#8 days after sowing

[dontforgetukraine]

Nestor Bilous was born in 1889 in the village of Lebiazhe, Kharkiv region. He completed three grades of the church-parish school and participated in World War I. He began keeping a diary in 1911, but his most detailed entries describe the beginning of the Civil War, the mass man-made famine of 1921-1923, and the Holodomor of 1932-1933. Bilous essentially became a chronicler of the Soviet government’s destruction of Ukrainian villages. In 1937, Nestor Bilous,who was then the manager of the collective farm “Chervonyi Kolos,” was arrested by the NKVD for “discontent with party policies.” During the search, the NKVD confiscated a notebook with his notes, that became the main evidence of his “counter-revolutionary activities.” Bilous spent six years in forced labour camps and only returned home a year after Stalin’s death. Here are just a few entries from his diary: —Holodomor Museum

---

April 30, 1933 It rains often, and it’s cold. Sowing is progressing very poorly because there is no grain, no horses, and even if someone has a horse, it’s too weak to work a full day in the field. So, this year there will be even less sown. People are constantly dying, and they bury six in one grave because there’s no one to dig individual graves. On April 27, Mykola Fedorovych Butenko died, a young man, 22 years old, a real guard, tall and handsome. He had to die of starvation just because the village council didn’t give him a certificate, as the son of a dekulakized father. Without it, no one would hire him. And in the spring, when he was already too weak, there was work, but he couldn’t do it, and he died of starvation.

---

May 13, 1933 The warm weather started on May 8, and all the crops are sprouting. Beetroot and seedlings are being eaten by beetles and fleas. We need rain, but there isn't any. The collective farms keep sowing; they will probably be sowing until St. Peter's Day. People are still dying of hunger. On May 12,Paraska Chorna,an activist and party candidate,died of famine. When people were being sold out for not meeting the grain requisition quotas, she danced in the school out of joy in the evening,and now she has died of hunger, like a dog.

---

May 20, 1933 Every day, people die of famine. The village council has appointed a sanitary commission to collect the bodies and bury them because there is no one to do the burials. Now, the village council drives people out to dig a large grave for about ten people, and then they bury them. Many adults and children, and when you look at them, they are living corpses.

---

Since the beginning of the invasion of 2022, Bilous' native village Lebiazhe was in the grey zone for a long time, suffering from Russian shelling. The crimes continue... —Holodomor Museum

[blackhistorystoryteller]

AFRICAN PROVERBS AND THEIR MEANINGS

This is a message to my black brothers and sisters

Learn about African proverbs and know your culture is filled with poetry

1) Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet.

Meaning: You don’t jump straight into a situation without thinking about it first.

2) Knowledge is like a garden: If it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.

Meaning: If you don’t make efforts to acquire knowledge then you would not expect to have it and if you do not put the knowledge you have to use, you cannot expect to gain anything from it.

3) Sugarcane is sweetest at its joint.

Meaning: Good and sweet things of life may appear difficult to achieve but in the end, it is worth it.

4) If you offend, ask for a pardon; if offended forgive.

Meaning: This is as simple as it sounds: If you upset someone, apologise to him or her. If someone upsets you, forgive him or her because what goes around, comes around.

5) Don’t set sail using someone else’s star.

Meaning: Avoid copying someone else. Just because someone has been successful in what he/she does should not be what will make you to do the same thing and expect to be successful.

6) The best way to eat an elephant in your path, is to cut him up into little pieces.

Meaning: The best approach to solving a problem is to take it bit by bit; one at a time.

7) A restless feet may walk into a snake pit.

Meaning: If someone is busy doing nothing or is involved in what he does not know about, it is easy for him/her to get into trouble.

8) A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches.

Meaning: You can easily foresee the future of something through the character and tell-tale signs it exhibits today.

9) After a foolish deed comes remorse.

Meaning: Feeling sorry always follows a foolish act.

10) A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.

Meaning: What goes around, comes around so whatever you sow, you shall reap.

11) He who does not know one thing knows another.

Meaning: No one knows everything, but everyone knows something.

12) A roaring lion kills no one.

Meaning: You cannot achieve or gain anything by mere sitting around and just talking about it.

13) Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.

Meaning: Do not insult someone who is taking care of your responsibility or taking care of you.

14) When a king has good counsellors, his reign is peaceful.

Meaning: What defines a man is the circumstances and people around him and if they are good, he turns out good.

15) It takes a whole village to raise a child.

Meaning: The society is responsible for the moral characters it creates and everyone in a community should be responsible for helping to train a child irrespective of who the parents are; offering correction where they are needed.

16) If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.

Meaning: If you prepare and allow yourself to be well trained when you have the opportunity, you will achieve a lot and be favoured in due course.

17) The Rain does not fall on one roof.

Meaning: Trouble comes to everyone at one time or another.

18) Life is like a mist or a shadow; it quickly passes by.

Meaning: Life is too short, and you only live it once.

19) Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him.

Meaning: What defines a man is his character which is, inseparable from him and follows him everywhere he goes.

20) Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.

Meaning: Don’t look at your mistakes; look at what caused your mistakes, otherwise you may repeat the same mistake again.

He who sees an old hag squatting should leave her alone; who knows how she breathes?

Meaning: You should never interfere in someone's issues, particularly when you do not know anything about them.

Anger against a brother is felt on the flesh, not in the bone. Meaning: You should forget and forgive anything your relatives did to you.

Maize bears fruits once and dies because it is not rooted in the ground. Meaning: You will never get to the top and stay prosperous without a good foundation.

He who will swallow the 'udala' seed must consider the size of his stomach. Meaning: 'Udala' seed is an apple seed. It is never digested in the stomach

[hotdaemondtargaryen]

EWAN MITCHELL INTERVIEWED BY POLYGON MAGAZINE.

YOU'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT THE INFLUENCES YOU TOOK IN WHEN CRAFTING YOUR APPROACH TO AEMOND — YOU HAVE PROMETHEUS; YOU HAVE HEAT; HALLOWEEN; LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU WERE SEEKING AS YOU WERE RESEARCHING TO PLAY AEMOND IN SEASON 2.

"Characters who possess a tremendous amount of power, and see it as a means to do things no one else can do."

Similar with Lawrence of Arabia — something in Lawrence of Arabia that I like, he says 'The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.'

"You know, the idea that he kind of tempers himself — very similar to Aemond — to pain."

"He puts duty over love."

"And [similarly,] the idea that Aemond can be loved, but he also knows that he can achieve more if he’s willing to be feared, and do the necessary kind of evil."

"[I sought] characters who were kind of marginalized, and they maybe start off their story on their back foot, and over time become the hero of their story."

"There are setbacks, but they bounce back even stronger."

"Those kinds of characters."

DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE LIFTING THE ENERGY OF THESE PERFORMANCES, THE PHILOSOPHY, OR JUST THEIR PHYSICALITY?

"Anything — I mean, I try to watch a film a day."

"Although recently, with press, I’ve sometimes had to do two a day, because I miss a day."

"But anything, anything: Inspiration can come at any time."

"I’m always watching for it."

"I was watching Split the other day, M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, and it kind of raises the idea that the broken are the more evolved."

"And that’s certainly true with Aemond; from the moment he had his eye taken from him, he’s used it as motivation to develop himself and manufacture himself into this lethal weapon."

"I was speaking to a reporter earlier, and he had a Rutger Hauer T-shirt from Blade Runner."

"That’s also something that I might use as inspiration going into season 3."

"Just kind of leave my arms open, take anything."

DO YOU FIND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT INFLUENCES FOR DIFFERENT MOMENTS IN AEMOND'S LIFE, OR EVEN JUST DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS, LIKE ALICENT VERSUS HELAENA?

"Yeah, ultimately, after the raising of the dragonseeds in 'The Red Sowing,' it’s definitely made Aemond a lot more desperate going into episode 8, and he’s losing that composure that he’s known for [in] the previous episodes."

"And so there was always something really fascinating in exploring that kind of fractured Aemond, seeing that scared boy rise to the surface again, that he’s tried to keep a lid on for so many years."

"It’s the sort of relationship that makes total sense even when you don’t see them together."

"Of course she’s the person who sees him and puts him in his place."

"And he just has nothing to say to that."

"Her words just cut him in half."

"He always has this idea of where and how things will pan out."

"She just challenges that, and it breaks him a little bit."

IN A SHOW THAT'S SO MUCH ABOUT INTERROGATING PEOPLE'S QUEST FOR A POWER, THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO IT, AND HOW IT CAN BE BOTH WIELDED AND CORRUPTING AS A FORCE, HOW DO YOU SEE AEMOND FITTING INTO THAT? WHAT'S HIS MINDSET?

"I think he raises that question of whether Aemond is inherently evil, or whether power does corrupt, whether it was nurture versus nature."

"Was it the upbringing that [he] received from Otto Hightower and his mother, or was it just being in the Red Keep and being a product of his environment there?"

"I think Aemond — he’s always had that quest for power."

"He’s always wanted to be known as that war hero."

"And here at the council table, for the first half of the series, he’s very much serving in the war from one end."

"And then when he gets into power and becomes prince regent, he goes to the other end."

All of these people, he now has a completely new perspective on, and it’s like, 'OK, so how can each of you serve me? And if you can’t serve me, you’re gone.'

"It’s that kind of very black-and-white pursuit that Aemond has in his quest for power, which I think is quite scary."

"It’s formidable."

It doesn’t really take anybody else’s perspective into account. 'It’s what I want.'

"So what’s his relationship with power? It’s not a pretty one."

DO YOU SEE HIS QUEST FOR POWER AS COMING FROM THAT SCARED LITTLE BOY WHO JUST WANTS SOME PROTECTION AND INSULATION, AND TO BE ABOVE REPROACH? OR DO YOU SEE IT AS HIM THINKING I HONESTLY BELIEVE I CAN DO THIS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HERE?

"I mean around the council table, all these other characters, they’re losing their composure, they’re raising their voices, they’re arguing."

"Aemond’s just sitting back."

"He’s calculated, he’s cool."

"He strikes when the moment arises."

"He needs to be seen as someone who can wield that power effectively."

"He needs to be seen as someone who can lead."

"He can become that war hero."

"Whether or not he wants to sit the Iron Throne — I don’t know; I don’t want to answer that! But he definitely wants a similar kind of reputation as Daemon Targaryen."

"He wants to be like Daemon Targaryen, but he also wants to better him."

"He wants to be known as that rogue prince, who you know all of the realm respects."

"Or maybe he doesn’t really care what anyone thinks — that’s kind of what I love about the character."

"He could be many things."

TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU APPROACHED THE ARC FOR HIM OVER THE SEASON — TO RETURN TO INFLUENCES FOR A SEC, I WAS THINKING A LOT ABOUT STREETCAR NAMED DESIRED, AND HAVING A CHARACTER WHO DOESN'T KNOW THEY'RE THAT CLOSE TO A BREAKDOWN, BASICALLY, AND DOESN'T KNOW THEY'RE ONE BAD DAY AWAY FROM THAT. THEY'RE JUST HOLDING THEMSELVES TOGETHER EVEN WHEN PEOPLE AROUNG YOU CAN SEE THIS IS BAD NEWS.

"Aemond… if he has a breaking point, I don’t think he’s found it yet."

"It’s interesting."

"Maybe he found it there, when Helaena challenged everything he thought his life would amount to, and how things would pan out."

"I think Aemond always thought of himself as the captain of his own fate and his own destiny."

"And so when Helaena shares that knowledge — on one hand, it could make an enemy out of him."

"But on the other hand, it could also make Helaena a tremendously valuable ally."

"If you’re able to harness that kind of foresight and that power that Helaena possesses, you could see a blow coming before it lands."

I think that would certainly be something interesting to explore: 'Where is Aemond’s breaking point?'

"I mean we’ve seen everything he’s done so far."

"He kind of had to abandon humanity in season 2, with what he did to his brother."

Helaena raises that: 'Was it worth the price, and what did he lose in that moment?'

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHERE HE ENDS UP THIS SEASON? IN MANY WAYS, IT FEELS LIKE AND OTHERWISE TRIUMPHANT SEASON PUTS HIM IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACE TO HAVE HER POP THAT BALLON FOR HIM.

"Yeah, that’s a good way of looking at it."

"I think he’s got to sit with that information now, and sit with that realization."

"But as we know for Aemond, he can’t sit still for long."

"He’s going to be on the back of that dragon."

"Up to no good, you know."

"And yeah, I can’t wait to see where it goes in season 3."

"I think he’s got to change again."

"I think similar to when he had his eye taken out as a kid, it served as this motivation to become something else entirely."

"And then with this new realization at the end of season 2, he’s gonna have to evolve again, or otherwise risk being broken again."

[kurishiri]

Roger’s replies to (some of) his chat keywords on LINE

this translation may not be 100% accurate or may contain creative liberties for characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost or claim these as your own!

these aren’t all the keywords, but it’s probably the majority👌✨

also if you’re not aware of it, this is like a little event they’re holding on LINE where sending certain “key words” will trigger a response from Roger!

1. ロジャーさん

💬: Roger

🍻: Did you call me? Don’t worry, I’m listening veeery closely.

2. おはよう

💬: Good morning

🍻: Morning, lil lady. Breakfast is the first step to feeling energized. So go and eat, even if it’s just a little.

3. こんにちは

💬: Hello

🍻: Haha, what’s going on, acting so formal like that? I think it’s great you’re always able to greet me. After all, greetings are fundamental for humans. Guess I could learn a thing or two from you.

4. おやすみ

💬: Good night

🍻: No matter how the day went, the fact you lived today to the fullest is an undeniable truth. You were great. Good night, come and see me again tomorrow.

5. ありがとう

💬: Thank you

🍻: Thank you, too. Hearing you thanking me makes me so happy, I don’t feel like myself.

6. 褒めて

💬: Praise me

🍻: Haha, you’re pretty honest and cute. You’re always doing well. And even if no one else is watching, I will be the only one to realize your efforts. …You did well.

7. 好きです

💬: I like you

🍻: An honest and good girl like yourself needs to be rewarded. So, between a kiss, a kiss, and a kiss—— well, take your pick.

8. 愛してます

💬: I love you

🍻: Who loves who, now? …Haha, you’re just so cute, I couldn’t help but tease you a lil.

9. 話そう

💬: Let’s talk

🍻: I was also thinking I wanted to talk to you, lil lady. So, come here, and let’s take our time talking about lots of things.

10. キスして

💬: Kiss me

🍻: Heh, aren’t you a bold one. Okay then, let’s kiss. Even if we do more than a kiss, they say you reap what you sow, lil lady.

11. お腹すいた

💬: I’m hungry

🍻: Anyways, first things first, eat some meat. I know of a place near the Big Ben with some good food. We can head over there and eat ‘til we’re full. ——Well, let’s go.

12. 犬

💬: Dog

🍻: Dogs are a miracle to this world. They’re so lovable and soft… it’s hard not to love them.

13. ビール

💬: Beer

🍻: Beer is the source of life! Time to drink! (he downs some beer) Pwah— Ahh… I feel alive again…

14. 筋肉

💬: Muscle

🍻: Muscles, muscles! [1]

15. コーギー

💬: Corgi

🍻: That’s my dog’s breed. They’re formally called Welsh Corgis, and they’re said to be bright and lively with very social characters. …Anyway, corgis are cute, period.

16. ボクシング

💬: Boxing

🍻: It’s something like my hobby, or maybe more like my life work. Boxing doesn’t have your run-of-the-mill kind of momentum, so I’d recommend it.

NOTES:

[1] when you send him the word [筋肉] (kin’niku), which translates to (a general) “muscle” in English, Roger replies with [マッスル、マッスル！] (massuru, massuru!) which is the “Japanese English” (katakana) version of the word “muscle.” So, I just differentiated them by like adding an ‘s’ at the end like “muscles, muscles!”

[armoredisopod]

New Event PV

New Operators

Rose Salt, 5* Welfare Multi-Target Medic

If i find a way to get super rich, i'm sure you'll get your share.

Tecno, 5* Shaper Caster (new branch)

Whether anyone can see it or not, the crystals are still there, but i'm still standing.

Thorns the Lodestar, 6* Alchemist Specialist

I hear the waves crashing at the sides of the boat, heralding our victory.

With this ship at the center, i will interpret my own Iberia.

Operator Outfits Update

Total of 4 new outfits, 1 new addition for the MARTHE brand, 2 new additions for the Shining Steps brand and 1 new addition for the Icefield Messenger brand

MARTHE

Wiping Knife - Cutter (Login Event)

Shining Steps

Dreaming High - Ray

Top Tier Live - Tequila

Icefield Messenger

Inviting Snow - Harold

Harold's outfit will be up for sale during The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect

Announced outfit reruns

Series V and VI Icefield Messenger outfits (Erato, Greyy the Lightningbearer, Goldenglow, Tsukinogi, Qanipalaat, Penance)

Epoque outfits of Kjera and Puzzle

Operator Modules Update

Rose Salt being part of the Multi-Target Medic branch immediately gets her module

RIN-X module base effect gives Rose Salt an additional tile of range up front

Arts Fighter Guard branch gets 3 module types

Module 1 given to Surtr, Vina Victoria, Guard Amiya and Mousse

Module 2 given to Astesia and Sideroca

Module 3 given to Viviana

Exusiai gets her 2nd module

MAR-Y module base effect increases Exusiai's ASPD by +8 when there are ground enemies within her attack range

Events and Stories

Exodus from the Pale Sea, an Iberia side story event

The traveler who is guided by reason returns to his homeland without common sense.

He saw ships without oars traveling across a sea without water, men without desires hoisting sails without direction,

Saw a man who begged for death condemning himself to live, and a man who was robbed of everything by the sea leaving everything behind and running toward the sea.

How should he understand it, and what can he do to change it?

Uh well, first he has to figure out how to deal with the chains on his body and the gallows not far away, right?

The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect, scheduled after Exodus from the Pale Sea

Poly Vision Museum, limited time mini-games event, scheduled after The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect

Operator Archives update for Rose Salt, Tecno, Ceylon and Courier

Record Restore update for The Black Forest Wills a Dream, What the Firelight Casts and Where Vernal Winds Will Never Blow

Misc Stuff

New QoL features

Players will be able to set their birthday in-game and receive birthday rewards

Added special operator voicelines for birthday and new year's day

Added the ability to have multiple assistant operators in rotation and main menu loadouts to switch between assistant rotation and backgrounds and UI themes

New SSS QoL changes

After clearing at least one floor of an SSS mission without a support unit, players can use 2 [Regular Affairs Proxy Cards] to skip an SSS run get rewards based on highest floor completed [PRTS Proxy Annihilation Cards] players get from missions are converted to [Regular Affairs Proxy Cards], they can still be used to skip annihilation Older SSS maps will be rerun

Annihilation #29 - Paddy Field 9-7, annihilation mission with Here a People Sows enemies and mechanics

SSS New Season #7, Concert Security Service - Leithanien Philharmonic Association & Area Under Construction For Dossoles

Erato and her potential tokens along with Perfumer's [Species Plantarum] Outfit will be available in the certs shop to players that don't have them

[kiwisa]

Watch Out, Boys ✷ cl16

✷ SECOND INTERLUDE OF THE TAMING OF THE HEARTBREAKER

━━━━━  PREVIOUS & NEXT !

in which... Y/N's invitation to the Miami GP means trouble !

AS THE HALL & OATES' SONG GOES: "Watch out, boys, she'll chew you up." Because, if there's one thing we know, it's that putting Y/N L/N and 20 conventionally attractive men in the same place is never a good idea. 

Yet, that is precisely what's going to happen in a few days at the Miami International Autodrome. The actress, who will play the iconic Barbie in Greta Gerwig's adaptation, has been invited by Ray-Ban to the Miami Grand Prix on May 8.

The news was announced on Ferrari’s TikTok account⏤which the eyewear brand sponsors⏤and has since then sparked numerous reactions. While these vary, one common thread stands out: the fear of havoc. Admittedly, L/N turns heads and sows discord wherever she goes. 

Formula One is already a chaotic world, adding Y/N L/N and her shenanigans to the mix would only make it worse. 

Since her list of actors waiting to be seduced is dwindling, this event presents itself as a bargain for the Academy Award-winning actress, who will only have to draw someone from 20 options to be her next prey. 

If the possibilities are considerably reduced by one small element to consider⏤the WAGs⏤L/N has shown before that she is not above immorality when it comes to getting her way. Her affair with Harry Styles, even though he was rumoured to be in a relationship with Olivia Wilde at the time, is formal proof of this. 

Hide your men, ladies, because The Heartbreaker is in town and ready to pounce!

✷ SEE ALSO ON LOVE CLUB... !

Y/N L/N named the highest-paid actress of 2021 by Forbes

"Name a more iconic character? You can't" Y/N on being cast as Barbie for Greta Gerwig's movie

Is Harry Styles cheating on Olivia Wilde with Y/N L/N?

Of course, all eyes are now on the two Ferrari drivers, with whom L/N will spend most of her time (common sponsor dictates), and more particularly on Charles Leclerc, who is single.

It has been almost a month since the woman was last seen with anyone. A record! She's probably more determined than ever to get her hands on some fresh meat, and what better than a handsome, muscular driver who can speak French? We all know L/N's soft spot for the language of love. Her interviews remind us of it enough. So do her many French conquests.

We just hope that the actress' famous bedroom eyes will not trouble the Monegasque and make him lose his race. The fans of Il Predestinato would not react kindly to this.

He is, after all, one of the current favourites for the championship.

In any case, no matter what happens over the weekend, the outcome is bound to be interesting. Because, while her actions are open to criticism, Y/N L/N's impact is undeniable.

The woman is already the talk of the paddock and she hasn’t even set foot on it yet.

FILED UNDER #Y/NL/N #F1 #ACTORS #SPORTS #MIAMI #DATING

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Anonymous 15 minutes ago

It's already a miracle that she hasn't tried to fuck football players yet, if she could keep this up with F1 it would be great.

Anonymous 38 minutes ago

I will never understand why celebrities who have nothing to do with F1 and probably don't give a shit about it either are invited to all GP. It's ridiculous.

Anonymous 51 minutes ago

There's something about Y/N that I just hate. It's physical at this point. I can only stand her in movies. Probably because she doesn't act like herself in those...

Anonymous 1 hour ago

No, but I swear she really has a libido problem. This is the only explanation. She must be a nymphomaniac. Or just a whore. Or both.

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[danibee33]

The Queen’s Guard - Chapter 8: Soot & Ash

knight!simon riley x queen!reader

cw: sa, non-con, some gore, generally dark themes *pls read at your own discretion*

>>parts in italics are flashbacks

[<<< chapter 7]

You wake in a cold sweat- a shrill gasp carried away in the wind as you scramble to untangle yourself from the furs. In your fuss, you feel a familiar, strong arm wrap around your waist, pulling you back into a wonderfully warm embrace-

“Shh.. You’re alright- you’re safe-” Simon’s other arm comes to rest over your chest, providing a comforting weight as his lips press gentle kisses to your shoulder; softly shushing you again, “Another one?”

All you can do is nod, because, yes- it was another nightmare. Yes, you had been forced to relive that terrible moment over and over. At this point, you swear you feel as if the gods themselves are punishing you, manipulating your mind so that whenever your eyes close all you can see is blood- and when you take too deep a breath, all you can smell is soot and ash-

“Does it ever go away?” Your voice is broken and meak, turning in his arms so that you could nuzzle further into his chest- replace the metallic char with his rich, earthy scent, “Or will he always haunt me?”

Simon tightens his hold on you, gently tugging you into his lap, “No, sweet girl..”, he pets your hair before pushing it away from your face, “It will fade, I promise.”

Wiping your tears, you feel his whispered apology against the corner of your lips- replacing the words with a kiss, and then another.

You think about how many times he’s apologized for your part in what happened, quietly, genuinely- how he whispered it in your ear that first night. And again, when he found you spitting up bile and acid between sobs in the woods the morning after. You remember the way he and Johnny had shouted and hissed at one another on the third day, right before Johnny was to leave for the MacTavish estate again- he had to go play the part, sowing more seeds of doubt amongst your own people. Had to solidify his own alibi-

But that didn’t stop him from nearly trading blows with Simon. Didn’t stop him from telling Simon how you never should have been in that room, that you never should have been forced to see what you saw.

Only when you stepped between them once again, placing a palm over their chests as if you might actually have a chance at forcing them to do anything- did they finally concede, for your sake, of course.

Johnny had pulled you to the side after that, closer to the cliffs, your voices drowned out by the violent waves below you and the howling winds above, his lips so close to your ear that the heat of his breath sent chills down your spine,

“I’ll find you in the foothills in two weeks- all right?”

You both fell into your partly made up dialect as he held you close, his hands wrapped over your biceps and yours on his forearms- you could still feel the way his scruff tickled your skin, and how his nose dipped down to nuzzle into your neck as he spoke,

“Be careful, Grianach..

It had made your fingers dig into his flesh, and your eyes sting with tears as you leaned into him, pressing your cheek against his, “You be careful, Johnny.. please.”

And it felt so wrong to watch him ride away without even a glance back, because things had never felt more tenuous- you were caught in this odd limbo of overwhelming freedom and the suffocating fear of the unknown..

But, you couldn’t dwell on it, not when you had to focus on moving. You weren’t out of danger yet, the farther away you can get from the castle, the blood, the soot, and the ash- the better.

+++

“Your Grace-”, you’re intercepted by General Leon on your way to yet another meeting, and while it isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary, especially when the King is away, it does set you on edge, “I received a raven today.”

It’s not too difficult to keep your expression impassive, you’ve perfected it over the years after all , but your stomach sours at his pleased smile, “And what news did it bring, General?”

You glance around the long, light-filled hall, take in the grand tapestries hanging against the wall, the warm sunlight pouring in- Simon’s presence just hardly out of sight. And you know he’s scanning the surroundings as well, not to take in the view or look at the pretty sights, just alert, always alert.

Though, by the smallest shift in his weight, you think he’s picked up on your anxieties- waiting for the older Knight to speak again.

“His Grace is returning sooner than expected. Seems his tour of the front lines was cut short after an incident.”

Like a dutiful wife, you let your features morph into shock, playing into the actual horror you felt at the idea of the King being back any sooner than planned- he was still supposed to be out for another two months at the least, and now..

“What has happened?” You ask quickly, taking your lady-in-waiting’s hand in yours, needing something to anchor yourself to- you had to be a concerned wife, can’t let them know you wish he had just died out there- “Is the King all right?”

The General pats your shoulder, obviously uncomfortable with the way you seem to be teetering on the brink of tears, your breathing a bit labored. You were panicking, but not for the reason he thinks,

“He’s fine, Your Grace. Alive and unharmed- they didn’t even get close. Though the Kingsguard did suffer a casualty, they served him well.” He says, his tone almost jovial, so proud of his men and his monstrous King, “And may the gods bless the rest of his journey home.”

“Gods bless.” You give the traditional affirmation at the same time as your lady, Simon’s much deeper rasp lingering in the background.

“Well, a wonderful turn of events.. Truly wonderful. When should we expect his arrival, then? A feast is in order.” You say after a moment, clasping your hands together in order to hide the way they tremble.

“Two days time, my Queen.”

This time you can’t stop your eyes from darting up to meet Simon’s- but where you expect to see some sort of unease or worry in them, you only find the same unwavering gaze. Because to him, this news is nothing to worry about. No, not for the Ghost. His plans had already been in motion, since the night he pulled you from the balcony's edge, he saw it so clearly. Simon knew exactly what needed to be done.

Sure, this is an unexpected obstacle, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s better this way. The sooner he could kill the King, the sooner you would be safe, the sooner he could get you away from all this.

The sooner you would be all his.

———

The night of the feast was upon you faster than you ever could’ve thought possible. The King would be arriving any moment, the festivities already booming with life in the Great Hall.

But here you are, pacing a path into the stone floor. Worrying at your cuticles so that you don’t tangle your fingers in your perfectly set hair- half of the long waves pulled back into an intricate braided pattern, with jewels and emerald ribbon woven throughout. But every step feels too heavy, too cumbersome, your gown creating friction behind you, and your chest tight from the pull of the corset.

“Sunny..” Johnny calls to you from his place by the window- when he found out the King would be returning so soon, and Simon’s plan of what would be happening next, he had stayed at your side. Hidden in your chambers or the tunnels while you were away-

“What if it goes wrong? What if you both get caught, what if he’s able to call out-”

In long, easy strides, he’s right there- pulling your hand away into his own to stop your self-destructive cycle with a disapproving tut, “Grianach- stop, stop. Look at me, aye?”

You do stop, but only because his hold is ironclad, and his eyes are as piercing as ever as they demand your attention, “I know you trust us..”, you nod, “We’ve both done this before- and crown, or no crown, it makes no difference to a sword. You only need to worry about bein’ in that tunnel as soon as y’ get the signal..”

He makes it sound so simple, just another day- just another thing to cross off the list. But.. you know he’s right, you know he’s done it before, too many times to keep count. Your sweet Johnny was an accomplished and revered leader on the battlefield, and your own personal guard, while his past is still shrouded in mystery even to you, has obviously led a long and successful career doing the same.

And of course, you don’t fault them for being exactly what was asked of them, thinking back to Johnny’s words, they were the ones who had been fighting your wars, right? So, disposing of one man.. Well, that should be almost too easy for them-

“But-”

Johnny cups your face again, that newly founded tension flickering to life as he looks down at you, the darkness in his gaze turning into something more familiar as he cracks a lopsided grin, “Always such a worrywart.”

He cranes his neck, lowering his head so that he could be eye to eye, “Ye don’t have to worry about me- we’re not kids anymore..”

Two curt knocks tear you away from each other, looking over to see Simon taking up nearly the entire entryway, gilded eyes lazily moving between you and the man at your side,

“My Queen..”, he cocks his head subtly, “It’s time.”

There’s something in the moment that seems to fortify you- the roiling in your gut calms, and the unrelenting thoughts go quiet as you give a single nod. If they can be so unfazed by this, so confident and immovable, then so could you. You would walk out of this room as the most powerful woman in the kingdom, and you would play your part to change your future.

For the first time in your life, you’ve been granted the opportunity to decide your fate. And who would you be to give up such a blessing?

So with one final, deep breath, you move towards the door- stopping at Simon’s side only long enough to spare a fleeting glance back, seeing Johnny’s eyes steady on you, full of determination.

But when you’re well enough out of the room, out of earshot, Johnny darkly calls to the Knight,

“Queen’s Guard-“, he barks, glaring as the hulking man halts, turning only enough to meet the Lord’s eye, “Don’t let her out of your sight. Not for a second.”

And Simon has to admit he’s impressed with the brazen man, the lengths he’s gone to, and how much farther he’s ready to go, is admirable, if not more than a little grating on his nerves. And don’t think that he hasn’t seen, hasn’t felt, the dynamic shift between you.. knowing that Johnny had been spending his nights in your rooms has thoroughly irked Simon to no end.

But, that’s a problem for another time- right now, they just needed to trust each other; nothing more, nothing less. So, that’s why instead of grunting out some crass comment like he so badly wants to do, Simon gives a singular, purposeful nod before striding out of the room and slamming the door shut behind him.

The rattling sound causes you to turn, meeting Simon’s eye and seeing them a shade darker than you’re used to- the mottled amber all but glowing behind the helm, his hand clenching into a fist and his cloak billowing and swaying with every even step forward. You can’t pause for long though, forced to quickly resume your pace as he falls in just to your right, three steps behind, as always.

Keeping your eyes forward, you sweep through the castle halls, your shoulders straight and your head held high- you would meet the King as not the broken, weary woman he left behind, but as the Queen he never deserved in the first place.

The Queen that has always been strong enough to carry the kingdom all this time, that has done just that, even when it felt as though your bones might snap under the weight of it all- it had always been you. You just lost sight of that strength, lost sight of the power you truly hold, in your kindness and patience, just as much as in your discipline and judgment.

“The King has arrived!” General Leon’s brassy voice booms and echoes off the stone, followed by the faint shuffling of cloth and leather, steel and chainmail straining as those around you take a knee, “All hail the King.”

The doors swing open ceremoniously, even if it is just you and the highest ranking members of court there, your husband had always demanded an abundance of fanfare-

He waltzes in with a bored smirk, looking down his nose at even those who aid him until he sees you, and you know you’ll remember the way his eyes widen as he takes you in for the rest of your life. You revel in it, commit it to memory for the precious few moments he looks back at you with something akin to shock-

Sure, you still accented yourself in his house color, you could not be so bold as to forgo it completely- you didn’t want to draw too much attention, but a statement needed to be made and judging his expression, you had succeeded.

Because instead of his traditional deep green covering you from head to toe, you wore a dazzling gown made of the deepest ebony silk the modistes could find, the only hints of emerald and gold on you being the rings on your fingers and the gemstones and satins in your hair,

“Welcome home, my King.” You bow your head graciously as the others rise to their feet once more.

He steps right up to you, and you resist the overwhelming urge to flinch, to put distance between you and him, to slap his hand away as he traces a finger down along your sleeve, “Bold choice, wife..”, he says before grabbing your hand, lifting the soft skin to his lips, “I like it.”

You hide your sneer with a saccharine smile, acting as though his touch doesn’t make you physically ill, “I look forward to hearing about your time on the front, Your Grace.”

Again, the King kisses your hand, a predatory gleam darkening his eyes- one you only get a glimpse of before he’s turning you around, his arm held out so that he may escort you toward the Great Hall. And it’s then you see Simon’s gleaming eyes as well, stoney and burning with a lethal rage,

“Ah, Ser Simon Riley.. You’re still here.” The King drawls without even a look in the guard’s direction, the taller man falling in on your flank as accustomed before answering,

“Always, Your Grace.”

—---

The feast seems to drag on almost out of spite, you swear. The King had been determined to parade you around, his snide, passively belittling comments only adding to your disdain, your wish to be done with this- yet, it is that same thought that causes your heart to race the longer the night goes on, an hour closer, a minute, a second. You felt like you might be torn apart by your own anticipation, your fear of what’s to come-

Tap, tap … tap, tap, tap

You hear the comforting taps more than you have in a long while, and there’s even a moment when the King has stopped in the crowd, his feet growing more unsteady underneath him that you feel Simon’s hand reach out to preemptively pull you away from the stumbling man; his touch lingering just a breath longer than they should,

“Husband?”, you giggle, forcing a bit of drunken giddiness into your actions and voice, “Maybe we should head to bed, you’ve had such a long journey-”

His wine-laden breath assaults your senses, his lips grazing over your jaw, “That excited to get me in bed, wife?”, you roll your eyes, placing two hands on his chest in an attempt to keep him from falling into you, “Missed my cock, hm? Filthy fucking whore-”

There’s a deep growl behind you, one you’ve grown quite fond of, though it’s never sounded so animalistic, deep and menacing- and you can practically feel how his self control strains, tested to its limit as Simon is forced to listen and watch. But, you’re doing so well, taking every vile thing the King says, every horrifically inappropriate grope and touch, in stride; your grace and virtue never waning.

“Well, c’mon then-”, your husband rasps in your ear before turning towards the group around you, “If you’ll pardon us, m’ladies and lords, I have been away for quite some time.”

You grimace at the way he jerks you into his side, his hand wandering over your hip to rest on the swell of your ass- the wolfy grin on his face conveying all the lewd and lascivious context they might need to know exactly what their sovereign is alluding to. It makes the churning in your stomach return with force, and your blood run hot with anger-

Though you feel the moment it turns frigid, no more than ice cutting through your veins. It’s when he escorts out of the hall, forcefully dismissing your ladies and his own guard, turning on Simon last,

“Well, go on, you’re not needed for this, I’m afraid.” He says, waving his hand at your Knight like one might a stray dog, “Unless you like to watch.”

The empty hall reverberates with his laugh, his grip on your tightening painfully- fingers digging into your side so hard you’re sure to have bruises by morning, “My King-”, you try to soothe him, but it dawns on you now, and Simon, too, that the plan was slowly unraveling.

“No, that’s fine! What a good dog you have, wife. Tell him he can watch, if he so wishes-”

You look back to where Simon is still following, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his dagger, “No, of course not.”, you give a quick nod, hoping you can send the message clearly enough that you were about to upend everything, “My rooms are closer, shall we go there?”

And the moment you speak the words, he understands what you were doing- this wouldn’t be happening in the King’s chambers, but yours. He needs to get Johnny, and get to the tunnels,

“You are relieved, Ser Simon. I bid you a good night..”

Simon hesitates for the first time in his life, looking at you and seeing the resolve in your gaze, the overwhelming faith you have in him. You look at him in a way he’s never seen, not with fear or trepidation like he’s so used to, like he’s always preferred, but with such trust and reverie that he fears he could never live up to the grand idea you seem to have of him.

“Good night, My Queen.”

—--

By the time you’re at your door, the King is openly groping you- his hands rough and needy as he pulls at your corset ties, grunting as he nips and bites at your flesh,

“Black, hm? Making your own choices, that it?”

Very suddenly, he heaves you up, his mouth still on you, happily leaving a trail of angry little marks as he carries you across the space and throws you on the bed- you say his name, the hints of desperation and panic spurring him on as he climbs over top of you,

“You think just because you get to pretend to be King while I’m away, that you’re anything more than a warm hole? Nothin’ but a pretty little cocksleeve-”

You’re crushed under his weight, the sensations all too much, and all in the worst of ways, “Enough-”

You push against him, try to bring your knees up, to wiggle away, but in a flash your wrists are in his grasp and forced uncomfortably over your head, “Tsk, tsk, tsk- none of that now, you just be a good whore and take what I give you.”

“Get. Off.” With how hard you’re clenching your teeth, the words come out as a hiss, your eyes searching for anything, mind racing with how you can get out of this as the room fills with his laugh.

“Or what?”

Faster than you can blink, the weight is lifted off you in a single go- the King’s surprised yelp resounding in your ears and hands pulling you off the bed. Johnny’s hands, gently tugging you to your feet and pushing you back towards the tunnel- “I’ve got you, I got you-”, he says it over and over, a small tinge of fear and loathing in his own voice.

Those same hands deftly skim over you, tilting your head from one side to the other, as he tries to rearrange your bodice- which had been pulled apart and stretched to have your breasts almost completely exposed,

“Oh, Sunny..”

Your face burns with so many emotions- unbridled fear and anger, and now shame and embarrassment, his gentle voice trying to coax you, to reassure you, but it seems to just make it so much worse. You want to shove him away, you want to scream and claw at your skin; you think you want to cry, but there are no tears, you simply don’t have it in you to feel sorry anymore. For yourself, for what’s happened before this night, what’s going to happen-

“I fucking knew it.” The King chuckles from his knees, sword at his throat, “The wretched Scottish whor--”

The insult turns into a garbled choking sound when Simon’s hand wraps around his throat, effectively depriving him of oxygen and blood as he lifts him up until his toes are just barely grazing against the floor,

“What a king you are..”, Simon croons, his head cocking to the side- and the way he looks up at him reminds you of the mean old barn cat from your childhood, the one that would toy with his food, playing with it until he grew bored, “Tell me, Your Grace, are you enjoyin’ this?”

Johnny tries to turn you away, to urge back to the tapestry, to where you should be- where you would be safe, but you just can’t go. That awful, angry part of you wants to see the King suffer, wants to see him hurt just like he had hurt you.

“Grianach, please go. You go exactly where we told you to go-“

A thick gasping and sputtering echoes around you then, both of you turning to see Simon throw the grown man to the ground like it’s nothing. Stepping over his body, he finally looks up, pupil blown eyes boring into your own- like he’s searching, seeking, for an answer, for something. He holds it long enough to see your nod, long enough to gain your approval before he picks up his sword,

“You had everything.”, he says, looking down at the King, “And yet-“

Johnny’s hand clamps over your mouth as you watch the blade come down in one swift motion- sinking into the yielding flesh and muscle of your husband’s chest, crimson oozing around the dark steel, staining the hideous, priceless rug beneath him,

“..you took it all for granted.”

You know you hear Simon’s voice, hear the familiar gravel deepen- but, at the same time, it is entirely unrecognizable in your ears. He sounds so cold, so calculated in every syllable that drips from his tongue.

And the most errant thought crosses your mind, that maybe this is the past he so adamantly avoids with you, with anyone for that matter. Maybe it’s this other version of him, a version that is devoid of humanity, callous and brutal-

“You took her for granted.”

There’s only the briefest reflective glint of his blade as a warning- but this time, Johnny forces you to look away, framing your face in his hands so that he’s the only things you can see. His palms covering your ears help to muffle the disgusting squelch of sinew and tendons being severed, the awful sound of vertebrae forcefully separating.

It all sounds so loud until there’s just.. Nothing. No one speaks, you can hardly even hear your own shallows breaths,

“M’eudail, look at me- please, look at me.”

You do look up, but you just can’t seem to focus, your mind too hazed to see his features clearly,

“He- he’s gone.” You mumble, your tongue too thick in your mouth, and your voice quivering,

“It’s done.”

[Chapter 9>>>>]

tag list: @spxctorsslxt @ssc7514

[annie-creates]

Masterlist

It's been exactly 2 years and a month of our journey on this blog. In that time we acumulated quite a number of fics (and edits), so here's their masterlist from the newest to the oldest.

You can requests fics for:

Lady Lesso

Andromache of Scythia

Queen Ravenna

Agatha Harkness

Abby Anderson or Ellie Williams

Natasha Romanoff or Yelena Belova

Would anyone be interested in the option to support me on ko-fi or other platforms so I can write longer detailed fics for you in return? I'm also opening the option for a taglist!

Lady Lesso

Edit 1 • Edit 2 • Edit 3 • Edit 4 • Edit 5 • Edit 6 • Edit 7 • Edit 8 • Edit 9

I don't really hate you

Beautiful I know

After my mother

Fool me too

Take a day off

Stupid test mark

The evil witch - Bundle of joy - I hear the wedding bells

Just a few grapes

My beautiful nightmare

Out like a light - The best girlfriend

Don't push it

One day in a year

Try to come home - Ray of sunshine

Not the proudest moment

Dearest Mrs. Lesso

To meet you - My Leonora

Barely a friend - The roses you sowed - I'm yours

Soft dean of evil

Lady Claus

What an evil thing to do

Andromache of Scythia

Edit 1 • Edit 2 • Edit 3

Never felt like dying

You never learn

Good enough for a hero

You can call me Andy

New Year's Eve

Queen Ravenna

Edit 1 • Edit 2 • Edit 3

I will live for you

Only for tonight

Desperately by her side - Get you to fall in love - Every day of your life

What have I done

The biggest star

Beautiful baby bump

Abigail "Abby" Anderson

Edit 1 • Edit 2 • Edit 3

Life without you

Just a bad memory

Finally home

Ellie Williams

Pile of misfortunes

Agatha Harkness

Halloween night tradition

I deserved it

Almost four hundred years

[lovehotelreservation]

Deeper Than the Ocean Is - Wednesday

Summary: Habit or fate–there was an aspect to your life that was nigh impossible to break away from.

And that was your devotion to the sons of Rosfield, and their devotion to you.

[Contains plot spoilers for Final Fantasy XVI]

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Joshua/F!Reader/Clive

[Previous Chapter] | [Next Chapter]

CLIVE'S ISEKAI'D BRESSSSSS IN TEKKEN 8 BROUGHT ME BACK 😭😭

but tfw i opened up the doc to try and work on a follow up and i just

found this chapter fully written

from 1 year ago and i just never posted it ???????????????? OOPS

anyway i hope u enjoy more rosfield romance !!!

-------------------

It was a day like any other.

A particularly rainy one at that.

Yet as life slowly began to renew with each blossoming flower from the depths of the once Blight-ravaged lands of Valisthea, any downpour was well-welcomed, even as you, Clive and Joshua emerged into your room–a humble inn within Northreach–, your soaked clothes clinging and drooping. Under Isabella’s guidance, the locals of the town were in need of assistance with organizing a new united force of farmers–both Bearer and non alike–to keep a steady flow of crops shared and distributed throughout the rest of the continent.

Certainly, the three of you were not above getting your hands dirty, especially for such a cause. Helping till the fields, sowing the seeds, and so on. It was honest work during a new era of peace. What more could you ask for?

Though, as you basked in the warmth of your room’s fireplace, it would appear that some hands were not quite ready to become clean just yet.

From behind, you felt arms wrap around your waist, reaching for the hem of your top right as a pair of lightly chilled lips pressed against your cheek in greeting. With or without the flash of strawberry blonde locks from your peripheral, you already attributed such actions to one and one only.

“Pardon my forwardness–yet neither Clive nor I would ever risk you becoming sick, love,” was what Joshua murmured ever so sweetly as you felt a smile form while he spoke.

Before you could take in the light chill from your top being removed, you were comforted by the looming shadow that took its place before you, comfort found from the brush of stubble and warm lips that pressed right upon your décolletage.

Your knees buckled ever so slightly as Clive’s hands reached for the front of your bottoms, his thick fingers–able to snap and tear at the fabric–taking their time to undo strings and gently tug down, all while he slowly sunk down to his knees, a trail of kisses cascading down your exposed front.

“We have no Eikons to call upon, but you can certainly leave it to us to provide the warmth that you need, darling” were the words that he murmured against your skin, his mouth brushing against the top of your panties before he dragged them down.

There was heat in Joshua’s hands as he proceeded to cup and massage your breasts, all too delighted to provide some much needed friction.

There was heat in Clive’s mouth as he parted his lips, his tongue ready to lap and lick away any lingering chill.

And once it was your turn, there would be heat engulfing your entire being as you were made to be pressed right in the between muscle that contrasted delicately toned with beastly bulk, leaving you panting and whining as you were subjected to the swing and rut of their hips. 

With how much time was spent working in the rain, it was only right to indulge to your heart’s content in the night that was to come.

After all, it was another day spent with these two.

[theyellowhedgehog]

Switched at Birth

2024 Bingo Prompt : Switched at Birth & Royal Family/ Historical

Prince and peasant switched at birth

This Fic does not follow the proper age timeline. Popcorn age. Damian is the oldest, Dick and Tim are the youngest and same age. Jason is the second oldest same age as Stephenie. Other character age are same.

My bias is Tim, most of my story will be Tim-centric. hehe

tags : just them being brothers, no pairing, implied rape

Word count : 4k

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The kingdom of Gotham has a benevolent king. The queen and the concubine bore two princes for the king. The queen bore a son, the king named his firstborn son, Damian Thomas Wayne, meaning to conquer.

The second prince was born 5 years after, from the concubine, the king named him, Richard John Wayne.

There was a secret. The secret that no one knew was, a day before the birth of Prince Richard, a son was born from the concubine's handmaid. She named him, Timothy. The handmaid, fearing her child will be name illegitimate kin to the king and would suffer. As a mother, she discreetly switched the two baby one quiet night. Both baby were both born chubby, black hair with beautiful blue eyes. No one noticed a difference. The only person who notice his mother switched his baby brother with the prince was Jason, the biological older brother of Tim.

Damian at the age of five adores his baby brother, Richard. The baby would babble whenever he saw him and grasped a hold of his hand.

Damian adores his brother.

Just like the season changed and time passed, the fake little prince grew up to be a proper one.

"Big brother!" tiny footsteps ran up to the older prince and squeezed him into a tight hug. Damian smiled at the small bean and pat his brother back.

Damian is now 12 and Tim is 8.

"Were you not suppose to be with Sir.Wilson?" Damian asked with an eyebrow raised. Tim pouted cutely and turned his body to sway, "Sir Wilson is too bossy. I'm only eight!"

Who is Damian to argure with that? He practically melt at the cute pout. "You can join me if you like." Damian practically saw Richard's eyes shone like the stars. "Let's go then!" and the eight years old led the way.

Not far from them were two boys. The older of the two was looking at the interaction of Damian and Fake Richard. He sighed in relief when he saw Damian treated Tim well. He came to attention when a small hand pull the hem of his shirt.

His fake brother, the real prince, stood there and smiled shyly at him and asked, "Older brother, why do you always look at them?"

Jason smiled guiltily and pat the real's prince head, "I was just looking at their clothes."

"Oh"

Damian and Richard were born from the legal wife of King Bruce, therefore they were treated well. However, for Jason and Tim who were born from a handmaid, a mistress, they were merely children of servants and were treated the same way. Jason sometimes wonder how his mother could live with the fact that the real prince is treated rudely, doesn't she fear the retribution if the truth were to come out?

"Let's go,T-..little brother." Jason has always avoided using Tim's name with the real prine. He couldn't get himself to call the real prince with a false name.

So, Jason came up with a clever way to address the real prince. He calls him Dick, which is a nickname for Richard. The real prince was confused but he accepted it, buying into Jason's buffoonery lies.

Jason didn't plan to reveal the secret, because his little brother is living a better life instead of being push around. Although he feels sorry for Richard, this is only way for his little brother to live well. That was the plan of course. However, Jason grew fond of his fake brother, Richard, and the guilt started to eat him alive.

Dick deserve to have a mother and father that loves him. Jason decided.

The truth has its own timing. As the child grew, doubt began to sow itself into the concubine's mind that Richard isn't her son. His eyes that did not resemble either parents. His features resembled that of a certain handmaid. The concubine cried that her real son was swap, to the king. T

he little fake prince's perfect world fall apart.

"Damian," The fake prince looked to his elder brother for protection.

The older brother that he used to adore now looked at him with a empty eyes, always busy trying to search of his real biological brother, Richard.

The once pampered little prince now dressed in rags and became a mere servant. Coincidently, on the same day, the real prince was found. The king, queen and the concubine rejoiced.

The handmaid that switched the child at birth was executed, but due to the pity King Bruce has for his kin and the little fake prince, he let them live but sent them away from the palace to a barren land.

The king's act of mercy may seem reasonable, however, to those of parentless and homeless children without any pillar of support, it was the same as an execution.

The little fake prince at the age of 15 fell from grace.

-

They lived in a very small hut. The ground is always muddy and they were living day by day with just enough to eat.

Jason striked the axe heavily. He exhaled as he collected the split woods and looked to a certain direction. Sitting in front house, on a stone slab, is his biological brother, Timothy.

"What are you doing?" Jason asked as he approached the boy.

The fake prince just glanced at Jason, "Waiting for Damian to come pick me up. Then I'll wake up from all this nightmares."

Jason sighed, "Look, Prince Damian won't be coming." He handed Tim an axe, "The faster you accept your fate the faster it put food on our table."

The axe dropped into the muddy ground with a splat when Tim didint' take it. "Why should I be doing this?" The young boy sneered. "I was born to be a prince."

Jason got mad--picked up the axe. "Well, now you are a prince no more. So start chopping these woods!"

The younger boy got angry, stood up and walked away, "Shut up!"

Jason shoulders slumped when his younger brother strut away. Ever since they were exiled, Tim has always act like an entitled brat. He was always bossy and always get angry at every action Jason did. It's always a wonder how all that anger fit into that small body.

It was already dark by the time Jason had finished chopping woods and delivered it for money. He bought back cold,dry and crusty bread. When he got home, the candles were not lit, meaning Tim has not gotten home yet.

Jason frowned, put his bread into his breast pocket and went out to look for his younger brother. His younger brother, as a 15 years old is more troublesome as Dick as his fake brother. Jason wondered if Dick is doing well. He must be right? After all, he is now back to his rightful place.

As Jason scoured the streets, he saw Tim under the church's candles. Beside him was a girl with blond hair. Both of them were laughing and talking until they noticed Jason.

Tim waved goodbye to the girl as she scrutter away, he then quickly put something into his shirt and walked past Jason.

The older boy grabbed his wrist, "What do you got there?"

Tim tried to pull back his hand, "It doesn't concern you." He sneered.

Faustrated Jason yanked him back to search for what he put in his shirt, Tim eyes widen in panic when Jason yanked up his shirt, "What are you doing! Let go!"

During the struggle, a pouch fell from Tim. Jason crouched down and picked up the pouch. It jiggles when he picked it up. Jason immediately knew, Tim couldn't have earned this much from doing odd jobs. Jason looked back to the church, then glared at Tim, "Did you seriously just stole from the church?"

Tim avoided his eyes, "So what? It's just a little money they won't notice."

Jason sneered, "So the mighty prince has fallen so low to be doing theft?"

"Fuck you!" Tim struggled harder, "If your mother hasn't switched me, I wouldn't have to do this!"

An insult to his mother was Jason's last straw, "She did it for your own good! She wanted what was best for you-!"

"Yeah!?" Tim shouted, his angry eyes brimmed with tears, "She fucking suck for ruining my life."

In a blink of an eye, Tim was on the ground with his hand on his cheek.

"Shut up. Don't you dare insult my mother, you imposter." Jason spat.

Tim stopped reacting at his word. The young boy slowly got up and was ready to walk away.

"Where do you think you are going?" Jason was still sensible enough to be a responsible older brother.

But Tim didn't answer. Jason took a hold of his wrist again.

"Dick-!" The air thicken, Jason realised his mistake, Tim also stopped. Jason saw Tim entirely shut down.

The younger boy composed himself and shrugged off Jason's hand. "Do not touch me again, next time."

Jason didn't had a chanced to apologise. Fuck, he messed up badly. He mistakenly called Tim, Dick.

The night ended with both of them not talking or apologising to each other.

The next sunrise, Jason woke up to sounds of their wooden door scraping open. There was only one room so both of them has to sleep and eat in that room. Jason immediately woke up to see Tim's back walking out the door.

"Where are you going?" Jason put on his shoes in a hurry and ran after Tim.

Tim stopped for a moment, "To work." he replied and walked out of the house.

Jason was about to grab Tim's hand when he stopped himself remembering yesterday, "Tim, I'm sorry for yesterday. I was angry." Jason apologized sincerely.

Tim didn't turn back to face his older brother, "Yeah, just don't call me his name again."

Tim didn't even stay to hear an agree 'okay' from Jason before he started walking leaving the older boy all alone.

Tim came back late today. Jason was home because the firewood didn't sell well today. Just when he was wondered how to get dinner on the table, he saw Tim put a basket on the table. The basket was full of eggs. Jason eyes widen thinking Tim probably stole again.

The younger brother also put a pouch, as it clank heavily against each other. Just when Jason was about to start accusing, Tim interrupted him.

"I went to the Kent Manor, they were looking for some workers to put up the fenses on some of their farm. I didn't steal any money," Tim looked at him dead in the eyes, "Jason."

Jason swallowed back his guilt for accussing his younger brother.

Tim sat opposite to him on their wobbly table, "They are also looking for a woodcutter. You will have a more stable income there."

Tim went to a makeshift table they call bed, "I'm tired."

-

On the other side of the two peasant brother, the real prince and his older brother are also having trouble.

"No!" Dick --Richard screamed at Damian. "I want Jason! He's my only brother!" He flipped the plate and ran back to his room.

Damian just sighed tiredly and glanced at Alfred Pennyworth for assistance. The old bulter just shook his head.

It has been a month since the real and the fake switched back. However, Richard is not adapting as one hoped. All day, he would scream for Jason. This week he decided to take a new approach and starved himself.

Damian massaged his forehead, "Why must father fool around, now his troubles are everywhere."

The eldest prince turned to Alfred, "Prepare the carriage. We will be going to the west."

The fake child and Jason were not unrelated at all. They were children bear from Father's folly. Therefore, they were not even considered illegitimate children of the king.

Because of his Father's foolishness, Damian made a decision. He will only have one wife.

It took 2 days to travel to the village Jason and his brother were exiled to. They arrived to the west before nightfall. Richard's face contoured into more horrified look and disgust when he saw the road all muddy and the people were basically living in slumps.

The carriage stopped in front of a run down hut. Damian glanced outside and frowned, "Is this it, Pennyworth?"

"According to the source, I suppose so, your highness." the butler replied and opened the door.

Once the carriage door opened the young prince practically leap out of the cart --shouting, "Jason!"

Jason was coming home from work at the Kent manor. He was tired, but during these two days, Jason and Tim's relationship become more stable. He came back to cook dinner when he saw an eye-catching carriage that screams WEALTHY.

Before he knew it he heard a very familiar voice yelling his name. A very familiar boy threw himself into his arm.

"...Dick?" Jason checked twice in surprise.

"Please don't leave me, big brother. I'll be good." Dick burrowed himself deeper into his big brother's arm.

Jason looked up to see Prince Damian and Alfred Pennyworth walking to them. He glances his surrouding to see other people starting to listen in.

"Let's talk inside," Jason gestured to them, "Forgive me, the house is a little inconvenient."

Damian looked around the single room house that his fake younger brother was supposed to be living. The room is filled with four people inside.

Dick was still hugging Jason, not minding the smell or the sweat.

Jason slowly approached the topic, "May I ask...why your highness have come..?" He didn't even dare sit down.

"Richard here wants to see you." Damian glanced at his biological younger brother. "He was starving himself. However, I do have some questions I want to ask you."

"Jason," Damian started as he looked around the condition of the house, "I need to talk to you about something. Richard please leave us for a moment." Dick pouted, but under Jason's persuasion, he obediently went outside.

Jason secretly glances at Damian and Alfred, "What would you like to talk about my prince?"

Damian spoke with a straight face lacking any emotion, "It was you wasn't it? Who revealed the truth."

Jason's spine shiver in fear as the prince finished speaking. He immediately fell to his knee, "Your highness, I-I didn't mean to keep it hidden, I-I-"

"What make you change your mind?" The prince spoke coldly. "15 years you have hidden the truth. Now your real brother is suffering."

"I..." Jason calm his racing heart just enough to collect his thoughts. He bow with his head touching the ground, "The young prince has became someone I held dear. I couldn't condone his suffering before now I could only give him what he deserved from the start."

"Then, what about your other brother?" Jason glanced up to see Damian pitiful eyes.

"I-" Jason was loss of words.

-

Dick went outside just in time to meet with Tim whom came back from work. Although they were the same age, Dick was clean and dressed with very expensive clothes while Tim was dirty and has been wearing this rag for 3 days.

Tim stopped when he saw Dick. He wondered which rich family carriage was in front of their home, turned out to be that of the palace.

Tim watched as Dick walked up to him and leveled him in the eyes, "So, you are the one that stole my birthright and my big brother."

"Birthright," Tim repeated.

Just because of that woman mistake, he was suffering it. Tim sneered mockingly, "I didn't stole your birthright, it was given to me, so, I just enjoyed it. Now that you have already gotten it back, why are you here?"

"I'm here to settle account with you. The one who committed the crime is you, not Jason. So, Jason will be going back with me!" the proud prince pointed with an accusing finger.

Tim chuckled in mockery, and said to the real prince, "You are not very bright are you?" Tim approached Dick till they are only inches apart, "If you are not quick-witted, Slade Wilson might just gobble you up."

Tim's grin terrifies Dick, " After all, he loves little boys."

Tim's hand approached Dick's crotch, "Tell me," he whispered it with malice, "Have he already touched you?"

The real prince immediately slapped the hand that groped his private and screamed, "Prevert!"

The scream immediately alerted the people in the house, and they came running out.

"Richard, what's wrong?"

Tim froze when he saw the brother he admired most came out.

Dick immediately ran behind the eldest prince and pointed at Tim, "He molested me, brother! He touched me! He's one of them," and spat from all his heart and soul, "Disgusting f***ot!"

Jason stepped in between them, "Wait a moment, there might be a misunderstanding." Tim just stood there without defending himself.

Seeing this, the eldest prince was furious, "Pennyworth, we are going back." as he held on his biological brother's arm--dragging him to the carriage, ignoring the younger one's yelling for Jason.

The carriage left without even staying for an hour. Jason turned to scold his brother but his anger disappeared when he saw Tim just longingly staring at the leaving carriage.

Damian came as Tim wished, but it wasn't to take him back.

Jason sighed, "Welp," he threw his arm up in defeat, "I think what you did just sealed our fate. Come on, let have our last meal or something." Jason try to add humor to the situation.

Tim didn't even spare him a glance. But Jason can see his hands are shaking as they balls into fists. When he saw there were nosy neighbors trying to listen in, he shooed them away.

Both brothers came back into the house, the only light source was a dimly lit candle.

Jason got to cooking of what left of the eggs, but he put down his wooden spoon in frustration because Tim was too quiet.

"Why aren't you angry?" The elder brother got angry instead. Tim just blankly looked at him, "..What?.."

Jason sat in front of the younger brother, "You always make trouble, screaming and shouting in front of me, but today when your beloved brother came, you didn't even say a peep!"

"Why didn't you defend yourself?!"

An emotion flashed across Tim's eyes, but he looked away "What's the use?"

Jason repeated, "What's the use of what?"

"What's the use of screaming and shouting when your screaming and shouting are no longer important?" Tim said dejectedly.

This made Jason shut up.

Tim chuckled in self-depreciation, "As you said, I am no longer a prince, My voice no longer has authority. No one is willing to listen."

Jason wanted Tim to realised this fact long since they moved here, but in this situation, Jason rather Tim kicking and screaming in anger.

"You are my brother." Jason grabbed the younger brother's arms and shook him, only to release of hold immediately after. "Your voice will always be heard by me."

Tim eyes teared up, "You are a liar."

Jason was confused, how did he ended up a liar?

Tim lay down facing away from his older brother, "I knew that you deliberately leaked the truth. Otherwise, moth- the concubine wouldn't have known."

"Did you ever think about me then?"

Jason didn't have the correct answer to reply.

-

On the carriage, on the way back, Damian merely ignore the brawling of his younger brother. He glanced at Alfred for help, but the butler merely shook his head.

"You promised that Jason would come back with us." Dick pointed an accusing finger at the eldest prince. "Liar!"

Damian balled his fist in control, "Richard," the hard and cold voice immediately stopped the whining of the younger prince.

"What happened?"

Dick sniffed and glared out the window, "He insulted me that I wasn't quite bright. He insulted a prince!" Dick angrily retold the tale.

Damian felt a throbbing between his brows, "Thus you accussed him of molesting you?"

"Of course, not!" Dick defended himself and crossed his arms in frustration. "He groped my privates and asked whether Slade or something has already touched me!"

The temperature dropped immediately when the name Slade was mentioned. The old butler's eyes widened in fear as of the eldest prince.

Damian repeated, "Slade? Richard, Did he really said Slade Wilson?"

Dick huffs in angry, "Yeah, he told me. I remembered."

Damian turned to the butler with fear in his eyes, "Pennyworth."

Alfred covered his mouth with his hand, "I didn't know, your highness."

"Fuck!" This was the first time Dick has heard the composed first prince swearing. Before he could asked any questions, Damian has already stopped the carriage.

He dismounted one of the horses from the carriage, and got on it.

"Pennyworth," He commanded the butler, "You better made sure that bastard is captured and alive until I made it back. With my authority and order, capture that fucker!"

"As order, your highness."

-

When Damian came back, it was already deep into the night. He banged on the barely working door.

"Timothy! Jason!"

The door was slowly opened by a sleepy Jason, he woke up immediately when he saw the prince was back, "Your highness?"

Damian barged in, "Where's Timothy?"

Jason pointed to the bed confused, "Tim's sleeping ther-"

There's no Tim. The bed is empty.

"Fuck!" Jason was scared shitless when he heard the always gentle prince swore.

Damian didn't wait for Jason as he strode out of the house. Only bad thoughts were swirling in his mind. The guilt and remorse were eating him away when he saw a dim light from under the willow tree from far out in the field. When he made it close enough, he could make out Tim's face barely under the dim light. The boy was not alone.

The eldest prince flinched when he saw two icy blue eyes glaring at him.

Tim's head was leaning on the shoulder of the girl as he burrowed more into her neck. When he felt the girl stiffen, he groggily woke up, "Steph?"

Tim turned enough to see, there's a man standing there in the field, with a torch in his hand. Tim immediately became vigilant. His hand reached for the knife in his pocket, he froze when he realised who the man was.

Both of them stayed caution as Damian approached them.

"Timothy," Damian called out of breath.

Tim put Stephanie behind him, shielding her, "What." He spat out. I wasn't a question, it was a threat to leave. Stephanie, herself, has armed herself with her rake.

"Timothy, I just want to talk."

"Why would you need to talk at night?" Stephanie scorned, with her bravery coming from not know that Damian is the kingdom's first prince.

"Why would a Mister like you need to talk to my lover?" the girl puffed out her chest to appear bigger. Tim was sweating bullet on the other hand. He yanked at her dress nervously, "Steph, stop."

"Lover?" Damian focused on the wrong thing instead of the dishonor to his title.

"No-, that's not-" The prince exhaled slowly, "I just want to talk to Timothy. Would the young lady please give us a moment?"

Stephanie was about to retaliate when she felt a tug on her dress. Tim gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes. She positioned her rake to Damian's neck ignoring Tim's nervous clanking of teeth. "You better not made my man sad."

Damian was left alone with Tim as they watched Stephanie went to another side of the willow tree.

"From lover to man, you have quiet the attraction to fierce woman." Damian jestered.

Tim did not play along, "Why are you here,... your highness?"

"Timothy," Damian paused, "Why did you not tell me about Slade?"

The elder prince continued, "Is that why you always ditch Wilson's class? When has this started?" His voice grew more concered as he asked more question.

"What's the use now?"Tim shrugged, "Although I regrets not being a real prince I appreciate that the truth came before Wilson's waiting time was over."

Tim mocked in an amused voice, "Although you better keep an eye on your littlest brother." Tim turned to taunt at his ex-brother, "He's a little slow to things."

"Tim," Damian dropped the formailty, "I will not let that bastard live."

Tim shrugged casually, "Why go through the trouble? I'm not an important person after all."

Tim flinced when he was pulled into a hug, "Wh-"

"I'm very sorry, little brother. I couldn't protect you enough." Damian apologized.

Tim eyes welled up with tears. Damn, how many times has he cried today, that's not manly at all.

"Why did you leave me, elder brother?" He hugged back his older brother, "I thought you hated me."

"I could never hate you even if I try, little brother. I will take you back. I will talk to father. I will make him change his mind. He won't admit it but he miss you too, little brother."

Is this the end of their suffering?

"What about me?" Stephanie interrupted from behind, "You can't just steal my husband from me."

Damian raised an amused brow, "Husband already? Aren't you guys progressing a little too fast?"

"Well, I have to when I found out my husband is going to be a prince."

Tim just deadpaned at his lover's joke, "Seriously, were you always a gold digger?"

Stephanie pecked at his cheek, "Of course not, hubby." She giggled, "Now that we kissed, my chastity has been taken by you. You must be responsible, Timothy!"

Tim chocked on his saliva, and whipped his head to his older brother, "We haven't done anything yet, elder brother!" He defended his chastity.

"Of course, Timothy. I believe you." Damian said in a teasing tone voice.

Stephanie pouted at Tim's defence to his chastity, "What? You don't want to marry me, husband?"

"Of course not!" Tim grinned at her, "Right, no take back. No matter how weird your husband turn out to be."

Damian interrupted the flirting couple, "Please stop. Although I want nieces and nephews in the future, I do not wish to babysit at the current moment. With this rate, Stephanie might become pregnant with just words, brother."

This make all three of them burst into laughter.

Jason came at the right moment, "Why are you guys laughing?"

Stephanie cheered when she saw him, "Brother-in-law!"

Jason choked on his words, "W-What?"

Thus the fake prince story ended with a happy wedding.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How was it? Have you predicted the ending? 😏 I know the dialogue are not historically accurate. But I hope you enjoy it.

At first, I was gonna make Tim cinderella, but it ended into a bitter sweet text. HEHEHE

Another prompt down, another to go. Any bingo prompt you are looking forward to?

[sjsmith56]

Assignment Bucky Barnes, Chapter 9 - Dark Days

Summary: News of a tragic incident at the World’s Fair in Queens puts a damper on the combined 4th of July / Steve’s birthday celebration.

Length: 3.9 K

Characters: Bucky, Ariel, Merton, Steve, the Barnes family, two unknown male characters.

Warnings: Reported violence and death, proximity to an actual violent event.

Author notes: The bomb incident as described really happened on July 4, 1940, killing two police officers and injuring several others. Although originally linked to a Nazi organization formed in the area in 1936 there was no concrete evidence to prove it and it remains an unsolved case to this day, although some speculation has been made that the British version of the Secret Service did it to drum up sympathy for the British efforts against the Nazis. In the context of this story it will be attributed to an agitator who set it up as part of a shadowy organization's efforts to sow chaos in the world. Sound familiar? It will also be used as one of several catalysts that prompted the Selective Training and Service Act, a form of peacetime conscription that started in September, 1940.

<<Chapter 8

The food tasted as wonderful as it looked and Ariel did enjoy herself as they sat around the large table on the flagstone patio at the end of the garden. The radio was on and they listened to the first game of a doubleheader as the Brooklyn Dodgers played the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. The Dodgers were in complete control of the game winning 5-1, and the men spoke enthusiastically about how exciting it must be for those lucky enough to get tickets. Between the first and second game there was music, picked to celebrate the holiday when a stern voice came on the air advising that a disturbing incident happened on the grounds of the World's Fair. Listeners were urged to stay tuned for further details. More somber music was played and George Barnes turned up the radio. Shortly after 5 pm a news announcer came on the air.

A crime of the greatest magnitude happened at the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens a short time ago. A switchboard operator received a phone call that a bomb was placed in a ventilation room of the British pavilion. An examination of the package determined it was ticking and it was removed to an open location where two police officers attempted to disarm it. The bomb exploded, instantly killing the two officers and injuring several others attempting to move bystanders away from the area. This is the third bomb blast in the New York area in the past month. There are no suspects at this time although police are exploring several different organizations in the area who have made threats in recent weeks.

Ariel and Mrs. Barnes gasped placing their hands over their mouths as they did so.

"Damn fools," said Mr. Barnes, angrily. "Mark my words, it will be that Nazi organization that's responsible. They've killed Americans now and it won't be long before the country demands retribution."

Bucky got Ariel's eye and smiled grimly at her, remembering her fear of the country becoming involved in the war between England and Germany. Suddenly, it didn't seem so far fetched as it did before. The broadcast of the second half of the doubleheader started and Mr. Barnes kept the radio on although he turned it down. He gazed intently at his son, almost as if he was thinking of the possibility that the bombing would increase the chances of the United States entering the war in Europe.

Mrs. Barnes must have thought the same thing but she stood up and asked the men for their plates. Rebecca and Ariel helped, bringing them into the kitchen and filling up the sink with hot soapy water to soak the dishes before washing them. Handing several cake plates to Ariel, then the cutlery to Rebecca, she placed 22 candles on the cake and lit them with several matches. Nodding at Rebecca and Ariel they held the door open for her as she stepped outside with the birthday cake, singing Happy Birthday. Steve blushed as the cake was placed in front of him and he made his wish then blew out all the candles, straining himself to do it on the first blow. Mrs. Barnes removed the candles and cut the cake into pieces, handing the first one to Steve, then to her husband and Merton, before giving one to Bucky and the girls, leaving herself to the end. They sat around enjoying the rich taste as the shadows from the surrounding brownstones grew longer and threw the garden into shade.

"Steven, here is a gift for you from Mr. Barnes and myself," said Mrs. Barnes, handing a present to Steve.

He unwrapped it and his face broke into a huge smile. Normally, according to Bucky, he received socks and handkerchiefs, but this contained a dress shirt, tie, and suspenders. Mrs. Barnes received a kiss on the cheek while Mr. Barnes received a hearty handshake. Rebecca gave him a smaller present and he opened it to a set of oil pastels, earning her a quick peck on the cheek. Bucky gave him his present, which was two art books, one with colour plates of famous paintings. The two friends pushed each other playfully. Ariel picked up their package and handed it to him.

"These are a new product," she said. "We thought you might like to try them."

He unwrapped it and looked at the box of water colour pencils with interest. "I heard about these," he exclaimed. "Thank you. I will try them."

After everyone finished with their cake Ariel and Rebecca began collecting the plates. Mrs. Barnes stood up to help and Ariel put her hand out.

"Please, you must have worked all morning on getting the food ready," she said. "We've got this."

Inside the kitchen she asked Rebecca for an apron and tied it on, then began washing the soaking dishes in the sink while Rebecca began drying them. Bucky came in and whispered something in his sister's ear. She grinned at him and left him there with the tea towel in his hands. He began drying the dishes and putting them away.

"My parents really like you," he said. "They told your uncle that you're a lovely girl. I saw you and my mother talking before the food was ready. What did you talk about?"

"You," replied Ariel. "She said you have never been serious about any other girl."

He smiled. "That's true." Bucky looked out the window then lowered his head and kissed Ariel on the neck, mouthing it sensuously before looking again and continuing to dry the dishes. "I don't know how long I can keep my promise to your uncle. I fantasize about being with you."

"Me too," said Ariel. "If we went out to the seashore with your Dad's car we could be alone without fear of discovery."

"Or we could use Steve's flat," whispered Bucky. "He said he's willing to let us borrow it."

"Oh Bucky, that's a big favour to ask," said Ariel, sounding distressed. "Don't you think that's being a little insensitive to him?"

He stopped drying. "What do you mean? He offered. I didn't ask."

"Considering he's never been with a girl," she stated. "He hasn't right? Don't you think using it as our love nest is rubbing his nose in it? He wouldn't ever admit it but surely he would feel it."

The dish drying resumed but he didn't say anything for some time then he stopped. "You're right, he wouldn't admit it but it would be unfeeling of me, wouldn't it? I was just so happy he offered that I didn't think of him."

"We would have to wash the sheets after, just to be polite," said Ariel. "That would take forever unless he had another set. It was nice of him to offer but I would feel like we were taking advantage of his friendship."

His face showed his disappointment but he didn't say anything to counter her argument. Shortly after Mrs. Barnes came inside to put the food away and she watched the body language between the couple.

"Bucky, could you put the ice cream on the table to soften?" she asked. "I think we should have the apple pie that Ariel baked. I'll start the coffee."

Bucky pulled the ice cream from the ice box and took some dessert plates down from the cupboard. After a few minutes he began scooping out the ice cream onto each plate while his mother cut pieces of the pie for everyone. She sent him out with a tray full of the cut pieces of pie, while Ariel strained the coffee into cups. He came back with the tray and took the coffees out with the sugar bowl and cream. There was a glass of milk for Rebecca. They sat out in the now completely shaded yard, quietly eating the pie.

"That is good pie, Ariel," said Mr. Barnes. "Almost as good as Winnie's. Is there lemon in it?"

"Yes, some grated lemon rind and lemon juice just to brighten up the taste a bit," she replied. "Thank you for the compliment."

Bucky smiled at her, pleased that his normally quiet father thought enough of the pie to pay Ariel a compliment. They could hear some firecrackers go off nearby which initially startled them. Then they all laughed self consciously.

"Are you going to see the fireworks at McCarren Park?" asked Mrs. Barnes.

"If Ariel would like to," replied Bucky then he looked at the clock on the wall. "We should leave soon, if we're going."

They both turned to the young woman and she nodded her acceptance of the plan. Merton offered to drive the couple, Steve and Rebecca there on his way back home. Mrs. Barnes provided a couple of blankets for them to sit on until the light show began. Thirty minutes later they were getting out of the van with the blankets and trying to find a place to sit in the mass of people that were there. Realizing that the fireworks would be set off from the football field and track area they retreated towards the baseball diamonds and set up in the outfield of one of them.

"What now?" asked Ariel.

"We wait," said Bucky then he leaned close to her and spoke in a low voice. "We could neck while we're waiting."

He gestured towards other couples who were kissing in the growing dark.

"Your sister is right here," said Ariel, pushing him jokingly.

"I don't mind if you kiss," interjected Rebecca. "We could play Twenty Questions."

"That sounds like fun to me," laughed Ariel.

With a roll of his eyes Bucky agreed to Twenty Questions but did say if he guessed he would win a kiss from Ariel. They played for about twenty minutes, interrupted by the sounds of firecrackers and cherry bombs being set off throughout the crowd. Everyone would give a little shriek when the loud explosions were heard then laugh at each other for being frightened. When the fireworks did start they all stood up and Bucky put his arms around Ariel from behind. Every so often he would kiss her neck or the side of her head. When the show was over they picked up the blankets and began to fold them up. Yelling sounds erupted and they heard the sounds of a fight nearby.

"Go stand by home plate," said Bucky firmly. "It should be safer over there. I'm going to try and break it up before these idiots hurt someone."

He and Steve disappeared into the melee. Both girls became disoriented and Ariel began to panic as they were jostled. Suddenly two men appeared right beside them. One of them, a tall dark haired man with a beard and cap pulled low over his face, took her arm. He wore gloves and full long sleeves which seemed odd on a warm summer's night.

"I'll show you to safety," he said then he turned and saw Rebecca.

For a moment his lip quivered then the other man, a tall well built black man gently took Rebecca's arm and nodded at the first.

"Trust me," the first man said; his dark eyes which seemed familiar bored into hers as he spoke. "You're to wait at home plate. Don't move from there."

The two men guided them from the outfield to home plate which was less crowded and quieter. Both of them released their hold but stayed nearby and left just moments before Bucky and Steve returned. There was the sound of police whistles from the area where the fight broke out and a couple of mounted police rode past them towards the throng. Bucky grasped both their arms while Steve stayed close and they hurried themselves away. Once they got out of the confines of the park it was quiet enough to talk.

"What happened?" asked Ariel.

"Some sort of fight," said Bucky. "But they weren't even on opposite sides. It was like they were fighting just for the sake of fighting. We realized we weren't going to make a difference so we headed back towards you. Who were those men who were with you?"

"I don't know," replied Ariel. "They just showed up. We lost our sense of direction and the one man said they would take us to safety. Then he said to stay at home plate. He seemed familiar but I couldn't see his face clearly."

"Well, I'm glad they helped you," said Bucky. "Anything could have happened."

Twenty minutes later they were outside the antique store and Steve motioned to Rebecca to wait further down the street. Bucky took Ariel into the stairwell and kissed her fiercely, his hands gripped her arms tightly as he pressed them both against the wall.

"I want you in my arms," he whispered, his warm breath caressing her ear. "I miss the touch of your hands on me."

"I know," she whispered back then she looked up at him. "I love you."

Even in the warm darkness of the stairwell she could see his smile. "I love you, too."

Both of them wrapped their arms around the other in an intense embrace. A knock on the window of the door startled them and Bucky opened it to see a policeman standing with Steve and Rebecca.

"Are you with these two?" he asked. "They can't be loitering. Sorry, but the violence at McCarren Park has the precinct rattled. You'll have to be on your way."

Bucky kissed Ariel quickly and stepped out of the stairwell. With a nod to the policeman they began walking home while Ariel went up the stairs. Merton was still up and looked expectantly at her.

"Something happened after the fireworks," she said. "A brawl. I don't remember that from my briefings."

"No, neither do I," he said. "Did anything else unusual happen?"

"Bucky and Steve went to see if they could break it up and we were to meet at home plate," replied Ariel. "We got disoriented and two men helped us. One of them seemed familiar but I couldn't place him."

"Interesting," he replied. "We'll see what the newspaper reports have to say tomorrow."

In the morning the newspaper called the brawl the result of anarchists infiltrating the mostly peaceful crowd. As a result of the brawl there were calls for an immediate evening curfew of 10 pm which city hall was reluctant to impose as it would affect many officially sanctioned outdoor events already scheduled for the holiday weekend, not to mention the businesses that depended on tourist dollars. Instead, an emergency no loitering ordinance was passed and people were advised they could be subject to being stopped and questioned. There were reports of young couples being detained just for necking in a car or on a blanket in a park, especially in the evening. For Bucky and Ariel it was a further wrench into their plans to be alone. Although they saw each other over the holiday weekend, Ariel still had to work on the Saturday. Bucky was waiting to walk her home.

"Hi," was all she said, when she saw him waiting.

He put his arms out and hugged her, kissing her lightly. "How was it today?"

"Dead," she replied. "Lots of people out at the beach, I guess. Mrs. Houseman had us cleaning shelves and dusting books."

Nodding distractedly they walked back to the store almost in silence, as nearly everything was responded to in one or two word answers. When they arrived at the apartment Bucky came up. Merton was preparing a dinner of cold cuts, potato salad, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.

"Bucky, stay for dinner?" he asked, noticing neither of them were exactly being sociable.

"Sure, thanks Mr. Burnett," replied Bucky. "I'll just phone my Ma and tell her I'm staying for a bit."

Ariel set the table for three and made up some coffee. To Merton, it was almost painful to watch the couple go through the motions. He knew there was a dance scheduled for the Saturday night and brought it up but with the no loitering ordinance it was clear that many couples were passing on it.

"We could go I guess," said Bucky when Merton brought it up. "But it's like being back in middle school. Watching to see if anyone leaves the dance floor to be alone for a moment, following and sending you back to the dance. There's no fun to it."

"Well, I've had a few passing conversations with some of the other business people in this block," said Merton. "They're not happy about it either. People can't window shop without a policeman moving them along. It won't last."

"I know," replied Bucky. "But this was the holiday weekend ... the start of summer. Instead of being fun it just feels depressing."

After dinner Bucky helped dry the the dishes and put them away. While Merton worked on his books in the kitchen Bucky and Ariel sat in the parlour, listening to the radio.

"We should get married," he whispered. "Then at least we would be in our own place and could do what we wanted without anyone caring."

"I know," she said. "This won't last, Bucky. You'll see. They'll realize the ordinance is hurting business and they'll lift it."

It wasn't exactly the answer he wanted and she sensed he seemed disappointed with what she said. Sure enough he stood up.

"I should go," he said. "Walk me down to the door?"

She nodded and they went down to the bottom of the stairs where she leaned back against the wall while he played with her hair.

"I'm sorry I'm being a gloomy Gus," he said softly. "We could have been dancing right now, and slipping off with a blanket to a shadowy spot and getting up to all sorts of fun things."

"Have faith," she replied. "I want to be with you, too."

She put her fingertips on his chest, running them over his buttons while looking up at him. A soft smile came over his face and he stepped closer, bending over and giving Ariel a passionate kiss. They heard Merton up in the apartment as Ariel had left the door open. Bucky pulled away then kissed her quickly again and left. She stepped partially out the door and watched him leave, noticing there were several policemen patrolling the sidewalks. She closed the door and went back up the stairs to the apartment.

"This ordinance is really beginning to bother me," she said. "We talked before the brawl of driving out to the beach so we could have alone time and now there is no place where a couple can do that. How long are we supposed to put up with this?"

"Speaking just as a business owner I've heard rumblings," said Merton. "A lot of people have seen a drop in their businesses because of the ordinance. I'm guessing city council will be looking to revoke it this week or next."

"It can't happen soon enough," she replied. "I'm going to my room. Maybe I'll work on my observations."

He watched Ariel's reaction, concerned that even she was feeling the pressure of no intimate time with Bucky. In his opinion it was affecting her observations of Bucky. After she went to her room he went up to the communications set and requested a session with Peri. When the older woman became visible she raised her hand.

"I already know what you're going to ask," she said. "The brawl and the ordinance put a crimp in all of sorts of observations, not just those of Ariel and Bucky. This brawl event was definitely started by an outside force. In fact, we think it's related to the bombing at the World's Fair."

"How do you know that?" he asked, surprised to hear it. "I mean the bombing was history. The brawl was out of the blue."

"Both of them were instigated by agents of chaos," she said. "There are signs that someone has travelled to 1940 to rile these groups up."

"Not ...?" Merton left the name of the group unsaid, as they were a shadowy group even in their century.

"Probably," she replied. "I've sent some security agents in to see if they can locate the individuals responsible and stop them from affecting the timeline any further. They were there at the brawl and made sure Ariel and Rebecca were safe. You may notice them from time to time as they'll also be watching her to make sure no one interferes with her."

"She told me of two men who helped her and Rebecca at the fireworks brawl," replied Merton. "Said the one man seemed familiar."

"I was concerned about that possibility but he insisted he be there. He does have a vested interest in her safety," she replied. "If they have to make contact with you they will use the code word "jitterbug" and your response will be "fox trot." Ariel is not to be told about them, if at all possible. It is preferable she remain ignorant of their existence."

"What about Ariel and Bucky?" asked Merton. "They need to have time alone. It's affecting them both."

Peri looked at her off screen displays. "In the Sunday morning newspaper there will be a personal ad for some antique furniture in the northern edge of Yonkers. There will also be an estate viewing in another part of Yonkers. Considering it will take you some time to get there, some time to conduct your business and more time to return you could safely say you won't return until after 6 pm. That should give the couple much of the morning and afternoon together. Will that suffice?"

"Yes, that will be enough," he replied. "Tell me, did you locate the missing file that you sent me?"

Peri's face went neutral. "Yes, but at this time I can't reveal who tampered with it," she said. "It wasn't you and it wasn't me. That much I can tell you. We are still tracking the digital bread crumbs in order to build our case against the individuals."

At that Peri ended the conversation and Merton shut down the communications set. There was a lot of information in the session that he wondered about. If she had to send people back and at least one of them was familiar to Ariel then there was something going on that was deeper than he realized. Leaving her behind on Sunday wasn't optimal but if Bucky was with her then she would be safe.

Chapter 10>>

Series Masterlist

Comments and reblogs are appreciated.

[honey-crypt]

Can you write Elliot with a reader who’s overworking themself, sleep deprived but also kinda stubborn and a brat about taking a rest?

🥺🐀

a/n: this post refers characters from stardew valley expanded so minor spoilers ahead? enjoy!

★ rest for the best - elliott x farmer ★

★ elliott is no stranger to sleep deprivation and delaying rest; he’s a writer after all and during his bachelor days, he would pull at least two all nighters a week

★ however, he manages to improve his sleep and get a good schedule, always going to bed at 10pm and waking up by 6am or sooner, a nice 8 hours of rest

★ after marriage and moving into the farmhouse he notices that you tend to overwork yourself during the first week of each season, running around the town and the farm as you attempt to hoe, sow, and water your seeds

★ at first, elliott tries to help you out, he offers to water some crops and so on but you always deny his help, saying that you had everything under control

★ yet, by the third day of the season, you're barely able to hold your watering can, elliott has to intervene

★ he picks you up and sets the watering can aside, carrying you back to the farmhouse and into your shared bedroom; he lays you on the bed and informs you that you're on bedrest until you can hold up the watering gun again

★ you protest, saying that the season's demands were particularly high, but elliott is having none of that! he reassures you that he will take care of everything and get help from the other farmers, such as andy and susan

★ you whine to elliott about being put in bed jail but the sleep deprivation finally catches up with you and you fall asleep before you could try to escape

★ elliott spends the remainder of the week setting up the crops for the season with andy and susan helping him out, he ends up learning a good thing or two about the farming life that he didn't know before

★ by the time you recover, elliott has the fields all ready for the crops to flourish, he does a pretty great job under andy and susan's guidance

★ you thank him and promise that you would work on your sleep schedule, to which elliott gives you a peck on the lips and reassures you that you will be able to do so, as well as to remember that rest is vital to being a successful farmer

[koyagifs]

shattered trust

pairing: Ravenclaw!Hongjoong x Hufflepuff!reader au: harry potter genre: angst | fluff | Summary: as the years go by, you never noticed the dark side of your lover.

Warning(s):

Some cursing, their ages will be aged up a bit! This fic is not meant to reflect how Ateez are in real life. This is a fanfic.

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13 | part 14

st masterlist | ateez masterlist

.𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖

a few weeks ago - when mina asked to talk to hongjoong alone

Hongjoong was angered. He felt hurt and betrayed, the words swirling in his mind like a tempest. How could you lie to him? To say you’d go to the Yule Ball with him when you were planning to leave him for Mingi?

Mina’s words rang clear in his head, her sly grin as she whispered the accusations. “Yn’s going to the ball with Mingi,” she had said, her tone dripping with satisfaction. “She was just waiting for the right moment to drop you.”

As he strode through the bustling halls of Hogwarts, each step felt heavier, the excitement of the upcoming Yule Ball turning into a weight on his chest. He wanted to believe you, to trust that you’d never betray him, but doubt clawed at him like a dark creature.

Whenever you sought him out, Hongjoong’s resolve weakened. He could see you approaching from a distance, your smile brightening the dreary corridor, and his heart would race—not with joy, but with fear. Fear of what he might say, fear of confronting the nagging whispers in his mind. Each time you called his name, he felt that familiar instinct to retreat, to run away from the conversation he dreaded.

Today was no different. As you rounded a corner, catching sight of him standing near a window, you brightened, your eyes sparkling with excitement. “Hongjoong!” you called, waving slightly.

But instead of feeling the warmth of your greeting, panic flooded through him. The image of you with Mingi, laughing and dancing, flickered in his mind like a haunting specter. He turned abruptly, his heart racing, and walked quickly in the opposite direction.

“Wait!” You called after him, your voice laced with confusion and concern. “Hongjoong, please!”

Days turned into weeks, and the distance between you grew. Each time he saw you laughing with Mingi and the others, it twisted like a knife in his heart. The way you lit up around them only fueled the doubts in his mind. Mina’s words echoed relentlessly, sowing seeds of jealousy and fear. “See? You’re losing her,” she’d say, her voice smooth and dripping with false sympathy. “Mingi’s just waiting for you to mess up.”

Hongjoong felt like he was caught in a never-ending loop of turmoil. Whenever he spotted you in the courtyard, surrounded by friends, his heart would race—not from the joy of seeing you but from the overwhelming dread of what he might discover. Each time you turned to him with that hopeful smile, he would look away, pretending to be preoccupied with his own friends, swallowing the lump in his throat.

It didn’t help that he was ignoring you. Every time he did, you seemed to grow closer to Mingi. He could see the way you shared jokes, the warmth in your laughter, and it felt like daggers to his heart. Even in class, when you would exchange glances, he’d look down at his notes, convinced that he was pushing you further away.

“Hongjoong, are you okay?” Seonghwa asked one afternoon as they walked through the halls. “You’ve been really distant lately.”

“I’m fine,” he replied, a bit too quickly, and Seonghwa raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.

Mingi was the last one to approach him, out of the whole friend group. As the others drifted away, leaving Hongjoong alone with his turmoil, Mingi walked over, a mix of concern and determination on his face. But Hongjoong, blinded by anger and hurt, couldn’t see Mingi’s genuine worry. All he could think about was how you laughed with Mingi, how you lit up in his presence, and it twisted something deep inside him.

“Hey, Hongjoong! You good?” Mingi asked, his tone light but tinged with an underlying concern.

“Yeah, I’m just great. Living the dream,” Hongjoong shot back, venom lacing his words. He couldn’t help it; it felt like the only armor he had left.

Mingi’s expression faltered, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Uh, okay… just checking in. Yn is really concerned for you,” he said, trying to keep his tone even.

“Concerned?” Hongjoong echoed, scoffing. “Maybe she should be worried about the company she keeps.” His voice dripped with bitterness, and he could see Mingi’s confusion morphing into disappointment.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mingi asked, his brow furrowing.

“You know exactly what I mean,” Hongjoong shot back, unable to contain the surge of jealousy and anger. “You’re always around her, laughing, making jokes. It feels like you’re just waiting for me to mess up so you can step in.”

Mingi opened his mouth to protest but paused as Mina approached, her arm wrapping around Hongjoong with a casual familiarity. A smug look spread across her face, and it was clear she was ready to play her cards right.

“Hey, babe, ready for our study date?” she chimed, her tone sugary sweet, the kind that sent a chill down Hongjoong’s spine.

He could see Mingi’s expression harden, disappointment shifting to annoyance. “Babe, huh?” he echoed, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice.

Mina batted her eyelashes innocently, an insufferable smile on her face. “Oh, sorry, Mingi. I’m going to the ball with Hongjoong now,” she said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness.

The air thickened with tension as Mingi’s brows knitted together. “You can’t just—” he started, frustration rising in his voice.

“Why not?” Mina interrupted, her expression unfazed. “You think I’m not allowed to change my mind? Besides, Hongjoong and I have a history together.”

Mingi shook his head, disbelief etched across his face. “Whatever. I hope Yn dumps you now, Hongjoong. You don’t deserve her,” he shot back, his voice laced with anger.

Hongjoong scoffed, his frustration bubbling over. “As if you wouldn’t take this as a chance to have her all to yourself,” he shot back, eyes narrowing.

Mingi stepped closer, his expression hardening. “That’s not fair. I’m trying to be a good friend to both of you, not compete for her attention. I care about you, too.”

“Care about me?” Hongjoong laughed bitterly. “You’re so eager to step in when I mess up. Makes me wonder if you’re just waiting for me to fail.”

Mingi’s eyes flashed with hurt, but he held his ground. “You think I want you to fail? I’m not your enemy, Hongjoong. I’m trying to help you see what’s really happening.”

“Help me? By jumping in every time I make a mistake?” Hongjoong shot back, his frustration boiling over. “It feels less like help and more like you’re just waiting for me to stumble.”

“I’m not waiting for anything,” Mingi replied, his voice steady despite the emotion swirling in his eyes. “I’m just trying to be there for you because I care. But if you keep pushing me away, it’s not going to end well for you—or for Yn.”

Without waiting for Hongjoong to respond, Mingi turned and stormed off, fuming and in disbelief. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the hall, leaving Hongjoong alone with the weight of their argument.

A knot of guilt twisted in his stomach. He watched Mingi’s retreating figure, feeling the tension in the air linger like a bad omen. Was he really pushing away the one person who genuinely cared for him? The realization stung more than he expected.

Without getting another second to think, Mina had drugged him away.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓☽.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Hongjoong wanted to fix things with you. He wanted to apologize, to beg on his knees for your forgiveness if that’s what it took. The weight of regret hung heavily on him as he searched for you, desperate to make things right.

A few of your fellow Hufflepuffs caught his eye and mentioned you’d be by the lake. His heart raced as he rushed down, the cool air hitting him like a splash of cold water. He could feel the urgency in his veins; he needed to reach you before it was too late.

But when he arrived at the lake, his heart dropped. There you were, surrounded by a few of your friends, your shoulders shaking as you cried. The sight pierced him like a dagger, and he felt his breath caught in his throat. He wanted to run to you, to comfort you, but he hesitated, not wanting to intrude on the moment.

Your friends looked concerned, offering words of comfort, but Hongjoong could see the pain etched on your face. It was a heartbreaking sight, one that ignited a storm of guilt and helplessness within him. He felt the weight of every harsh word he had exchanged with Mingi press down on him.

He wanted to go to you, but his feet felt glued to the ground. As he tried to speak, nothing came out, the words caught in his throat. He was paralyzed by a mix of fear and guilt, unsure of how to bridge the distance between you.

Just then, he heard Mina's voice behind him, cutting through the haze of his thoughts. " you'll be a fool if you thought it was going to be easy to just leave me Joongie" she said, her tone laced with sarcasm

Hongjoong’s heart sank further. He turned to face her, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Mina tapped on his cheek, before forcing him to watch the scene before him.

“You're going to watch Mingi comfort your oh-so-wonderful girlfriend,” she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

As he looked back at you, the sight twisted like a knife in his gut. Mingi knelt beside you, his demeanor gentle as he spoke softly, trying to soothe your tears. The way you leaned into him, your expression a mix of vulnerability and relief, ignited a surge of jealousy and frustration within Hongjoong.

Hongjoong's heart ached as he was forced to witness how Mingi comforted you. Every soft word Mingi spoke, every gentle touch of his hand on your back, felt like a dagger to Hongjoong’s heart. It hurt to see Mingi looking at you the way he once did—eyes filled with admiration, concern, and warmth.

His breath caught in his throat, each moment stretching painfully as he realized how much he had taken for granted. He had let his fears and insecurities drive a wedge between you, and now he was watching someone else step into the role he had neglected.

Mina’s voice was a dull echo in the background, but Hongjoong could barely register her words. All he could focus on was you, the way your features softened as you spoke to Mingi, a small, tentative smile breaking through your tears.

His heart raced, but the sight of Mingi holding his hand out for you to grab ignited a fire of anger within him. Hongjoong felt the blood rush to his ears as you accepted Mingi's gesture, your fingers intertwining with his. It was a moment that felt like a betrayal, each second stretching painfully as he watched the connection between you both grow.

Behind him, Mina was smirking, her eyes closed in satisfaction. She reveled in the chaos she had sown, knowing all too well how much this moment would sting.

“Look at you, Hongjoong,” she taunted, her voice a mocking whisper. Her hand gripping onto her wand tightly as Hongjoong fist clench.

“Just standing there while Mingi swoops in. You let this happen.” She giggled, as the words let her lips. Her wand pointing towards Hongjoong.

[ride-thedragon]

How would you write Nettles in the season if it was you adapting it? Curious to hear your thoughts and how would you introduce her character,

Oh my goodness.

Thank you for giving me this platform.

HOW I WOULD WRITE NETTLES IN S2.

Episodes 1 - 3

First thing, we introduce her as an Alladin/ Robin Hood character. Demonize the greens and by proxy Viserys for all I care, but Nettles isn't just starting to be hungry. She steals and does it well but is moral about it. Go the easy route and have her share with a kid, or teach a child how to get clams or even leave all the coins she does have for bread. She can have a job or two, but she has a need to provide for more than herself because she was a kid once.

We also see her selling Addam goat. They seem closer than strangers. Like he sees her often enough. She even gives him her congratulations on Alyn returning

Later on, we see that she is a bar maid as well this time with a little less clothes but a face veil. We get the notion that she doesn't like it, but she has to work two jobs because people pay her less due to the scar. The boys can see her again, or someone can allude to the idea that she's never in the same place in a day. They don't know much about her.

Episodes 4-6

We meet her washing blood of her hands from killing and bleeding a sheep. First job introduction for the goat selling. We see Nettles has a place in the Driftmark eco system. She's a member of their society, scar and all. Have people condescend about her, be like she was a thief, look at the scar, but I made her into what she is. She doesn't have that connection to anyone.

Then after that, we see her wandering, just behind people on to grass, then unto a hill with a pan down of a sheep in between the time for both jobs. And we all know why but we will leave it be for now.

Episodes 7 to 8

News about Addam reaches her, and all of a sudden, she looks scared. The first full dialogue with get from her is about what they are doing with the seeds who do that. If he's okay and then she hears about the sowing. Someone says Sheepstealer kills anyone he comes near, so they don't understand why people try. She tries to fight back a smile, but you can tell she's fond of something in the conversation.

We see the same motion. This time, we see the origin of the sheep as one she 'borrows' from another butcher or a run away sheep from herding and carries it up to feed the dragon. She's talking to him like a person as he eats, and you hear someone coming up on another side. She hides in the cave behind her (she clearly trusts this dragon). we see Sheepstealer massacre a random seed with Cannibal and when Cannibal tries to sniff out Nettles, he gets really defensive.

Cannibal flies of and Nettles kind of feel the bond build, he heels, and she climbs on her boy for their first flight, but we don't see her at the table with the seeds.

She's the last claimer in the narrative and yet very undecided on what that means or what to do, We hear her curse for the first time, and the season closes out.

So yeah, she'd be kinda subdued and away because she does exist at a lot of intersections in the narrative. I'm tying to Addam for the bastard association, but we never hear it from her, giving us the mysterious parentage arc. She starts to claim Sheepstealer early because he's on a quicker route to work that people clearly don't take, and it makes it easier. She can tell he's hungry, too. That's where the smart and fearless association comes from. She isn't foul-mouthed just yet, but cursing on dragon back is a great way and reason to be labelled. I think that's how you do it.

[greenwitchcrafts]

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Known as: Common sage, green sage, garden sage, meadow sage, culinary sage & true sage

Related plants: A member of the of the mint family Lamiaceae that includes plants such as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender & perilla as well as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga & oriental motherwort.

Parts used: Leaves & stems

Habitat and cultivation: This evergreen subshrub is native to the Mediterranean region with it's mild to cool, rainy winters & warm to hot, dry summers.

Plant type: Perennial

Region: Zone 5-8 your sage will grow as a hardy perennial. However in the humid climates of zones 9 & farther south, sage is usually an annual, as it does not easily tolerate summer heat & humidity.

Harvest: Harvest lightly in the first year to ensure the plant grows fully. After the first year, be sure to leave a few stalks so that the plant can rejuvenate in the future & If fully established, one plant can be harvested up to three times in one season.

Planting tips: Plant in full sun & plants should be two feet apart. Sage should be planted in well draining soil like a sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Wet soils can cause rot and be fatal to the plant. The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant, but you can also sow seeds up to two weeks before the last frost date.

Medicinal information: Taking sage by mouth seems to improve memory and thinking skills in healthy adults & taking it for four weeks can improve menopause symptoms. One study found that drinking tea made from sage both raised antioxidant defenses and lowered LDL or “bad” cholesterol. It also could be used for pain after surgery, lung cancer, sore throat, sunburn, and many other conditions. Sage leaves have been used in traditional medicine as a treatment for diabetes.

Cautions: Sage is possibly unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time due to a chemical called thujone. Too much thujone can cause seizures and damage the liver and nervous system. Thujone can also bring on a menstrual period, which could cause a miscarriage so taking sage during pregnancy is not advised. It may also reduce milk production while chest feeding.

Magickal properties

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Jupiter

Element: Air

Deities: Chiron, Consus, Jupiter, Obatala & Zeus

Magickal uses:

• Use the leaves for tea for communion of Jupiter or in any workings involved with the planet & grounding

• Burn to find clarity & wisdom while asking difficult questions

• Write a wish on Sage leaf and burn it to release your intention

• Place a Sage leaf in your wallet to attract money

• Include in feminine fertility spells to boost your chances of success

• Add Sage oil incense or herbs to any spell to temper the results with wisdom

• Burn during a funeral & memorial to facilitate healthy grief and bonding with the spirits of those who passed on

• Use spells to alleviate grief & steady emotions

• Put in a satchet to carry from protection from negative energies & influences

• Burn to cleanse your home, clear negative energies & increase your intuition

• Rub sage on your forehead before divination to increase the accuracy of your results

• Pick twelve leaves at midnight on Christmas Eve to see a vision of your future husband(without damaging the bush)

• Write your desire on a sage leafe & place it under your pillow for three days. If you dream of your desire, it will soon materialize. If not, bury the sage.

[lelanida]

Let's open our wings and fly as high as the eye can see. Let's dive into the white fluffy clouds. Let's relax on the flower meadows and mossy stones. This kingdom steals the hearts of travelers with its beauty and ease. It overshadows the featureless dunes of Isle of Dawn. Welcome to the world where the ancestors achieved harmony with the beings of light. Welcome to the Daylight Prairie.

This place greets us right after we have recieved our cape. The Daylight Prairie seems to be an ideal realm, an ideal habitat for creatures of light. And I can't disagree with that. This place, unlike all other kingdoms, literally screams harmony with light. It is on the Prairie that we see butterfly catchers, bird nests and bells leading us. It is in the Prairie that Days of Nature are held, which are entirely dedicated to unity with the beings of light. In addition, the Prairie contains a large number of symbols of the Megabird herself. Gold, flowers, birds and bells. It's probably surprising to hear this from me, but the Daylight Prairie was the capital of Megabird worship. The spiritual center of her entire cult. And I was ready to believe it.

There was not a single evidence of the presence of another entity or another type of energy in this realm. The Daylight Prairie is perfect in its own... "lightnessness".

A mysterious altar, closed with 8 locks. This is a very strange, paranormal place. Skykids run through it in a hurry every day, not considering it necessary to enjoy the atmosphere of this place. But there is something fascinating about this location. It's magical. Maybe it's the isolation of this place, or maybe it's the difficulty of getting there. Anyway, all my life I considered this place to be an altar for Megabird. Eight pedestals, displayed in a circle and decorated with gold ornaments. Well, that's clearly Megabird. Everything was working out. Until two curious spirits came to this place with the intention of holding a festival here. And what happened next turned everything around.

The sounds of laughter and bells ringing. They have awakened this place from a long slumber. The empty altars lit up with new colors, releasing a column of energy unprecedented up to that moment into the sky. It wasn't a Megabird. We are too familiar with her handwriting to confuse it with someone else's. In the days of Color, we were dealing with something else. Someone else.

Prismix. Their name is Prismix. They are a little spirit of love and fun. A nymph or a satyr, if you transfer it to Greek mythology. They are active only during their holiday - Days of Color. This festival is held at the very beginning of summer, when nature is at its peak and the sun shines brightest in the sky. This is a celebration of love. Love for family, soulmate, friends and, of course, for yourself. The Primix awakens once a year for this celebration. They sow joy throughout the festival, and when people leave their altar, they peacefully falls asleep in it. Until next year.

The cults of Megabird and Prismix did not conflict with each other. Because the cult of Prismix did not exist as such. Prismix didn't need anything like that. They were never a full-fledged deity. They can't even leave their altar. All this spirit wanted was to bring smiles to the faces of the people of the Prairie. What a naive wish.

When Alef arrived on the Prairie with the desire to get rid of all the other gods, Ayin thought about it. Is it worth killing Prismix? He has done nothing to deserve such a fate. Instead of killing them, like the Four of the isle, Ain suggested a more peaceful way to get rid of this creature. There is no need to try to forcibly lock them in the altar if you can just not wake them up. It was a very neat decision. All the symbols of Prismix were removed from their altar and safely hidden. And the altar itself was closed with 8 locks and forgotten forever.

But now Prismix has awakened. And they hasn't changed. They are still cheerful, naive and happy. It doesn't matter to them who stands in front: a living person, a dead spirit or a child of light. Everyone deserves to be happy. I don't think Prismix's little head is designed to understand the horror of what happened in this world. 

 

After all these years, they finally had friends. The two spirits that had accidentally awakened them. Now they have become their prophets, and year after year they return to this place with new ideas to make the Days of Color unforgettable. And the elder of the Daylight Prairie, through his slumber, hears the laughter of little Prismix, and thinks how things could have turned out differently.