door was kicked in and twenty men entered with the Fox at their head, it was all over. There was nothing I could do about it, no matter how much I think about it. I pretended that I always hated my new parents. And I joined the side of the enemy. I should have given my sister time to escape. I didn't expect much more. I didn't think about anything. I didn't think I'd have to break into houses like this with the others. That now I will always hear the sound of those black boots wherever I go. I didn't think I'd have to run around in the woods. I didn’t know I'd be stuck with them for five years. I thought they would kill me that night, in the same house, as soon as they realized what I had done. But they did not understand or pretended not to understand. They still look askance. And I'm not allowed to be absolutely free. The Sly Fox sometimes calls me, asks questions, and I answer, but I keep waiting for the punishment to come. And he lets me go. During all this time, not a single suspicion was expressed. And he's smart. And there is nothing left for me, I am in his hands, always in his sight, even if he is watching me with a hundred other people's eyes, wolf eyes. He is always somewhere above me, behind me. All the time my life is suspended, and I know it.

My only hope is that my sister will return. I have nothing else left. Everything is so empty. And I’m doing something wrong. I close my eyes so that I don't see anything, so that I don't understand what is happening to me. Because as soon as I start thinking, it turns me inside out. When I forget myself, I gather wood for a fire, go with others and scout the area around the camp, draw some maps. And everything seems to be as it should be. I make an obedient and silent employee, everyone is happy, I do not interfere with anyone. The whole body shakes, as if with a strong chill, and no fire warms. So something inside is resisting. It remembers, and remembers well, that the Sly Fox is the enemy. That he killed a lot of people. But he's good, he's built everything right. He's got an army of about three thousand men, and they all look at him and catch every word. Only one person I've ever known, only one person in my entire life, could stand up to him. And this is my sister. Isn’t it funny, huh? As I remember her, thin, fragile, as I look at the Fox… I can't believe it. But that’s true. Her playful dark eyes flashed with such power sometimes that I was willing to believe that she would overcome anyone. And every time I look at the Fox, I always look at the scar on his cheek. My sister left this for him as a souvenir.

But I haven't heard from her in five years. It's too long to wait, you know? A person waits, waits for a week, a month, maybe a year… And then begins to live, throwing a veil of oblivion over the past. Only I never started again. The air balloon ends sooner or later, you know? And I'm still trying to grab the mask and breathe, breathe. Nothing is inside. In the camp, when people talk about her, all they say is that she must have been dead for a long time. I wished they say something else, even nonsense. Nooo. There are no other options in anyone's mind. Only my brains resist. Things can't be that bad. No matter how much life beats me, I won't believe it. It can't be that bad.

Smoke from the fire gets in my nose. It's getting colder, the earth is blowing in autumn, and the leaves are not the same as before. I rub my flushed hands together. The Islands don't like us. We are like an ulcer on their body. We tried to move deeper into the mountains and fortify ourselves. Fifty of our men were killed in two days. A couple of detachments remained in the dense forests at the foot of the mountain, while the rest were scattered along the coasts hiding. We choose places so that we are not found for as long as possible. And it’s strange that the Fox ordered us to fortify ourselves here. But let hell be with it.

The sky has been cloudy all the time we've been here. Today, for the first time, I see the sun shining. Even now you can't see the sky — it's all white, with darker clouds floating across it. The horizon is dark-blue, grim, colliding with an even darker, colder sea. I look into the distance and for the first time I think that my sister must be dead. It scares so much. It's like I'm no longer a human being and I'm becoming a wolf, like all those people around me. That’s really scary. For some reason everything turns to be meaningless. No, I won't give them my soul. They took everything from me, but they won't get it. I will believe till the end. I will resist until I lose my mind. Why am I sitting now here with them, as if I really took their side?

It makes me feel sick. I kept hiding in their ranks and waiting for my sister to break out. Five years have passed. Time flies quickly, terribly, the further away, the more ghostly. I forget how it all happened, I forget why it happened, I forget what a mistake we made. I still think that I did everything right. I acted as I should. As well as I could. But for some reason, it all turned out to be really bad.

If I am the only one left here, who is still fighting, who still remembers that there were better, brighter times, if my sister is dead, and no one is fighting without her, isn't it time for me to get up? Isn't it time to remember who I was and how I was brought up, and what was on my mind before I got bogged down in this mire? I'm biting my lip nervously, they are already looking at me with suspicion.

What a coward I have become! Just thinking makes my temples sweat. I’m used to waiting for a miracle, but as soon as I imagined that I had to act myself, I shrank from fear and wanted to hide away. If only they didn't touch me, if only, if only... I did not to experience new horrors. You don't like me, do you? Despise? Look at me, all that is left of me is my skin, hanging on my bones! These wolves, damn them, have broken me so badly that none of my old friends would recognize me. But what good are these friends: they're either dead or they're first in line to take my head off.

I stand up from the log I've been sitting on all this time and feel my legs go numb. They are frozen to the bones. I stand still to stretch them a little. The two men sitting next to me look at me lazily.

— Where are you going? – Their cracked lips move, yellow teeth appear in between them. Those men probably don't like camp life either. And how long this will continue, no one knows.

— I'll go up to the river. There's one place I don't understand, I want to look at it.

— Don't run into anyone. We don't need you to bring the villagers here.

I nod. I don't get into fights, I don't get involved. Everything I have inside, I keep inside, and it’s a habit that has covered me like armor. I walk past the tents, from campfire to campfire, and turn onto the path that leads higher. I climb up and look back. Lights, trampled paths, people. I'm sick to death of such views. The further away from them, the better it is. I know I'll be back anyway. It's sickening. But the closer I get to them, the more I can learn about the outside world. I'm still waiting for news. At least one piece of news about my sister would be great. No one else will tell me. Only sitting by the fire I learn something new. Everyone in the outside world that I strive for hates me so much that they won't hesitate when they see me. They’ll kill me instantly. Here in the squads, I'm just one of hundreds. To the outside world, I stand in one line with the Fox. And he is happy for this — to keep a traitorous son and show everyone that even I recognized his power.