#And knowing I have to wait an eternity for at LEAST 1 more person to dungeon with makes me want to cry too

[kikiheehee]

juno ᢉ𐭩

synopsis : idol!niki x pregnant!reader | the deal was simple: wait at least 1 year after marriage to start having kids so ni-ki could be fully engaged with your pregnancy without the stress of schedules holding him back. however, things don’t always go as planned.

!warnings!: angst, fluff, pregnancy(obv), anxiety, mentions of dysfunctional family wc: 2.4k

you and ni-ki got married a little over 2 months ago, october 21st to be exact, and ever since, they’ve both been the happiest pair alive. knowing that (almost) every morning they can wake up beside each other and know how that’s going to be the norm for the rest of their lives makes them more than overjoyed. they were the perfect couple really. they had the same hobbies, interests, music taste, and even the same “controversial” opinions.

except for when the right time was to have a baby.

you’ve wanted to be a mother since you were a little girl. motherhood had been everything to you and you always wanted to love, care, and coddle for a little one and raise them to be successful in life. you probably could’ve had a baby by now, but you refused to be part of the “baby mama” epidemic and have the chance of your child having an absent father because he “wasn’t ready” for a kid, so you spent years waiting for the right person to come along. and that you did. along with a baby, another dream of yours is to have a happy, nondysfunctional family, something you didn’t get to experience when you were younger. in all honesty you were expecting a honeymoon baby, but ni-ki had other plans.

ni-ki shared the same thoughts of wanting to be a father, just on a less grand scale. he wanted to wait till they were married for at least a year. he’s only 26, not to mention still an active idol. while a baby would be nice, he finds himself being the best father when he actually has time for a baby, and that’s just not the case at the moment unfortunately. he wants to fulfill his wife’s wishes more than anything, but now isn’t the time.

you have cried about this to yourself multiple times, trying to convince yourself that a year isn’t that long, but after waiting so long a year feels like an eternity. nevertheless, you respected his wishes and faithfully took your birth control at 12:00pm every day to avoid any “happy accidents.”

but something’s been off lately. ever since ni-ki’s birthday 3 weeks ago you’ve felt sick every morning, have had no energy, and your sense of smell has heightened tremendously. all symptoms of…pregnancy?

———————————————————————————————

you stared at the developing tests on your bathroom countertop while ni-ki was at an event.

“it’s literally gonna be negative. i take my birth control everyday at the same exact time. i’m probably just sick,” you tried to convince yourself.

after what seemed like forever, all three of your tests were done. you flipped the first one over, pregnant. second one? pregnant. final one, pregnant. you stared in disbelief. excitement and worry filled your head but surprisingly, the worry overcame the excitement. hesitantly, you grabbed your phone and took a picture of the 3 tests. just as you were going to send them to your husband, you decided against it. telling him in person would be better right…? you continued to throw one away in the trash can and pile tissue on top of it, and hid the other 2 somewhere in the guest room neither of you use let alone go in.

after crying for close to 20 minutes you received a text from ni-ki stating that he was on the way back home. so instead of letting the guilt eat you from the inside out, you decided to make dinner since it was already so late in the day. maybe telling him the news over food would lessen how mad he would be?

———————————————————————————————

ni-ki walked into the kitchen to see 2 plates of dinner on either side of the table and you washing your hands. he sat his stuff down gently and snuck his arms around your waist.

“i’m home baby. dinner looks delicious,” he whispered in your ear.

he couldn’t help but notice how tense you were once he touched you, which was completely out of the ordinary.

“hey,” you replied quietly while drying your hands.

ni-ki turned you around to face him, concern written on his face. “is everything alright?”

you perked up upon seeing his expression, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing his chin. “yes everything is perfectly fine my love! let’s go eat i’m starving.”

ni-ki was still curious about the sudden change in behavior, but he decided to leave it alone as you ate.

“so, how was work?” you asked before taking a bite of tofu fried rice.

“fine, nothing new. just practicing for the upcoming album and tour. but i’m excited for this new album, crazy to think it’ll be the last one for a while,” ni-ki responded.

“i’m excited too. i always love hearing the new music you guys come out with. i think i’m even more excited though for you to finally catch a break. you always work so hard, you deserve every ounce of rest.”

ni-ki smiled at your words, you always knew how to make him feel appreciated. “thanks hon, plus, i’ll get to spend more time with you. and i can finally give you the little girl you’ve always wanted. just a little while longer. but anyways, how was your day?”

your stomach turned. you weren’t sure if it was because the food you made was making you nauseous or because of what your husband just said, most likely both.

“oh! my day! my day was cool. you know, same old same old. wake up, brush my teeth, send you off to work, make breakfast, go work out, take a nap, nothing crazy nothing crazy.”

ni-ki tilted his head, “really? normally you have some sort of highlight to give me. you didn’t find a new fun fact on some random subject you think i should know?”

‘if being pregnant was a fun fact and the random subject was our marriage then yes,’ you thought, playing with the corn and peas left over on your plate.

you took a deep breath, here goes nothing.

“well i did find out something… i’m—”

looking into his eyes made you stop in your tracks. you can’t do it yet. not after what he just told you.

“i’m going to the dentist tomorrow! i completely forgot about the appointment i made until i looked at my email. silly me.”

ni-ki didn’t seem convinced at first, looking at you with narrow eyes, about to protest before his phone started ringing.

“this is my mom. hold that thought,” he said, standing up and walking toward the hallway to take the call.

you released the breath you didn’t know you were holding and ran your hands over your face.

“this is going to be way harder than i thought.”

———————————————————————————————

ni-ki wasn’t stupid. ever since you started getting morning sickness he knew you were pregnant. he was frustrated, but in no way was he mad or angry. ultimately, it was his fault anyway. at first he thought you also didn’t know, until he found the discarded test when he was taking out the trash. that was 2 weeks ago. he waited patiently for you to tell him, but for some reason, you have yet to spill it. he couldn’t even understand why you were hiding it in the first place.

you jolted up from your peaceful sleep because you felt sick again. as far as you knew he still thought you had a “stomach bug,” which technically isn’t a total lie, but it definitely isn’t the full truth. ni-ki stirred next to you, his hand instinctively landing on your thigh. “are you okay?” he asked with his eyes still closed.

“yeah i just—i’ll be right back.” and with that you walked out of your room and ran down the stairs, ending up in the bathroom where you then emptied whatever was in your stomach from dinner earlier that night. after you flushed the toilet and rinsed your mouth out, all you had the energy for was to sit on the floor and hug your knees. you felt awful, whether it was because of your hormones, morning sickness, or the impending guilt from keeping such a big secret from your lover. chances are it was a mix of all three. either way, a knot started to form in your throat till tears eventually started to flow from your eyes. in a way, you felt so…helpless. it was strange, but the fact that you just couldn’t bring yourself to tell ni-ki was eating you alive every second. you were around 4 weeks now at this point. your first month out of nine was basically over and the baby’s dad still doesn’t know (to your knowledge). you were going to have to tell him eventually, but the fear that he would get angry and mad at you was overwhelming. your main concern is that he would accuse you of not taking your pills on purpose just so you could “trap him” with a baby. that couldn’t be further from the truth.

drowning in your own thoughts and tears, you didn’t even notice ni-ki come into the bathroom. he knelt beside you, rubbing small circles into your back.

“hey, it’s okay. i’m here,” he said calmly, almost in a whisper. hearing his voice couldn’t even soothe you right now, bad thoughts currently overflowing your mind.

you lifted your head, facing ni-ki’s eyes before quickly looking down. his heart broke at the sight, especially because he knew what this was about.

“what’s bothering you love? are you still sick?” he wiped your tears with his thumbs, planting a small kiss on your nose in the process.

you sniffled, still refusing to look in his eyes, “something like that,” you responded in such a quiet voice he almost didn’t hear you.

“hey, look at me.” he told you, his tone slightly changing to be more firm, yet still in that comforting cadence you needed. “you can tell me.”

except you literally couldn’t. every time you’ve tried to tell him before you couldn’t get past the “i’m” part of “i’m pregnant.” you felt bad. so bad. he’s your husband, the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. you were bound to have kids anyway, so what’s the harm in getting a head start? but at the same time, what if a head start is exactly what could be the demise of this partnership?

you looked into his eyes, full of worry and fear. “i can’t.”

you could feel the tears starting to build back up, but before they could even spill, ni-ki spoke again.

“yes you can love. whatever it is, i won’t get mad.” he gave you a small smile of support.

“you promise?” you asked one last time, ready to get this conversation over with, no matter the outcome.

“promise,” he said, giving you a soft kiss on your forehead.

you took a deep breath, collecting yourself and squeezing your eyes shut. “i’m pregnant.”

ni-ki hugged you immediately, cradling your head as you cried on his shoulder once more. hearing you cry almost made him start crying, but he pulled himself together quickly. he just let you cry until you couldn’t anymore.

“i’m sorry,” you choked out, your sobs returning to little sniffles and hiccups.

ni-ki rested his forehead on yours. “there’s absolutely nothing to be sorry about my love. nothing. okay? things happen, and i don’t think you did anything deceptive to influence this. don’t worry about it alright? it was my fault anyway. i got carried away.”

you locked eyes with your husband, feeling a heavy weight lift off your shoulder. not only did you finally tell him, but he also wasn’t mean about it either. even through all of your overthinking, you knew he wouldn’t be—he wasn’t that type of guy. ni-ki lives by “everything happens for a reason” and this was certainly no exception. he smiled at you, not breaking eye contact for a second while he was softly stroking your hair.

you returned the smile, “thanks for not yelling at me.”

“honey i could never. i would never. how could you even think that?”

“because, you made yourself clear. no baby till you had more time, and i just, thought you would be mad.”

ni-ki held your cheek and gave you a gentle peck on the lips, “i get it. but to be honest baby, i already knew.”

your eyes widened, “what do you mean you knew?”

ni-ki sighed, “i found the test in the trash 2 weeks ago. i just wanted you to be able to tell me yourself. i’ve just been patiently waiting.”

you felt bad once again, he’s been waiting for 2 whole weeks and you just didn’t say anything.

“i’m—”

“don’t be sorry. seriously. i understand it’s a big step in our relationship and you were genuinely worried. let me take that worry away from you. my love, i never want you to be afraid of telling me something so serious because i might get mad. i don’t want you to fear me, i want you to trust me. in our 5 years of being together, i have never raised my voice at you, i don’t plan on ever doing so. always come to me when you need anything. i mean it. you’re my wife now, and i wouldn’t change that for the world. i’m aware that this was an unexpected skip in our journey, but know that i will be here every step of the way, even when i’m not physically with you. disrupt me at work, make me wake up at 4 in the morning to get you ice cream, do whatever, and i truly mean whatever, to make this pregnancy go as smooth as possible. you both will always be my first priority, no matter what i’m doing, okay?”

he hugged you once more and whispered in your ear, “i love you more than anything my darling, and i’m beyond grateful to be your forever companion. our baby is so blessed to have a mother like you.”

you kissed his neck, “i love you so much more kiki. i’m so lucky you chose me. a life without you is one i wouldn’t dare be a part of.”

in one swift motion, ni-ki picked you up to put you on the bathroom counter and kissed your lips—not a kiss of hunger or lust, but a kiss of pure love and adoration for each other that secured the fact that

everything will be just fine

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[whatifitis]

♡ to build a home - LN 4 ♡

Summary: You're beginning to build a life with Lando. One of the steps you were excited for the most was building a home with him. So when it's time to finally start furnishing the house... let's just say we're glad everyone got to keep their fingers.

WC: 950

CW: fluff, two idiots in love trying to use their shared braincell..., not proofread

-=+=-

It’s finally time! A chapter in your life you were waiting for for so long. Not just building a life with your favorite person, but building a home with them too. You and Lando recently bought a home together and were excited to finally decorate it after having renovated it yourselves. 

The two of you (mainly just you) spent ages on pinterest and various furniture websites, trying to put together an aesthetically pleasing home that could also make the environment feel homey and warm, something Lando had lived without for so long, well, at least until you joined his life. From the day you’d met, his life suddenly seemed brighter and warmer, like he’d been living in a plain, grey world prior. 

After some conflicts and adjustments to the mood board, you both had settled on some furniture that you both loved. Some things were ordered to the house while the others were picked up in the store by you and Lando. Lando, of course, insisted on helping because 1. It could be some nice bonding time since he’s away a lot and 2. He’s a “Big strong man” who can help you carry everything… In other words, he was afraid another man would come to your rescue and steal you away. But that would never happen. 

As you awaited everything you’d ordered, your home still only held a mattress, Lando’s gaming set up and boxes that were filled with various objects. One of those boxes held your collection of books. Your collection grew through the years as you got older, the collection expanding a lot quicker since you and Lan had started dating. Everytime he traveled without you, he would stop by a bookstore and get you a book. Whether it be a special edition of a book or just something he thought you’d like, he always came back with one to add to your collection. 

“Baby.” Lando called to you, jumping onto the mattress where you laid. 

“Baby.” you reply. 

“I was thinking-”

Sitting up fast and gasping, “You can do that?”

Lando’s jaw dropped, “Rude?! You know what? Nevermind.” begins to stand up to walk away, hiding a smile. 

“No! Come on, baby. I was joking. Tell me what you were thinking.” you say, pulling his arm so that he falls over top of you on the bed. 

“Fine. Only cause I love you so much.” the man says, receiving several kisses from you that scatter his face. 

“I love you too. Now, tell me.”

“Do you wanna go to ikea? I know we ordered most of the furniture or we’re going to some stores in person but we need to get some bookshelves for your books. We can get to building them today and putting away the books.” he says, moving to stand, “That way we can clear a few boxes and we’ll have more room for activities.” he says as he pranced around the room, twirling in the air as if he was a dancer. 

You laugh at the show before you, being eternally grateful for his existence and the chaos he brings with him, “That sounds amazing, Lan. We can go now. That way we’re not up late trying to put together the bookshelves.” 

“How hard can putting together bookshelves be?”

-=+=-

Lando and you took the opportunity to enjoy the day to the fullest. The sun was out so you guys drove with the windows down, blasting some Taylor Swift and singing your hearts out to each other. 

Although the drive was fun, the same can’t be said for the adventure in Ikea… The two of you got lost for 5 hours inside of the Ikea. And don’t ask how, cause not even God knows how the two of you got lost, though it might have to do with the fact that you guys share a brain cell…

Eventually, with the help of an Ikea employee, the two of you made it out to the other side, half tempted to kiss the ground once you saw the sun again. 

-=+=-

Finally, after a stop at Mcdonalds for some dinner, the two of you were safe and sound at home, cutting open the boxes that contained the pieces of wood to build the bookshelves. As Lando was unboxing the pieces, he began throwing things about, not paying any mind to what was going where. 

“Lan, calm down. We’re gonna lose the instructions if you keep doing that.” 

“Pish posh. Who needs instructions for bookshelves? It’s easy. I built that desk myself with no instructions.” he says, pointing to the desk that holds his gaming set up… the most basic table to have ever existed. 

You put your hands on your hips as you exhale loudly, “Lan, that table has 5 pieces total…”

“And? I still did it. Ya know why? Cause I’m super smart and super strong. I don’t need the instructions… Now… where do we start…?” he says as he rests his hands on his hips, squinting as the mess of screws and panels of wood he scattered on the floor. 

-=+=-

Building a bookshelf was NOT as easy and Lando claimed it would be. Not only were the instructions missing, but Lando kept insisting he didn’t need them. You tried to help him but it felt as if the pieces kept moving on their own. You felt like the boys in the Maze Runner, trying to figure out the pattern of the maze changes every night. 

It’s been two hours since anyones spoken… so it startles you when he breaks the silence, “How… is the bookshelf… inside out…?”

“It’s 9pm… and we still haven’t finished the first bookshelf… we have 6 more to build…”

“FUCK”

[corkinavoid]

DPxDC When You Are Suddenly Dating a Princess (pt. 2)

[<- part 1]

"What do you mean-" Jason starts, but the girl is already tapping her ear briefly - and only now does he notice a tiny comm there. Fuck, he should have known.

"Oscar? I changed my mind, I want to claim something," Jazz says easily, and, after a short pause, "A Tecpatl, the one with the owl. No, it's for personal reasons- You don't have to, but alright." She taps her ear again, and Jason can't help but ask:

"Who's Oscar?" He is not jealous. He is just insanely curious and very confused.

"My bodyguard," Jazz rolls her eyes, "At least he thinks he is. I'd say he is more of a secretary."

That doesn't really explain anything. It actually just adds even more questions - what kind of a magic user needs a bodyguard? or a secretary, for that matter? - but Jason keeps them to himself for now. He is... kind of intrigued now. Jazz said 'claim', not 'buy'. Which might be just a weird word choice, but somehow, Jason thinks it was deliberate.

A bald, black-skinned guy in a black suit and sunglasses - which, seriously, how does he even see a thing in here with those on - makes his way through the crowd and stops in front of Jazz, nodding slightly to her.

"Lady Phantom, I understand you want to make an impression, but using your status for personal matters-"

"Did I ask for your opinion, Oscar?" Jazz's voice doesn't change. It's still pleasant and sweet, and she is still smiling, if just a bit, but there's an unmistakable steel edge to her tone now. Jason feels a light shiver run down his spine. He's seen Jazz in a lot of different situations and circumstances; he's seen her get mad at a librarian who banned some controversial books in the public library, and he's seen her skillfully take down an armed robbery in a shop all by herself, and he's even seen her successfully stare down Killer Croc on one occasion.

Yet, he's never seen her like this, with her chin raised up high and radiating authority like she is the most powerful person in the room.

Also, Lady Phantom?..

"No," Oscar admits after a pause and presses his lips together, "But the Council of Ancients will not be pleased."

"Council of Ancients couldn't care less even if I declared war," Jazz brushes the comment off, and Jason's levels of confusion are growing higher and higher with every word they exchange. Oscar sighs and finally complies:

"Very well, then," he breathes out with a sense of surrender, and then turns his head to Jason just slightly, "Is this an urgent matter, or should I go talk to the auctioneer and the sellers?"

Jazz looks to Jason, raising her eyebrows in question. And, technically, it's not that much of a time crunch now since Jason doesn't have to try and sneak through the security or wait for the auction to start officially. But he feels a bit petty. Also, this man was questioning his girlfriend, which is offensive on many levels in Jason's opinion.

So, he nods, "Urgent."

Oscar's face doesn't change one bit, but Jason has plenty of experience with emotionally inept men who look like they are eternally constipated. He can see the traces of exasperation in Oscar's shoulders.

"Follow me, then," he tells them both, and turns around, headed to the back of the auction rooms. There's security there, but Oscar only shows them some kind of a badge, and they step aside, letting the three of them through. As far as Jason knows, no FBI or CIA agents should have that kind of clearance.

Which finally prompts him to ask the most important question as soon as the doors behind them close and it's only them three going through an empty hallway.

"Who are you?" He asks Jazz, who is still keeping her hand on his elbow. The girl hums, not looking at him, and keeps walking after Oscar.

"Jasmine Fenton," she answers, and, yes, he knows that much. He's seen the files Bruce has on her, but at this point, he is not even sure how much of the info in there was actually true.

"You are in the presence of Jasmine Fenton, Lady of the House Phantom, Princess of Infinite Realms and sister to a King," Oscar supplies, and his voice is... a bit petty. Like he knows Jazz didn't want him to say anything, but he still did just because he could.

Jazz huffs and rolls her eyes, "Yes, that, too."

Jason blinks.

He's heard about Infinite Realms. Mostly rumors through the grapevine of Leaguers, but also from Diana personally - he remembers her saying she is glad about having a truce with them. He didn't listen much since she explained it as the Underworld, the Land of the Dead, so he thought she was talking about some mythology shit. Turns out it wasn't.

But there's a more important thing.

"I'm dating a princess," he says to no one in particular as they come to a stop in front of one of the doors.

"Technically, you'll be treated as my consort if you ever decide to visit," Jazz admits, and Jason is officially out of surprised responses. There's only a limited amount of bafflement he can feel in a day, and he has exhausted the resources.

He is a royal consort of the Underworld princess. Sure, why not.

The room they step into after Oscar puts in some code into the lock is filled with boxes, packages, and crates. Jason looks around - sure, he knew all the prettily displayed artifacts back in the auction room were only replicas, but he didn't expect the originals to be literally just stacked in piles in the back room. Yet, here they are.

Oscar looks around the room and confidently makes his way to one of the shelves on the side, quickly going through the labels on the containers.

"Do you have, like, a crown?" Jason asks because he sucks at small talk. Also because he doesn't know what else he is supposed to ask in this kind of situation. Jazz snorts and leans to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Not really. Danny has one, and it looks absolutely badass, with flames on top of it, like the ones you would see in cartoons. I have some tiaras and stuff, but they are just jewelry," she explains, and Jason nods sagely. Just jewelry, alright. Seems like he is simply destined to be surrounded by rich people from all sides.

"How about a castle?"

This gets a sigh out of Jazz, "We used Pariah's - that's the previous King - old one for the coronation ceremony, but mostly, it's just for storage. Both Danny and I live on Earth, and Dani, our little sister, travels a lot. So, I do, and I don't at the same time."

"What about-" Jason starts, but he is cut off by Oscar all but shoving a small box in his hands, "Oh. Do I-" he turns to his girlfriend awkwardly, "Do I have to pay you for it or..."

"No, it's from a dead civilization," she raises her head back and shakes it slightly, but after seeing Jason's frown, she elaborates, "I'm the Princess of the Dead. I can officially claim anything that belongs to the dead as mine."

"It's a law that is supposed to resolve any possible conflicts between the denizens of Infinite Realms and the living," Oscar supplies, his voice disapproving. Alright, makes sense why he said it was not for personal matters, then. Not that it's going to stop Jason, though.

"Like, anything?" He punctuates, and Jazz tilts her head, a sly smile on her lips.

"Sure."

"Lady Phantom," Oscar sighs, tired and chastising, but Jason doesn't plan on robbing the auction. At least not robbing it any more than they already did.

He has a different idea.

"Can you ask Batman for the Robin's suit he has in his cave?"

Jazz blinks, and then her smile turns into a full-on grin.

"Of course."

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

@akuworld777

[amateurvoltaire]

April 5th, 1794: Camille Desmoulins went to the Place de la Révolution to die.

There was no journal left to write, no crowd to stir, no chance to rewrite the last page. He had already said too much.

The Revolution had eaten through its own flesh, and Camille, once its poet, was now just another name on the list.

He left behind one final letter. Not quite a manifesto. Just a man, waiting to die, writing to his wife.

The Last Letter of Camille Desmoulins

Duodi germinal, 3 a.m. (April 1st)

Sleep has mercifully suspended my suffering. In sleep, one is free, unaware of captivity. Heaven has shown me mercy. Just moments ago, I saw you in a dream: I embraced you, Horace, and Daronnen (1), who was at home. But our little one had lost an eye to some fury that had attacked him, and the pain of this vision woke me. I found myself back in my dungeon. It was daylight. Though I could neither see you nor hear your replies, even as you and your mother spoke to me, I rose to write to you at least.

But opening the windows, the thought of my solitude, the dreadful bars and bolts that part me from you, vanquished all the strength of my soul. I melted into tears, or rather, I sobbed, crying out in this tomb: Lucile! Lucile! O my dearest Lucile, where are you?

(here, we notice the trace of a tear).

Yesterday evening I experienced a similar moment, and my heart broke anew when I saw your mother in the garden. A reflexive movement drove me to my knees against the bars; I clasped my hands together as if begging for her pity, she who must be weeping now in your embrace.

Yesterday I saw her sorrow

(here again a trace of tears)

In her handkerchief and veil, lowered as if she could not bear the sight. When you come again, let her sit a little nearer to you, so that I might see you both more clearly (2).

It is not dangerous, as far as I can tell. My spectacles are no good. I'd like you to buy me a pair like I had six months ago, not silver but steel, with two arms that attach to the head. Ask for number 15;: the merchant will know.

But above all, I implore you, Lolotte (3), by our eternal love, send me your portrait. Let your painter take pity on me, I who suffer only for having shown too much compassion for others. Let him grant you two sittings each day. In the horror of this prison, the day I receive your likeness would be a day of celebration, of pure rapture and intoxication.

In the meantime, send me a lock of your hair that I may press it to my heart. My dear Lucile! Here I am, back in the days of my first love, when I was interested in someone merely because they had come from your house. Yesterday, when the citizen who brought you my letter returned, I asked him "Well, have you seen her?", just as I used to ask Abbé Landreville. I found myself studying him as if something of you had lingered on his clothes, on his very person.

He is a charitable soul, for he delivered my letter intact (4). It seems I shall see him twice daily, morning and evening. This messenger of our sorrows has become as dear to me as a bearer of joys once would have been.

I discovered a crack in my cell; I pressed my ear to it, and heard a groaning. I hazarded some words, and a voice answered: a sick man in suffering. He asked my name. I gave it. “O my God!” he cried at hearing it, falling back upon his bed, and I distinctly recognised the voice of

Fabre d’Églantine (5).

(Yes, I am Fabre, he told me; but you, in here! Has the counter-revolution succeeded?)

Yet we dare not speak further, for fear that hatred might deprive us of even this small consolation. Should we be heard, we would surely be separated and confined more strictly. He has a room with a fireplace; mine would be a fair chamber... if a dungeon could ever be called fair.

But, dear friend! You cannot imagine what it means to be held in secret, not knowing why, never interrogated, never receiving a single journal. It is to live and be dead at once, existing only to feel oneself buried in a tomb. They say innocence is calm and courageous.

Ah!

My dearest Lucile! My beloved! Often, my innocence is weak like that of a husband, that of a father, that of a son (6)! If it were Pitt or Coburg who treated me thus…! But my colleagues! Robespierre, who signed the order of my imprisonment! The Republic, after all I have done for her! Is this the reward for so many virtues and sacrifices?

When I first arrived, I saw Hérault-Séchelles, Simon, Ferroux, Chaumette, and Antonelle (7). They suffer less than I do, at least they are not held incommunicado.

And I, who for five years devoted myself to hatred and peril in the name of the Republic. I who kept my poverty through the Revolution (8). I who have none to ask forgiveness but you, my dear Lolotte, and to whom you granted it, knowing my heart, despite its frailty, was not unworthy of you. I am cast into a dungeon, in secret, as though I were a conspirator! Even Socrates was allowed to see his friends and wife in prison when he drank the hemlock (9).

How much harder to be torn from you! Even the worst criminal would suffer too cruelly if separated from a Lucile by anything except death—which at least makes one feel such agony for but a moment. But a criminal could never have been your husband, and you loved me because I lived solely for the happiness of my fellow citizens... They call me...

Just now, the commissioners of the Revolutionary Tribunal have questioned me. One question only: “Have you conspired against the Republic?” What derision! Is it thus they insult the purest republicanism?

I see the fate that awaits me. Farewell, my Lucile, my dear Lolotte, my good little wolf, say farewell to my father. In me, you see the example of man’s barbarity and ingratitude. My final moments will not disgrace you. You see that my fears were justified, that my presentiments were always true.

I married a woman heavenly in her virtue. I was a good husband and a good son; I would have been a good father. I carry with me the esteem and the regrets of all true republicans, of all men, of virtue and of liberty.

I die at thirty-four, yet it is a marvel that I have survived these past five years and so many revolutionary precipices without falling into them. That I still exist and rest my head in calm upon the pillow of my writings; too numerous, perhaps, but all breathing the same philanthropy, the same desire to make my fellow citizens happy and free, writings that the tyrants’ axe shall never strike down.

I see now that power intoxicates almost all men, that they all speak as Dionysius of Syracuse (10):

“Tyranny is a fine epitaph.”

But take comfort, desolate widow! The epitaph of your poor Camille is nobler still: it is that of the Brutuses and the Catos, the slayers of tyrants (11). O my dearest Lucile! I was born to write verse, to defend the wretched, to make you happy, to compose, with your mother, with my father, and a few souls after our own hearts, a little Tahiti (12).

I had dreamed of a Republic that all mankind would adore. I could not believe men were so savage and so unjust. How could I think a few jests in my writings, aimed at colleagues who had provoked me, would erase the memory of all my services?

I do not deceive myself: I die a victim of those jests (13) and of my friendship with Danton (14).

I thank my assassins for letting me die with him and with Philippeaux (15). Since my colleagues were cowardly enough to abandon us, to lend an ear to slanders, of which I know nothing, save that they must be vile, I may say we die martyrs of our courage in denouncing traitors and of our love for the truth.

We can at least take with us this testimony: we perish as the last true republicans.

Forgive me, dear friend, my true life, which I lost the moment we were parted. I find myself dwelling on my legacy when I should focus only on helping you forget.

My Lucile! My good Loulou! My hen of Cachant (16)! I beseech you, do not linger on the branch, do not call to me with your cries; they would tear me to pieces in the depths of the grave. Go scratch the earth for your little one, live for my Horace (17); speak to him of me. Will you tell him, though he cannot yet understand, that I would have loved him dearly?

Despite my torment, I believe there is a God. My blood shall wash away my faults, the weaknesses of humanity, and God will reward what was good in me: my virtues, my love of liberty. One day, I shall see you again, O Lucile! O Annette!

Sensitive as I was, is death, which delivers me from witnessing so many crimes, so terrible a fate? Farewell, Loulou; farewell, my life, my soul, my goddess on earth! I leave you good friends, all men of virtue and feeling.

Farewell, Lucile, my Lucile! My dear Lucile! Farewell, Horace, Annette, Adèle (18)! Farewell, my father! I feel the shore of life receding before me.

I still see Lucile! I see her, my beloved! My Lucile! My bound hands embrace you still, and my severed head rests its dying eyes upon you.

Notes:

The original French text comes from the Correspondance inédite de Camille Desmoulins, published by M. Matton aîné (Ébrard, Paris, 1836). The translation is mine.

(1) Daronne was a nickname Camille had for his mother-in-law

(2) Camille was imprisoned in the Luxembourg. Families of prisoners would gather in the prison garden so their imprisoned relatives could see them from the jail cells above.

(3) Lolotte was Lucile’s nickname

(4) "Intact" in this case means uncensored, as prisoners' letters were routinely read and censored..

(5) Fabre d’Églantine (1750–1794) was a playwright, poet, and revolutionary politician, best known for creating the names of the months in the French Republican Calendar and for his close association with Danton.

(6) The phrasing is a bit awkward in English, but what Camille is trying to say is that human bonds make him vulnerable. He's not admitting guilt; he's defending his innocence, but he's acknowledging that emotional attachments can make one act from the heart rather than from strict principle or legality.

(7) Hérault-Séchelles was a member of the Committee of Public Safety and played a key role in drafting the constitution. Though not strictly aligned with the Dantonists, he was executed alongside them on April 5th.

Simion most likely refers to Jean-Baptiste Simon, less prominent, but known as a journalist and moderate revolutionary

Ferroux's identity is problematic. While there was a Ferroux imprisoned at that time, little is known about him as he wasn't a prominent figure. Some editions of the letter suggest this is a misrendering of either Philippeaux's name or refers to Jean-Pierre-André Amar.

Chaumette is Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette a leading figure of the Hébertist faction; radical dechristianiser; President of the Commune of Paris

Antonelle is François-Joseph-Marie Fayolle d’Antonelle A moderate republican, journalist, editor of Le Républicain, and supporter of the Girondins.

(8) Camille is very much stretching the truth here …

(9) Socrates was sentenced to death by the Athenian court in 399 BCE and died by drinking a cup of hemlock, a poisonous plant, as punishment for impiety and corrupting the youth.

(10) Dionysius I, tyrant of Syracuse in Sicily during the 4th century BCE, known for his authoritarian rule and for transforming Syracuse into a major military power. He became a symbol of despotism in classical literature and later political thought, often cited as an emblem of how power corrupts and tyranny can be glorified despite its brutality.

(11) Brutus and Cato the tyrannicides refer to Marcus Junius Brutus and Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger, two influential figures of the late Roman Republic who stood against dictatorship. Brutus helped kill Julius Caesar in 44 BCE to protect Rome's freedom, while Cato opposed Caesar through political means and chose suicide rather than live under his rule.

(12) The original is "composer, avec ta mère et mon père, et quelques personnes selon notre cœur, un Otaïti." Camille is referring to Tahiti (Otaïti being the 18th-century French spelling). After Bougainville's 1768 voyage, Tahiti captured the European imagination as an idyllic paradise, a place of natural abundance, innocence, and harmony, untouched by civilization's corruption.

(13) To see the jests he is referring to, I recommend you take a look at Camille's last publication, Le Vieux Cordelier. The first two issues aligned with Jacobin's sentiment, but from the third onward, he diverged from the party line and called for moderation. His tone, satirical, accusatory, and morally urgent, was perceived by many as politically subversive and ultimately led to his arrest.

(14) Georges Danton (1759–1794) was a leading figure of the French Revolution, known for his oratory, role in founding the Revolutionary Tribunal, and early leadership of the Jacobin movement. He and Camille Desmoulins were close friends and political allies… their relationship is far too involved and complicated to explain in a short note.

(15) Pierre Philippeaux (1754–1794) was a Convention member sent on mission to the West. His detailed report exposed the brutal repression in the Vendée, especially atrocities by Republican forces under Jean-Baptiste Carrier. Camille used this report in Le Vieux Cordelier to support his plea for clemency. Philippeaux's testimony provided concrete, documented evidence of revolutionary excesses, strengthening Camille's argument that the Revolution had strayed from its principles.

(16) Translation from the original notes of the 1835 edition of the letter: Cachant is a small village near Paris, on the road to Bourg-la-Reine, where Madame Duplessis owned a country house. During their visits to Mme Duplessis, Camille and Lucile had often observed a hen in Cachant that, grief-stricken at the loss of her rooster, perched day and night on the same branch. She would emit heart-rending cries, refuse all food, and seemed to long for death. This is the hen to which Camille alludes here.

(17) Horace was the young son of Camille Desmoulins and Lucile Duplessis, born in 1792 and just a toddler at the time of his parents’ execution in 1794.

(18) Translation from the original notes of the 1835 edition of the letter: Lucile's sister, who never married and lived with her mother, became her sole consolation after the deaths of Camille, Lucile, and M. Duplessis.

[queenofterrasen418]

Cruel Fates (Part 4- Final)

Pairing: Azriel x f!Reader, little Eris x f!Reader

Summary: Azriel is your mate but only you know it. You are very aware that he has eyes for someone else and thus you decide not to hide it forever. After all, what could go wrong right?

Warnings: Angst (Not the usual kind), heartbreak, bad decision-making by the reader (personally, at least.)

5.3K words

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

You’re not nervous, not even the tiniest. It was not like there was any room to be so because today was the Midnight Solistice ball. It has been a fortnight since you wrote that letter to Eris, he had sent one back confirming his attendance. When you told the rest of the inner court of your decision things had gone… well it went as you expected. Rhys supported your decision while Feyre was disappointed. Amren gave you a look that seemed to say ‘Is that so?’ to which you just gave a firm nod. Cassian had been less vocal, but the silent disapproval in his stance spoke volumes and when you looked for Mor, she merely raised an eyebrow, an unreadable expression on his face. As for Azriel, he was sent out on a mission a few days back so thankfully you escaped from the awkwardness that seemed to linger wherever your path crossed.

But today, none of that mattered. Tonight, the ball was about more than just diplomacy or expectations; it was a chance to make your mark, to reclaim a piece of yourself that had been lost in the shuffle of responsibilities and politics. The Midnight Solstice ball, with its glimmering chandeliers and whispering silk curtains, was the perfect backdrop for what you hoped would be a turning point.

You glanced at your reflection in the mirror. The gown, a deep, rich blood red with intricate gold embroidery that mimicked the flickering embers of a fire, hugged your figure perfectly. A gold and ruby tiara sat atop your head, the gemstones catching the light and casting a warm glow over your skin. Your hair, elegantly pinned back, let the tiara shine like a crown of flames. You were a vision of grace and strength, the embodiment of confidence you needed to exude tonight.

Just as you reached the ballroom in Hewn City, the clock struck the hour of midnight, the anticipation crackled in the air. The first notes of the orchestra began to play, a soft and enchanting melody that set the mood for the evening. You took a deep breath, steadying yourself for what was to come. Eris would be arriving soon, and with him, a new chapter of intrigue and possibility.

You joined the rest of the court at the dias standing beside Cassian. As much as you hated it your eyes searched for Azriel as soon as you set foot in here but he was nowhere to be found.

Rhys must have noticed you searching because his voice softly whispered in your her, “He'll arrive a little late.”

Stars, you hated waiting. It had been only a few minutes before the giant doors opened to reveal the Autumn Prince prowling towards you like a predator but it felt like an eternity had passed.

In the periphery of your eyes, you noticed the movement of smokey Shadows to know Azriel was behind you.

Eris approached with that ever-present smirk, his amber eyes gleaming with mischief as he bowed slightly, offering his hand. “I must admit, you wear the autumn colours well, Y/N, you look glorious. Careful—if you keep looking this tempting, I might forget we're here to talk business.”

He straightened, his gaze flickering over the ruby tiara, lingering as though assessing not just her appearance, but her entire being. “Though I’m beginning to think this alliance will be far more enjoyable than I first anticipated.”

You couldn’t help but smile at that, “Hello to you too, Prince.”

The smile Eris gave you in reply could only be described as… sweet. Odd, but lovely. He began to greet the rest of the court but that was more tense than a tightrope. No surprise there.

The music played softly in the background, and your eyes drifted to the ballroom, watching the swirl of colours and movement before you. The anticipation had been building all evening, and though you had expected it, the flutter of nerves in your chest hadn’t entirely subsided.

Then, your vision shifted back to Eris. His amber eyes gleamed as his focus locked on you, but something about his expression was softer than you had anticipated. He extended his hands towards you, his gaze unwavering.

“Dance with me,” Eris said, his voice quieter than usual. There was no teasing, no smirk—just a simple request.

For a brief moment, you hesitated. It wasn’t because you didn’t want to—there was a pull between you, undeniable and magnetic—but because stepping onto that dance floor felt like crossing a threshold you weren’t sure you were ready for. You were here for diplomacy, for alliances, and yet, the weight of what this dance might mean had your heart beating faster than you liked to admit. You also took note of the heavy silence around you, the inner court was observing every single interaction, and you would indeed give anything to get away from this awkwardness too.

So despite the million reasons not to, you took his hand anyway. His fingers were warm against your skin, steady and sure, and as he led you onto the floor, you reminded yourself to breathe. The room around you seemed to quiet, the conversations and glances fading into the background, though you were keenly aware of the eyes that followed your every move.

The music shifted to something slower, more intimate. Eris’s hand settled at your waist, his other holding yours gently, and though his grip was firm, there was a subtle hesitation in how he held you, as though giving you the chance to step back if you wanted. But you didn’t.

“I wasn’t sure you’d even consider agreeing to this,” Eris said, his voice just above a whisper as he guided you into the first steps of the dance.

You glanced up at him, your eyes meeting his, searching for any sign of the usual arrogance. But there was none. Instead, there was something almost uncertain, like he, too, was navigating unfamiliar ground. The urge to use your powers to make sure you were right about your assumptions was tempting but tonight you refused to use them. Whatever relationship you are about to form with Eris heavily depends on trust and your powers would only be an invasion of that.

“Neither was I,” you admitted, your tone softer than you intended. Your steps were fluid, your bodies moving in sync, but you couldn’t shake the quiet wariness that lingered at the edges of your mind. This felt too personal, too close for something that was supposed to be about strategy. A part of you inside, you realised, did not mind it. There is no harm in genuinely enjoying each other’s company, right? “But we’re here.”

He gave a slight nod, his gaze not leaving yours. “We are.”

For a few moments, the only sound was the music and the soft rustle of your movements. The way Eris moved with you, not leading too aggressively but not holding back either, felt like a delicate balance—one that required trust. And that trust was what made you hesitate, even as you followed his lead.

“You’re different than I expected,” you said quietly, your voice barely carrying over the music.

Eris raised an eyebrow, amusement filled his gaze, but the small smile on his lips didn’t hold its usual edge. “Different, how?”

You bit your lip, searching for the right words. “Less… calculated,” you said after a moment. “More… real.”

He chuckled softly, though it wasn’t mocking. “Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“I’m not sure yet,” you replied, the hint of a smile tugging at your lips despite the uncertainty in your heart. “But it’s unexpected.”

Eris’s expression shifted, something thoughtful passing over his features. “I suppose I’m full of surprises, then.”

The dance carried on, each step a little more sure than the last, the tension between you slowly dissolving into something else—something neither of you had anticipated. But even as the chemistry between you became palpable, there was still a part of you that remained guarded, your thoughts caught between what you were feeling and what this meant for everything else.

“You’re still hesitating,” Eris said after a beat, his voice low, though there was no judgment in his tone. “I can feel it.”

Your breath caught for a second, surprised by how easily he read you. But then, this was Eris—sharp, perceptive, always watching. “I’m not sure what to make of this,” you admitted softly. “Of us.”

His grip on your waist tightened slightly, just enough to ground you. “Neither am I,” he said quietly. “But maybe that’s part of it.”

The honesty in his voice startled you, and for a moment, you faltered in your steps. He caught you without hesitation, his hand steadying you as he pulled you back into the rhythm of the dance. His scent filled you as you got close to him again, crackling fire, smoky with a surprising touch of sweetness and a cosy blend of spices. It was intoxicating. His eyes searched yours, as though he was trying to figure out what you were thinking, trying to piece together the puzzle that was you.

“You don’t need to give me an answer tonight, you know?” Eris said softly, his thumb brushing against the back of your hand in a barely-there gesture. “Sometimes it’s okay not to know.”

The simplicity of his words made something in your chest loosen, even if just a little. You weren’t sure how much you trusted him yet, or what this dance would mean for the future, but in this moment, the weight of your decisions seemed to lighten.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” you murmured, your voice quieter than before.

The music slowed, signalling the end of the dance, and as you pulled away, you noticed the lingering warmth of his hand in yours. You didn’t say anything else, and neither did he. There was no need for more words, not yet. But in the stillness that followed, with Eris watching you, not as a prince or a suitor, but as someone trying to understand you, you realized something important:

You weren’t entirely sure what was happening between you, but whatever it was, it wasn’t a game. Not anymore.

Azriel’s POV

Azriel watched from the shadows, his chest tightening with each passing second as you and Eris glided across the dance floor. The elegant way your bodies moved together was undeniable, but it was the way you smiled, that soft, hesitant smile, that made something in him twist uncomfortably. He couldn’t explain the feeling gnawing at him, but he knew one thing: this wasn’t just about diplomacy.

It was more than that.

He had been watching you for weeks now, ever since you’d first spoken to him at a meeting that seemed so insignificant at the time. But now, in this dimly lit ballroom, he could recall every detail of those moments, ever since you both first met, like a collection of memories he hadn’t even realized he’d stored away. Once he was aware of its existence he couldn’t stop noticing every little thing about you.

It started small. At first, he noticed how you carried yourself—calm and composed, yet always with a hint of mischief in your eyes. He remembered how you’d touch your lips absentmindedly when you were lost in thought or how you’d tuck a stray hair behind your ear without thinking twice about it. He’d caught himself staring more than once, admiring the little things about you—the delicate way you handled a blade, the way you always seemed to know when someone needed a kind word or a sharp one. And, by the mother, the times you wielded your powers had to be his favourite, the most lethal poisons indeed did come in the prettiest forms.

But then there were other moments—deeper, quieter ones. Like when you stood beside him, your shoulder brushing his for the briefest second, and he’d felt something stir within him, something he couldn’t name. Or the way you’d throw him a fleeting glance during those Inner Court meetings, where your eyes would catch his for just a second longer than necessary, and he’d be left wondering what lay beneath that look.

He never thought much of it at the time. It was all so subtle, so easy to ignore until it wasn’t.

He remembered one particular evening, only a week ago, when you had laughed at something Feyre had said during dinner. That laugh—it was rare to hear you laugh like that, full and genuine—and it had struck him in a way that made his chest feel uncomfortably tight. He’d found himself watching you for the rest of the evening, his attention constantly drifting toward you, but he brushed it off as nothing more than curiosity.

But now, watching you dance with Eris, all those subtle moments came crashing down on him. The way he’d been noticing the smallest things about you, how he’d been admiring them without truly registering why. How his thoughts would drift to you even when you weren’t in the room, and how lately, he found himself lingering near you whenever he could as if drawn by something he couldn’t quite grasp.

It wasn’t until now—until he saw you in someone else’s arms—that the realization hit him with the force of a tidal wave.

He was falling for you. Maybe he had been for a while. He didn’t even know when it started, but it had crept up on him, subtle and silent like his shadows.

And now, seeing you with Eris, something primal inside him screamed at the thought of losing you, of letting someone else see those small, beautiful things about you that he had come to cherish in secret.

Azriel’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, the tension rolling through his body like a storm. He couldn’t let this happen. Not without speaking to you. Not without making you rethink whatever it was you were about to do.

Y/N’s POV

As the music quieted, Eris kept your hand in his, guiding you away from the centre of the ballroom. There was a quiet elegance to your movements, a shared understanding that you both needed space from the watching eyes, if only for a moment. Together, you wandered aimlessly, threading your way through clusters of guests without a destination in mind. It wasn’t uncomfortable—more like the kind of aimlessness that made sense, where words weren’t always necessary.

Eris tilted his head toward you, a playful gleam lighting his amber eyes. “I have to admit,” he began, his voice low but teasing, “this might be the first ball where I’m not the sole subject of the whispers.”

You glanced up at him with a smirk, your lips curving just enough to show your amusement. “Oh, don’t pretend you don’t live for the scandal. You practically swim in it.”

He chuckled softly. “I’d never deny it. But tonight’s gossip is far juicier than I’d anticipated.”

That flicker of curiosity sparked to life inside you. “Go on, then. Don’t hold out on me.”

Eris leaned in just a bit closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. “Word around the ballroom is that Lady Soralyn’s sudden disappearance from her estate last week wasn’t for the usual reasons.”

You raised a brow, intrigued. “Usual reasons? You mean like her terrible taste in lovers?”

His grin was wicked. “Oh, it’s much worse this time. She’s apparently been caught in a rather… delicate situation with Tarquin’s advisors, yes, advisors, in plural”

Your eyes widened as you barely held back a laugh. “No. She wouldn’t.”

“Oh, she would,” he replied, his gaze gleaming with mischief. “But that’s not even the best part. The advisors? Married. Their wives showed up mid-rendezvous.”

You couldn’t help it—you laughed softly, your hand coming up to cover your mouth. “How do you always manage to be privy to the worst scandals?”

Eris shrugged, that self-satisfied smirk dancing on his lips. “What can I say? People like to talk when they think no one’s listening. I simply… listen better than most.”

“Or people just assume you’re too arrogant to care,” you teased back, your tone light.

“Ah, but that’s the trick. Let them think what they want.” He paused, his grin taking on a wicked edge. “Besides, it’s always the ones who look disinterested who end up knowing everything.”

You shook your head, still chuckling at the absurdity of it all. “You must have enough blackmail material on half of Prythian by now.”

“More than half, if we’re being honest,” he replied smoothly, his playful tone fading into something more thoughtful. 

For a while, you walked in comfortable silence, the sounds of the ballroom fading into the background. It was nice, the quiet between you, thick with shared understanding but without the need to fill the space with words. 

“I have to admit, Y/N,” he began, breaking the silence, glancing at her with that ever-present smirk, “there are some rather interesting rumours swirling around about you.”

You tilted your head, intrigued but wary. “Oh? I’m sure they’re all incredibly dignified and respectful.”

Eris let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, very. One of the rumours is that you’re the one to fear more than anyone in your court. They speak of how you can practically stop a person’s heart with a look, maybe even… slow their pulse to a crawl.”

You scoffed lightly, but there was a trace of amusement in your voice. “I can’t help it if people are easily intimidated.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Easily? Y/N, I’ve seen battle-hardened generals flinch when you enter a room.”

“Well,” you shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, though the flicker of a smile betrayed you, “alright, I have nothing to say to that.”

“Exactly.” Eris teased, but then his expression softened into something more genuine. “Though, truth be told, it’s what made me curious about you in the first place.”

You glanced up at him, taken aback. “Curious?”

Eris nodded, his amber eyes lingering on hers. “While others were whispering in fear, I wondered if there wasn’t more to the story. Something they were too blind or too intimidated to see.” His voice lowered, holding a trace of warmth that caught her off guard. “Turns out, I was right.”

You simply blinked, momentarily lost for words, the vulnerability in his tone throwing her slightly off balance. But Eris, never one to let a moment linger too long, cleared his throat and switched to a lighter tone.

Of course, there’s one piece of gossip about you that’s been making the rounds lately—something very scandalous.”

You shot him a wary look, already preparing for whatever teasing remark he was about to throw her way. “Oh? And here I thought I’d been behaving.”

Eris chuckled, low and dangerous. “Apparently, at a certain high-society dinner a few months back, there was a rather loud—and, shall we say, descriptive—comment made about you.”

A frown formed on your face, curiosity piqued despite the sinking feeling in your stomach. “Descriptive? Of what, exactly?”

Eris leaned in, his voice dropping into a mock whisper as he delivered the punchline. “Some lord from the Dawn Court—inebriated beyond saving, of course—remarked that he had it on good authority that you could literally make a man drop dead between the sheets. And not literally, if you catch my drift.”

Your mouth dropped open, blood rushing to your face, flushing with embarrassment. “You’re joking.”

“Dead serious.” Eris grinned wickedly, savouring the look of horror that spread across your face. “He claimed you had some very specific talents when it came to manipulating…certain bodily functions.”

You groaned, running a hand over your face as if to hide from the mortifying thought. “Stars, please tell me you’re making this up.”

“Wish I was.” Eris smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. “The entire room fell silent. A few looked horrified, but others were—let’s say—intrigued. I distinctly remember someone asking if there were any volunteers for you to demonstrate your ‘gifts’ after dinner.”

You swatted his arm in exasperation, mortified. “You’re disgusting, Eris.”

He laughed, completely unbothered. “I’m disgusting? You should’ve seen the way half the room was staring at you afterwards. They were probably wondering if they’d survive the night in your bed or if they’d drop dead with a smile on their face.”

Y/N shot him a glare, though she couldn’t stop the embarrassed laugh that slipped out. “I can’t believe people talk about me like that. How vulgar. Though that is a nice idea, never tried that before.”

Eris’s eyes darkened at that comment, not giving him a chance to reply to that you sighed, shaking your head in disbelief. “Well, I’m thrilled to know I’m the subject of such flattering gossip.”

Eris caught on and just smirked, a spark of admiration shining beneath his teasing gaze. “You might hate it, but it’s true. They don’t know what to make of you, Y/N. They’re either terrified of you or—”

“—or want to sleep with me, apparently,” she cut in, her tone dry.

Eris chuckled again, but this time there was a note of sincerity in his voice. “Some of us fall into neither category, you know? Not that I’ll object to the latter but only if you are up to it .”

Your teasing expression softened slightly as you glanced up at him, sensing something deeper beneath the banter. But before you could respond, a familiar shadowy presence loomed behind.

Azriel.

He stepped forward, his gaze sharp and focused, cutting through the playful atmosphere like a knife. “Y/N,” he said quietly, his voice steady but tense. “We need to talk.”

His expression was calm, but his hazel eyes were burning with something else—something you hadn’t seen before. The sight of him so close, after days of him being absent, sent your heart into overdrive.

You glanced at Eris, who raised an eyebrow but stepped back graciously. “I’ll wait for you by the balcony,” he said smoothly, leaving you and Azriel alone in the crowd.

Azriel wasted no time, pulling you aside to a quieter corner of the room. His grip on your arm was firm, his shadows swirling anxiously around his feet.

“Azriel, what—?”

“Why are you doing this?” His voice was low, almost a growl. “Why are you letting him... How are you so sure that you don’t have a mate? Did he die? Is that it?”

The shock hit you like a physical blow. You had never seen Azriel this... shaken. The calm, collected Spymaster seemed to be unravelling before you. “Azriel, what are you talking about?”

His eyes flicked over your face, searching for something—an answer, a sign, anything. “Y/N, I know what I’m saying sounds ridiculous. But you can’t go through with this. I can’t let you marry him.”

You blinked, taken aback. “Yes, I do have a mate and he is very much alive, Azriel.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Azriel’s expression shifted, confusion and something darker clouding his features. “Then why are you doing this? Why are you... with Eris?”

You couldn’t help but raise your voice, “Because mating bonds are complicated! Trust me, my mate isn’t interested. The cauldron makes mistakes.” 

“Y/n, rejecting a mating bond is so painful, it’s worse than death.” He says in a matter-of-fact tone.

You felt a flicker of something like hope stir inside you, but it was quickly drowned out by the weight of reality. “Why does it matter to you, Azriel?” you asked softly. “Why are you so bothered by this?”

His response was immediate, but it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. “Eris isn’t good enough for you.”

A bitter laugh escaped your lips. Of course. Of course, it would be about Eris, not about him realising he was your mate. You stepped back, the disappointment settling like a stone in your chest.

“I need to go,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “Eris is waiting for me.”

You found Eris on the balcony, staring out into the night. He turned when you approached, his smirk softening into something more genuine.

“Well?” he asked, his tone light but his eyes searching yours.

“I’ve been thinking,” you began, leaning against the railing. “Prythian needs this. And maybe... maybe I do, too.”

Eris’s brow lifted, but the teasing was gone from his expression. “You’re really considering it, then?”

You nodded, exhaling softly. “We both know this alliance is necessary. And... who knows? Maybe we’ll be good for each other.”

Eris studied you for a long moment before stepping closer, his hand resting over yours on the railing. “I never thought I’d hear you say that. But... I’m glad.”

You exchanged a look, one filled with an understanding that ran deeper than words. It wasn’t love, but it was something. And maybe that was enough.

“I accept your proposal,” you said softly.

The ceremony was held later that evening, under the cover of moonlight at a temple just beyond the court. Everything was ready—the vows, the magic that would bind you and Eris together in an alliance sealed by more than just words.

But as the moment to seal the bond drew closer, you felt it. A  pull deep within your chest.

Azriel stormed into the temple, his wings outstretched, his shadows wild around him. His eyes locked onto you, fury and desperation swirling within them.

“You said your mate wasn’t interested,” he ground out, his voice like shattered glass. “Well, I am fucking interested.”

Time seemed to stop.

Azriel’s voice rose, a tremor in his tone. “I wish the bond had snapped earlier, before all this. But I’ll be damned if I watch you marry another male when I’m standing right here.”

The world seemed to tilt beneath your feet as Azriel’s words hung in the air. You stared at him, unable to breathe, unable to move. His wings, the embodiment of his fury, flared behind him as his gaze bore into you, wild and unrelenting. He was waiting for you to say something, to react, but your mind was spinning.

You heard Eris shift beside you, but your eyes were still locked on Azriel’s. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. After all this time, after all the signals you thought you had misread, he was standing here, confessing... what? That he was your mate? That he had known?

“I... I don’t understand,” you finally managed to choke out, your voice trembling.

Azriel took a step closer, his shadows curling anxiously around his feet. “The bond, Y/N. It snapped. Just now. I didn’t know... I didn’t realize... but I can’t let this happen. I can’t let you marry him.”

Your heart was pounding in your chest, the weight of everything pressing down on you, making it hard to think. Your mate. Azriel was your mate. A part of you wanted to feel relief, to feel joy, but all you could feel was fear. Fear for Prythian, fear for the consequences this revelation would bring.

“You said your mate wasn’t interested,” Azriel repeated, his voice breaking slightly. “But I am. I’ve always been. And now that I know... I can’t lose you.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, your eyes flickered to Eris. He stood there, expression unreadable, though his amber eyes held a strange mix of emotions. There was no anger, no fury—just a quiet understanding, and perhaps a trace of sadness.

“I have to do this,” you whispered, more to yourself than to Azriel.

“No,” Azriel said, his voice hot, desperate. “No, Y/N. Fuck Prythian, fuck this alliance. I don’t care if the entire world burns down—none of it matters if it means losing you.”

The force of his words knocked the air out of your lungs, and before you could stop yourself, you were surging forward, crashing into him. His arms were around you in an instant, pulling you close, and his lips met yours in a kiss that was all fire and fury and desperation. It was as if the world had indeed stopped, and at that moment, all that mattered was the feeling of his mouth on yours, the taste of him, the bond snapping into place so forcefully that it left you both breathless.

When you finally broke apart, you stared up at him, your heart racing. This... this was real. The bond was real.

But as the haze of the kiss faded, reality came crashing back in. You could feel the weight of the court’s eyes on you, feel Eris’s presence behind you. Slowly, you turned to face him.

Eris stood tall, his expression carefully neutral, but there was no mistaking the sadness in his gaze. He let out a soft breath, his lips quirking into a wry smile. “Well... I’ll be damned.”

You took a step toward him, guilt twisting in your chest. “Eris, I am so sorry—”

He held up a hand, cutting you off gently. “Don’t. You don’t need to apologize. I knew something was off, even if I didn’t want to admit it. I just... I had hoped, for once, that I could have something for myself.”

Your throat tightened as you watched him. He was still so composed, still so regal, but there was a depth of pain in his eyes that made your heartache.

“I saw a future with you,” Eris continued, his voice quiet. “A good one. Even now, I selfishly wish that Azriel would have realized his bond too late, but...” He shook his head, giving you a sad, lopsided smile. “But  I want you to be happy and clearly, you are.”

You took another step closer, your heart aching with the weight of what could have been. “I’m sorry, Eris. I never wanted this to happen... not like this.”

He nodded, the smile still lingering on his lips, though it was tinged with bitterness. “I know. But it’s not your fault. Mating bonds work in strange ways.” His eyes flicked to Azriel, who was watching the exchange with a guarded expression. “Leave it to the Illyrians to always steal my bride.”

The comment was meant to be lighthearted, but the pain laced in his tone was unmistakable. And then, with a final glance at you, Eris gave a small, respectful bow. “Maybe in another lifetime,” he murmured, before winnowing away, leaving you standing there with a strange emptiness in your chest.

The court had dispersed by the time you and Azriel returned to your apartment, the weight of the night settling over you both. The silence was thick between you, the bond still thrumming with energy, still raw and new.

Azriel was the first to break it, his voice soft but full of unspoken emotion. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

You met his gaze, your heart aching. “Because I didn’t think... I didn’t think you’d want this. You’ve always been so close to Elain, and I didn’t want to come between that.”

A flicker of something dark passed over his features. “Elain and I... that was never real. It was just... a projection, a fantasy of something I thought I wanted. But you...” His voice softened, his fingers brushing against your cheek. “You are what’s real. And I was too blind to see it.”

Your breath hitched at the tenderness in his touch, the intensity in his eyes. “Azriel...”

“I love you,” he said, the words falling from his lips like a vow. “I love you, Y/N. I have for a long time, and I’m not going to waste another second.”

You surged forward, capturing his lips in a kiss that was softer this time, but no less powerful. The bond flared between you, stronger now, more certain, and as you melted into each other, you knew—this was where you were meant to be.

The rest of the night was spent in a blur of whispered confessions, stolen kisses, and the quiet realization that, despite everything, this was your future.

Azriel was your future.

And as the stars twinkled outside your window, you knew you wouldn’t have it any other way.

A little note from me, kind of an acknowledgement too:

First and foremost, I am so sorry for taking this long to finish this. Apparently thinking of the story alone isn't enough. I can't believe I actually finished it, despite it being short (I don't think these characters could handle any more angst).

Thank you for all the love I've gotten for this fic, especially because this is the first fic I've made public. It means so much to me!!

And finally, my thoughts on Y/n and how the story ended.

This is a fanfic I've been thinking of ever since I read the ACOTAR series and it has been years since then. So yeah, I am a bit disappointed to see the reader making shitty, impulsive decisions, I am sorry if it gave you the ick.

I fell for Eris even more if that was even possible while writing this part. He deserves everything and more. My poor baby, I am so sorry for what I did to you. I wish I could make it better, I actually thought of making Y/n use her powers to lessen Eris's pain or at least make it a bit more tolerable but I felt it would be wrong to him.

I really hoped I could write an ending where Eris would not be hurt but I don't think this story could end in any other way. A tragedy, really. Eris and Y/n would have been the bestest of friends before anything. I'd like to believe it could still happen, platonically at least.

Anyway, I'll leave this to you now, again, thank you so much for reading!!

Taglist: @sidthedollface2,  @a-courtof-azriel,  @whyonearthisyourusernamethi-blog ,  @acourtofsmutandstarlight ,  @katherinejess , @landofpetrichor , @isa1b2h3 , @anuttellaa , @cherryinsalemverse , @i-am-infinite , @myromanempiree , @sheblogs , @impossibelle , @fuckthatfeeling , @lilah-asteria , @rinpoststhings , @rcarbo1 , @t0uch-starved-h0e , @olive-main , @crossfandomslut , @melmo567 , @crazylokonugget , @sinfully-yoursss , @oucereeng , @annedub , @evangeline-xo , @sspookz , @thecraziestcrayon , @tele86 , @mal-adaptive-dreams , @mybestfriendmademe , @hannzoaks , @x1305 , @vanserrasimp , @whyshouldihaveanam3 , @smutslut05, @theravenphoenix26 , @moonlwghts , @noisyinfluencerstrawberry , @saltedcoffeescotch , @laughterafter , @lazypostfandomer , @weekendlusting , @feiwelinchen, @ivy-34 , @littlepippilongstocking , @iluvyewman-blog , @badgerstorms-art , @agirlwithwifiandalaptop , @the1harmony , @mp-littlebit , @xtreme-shipper , @knittedchapters

[beautifulplaceofyouth]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN | SERIES 

Excuse me for spelling the chapter number wrong, I was in a hurry and didn't have time to change it.

Ch. 1

Ch. 2

Ch. 3

Ch. 4

Ch. 5

Ch. 6

Ch. 7

Ch. 8

Ch. 9

Ch. 10

Ch. 11

Ch. 12

Ch. 13

Ch. 14 (End)

When you keep bumping into your personal royal guard by accident not knowing he is your guardian angel

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook!fallen angel!royal guard! × fem!reader!virgin!princess 

Word count: 2.4k

Rating: 18+

Genre + warnings: Fluff, smut, angst, paranormal romance, historical fanfiction, Kook being cold and mysterious, and just being his sexy self. Possessive over his princess. Happily ever after with a fluffy and spicy scene involved. They have one more person in the family. Just a happy emotional ending. The story isn’t real, just my imagination running wild so just enjoy reading!

a/n: The long waited epilogue is here. I hope it's not too sloppy. I know it's pretty short, sorry. \: Haven't have time to publish it earlier because of health issues but I wanted to end the series finally so you don't need to wait longer! Enjoy .

TEN MONTHS LATER

Jungkook POV

Leaning back in the chair, he felt exhausted from the paperwork which needed to be done because of his kingdom's new adjustments and changes since his wife started living with him so if he wanted this place to be peaceful for her health, he needed to get it sorted out.

It meant better security around the castle and banning all the people who wanted him gone from the throne. It was hard work for several months but it was time to be able to breathe better once he finishes everything.

Massaging his neck, he felt stiff after working so much in the office all day. He already missed his wife and the little sunshine.

He smiled at the thought.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and he was grateful for her giving him such a gift. He had his wife's blue eyes, father's nose but already growing small wings which was surprising considering the fact his wife is just a human. He at least inherited something from his world too and he was glad that the baby boy will have freedom to fly like his father can.

His love for her was so strong that he even rejected his position as guardian angel from heavens above.

It was not a hard decision. He already knew he will have Y/n by his side for eternity but the high angel council was disappointed in him to lose his powers because of a human. Months later they started to see that they can't do anything to change his mind so they allowed him to live on earth and still have his wings at least for protection.

Now he had people to depend on. A beautiful family by his side and he couldn't be happier.

The link with his wife allowed him to feel her emotions and as he sat there, thinking about her, the distress was getting stronger than usual. He didn't understand why.

Mindlinking her, he sent her his thoughts.

"Are you awake, my love?"

His question was left unanswered so it meant that she is sleeping because it was late at night already.

Immediately standing up, he took his cloak as well as his sword and headed out of the door. He needed to find out what's wrong with her.

His royal adviser Minho, the fallen angel was already waiting by his chambers when he bowed to his king," Your Majesty."

"My wife. Is she inside?"

"Uh, yes. She hasn't been outside for several hours so I assume the young prince also is inside."

He furrowed his eyebrows," And you are informing me only now?" he glared at him, his eyes blazing with emotions.

Minho bowed again, trembling in fear," I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It will not happen again."

"You better. Now leave," dismissing him, he went inside his chambers.

Leaving the cloak and the sword on a small wooden bench by the door, he went further inside, only just to stop in his tracks.

His wife was sleeping on a rocking chair, holding their baby boy, both were dreaming about something but the look on his wife's face worried him.

Is she ill? She was sweating.

Silently approaching them, he took his son in his arms when she blinked her tired eyes open," Jungkook?"

"Hey, love," he softly whispered and leaned down to kiss her forehead, feeling her face burning," Do you have a fever?" His concern was obvious.

She shook her head and just closed her eyes. That alarmed him.

Taking his son to the nursery room, he put him inside the crib to sleep, kissing his the crown of his head," Goodnight, Fin. I will go take care of mommy so sleep well my sweet boy," in response, the the baby boy just murmured something in his sleep.

Smiling, he went back to the living quarters to see Y/n in the same position as before.

He gently picked her up as soon as he reached the bed, putting her on the middle pillow where she usually slept in. It was strange that she wasn't moving at all. He could feel that she was burning, distressed about something.

Completely undressing from his attire, she didn't even resist when he pulled all of her clothes off so she isn't hot under the covers.

"Sweetheart, darling, are you sick?" His worried hushed tone made her whimper when she burrowed herself in his arms, suddenly shivering like she was cold.

This won't do.

Lifting her up in his arms again, he carried her towards the big bathroom where the biggest bath was located in their private space that they used for whenever they were together or for times when one of them has a headache. There was also a special medicine cabinet in case either of them have an emergency.

When he entered the bathroom, he quickly placed her inside the huge tub. Turning the tap for warm water, he let it run into the tub filling it up until it was nearly at the top. Then he turned off the water and added some smelling herbs for her to heal the body faster and possibly temperature will drop to normal again.

Taking the medicine for the headache and fever in the small bowl, he put it beside the tub for easier access.

Sliding behind her, he pulled her naked body between his legs, hugging her to his chest, her hair already wet and sticky against her skin. Gathering it together, he tucked her hair in front of her over her left shoulder so they doesn't tickle his nose that much.

Kissing her neck slowly, he takes one medicine pill and gently tips her head up with his hand beneath her chin, his fingers resting against her throat in a gentle hold," Open your mouth, baby."

Her tired eyes open with little strength as she obediently opens her mouth. Smiling at her, he slips the pill between her lips," Suck it gently. It's has a sweet taste to swallow better," he explains.

He watches her tongue wrap around the pill as she starts to suck it and he felt proud that she managed to keep it inside of her mouth so long before finally swallowing.

"Good girl," he coos, running his fingers through her long, silky hair and massaging the soft scalp.

She snuggled closer to him, nuzzling against him making him chuckle at her cuteness," Are you sleepy yet? You've probably been tired of nursing our son all the time and I haven't even checked your health. I'm sorry for failing you," he dropped his head against her shoulder in guilt.

Like a good wife she always is, Y/n lifts her hand over his head, massaging his hair gently," It's okay, Jungkook. I'm fine now because of you."

"No, it's not. You deserve more," he said as she moved away slightly and looked at him with sad blue orbs.

His heart clenched as he noticed how pale she was and how thin she has gotten over the past few months. "I promise I will spend time with you and our son more often now. It's just my duties require so much work that I..."

"It's okay, Jungkook. I know. You're the best husband and king in the world. To me you're perfect in every aspect. Times can get rough sometimes but that's why we are here for each other to support and help in the times of need. Being parents are not easy but I'm glad to be here with you, with our baby living the best life every woman could ask for. You've given me the world and I love you for that," her eyes are full of love for him and he can't help but feel tears forming in his eyes. It was hard to breathe for a moment.

He still couldn't believe that she belongs to him. This beautiful woman was his forever. And so is the son she gave birth to.

Taking her cheek, he seals his mouth over her inviting rosy lips, the tears escaping his eyes in silent waterfall. His emotions were too strong, too overwhelming.

The link between them showed him that she is really telling the truth. She loved him unconditionally and always would.

"I love you," his breath shuddered in fear to lose her, afraid to look away from her beautiful, soulful blue eyes.

As if reading his mind, she cupped his face between her hands, caressing his cheeks lovingly with her thumbs. Her eyes filled with joy and warmth which brought him happiness as well as relief.

A soft smile appeared on her lips," I love you too."

He never cried. Never. The life before made him grow up with nerves of steel but now the thought of something happening to her and his son, the thought of losing them scared him beyond belief.

But this time it happened. Everything came crashing down in a matter of seconds and he couldn't hold it in anymore. Not when she told him that she loves him. Forgives him for not caring enough about her feelings or health issues.

He was shaking uncontrollably as he held her tighter. His eyes shut tightly while he sobbed uncontrollably in her embrace.

She was ill so he didn't wanted to burden her with worry for him but she just held him tightly back, slowly straddling his lap, kissing him with all of her last energy from how tired she was but it was like she doesn't care. The only important thought was reassuring him, to show him how much she loves him.

Pulling slightly back, his eyes were blurry from the crying, probably red when he rested his forehead against hers," You're my whole world, Y/n. You and Fin are the most precious souls in my heart right now. I'm so happy that you chose me," his smile is brighter and this time his wife is holding her tears back but failing miserably when she starts crying and laughing.

When she calms down, she looks at him," We are such sappy fools."

He chuckles at that," You're right. We are a mess. But only with you," he says in a low voice and suddenly realizes their position when her clit slides against his hardness.

"Fuck," the feel of her wet slit against his throbbing cock makes him drop his head back on the edge of the tub.

"Baby...If you don't want me to fuck you right here, I suggest you to leave the tub. I'm really hard because of you," he whispers in husky voice, watching her carefully for her reaction.

She still blushes even after all these months together, even after giving birth, she always seem shy when he talks to her dirty.

"Sweetheart," his plead was enough to make her lift her hips in encouragement as she hid her face in his shoulder.

"All right," she breathes and that's what it took to grab her hips and push his length inside of her, sinking deep enough to feel her walls contracting against his length. He groans at the feeling that they're connected by nothing but skin and his arm wrapped tightly around her waist keeping her close to himself as he pulls out only a tiny bit then thrust back in with a strong thrust before taking her again.

"Jungkook ah," she whines in pain as he moves fast and harder.

Not able to take any more, he grabs her ass as he leans forward, lifting her body up high above the surface of the tub, spreading her legs enough to split her in two, causing both of them to moan loudly at their new position.

'Fucking hell! I can't stop myself. She feels amazing. Too good to be true. So beautiful.

"I'm so sorry, love. I can't help myself," he chokes out while pulling out to come deep inside of her once more.

Y/n throws her head back, screaming his name.

With an angry grunt, Jungkook pushes harder into her, grunting again in pleasure at the feeling of being filled, filling her until his balls hurt but he can't find any ounce of self control because of her and her smell, her taste.

He couldn't help the loud, guttural noises as his cock jerks against her, pumping so powerfully inside of her and he knows it's coming soon.

He knew that Fin is sleeping two rooms away but fuck, she felt incredibly good and he had to make sure this moment stays between them until they reach heaven and the end of their journey.

Pushing himself deeper inside of her, he holds her tighter to him, his body trembling with ecstasy. His eyes closed tight and he grunts louder, almost moaning," Come for me, Y/n..."

His thrusts became harsher, his grib beneath her ass leaving bruises but her moans only intensified as he comes faster and deeper into her, feeling how she clenches around him and the way his seed bursts inside her with one powerful thrust.

Silencing her last scream with his mouth, his tongue diving between her hot lips, he felt almost feverish as she when they both began to feel tired from the powerful orgasm. His thick forearms held her in the air till he slipped out of her, both of their cum dripping out in the water.

Lowering her back into his lap, she clings to him tightly, breathing heavily against his ear.

"You're incredible," he kisses her neck.

"And you're insane," she giggles softly, still out of breath," I feel like Fin will wake up after this because of us."

"Well, not my fault that my cock feels so good that you scream and beg for it more," teasing her, she only blushed but with a smile on her face.

Closing his eyes, he hugs her to him again before they go to the bed.

Not soon after there was crying heard outside and his beautiful wife pokes him in the ribs," Told you."

He rolls his eyes but chuckles," Yeah, yeah, yeah but this time you go to bed. I will take care of him, okay?"

She looks worried," But,-"

The stern look shuts her up when he kisses her temple," No, you need to rest. End of discussion."

"Fine. But come to bed after, will you? I miss your warmth," she pouts.

Kissing her one more time, Jungkook promises her," Always, Ms. Jeon. My queen.”

Since he was born, his duty was to protect Y/n and now he was glad that she has chosen him.

He will always love her and that will never change.

THE END

p.s. All images and gifs are not mine, some of the edits are mine edited but not every picture. All the credit goes to their rightful owners

DO NOT REPOST THIS WORK AS YOUR OWN BECAUSE THIS IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER’S STORY

Taglist: @lepau123 @the-princess-of-mischief-1998@11thenightwemet11 @khadeeeeej @almosttoopizza@jiminismine4ever (If you want to be tagged, please message me)

🅒 All rights reserved

[eyedrateanatomy]

translated ARG texts and my interpretations of what it means. I havent seen anyone go in thorough detail on what each line could mean, nor have I seen anyone translate these pages accurately. help on this is appreciated

ARG 1

When the moon is seen in the hour without light,

(its nighttime and the moon is up. self explanatory)

It can show newly weak souls a new world for God/newly weak souls can show God the new world, which was nothing and now is everything.

(newly weak souls may refer to animals or youth. The moon + night is a contributing factor in helping the souls show a new world for their god. Deum is a hymn praising god)

He saw the flesh of all the necessities of life and the wine of the living, for the custom returns to darkness before eternity.

(flesh of all necessities of life might be a description for humans. Wine of the living either relates to the phrase “wine of life”, a metaphor for someones passion of life, or how wine typically does not expire if contained safely, away from sunlight. Wine is also associated with the blood of christ, who was resurrected after once being killed)

This maple skin with soul-filled eyes can see a vessel in us, and when we perish to shine in the lightless sky, we embody the path to (at least) everything in this realm called Earth.

(maple skin may be tree bark, soul-filled eyes are the eye patterns on top of the skin, seeing potential in humans. Humans incarnate, aka represent, the path to everything)

At first it was of/in the ugly text/tissue/cloth, because my body contains the essence of greed. Over time, the text became aware.

(textum translates to text, but is most likely fabric/cloth, or tissue, as muscle and nervous tissue exists in the body. Beyond this is the body's essence of greed. This is probably talking about a flaw determined by the type of clothing or persons body, and the awareness from the bearer of said flaw)

He was almost succumbing/I was about to succumb to his ruthless lies, his greed can be seen on his cheeks/jaw.

(I instead of He is more likely here, unless the point of view is being changed or confused, because the mention of greed on a persons body is mentioned through whoever He is)

A silent night with the roofs of darkness in the village/town, for I speak of something that is more than everything.

(whatever they speak of seems only relevant to talk about at night when everyone’s asleep)

But soon it will be close, everything will become nothing and everything will be no one.

(they know the impending threat of everything becoming nothing. life will end)

I didn't believe it, I thought it was another lie... But then he showed me... I saw everything we had lived through, and then I saw the evil that awaited me... Then I returned.

(for whatever reason, the person or entity they talk to has lied to them and they have caught on. The author is being shown visions beyond their comprehension, including lived events followed by a grim end for them, and is suddenly brought back to reality. We have seen an example of this in Kevin’s Dream Job)

My body was paralyzed, my mind weakened and my life became short, because I saw the eternal incube of this creature's pain.

(they are distraught and made more aware of their fragility and mortality, now that they can emphasize with the creature and its pain, seeing an eternal nightmare. The usage of the word “incube” in some translations refer to seeing the closed off surroundings, or encasing, of its pain)

I made a pact/agreement: "Make me eternal, for I will forbid everything so that everyone is yours."

He accepted.

(a pact was made for the purpose of making the author eternal, so the creature, or Him, can have a source of power or control over everything)

ARG 2

I lost the feeling of living between points. At night they become torture, because I sleep in fear, waiting for a puncturing horror in the light surrounding the sky.

(living in between may refer to making the most of our time from two points, birth to death. Losing that feeling means there is either no more life or death, therefore “they” is likely referring to a different experience or entity)

Sometimes I shave my head and let the light consume my essence.

(this guy is insane)

But I have learned how the soul can survive the passage of time and, perhaps, live again without fearing the end.

(though they have learned to cheat death, the pages on this part of the book are covered in blood, either of or not their own. Their mental sanity must be declining)

Yesterday I walked to the forest to warm my house in the cold of the night. The village, or what was left of it, stopped going there.

(to warm your house, you would need to chop wood to make a fireplace. at some point, the village used to go to the forest to do the same. They may have stopped because of the tree entity)

He walked through the dark forest and I felt his eyes on my back, I looked desperately around me, seeing nothing but the seed of the earth. I kept walking until I saw a tree, one of which was cruel to me…

(He should most likely be I here. Also unknown if He and the tree are the same entity, although they still talk of the author’s struggles)

He asked:

"What an unfortunate soul, runs with a false goal/end.”

(more context is needed on what the false end is, but the tree takes pity on the author and tries to bargain with them)

He accompanied her to me. Her eyes could pierce my flesh and be nourished by my soul; and the voice, oh horrible sound of dry stones cutting, asked before her.

(unclear who Her is, or if she’s a person at all)

"I can let the voice live, if it gives you a deal/trade.”

(the deal was most likely requiring a vessel in order to give the author eternal life, then they will provide six children in return, giving the author a stronger vessel to inhabit. Not sure who the voice is referring to, it could be the eyes/stars which speak to the author)

When I was terrified, I said no out of fear, I ran away, and understood the tree.

(unclear if they could tell that the tree had ulterior motives, or if they were simply unsure of the decision and intimidated by the tree’s powers. The voice might also be the tree)

He showed me how to hide my soul in a new vessel, but in return: He wanted six children, because their souls are stronger.

(either through force, contemplation, or a second attempt to reason with the being, the author agreed to the deal. A child's soul may be stronger due to their youth, and how time feels like it’s passing much slower when you're young)

Today, in the hour without light, I will try it with the vessel.

I searched for someone and it worked. He died like a caterpillar trying to evolve into a butterfly.

Unfortunately for them, the monster was hungry.

(metamorphosis is a transformation process. Inside the pupa, the body dissolves and breaks down, digesting itself and becoming nearly entirely made of goo. In the process of becoming a vessel, the victims body will become unrecognizable)

The meaning of the living comes/is coming, for this will be a vessel for all, but I will bring all my things at night, fear is the end of the bright darkness.

(the end goal might be to make a vessel for all of humanity to live forever)

[coffeeghoulie]

broke the mold (change will come)

chapter 1: can't explain a thing

"For a very long time, I thought I was fire too."

The only person Swiss has ever told this story to is Aeon. But that is centuries from now, and he is not yet Swiss.

I've been thinking about and working on this fic since I wrote Eternal Heatstroke last year, and it's finally ready to share! You don't have to have read EH before reading this, but this is technically its sequel.

Much thanks to @askingforthesun for letting me bother them with this fic and helping with the worldbuilding, @mintea-in-space for reading through it, and to @belle--ofthebrawl for letting me yap about this fic in person. <3

Title and all chapter titles (unless otherwise specified) are from (Coffee's for Closers) by Fall Out Boy. Updates on Fridays.

Contains emotional child abuse, religious doubt, a large group of ghoul OCs, dissociation, and a large crisis of faith. Please mind the warnings <3. 5.9k.

divider by @wrathofrats <3

He's just gotten comfortable in the little nest in the corner of their room when the door creaks open. Golden light spills into the late night darkness, revealing the silhouette of a teenage fire ghoulette. Her horns are just starting to curl back over her head, silver jewelry threaded into the braids that brush over her shoulders. The hall light glints off of them, catching his eye.

"Aurum," she says bluntly, no hesitation or care that he might be asleep. He shuts his eyes. "Mother and Father want to talk to you."

Aurum squeezes his eyes shut even tighter, a pang of fear and deep seated dread sinking into him. He groans under his breath, biting down hard on his lower lip. "I know," he says, reluctantly extracting himself from his nest just as Scintilla, his sister, curls up into hers in the other corner.

"Be quiet when you come back," she says, disinterested in the obvious fear in his scent that he can't quite mask. "Some of us care about our studies in the morning. Ignis is already asleep."

He takes a deep, shuddering breath, feeling his sister's eyes burning into the small of his back. "I'll be quiet, Till." He’ll at least try to be. At least for his youngest sister’s sake. Sometimes, it feels like she’s the only one who doesn’t just hate him.

"You better be quiet," she grumbles, settling into her bed. "You certainly weren't last time."

Aurum shuts the door as quietly as he can.

The walk down the hallway gets longer every time he's summoned, he swears. Every step harder to take, unavoidable. His heart pounds in his chest. It rattles at his ribs in an attempt to get free. He waits for a moment outside of their door, the frame seeming to loom over him despite him being rather tall for his age.

There's shuffling within, blankets and papers, quiet murmurs that Aurum can't quite make heads or tails of. He knows his mother and father's voices though. He swallows hard, turning the door handle and stepping into his parents' room.

Aurum feels like he's spending more time in his parents' room than his own, these days. It's the third summoning this week. Their room is exactly the same as the last time he was summoned here. Their hearth sits against the far wall in an intricate weaving of bedding, two dressers on the wall opposite. The window is tightly shut, and if Aurum squints past the glare from the lights on their nightstands, he can see the glow of the City below.

Aurum ducks his head as both of his parents' gazes lock onto him. Pyra sits in her nest, legs gracefully tucked under her. There's papers and readings sprawled out in the blankets, her glasses perched on her nose as she looks over the frames. Inferno stops pacing by the window, turning to look at his oldest and only son, dull yellow eyes staring into what counts of his soul.

"Your father and I both know why we've asked you here, Aurum," Pyra says, reaching back to where she's tied back her hair. A few loose twists have escaped her ponytail, and she pushes them back behind her ears neatly. Ever prim and proper, even when winding down for the evening.

"Yes, Mother," Aurum mumbles, taking the space he knows well at the foot of their hearth. His arms go behind his back, and he hangs his head, his braids falling into his eyes.

Inferno tuts, and Aurum jolts. "You look at your mother when she speaks to you."

Aurum swallows. "Yes, Father." It's always hard to judge if Inferno gets involved on nights like this. He usually yields to his mate, but some nights... Aurum just has to hedge his bets. But he swallows hard again, straightening to meet his mother's dark amber gaze.

"Why do you think we've called you here?" Pyra asks, her attention split between him and her papers. Aurum's made the hypocrisy comment before, about him forced to be at attention and her being allowed to pay attention only when she pleased, and it didn't end well, so he keeps his mouth shut.

"I don't know, Mother," he says. In reality, it could be any number of infractions. Iggy, even though she's his favorite little sister, loves pushing his buttons until he breaks and snaps. It could be the way he isn't keeping his nest clean to Tilly's standards. It could be anything.

Pyra whips towards Inferno, something red glowing in the darkness of her eyes like embers waiting to be kicked back to life. "By the Prince, Inferno, he's just like you."

The larger ghoul throws his hands up, raking claws through close-cropped curls. "I know, Pyra, I'm trying to make sure he doesn't turn out like me."

"You're not trying hard enough," she snaps, turning back to Aurum. His ears pin back. "'I don't know' is not an answer, Aurum. Try again."

Aurum wracks his mind, even as everything starts to blur around the edges. He digs his claws into one of his wrists, squeezing as hard as he can. He hopes the pain keeps the dissociation at bay. "I- I really don't know, Mother."

She snarls, slapping the papers in her hand against the nest. Aurum flinches, but he knows better now than to physically recoil and step back. He'd learned that lesson a long time ago. He instead tightens his grip around his wrist.

"You are here, again, because your tutor told us that you weren't trying at all to improve your magic. Again."

"I am trying!" Aurum says, eyes glancing nervously between his parents. His father stands stock still, staring expressionlessly. "Saint Jezebel, I'm trying, I swear!"

"Watch your tone." Pyra tuts, her fangs clicking threateningly. She picks up the stack of papers and thumbs through them. "I'd believe you, Aurum, only, that's exactly what you said about the last tutor. And the last one. And the one before that."

Aurum takes a deep breath through his nose. "Because it was true then, and it's true now. I am trying, Mother. I don't know what's wrong with me that I can't use my magic like I used to. I can't do anything right." He snaps the last sentence, unsure if he's angry with her or at himself.

She shakes her head. Her eyes lock on his and it takes everything in Aurum's power to not look away. To stay here and present and focused. If he misses something, she will make him live to regret it. "Tone, Aurum."

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. "I'm sorry, Mother."

Pyra doesn't respond with much more than a huff.

"You know how your mother feels about 'sorry,' Aurum," Inferno snaps. He leans against the bedroom wall. He watches. It feels like that's all his father ever does. Watches, never interferes. Except when he's angry enough to start yelling too.

Aurum hates those nights. He hopes this isn't one of them.

"Yes, Father," Aurum says.

"Quit it with the 'Yes, Father, yes, Mother,'" Pyra says. "We're sick of hearing it."

Aurum squints, brows furrowing with exasperated confusion. "Well, if I don't address you, you yell at me for being disrespectful. If I do address you, you get angry. I can't win."

She mirrors his expression. He can't tell if she's mocking him. She probably is. "So you admit that you think this is a game?"

"No!" He says, throwing his head back to look up at the ceiling, a silent prayer in his mind. "That's not what I said at all!"

"You are squandering the Prince's gift!" Pyra snaps, her many fangs long and sharp. "He said that you would-"

"Grow to great power and bring honor to my name in servitude to the Throne! Mother, I know, you've told me!" Aurum says, his claws curling into his wrist and threatening to break his own skin. "You tell me every time I don't do good enough for you!"

"Aurum," she growls, standing from the nest. She's just barely taller than him, and her eyes bore into his. "You would do well enough for us if you just tried. I know you can, I've seen it."

"What, when everything was fucking easy?" He snaps. Aurum's exhausted. He wonders why they can't have these little "discussions" earlier in the day. When he wouldn't ache for his nest. Wouldn't have to worry about waking his sisters.

"Don't take that tone with me," she snarls. She's never done more than snap her teeth, grab at his wrist, but there's enough threat in her voice that Aurum flinches.

He lets his eyes flick up at the ceiling, the familiar words starting to rush through his mind. Seven Sisters, grant me the strength and patience I do not-

"Don't roll your eyes at me, Aurum!"

Aurum's eyes go wide, glancing back to his mother's face as she stands in front of him. "I didn't!"

"I fucking watched you, Aurum, I'm not stupid!" She lunges, so close Aurum can feel her spittle hitting his cheeks. "Quit fucking lying to me, it's not going to get you anywhere."

"Mother, I didn't roll my eyes, I looked up-"

"Knock it off," Inferno says. "Listen to your mother."

"I am, Father," Aurum says, bravely looking away from Pyra to glare daggers at his father. He feels the anger burning in his chest, coals kicked into flames with each heartbeat. Whenever he calms, in hours or days, who knows, Aurum knows there will be no forgiveness for his father's enabling observance. For never putting a stop to this. He's close to grown now, he can leave soon and never have to do this again.

Not much longer until he's grown. He's gotten this far. He can make it a few more decades.

The tiny voice in the back of his mind reminds him that he's not sure how much more of this he can force himself to endure.

Pyra's clawed hand grabs his chin, forcing Aurum to make eye contact with her. "You need to try harder, Aurum. The Prince said you would bring honor to your family's name and follow their footsteps. Do not make a false prophet of Him."

"I am trying as hard as I can, the fire's not- It's not coming to me the way it used to, and I don’t know why," he says, tail curling around his calf sheepishly and ears pinned back. "I'm sorry. Mama, I’m sorry."

She rolls her eyes, huffing. Her voice goes soft, and her thumb smooths over his cheek. Gentle. He fights every instinct to lean into it. "I don't believe you. Aurum. If you really meant it, you would do something to change it."

Aurum sinks his fangs into his tongue until he tastes blood. Even despite the pain, he can feel his mind retreating deep into his brain, leaving him feeling almost hollow. Pyra's talking. He knows he can hear her, but nothing processes. She can probably see the way his eyes are going dull.

There's a muted dread that settles in his chest. He knows she's saying something he needs to listen to. She'll be pissed when she realizes he isn't hearing her. His father'll be pissed too. But Aurum can't get his brain back online even despite that threat.

He can hear her talking. So close he can feel her breath, his eyes crossed as they try to focus on her. He cannot make out the words but knows the tone. He’s heard it before. He knows how to make this stop, how to stop nights like these, but he’s been trying just as long.

It feels like he’s living the same day over and over and over and over and over again with no end in sight.

Eventually, she lets go of his face, takes a step back to her nest. To where she’s brought her work home from the Palace. Flamespeaker’s duties never ending, and Pyra’s served the Prince with honor since long before she’d met his father.

"You are dismissed," Pyra huffs. She gestures towards the door. "Do not wake your sisters."

Aurum nods, trying to swallow past the lump in his throat as he tries to force himself back into his body. "Yes, Mother. Good night."

It isn't returned.

He shuts his parents' door as quietly as he can, turning the knob as it latches so it doesn't click loudly. His tail tucked between his legs, he slips back down the hallway to his and Scintilla's room. He's fighting a losing battle, his eyes stinging and blurry with tears, and by the time Aurum creaks the door to their room open, they've started dripping down his cheeks.

Aurum's nest waits for him, and he slips under the covers as quietly as he can. Best he can tell, he was successful on not waking either of his sisters. He counts it as a win.

He throws the blankets over himself, eyeing the lump Scintilla makes under her covers carefully. Her breathing is slow and steady, and he nods, knowing what she looks like when she sleeps. He's been sharing a room with her for almost two centuries now, has been practically his entire life. Iggy, his baby sister, youngest of his den, had slept in their parents' hearth far longer than Scintilla or Aurum had, and when she'd finally outgrown the habit, Aurum had been more than happy to give up his room for her.

Aurum watches Scintilla breathe for another few moments, just to make sure he’s followed through with his promise. When he's certain she's asleep, he grabs a big handful of the thickest blanket in his nest, sinking his teeth into the fur to stifle a sob.

The barrier breaks, and it all floods out of him. He sobs, curling up in on himself, knees to his chest, and he shakes. He's tired. So tired. Scared, and upset, and wailing like a brand new kit. He hates himself for it. He's almost grown, and here he is, crying so hard his tears steam up on his cheeks.

Of course his fire makes itself known now.

Aurum hates it all.

He tries to keep it quiet. He really does. But he freezes when he hears a snap of fangs from the other side of the room.

"Be fucking quiet," Scintilla hisses. Her tail unfurls from around her body, the spade smacking threateningly against her nest. She rolls over with a quiet growl. “Or I go get Mother.”

Aurum whines, caught. He turns over to face the wall, tears still streaming down his face as more shame settles into the core of his chest. His tail uncurls from around his thigh, and he takes the spade between his teeth.

He bites down until he tastes iron, willing himself to fall asleep.

Aurum's dreams have always been strange. Tonight is no exception. He finds himself in the shadow of a tall ghoul, a man he doesn't recognize. Everything's too fuzzy to make out the real details. He's lit with fire, steam and shadow obscuring the details. All Aurum can see are the broad features. His hair falls in long locs down his back, horns curving out from his head.

Aurum calls out for him, so close, yet when he tries to take a step towards this strange, familiar ghoul, he gets no closer. "Hey!" Aurum calls, reaching as far as he can.

The man pays him no mind. He does not say anything, doesn't even acknowledge that Aurum's called out to him. He starts to walk away.

“Hey!” Aurum panics, breaking into a stumbling run after the man. "Wait!"

With every step, Aurum gets further away from the man, even as he reaches with arms outstretched, runs as fast as he can. "Please don't leave me here!"

The man pauses. Looks over his shoulder. The moment Aurum meets his eye, he jolts awake in a sweaty, disheveled mess. He doesn’t fall asleep again. Mind too frantic, trying to figure out what it meant. He has no answer.

Things are still tense in the morning, a bitter taste on the back of his tongue, coating the roof of his mouth. His sisters share glances with each other as he steps out into the common room, even Iggy. She looks tired. Something like disappointment pangs sharp in Aurum’s chest, and he curls in on himself.

"Didn't sleep well," she says to no one in particular, spreading jam over a stale piece of flatbread. There's a dog-eared book in her lap, and her tail brushes against the stool leg as it sways absently behind her. Ignis ties her locs back out of her face as she eats. She doesn’t look at him. That hurts worse than anything else.

Aurum's ears pin back as Scintilla glares at him from where she sits next to their sister. "No wonder," she says dryly. Her fingers work at a piece of silver jewelry that had come off of one of her braids in the night. “Someone doesn’t know how to be considerate if the instructions were written out and shoved into his face.”

"I'm sorry," Aurum mumbles, tail curled around his calf as he goes to get himself something to eat. He knows his mother has already left for her duties, but he can't quite remember if his father had a meeting scheduled for this morning or the next day. It's always best to try and appease his denmates just in case he's still home.

Even then, it doesn't really matter if Inferno's home or not. Despite walking on eggshells around them, trying his best to be civil and accommodating, one of his sisters will find something, say something, to report back to their parents. Kicking the coals to restart the fire, whether they mean to or not.

Aurum's used to it by now anyways. No use complaining. He takes a deep breath and turns his back to rummage through a cabinet. Their eyes burn into his skull.

"Quit saying you're sorry, Aurum," Scintilla scoffs. Even with his back turned, Aurum knows his sister has her fangs bared. She sounds like their mother. "We keep going through this because you won't listen to Mother. You are ruining our lives. All you are is a broken record. You're not sorry."

His tail lashes behind him and he whirls on his feet to face her, forgetting all about finding something to eat. "Quit telling me how I feel, Till!"

She just rolls her eyes, snarling a little under her breath. "Don't call me that."

"I can't call you your name?" Aurum snaps, meeting her glare and baring his own teeth in response. "I can't call you your Prince-damned name?"

Her eyes flare with fire, smoke curling from her nostrils. "Tilly isn't my name, you belligerent asshole!"

He snarls, lunging for the counter, and she swats at him, hissing and spitting. Her claws catch the back of his hand, and Aurum shouts as she rakes them across it. "Fuck you," he snarls, clutching his hand to his chest. Dark blood oozes like magma from the cut.

"Oh, get over yourself," Scintilla says, rolling her eyes, getting up from her seat and grabbing her bag. "It's time to go, Ig. We’re gonna be late if we don’t." Ignis follows close behind her, giving Aurum one last glance as she too grabs her bag and follows her sister out the door. The anger Aurum sees there stings like salt in a cut.

He stands stock still until the door latches shut behind them. Aurum snarls under his breath, shoving the heels of his hands into his eyes. He can feel his pulse in his temple and in the gash across the back of his hand. The house is silent around him.

Aurum clenches his fists, claws digging into the meat of his palms. He hastily wipes the blood from the back of his hand. It burns. Or is it just his eyes burning that he feels?

He doesn't know and he doesn't care.

Aurum glances down the hallway to his parents' room, trying to determine if his father is still home. When Inferno doesn't come out from his own room or the living room with all of the commotion, Aurum takes a deep breath, lets it out on a sigh. He marches up the hallway and throws his bag back into his nest. Fuck it all, he's not going. He's already going to have to face his pack's disappointment for being a bad fire ghoul.

He might as well give them something different to be disappointed with. Stir it up a little bit.

Aurum heads out then, glancing down the street to his sisters' backs as he turns in the opposite direction. Fuck being a broken record, he scoffs to himself. Under the anger, a dread starts to settle in his chest. He bottles it up for now.

He keeps his head down as he walks deeper into the heart of the City. He knows his parents should both be at work, but they could very well see him ditching his tutor.

It'll get back to them eventually. Of course it will. But Aurum has things he wants to do before he has to deal with those consequences.

Aurum ducks down a side street between two tall buildings, ignoring the ghouls and demons of all elements moving around him, living their lives. He's grateful that they ignore him, despite all of the gold in his hair and ears that marks him as family of the First.

Out of the corner of his eye, the Palace looms over the rest of the skyline, growing ever closer. Aurum feels his heart race, knowing his mother, let alone the Prince Himself, are in that building, and he's walking closer like he wants to be caught.

He keeps walking, head down, breathing in the scent of a street vendor's wares, frying flatbread and sweet and savory fillings. Aurum's stomach growls. He realizes he didn't actually get a chance to eat before rushing out. There's a few coins in his pants pockets, but food can come later. He has something far more important he wants to get done first.

The Palace looms large on the hill in the center of the City when Aurum steps out of the side street. But he turns his back to it. Saint Jezebel's chapel is a much smaller building, ash grey brick and glass stained every color Aurum could ever imagine. There are grander churches, the ones he attends with his family for Black Mass.

But no one ever looks for him at Saint Jezebel's.

Aurum pushes open the door as quietly as he can, slipping inside. He takes a deep breath and lets his shoulders as he takes in the chapel. He's the only ghoul here, much to his relief. Aurum doesn't need anyone questioning him right now.

He slips into the last pew, eyes forward to the statue on the altar. She'd once been human, Up Top, a long time ago. She’s beautiful, carved from perfect white stone by a ghoul long gone by now.

Aurum clasps his fingers together, resting his wrists on the pew in front of him, before bending to press his forehead to his forearms. He takes a deep breath. "Our Father, who art in Hell," he begins, barely a breath louder than a whisper, eyes squeezed shut, focused on that little seed of flame at his very core. "Unhallowed be thy name. Cursed be thy sons and daughters, of thine nemesis who are to blame. Thy Kingdom Come, Nema."

The little speck of flame caged in his ribs, his magic, the core of his being, flickers in acknowledgment. Aurum tries to spiritually warm his hands by the flame. The Prince had made his ancestors, and by extension Aurum himself, in His own image. Had stepped forth from the fires of the Pit, unholy Creation to rival His Forsaker's.

"Infernal Majesty," Aurum whispers, the air still and quiet around him. "I offer my thanks, to be created in Your image, a creature of fire to burn away all Holy. I know this to be true, Olde One."

His eyes dart behind his eyelids. He knows he's alone. But he can feel Saint Jezebel's eyes, even as she looks through the window behind him. Above him. He wonders if she knows he’s here.

"You love Your creations, like Your father was supposed to love You. And You have made us good, and right, and powerful. I try my best to live up to that legacy, and the future You personally have seen for me."

He looks up, opens his eyes. Saint Jezebel stares out the window towards the Palace.

"Lord Lucifer, Prince Morningstar of the Nine Hells, creator and protector of Your children, I pray to borrow an ounce of the strength it took You to stand up to him. I just want to be a good son, Majesty. I want to make Mama and Dad happy, and do good by you. I don't know why I can't get better."

He hastily wipes his eyes with the back of his hand, dropping his head as he continues to pray. The tears sting the cut still there. "Unholy Lord, if all of Your children are made in Your image, why am I bad?"

The chapel is silent. Aurum's question hangs on the air. Even the little spark of magic at the very core of him, forever dancing and flickering, feels like it's frozen still. Saint Jezebel stares.

Aurum swallows hard, lowers his head again, and keeps praying. "O, most unholy Lord, grant me the sacrilege of your knowledge. Open the channels of my infernal soul and bring sweet release to the darkness inside of me. O, let my understanding of Your abhorrent secrets bring me closer to thee. Nema."

The whispered words almost seem to echo throughout the empty chapel. Or maybe Aurum just feels too small, insignificant to be heard. He asks anyways. "The dream from last night, Lord. A-are you leaving me? Am I that bad a ghoul? What's wrong with me? Why won’t it stop?"

Despite his pleas, desperation souring his scent, Aurum knows the only way he's getting an answer is if he marches right into the Palace. He’s just a kit, he knows they're not going to listen to him if he demands audience. He knows his mother likes to talk. He knows what she's said about him.

He wonders if the Prince hates him. It’s a thought that tastes bitter. But sometimes, the helpful things are. It’s almost like medicine.

Aurum stops praying. Just rests his forehead on his arms, feels the bench in front of him dig into them with the pressure. Lets himself be aware of sensation. Tries to shut off his mind. Can’t quite do it.

He’s only aware of time passing when his stomach growls. Services aren’t until the evening, but the chapel’s always open to those who need it. Which, right now, seems to be only him. He’s never been so grateful to be alone.

Aurum stretches when he stands, and is almost sent back on his ass with the force of the dread that hits him. He can’t stay here forever. And leaving means tucking his tail between his legs and sneaking back home. Walking willingly into the lion’s den.

But it’s not like he has any other choice. Aurum has to go home. Or whatever he’s walking into will be far worse when they eventually drag him back.

They’re waiting for him when he returns. Of course they are. Aurum stops in his tracks, ears pinning back and tail curling tight around his calf as his parents glare daggers at him. “M-mother, Father,” he breathes.

“Would you care to explain where you were, Aurum?” Pyra asks, her arms crossed over her chest. Her magma-like markings swirl and ripple, heat radiating off her like her anger. “Your sisters said you never showed up at the tutor’s.”

Aurum shrugs, swallowing hard as he steels himself, forcing himself to hold eye contact with his mother. “They left without me. I wouldn’t doubt that they’re making things up just to rile you up.”

“Lying isn’t a good look on you, Aurum,” Inferno warns. He bares his teeth, and Aurum fights every instinct not to bare his throat in submission. “We found your bag in your nest.”

“I’m not lying.” He at least has the audacity to look his father in the eye as he lies.

“Oh, I’m sure,” he scoffs, stepping towards him. “Get in here. Quit standing in the threshold.”

“Of course, Father,” Aurum says. Every emotion, all of the fear and doubt and anger, swirl inside his chest until all he feels is tired. He crosses his arms, mirroring his mother.

“Don’t take that tone,” he growls. Aurum just huffs.

“Now what? Let me guess. You’re just going to scream at me until you’re happy, and then send me off to bed so we can do this all again in the morning.” He’s fucking exhausted. Aurum hurts.

“We don’t do this because it makes us happy,” Pyra spits. Her eyes burn, flashing orange and red like embers kicked back to life. “We do this because you refuse to fucking listen, Aurum. You have the power to put an end to this. The ball is in your court. This is on you.”

He just laughs. It’s better than bursting into tears. Inferno lunges at him, infuriated by his blatant disrespect. Aurum flinches back, eyes wide as his father grabs him, pulling him closer to him and his mate.

“I can’t end this, because no matter what I do, it’s not good enough,” he hisses, trying so hard to hold himself together. He knows how they react when he cries. He pulls fruitlessly at his arm.

“It would be good enough if you just did what you were told and tried,” Pyra snaps. “That is quite literally all we ask for, Aurum. That does not feel unreasonable to ask for. We ask for you to just try.”

“I do!” he yells, wrenching his arm from his father’s grip. He feels his body temperature steadily rising. “That’s all I fucking do! I try, and I try, and I try, and you’re never fucking happy! What the fuck do you really want?”

For a moment, his mother just looks sad. But Aurum has no fucking pity for her, for his sisters, for his father. His parents don’t answer, just stare at him.

“What do you want,” Aurum tries again, gritting his fangs. “Tell me exactly what you want, so I can be a good enough son for you. Or is that just it, that you want a different kit because I’ve so thoroughly and repeatedly failed you?”

“Aurum, that’s not what we want and you know it-” Pyra tries to protest. Aurum just rolls his eyes.

“Am I making you a disappointment to the Prince? Am I fucking up your most honorable career, Mother? Aren’t you so disappointed that you’re not raising a good enough successor? Come on, tell me.”

“Don’t bring that into this, Aurum,” Inferno snaps, but Aurum ignores him. Much to his parents’ dismay, all they’ve really done is made him excellent at tuning them out. He cocks his head, raising his eyebrows as he waits for his mother’s answer.

“Mother, you know it’s true. The Prince blessed me, so you say, and I’m proving Him wrong.”

Pyra’s eyes ignite, and if Aurum weren’t so angry, so exhausted, he’d be truly afraid.

"You are so fucking inconsiderate!" Pyra screams, baring each of her fangs. Her markings ripple like lava, running down her arms and glowing bright. "If you were anyone else's son, they would have given up on you by now. You are squandering that blessing, and we still haven't given up on you, Aurum."

Aurum's heart and fists clench so tight he can smell blood. "Well," he says, swallowing hard to keep his voice as level as he can. "Maybe you should give up on me."

He gives his mother one last glare before he turns and walks out of the door.

"Aurum, get back here!" Inferno roars, but it's cut off as Aurum slams the door shut. With a jolt of fear, he starts to run.

Aurum doesn't look back, but he doesn't hear the door open after him. Granted, all he can hear is his heart pounding at his ribs, his panting breaths, his feet on the paving stones. He doesn't know where he's going, just lets his feet carry him away away away.

He slams open the doors to Saint Jezebel's for the second time in twenty four hours, and once again, he is alone. The offering candles flicker at her feet, lit for services that are soon to start, and the sight of fire makes Aurum's chest sting even more.

He storms up the aisle, a growl building in his throat as he reaches up to his hair. Aurum knows he doesn't have that much time before someone caves and comes looking for him. He can't go back. But he moves with purpose until he stands underneath Saint Jezebel, her eyes looking up to the window, out to the Palace.

They do not look down upon him.

With shaking fingers, Aurum takes out every last piece of adornment in his hair and ears. Each cuff and ring and charm, the gold gleaming in his palm, the tiny red gems that had been woven into his braids. It takes longer than he'd like, struggling as he makes himself bare for the first time in his life.

The pile in his hands clatters as they shake. Aurum stares at the jewelry, what had marked him as one of the First and as a ghoul in service to the Prince. Some of the pieces had been his mother's, his father's, grandparents', some from ghouls even older and long gone before Aurum had been born.

Each and every one of them had spent their lives in service to the Prince.

Aurum snarls, staring up at Saint Jezebel. His back is to the Palace. "I asked for protection," he says slowly. Something burns in his chest, nasty and acrid and curling up the back of his throat. "I begged You for safety, from them, from her, and You ignored me. I thought I was Your child! I thought You fucking cared!"

His knees tremble. If he were any less angry, adrenaline burning through him stronger than his magic ever has, he might have fallen to them.

Instead, he balls his fist around the pile of adornment. The metal digs into the cuts on his palm. He turns, staring out the stained glass window out to where the Palace sits on the hill. He hopes the Prince can hear him.

"I'm not your fucking child anymore," he snarls, chest heaving. "I'm no one's."

He turns back to the statue of Saint Jezebel and throws his adornment at her feet. "Fuck You!" he screams, drowning out the sound of the metal clattering on the marble. Aurum's eyes burn, vision hazy. "If You wanted me to care, You wouldn't have made me bad, wouldn't have given them a reason to hate me. Fuck You."

Aurum turns and storms out of the chapel, slamming the doors behind him before he starts to run. The Palace is behind him.

For the first time in his life, Aurum leaves the City. And he doesn’t turn back.

[ficretus]

Harem King Championship

Sun: Good evening Guys, Gals and Non Binary Pals. This is annual Harem King Championship. I'm your host, Sun Wukong, part time Huntsman, full time rizzler.

Neptune: And joining him is me, Neptune Vasilias. N of team SSSN, but N of "Not getting a partner."

Sun: It's good to be in Vacuo. Atmosphere is hot and nominees even hotter.

Neptune: So let's introduce them.

Sun: Nominee number 1. You may know him as J from JNPR, but he is so much more. Jovial jock with jaw dropping junk making you jealous cause ya know your lady is gonna join him... Jaune Arc.

*applause*

Jaune: Thank you Vacuo.

Neptune: Nominee number 2. *whispers* Sun, paper just says racist asshole.

Sun: Dude, improvise.

Neptune: *clears throat* Bad boy of Beacon. Watch out for your girl, cause ears aren't only things he likes to pull. Master of cucking, Cardin Winchester.

*crickets*

Sun: Nominee number 3. She has a cold heart, but her caress will melt you. Every maiden will be hers. Don't think, just obey her... Cinder Fall.

*applause*

Cardin: Aw come on, she is literally a terrorist.

Cinder: You'd be surprised how far can being hot carry you.

Neptune: And finally, nominee number 4. This kitty has claws, and mice aren't the only things she is hunting. If you ever join her harem you'll never be left out cause clones are name of her game. On a hunt for title is... Blake Belladonna.

*applause*

Blake: This is for all Faunus Remnant wide.

Sun: Now that we know contestants, it's time to introduce the jury.

Neptune: As much as I'd like to check out some ladies, we have experts for that.

Sun: Jury member number 1. This hunky dad is more than it meets the eye. Partners are temporary, rizz is eternal, Taiyang Xiao Long.

Neptune: Jury member number 2. Some say he has gone through puberty while he was fetus. He has been bagging waitresses for longer than some of us have been alive, Qrow Branwen.

Sun: And finally... jury member number 3.

Neptune: All time record holder of Harem King Championship. She conquered men, women, Grimm and Kingdoms. Let's have a warm welcome for... Salem.

Sun: Wait, really?

Neptune: It's not like we can kick her out.

Tai: Didn't you kill my wife?

Qrow: Yeah, what the hell.

Salem: Let's keep it professional.

Sun: And now a commercial break.

*in Cinder's camp*

Cinder: Oh I can hardly wait to crush them all.

Mercury: Why am I even here?

Cinder: Because Emerald decided saving the world is more important than my special night.

Mercury: It's just a silly Harem competition.

Cinder: Watch your mouth Mercury. This is not just a silly competition, it's a game of life. If I can't rule as Harem queen, then what chance do I have to claim all Maiden powers. I will have this crown and I will take everything.

*in Jaune's camp*

Nora: You got this Fearless Leader, kick their ass.

Ren: Don't be nervous Jaune, odds are still stacked in our favor.

Jaune: Thanks guys. Can't believe I'm to favorite to win it all. This could be my moment, finally accomplish something and beat Cinder.

*in Blake's camp*

Yang: Jaune seems to be the main favorite to win it.

Blake: Oh don't worry, it's all under control.

Neptune: And now jury will rate our contestants.

Sun: Each jury member will give a rating from 1 to 5. Winner will be the person with highest number of points.

Neptune: Let's get ready to rizzleeeee.

Sun: First to be rated will be Jauneee.

Tai: I give him 4. He has that timeless look, muscular blonde with blue eyes. I could easily see him seduce at least 2 partners with that look. Just stay away from my daughters... and stay away from shapeshifting raven haired femme fatales...

Qrow: Ok Tai, let us continu...

Tai: Trust me, sex might be good but divorce makes it not worth it.

Yang: Could you stop!

Qrow: Sigh... Ok, I give Jaune 3. Look is important, but kid, you lack confidence. You need to work on your game. I'd say your Bi appeal is also kind of weak. It might be controversial, but I'd say true harem king can seduce partners of all genders.

Tai: Was that necessary?

Qrow: What, you can talk about banging my sister live but I can't mention some gay experimentation?

Salem: Men are utterly hopeless. Arc, I give you 4 as well. Your appearance is impeccable for the role and your approach is refreshing. However, you remind me of certain someone, so that lowers overall rating.

Neptune: That gives Jaune Arc final score of 11.

Sun: Not bad, not bad. Let's see can next contestant, Cardin top this score.

Tai: Cardin eh. I give 2, and that's mostly because of appearance. I don't like you and I don't like your approach. Also get a job, NTR fics are not funny.

Qrow: I give him 3. Being a bad boy is not... bad. You've got guts, but if you wanna ask a girl out just do it, don't act like a brat. Your Bi appeal could do some work. And fuck what everyone says, cucking is positive trait for Harem king.

Tai: Qrow!

Salem: Shush now. I give Winchester boy 3. Such a contrast between appearance and behavior. Knight should not act like that, yet in some regards that makes him more attractive.

Neptune: Cardin takes second place with 8 points.

Sun: Oof, I guess he really peaked in high school.

Cardin: Behind Jauney Boy, aw come on.

Neptune: And now one of the favorites, Cinder Fall.

Tai: 5!

Qrow: She tried to kill you daughter multiple times.

Tai: Sigh... 4. Too many red flags.

Qrow: I give her 5.

Tai: And you gave me shit for rating her 5.

Qrow: Hey, I'm being objective here. Look, I don't like her, but she is smoking hot, she has domineering attitude and can seduce you in five seconds no matter who and what you are.

Mercury: Well, it looks like you are getting your little trophy after all.

Cinder: Of course, did you really think I'd finish behind likes of Arc?

Salem: Oh Cinder, such a deceptive case. On the surface you possess all qualities of true Harem queen. Less informed individual might even think you are worthy successor to my legacy... but you are not.

Mercury: Uh oh.

Cinder: Shut up.

Salem: No true harem queen has a diary beneath her pillow, hoping for a dashing Prince to marry her. No true harem queen hugs aforementioned pillow and pretends its her Prince. No true...

Cinder: Stop, stop, stop.

Salem: My, my, fine then. I give her 2. Have to cut her some slack.

Cinder: 2?!

Mercury: *giggles* You are tied with Jaune now.

Cinder: Are you kidding me?!

Sun: Well, joke or not, that's 11 points.

Neptune: We have a tie for first place now.

Cinder: Mercury! Find the tiebreaker rules.

Mercury: Screw you, this is too funny.

Jaune: We are tied with Cinder.

Nora: I'll check the tiebreaker rules.

Ren: What about Blake?

Nora: What about her? *snorts* It's not like Fearless Leader is ever gonna lose to her.

*five minutes later*

Nora: Stop the count, stop the count!

Jaune: How did she whoop our ass this hard? This makes no sense!

Cinder: Ha ha, you lost!

Cardin: Nice one Jauney Boy.

Jaune: You lost as well!

Cinder: Unlike you I don't care about this stupid competition.

Mercury: Cinder you are literally crying.

Cinder: *sniffles* Shut up.

Jaune: But hold on, how did I lose this?

Blake: Because I'm the true Harem protagonist of this show.

Jaune: That can't be. I have... Pyrrha and.... That can't be.... What about Mantle moms?

Blake: Can you name any of them?

Jaune: Of course I can. Ca...

Blake: Without fanon or headcanons.

Jaune: Shit...

Blake: See, told you.

Jaune: But wait, that just means I don't have a harem. What about you?

Blake: Yang, Ilia, Sun, Adam and probably half a dozen off screen simps. Face it Jaune, I'm a genderbent Kirito with cat ears.

Sun: And with this, Blake Belladonna is crowned as a Harem queen of Remnant.

Blake: Thank you Vacuo, thank you Remnant. I dedicate this victory to all Faunus Remnant wide. For far too long have we been reduced to secondary harem members, mere fetish fuel. But now, we rule, we too can be Harem rulers.

Cinder: Fuck this.

Mercury: Where are you going?

Cinder: I'm in need of alcohol and large huggable pillow.

Ren: There is always the next year Jaune.

Jaune: Screw this, I'm getting a black coat and katana... and a gun.

*later that night*

Yang: Can't believe I'm dating Remnant's Harem queen.

Blake: *giggles* I was always a Harem queen. Did you pick up the money?

Yang: I did. If you knew you were gonna win it, then what was the point of the plan?

Blake: To inflate betting odds in Jaune's favor. That made me a dark horse...

Yang: More like... dark cat.

Blake: Aw you. That made me a dark cat of the competition, which allowed me to win ridiculous amount of money by betting on myself.

Yang: Still, was that money really worth writing 500 Jaune harem fics?

Blake: Of course it was. Besides, I didn't really write them. I just changed the name of the protagonist of my existing harem fics to Jaune.... 500 times.

Yang: So devious.

Blake: Indeed. Now kneel before your Harem queen.

[dblk-archives]

Dark before dawn.

Chapter 1. Fake Divine.

"Destroying my faith No I won't fight in your games Destroying my faith And I don't wanna play it again"

Summary: Cast away from an eden of light, an angel with crooked wings crawls out from his own blood, fallen and broken in this new world.

Characters: Ruki Mukami, gn! reader.

Tags/warnings: fallen angel AU, blood, first meetings, series.

Author's note: This is an AU in which Ruki is a fallen angel. I've been thinking about this idea since his More Blood route and I wanted to write it. I intend to make it a series, I hope you enjoy <3 I made a playlist for this specific AU as well. You can listen to it here.

An unfamiliar sensation shoots through the being’s body.

In fact, man would be a more correct word to describe him, now that he’s been stripped of all divinity.

Decaying wings scrape against the concrete as he tries to move.

Is this what they call pain?

Is this feeling akin to flesh and bone being ripped apart what they call ache?

He tries to flap his wings, or what remains of them; once, pristine white feathers cascaded, soaring above clouds of light.

Now, ashen branches seem to span from his scarred back, a cruel reminder of an eternity denied.

Glazed steely eyes direct skyward.

His sight is met with a vast nothingness.

How long has it passed since he fell?

It certainly does feel like an eternity, yet it can’t have been more than a couple days, at most.

He should get moving. In his current state, it is not wise to linger in the same place for too long.

Dirt scratches against his palms when he tries to stand.

For someone of seraphic blood to have to crawl through the ground… This is ridiculous.

The fallen angel clenches his teeth, an expression befitting more of a demon contorting his face.

Then,

“Hey, are you okay?”

Dark icy eyes focus on a figure standing a few feet away from him.

Tsk, to have to look at someone when he is the one standing below them… Outrageous.

At first he doesn’t reply, giving the stranger a nasty look.

He despises hypocrisy, and especially those who pity him, after all.

So how dare a mere human ask if he is okay?

How dare such a lowly being have the nerve to even fathom the idea that he needs help.

The broken angel finally stands up, crooked wings sprouting from his back, his energy too low to even hide them.

“Wait!” They call after him. Rushed footsteps follow. “You’re bleeding!” 

The dark haired man barks a laugh. He’s got wings on his back in plain sight and this person is worried about him bleeding.

He notices the concern etched on the human’s eyes, their serious expression unwavering.

“Are you sure you can go on like that?” They ask.

’Yes.’ The halo-less angel thinks. That is what he’s always done after all. Take everything for granted, never walking side by side with others and never acknowledging their help.

He takes another step forward. Or tries to, at least.

The next thing he knows, the world is tilting sideways and disappearing before the absolute darkness of his sight.

—

Coppery light floods the back of his eyelids as he tries to open his eyes.

Sluggishly, he takes in his surroundings.

He doesn’t recognize them as the street he was wandering a while earlier.

“You’ve awoken, I see.”

Now, that voice he’s heard before.

That annoying human is sitting in front of him, an enigmatic smile on their face.

What’s with them and that look of… kindness? in their eyes? He can’t stand it.

The angel quickly sits up, before pain in sharp waves shoots through his back.

“Easy there, you don’t want to reopen them.” The human gives a slight nod, eyes meaningfully glancing in his back’s direction.

Fresh bandages cover the fallen’s back, loose enough that his crooked wings can still move freely.

The irony of it, when he knows he’ll never fly again.

“What gave you the right to bring me here or tend to my wounds?” The dark angel juts his chin upwards, tone haughty.

You raise a brow, crossing your legs from your perch in the chair opposite from the couch he lies in.

The man’s lofty tone surely is in contradiction with his bruised body. But when you notice his movements, and the way he carries himself… They do certainly hold an elegance you can’t quite place.

“Would you have rather bled yourself out to death?”

“I don’t need your pity or you trying to get in my good graces.”

“So, is it just a normal occurrence for you to see someone suffering in front of you and doing nothing?”

’Suffering?’ The angel snorts.

What do you even know about what that feels like?

“You are so pretentious.” He remarks.

“Says the one who insisted he was fine when he literally collapsed on the street.” You cross your arms, leaning forward with a knowing smirk.

He really can’t stand you.

“What’s your name, by the way?” You ask.

He hesitates for a moment, then he supposes it’s fine to tell you, since you are so insistent, maybe you’ll leave him in peace if he answers.

“Ruki.” 

You offer him a softer smile, introducing yourself too.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ruki.”

However, the only pleasing interaction you’ve had since he woke up is short lived.

“Well, if you'll excuse me, i have places to be now.” The man who introduced himself as Ruki states, pushing the blanket covering him away.

“Places to be?” You echo, a skeptical smile curving your lips. “Where exactly? The ground of some back alley?” You retort, snorting. “Listen, you literally collapsed from blood loss. Do you honestly expect me to believe you are in any condition to be safe out there in your current state?”

Arguably, no.

If Ruki were to be honest with himself and come to terms with all the feelings he keeps locked inside his iron encased heart, he definitely won’t be okay at all out there.

“And how, pray tell, is that any of your business?” But perhaps being dishonest with himself was one of his very few flaws.

“Well, aren't you stubborn?” You sigh. Your expression softens, gentleness returning to your tone. “Stay the night. Give time for your wounds to at least stop bleeding, have a proper meal and stuff.”

Those stormy eyes of his hold your gaze.

Maybe you hadn’t realized how deep and beautiful they were up until now.

“Fine. One night.” The angel grumbles.

A satisfied grin tugs at your lips as you get up to prepare some snacks.

[charonyx]

Episode 1 and 2 of the Eternity Float Event *Spoilers* Ye Be Warned!

Alright, playing through the new JP event and following along cause it has Malleus :)

For events I'm usually fine with looking at spoilers and waiting for the EN release, but if an event has Malleus or it's Halloween, then I read through the whole event and try to avoid spoilers. So, I've seen some art and know which character appears in this event, but I waited until I had a free day to play myself!

I'm quite excited because a wedding event? With Malleus included? Sign me up!

Heh, it's interesting seeing Riddle butting heads with Jade, not wanting to go to the Sunshine Lands after all. Quite funny considering in one of his birthday vignettes he chose Jade as a potential brother lol

Ahh geez, Jade's tactics in initially making people agree to go with him and convincing them AGAIN when they show doubt. You're a sly one Mr. Jade.

Oh Malleus is so cute, making it absolutely sure he's not imposing and potentially party crashing.

OH DAMN Malleus didn't tell the Diasomnia peeps he's going to the wedding??? LMAO. Poor Sebek. Lilia would be chill if Malleus is gone a few hours, but he might get worried if he's gone a whole day. Huh, now I'm actually not sure. We know Malleus loses track of time and Lilia is a more hands off type of guardian so I wonder how long it would take until Lilia decides to look for Malleus.

Okay, onto Chapter 2! Man, I love looking at the new maps they make for events and the music is real nice. Not usually into music with tons of sax, but this song makes it work. Has that TWST specialty of making me like literally any song they produce, kinda similar to Toby Fox for me.

Hah! Of course while they're looking at everything in Ultramarine City Rook notices the seagulls. Hmm and seagulls being respected since they can see through lies, yeah that sounds like Rook alright. Man, every day I gain new knowledge on the animals that Floyd picked for everyone it makes me really happy how well it fits them.

Didn't expect the usefulness of barrels to be discussed but it's nice. #BarrelAppreciation

Ohhh the port's so cute!

I'm happy Yuu is consistently characterized as the photographer. We at least now they're pretty darn good at takings pics to always be entrusted with the duty.

Mannnn now I want to know in what contexts Rook has been on many boats in the past. Rook keeps on being mysterious and not telling us much about his past! Gotta keep up the mystique I guess.

OH WOW. So the reason Jade learned to rowboat is cause merpeople that come on land get overconfident and have a high chance of drowning? Dang. Good on Jade for trying to lower any chance of that happening

YAY! MAMA LEECH!!!! I'm so happy we got one of the Tweels parents to show up! I wondered if they would just show the bride or groom that would be related in some way to the Leeches, but I'm glad I was wrong!

THE VAGUENESSSSSSSSSSS OF THE LEECH TWINS DAD LOL. "Various things". Y'know a little something here, a little something there. Quite dynamic.

Aghh their fits all look so good! I would love to wear Riddle's in particular. Of course, Georgina would have an excellent fashion sense for other people.

I love when they describe Yuu's outfit since it's wonderful seeing people imagine how it would fit their own TWST OC, so fun to look at.

And Grimmy! Love his long bow, seems like it might drag across the floor.

AWWWWWWWWWW MALLEUS' FACE ALIGHT WITH SURPRISE AND JOY WHEN GEORGINA SAYS THE COUPLE WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE MALLEUS THERE VIURHUHISIBVFIAU;HSOIES

Malleus, you are my world

Getting into the reason the clothes were chosen for each person, I did see some discussion on Georgina giving context for Riddle's nickname. It is really sweet and I definitely hope Riddle slowly but surely can be more free and feel good about it.

Interesting relationship between Jade and Georgina! It's mostly how I expected it, but the aspect of Jade trying to catch his mom off guard by showing up with a ton of people unannounced is interesting lol. But she was still able to book pretty good rooms for them, so it seems Jade gets close to completely surprise her, but she can usually takes it in stride and adapts. Which makes sense since she has Jade and Floyd as sons.

The main dish of the wedding being a caught crab? Oh poor Sebastian...Also, this also gives context of some art I saw where people drew Riddle trying to catch a crab lol

Of course Rook grabs it first try and Malleus is lightning quick! And Jade is even scarier in how fast he can grab two of them!

And now we're in carriages! Yipeeee! It seems that Yuu, Grim and Rook take one carriage while Riddle, Jade and Malleus take the other.

Okay, I was gonna put my thoughts of the episodes out now in this post, but it's gotten a bit long so gonna post this and do a separate post for Episode 3. Enjoying the vibes! And excited to see what shenanigans the boys will be up to in the city.

[calliopechild]

tag game (I swear I didn't Americanize the spellings just to be Like That, but things kept getting the 'spelled wrong' red squiggle and it was driving me nuts, I'm sorry. Am literally an editor for my day job, and no there is no way to turn it off)

was tagged by @angstsplatter!

1) are you named after someone? Nope! All original, baby

2) when is the last time you cried? Hm. Genuinely can't remember. I'm thinking it was when that 'guy starts lifting weights so he can pick up his granddaughter to help her put the star on the Christmas tree' ad made its annual rounds on here, so maybe Christmas-ish?

3) do you like your handwriting? Print, no. Cursive, yes.

4) what is your favorite lunch meat? Rotisserie turkey

5) do you have kids? No and absolutely never will unless they have four legs and fur #childfree

6) if you were another person, would you be friends with you? I think so? We'd think each other were hilarious, if nothing else.

7) do you use sarcasm? Me?? Never!

8) do you still have your tonsils? Last time I checked

9) would you bungee jump? Not on your life. I did a Tarzan swing once and that was more than close enough for me, thanks

10) what is your favorite kind of cereal? I'm not much of a cereal person these days, but Lucky Charms was a guilty pleasure

11) do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No, and I know it's not good for them but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

12) do you think you're a strong person? I think so?

13) what is your favorite ice cream flavor? Before my garbage immune system decided to betray me yet again (*cries in allergic to milk*), the place near me did a raspberry chocolate chip to die for.

14) what is the first thing you notice about people? Sense of humor

15 ) red or pink? Red. Burgundy, if I can be pedantic

16) what do you least like about yourself physically? Oof. If we're talking internally, my shitty digestive system which makes gaining weight and looking healthier a bitch and a half. Externally, shitty skin; I have lots of acne scars on my back that I hate.

17) what color pants and shoes are you wearing now? Gray leggings and slipper shoes

18) what was the last thing you ate? A burrito

19) what are you listening to right now? The fridge humming and the rain

20) if you were a crayon, what color would you be? Teal

21) favorite smell? Vanilla

22) who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? My parents

23) favorite sport to watch? I have a fondness for football after four years of being a band kid in high school

24) hair color? Dark brown. It's been getting darker every year (I was blond as a kid), and now I'm waiting to see if it'll get fully black before it all goes white, like my great-aunt's did.

25) eye color? Brown/hazel

26) do you wear contacts? I used to, but glasses are just less effort

27) favorite food to eat? Bread in literally any form

28) scary movies or comedy? Comedy

29) last movie you watched? The Mummy

30) what color shirt are you wearing? Blue fleece bc I am eternally cold

31) summer or winter? Summer (see above)

32) hugs or kisses? Hugs

33) what book are you currently reading? How Not to Die by Michael Greger

34) who do you miss right now? My sister's dog; he lived with me for about a year when my twin nieces were born, and I got used to him always following me around. He's the best boy.

35) what is on your mouse pad? Only a trackpad, sadly

36) what is the last tv program you watched? Bones

37) what is the best sound? Happy dog barks

38) rolling stones or the beatles? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

39) what is the farthest you have ever travelled? To Scotland! Which is about 3,590 miles, apparently.

40) do you have a special talent? I was gonna say infinite patience for nitpicky tasks, but I think that's just the neurodivergency. I can fold my arms up behind my back so that my forearms are flat (vertically) along my spine?

41) where were you born? California! *starts humming Beach Boys*

42) people you hope will participate in this but don't have to?

@inmydefenestration, @guineapigfluff, @shadows-shells, @yoursarethesweetesteyes, and anyone else who's up for it!

[sixela-sixela-sixela]

Xavier x reader

!!Prompt came from them check them out!!

“You never doubted that you were the most important person in Xavier's life till today”

“Just my luck” you groaned in pain. You were currently in your bathroom sitting on the floor in front of your toilet, you have been vomiting for hours. “Why did I have to eat that sushi,” You frowned regretting your past decisions. For whatever reason you thought it would be a good idea to eat expired sushi, in your defense you thought one day past the dew date wouldn't be that bad. Well, you were very wrong.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity you stopped vomiting. “Uhh my stomach, curse you fish,” You said while standing up to go to your bedroom.

You threw your body onto your bed still quenching your stomach. “I should text Xavier” you smiled to yourself knowing he would comfort you through this pain. You reached for your nightstand to retrieve your phone. You quickly send him a text telling him your current situation and requesting that he come over.

You had been waiting for his response for about 3 hours now. “Maybe he's just busy, I hope he is ok.” you thought to yourself, you decided to take a nap to detract yourself from the pain, hoping that when you woke up Xavier would be sleeping next to you.

When you opened your eyes you were disappointed to not feel his arms wrapped around you. You looked at your phone to see if he had texted you back; you smiled seeing an unread text message from 5 minutes ago, “Maybe he's just now seeing my text.” you say.

You opened the message and your smile immediately faded, it read “Sorry I can't make it Mc needs my help right now, I'll get back to you after my love 💙.”

You felt your stomach quench and your mouth water, the feeling being to familiar. You quickly got up and ran to your bathroom, quickly crouching in front of the toilet. Your throat quenched and you felt a tightness in your stomach as you vomited. Contrary to earlier you didn't know if the expired sushi caused this or the fact that your own boyfriend chose another woman over you.

You know they have been working as partners for about a month now, and you never questioned his loyalty to you within that time frame, well till today at least.

You were lying in your bed holding your stomach; you could feel hot tears run down your cheeks. “Did he think she was more important than you, that her problems needed tending to first and yours were only secondary?” The wave of nausea that hit you earlier rendered you unable to respond to his message, and even if it hadn't you really don't know what you would have said anyway.

“if he had to choose me or Mc what would his decision be?” you thought to yourself, If he thought that helping her was primary and your aid was only secondary in just this situation you could only imagine what the future had in store for your relationship.

Sleep slowly started taking over your body and you began drives off to sleep. Deep down you knew if he truly cared about you there wouldn't even be any other choice. He made it apparent that there was another option and it wasn't you it was her, Mc.

[cheshireliam]

Azel Radwan Main Story: Chapter 1

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

I still don’t know what love is. 

But I want to someday fall in love and understand what it is. 

A passionate love like a rose set ablaze, and a fierce love that stays on for eternity like a woven tale. 

???: I see, I see…

???: How utterly laughable.

(... Who is that?) 

The usual dream I had every night changed the night before I set out on my trip to a foreign country.

It was set in a rose garden where the roses were still tightly closed buds. The space felt undeveloped and incomplete.

There stood an unfamiliar visitor, reading an unfinished tale from a book placed on an oak table.

His appearance was otherworldly, unlike that of any ordinary person.

His hair shimmered under the light of the massive moon hanging from the sky, and his eyes seemed to contain a starry sky within.

That divine, beautiful being who seemed to blend well with the dream’s space gave me a mocking grin as I approached.

Emma: What’s… laughable?

???: I have some unfortunate news for you, who yearns for love and thirsts for knowledge of what it is.

???: Love is not the grand blessing it is often proclaimed to be. 

???: Sometimes, it would serve you well to remain ignorant and pure for your entire life. You would find far greater happiness that way.

I didn't know what he read from that unfinished tale. 

But this “something”, who clearly wasn't human, directly and utterly rejected what laid at the very core of my heart. 

Emma: And how can you be so sure of that?

???: Because I am a god. 

(... God?) 

???: I have witnessed many examples of “love”. Not in fiction… but rather the raw, unvarnished love that exists in.

???: Far too often, people use “love” as a means to justify their otherwise unjustifiable actions.

???: It is truly tragic to see people driven mad by love.

???: Even the most rational people become unable to live without it.

???: Like a curse.

Emma: …

???: Judging from this dreamscape shrouded in thorns, you must be a lady from Rhodolite.

???: Rhodolite had such a tale too, did it not? About a king who turned into a beast after losing his beloved. 

Emma: … While the story of the late Belle and the king may have been a tragedy, that doesn't mean all love must end the same way. 

???: Fair enough. However, not all love will end as a comedy either. 

???: Why do you yearn for love? 

Words caught in my throat upon hearing the god’s question.

There was no special reason for my yearning. 

It was nothing more than mere admiration, I had never deeply thought about what love truly meant. 

For the first time, I realised that my yearning was but an empty shell.

???: At the very least, love is something I would very much rather do without.

???: — For I am a god incapable of loving people. 

…

(... Mm…)

Awaken by gentle sunlight streaming through the window, I opened my eyes to see the familiar ceiling of my room in town.

The unbloomed roses and the god who denied love both vanished as though they were nothing more than an illusion.

As I woke up, memories of the dream began crumbling away and were gradually replaced by reality. 

But a fragment of that dream lingered in my heart, refusing to disappear.

(“Love is a curse”... huh.) 

???: Emma, you up? 

A knock on my door banished the remaining drowsiness from my mind.

(This voice… Rio?)

Emma: Sorry, just a minute!

???: Ah, no worries. I’m a gentleman, I’ll wait for as long as you need.

(... I think I just heard a voice that wasn't Rio’s…)

Feeling slightly uneasy, I hurriedly got dressed, washed my face, and tidied myself up before opening the door. 

…

Standing at my front door was my friend, who left his position as a butler to return to town with me, greeting me with his ever so radiant smile. 

Rio: Good morning! You’re absolutely adorable today, as always!

Emma: Yeah, yeah, thanks as usual.

Emma: … What brings you here this early in the morning?

Rio: I came to visit because I just had to see your face.

Rio: And I bought bread. Want to enjoy it together? 

Emma: Thanks, I’d love to. Mmm, smells good…

Rio: It’s from your favourite bakery. They launched a new “fortune bread” today.

Emma: Fortune bread? That’s interesting! 

Clavis: Wait, wait, Emma. We have some more important matters to focus on than bread right now, don't we?

A man forced himself between us and snatched the bag of bread.

(So I wasn't imagining things when I thought I heard another voice.)

I stopped avoiding reality as a means of self-defence and turned to face the country’s most notorious troublemaker— a certain prince with a shady smile. 

Emma: It’s been a while, Clavis. 

Clavis: You could've jumped straight into my arms right off the bat, you know?

Emma: Thank you for kind consideration. Why are you here?

Clavis: Hmm, what do you think?

???: Enough with the theatrics and just tell her already. 

(Huh…?) 

My eyes widened when I saw a tall figure sitting on a wooden crate some distance away.

Emma: Luke’s here too!?

Luke: Oops. My bad, I invited myself into the conversation too early.

Rio: I coincidentally ran into Clavis and Luke earlier on.

Rio: Though, they didn't tell me what they’re here for… 

(I was just thinking it was rare for Rio to come visit me so early in the morning… maybe he’s worried about me.)

Luke stood up from the wooden crate and raised the paper bag he had in his hand.

Luke: Mind if we join you for breakfast?

…

My modest home where I, a commoner, lived was now filled with two princes and my former butler friend…

Our surroundings were both physically and emotionally stuffy. 

Clavis: Emma, you’re heading to Tanzanite soon, right? 

Rio: Ugh… 

The freshly baked bread, along with the sweets Luke brought, bounced slightly when Rio hit his head against a corner of the table.

Clavis: What's the matter?

Rio: … I lose control of myself whenever I hear about that.

Rio: The thought of not being able to see my angel, my goddess, my beautiful fairy Emma… 

Luke: You’re such a drama queen.

(When I first told Rio about my trip, he was completely broken. I guess this counts as an improvement.) 

[ Flashback ] 

Rio: — Emma’s going to Tanzanite…

Emma: Rio, are you okay!? You hit your head on the bookshelf really hard…

Rio: I’m okay… but… why… 

Emma: I’ve heard many stories about foreign countries from the Owner, but I’m most interested in the god who can perform infallible divinations. 

Emma: If such a god really exists, I’d like to meet them even just once. 

Emma: Besides, Tanzanite’s a popular tourist destination. 

Emma: It’s a country in the dessert, but I think it's a good choice of destination for my first trip. 

[ Flashback End ]

(I feel bad for nearly causing Rio to pass out, but…)

(I’ve been really excited every day ever since deciding to travel to Tanzanite.)

Luke: I’m surprised you’re not going with her. 

Rio: The Owner told me to look after the bookstore while she’s away. 

Rio: I really do want to go with her!! What if something happens to her when I’m not there…!? 

Rio: But if staying behind will help Emma feel more at ease on her trip, then I… I’ll… 

Clavis: Haha, you can be rest assured about that. 

Clavis tore off a piece of the bread in his hand and ate it, savouring it in delight before swallowing. 

Clavis: Because we’ll be her bodyguards in your place.

Rio: Oh, is that true? Thank goodness, I feel relieved—

Rio: — Wait, that won’t do—! What is that supposed to mean!? 

(Seriously, what does he mean by that!?) 

I almost dropped my fortune bread but managed to catch it in a panic. 

Clavis: I mean exactly what I said. 

Luke: We’re going to Tanzanite too. 

Luke stuffed a whole honey-coated pastry in his mouth and licked his fingers.

Luke: I didn't wanna go at first because it’s too bothersome, but Chevalier ordered me to take care of some diplomatic matters.

(Going to Tanzanite during this period of time means…)

[ Flashback ] 

Akatsuki: Politics have been unstable lately.

Emma: Is it because of… the Three-Nation  Alliance?

Akatsuki: Yeah. None of the countries have made any moves at the moment, but this feels like the calm before a storm. 

[ Flashback End ]

(... I’m an outsider now, so it’s best for me to refrain from getting involved.) 

Clavis: Since we’re all leaving for Tanzanite at around the same time, why don't you come with us?

Clavis: We plan to take the route that passes through Benitoite. If you ride on the royal ship, your transportation is basically free. 

Clavis: I can already picture you crying tears of joy. Ah, you don't even have to say it, I already know.

Clavis: You’re so lucky to have the privilege of travelling to a foreign country with your beloved Clavis— 

Rio: OBJECTION! 

Rio shot up from his seat with a start in the cramped room and pointed a finger at Clavis.

Rio: People always say that there's nothing scarier than something that comes free. What's your real motive? Out with it. 

(As expected of Rio. That’s what I want to know too.)

Clavis took a deliberate sip of the tea I brewed and paused as though to savour it…

His wet lips then curled into a meaningful and bold smile.

Clavis: What do you think?

Luke: Don't say such things that mess with people. There's no deeper meaning at all. 

Clavis: Read the room, Luke. 

Luke: You read the room. 

Luke: This guy ordered every official to report anything interesting about Emma to him. 

Emma: So you were made aware of my trip to Tanzanite because…

Luke: The official who issued your travel permit ratted you out. 

Emma: Is that not abuse of power!? 

Clavis: What are you talking about? It’s for work.

Luke: This guy found out about your first ever trip and got all “amused” by it. 

Luke: He even volunteered to personally make a trip to Tanzanite, and I got stuck with the job of babysitting him thanks to Nokto. 

Luke: He said “I feel bad for Emma, so I’ll send at least one sensible person to go along”. 

(Thanks, Nokto!) 

Luke: But if you’d rather not deal with his crap, I’ll take personal responsibility to bury Clavis in the woods for you. 

Clavis: No need to worry about that. Emma is shaking with excitement, isn't she?

Luke: … You should get your eyes checked out before we leave the country.

Rio … I’m worried. I’m very worried.

(Since I’m not travelling alone, I should probably discuss this with the Owner…) 

(But with both Clavis and Luke accompanying me, having familiar faces in an unfamiliar land does make me feel more assured.)

After mulling it over, I furrowed my brows and tore the fortune bread in half.

Emma: Oh?

(Something fell out from inside.)

It was a small porcelain figurine that resembled a horse with a horn, standing proudly in my palm. 

Rio: As expected of Emma! You hit the jackpot.

Clavis: Hm… the unicorn is indeed currently considered the continent-wide ultimate symbol of “good luck”. 

Emma: Is that so?

Clavis: Yeah. You should keep it as a good luck charm. What a great start to your journey. 

Clavis: After all, unicorns hold a special symbolism in a country in the desert. 

(I don't exactly associate unicorns with deserts, though…) 

Emma: If that’s the case, it does seem like it’ll bring me blessings.

Luke: You’re always a good person, anyway. Even without a unicorn, I bet lots of positive things will happen to you. 

I gently cupped the unicorn figurine in my hand. 

The unexpected stroke of luck felt encouraging, like it was telling me that my current most honest feelings were right. 

Clavis: So, Emma, you’re travelling together with us, right…? 

…

The gateway to Tanzanite, the country of deserts, divinations and illusions was a bustling port thriving with merchants, much like Benitoite. 

…

Emma: We’re in Tanzanite! 

(Although… I expected more sandstorms because I was told that it’s in a desert.) 

The lively streets looked nothing like a desert.

However, the animals roaming the streets and the people’s clothing were clearly distinct from those in Rhodolite or Benitoite. 

Along with the scent of spices wafting through the air, it was undeniable that we were now on foreign land. 

(We’ve really come a long way.)

Akatsuki: Our destination is still far from here. It’s too early to get excited. 

The Owner, carrying loads of goods for trading, came to stand next to me. 

I was carrying a bag filled with books myself, but it was nothing compared to his load. 

Emma: Should I help carry some of that?

Akatsuki: No need. I usually carry it all by myself.

(That's easily 100 books over there… I can't believe he carries them alone.) 

Clavis: We offered to help too, but Akatsuki sure is hardworking.

Luke: I told Emma I’d help carry her stuff too. 

Clavis and Luke whom we travelled on the same ship with packed lightly as compared to us. 

Emma: Thanks. But since this is my first time sourcing for goods, I want to carry my own baggage. 

Emma: Selling books in a foreign country and purchasing new ones…

Emma: I’m so excited to see how greatly my bag’s contents will change on the way back to Rhodolite.

Luke: Someone’s being really energetic.

Clavis: Akatsuki is lucky to have such a good assistant too.

Clavis: By the way, where are you two headed to after this?

Akatsuki: We’re meeting someone.

Emma: … We are? 

I followed the Owner’s gaze that shifted unnaturally and saw a strikingly beautiful woman standing there. 

(Wow…) 

She wore vibrant ruby red clothing and was adorned in glamorous accessories that rivaled the Owner’s outfit. 

Standing next to her was a bespectacled man with a gentle appearance. He smiled when he noticed us and approached.

Bespectacled Man: We’ve been expecting you, Akatsuki. And this is…?

Emma: I’m Emma, I came as the Owner’s assistant. 

Basil: Ah, I read about you in the letter. A pleasure to meet you, please call me Basil. 

Basil: And this lady over here is Kamal.

Kamal: …

Kamal smiled seductively and pulled out a stack of papers from which she showed me a piece with the words “it’s nice to meet you” written on it. 

Basil: As you can see, Kamal can’t speak. Please communicate with her through writing. 

(I see…)

Emma: Understood. I look forward to working with you both.

Clavis: … Hm.

As we exchanged pleasantries, Clavis stood nearby rubbing his chin. 

Clavis: You must be emissaries of the living god, correct? 

(... Huh?)

Basil: Well done! You noticed right away. 

Clavis: The symbols of faith you wear make it easy to figure out. 

Clavis pointed at his own chest.

Basil and Kamal gestured to their chests too, where the clasps of their cloaks were fastened. 

(... Now that I took a proper look at them, the clasps have unicorns on them.)

(Are those the “symbols of faith”?) 

Clavis: I was told in the past that the unicorn ornaments are worn by those who are close to god. 

Clavis: And a few years ago, I recall hearing about a book merchant Azel especially favoured. 

Clavis: I had my suspicions, but it seems that Akatsuki has some rather prominent clients. 

Emma: Is god… one of your clients? 

Akatsuki: Regardless of whether they’re god or royalty, a client is a client. Nothing more, nothing less.

(He never mentioned this to me!)

The Owner whose facial expression remained unchanged suddenly appeared far more impressive than I had initially thought of him to be. 

Basil: We have always been the ones to guide Akatsuki during his visits to Tanzanite. 

Basil: Prince Clavis, Prince Luke, please proceed in that direction. Emissaries from the Royal Court are waiting for you. 

Clavis: Haha, not only for me but for Luke the newcomer too? How insightful indeed. 

Clavis: Rhodolite didn’t send any prior notice about who would be coming. Is this another prophecy from the living god? 

(...!) 

Basil: That’s correct. Lord Azel is truly impressive. Is this a good time to talk about it? It is, right?

(He suddenly started speaking really fast…) 

Kamal mercilessly smacked Basil on the head as he adjusted his glasses. 

She then took out her stack of papers again and showed us the one that said “let’s go”. 

(... That sounded like she hit hard enough to crack his skull. Is he okay?) 

Luke: Then I guess this is where we go our own ways.

Clavis: I’ll personally come to meet you again, Emma. Before you start crying from loneliness. 

Emma: I don't think I will, but until next time. 

(So… we’re going straight to meet the god now, right?)

(I’m starting to get nervous.)

(I wonder what kind of person a living god is like.)

…

Azel: Thank you for taking the trouble to come all the way out to such a remote location.

Emma: Oh!

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Christmas Reruns 2024–Day 9: A Pirate’s Christmas Carol (1/2)

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and happy holidays if you don’t!  One of the things I love about Christmas is watching reruns of all the old classic Christmas movies–Christmas is a big time for nostalgia.  A few years ago, I decided to incorporate that tradition into my fandom life and post my CS holiday reruns.  So here you go!  Enough holiday (mostly) fluff to get you to New Year’s Day. (With a new story posting on Christmas Day.)

Word Count: 2511

Other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note: This fic was written in 2016.  At the time, it was a “future fic”, but now it’s more of an “alternate” canon fic.  A Pirate’s Christmas Carol (pt. 1 of 2)

Killian admired the Christmas tree from his perch on the couch.  The colorful lights shown to full effect in the last hours of the night when all was still and dark and silent.  Tomorrow was the feast of Christmas, and Swan and the lad were so excited they could barely contain themselves.

Killian had to admit he was curious about this Christmas holiday.  What an odd tradition to bring a tree into one’s living room and decorate it with lights and colorful baubles of all kinds!

The Swan-Jones family had spent a pleasant Christmas Eve with the Charmings.  He and Swan were both strangers to the love and joy of family, and so the traditions of the season were both foreign and delightful to them.  It warmed Killian’s heart to see the incandescent joy on his wife’s faces as she watched her parents open the gift she’d selected for them.

It was all he’d wanted for such a very, very long time—to be with the one he loved, to belong to a family.

At least it was all he’d thought he’d wanted…until the day some seven months past when Swan informed him that he was to be a father a month into the new year. 

To say he’d been elated at the news was quite the understatement.  The thought of having a child of his own was a dream he’d long since despaired of realizing.  He loved Henry as his own son, of course, but there was something fitting and beautiful about creating a new life through the True Love he shared with Swan.

Killian reached for his flask, lying on the end table.  He took a long sip and waited for the burning liquid to calm his frazzled nerves.  Swan slept peacefully in their bed, their unborn son nestled warm and peaceful inside of her, but Killian found sleep eluding him on this Christmas Eve night.

He was happy about the approach of his little one’s birth; of course he was, but he was also bloody terrified.  What did he know about being a father?  His own father had been a piss poor example of what a parent should be.  Killian knew his faults; knew he had a tendency to let emotions rule logic, a tendency toward impulsiveness.  Would he prove to be as much of a disappointment to his son as his father was to him?

The thought made his stomach turn.  Raising a child with Swan—this was one adventure he could not stand to muck up.

Killian had no idea how long he sat there worrying about his inadequacies as a father, but eventually the twinkling lights on the tree and crackling of the fire in the hearth lulled him into an uneasy sleep.

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

“Wake up, Little Brother!” someone said as a gentle hand shook Killian’s shoulder.

“Leave off, Liam!” Killian said sleepily…before the shock of what he’d just said—what he’d just heard—penetrated his sleep-fogged brain and woke him completely.

“Must have been dreaming,” Killian muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes with his good hand.  Likely the day spent with family brought his own lost brother to mind.

A deep chuckle interrupted his musings.  “It’s not a dream, Killian,” came the very definite voice of Liam Jones.  “I’m quite real.

Killian turned, staring open-mouthed as his beloved brother, the man he’d personally seen move on to his eternal reward, took a seat on the opposite end of the couch in his and Swan’s living room.

“H…how are you here, brother?” Killian croaked, too shocked even to feel the intense joy he knew would hit soon.

“Technically speaking, I’m not,” Liam said cryptically.  “I’m nothing but a shade, a ghost if you will.  Your distress has not gone unnoticed.  I’ve been sent to help you, to be your guide of sorts.”

“My guide?” Killian asked, brow furrowed.  “I’m afraid I don’t follow, Liam.  My guide to what?”

“Your past,” Liam said, getting to his feet and extending a hand.  “You could call me your ghost of Christmas past.  Come.  I’ve much to show you this night.”

“But, Emma…” Killian said as he got to his feet as well.  “She’ll worry if she wakes to find me gone, and in her condition—you’re to be an uncle, Liam!—I hesitate to cause her any more distress than is absolutely necessary.”

“Fear not about that, little brother,” Liam said with a gentle smile.  “Your wife and babe will be quite well while we’re gone.  I can promise you they won’t even know you’re gone.  Take my hand.  Do you trust me?”

“Always,” Killian said, finally taking the proffered hand.

Killian suddenly felt weightless, as though he’d taken flight.  He looked down and saw the world below him spin away, as though he were moving faster than the airplane Swan had convinced him to board on their honeymoon.  Were he being guided by anyone but Liam, he’d likely have called out in fright, but he’d spoken truthfully.  He knew he could trust his beloved brother to have his safety and best interest at heart.

Killian had scarcely the time to wonder where they were headed before he and Liam landed gently right in the middle of a jungle.  Killian’s heart dropped to his stomach.  He would never in his life be able to forget this place.

Neverland.

He turned betrayed eyes to his brother, but before he got the chance to reproach Liam, a full regiment of Lost Ones whooped and hollered as they tore through the forest…stopping just outside Baelfire’s cave.

“Pan’s waiting for you,” the leader, Felix, called into the opening of the cave.  “He’s ready to play.  Are you ready to play Baelfire?  It’s not wise to keep Pan waiting.”

Killian stepped forward, hand fisted, hook raised, but before he could confront the psychotic bullies, Liam stopped him with a hand to his sleeve.  “They can’t see or hear us, brother.  We merely watch events already transpired.”

The thought was surreal…but not nearly as surreal as watching himself, fully attired as a pirate, complete with vicious scowl and finely sharpened hook bound onto the scene and step between Baelfire’s cave and the Lost Ones.

“Not today, mates,” the Hook from the past growled, raising his signature weapon threateningly.  “You’ll have to do without Bae for your sport.”

“Think carefully, captain,” Felix snarled.  “It’s unwise to cross Pan.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Hook said.  “Now return to your demon master, lest you feel the bite of my hook.”

Felix looked as though he wanted to argue further, but then his eyes fell onto the sharpened hook.  Evidently deciding he didn’t wish to go up against the infamous Captain Hook, the Lost One turned away, motioning his followers to do the same.  “You’re going to regret this Captain.  Pan will not be pleased.”

Hook watched until the Lost Ones were out of sight, and then gave a sharp rap to the stone surface that functioned as Baelfire’s front door.  A moment later teenage Bae came into view, looking as though he didn’t know whether to thank Hook—or to go off on him.

“Thanks,” Bae said finally. “Thanks for making them leave.”

Hook waved off the thanks, reaching up to scratch at the spot behind his ear.  “It was no trouble, lad,” Hook said.  “Things may have gone…badly…at our last meeting, but I wish you no harm.  I wish to ensure your safety while we are trapped on this accursed island.  It’s what your mother would have wanted.”

Bae shot him an inscrutable look.  “How can I trust you?  Just yesterday you let the Lost Ones take me from your ship!”

Killian reached into his bag and pulled out a large pastry.  “I mean you no harm, Baelfire.  I never have.  Please accept this cake as a token of my commitment to protect you.”

Bae continued looking at Hook, mouth set in an angry line, but finally he nodded ever so slightly, reaching out to take the proffered gift.  “Thanks,” Bae said

Killian felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned back to look at Liam.

“Come little brother,” Liam said.  “We’ve yet one more stop to make.”

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Killian felt the soaring, speeding sensation once more, and when he came to a stop, he found himself in the Charmings’ loft.  He looked around and saw himself and Swan seated together on the loveseat, their hands entwined.

“Now if you need anything, anything at all don’t hesitate to call.  If you can’t get ahold of me, you can always call your father at the sheriff’s station,” Mary Margaret said, agitation clear in every fiber of her being.  “Oh I hate leaving like this!  If I didn’t still have Christmas shopping to do, I’d never go, but…”

Emma got to her feet, went to her mother and patted her shoulder.  “Don’t worry, Mom!  Killian and I will be fine.  Little bro will be just fine with his big sis.”

“And though I might not have as much experience with newly born babes as one might wish,” Killian said, standing and putting an arm around Emma, “I look forward to spending time with the little prince.  No harm will come to your lad while your daughter and I are caring for him.”

“Besides,” Emma added.  “It’s Christmas Eve!  Even the Snow Queen wouldn’t dare attack on a day as magical as today.  Go!  Enjoy your shopping.”

Snow looked unsure for another moment, and then she nodded, giving first Emma and then Killian a hug.  “I won’t be more than an hour.  And don’t forget!  Call me if you need anything!”

“Goodbye, mom,” Emma said, gently steering Snow toward the door.  “And don’t rush.  Killian and I are excited about staying with Neal.  Enjoy yourself!”

With one last worried look back at them, Snow finally left the apartment.

Killian smiled as he watched the hour unfold.

“Pleasant memory, brother?” Liam asked.

“Aye,” Killian said, nodding to his other self, holding a sprig of mistletoe over Emma’s head and then leaning in for a long, slow kiss.  “As you can see the first quarter of that hour, while the prince finished his nap, was spent in quite the pleasurable manner.”

“So it would seem,” Liam said with a sly grin.  “My prim and proper lieutenant brother has learned how to comport himself around the ladies.”

Killian grinned back.  “Aye, so he has.  Although this particular woman, my true love, never ceases to keep me on my toes.”

“As I said back in the Underworld, Killian,” Liam allowed.  “I was wrong about Miss Swan…or should I say Mrs. Jones?  Love quite becomes you, and I have my charming sister-in-law to thank for that.”

“More than you know, brother,” Killian said, thinking about the years of pain and vengeance he’d given up when he met Emma.

A cry shattered the tranquility of the apartment, and Emma pulled her mouth free from Killian’s with a groan.  “Guess someone’s up, and he doesn’t sound like he’s in the mood to be patient for his lunch.  I better go get him.”

Killian stopped her with a hand to her arm.  “Let me, love.  You’re far more expert at using the miniature heating box to prepare Neal’s bottle, and I’ve developed quite a fondness for your tiny brother.”

Emma laughed and pecked him once more on the lips.  “It’s called a microwave, Killian,” she said, moving in the direction of the kitchen.

“What a thoroughly illogical moniker,” he responded as he headed toward the little nursery off of the Charmings’ bedroom, the sound of Swan’s continued laughter following him about his task.

“Let’s follow,” Liam said, heading toward the nursery, “this is the moment I particularly wished to bring to your memory.”

Killian walked expertly to the cradle, reached in and maneuvered hand and hook beneath the infant, lifted him, and then placed him in the crook of his arm.  Neal stopped crying as soon as he was in Killian’s arms.

“There you are, my little prince,” Killian crooned to the child as he slowly walked back toward the apartment’s common area.  “Have you a smile for your Uncle Killian this afternoon?”

The little one continued peering up at his sister’s boyfriend, content but stoic.

“He’s too young to be smiling yet,” Emma said, coming up behind him and looking at Neal over Killian’s shoulder.  “Won’t start that for another month or so.”

“So it seems,” Killian agreed, turning his head to kiss her gently.

“Want me to feed him?” Emma asked, reaching out for the baby.

Killian sat back onto the couch.  “That’s quite alright Swan,” he said, reaching for the bottle, “I’d quite like to do it myself.”

“Suit yourself ‘Uncle Killian’,” Emma said, curling up next to him, laying her head on his shoulder, and reaching over to hold little Neal’s hand.

“Come, Killian,” Liam said, putting an arm around his shoulders, “it’s time we return to your home.”

A moment later, Killian found himself back in his own home, seated once more before the fire and the magnificent Christmas tree.  Liam stood before him.  Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but he looked less solid, less corporeal than before.

“You sense it, do you not, brother?” Liam asked.

“Pardon?”

“You sense that my time with you is nearly over,” Liam said.  “I’ve completed my task, shown you what you needed to see.”

“No!”  Killian said, getting to his feet, trying to reach for Liam; his hand went right through his brother.  “I’ve only just found you again.”

“I’m afraid I must go, Killian,” Liam said with a bittersweet smile.  “Paradise calls to me.  But brother, I know what’s troubled you this night.  I know your fears about your coming son.  You mustn’t be afraid; you will make a tremendous father. Until I see you again in the life to come, brother.  Farewell.”

And with that Liam faded gently away, his exclamations of delight the last thing Killian heard as his brother returned to his place in Paradise.

Notes:

–So this story is obviously based off of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”.  That’s always been one of my favorite Christmas stories (and movies), so I thought I’d see if I could turn it into a CS story.  In this version, of course, the returning “ghosts” haven’t come to convince Killian to give up his miserly ways before he ends up dying miserable and friendless (and taking a one-way ticket south), but rather they’ve come to show Killian that he doesn’t need to fear his coming fatherhood.

–Up next:  Killian is visited by two more ghosts—one showing Christmas present and the other showing Christmas future. Will these ghosts—one a face very familiar to all of us, and one of them not—succeed in calming Killian’s upcoming fatherhood fears?

NEXT CHAPTER->

[sakuyomihana]

⋆˙⟡ Tangled Threads Of Hearts ⋆˙⟡

Hello everyone~! Chapter 3 is finally out!! Apologies for the long wait~ As usual, a big thank you to all the readers who have supported this series since day 1! I hope to be able to continue this series and finally accomplish a small dream of mine. Thank you for supporting Tangled Threads Of Hearts~ *Disclaimer: This is an original work done by me. Pls do not steal it or repost anywhere else. Thank you and have a happy reading day~!

Chapter 3: Reunions & Longing

Year 2023, Spring

Location: Xianzhou Luofu, Divine Cloud Estate

  Two months have passed since you started your first semester of the year.. Over the last two months, you had gotten better acquainted with a certain silverette and were now the bestest of friends. Even your other friends had gotten along with him pretty well, thus making outings with your mutual friends group more livelier and often. Today just so happened to be a chill day for you to relax at home, since it was the weekend and you had completed all of your assignments. Sprawled out comfortably on the couch in the living room, you were scrolling through whatever social media apps that you had on your phone with Mimi laying next to you on the ground below.

The house felt a little empty minus the ticking sound of the wall clock that kept you company. Both of your brothers’ weren’t home today, with Jing Yuan being at the enterprise and Yanqing was out at his tuition centre. You were supposed to be glad that your affectionate older brother wasn’t home, however, you felt a little lonely today.. Not that you would let your brother know of this. The servants of the house were all smiling and stifling their laughter in amusement at how adorable their young lady was acting today. Of course, you pouted whenever they pointed it out. To add on to your misery, there were no new messages or calls from your dearest friends, leaving you to your lonesomeness.

Groaning, you toss your phone aside and face planted on the couch. As if acknowledging how you are feeling, the lion nuzzled its snout into your hair and licked your face.

“Ahaha! Mimi, that tickles!”.

The lion let out a happy grunt, happy that it had successfully made you laugh. Taking the chance of having this big floof ball right here, you decided to exact your revenge from all the jump scares that he had caused you. Nuzzling into its fur, you took a big sniff of its comforting smell and cuddled it. The lion squirmed and whimpered as it tried to escape your clutches, but to no avail. In the end, it succumbed to your endless teasing. Servants passing by were all laughing at the lion’s failed attempt of escape, nonetheless they were happy to at least see you back to your usual self. You were no different from your brother in displaying your affections, that was something that you agreed on.

It was then you felt your phone vibrate beside you.. Ceasing your attack, you let the poor lion go and picked up the device. After what seems to have been an eternity since you last received a text message from someone, there was finally one now. You thought it was from either Caelus, March or even Seele, informing you about the latest gossip that they have heard from their peers but it wasn’t. To your surprise, it was a text from your dear friend and rising superstar, Robin.

“ Robin <3

 Robin:

Hey there, [Name]! 

It’s been a long time since we last met, how are all of you doing?

You:

Hey there, Robin! 

Yeah, it sure has been a really long time since we last met! My brothers’ and I are all doing well, Gepard too. What about you?

Robin:

That’s great (＾▽＾)!

Yes, brother and I are both doing well too!

Actually, I wanted to ask if you are free to hang out sometime soon.

You:

Glad to see that you are both doing well~

Of course, we can hang out any time!

Robin:

Wonderful (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ ~ ”.

You had met Robin back in middle school, alongside her twin older brother, Sunday. The both of you hit off pretty well, with her kind and outgoing personality, you instantly became the bestest of friends. Much unlike her brother who was unapproachable and had this condescending air around him. When you first met the halovian siblings, you thought they looked absolutely stunning with their little wings sprouting from behind their ears, their halo glistening under the sunlight and the aura they exuded was of high society. 

You may be of high society yourself, however you don't see yourself compatible to be friends with them. It was not until Gepard, who was the only friend that you had at the time, pushed you to step out of your comfort zone and talk to them. Robin, being the sweetest girl that you have ever met, immediately jumped at the opportunity to be your friend whereas Sunday, who under the guise of a polite smile, gave you the sting eye for trying to approach his beloved sister.

Just then, the sound of the door opening plus the scattering of footsteps snapped you out of your reverie. Sensing the familiar presence from around the corridor leading to the living room, you immediately leaped out of your seat and jumped straight into the person's open arms. Your brother was taken aback by your sudden action but there was a rush of affection in his heart, he was happy, delighted even. Chuckling as he hugged you back, he finally felt at peace. Nothing else mattered at this point..

A few minutes later…

“[Name], were you that lonely without me at home today~?”.

Jing Yuan decided to tease you a little, in turn, he received a whack from you. He chuckled again as you finally lifted your head to look at him with a tiny pout evident on your lips. He knew you were gonna deny it later, so he chose to ruffle your hair affectionately.

->>>>>>>>>

  Earlier today, your brother had received an invitation from the Family to attend a party hosted by the Dreammaster in Penacony. Knowing that you had friends there, Jing Yuan wanted to bring you along. He decided to get off work early today and invite you for a little date to choose an outfit for the event. Coincidentally, that was what Robin had messaged you about.

“Sure but…”, you started hesitantly.

You were grateful that Robin had reached out to you, however, you feel yourself unworthy of attending such a large scale event that was meant for business partners to attend. You couldn't see yourself mingling with the crowd, let alone stand there side by side with your brother who was more well known than you were.

“Brother, are you sure that I can attend such an event with you? I’m far from having made any contributions to the banking enterprise..”.

“Nonsense, my dear. You are far more than worthy to attend it with me, besides, you have Robin there with you no?”.

“Yes.. but..”.

“*sigh* [Name].”, he said firmly.

You expected him to be disappointed with your actions, so you kept your head low.

“[Name], look at me.”, he placed a gentle hand on your head.

Timidly, you slowly lifted your head and was greeted with a forlorn, yet gentle smile. Gently patting your head, he turned his gaze towards the setting sun outside.

“Brother?”.

“[Name], you do not realize how important you are, both to me and the enterprise. Your presence in my life was what made me able to keep on moving forward no matter what obstacles I have to face, in order to give you the happiness that you deserve. So [Name], don't think so lowly of yourself. This big brother right here would be nothing without you as my backing and support.”, he pulled you into a comforting and loving hug.

Melting in his embrace, you felt your eyes start to blur. Closing your eyes, you reciprocated with a squeeze of your own.

“Mm.. Thank you, brother.”, you said with a silent ‘I love you’ echoing at the back of your mind.

“Haha. No, rather it should be me that's thanking you for having grown up into such a refined and beautiful young woman. Thank you, for staying by my side all these years. Father and mother are surely proud of the person you have become.”, he lightly chuckled.

The heartwarming atmosphere that made every servant in the house tear up was then interrupted by none other than your younger brother, who had just returned home from his tuition centre.

“Big brother and big sister, what are you guys discussing about? And I want to join the hug too!”.

Jing Yuan and you couldn't help but laugh at the sudden interruption, before indulging the boy’s request.

A few moments later..

“Robin <3

You:

Hey, Robin.

Yes, I’ll be attending the party with my brother. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Robin:

Splendid!

I’ll let my brother and father know! See you there~ ”.

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Penacony, Dewlight Pavilion

  Hearing a light chuckle across from him in the living room, Sunday curiously looked up from the book that he was reading.

“Dearest sister, may I inquire on what has your attention?”.

“Oh, pardon me. I was conversing with [Name] over text, does Brother remember her?”, Robin explained.

“Ah yes, Mr Jing Yuan’s little sister.”.

Of course, he remembered you. How could he not. The young lady who he failed to recognize at the start as the younger sister of Xianzhou Luofu Banking Enterprise’s head and showed you unruly disdain for conversing with Robin back in middle school, despite the sheer resemblance. He shook his head and bit back a chuckle from the memory.

“[Name] said that she’s going to be attending the party too! I can’t wait to see her again~”.

Seeing his sister beaming with happiness, he couldn’t help but let out a smile.

“I’m sure that she will be delighted to see you.”, Sunday reassured her as he placed the forgotten book on his lap.

“Honestly.., I was worried that she would turn down the invitation.”, she started hesitantly as she stood up from her place on the sofa and walked over to the window behind her.

“And why is that?”.

Placing her hand against the cold glass surface of the window, she stared back at her own reflection and placed her clenched fist against her chest.

“I know that [Name] tends to view herself lowly as compared to others, she’s always like this… That’s why I am glad that she had agreed to attend.”.

Knowing full well of what she meant, Sunday closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. You were truly different as compared to everyone else that he had ever met in his life, maybe it was because of your upbringing and background. Being the youngest of your family at the time, you had witnessed so many despair and hardships. You only had your older brother to look up to and at a young age, he took up the failing family business and brought it back to its former glory. Sunday never knew what your parents were like, but he could sense that they were kind and gentle like you were.

In fact, before he discovered who you really were, he had at some point grown accustomed to your presence and grew to like you over the years. He has Robin to thank for letting his view of you change for the better, if not he will feel conflicted with his emotions. Considering how similar the situation was for both you and him in the past, he fell deeply in love with you. He wishes to keep both you and Robin safe from the harshness and cruelty of the world, he wishes to give you a better life that you deserved, thus he seeked further guidance from his adoptive father and current dreammaster of Penacony, Mr Gopher Wood. However, he knew it was going to be difficult to get your brother to agree to this relationship as the man did not particularly seem to like him. He could easily use the power bestowed upon him to force your brother to change his mind, but he decided against it as it felt underhanded to use a tactic like this. He wanted Jing Yuan to genuinely like and approve of this relationship before deciding to court you, if all else fails, not to worry as he always plans ahead to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

“Robin, do not worry. I’m sure that with you by her side, she will have no reason to not attend.”.

‘And mine too.’.

He will make sure of that, one way or another. He wishes to see you again after all…

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Xianzhou Luofu, Divine Cloud Estate

  It was finally the day of the party... You were currently dressing up with the help of your personal maids in your room. With your maids being the biggest supporters of the operation on helping you find a beautiful husband, they were practically prancing around your room to find the perfect outfit from your newly replenished wardrobe. You have your older brother to blame for this. A few nights prior, your brothers’ and you had gone out into the city to find matching outfits for the party. It had originally been a small date between you and Jing Yuan, however, your younger brother had asked to tag along. Of course, who could resist the adorable little pout that Yanqing gave when Jing Yuan said he couldn’t go. Thus, the date that was meant for two became three.

Now back to the issue at hand, your beloved older brother had personally asked your maids to doll you up as beautifully as possible. Extravagantly if you might add. Sighing, you just let them do their thing, since you have already promised them to let them do as they please. Laid out before you on your bed were the dresses that you had newly bought, amongst them there was one that you particularly like. Seeing that your maids were taking a while trying to decide on which one to pick, you suggested the one that you had your eyes on. No harm in trying right?

“Xiao Lan?”.

“Yes, milady?”.

“How about this one? I particularly like this design.”.

All of a sudden, their eyes lit up with a flash of inspiration.

“But of course, why did we never think of it?! It suits the lady to a tee~”, Xiao Xue exclaimed in excitement.

The other two nodded in agreement at the realization.

“We should hurry and let the sire kn-”.

“That won’t be necessary.”.

You smiled at the maids as they looked at you in confusion. Well, that was true actually. When you were picking your outfits that day, your brother had been eyeing this dress for awhile since you had entered the store. Not to mention, Yanqing too. Upon mentioning it, your brother immediately asked you to try it out in the changing room and lo and behold did you look beautiful in it, as if this dress was made just for you.

You knew that your brother would obviously pick an outfit that matches with this dress and you were not disappointed with the outcome.

->>>>>>>>>

  ‘Knock, knock!’.

Coupling with a few gentle knocks, your brother’s voice could be heard from the other side of the door.

“[Name], may I come in?”.

“The door’s open~”.

With a soft click, the door swiftly opened revealing Jing Yuan and a pouting Yanqing standing in the hallway. Chuckling as he pushed the young boy in, your brother signaled for your maids to leave before gently picking up the dress that still laid on your bed. Casting a glance at your brother’s getup, you snorted an amused chuckle at how lazily his blazer, shirt and tie were done.

“Dear brother, are you in such a hurry to see this sister dress up in thy beautiful dress that you had bought to match with your own?”, you teased.

Deciding to play along, Jing Yuan held up the dress and gestured gentlemanly towards the full length mirror that decorated the wall next to your walk-in closet.

“Why yes~, dearest sister. I wanted to dress you in this magnificent dress with my own two hands and help out with styling your hair for the occasion. Am I not allowed to do such honors?”.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he faked a hurt expression. ‘This big baby~’, you thought. Placing a finger to the bottom of your lips, you feigned a thoughtful expression.

“Hmm.. Then, what about Yanqing?”.

The pouting boy finally looked at you and Jing Yuan at the mention of his name, realizing that he needed to say something, he quickly turned his head to the side desperately hiding the blush that had crept up to his cheeks as he whispered.

“I-I… wanted… t-to… help o-out.. big sister too..”.

‘Aw..’, you and Yuan both internally squealed out how cute he was.

“C-can’t I?’.

“Of course, you can~”, you cooed.

“What about me?”.

“In exchange, you let me redo your tie for you and make you look more handsome and presentable~?”.

“*chuckles* Deal~”.

Silently apologizing to your maids who supposedly wanted to help you dress up, you promised to make it up to them. Letting your brothers dress you up, Yuan with the dress and hair, Yanqing with picking the accessories and lastly, getting your makeup done by Fu Xuan. Fu Xuan, your brother’s fiance and also your soon to be sister in law, had come over to accompany or rather babysit your younger brother. She and Jing Yuan had both gone a long way back, meeting in college to working side by side in the current Luofu Banking Enterprise as partners and lovers. Just a year ago, he proposed and she accepted, making her his fiance. Although she was usually swarmed with work as the COO, otherwise known as the chief operating officer, she still made time to drop by and visit the family. You honestly love her since the day you met, with her being the only one tolerable and also with the ability to remain steadfast towards your brother’s antics. Despite her strict and up-tight personality, she was still gentle and caring on the inside. They may quarrel sometimes but they both know what’s in their best interest and make up afterwards.

Arriving just in time before your brothers’ can touch the makeup materials on your dressing table, Fu Xuan shooed them out of the room and worked on the final touches of your outfit and your makeup.

“There.. All done.”, she said as she finished applying a light pink lip gloss to your lips.

Proud of her work, she got you to open your eyes and allowed your troublemaker brothers’ back into the room to witness her masterpiece. A small gasp escaped your lips as you stared back at your own reflection.

“I-is this… truly me?”.

As if on cue, Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan both said the same thing.

“Yes, it is. This is not an illusion, [Name]. It is really you in all your glory.”.

“You look absolutely stunning, my dear.”.

“Big sister looks so beautiful..”.

That was all it took to give you the confirmation you needed. A stray tear slipped down your cheek, tears began brimming at the corners of your eyes. You did not intend to cry, however it felt like a dam had burst as you finally let loose of the feelings that you had kept inside for so long. All these years of constant downplaying on yourself, never truly understanding what people had seen in you and outside of you. You thought that they all were just being polite, as you were the sister of a renown figure in the business industry. You were indeed both beautiful on the inside and on the outside, the you now made you more radiant than ever before.

“Oh come on, you are gonna ruin the makeup that I had painstakingly put on you! Come now, dry your tears. You would not want to show up at the party with puffy eyes and ruined makeup do you?”, despite her sharp tongue as she chided, you know that it was because Fu Xuan deeply cares about you.

With comforting words, you finally managed to smile. You truly felt loved and blessed to have such a wonderful and loving family…

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Penacony, Grand Theatre

  Decorations adorned the once empty theatre, chatters could be heard from all four corners of the building. Busy greeting guests from all around the world who have come to attend the party, Sunday had a perfectly crafted smile etched on his face as he conversed with guests after guests. Although tired, he still remained professional and composed, afterall he would not want to disgrace the Oak Family’s name. A couple of distance away, was his younger sister who was also effortlessly engaging with the crowd. Robin was supposedly performing on stage tonight, wanting to let her get some rest, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Brushing past the crowd without letting a single crease form on his pristine suit, he was about to reach her before his attention had shifted to something else or rather someone from afar. Golden irises widened in astonishment, as if time itself had just stopped. The young woman he had once known, had become even more breathtaking and elegant than before. The dress highlighted your curves perfectly, the light makeup enhanced your natural beauty and the light pink lip gloss made your lips look more plush and kissable..

‘Insolent!’, he thought at the last minute. Successfully reeling himself in, he had his wings covered his already rosy cheeks as he tried to calm and composed every fibre of his being to not snap out of control.

‘Goodness, gracious..’, he could not believe that just your presence alone was able to break the facade that he had held up for so long. He could not believe himself either.. That was how deeply he had already fallen for you, your presence today had reignited the dormant feelings within.

“Brother? Are you alright?”.

Snapping out of his reverie at his sister’s voice, he cleared his throat.

“*ahem* I am fine, dearest sister.”.

Still albeit concerned, Robin decided to just leave her brother be. More importantly, there was someone who she was excited to see again. In truth, she knew who had caught her brother’s eyes at that moment. Back in their final year of middle school, she had an inkling that you were the one who had tugged on Sunday’s heartstrings and she was proven right by the many encounters where her brother seemed extremely engaged in his conversations with you. Chuckling at the fond memories, she then turned to give her brother a push.

“Robin..?’.

“Come on, let’s go greet them!”.

Standing amongst the crowd of renowned business partners, you felt a little small at the immense pressure that was thrown at your face when it comes to greeting them as you have never met them before. Leaving the conversations and introductions to your brother, who happily indulged, you stayed close by and occasionally nodded and spoke when the conversations veered towards you. More often than not. Sensing that you had grown slightly uncomfortable, Jing Yuan politely excused you and himself from the conversation and led you to a quiet corner for a breather.

“That must have been too much for you on your first social event. I’m sorry, [Name].”, your brother apologized for not getting you out of it sooner.

“Mm, I’m fine. I should be the one that’s saying sorry in these circumstances, I caused you to cut a potential business deal short.”.

“Nonsense, taking care of you and worrying for your safety is second nature to me. There’s no need to apologize, besides I did not like how that man was eyeing you since the start of the conversation.”, you could hear the annoyance in his voice as he scoffed at the offender.

After a short reprieve, you managed to convince your brother to get back to mingling with the crowd and chastised him to stop worrying about you as you were sure that Fu Xuan is waiting for some good news on new business ventures. Leaving you to your own lonesomeness, you stayed away from the crowd as you slowly sipped on the glass of mocktail in your hands. Noticing that your glass was empty, you were about to get up for a refill when a pair of familiar hands handing you another glass filled your line of sight.

“..Robin?”.

“Hehe~ It has been a long time, [Name]!”, the halovian before you exclaimed.

Nostalgia overtook your senses as you immediately pulled her into a tight hug, not caring how others looked at you in this very moment. Reciprocating your action, Robin returned with one of her own. Off in your own little bubble, you failed to recognize the other halovian standing behind her.

“*ahem*”, the said male cleared his throat, gaining your attention.

“A-ah, I didn’t see you there.. My apologies, it has been a while, Sunday.”.

“It’s quite alright.. Either way, it’s a pleasure to see you again, [Name].”.

Smiling teasingly at you two, Robin nudged him closer and pulled all three of you into a hug.

“R-Robin?!”.

“W-woah?!”.

The hug was albeit awkward, however, he was glad that he got to hold you close. Something about it brings him peace and calms his nerves from the sudden contact. The three of you then broke off and began chatting like old times. Occasionally, one twin would leave to tend to some guests and the other stay when their presence was required, in hopes of keeping you company and to an extent, spend some alone time with you. You were grateful for it and was bemused by their actions. After a few rounds of to and fro with Robin leaving the group, the lights in the theatre finally dimmed. A stray light flashed towards the centre of the stage, a loud round of applause resounded across the room as Robin took the stage.

“A very warm welcome to everyone who has taken the time to attend this special event today. I hope that everyone of you has enjoyed your stay thus far and please look forward to this special concert that the Family has prepared for you! Thank you!”.

The next couple of minutes flew by like a blur, as performers performed one after the other. Finally, it was Robin’s turn to shine. As her gentle voice filled the theatre, everyone in the crowd began slow dancing to the beat. Your brother had opted to look for you, rejecting any offers to a dance, as he wanted to do it with you. However, he was beaten by a certain halovian. He may dislike the man but it didn’t matter if you were fine with it.

“My lady, may I have this dance?”.

“S-sure.”.

Initially, you were shocked that Sunday had asked you for a dance. You thought that he would not mingle with you, but on a closer thought, you had forgotten how much closer the two of you had gotten since the day you had met, thanks to Robin. The thought that currently sticks out the most was, ‘Is it alright that I’m dancing with such an important figure in Penacony?’. Shaking the thought away, you turned your focus back on the dance, wanting to enjoy the moment tonight.

“Is there something bothering you?”, he inquired.

“It’s nothing. I just want to enjoy the night.”, you wondered if he could read your mind.

“Is that so? Then, I hope that this night will be a night to remember for you.”.

Making small talks as you let the halovian take the lead, his steps matching yours to ensure that you do not injure yourself. You danced with him a little longer before your brother whisked you away, proclaiming that he is your next partner as the current song came to an end. The time spent with you may have been short but it was fulfilling, such as having your lingering warmth etched upon his skin..

End of Chapter 3: Reunions & Longing.

********************