#And not just anybody but the once and future king

[a-page-full]

Once more I need to talk about Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun! Specifically about Mephisto.

As such, manga spoilers ahead!

I've been thinking of the Scala exam a lot recently, and about Mephisto's reaction to Iruma. I realized that this is the first time in the manga that we see someone contrast Iruma from Delkira instead of compare him to.

If you think about it, it is often repeated through the series about how similar Iruma is to Delkira. Asmodeus saw him as Delkira during his first evil cycle when sitting on the throne. Repeatedly Sullivan sees Delkira in Iruma. Amduscias saw Delkira in Iruma during the musical festival. We are pretty consistently reminded the similarities between Iruma and the previous Demon King. It's kinda like we start to see Delkira as this amazing, never wrong being.

I think that is why it is so shocking when we get Mephisto's view point on the very beginning of Delkira as Demon King. For the first time, we see someone viewing Delkira in a negative light. We see Delkira be greedy and selfish enough that someone was essentially fired from the position that they had held for centuries. Mephisto was cast off on the whims of Delkira.

I think it is so interesting that it takes hundreds of chapters to get to this point. When I first read it, it felt wrong. Like 'that's not right.' Iruma is compared so often to this person that seeing something negative about them feels off putting. It's a reminder that Delkira was not perfect.

I also think that is why the conversation between Mephisto and Iruma is so beautiful. Mephisto realizes how different Delkira and Iruma are from each other, and because of those differences, Mephisto sees a future king in Iruma. That Iruma cares so much that he would never cast aside anybody. Everybody is important to him no matter who they are. This is the first time we finally get someone looking at Iruma as a future demon king because he is different from Delkira.

No one means ill by comparing Iruma to Delkira. Instead everybody means the highest respect by doing that, but there is something so refreshing about Iruma being seen as a future leader for being Iruma. For being greedy in a different way. Instead of making it all about himself and his desires, his greed stems from wanting everyone to be happy and fulfilled.

I was not expecting this outcome from the Scala exam. Initially I was very wary of Mephisto, but now I've come to love his character. He just wants to feel needed again, and Iruma offers that without even realizing it. Iruma is so clueless to the impact he has on the demons around him.

I hope my rambling was coherent. Basically, I am really excited for the series to continue and to see how this all progresses. To see Iruma continue to make a name for himself, as himself. This manga is just so beautifully done.

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU (SERIES 2)

FIRST PART (SERIES 1) >> PREVIOUS PART >> NEXT PART

(My apologies in advance, I couldn't write the smut, but I know exactly how it went, so you may ask me any questions related to their first time in the comments)

Merlin is no strange to waking up next to Arthur. He's been sleeping in his bed for over a week after all. They also slept next to each other back in the farm, back in Ealdor and everytime they camped outside.

Waking up curled up together after they have given theirselfs to one another, in body and soul, is an entire different experience. He wakes up with a smile plastered on his face. He feels like in a dream, floating, but also like falling. It's the kind of feeling is so overwhelming it's painful, but it's painfully pleasant.

Arthur's arms are around him, his naked chest against his back. Merlin turns in his arms slowly, needing to see him, needing to make sure that it happened, that this is real. The pain in his lower back as he moves is enough to confirm it though.

Merlin: (groans in pain)

Arthur: (opens his eyes slowly and then smiles) Hey.

Merlin: Don't "hey" me. You destroyed me!

Arthur: (chuckles) I don't recall you complaining. In fact, I clearly remember you constantly crying for more.

Merlin: Shut up!

Arthur: And changing positions was not my idea.

Merlin: I just wanted to be more comfortable!

Arthur: I'm just saying, I wanted to be gentle and you didn't let me.

Merlin: Yeah, because I totally forced you. My mistake. (tries to get up, but Arthur's arms are steel around him) Arthur.

Arthur: (eyes closed) Uhm?

Merlin: I have to get your breakfast.

Arthur: Let someone else do it.

Merlin: (chuckles) How can I tell someone else to do it if stay here?

Arthur: Then get it later.

Merlin: I also have chores to do.

Arthur: No, I give you the day off. Sleep.

Merlin: Gaius may need me.

Arthur: Sleep.

Merlin: (smiling) Alright.

Merlin wishes he could stay like this forever. Eventually though, Merlin has to get up and Arthur too.

Merlin slightly limping around the castle doesn't go unnoticed to anybody, nor Arthur smug smile everytime he catches Merlin limping. Already used to the rumors and the eyes on him, Merlin can't mind less though.

It turns out he should have.

In Arthur's chambers. Leon knocks on the door, but no one answers, so he enters.

Leon: (entering) Your highness, I'm sorry for entering like this but- (notices no one is there) He must still be in the meeting with the king. (notices there are flowers petals on the floor and spots a chemise on the floor) ... what? (walks to it and picks it up. Sighs in dissapointment) So the rumors are true.

Merlin: (enters)

Leon: (Quickly hides the chemise behind his back)

Merlin: Leon? What are you doing here?

Leon: I-I was looking for the Prince.

Merlin: (rolls his eyes) He's still discussing with Uther how to execute Kendrick for what he attempted to do to Morgana, or rather dicussing ways to torture him before the execution. They'll probably just let Morgana decide his punishment in the end. (notices Leon is holding something behind his back) What do you have there?

Leon: (too quickly) Nothing! 😅

Merlin: ... Okay? Normally I would run around you until you show me, but, I'm too sore and tired for that. (about to start tidying up the room)

Leon: What are you doing?

Merlin: Cleaning?

Leon: Didn't Arthur give you the day off?

Merlin: He did, but knowing him he'll probably just let this room dirty and messy until tomorrow, so I rather do it at once before it accumulates.

Leon: I'll call other sevants to do it!

Merlin: Is not really a problem-

Leon: I insist! You rarely have a day off, you should enjoy it as much as you can.

Merlin: (unsure) Arthur doesn't like other servants cleaning his chambers.

Leon: He doesn't have to find out it wasn't you. And if he does, I'll tell him it was my idea. Go enjoy your free day, you deserve it.

Merlin: (smiles) Thank you, Leon! You are such a good friend. (leaves)

Leon: (sighs in relief, but also feels bad) No, I'm not a good friend... (searches around the room for whatever thing could give away Arthur's affair, while he talks to himself) He's been limping since this morning, but if Arthur slept with this lady last night, then when...or could it be... (opens his eyes wide) WAS HE WITH BOTH?! 😨

Time skip. In the stables.

Princess: (neighs happily as he watches Merlin aproaching)

Merlin: Princess! (caresses her head) How's my Baby Plum doing? Have they been feeding you well? I missed you so much! (joins their heads fondly)

Lancelot: (who was close by, aproaches) Seriously, how do you do it? She's only ever this sweet with you.

Merlin: I don't know. Maybe is my weird connection to nature.

Lancelot: (pauses) It was the trees who warned you about the bandits, wasn't it? Back in the woods.

Merlin: (nods) Their voices are... stronger everyday. It's not bad, just... weird. Sometimes they talk to me as if...

Lacelot: As if what?

Merlin: As if I was one of them.

Knight x: (passing by) Lowering your standars now that the Prince replaced you, I see.

Merlin: What?

Knight x: (just laughs and leaves)

Merlin: (turns to Lancelot) What is he talking about?

Lancelot: (nervous) Uh...

Merlin: (crosses his arms) Lance, what is he talking about? 😑

Lancelot: Well... you know how you and Arthur weren't exactly discret when you showed affection to one another yesterday?

Merlin: Yes, we are always like that.

Lancelot: Yeah, the problem is that yesterday you weren't you. You were Lady Merelyn, remember? So... they think Arthur cheated on you with her.

Merlin: WHAT?! 😨

Lancelot: Look. I don't have all the details. You know I don't really enjoy gossip. But, as far as I know, most of the nobels are making fun of you, the servants pity you. Oh, and the Unicorn Catcher defenders are diminishing Arthur's affair, saying you are still the favourite, though they dread you could lose your position.

Merlin: I see...(sighs) They like gossip, uh? (grins) I'll give them gossip.

Meanwhile. Arthur walking in a hallway, encounters Leon.

Arthur: Oh, Leon. Have you seen Merlin?

Leon: I encountered him in your chambers about an hour ago, sire, but I don't know where he could be now.

Arthur: Thank you-wait, what were you doing in my chambers.

Leon: I needed to speak to you privatly, sire. About... an urgent matter.

Arthur: Which is?

Leon: I... well... (sighs, frustrated and starts pacing)

Arthur: (between confused and worried) Is... everything alright?

Leon: (stops pacing a turns to Arthur with decision) May I speak freely, my lord?

Arthur: Uhm... sure. Go ahead.

Leon: You are my Prince, but you are also my friend. You earned my oath and my repect, not just because of your title, but because I grew up with you and I got to know the kind of man you are. For years I admired your honorability, your honesty and your loyalty.

Arthur: Thank you, that's a really nice thing to say. But what does it have to do with-

Leon: But I'm not seeing this man right now!

Arthur: ... I beg your pardon?

Leon: When the knights and visiting nobels said you'd start sleeping with other people eventually, I never once believed it! Because I've seen your love and devotion for Merlin from the start! I believed you uncapable, because I thought you valued honor and fidelity. But I guess I was wrong.

Arthur: What on earth are you talking about?

Leon: Of your affair with Lady Merelyn!

Arthur: (finally understanding) Ooh! (laughs)

Leon: You think this is funny, my lord?

Arthur: No, no! It's just. Leon, you got it all wrong. I was never unfaithful to Merlin.

Leon: Really? (pulls out the chemise) Then what was this undergarment doing in your chambers, Sire?

Arthur: Okay, I guess it does look bad. But I swear is not what it looks like-

Leon: You don't own me an explanation, Sire. And I won't tell Merlin anything because my loyalty stays with you above else. But I fear everyone in the castle already knows of your affair, so if you don't want Merlin finding out by other source, you better be honest with him. (bows) Sire (leaves)

Arthur: (shouts) Leon, is not- (cuts himself, thinking) Wait, I shouldn't tell him before I consult it with Merlin first. And I don't think he would believe my word even if I explain.

Time skip. In the training field, Arthur about to start training with the knights.

Merlin: (arrives with a serious face, wearing his old clothes)

Knights: (look at him with mockery)

Knight x: (whispering) You see that?

Knight y: (whispering) That's why you can't rely on affection to get you up the ladder. The higher you are, the harder the fall will be.

Arthur: (turns and smiles) Merlin! I've been looking everywhere for... (notices Merlin's wearing his old clothes and frowns) Why are you wearing that?

Merlin's wardrove has improved since Arthur's been gifting him better clothing from time to time. Nothing too extravagant, Arthur made sure the clothes matched Merlin's simple style, but they are elegant enough to let everybody know about Merlin's status as his lover. Before, Merlin would wear them just in especial events or ocassions and it was when they finally got together that he started wearing them more often. So seeing Merlin in his old clothes is... unsettling.

Merlin: These are my clothes, my lord.

Arthur: You have better clothes now.

Merlin: The ones you gifted me, I'm aware.

Arthur: Then why aren't you wearing them?

Merlin: The thing is, my lord, I don't want anything from you.

Knights: 😧😧😧😧😧😧😧😧

Servants around: 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

Arthur: (very confused) What?

Merlin: (face contorts in rage and hurt) You thought I would never find out of your affair?! How could you do this to me?!

Arthur: (nervous and very scared) Merlin, I swear is not what 😰-wait, you already know! 😠

Merlin: And you have the nerve to say it so lightly! (covers his face and pretends he's crying) I thought you loved me!

Arthur: (in panic) I do! (runs to him) Merlin, the lady they're talking about, you must know it's- (about to put a hand on his shoulder)

Merlin: (gets his hands off his face and shouts) Don't touch me! If you want to have more lovers so be it, but I don't want you to touch me ever again! We are over! 😡 (leaves dramatically)

Arthur: Merlin! (runs after him)

Knight y: It seems the lady didn't catch his attention for long.

Knight x: How can the prince stoop to running after him?

Knight z: So… is the training cancelled?

Meanwhile, in some hidden place of the castle.

Merlin: (enters)

Arthur: (right behind him) Merlin, please listen to me! Is not-

Merlin: (turns) Are we alone?

Arthur: (more confused) What?

Merlin: There's no one here, right?

Arthur: No, I don't think so.

Merlin: Oh, good. (relaxes)

Arthur: (takes his hands) Merlin, I would never EVER cheat on you. I love you too much for that. You must have heard wrong! The lady they are talking about-

Merlin: Is Lady Merelyn.

Arthur: Yes, and... wait, you know?! 😨

Merlin: Of course I know! I'm not stupid. I know you would never cheat on me.

Arthur: (in relief) Oh... okay...(shouts, furious) THEN WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?! 😡

Merlin: Shh! Not so loud, you're going to ruin it!

Arthur: Ruin what?

Merlin: The act.

Arthur: Act?

Merlin: My offended lover act.

Arthur: Again. What?

Merlin: Everyone thinks you cheated on me with Lady Merelyn. Obviously, I can't tell them I impersonated a Lady. They would make more fun of me and your dad would have me killed for sure. But I can't have them thinking you are losing interest in me or that I don't have any kind of dignity either, so... I decided to give them a show. 💁‍♂️

Arthur: And you didn't think of giving me a warning before making your show? I thought you were actually leaving me!

Merlin: (feeling bad, holds Arthur's face with one hand fondly) I'm sorry, I really didn't want to scare you, but I needed your reaction to be genuine. You are not as good at lying as me.

Arthur: (thinking) You'd be surprised... (sighs, still kind of mad, but puts his hand over Merlin's) You do realize your show consists in making me look like a scoundrel, right?

Merlin: Nobody thinks you are scoundrel.

Arthur: Leon thinks it.

Merlin: Well, he is the only one. (gets his hand off Arthur's face and sighs, crossing his arms and with slumped shoulders) Everyone else thinks you have the right to have all the lovers you want. That I should be grateful that you still show any interest in me at all after "Lady Merelyn"... And they are right. After all, you are the Prince and I just a servant.

Arthur: That's not true!

Merlin: It is true. But is not the only thing we are. And yet that's the only thing they see.

Arthur: And since when do you care what other people say or think?

Merlin: (explodes) Since we are together! It's not like I don't know how things are. Even if I wasn't a servant and a commoner, I'm still a man, so it's not like we can marry or anything. I know our relationship can't be formal or official in any way, but I want it to be at least taken seriously!

Arthur: ...

Merlin: (composes himself) So... I think a couple of weeks of cold shoulder should be enough. Then you can give me some luxurious gift, I pretend to forgive you for your "affair" and that would be it.

Arthur: (rolls his eyes) The only time you ask something luxurious of me and is for this charade. And you will give me the cold shoulder for two weeks? Really?

Merlin: Just when people are looking? In private we can still be very affectionate. 😏

Arthur: 😒

Merlin: Please? 🥺

Arthur: (sighs) Fine. But tell Leon the truth. I can't handle his disappointed look anymore.

Merlin: I will (hugs him, happily) Thank you. 😊

Arthur: (smiles without been able to help it and hugs back, thinking) He doesn't have the right to be this cute.

Time skip. In the main square.

Merlin: (walking with Gaius' herbs in a cest)

Gwaine: Excuse me, have you seen-

Merlin: (turns)

Gwaine: 😦 ...

Merlin: What? Do I have something on my face?

Gwaine: Do you have a sister by any chance?

Merlin: No, why?

Gwaine: It's just... you look very similar to a girl a met yesterday.

Merlin: (crosses his arms) Are you saying I look like a girl? 🤨

Gwaine: No, no! I mean, you are... very masculine for a... uhm... what is that you do?

Merlin: (about to tell "The prince's manservant", but decides to keep that information to himself for now) Physician apprentice.

Gwaine: Oh, you are Gaius' apprentice?

Merlin: You know him?

Gwaine: I'm sharing a room with another pair of men in his tower.

Merlin: (laughs in amusement)

Gwaine: (laughs too, realising his choice of words) I guess it kind of sounds bad.

Merlin: No, it sounds funny. (pauses) wait...(fakes surprise and excitment) OH! You must be one of the famous saviors that rescue Lady Morgana yesterday! 😃

Gwaine: (smugly) Well, I wouldn't call myself "savior". I did what anyone would have done in my place.

Merlin: Not anyone. What you did was very brave. (pats his arm)

Gwaine: (blushes a bit, thinking) What is this? She looks so much like this lady that I'm confusing him with her. Get yourself together!

Merlin: So, are you looking for Lady Morgana?

Gwaine: Pardon?

Merlin: You said you were looking for a girl, I'm assuming it's her.

Gwaine: Oh, no. I'm looking for the lady that was accompanying her, actually. Lady Merelyn. Do you have any idea of where she could be?

Merlin: Uhm... not really. Nobody has heard of her since yesterday.

Gwaine: (frustrated) It's like she vanished into thin air! (sighs) I told her she couldn't trust that prince! I bet he discarded her as soon as he learned she was tainted by that bandit. And he wasn't even faithful to her. Did you know the prince has a male lover.

Merlin: (gasps) Really?

Gwaine: And his manservant of all people! Look, I don't judge. I myself had my flings there and there. And I do appreciate men beauty. But reject a woman like Lady Merelyn for a man? Really?

Merlin: (chuckles) She got you bad, uh?

Gwaine: Me? (snorts) Nah, I'm just a bit worried about her, it's all. She mustn't be coping well after, well, everything. And she may need a shoulder to cry on, if you know what I mean. 😏

Merlin: (chuckles) Good luck with that. (turns to leave)

Gwaine: (stops him) Oh, let me carry that for you. (points the cest)

Merlin: (lifts his eyebrows in bewilderment and then smiles, amused) Still confusing me for a girl, I see.

Gwaine: Not really. But as I said, I also appreciate men beauty. 😏

Merlin: (mouth open)

Gwaine: (very surprised) It's incredible! You even have her expressions.

Merlin: Oh, so I'm a replacement then.

Gwaine: No, I-

Merlin: Are you even into men or are you so desperate to have this girl that you would lay with anyone that resembles her?

Gwaine: I didn't mean to-

Merlin: Offend? Because that's the only thing you've been doing since you open your mouth.

Gwaine: (sighs) You are right. My apologies.

Merlin: (turns to leave)

Gwaine: (puts himself infront of him) Can I point out something though? (gets closer) You never once said you weren't into men 😏.

Merlin: I am into men. (looks him up and down) But I have taste.

Gwaine: (brings a hand to his chest dramatically) Ow! You hurt my feelings. How am I going to survive this? Ugh! My heart, I can't bare it! (drops himself on the ground)

Merlin: (thinking, fondly) He really hasn't changed a thing. (kneels and says) Are you done?

Gwaine: (opens one eye) This isn't working isn't it?

Merlin: No.

Gwaine: (chuckles and lifts his back from the ground) Come on, at least let me invite you a drink for the troubles. I know I good tavern nearby.

Merlin: (smiles) Of course you do, Gwaine.

Gwaine: (smiles back but then frowns) Wait... How do you know my name?

Merlin: I would gladly accompany you (extends a hand)

Gwaine: (takes his hand with a triumphant smile)

Merlin: But you see... (pulls his hand away and speaks in a more high pitched tone) I'm still waiting for my ring. (shows his ring finger in a very girly manner)

Gwaine: (Gwaine exe has stopped working) 😨

Merlin: (lifts his head and spots something behind Gwaine) Oh, hi Arthur! 😊

Arthur: (just arrived, very hectic, in barely contained fury and with labored breathing)

Merlin: (stands up and frowns, worried) You look like you just came from a race. Is everything okay?

Just moments before in Arthur's chambers. Arthur on his desk.

Arthur: (thinking, while looking at a parchment) The kidnapping attempt on Morgana was handled. Then what? Is Morgause coming already? No, the troll was first and then... (slams the scroll on the desk, frustrated) Ugh! I can't remember! (stands up and decides to go to the window to take a breath. While he does, he spots Merlin very afar coming back with Gaius' herbs, relaxes inmediatly and smiles) He shouldn't be walking this much. Is he still limping? (smirks and starts to have no so good thoughts remembering their first time together and then forces himself to snap out of them) Damn you, Merlin. I can't concentrate nor when you are here, nor when you are not.

Someone knocks on the door.

Arthur: (turns, but stays near the window) Come in.

Leon: (enters, head down, very ashamed and embarrased) Sire. (bows)

Arthur: (sighs and crosses his arms, serious) I'm assuming Merlin already told you.

Leon: I have no words to express how sorry I am-

Arthur: For what exactly? Thinking ill of me? Believing in some rumors before my own word? Or for basically insulting me on my face?

Leon: All of it. I'm really sorry. I didn't recognise Merlin when he was... and then all the proof seemed to indicate... But that's not excuse. I failed as a knight and as a friend and will never forgive myself for-

Arthur: (laughs)

Leon: (lift his head in confusion)

Arthur: Keep going, you were getting to the best part.

Leon: (more confused) Uh... well...

Arthur: I'm joking. I'm not mad at you. I probably would've thought badly too if I was in your place. And, though it hurt my feelings a bit that you believed me capable of being unfaithful, I'm actually more glad that you care for Merlin so much you called me out on my supposed love affair. So thank you, for caring for him and for not mincing words to tell me when you believe I'm doing wrong.

Leon: (smiles, releaved) You are welcome, Sire.

Arthur: It also has come to my attention that not all the knights think like you. (tells Leon to come to the window with a gesture) Tell me... What do the knights think of Merlin?

Leon: (hesitates) Uhm...

Arthur: I want complete honesty.

Leon: Well, knights like Sir Innprudence, Sir Ewan and Sir Owain, may they rest in peace, respected and valued Merlin because they witnessed your story from the start. They got to know Merlin and knew the depth of your feelings. It's really a shame they never got to see... (his eyes water) I'm sorry. (wips a tear away)

Arthur: (puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and gives him a soft empathetic smile) It's okay. You were there when... when the questing beast happened, so I know it's not easy to talk about them. Take your time.

Leon: (pauses to compose himself and then continues) The thing is, most of the knights we have now are new. And for them Merlin is just your whim of the moment, a bed warmer, nothing more. They would never dare to harm him or insult him, much less if you are looking, but they do insult and talk ill of him behind Merlin's back. I'm not going to go into the details, but their thoughts on your relationship are not different from your father's.

Arthur: So they think Merlin is using me just for riches and power and that I'm using him just to get laid.

Leon: To sum up, yes sire.

Arthur: And Merlin is aware of this?

Leon: Sire, when is Merlin not aware of something?

Arthur: True...(sighs) And I guess me showing affection towards "Lady merelyn" didn't help with that. (looks guilty)

Leon: Merlin doesn't blame you, sire.

Arthur: But I should've been more careful. I promised I would cherish him and protect him and... (thinking) and somehow I still ruin it.

Leon: You can't change the past. What matters now is that you are doing something to remedy it. Merlin also told me about his plan.

Arthur: You mean his "offended lover act"? Yeah, that's why I'm keeping my distance. I still think this is absurd, but if he is so invested on this charade, then I'll support him.

Leon: (smiles, proud) You are very mature, sire. Merlin is very lucky to have someone so wise and considerate as his lo-

Arthur: THAT LECHEROUS BASTARD! 😡

Leon: ...excuse me, Sire?

Arthur: (points through the window, furious) There! Look!

From Arthur's window, they both can appreciate Merlin and Gwaine interacting.

Leon: I'm sure they are just talking, my lord.

Arthur: No, I know his kin, he's flirting with my Merlin!

Leon: You just met the man yesterday.

Arthur: Look! They are laughing!

Leon: Maybe he told him a joke.

Arthur: (mouth open) No... he didn't just... He patted his arm! 😤

Leon: A very friendly gesture.

Arthur: (fuming)

Leon: As I was saying, is admirable that you support and respect Merlin's idea no matter what-

Arthur: (leaves running)

Leon: (sighs) Well... at least Lancelot will have a new partner at the stables.

Back to the present.

Arthur: (grabs Merlin and pulls him away from Gwaine, a possesive arm around Merlin's waist)

Merlin: (looks at him, confused) Arthur?

Gwaine: (still on the floor, mumbles to himself, looking at Merlin and Arthur) The prince's mistress... The prince's male lover... the... OH! (finally puts the pieces together)

Arthur: (to Gwaine) You. What do you think you are doing? 😑

Gwaine: Uhm, you know, (puts his arms behind his head and crosses his legs, smiling) taking the sun. With a beauty by my side. Until you interrupted us.

Arthur: Don't be ridiculous. Stop harassing Merlin.

Gwaine: (offended) I'm not harassing anyone!

Arthur: I saw you holding his hand and also how he pulled away uncomfortably from you. In my language that's harassment.

People around: (who have been staring for a while, start to murmur between them)

Merlin: Arthur, relax. He wasn't-

Gwaine: (stands up) What is the problem your highness? Feeling insecure?

Arthur: (about to lunge at him)

Merlin: (stops him, puting himself infront of Arthur, hands on his chest) Arthur, no.

Gwaine: (raises hands as in surrender) I mean, I get it. Any man would feel insecure with this face the gods have blessed me with.

Arthur: (struggling with Merlin) Insecure? of you? (scoffs) Why should I feel insecure about a simple foreign who has no honor or a coin in his pocket. A nobody whose only reason for being in the castle is because he got into a fight with some bandits.

Gwaine: (standing tall, raising his voice) This nobody was able to defeat the bandits that even the royal guards couldn't! But don't worry, I don't expect your gratitude. (looks at Merlin) Your lover's gratitude is more than enough for me. (checks Merlin out shamelessly)

Arthur: (furious) Now you are dead! (tries to lunge at him again)

Merlin: (his arms around Arthur now to stop him) Don't! Arthur, please! (spots Lancelot and Leon in the distance and yells) Lancelot, Leon, help!

Lancelot: (runs to help Merlin to contain Arthur)

Leon: (who ran downstairs as soon as he saw Arthur had no intentions to be civil, hurries to help Merlin to contain Arthur too)

Gwaine: Leave him! I want to see if the prince's skill is as praised and to check if he is really the best warrior in Camelot. Although considering the skills of the royal cavalry, I highly doubt it.

Arthur: I can show you whenever you want! (struggles harder against Lancelot and Leon hold)

Gwaine: Yes, you're probably used to beating all your knights. The difference between me and them is that I'm not going to hold back, nor will I let you win for fear of losing my position.

Leon: (very offended, about to talk in defense of his prince) You-

Merlin: (raises his voice, angry) Enough! Gwaine, you're being very disrespectful. You're talking to the Prince of Camelot. How dare you insult his skills? He's the greatest knight I've ever seen. Arthur has worked and trained very hard since he was a child. You have no right to talk to him like that.

Leon and Lancelot: (look at Merlin, the person who disrespects and insults the prince 24/7, like he growed a second head)

Gwaine: Are you going to slap me again, my lady? 😏

Arthur: He slapped you?! 😨 What did you do to Merlin to make him slap you the first time?! 😡 (struggles even harder, more furious)

Merlin: (to Lancelot and Leon) Take him away.

Lancelot and Gwaine: (start dragging Arthur away)

Arthur: (keeps kicking and screaming as he is dragged away) Let go of me! I'll kill him! What did the fuck did you do?! 😤 (and he's gone)

Merlin: (turns to Gwaine, very serious) No, I'm not going to slap you, but if you keep insulting him I will hit you and not like a lady. (leaves)

Gwaine: Wait, I didn't get your name! (watches Merlin leave, still with a grin on his face) Damn.

Percival: (gets to Gwaine walking through the people gather for the conmotion) I should have know it was you who was making such scandal. (looks in the direction where Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot and Leon left) Was that the prince? What trouble did you get yourself into this time?

Gwaine: (innocently) I don't look for trouble. Trouble finds me.

Percival: Sure 😒. Have you decided what are we going to ask the King yet?

Gwaine: Oh, I know exactly what I'm going to ask.

Meanwhile, somewhere inside the castle.

Merlin: (very angry) What the fuck was that?!

Arthur: (very angry too) I should be the one asking! (to Leon and Lancelot) You let go of me already!

Lancelot and Leon: (let go)

Merlin: I'm not the one who almost beated a man in the middle of the main square for no reason!

Arthur: (almost shouting in disbelief) No reason?!

Merlin: Gwaine went too far with his words, I won't deny that, but you were agressive with him even before that. You weren't just acting like a clotpole or a dollophead, you were hysterical!

Arthur: (very sarcastic) Hysterical?! Why would I be hysterical?! It's not like I just witnessed a man flirting with you from my window, that said man insulted me on my face, and then you prevented me from putting him in his place!

Merlin: He wasn't-wait, you were watching me from your window? 😦

Arthur: Don't change the subject! (accusingly) What were you doing with Gwaine?

Merlin: Nothing! We were just talking.

Leon: Sire, may I suggest-

Arthur: No, you may not.

Lancelot: (opens his mouth)

Arthur: You neither! (to Merlin again) I'm just saying you weren't exactly rejecting his attentions back there.

Merlin: First you say I was being harassed and now you say I was flirting. Make up your mind, will you? (pauses, realising) Wait... you are acting like this just because you are jealous? Really?

Arthur: (sarcastic) No, I'm not jealous, Merlin. It's not like you have given me reasons. Or have you?

Merlin: (stony face and neutral voice) You are right. I have given you none.

Arthur: (realises Merlin now is really, really mad, thinking) Fuck.

Lancelot and Leon: 😰😰

Arthur: Merlin-

Merlin: For your sake I advice you to choose your next words very carefully.

Arthur: It's not that I don't trust you. I just want to understand. Merlin, when I arrived you... you were holding hands!

Merlin: So? I'm a man, Arthur, not a woman. I can have contact with other men. Stop treating me like some maiden or damsel in distress!

Arthur: (yells) I DON'T TREAT YOU LIKE A MAIDEN, I TREAT YOU LIKE MY LOVER!

Merlin:...

Lancelot and Leon: ...

Servants around: 🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢

Arthur: (takes a deep breath to compose himself, just barely, and says in a deep voice) I treat you like my lover, because that's what you are. My lover, my Merlin, MINE. So forgive me if I'm offended to see MY lover holding hands with another man, a man who has clearly shown his interest in you!

Merlin: ...

Servants around: (murmur)

Leon: (coughs) As I was trying to suggest before, maybe you should take this argument to somewhere more private, my lord.

Time skip. Arthur and Merlin alone in Arthur's chambers.

Merlin: Gwaine met me as Lady Merelyn and today I revealed it to him she was me. That was it. We were joking. It was a joke, nothing more.

Arthur: So what history do you have as Lady Merely with Gwaine?

Merlin: Arthur.

Arthur: I'm not saying you were unfaithful. But I did hear something about a ring in that joke of yours and he said you slapped him, so you can't blame me for being curious.

Merlin: (sighs) He did flirt with Lady Merelyn, alright, but never overstepped. He just did a few compliments there and there. But then Lancelot told him I was "the prince's mistress" and I guess his pride were wounded because he started to talk bad about you. That's when I slapped him and gave him a piece of my mind.

Arthur: And the ring part?

Merlin: Well, in our argument, he kind of claimed he could give me "comittement" so I asked "where's my ring?"

Arthur: WHAT?! 😨

Merlin: To shut him up. I knew the kind of man Gwaine was from the start. As soon as I mention the ring he panicked and stopped bothering me.

Arthur: (gives a long sigh)

Merlin: Are you calm now?

Arthur: I'll be once he leaves this castle.

Merlin: Why? I just told you his interest was in Lady Merelyn, not me.

Arthur: He flirted with you as a man too, Merlin.

Merlin: He was joking! He just wanted to mess with you. And of course you let him get to you as the clotpole you are!

Arthur: ...

Merlin: What?

Arthur: That's really what you believe, don't you?

Merlin: Well, why else would he do it?

Silence.

Merlin: Look, I've been walking all day and I'm tired. So I'll be in my room resting while you think about your behaviour today. (leaves, going to his chambers)

Arthur: (murmurs to himself, incredulous) He has... no idea. (laughs dryly) He really has NO IDEA.

Arthur's flashback. Percival visiting Gwaine's grave.

Arthur: (aproaches Percival) Percival.

Percival: My lord.

Arthur: I believe I own you an apology. I was so self absorbed in my grieve, that I didn't notice you were grieving too. Gwaine was my friend too after all, one of my best knights, but I haven't properly shown my respects till today.

Percival: It's alright, sire. We all know what Merlin meant to you. (smiles sadly) He meant a lot to Gwaine too.

Arthur: (nods) Gaius told me Gwaine scorted Merlin to the Crystal Cave. He was there for him when I wasn't and for that I'm grateful. He didn't deserve his fate. What Morgana did, using Eira to get information from him and then torture him, it has no name.

Percival: I don't think he ever cared about Eira.

Arthur: He went after Morgana after her execution, did he not?

Percival: Yes, but no because of her. He was torned because he was fool enough to tell her he was taking Merlin to the valley of the fallen kings. As far as he knew he had almost doomed Merlin with his carelesness. And then Morgana finished to get all the information from him when he tortured him with the nathair, so he died thinking he failed him.

Arthur: (smiles sadly) I guess I can relate to that feeling.

Percival: (gives a small nostalgic laugh) I don't think he ever got over his crush on Merlin in that sense.

Arthur: WHAT?! 😨

Percival: (surprised) Oh, you didn't know?

Arthur: That's... that's impossible! He was a womanizer. I mean, I've only ever seen him with women.

Percival: Yes, but he was into men too. He was never discret about it, but men who like men do not abound pricesly. And it's true he had a preference for women, but... Merlin was always especial, you know?

Arthur: ...

Percival: Are you alright, my lord?

Arthur: Were they... were they ever...

Percival: No, I don't think so. He always came to me like a kicked out puppy everytime Merlin rejected his advances. Though I'm not sure Merlin ever realized Gwaine's flirting was serious. Either way he clearly had no insterest in Gwaine, so eventually he gave up.

Arthur: ...

Percival: My lord?

Arthur: (forces a smile) I have to go. It was nice talking to you. (leaves)

Percival: ...

End of Arthur's flashback.

Finding out Gwaine's feelings for Merlin was a breaking point for Arthur. His memories with Gwaine and Merlin interacting were more clear. Where he once saw friendly behaviour, he detected the flirting . And those memories started hunting him as much as Merlin's last words to him. They made him grumpy, upset and later he discovered why.

Arthur was jealous. Jealous of a dead man. Because he got to flirt with Merlin, he got to show his interest in him even though he was rejected. And it was him Merlin went to when he was vulnerable, without his magic, it was him he asked to protect him when he went to the Crytal Cave and not Arthur.

And, inevitably, the more aware he became of his feelings for Merlin, the more his hatred for Gwaine's memory grew.

Now Gwaine has shown interest in Merlin again, maybe even stronger than before, and , of course, Merlin as the clueless clotepole he was can't see it cause, apparently, he is unable to notice when someone has any romantic interest on him.

But now Merlin was his. He worked very hard to get him back and he is not going to let Gwaine take merlin from him.

...

It may seem funny, but Arthur's jealousy here is actually pretty toxic and I'm not going to sugarcoat it.

Credits to my best friend Rosangela, who help with the dialogues.

Arthur's reaction to Gwaine brazenly flirting with Merlin ✅️

Etiquetas @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity , @lucifertookmyshoe @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @starrieisdelusional , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 , @hairdryerducks , @curiously-lazy , @harriettesthings , @andrealux16 , @wacko-weirdo , @greatdonutenemy , @yougottobekittenme , @anxiousosaurus , @kinkforwings , @someweirdassnamee , @impracticalantlers , @miyriu , @hobipabo , @whitemaskcd , @bogslob , @braziiis , @rubinaitoart , @thebigoblin , @toomanyfanficsbruh , @farmboyprince , @nonsensefunsense , @slightly-psycho-multifan , @jxmimac , @anarchelsworld , @beepbeep-yeah , @faithiikins

[leah-lover]

Royal support final part.

Jenni Hermoso x Alexia putellas x royal!reader.

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

You could cut the tension out with a knife. With the future of our relationship at stake neither one of us dared to talk about it. 

“ How about we eat something first. Are you hungry?” asked Jenni with the sweetest expression on her face. 

You wiped your tears away by the back of your hand and noded in agreement. 

“ What do you say to a grilled cheese and smoothie?” Asked Alexia while her hand caressed your cheek. 

“ Only if I get to watch you two make it for me.” 

“ Of course princess.” 

The tree of you headed to the kitchen where you sat on a stool near the counter and watched as your girls made and plated your snacks.

“ Careful it's hot.” Warned Jenni but it wasn't fast enough. You had already burned your tongue slightly. You fake cried which led Alexia to come to your side and blow on your tongue to alleviate the pain. You took her lips in for a searing kiss like you did earlier in the night. 

“ You can't leave the royal family. It's everything you have ever known. We can't have our relationship weighted by such a heavy burden.” Said Jenni from the other side of the counter 

“ I know how much you guys love football so I can't ask you to leave that either.” you add. 

The air was filled with sadness. Neither one of you dared to speak of the third option. 

“ I can't imagine my life without the ability to taste you again. I love you carino.” Added Alexia with a look of sadness you have never seen before. 

You thought to yourself for a moment. What could you possibly do to contain this relationship? You have a duty  to  your country and to  your people. You are the heir to the throne. You are required to have heirs and uphold the status quo the family kept for so many years. You are required to rule and be present. You can't keep sneaking from the palace to see your lovers who are now prominent public figures. 

“ Five years.” You say. “ Five years is the amount of time left in your careers right?” 

They both nod in confusion.

“ We prioritize our professional lives for 5 years. And once you two retire and escape the limelight and craziness of fans, you live near the place, become friends of the crown, we can live, travel together, have lunches and dinners without anybody suspecting a thing. Just two women who have been long term friends with the queen hanging out with her. You would have fulfilled your dream career and I wouldn't make a big sacrifice.” 

They both look at you puzzled. You can't understand their expression or what is going on in their mind. 

“ But If you are the queen you need to marry and have children.” Said Jenni. 

“ I will sort that out, a marriage for appearances. We would only sleep together to have one baby.” 

Alexia suddenly turned very possessive. 

“ You are mine.” She said, 

“ I am yours and Jenni's and nothing is going to change that. I will only sleep with you and come on your terms.”

“ Will we see each other in these five years?” 

“ Yes but not as often as we do now. Just think about it please?” 

Each one of you spaced out in their own world and not another word is spoken for a long time. 

—-------------

Seven years later. 

“ Her Majesty the queen has announced that she is now on holiday when she spoke to the media on her last appearance at the butterfly foundation this afternoon. She has stated that  after 2 years of being queen of Spain a holiday is in order so that she can be present with her husband and her  5 years old son Alexis.” Said the article given to  your secretary which You just approved. 

You then leave your office. 

“ Ale, come on we need to go.” You semi yell to get your child’s attention. 

Once he joines you, you make your way to the car where Antonio is waiting for you. 

“ king fredric is already in the albeniz palace your highness.” said Antonio. 

“ Good, take me to my lovers then.” 

La mareta was a mansion far away from the palace and it was where your girlfriends were waiting for you. The 2 time world cup champion, 5 time ballon d’or winner Alexia putellas turned Alexia putellas Hermoso after she married her teammates and long time partner Jenni Hermoso who has now turned Jenni putellas Hermoso 5 years ago., was at near the pool with a laptop on her lap writing her long time awaited book when you entered the mansion. 

“ amor I am home.” You announced as you made your way inside the house. Your son ran to find Alexia while you spotted Jenni and ran towards her too. You locked her lips with yours as soon as you got to her, her hands were on hips while yours were on her shoulders. “ I missed you amor.” You say when you broke off the kiss. “ You won't feel like that ever again “ she responded before kissing you again. 

Your kiss was interrupted by sounds of laughter coming from the pool so you two went to check it out only to find Alexis in the water with a fully clothes Alexia. 

“ Mama, I didint mean to push mummy in the pool.” Pleded your son. 

You were surprised when Jenni pushed you too and jumped in herself. And in a  pool of laughter you greeted your other lover with a kiss. 

“ Welcome home.” She said when you two separated. 

She was indeed true because from that point on you found a sense of stability in your relationship. Your son grew up and when he was old enough you step down from your duties making him king while you lived the rest of you days at la mareta with your wives. 

[sillysonata]

I REALLY love your Zelda AU! But I wanted to ask more about Link's family? I mean, did they die, or are they maybe still around? Because I've been thinking myself, maybe Ganondorf was raiding a village and killed someone villagers. And they found Link as a baby in his mother's arms. He was gonna kill him until he saw the mark. And if Link were to ask him about his parents, Ganondorf would somehow mix the story and make him believe he killed his entire village with that mark as a baby? Orrrr am i completely off? (I'm a little bit of a writer sooo :-))

soo this is a rlly interesting question & I love ur take!!!

Links father is a silent, cold and bitter blacksmith; he had always wanted to be a knight for the royal family, though in ganons quest for power no matter who he hurts he threw him and prolly other peasants trying to leverage themselves up under the bus. Yikes

His mother was a traveler, which is probably where he gets his curiosity from.

links mom is gone; his father was busy fighting off ganondorfs army encouraging his wife to hide with link; though ganondorf killed her once he found her. He would’ve done the same for link had he not noticed a little glowing triforce on the infants hand. It was then he remembered back to what the king had told him..

…The king had told ganondorf that when his and the queens first daughter was to be born, there would be a grand celebration, in which it was foretold by the heavens that another would be born the same day as well; a courageous hero, one that will stand beside the wise powerful princess, and together save the world from a great demise. Ganondorf found the idea quite amusing, especially when the king relayed that the supposed “courageous hero” could be literally anybody. His ego is so large, he cannot imagine someone smaller, weaker, poorer than him could beat him…

…So alas the celebration came and went, and though it was a joyful one, there was a confusion; the future hero seemed to not have been presented at all.. but there wasn’t a huge worry, as there were still years to come. Ganondorf scoffed; he was right, a hero cannot be born, they must be made. Not anybody can just be one…

.. so when he saw and picked up baby Link, he laughed. He was still right it seemed, how could some meek peasant grow to beat the epitome of pure power?

But on the other hand.. The hero DOES exist. & it seemed that his parents wanted to hide him.. which is why he wasn’t presented to the royal family. That’s when he began to ponder; if they had found him, perhaps he could grow up to be powerful, to be so strong that he could wield the Master Sword. It did scare him.. even if he didn’t want to admit it..

.. but, wait. They haven’t found him yet, he thought. He is nothing more than some tiny helpless peasant child with no family. Perhaps if he, ganondorf, raised him as a son, he could prevent this whole hero that could possibly stop him all together, maybe even have a powerful ally to fight alongside him..

But once again, it’s his ego that will ultimately be why this version of ganondorf loses. He’s so full of himself he cannot even imagine raising him as an equal and the possibility he could be better than him at anything. He So, he thinks, perhaps a servant will do. Fitting for some lowborn in which he’ll have full control over, and he will never know how to fight; thus never being able to stop him

Basically ganondorf crashes tf out 💀

(I’m going to draw this out prolly next week..)

[rae-writes]

just a few more

Diavolo, Barbatos, Mephisto + two bonus characters // 3.k wc

     *disclaimer: this is written as poly!romantic mc + all dateables

not only did Mc bag the seven lords of hell, they also ended up bagging the prince, his butler, and his highest ranking noble. Yk, as they should.

a/n : we’re gonna pretend Diavolo didn’t say he couldn’t form a pact with us just bc he’s the prince/future king because I think that’s a load of shi—

It all started with you mentioning how pretty you thought Barbatos’ pact was. You said it casually- in passing- when you and the brothers had been over for tea. They were all fighting (with the exception of Lucifer and maybe Beel and Satan) over who’s pact mark looked the best when you dropped the bomb.

“Come oooon, Mc! You don’t havta pick a favorite or anythin’, just tell us which one looks the best!”

“That’s the same thing, moron!” 

“OI!”

Smiling, you picked the choice least likely to start a fight, “I think Barbatos has a pretty sigil. Solomon showed me once.” Yep- there definitely wasn’t any room to argue when they all had their jaws on the floor. 

Oh, but you sent a shock of heat straight through Barbatos, who was the last one expecting your particular reply. 

Not even the uproar from the brothers or the shit eating grin from his master could make that heat dim. In fact, it only grew stronger at the mischievous smile you sent him.

And then you showed up on the castle’s doorstep, bruised and bleeding, while crying out his name. 

“B-bar— Barba-tos! Barbatos!” it was the only coherent thing he could decipher as he watched you sob violently into his chest, fist clutching his shirt so hard he almost thought it’d rip. 

You’d been in the Devildom for so long now, it was a shock that anything could scare you this badly- but when you managed to choke out that a group of demons ganged up on you, the butler felt searing hot threads of possessiveness and rage grip at him. 

They’d touched you- hurt you. You were probably crying out for him while you fought your attackers and he didn’t hear it. He couldn’t hear it.

The final blow to his wavering resolve came only an hour later : 

“Why didn’t you call one of the brothers? You could’ve gotten fatally wounded if you hadn’t been using your magic.” He was scolding you. 

And you were smiling. “I didn’t want one of them at the time. I wanted you.” 

…oh. 

“B-rb…Ba-rb-os…Barbatos!” 

He blinked, staring at you blankly, “Huh?” Did he really just space out? 

“I said I’m sorry for worrying you and putting my life in danger. I’ll be more careful next time and call on my pacts.” 

Your pacts. Pact. “May I have the pleasure of entering a pact with you?” 

Surprised, you stared at Barbatos like he had three heads for a moment. “Me? A p-pact with me? But I thought—“ 

Barb interrupted by grasping your hands and bringing them to his lips, “If you think I do not trust you, I must ask you to think again.” 

You watched him press your intertwined hands against his chest, where his heart is, before he was leaning closer- closer than he’d ever been. 

“I trust you, Mc. Do you trust me?”

Voice nothing more than a whisper and without a trace of hesitation, “Yes. I’ll make a pact with you- I want to make a pact with you.” 

Barbatos’ eyes darkened ever so slightly as he gave you a genuine smile, “Excellent.”

Then his lips were on yours and your hands broke apart so he could cup your face while yours went straight to his hair and you could faintly feel the tingle of your new bond but kissing him felt too surreal for you to even begin deciphering where it was located. 

7 -> 8

†

Mephisto was certain he only tolerated you due to your closeness with the seven brothers and his lord- it’s all anybody heard him run his mouth about when you were mentioned. But when he got scolded by his kid brother for saying such things about you, he simply decided he had to see what everyone saw in you- and boy, was he straight up beat down with the realization. 

“Good morning, Mc.” 

Without even questioning why he was suddenly speaking to you out of the blue, you smile brightly and stop walking, “Morning, Mephisto! I like your tie, is that one new?” 

He blinks in surprise— you…noticed? “Yes, it is. I thought I might change things up every now and then.” 

“It’s pretty! Like you!” Not even embarrassed at such a bold comment, you point in the direction of the newspaper club’s office (which was opposite of the student council’s- where you were supposed to be going), “I’ll walk you to your office so we can talk some more, yeah? I don’t get to see you much!” 

One day he caught you taking care of his little brother and the feelings just intensified. 

“Now, now, none of that. You’ll make your eyes all swollen-“ you wiped away the boy’s tears, “and then your little head will hurt-“ your hand ruffled his hair playfully, “and we can’t have that, can we?” 

Mephisto watched you carefully doctor his brother’s scraped knee, not noticing his feet were moving until he was right beside you.

Smiling at the excited ‘big brother!’, you glance up in acknowledgment before placing a bandaid over the injury. “All better!” You kiss his knee, giving him another on the forehead before helping him stand. 

And as you and Mephisto watch the younger demon run off with a wave, he can’t help but feel the slightest bit miffed at the kisses you’d given said demon. It must’ve shown too, because—

“Oh, ‘Phisto,” you couldn’t stop giggling, even after you’d grabbed his face and pulled him down, “If you want a kiss, all you have to do is ask.” 

You kissed him on the cheek, patting it afterwards, before leaving with a grin (and leaving him behind with a blush and a hint of possessiveness). 

Not even a full week after that, Mephisto quickly decided that you simply couldn’t go any longer without it. 

“Form a pact with me.” He stamped down the urge to shuffle nervously under your surprised stare, “..please?” 

Your expression slowly morphed into a giddy smile, “I’d love to make a pact with you, ‘phisto.” Feeling the familiar warmth of the forming sigil, you beamed at him. 

He could feel it too; the bond threading itself together— his first (and only) pact. “Mc…” his tongue felt like lead but he knew what he wanted. All he had to do was ask. “May I have a kiss?” 

“As many as you want.” You sounded breathless as you brushed over his lips with your own, connecting them eagerly once he grabbed onto your hips. 

He nearly jumps when you grab onto his tie, though he steels himself and pulls you even closer, not daring to break the kiss for more than a couple seconds at a time. Now that he’s felt this…Mephisto doesn’t think he can live without it. 

8 -> 9

†

Your pact with Diavolo, while he truly wanted to have that relationship and bond with you, mostly happened due to childish jealousy. He’d dealt with your happy ramblings about your pact with Barbatos for months, but then…

“Another pact? With Mephisto? How ever did you manage that?” 

Either you didn’t notice the strain in Diavolo’s voice or you simply didn’t bother pointing it out, your smile stayed as you hummed happily. 

“I didn’t really do anything. ‘Phisto just came up to me all of a sudden and asked to make a pact.” 

“He asked?” If Diavolo wasn’t bothered before, he sure was now. Mephistopheles in a pact? It was simply unheard of, and now, he was the only demon in your group without a pact with you. “I see…”

It was such a petty feeling, because truly, he was thrilled for all of his friends— Diavolo just felt undeniably left out despite no one treating it that way [but him].

“I swear if the four of you stubborn bastards don’t take a break, I’ll make you!” giving a deadpan stare, you crossed your arms and stood in front of the demons seated at the student council table. 

Mephisto relented immediately, having heard of what exactly you can do with your pacts, and chose to go get some coffee. Lucifer- after a quick staredown- followed the noble, but not without leaving a kiss on your hand in silent ��thanks’. Barbatos and Diavolo, however, remained in their spots.

“I appreciate the sentiment, Mc, but we really must finish; these are documents for RAD’s-”

“Barbatos. Take a break.” you watched his hands release the papers involuntarily, smiling at his incredulous stare, “At least go eat something. Please.” when Barb reluctantly stood from his chair, you turned to Diavolo and leaned to rest your forehead against his. “Just because I can’t make you, doesn’t mean you’re exempt from this. Up- come on.” 

And while his heart was practically beating out of his chest at the care you showed for him, that ugly jealousy still churned inside him at the clear display of difference in your relationships between him and the others. 

Everything finally bubbled over the day you confessed to him :

“Apologies, Mc, but could you…repeat that?” 

Ducking your head to hide the flush of your cheeks, you fiddled with your fingers, “I like you, Dia- if that wasn’t already obvious, and Barbatos and a few of the others agreed that I should tell you and ask if you’d like to date me too…”

Diavolo answered a bit too fast and desperate for his liking, “Yes! I-I mean, yes, I would be overjoyed to be in a relationship with you, Mc.” 

“But?” you squinted, knowing something was- and had been for a while- on his mind. “What’s wrong? You’ve been like this for weeks.”

“Nothing is wrong, I just…” Follow his heart or follow the rules? “I just want to be in a pact with you like all the others.” he averted his eyes, feeling childish when he spoke those feelings aloud. 

You only giggled, “That’s it, huh? I would love to enter a pact with you, Dia. Wait- are you even allowed? As the prince and future king, I mean?”

As soon as you agreed, his hands were already cupping your face, “I don’t care-” his lips finally, finally met yours as his feet began moving, walking you backwards until you hit the wall, “-I decide what I want and I’ve wanted you for so long, been jealous of the others for so. long.”

With the pact etching itself into your skin, you couldn’t deny him anything in that moment, completely enamored with the way Diavolo was practically begging for you, still, even though he already had you. 

9 -> 10

+bonus

When Simeon fell completely, wings black and horns protruding from his head, he desperately needed something to ground him while he worked through his new body and new status. 

“They’re so pretty, Si.” You were brushing through his wings softly, smiling at the contrast it brought to your glittery nails, “Your horns, too.” 

Simeon shifted, nervous despite your words at letting anyone else see his new form. “Do you really think so?” his spine straightened at the feeling of your lips pressing kisses down his back. 

“I do. You’re so beautiful- angel, human, or demon.” Nuzzling your head into his neck, you smiled against the skin, “In fact, I’m going to have to fight off so many demons just to keep you to myself.”

That made him chuckle, body relaxing into yours easily, “Nonsense…that might be quite a sight, though.” 

Adjusting wasn’t hard— he thinks he had an easier time at it than the brothers, but he couldn’t help but feel something was missing.

It was difficult to not fiddle with his outfit, but in Simeon’s defense, this was his first time at one of Diavolo’s formal parties as a demon— and the first time everyone saw his demon form. 

Tsking, you gently slapped his hands away and re-straightened his shirt. “Don’t pay any attention to the staring. You’re just too pretty to look away from.” 

He knew it was because, in all technicalities, he was a fallen angel, even if he’d been human before this. But he also knew that if anyone was an expert in unwanted spotlight attention, it was you. 

“I’ll try not to, thank you, Mc.” Simeon smiled at your pleased expression, “May I have this first dance?” 

As the night went on, he watched you dance with the other nine demons (and with the other members of Purgatory Hall). Everything was like it always was- nothing changed after he became a demon. Still though….

“Simeon!” you called out with a bright smile, hand waving him over to join the dancing circle you, Mammon, and Asmo had created. 

He felt as if there was something absent in him, something he couldn’t describe. “I’m coming.” 

Finally, Simeon figured out the missing puzzle piece. 

Laying with you, clad in only your underwear, always brought him a sense of love and tranquility. He simply couldn’t get over how vulnerable and exposed you were willing to be around him.

“Siiimeonnn~” you sang, laughing when his eyes fluttered sleepily. Your fingers carded through his hair, making him hum in delight, and you hummed right back at the faint feeling of his nails tracing over your pacts. 

He continues to trace the slightly raised skin, not thinking too much about it until you mumble something about how he’s always had a fascination for the marks adorning your body. At that, Simeon sits up quickly, all traces of tiredness gone.

You follow his lead worriedly, “Simeon? What’s-”

“Make a pact with me. Please, Mc, please, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more- I knew something was missing when I became a demon and now I know it’s because everyone else is bonded to you but me. I couldn’t have that with you as an angel or human but I can now. Please, Mc, allow me to be selfish just this once.”

“Oh, Si…” there was an undeniable warmth blooming in your chest. “You never needed a pact to feel bonded to me— you’ve always been perfect the way you are.” 

Simeon let out a shaky breath, allowing you to shift closer while his heart thumped wildly in anticipation. 

You moved even closer, and closer still, until you were practically in his lap. “You can be as selfish as you want with me. I’m yours, and now-“ your lips brushed, “-you belong to me, in turn. I’m honored you trust me enough for this, Simeon, of course I’ll make a pact with you.” 

And although your lips have met in this dance time and time again in the past, and will surely do the same in the future, it still sent shivers down his spine and heat to his face. 

When his hands move to trace your pacts out of habit again, his is the first he finds- guided by your own hands- and devils does that make Simeon’s head spin; he’s finally complete.

10 -> 11

++extra reverse!bonus [no specific demon form]

For someone with 72 pacts and ongoing shameless attempts at getting Lucifer into one, it surprisingly didn’t occur to Solomon once you became a demon (in his defense, he was more focused on your well being and adjustment). 

“You need to stop scratching, Mc. I know it itches, but you’re going to get an infection. You’ll get used to them eventually.” 

While he was lecturing, you were practically boneless in his lap, keening as he softly rubbed your horns and applied ointment on the irritated areas. 

“Are you even listening to me?” He huffed in false annoyance, feeling a smile fight its way onto his face when you whined at the loss of his touch. 

Nudging your head against his hand, you stubbornly huffed right back. “Yes. Don’t be mean- feels good. You're so sweet to me…” 

“Don’t get used to it, darling apprentice. You’ll learn how to do this yourself eventually, too.” 

And while you did in fact get the hang of caring for your own demon form, you simply enjoyed when he did it instead. 

“You know, each of the ten demons you have wrapped around your finger would jump at the chance to help you.” 

You hummed in agreement, curling in on yourself at the blissful feeling of Solomon grooming your extra appendage(s). 

He lifts a brow, “And yet I’m still called, why? No complaints here of course, but I am curious.” 

“Want you.” Stretching, you shift onto his lap to be closer, “Don’t you want me anymore, Sol?” 

Solomon inhales sharply, tilting his head so you have more room where you’re nipping at his pulse point with your sharpened canines, “Of course I do, Mc.” 

The lightbulb finally goes off in his brain when he catches you glaring at his bare upper body, to which he’s all too happy to oblige you : 

“What’s with that look?” Based on the tone of his voice, he very well knew what said ‘look’ was for. 

You bared your teeth anyway. “You’re mine.” nails scratched over the pacts on his lower stomach as your hands gripped and prodded at every small inch of bare skin you could see. 

Solomon wanted to see just how possessive a new demon could get. Did you have those instincts yet, especially since he was already yours beforehand? “I am. So why don’t you prove it?” 

“Gladly.” Your voice came out as a low growl, hands finally coming to a stop when your fingers brushed ever so slightly below his belt. “I think mine will go riiight…here.” You pressed down over his pelvis firmly. 

He tried not to stutter, “o-oh?” but he could feel the blush snaking up his face. 

“Make a pact with me, Solomon. ‘S not fair you have so many marks but mine…mine’ll be the prettiest, though…especially on you.” 

“Fuck- yes, I’ll form a pact with you, Mc—“ Solomon’s back arches at your pact etching into his skin, having forgotten the feeling, but the knowledge that it’s yours makes it all the more better. 

“mine, mine, mine. Is this proof enough, or do I need to prove it further?”

[intutive-peechu]

Tarot reading

Hello peeches another reading for you all 😉🥳💚

Disclaimer :- This is a general reading, it may or may not resonates with you . If you are thinking that your pile doesn't mach, so you can choose another one . And if someone is not inrested they can leave 🤗💚

please like , reblog and comment below to let me know it's nice . Thanks you 🫠 now let's start the reading.......

Notice : I'm going to use pronounce in readings according to energy I'll pick the most ! So you guys can read it from your prespectives and about these pics of girls ( I'm a girl so it's a first point and another reson is that most of the people are here girls or women if someone is man or he / him let me know) so hope it does make sense lol .

Topic : How does your family viwe you ?

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Pile 1. Pile 2.

Pile 3. Pile 4.

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Pile 1 💚

Cards : Ace of pentacle, the chariot , wheel of fortune reversed, king of pentacle, king of swords.

( so for this pile before I even ask questions cards jump out,when I was shuffling and it was happening again and again like 3 to 4 time and then last time it's happened again so I have to take those cards )

Hellooooo pile 1 let's see how your family sees you , so your family sees you as someone who have alot of potential to became successful in life , who can have financial security all by themselves, you won't need anybody else to take care of your expenses. They see you as a power manifestor who can bring their dreams into life and turn into reality. They viwe you as who is always in motion always working on something doesn't matter if it's daily life things, future plans , academic wise , hobbies anything they see it that once you set your eyes on something then nothing can stop you from getting it , no obstacles can break your will ! Wheel of fortune reversed makes me think that you are stuck in some situations or you are tangled in a old pattern which is not good for you , so do pay attention to that. You come off as someone who have it all , you hold this energy of success and can have good life ahead . Your family viwe on you is that , that you are smart and intelligent, knowledgeable, have logical thinking you have some big visions and that's what make them feel proud on you .

Thanks pile 1 💚, for this beautiful reading hope you enjoyed it . Please like reblog and comment below if it does resonates.

Pile 2 💚

Cards : Eight of wands reversed, ten of wands , the tower , page of wands , ten of cups , nine of cups , the sun .

After pulling the exact cards I need I get called to pick two cards more and then tower and the sun fell out and because of it pile 2 ended up being a long reading .

Hello my pile 2 💚🤗, so the time I was shuffling your cards I was keep getting a vision of someone- ( so here it's happened that I know what I have to write further but all of sudden my mind stop and until few minutes I was not able to write anything) in red t-shirt so you might be wearing one today ? Something is wrong with this pile , energies are heavy it's like a burden is pressing on my shoulders. It's like you are going through some harsh things all of sudden my neck become dry and i cant speak. Are you guys fine ? I hope you all are doing well 🫠! Is your family life problematic? ( I got you my pile 2 you guys are sweet 💚 just stand your ground everything will be fine soon ) so your family sees you as someone who is imbalanced, scattered it's like you are doing some kind of obligation while being with them , they see it that you behave like you are forced into something , you should realese some of your burdens . But my pile 2 I can see it for you a sudden change is coming it can be painful and hard but you have to end this cycle to begin with another one and surrender yourself to higher power they will guide you ! I can say that some good news will be coming your way , you will feel creative, become optimistic and fill with curiosity and inspiration. You will feel joyfull it's like the things you were manifesting you finally got them . The sun card is telling that there this huge bundle of light is waiting for you at the end of the turnal you just have to keep going .

Thank you pile 2 💚 for being here I again pray that everything goes well with you guys .

Pile 3 💚

Cards : judgement reversed, the world , eight of wands reversed, four of cups , the tower reversed.

Hellooooo 🤗 pile 3 , welcome in today's reading lol, so let's start your reading..... so your family sees you as someone who is indecisive and get judge by others really badly or you are someone who is quick to judge others . So it's like one chapter of your life is getting complete and it's a ending of an old life cycle. There this stagnant energy in here , it's like your own people are jealous of you ! They see you as someone who contemplate alot and don't appreciate what you have . They see you that you are stuck in some old ways and stuck in past not moving on from things . So pile 3 I'm getting it that even though there impression is not quite good but all of this are coming from a place of care , they care about you and I'm getting even though for some of the things they can be at fault but most of the time it's you who mess your life up , you are at fault too so better behave accept these changes and move on . ( OK so at the end of reading it's seems like I'm teaching someone about life but it's not like that msgs are coming this way , someone guide are coming up and saying these things and telling you to focus on your life instead of crying on spill milk !)

Thanks pile 3 💚 for being here , hope you like these reading 🤗🥳.

Pile 4 💚

Cards : Ace of swords, the moon , the sun reversed , eight of pentacle, five of swords, queen of cups reversed.

Hellooo pile 4 🤗 your family viwe you as someone who is in progress, at the path of getting victory who have this mental clarity on what they want they see you as someone who is mysterious who feel like a dream or they see that other people see you like that . Your family see it that you are confused about something currently, they think that you have some hidden enemy who can be dangerous for you or people are jealous of you in general. They see that you master your skill and work on them until it's done and you are satisfied, sometime you get tense about something or face problems because of change in prespective with people around you and feel loss .sometime you come out as someone who is dishonest or hiding from them but it's just because of mysterious energy . Their viwe of you is kinda mix but overall positive. They know that you are balanced, good in managing things and handling your finance and be really responsible person .

Thanks for being here pile 4 💚 if you like this reading please reblog and comment below.

Read by : @intutive-peechu

Ruh...

[coraniaid]

Actually, while I'm posting unpopular takes:

Whatever your views on the potential Buffy sequel (or spin-off or reboot or whatever exactly we end up calling it), I think we can all agree it is a good thing Joss Whedon will not be involved in it. What we know now about Joss Whedon's treatment of Charisma Carpenter alone should be enough to bar him from being involved in future film or television projects for the rest of his life. Given what we've learned after the fact about Whedon's behaviour and attitude on the set of Buffy, and on the set of Angel (and on the set of Justice League, and ...), and what we also know about Whedon's personal life -- from his ex-wife Kai Cole, for example -- I think it's pretty inarguable that Whedon is not, by any measure, a good person.

For many years there was a tendency among Buffy fans -- who were mostly fans of Whedon's other work as well -- to act as if Whedon (or "Joss", as he was inevitably called at the time) was a singular genius, an auter who was personally responsible for every single good thing in any of the shows he worked on. Even if we hadn't found out that Whedon's public persona was so different from his true self -- indeed, even if we somehow lived in some alternate reality where it hadn't been -- I think that idea did a great disservice to all the other people who worked on Buffy. Whedon may have created Buffy, but the character of Buffy Summers as she exists on screen would not be the same if it weren't for Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the show Buffy wouldn't be the same without Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter and Emma Caulfield and Amber Benson and Marti Noxon and Jane Espenson and Cynthia Bergstrom and Sophia Crawford and many, many others.

But, that said, I'm kind of bemused by the number of people I see saying things like "the Buffy reboot is going to be good because Joss Whedon isn't involved". Or who talk about Whedon's involvement in the show as if he just won a raffle to get his "self-insert" Xander Harris included, and then had no control over anything else that happened (including any of the things that happen to Xander Harris, very many of which simply do not make sense if you assume that Xander exists to be a kind of wish fulfilment self-insert fantasy).

Here is a partial list of Buffy episodes that Whedon wrote and directed: Prophecy Girl; When She Was Bad; Lie To Me; Innocence; Becoming; Anne; Doppelgangland; Graduation Day; The Freshman; Hush; Who Are You?; Restless; Family; The Body; The Gift; Once More, With Feeling; Chosen. With all due respect, I wouldn't believe anybody who claims this list doesn't contain many -- if not most -- of Buffy's best ever episodes. Just looking at IMDB as I write this, that list includes eight of the show's ten highest rated episodes (and all five of the current top five). The highest rated episode not attributed to Joss Whedon is Passion, officially written by Ty King, whose original script was heavily rewritten by Whedon himself.

Unfortunately a great many people -- including people who were fans of the show when it originally aired -- seem to have learned exactly the wrong lesson from Whedon's (deserved) public downfall. Creating moving, thought-provoking art or entertainment should never be taken as evidence that somebody is inherently moral or incapable of cruelty or bigotry or evil. People who liked Buffy in the 1990s and assumed that therefore Whedon was somebody to look up to on a personal level were very, very wrong. But the contrapositive -- the idea that, because Whedon turns out not to have been a good person at all, he can't possibly have really made anything of any artistic merit, and therefore anything people thought was good about Buffy must either have been made by somebody else or secretly have been bad -- is just as false.

Art does not magically reveal something about the inner soul of its creator. People can make art you admire while being horrible people on a political or personal level. You do not know somebody just because you like the fiction they create. A talented artist or writer or musician being a dreadful human being should no more surprise you than the same being true for a talented athlete or hairdresser or bricklayer or mathematician. Some of the worst people to have lived have made some of the world's most beautiful, technically impressive art. Being a fan of somebody's creative work as a writer or director (or anything else) doesn't give you any insight into what they are really like as a person.

There is no correlation, in either direction, between being talented and being a morally virtuous person. There is no magical link between being good at something and being, well, good. Maybe we should all stop pretending that there is.

The facts seem pretty clear. Joss Whedon created Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He was directly responsible for a lot of what made the show so great, including many of the show's best, most memorable and most popular episodes. If somehow, he'd been forced out of the show halfway through its very first season, whatever the show became without him probably wouldn't have been anything like as good as it actually was. And he remains an awful person whose behaviour while making the show is indefensible and I'm glad he won't be involved in the sequel. There really isn't any tension there at all.

And yes, obviously, there are times when knowing what a creator has done or said (or is still doing or saying) means you don't want to offer them support or give them money or whatever. We can all think of examples of this. But that's different from lying to yourself about whether or not they've created something you would otherwise want to see. And I'd argue that this is a dangerous habit, too, because if you keep failing to learn the lesson that bad people can make good art you're going to keep being surprised when -- as will inevitably happen -- it turns out somebody who made something else you like turns out not to be the decent human being you assumed that they were.

[seijorhi]

Hi!! I adore your new fic—seriously, it’s incredible!!🥹 I was wondering if you could bless me with your brilliance:

What does Oikawa has in plan for the Reader’a future? Like… would she always be kept locked and hiddenes away as his mistress, or would he eventually give her an official title of some sort?

Also, since the dead queen is the boys’ mother on paper, if they grow up at court—away from Reader’s care—would they grow to blame or even resent the Reader for their father’s past neglect toward their dead “mother” and his obvious favoritism for a “mistress”.

oikawa doesn't want her as queen. he doesn't want her as part of his court. he's never going to publicly acknowledge her, and anyone else who tries is gonna meet a very unfortunate and painful end. he wants her to exist solely for him.

part of it is ofc her status. she's a low born. the daughter of traitors to the crown (never mind that he was the one to label them such, and then execute them for it). there would have been huge opposition within his court if he decided to marry her, not to mention the potential resistance his heirs would face once they tried to take the throne. they only have the right to the throne because they're god's chosen, they have the right blood. dilute that, and people might start thinking just anybody could sit up there.

being the king, he probably could've just done it anyway if he felt the urge, and damn the consequences. any resistance will be removed, and his sons will be taught the same.

but put simply, he doesn't want her existing for anybody but himself. to give her status would be to give her freedom, even in the tiniest measure. he can't stand the thought of having to tolerate others' eyes on her. that he might have to track her down when he wanted her attention, because heaven knows she'd try to put as much distance between them as she thought she could get away with. no, it's better she remain where he left her. safe and his.

as far as the princes go, oikawa didn't give a shit about the queen, she spent most of her very short time at court confined to her room on bedrest, so it's not like people are out there waxing poetics about her. the court's terrified of the king, once he writes her off, spends the obligatory week 'mourning' she's little but a footnote. they'll know their mother married the king, fell into a difficult pregnancy soon after and died giving birth. the king, if prodded relentlessly, might admit that they didn't necessarily get on, but she fulfilled her purpose, and then he'll change the subject.

[o0anapher0o]

Okay so this is a bit rambly but bear with me.

One of my favourite things about the rwrb movie (the book too, but does it to a lesser extent) is that, in defiance of all romcom conventions, every time there is a misunderstanding/conflict, instead of stewing in it and letting it create more problems, within minutes of screen time, one of them forces a confrontation, they communicate and the problem goes away. (Almost like communication works or something.)

This happens multiple times throughout the film: Alex hates Henry. Henry makes him explain why, the hash it out, Henry apologises, problem solved.

Henry ghosts Alex after New Years. Alex makes him meet with him. Okay, to say they talk it out is probably too generous, but communication happens. They establish that they both want this (repeatedly), they create some mutual understanding, Henry lays out the boundaries of what this relationship can be for him and they find a way to make that work.

The same when Henry runs away from the Lake House. Alex comes after him and forces him to talk to him and while they obviously can’t solve the root problem, they settle on a compromise and a promise of ‘we’ll figure it out together and we’re not giving up’. They're back together and reasonably optmistic about the future.

To a lesser degree this even applies to other relationships in the film: Alex and his mom’s fight after the Texas memo leak ends when Ellen starts actually listening to him and reads his memo.

The e-mail leak can only be handled once Alex breaks the communication embargo, goes to Henry and they talk to the king. (Who tries to hide the true reaction of the public from them and the situation can only be resolved once someone (Bea) tells them about the crowds outside.)

Ellen wins the election, because of Alex, after she listened to him and after she lets him give his speech/communicate his truth about the leak (unlike the king who tries to hide Henry away and deny the truth).

Characters get rewarded for talking to one another and punished for not communicating.

The memo wouldn’t have been a problem if Zarah and Ellen had actually listened to Alex’s ideas about Texas before. Alex and Henry end up in the wedding cake & their forced public friendship they hate, because they refuse to talk to each other like normal people and it only stops being a punishment when they start doing that.

Philipp is shown the entire film talking at Henry without any interest in listening to his brother even once. The same goes for King James. He doesn’t communicate, he merely declares his intentions and actively shuts down anybody else’s contribution to the ‘conversation’. Both of them end up not only looking utterly ridiculous but they also loose in the end. The loose face, the loose control over Henry and they’re the ones who have to pick up the pieces of their failure to handle this situation while Henry gets to celebrate and be with the man he loves. (You could even make an argument that the way he is in the election celebration and then at Alex family house symbolises he gets a whole new family and home.)

In so many comedies the humour relies entirely on people not having the simplest conversation and making the characters behave utterly absurd in order to avoid conversations, and here is this movie telling us over and over “Communication is important!” Blame my deep hatred for the avoidable miscommunication trope but I just love that.

[milliesfishes]

꣑ৎ౨ৎFairytales (Part Two)꣑ৎ౨ৎ

[fem reader] contains: fluff, angst, suggestion of age gap marriage pairing: billy the kid x fem reader summary: desperately in love with billy, you encounter a roadblock that may force you apart author’s note: as with many of my series, there will be one more part! enjoy <3 Pinterest Board Spotify Playlist

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, they say. Heavier still is the head of the women beside it.

You surveyed the row of glittering tiaras on the pink shelf of your closet, twining a strand of hair around your finger. Right now, you were supposed to be picking one out to wear for your required day in the throne room, but you could hardly concentrate.

The only thing on your mind was Billy, and his parting kiss the night before. He'd been so sweet, brushing his thumb under your chin and telling you he'd see you soon.

Turning back to the shelf, you played with the strand, tossing it over your shoulder. Drearily you picked one of the simpler pieces, smaller and studded with diamonds. It matched your pink dress well enough.

Your maid nodded approvingly, giving you a smile. "You look beautiful, my lady."

"Thank you," you nodded, and she curtsied before she left.

As you studied your reflection in the mirror, you wished Billy could see you. His was the only approval you cared about. Tracing a hand over the pastel embossed spines of your storybooks, you wished for the days when you were allowed to stay upstairs and read about your knights and princesses.

When your father had left to fight gallantly alongside his men in the crusade, it had been decided for you that your childhood was over. You were his only child, and a woman, nonetheless. There was nobody to step up save for his second-in-command.

Nicholas was a dark man in appearance and demeanor. He wore the crown proudly, with an air of superiority and cunning leadership. It was your job to stand by him, to support him in his actions. But you didn't enjoy being near him. He was always eyeing you in a way that made your skin crawl.

As a child he had always scared you. Your father's leg had been your hiding spot when you were near him. But now your one refuge was far away from here, leaving you to fend for yourself against someone you wouldn't want to be in a room alone with. You had tried to remain positive in your thinking when your father departed, trying desperately not to worry about your future. Surely if he had trusted Nicholas, you could as well.

It would have been one thing if the man was as fair and just as your father had once been. But in all reality, it couldn't have been further from the truth. Nicholas wielded the power of the crown like a sword, taxing the people of the kingdom mercilessly. He viewed commoners as beneath him, and anybody who opposed him a traitor. Members of your father's council were banished and worse, causing all members of the palace to move in silence and fear or their lives.

Not only did he exercise such regulation over staff, but he did also so over you. Since he was acting for the king, you were technically his responsibility. Mixing up that and control, the king insisted on approving nearly everything about your life. Your expenses, your lessons, even the food you ate. It was suffocating.

Billy and all memories associated with him became your escape. You hid from your fear in the hallowed halls of your time with him. Every touch, every kiss was your home away from the cozy space of your bedroom where you could dream of him in private.

All day Nicholas heard out advisors, civilians, staff...everybody it felt like. There were short breaks for barely-enough meals between. You hated that you were forced to be present for it all, making it seem like you supported what he did. Since you weren't allowed to speak during this time, you daydreamt, toying with the heart charm of the necklace Billy had gifted you, smiling as you remembered his soft kisses and assurances of love. With Billy you didn't feel like one of the kingdom's monarchs, you felt like his princess.

There was no pressure in his presence. With anybody else you were forced to adapt the persona assigned to you at birth. With him you felt nothing weighing over your head, just love, with no strings attached.

When the advisor Nicholas had been listening to retreated into the main hallway, you breathed in relief. Finally, some respite from the long hours of merely being present.

The king turned to you; his dark eyes fixed upon your face. "Tired?"

"No," you lied, straightening up. Smoothing your hands over your skirt, you gave him a hesitant smile.

"I would think you would be," he commented, still staring at you. "After your excursion last night."

Furrowing your brow, you lifted your eyes to meet his. "Excuse me?"

"One of the guards saw you leave your bedroom last night," he started, voice icy. "He didn't catch sight of where you went, but I can only assume there was a reason you waited until dark to leave."

Your heart pounded against your chest, and you kept your face neutral. "I went to the kitchens. For a pastry."

Nicholas' face was unchanging. He turned his head to look forward. You could practically hear the gears working in his head. "There have been discussions regarding you. The advisors all believe it time you took a husband."

Eyes widening, the words hit you hard, sinking like a stone to the bottom of your stomach. Where had this come from? "A husband, sire?"

"Far too long have you been left to run around like a loose peasant girl with no morals." His words stung, but you lifted your chin as he said his next part. "Women younger than you have been married for years now. It is embarrassing for the kingdom to have a charge who cannot even do that."

"You cannot force me to marry," you shook your head, gripping your rosy skirts with intensity.

"I assure you I can," Nicholas said in an arctic tone. "In the coming days, expect a list of suitors to be brought forth. You will be allowed a choice. If not, I will choose for you."

The orange of the sunset breathed through the windows as he stood and exited, casting a glow over him that didn't feel fitting. You watched him leave, trying to hold your tears back.

The only person you'd dream of entering marriage with was on the run, wanted by the king's lawmen. If it wouldn't put him in danger, you would have shouted from the castle roof how much you wanted him in that way.

Getting to your feet, you folded your arms over yourself, dismissing your ladies-in-waiting. They threw concerned glances at you as they parted ways. You nearly bumped into every kitchen maid and guard you encountered on the way up the grand staircase and through the hallways because crystal tears were blurring your vision.

Reaching your bedroom, you leaned against the shut door once you were inside, water freeing itself from your eyes and streaming down your cheeks. You didn't want to marry anybody...you wanted Billy. In the back of your mind, you had somehow known that you wouldn't be allowed to stay husband-less forever, but love had blinded you to the closeness of that day.

You cleared tears from your cheeks, mind racing as you tried to come up with a solution. Thoughts ranged from running away to marrying someone and still seeing Billy. But in your frenzied state, none of them were viable, which only made your panic worse.

The open window's usual delivered scent of roses calmed you down slightly, and you took in a deep breath, quelling your thoughts. There was an answer somewhere. You just had to sit with it for a while.

A knock on the side of the window startled you, and you jumped, eyes wide as your head snapped up. There, sitting on the sill, you saw a grinning Billy, hoisting one leg over to rest on the seat cushion. "Hey, princess."

Rushing over, you pulled the glass shut behind him in a hurried fashion, whipping to face him. "What are you doing here? You didn't send word."

He half-smiled. "Thought I'd surprise ya. Made good time gettin' over here." Looking around, he said, "This is your room, huh? 'S cute."

As he studied the vastly pink space, you fidgeted with your hands. "This is dangerous- you could have been caught. You could still be caught."

"Don't get too worked up, darlin'," he smiled, brushing his hand over your cheek. "I can handle myself. They ain't caught me yet."

He reached up, adjusting the tiara in your hair, a loving look in his eyes. "So pretty... ain't seen ya all dolled up in a long while."

"Since the night we met, I don't think," you murmured, forgetting your worries for a moment.

Billy grinned, holding out his hand and twirling you once you took it. "I'll never forget it...you, dressed as an angel."'

"And you, definitely not supposed to be there," you leaned into him, and he sat on the bed, bringing you to sit on his lap. Your pink skirt fluffed up between you and he didn't bother to push it down.

"Was a masquerade, sweetheart," he kissed your nose. "Ain't nobody gonna recognize me there."

Giggling, you nodded, wrapping your arms around his neck and resting your head against his. "You swept me off my feet. The only dance partner I wanted."

"Couldn't let my mama's lessons go to waste," he murmured against your cheek. "They musta been mighty fine...got me in the princess's good graces."

You kissed him softly, just resting against him before remembering where you were. Standing up off his lap, you smoothed your skirts. "Billy, you really shouldn't be here-"

A knock sounded at the door. "Princess?"

It was one of your ladies-in-waiting. Your eyes were round like the crown jewels, and you quickly pulled Billy up, shoving him into your closet and closing the door. Holding yourself against it, you called. "Come in!"

She entered, a worried expression on her face. "Oh there you are. We were all so worried about you."

"What for?" you asked, giving her a toothy smile to disguise your anxiety.

"For what His Majesty said, of course," she reminded you, grasping your hands. "About you acquiring a husband?"

"Oh..." The thought had surprisingly exited your mind for the last little bit. Billy had that effect on you. "Yes... it will pass. This is hardly the first time they have spoken of marrying me off."

"I wouldn't be so sure, my lady," she said seriously. "They've been discussing it at length."

"Oh." It was all you could manage as worries clouded your mind again. "Yes. All will be well though. The prince of a nearby kingdom wishing to court me is no feat I cannot handle."

"My lady..." she squeezed your hand. "If you do not choose a husband they speak of your potential marriage to the king."

Your heartbeat echoed in your ears. The thought of marrying Nicholas of all people made your toes curl in your pink silk shoes. He was decades older, and the stark opposite of warm, comforting Billy. You shuddered slightly before shaking your head. "I will not marry the king. It will not come to that." Stretching your arms, you feigned exhaustion. "Excuse me, I must prepare for bed."

"Shall I send in your maid?" your lady-in-waiting inquired, looking concerned.

"No, no," you shook your head, fidgeting with your hands behind your back. "No, tonight I require solitude. Thank you."

After she left you opened the door of the closet, finding Billy sitting casually atop your flowered rug. He tipped his hat. "M'lady."

You smiled, shaking your head and crawling to sit between his spread legs. He secured an arm around you, a look of contemplation on his face. "They're wantin' ya to get married?"

"They have always wanted me to get married," you rolled your eyes. "Ever since I was a child it is all they spoke to me about. Every lesson was taught to me with that purpose."

"Hmm," he hummed, absentmindedly stroking your arm. "What if they're serious this time?"

"They are not," you assured him, leaning up to peck his lips. "I will not get married. Not to anybody of the court's choosing, anyways."

Billy didn't look convinced, but he seemed to let it slide. Pressing a kiss to your cheek, he removed himself from around you and stood, offering you a hand. "C'mon. We're gonna go out."

"Out?" You used his hand to stand up. "Out where?"

"'s a surprise," he grinned, looking around the closet. Then he eyed your dress. "Might wanna change, honey."

"Something simple?" you questioned, looking up at him.

He nodded, reaching up to pluck the tiara from your head. "Might not wanna wear this either."

You giggled, pulling a simple white cotton dress with forget-me-nots embroidered on the collar. "Is this okay?"

Billy gave you a fond smile. "Perfect, sweetheart." He kissed your hair, setting the tiara back on the shelf.

The next few minutes found you standing beside your bed while Billy's nimble fingers swiftly undoing the delicate buttons on the back of your dress. He kissed your shoulder, sliding the sleeves over your arms and assisting you in stepping out.

There was a moment when you were just still, standing there in your half stay and looking over your shoulder at him softly. He had an awestruck look in his eyes as he simply took you in. "You're beautiful darlin'. Don't need me t' tell ya that."

"I like hearing it anyways," you murmured, reaching back for his hand and squeezing it.

He lifted your knuckles to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to them. "Let's getcha dressed."

Quickly you donned the white shift, pulling the pins out of your hair and removing all jewelry save for his necklace. Sliding your feet into a pair of plain black flats, Billy pronounced you, "Perfect as always, darlin'."

You managed to sneak out the way he'd come, climbing carefully down the stone and trellis. He quietly instructed you where to put your feet, where to grasp, and you were thankful for the darkness cloaking you from the view of anybody below.

Billy hauled you over the garden wall and got all the way over himself before lifting you down and pulling you by the hand to his horse. You were able to get on by yourself thanks to your many years of riding experience, and he climbed on behind you, grasping the reins with one hand and your waist with the other.

He kissed your temple, his fingers holding your waist tight. "Hold on darlin', it won't be too long a ride."

And with a nudge of his foot, the white stallion was spurred into a run, carrying you and your lover into the dark of what was unknown to you. Your trust in him cradled your insecurities, eyes peeled on the horizon for what was to come.

If music was the speech of angels, you must have been the very soul of the art.

Holding you right now, nestled in his arms through the bumpy horseback ride, Billy could hardly believe his luck. You were contently watching the scenery as he steered the horse in the right direction. He couldn't ever possibly forget that you were the princess, but right now you looked like a village girl (a pretty one) who wasn't mismatched with him.

Long accustomed to the unfairness of life, Billy was wholly unsure how he'd managed to charm you. He must have done something wonderful sometime to even get a chance. It was a funny thought, because Billy didn't think he did much at all.

He loathed the unfairness of the king's taxes, and so he took matters into his own hands. Robbing the wealthy was a childish way to get back, but it was his only way to fight back. He'd snuck into the palace on the night of a ball with a few of his men, sure the guards would be preoccupied with the festivities and not notice if they took a few trinkets.

Deemed the distraction, Billy had entered the ball masked like everyone else, enjoying the drinks. It had felt good not to be 'the outlaw' for awhile and just be him. He'd charmed several of the attendees easily, surprised to find himself enjoying their company.

And then he'd seen you. In a gown of white, you'd completely stunned him, nearly knocking him off his feet. He hadn't known you were the princess at first, speaking to you normally and making you laugh. You'd shared several dances, and you eventually pulled him off into a corner where the two of you could speak more privately.

When midnight struck, and it was announced that everyone should remove their masks, he'd been stunned to find the lovely face of a monarch beneath yours. You had been so different than he'd thought, so much warmer and kinder.

Before he could rush away, you removed his mask for him, recognition dawning in your eyes. You weren't stupid. You'd seen the wanted posters which, although crudely drawn, somewhat accurately depicted him. Billy had been expecting you to scream, or call for the guards, and he braced himself.

But instead, you leaned up, pressing the softest, sweetest kiss to his lips. He'd returned it without thinking, losing himself in the moment. When you pulled back, you refastened his mask over his eyes, giving him a final peck and slipping a folded piece of paper into his hand. "Hurry. Before they see you."

Stunned, Billy rushed from the room, only looking back once to see you still standing there, an absolute vision. When he was out of the castle gates he unfolded the scrap, squinting in the darkness to read what you'd written.

Two words. Write me.

He put his heart and soul into the letters, using a dove a man in his camp had trained to send them straight to your bedroom window. Your messages back were just as heartfelt, and your meetings even more so.

At night when he laid on his back attempting to sleep and staring at the stars, he'd feel an involuntary smile overcome him as he thought of you. His girl. His princess.

It was akin to how he felt now. Helping you off the horse and escorting you through the trees to where the annual village moonlit festival was being held. It was something of a secret amongst commoners, meaning there were no king's men present. Watching your eyes fill with wonder, he grinned, patting your hand nestled in the crook of his elbow. "Ya like it, darlin'?"

"It's so beautiful!" you exclaimed, bouncing adorably on the heels of your feet as you took in the lanterns, the music, the food. Just as he'd suspected, you'd never been to anything like this, not when you weren't playing the face of royalty. Here, you could be free.

And you were. Dragging him from place to place, your excitement was the best thing he'd ever beheld. Because he was so friendly with the villagers, they refused payment for everything, insisting everything he did for them was enough. Billy was slightly uncomfortable with that- he didn't consider himself a hero. But he knew they were trying to be kind, and so he humbled himself.

You barely let go of him the entire night, still retaining the refined manners of the way you had been raised, but excited none the less. You ate delicately, covering your mouth between bites as you spoke around your food about anything new you'd spotted. After eating, you dragged him up to the little area where couples were dancing.

He was reminded heavily of the night you'd met as he twirled you, keeping in time to the music. You were beautiful always, but especially so like this- unencumbered and delighted by everything surrounding you. Here you weren't looking over your shoulder every few minutes or forced to whisper. You were radiant, finally allowed to shine.

The villagers told him how lovely you were, squinting and trying to figure out why you looked so familiar. You didn't give any allusions to your title, chattering and smiling at everyone you met. Maybe it was the princess in you, but you seemed to charm everybody you came across. Billy was proud to have you on his arm and show you off.

When things began to wind down, Billy took you to a nearby, more private sector of the forest, resting on his side and holding your hand with your head sideways on his chest. You twirled a flower one of the children had given you between your fingers, a soft, lazy smile on your face.

Billy pressed a kiss to your head, holding his lips there. You turned to look at him, sweetly saying, "Thank you. For tonight."

"Was my pleasure, sweetheart. Truly," he promised, kissing your knuckles. "I love seein' ya like this. 'S like there's a weight off your shoulders."

You nodded, shifting to cuddle better against him. "It felt like there was."

Billy had a moment in quiet thought as he remembered what specifically had been weighing on you earlier. The conversation he'd overheard from your closet was still on his mind, one particular part constant.

Your lady-in-waiting had mentioned the possibility of you marrying the king if you didn't choose a suitor. The notion made Billy sick. Not only was the king decades older than you- he was a horrible man unfit to look at you. Tightening his arms around you, he tried to dissuade the thought.

You'd said nothing would come of it. And he trusted you. You were crafty in your own sweet way, and he knew a solution would come about.

Looking down at you all cozy in his arms, he let himself be distracted. You were his girl- his love. For some reason you returned his feelings in full. He'd be damned if he let anything happen to you.

Reluctantly, when the time came, he scooped you up and walked your sleepy form back to his horse, the ride back to the palace too short. You were roused enough to climb back over the wall and up to your bedroom window.

From his spot on the hill, Billy saw you wave at him, blowing a kiss. Your heart-shaped necklace glinted in the darkness.

As he rode back to camp, all he could think of was the thought of you being forced to marry somebody else- somebody who wasn't him. He knew he wasn't fit for you, but the princes who'd show up to court you couldn't be better. He'd observed them from afar- slimy, stuck-up men with more gold than thoughts. It was no wonder you'd turned them all away. And these were supposed to be the good ones. Now that the palace was on its last legs of getting you betrothed, who knew what low lives they'd pull from the dredges of nearby royalty?

Billy had the idea to show up and ask to court you himself, but it was dismissed as soon as it arrived. He hardly had anything to offer, let alone in appearance. Looking down at his worn clothes and muddied boots, he knew he'd be turned away. Not to mention the fact that he was an outlaw.

But the thought wouldn't stop prodding him, modifying itself to the point where Billy was convinced. He spurred his horse on, riding fast on the last stretch. There was a new determination in his movements.

With the idea brewing in his head, you’d never have to entertain the thought of another prince again.

Previous Part | Next Part

[fandom-pantheon]

I’ve waited whole 24h since I finished the book!!! And 2 days since it has been released!!! That’s it from me!!!

Spoilers ahead!!! (You have been warned)

ONYX STORM

Fuuuuck my life, that book was something!!! I’ve read it only once for now, and it will take time to settle….

Buuut, I’m only giving a few points that are spoilers, and some hopeful thinking.

DAIN and SLOANE!!!!! Like AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! Two ppl u would never put together, and now I cannot for the love of everything holy think of them with anybody else!!!! Dain leaving HIS fucking post to follow her. And her middle finger to him when she was leaving…. It’s like history repeating itself! BUAHAHAHAHA

I love Violet POV, but Rhis and Imogens were cherry on top of the cake!!! Gods, I hope we will have more of them in future books. Especially since I’m sure Garrick is the one next to Xaden at the end of the book!!! That’s all I’m saying.

I WAS RIGTH ABOUT HER SECOND SIGNET!!!! Done!!!!

Now this is a Theory!!!! A very wild one at that!!!! By now, we know the sexuality of most of the main characters and/or the ppl they like/are in love with. The only ones that have not been mentioned in that context (or I’ve missed it, do correct me if I’m wrong) are Bodhi and Aaric. Now here is where my theory comes to life. Imagine RIDOC ending up with either one of them. I’m pretty sure Aaric will end up being the king, and him marrying Ridoc will make Ridoc a king as well! KING OF FUCKING NAVARRE!!! If that happens, I’m done for. I will be the first person to die from laughing!!! And him and Bodhi???? Anhahahhaha. Xaden would probably end up killing himself after surviving everything!!! Yup. Absolutely ending himself.

That’s it from me for now!

Just had to get it out of my head. Anywhere….

With love

Lady Tina

[misguidedasgardian]

The Dragon's Mistress (10)

10. Mistress

MASTERLIST

Summary: Every actions has its reasons, and its consequences 

Pairings: Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen!Reader, Aemond Targaryen x Floris Baratheon

Warnings: cursing, mentions of war, mentions of death, humiliation, use of the word bastard and traitor, incest, technically cheating, groping, nakedness, might miss some warnings

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount:  2.5 k

Notes: Yes, I did feel pressured to post this sooner, that is why is shorter… :( and no, I did not like what I’ve been feeling the last hours…

Lord Borros Baratheon had his niece

That is what occupied Aemond’s mind as he saw you abandoning the throne room with tears in your eyes and whimpers in your mouth

That uncultured swine had his niece Jahaera

He “rescued her” when Rhaenyra had taken the capital and Alicent send her and Maelor away to Old Town, the children never got to the city, but they were stopped along the way, and eventually some baratheon soldiers rescue them from a mob, Maelor didn’t make it, but Jahaera did. And Borros he let it clear that he was not going to return her to her family in King’s Landing if he didn’t marry his daughter

He told himself that it didn’t matter if he did, with you, he already had you, tainted you, fucked you, put his seed on you, you were probably with his child in your belly, but he, as king, could legitimize all the children you were going to have, and Floris? he could bed her and gave her moon tea in the morning after without her even releasing it

You were going to be the mother of the future King of the seven Kingdoms, he had no doubt in his mind about it, and once he had his darling niece in his arms again, he was going to kill Borros and his entire line for even daring to threaten them.

He couldn’t chase after you right now, this was his first appearance as clear future King of the Seven Kingdoms, so he couldn’t just run like a fifteen year old behind his love. 

So he sucked it up, grabbed the bony hand of Floris Baratheon, and presented her to the entire court in the middle of applause and cheers. 

She was not an ugly woman, she had her charm, she was the youngest of Borros’ daughters, the same age as him, she had beautiful dark brown locks, and hazelnut colored eyes shaped like almonds. She was the one he had chosen that night three years ago in Storm’s End, the one he never got to marry, well, not until today.

His body was burning with the need to search for you, but sadly he couldn’t, not yet, and he also wante to smack the smile out of Borros’ face

His mother also seemed sickenly pleased, she had come to him the night before, asking him to leave you and marry Floris, when he didn’t budge she had to confess Borros had Jahaera. That is when he knew he had no choice, but he made his mother budge too, she was not going to betroth you to anybody else, she was not going to send you away.

She was going to him to keep you as his mistress. 

Lord Borros was not happy about it, and he made it clear that he was not going to return Jahaera until after the wedding and bedding ceremony, Aemond was fuming, but he had to comply, that little girl is the only family he had left, the last reminding of his gentle sister, and his last full-blooded niece.

This was the most important day in his life, and the only thing he wanted to do was to run to your room and held you in his arms, tell you everything was going to be alright, tell you he didn’t meant to break his promise, that he meant it every time he said that you were going to be his Queen

But he was tied by the hands

He had to get his little niece back

When the ceremony was over, he bowed but only to his betrothed, kissing her hand and making her blush, he nodded to his mother and to Borros, and then he abandoned the hall under his mother’s worried gaze

He finally went to find you.

it broke his heart to find you cuddled in your bed, crying 

As soon as you heard him come in you raised from the bed, wiping your tears

“My King”, you greeted and under other circumstances, his heart would have roared with happiness, but know he only felt bitter. You sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at him, you thought you saw sorrow in his eyes, but you were probably just imagining things

“My love”

“Please, I have to ask you do not call me that”, you hated yourself for how weak your voice sounded

“That is what you are”, he said, but you only shook your head

“I’m not”, you said, he sat by your side on the bed, leaning over you, trying to comfort you

“My love will always belong to you”, he whispered in your ear as he caressed your hair, “I have to marry her for political purposes, nothing else”

“You humiliate me”, you whimpered, tears running down your cheeks

“I know this is not what I promised”, he said, “but there is an important reason, you have to believe me”, you only looked down to the floor, “but we will be together”, you then looked at him wide eyed, fresh tears forming in your eyes, “being a King’s Mistress is a post of great importance”, he muttered, “and I will legitimize all the children that we will have”

“You told me you were going to marry me”, you whined, “I gave you my body… I let you do whatever you pleased with me” 

“You will be respected, and cared for, you will be treated like a princess again”, he continued his bargain, and you only whimpered, placing your hand over your heart, because it hurt

“Please don’t do this to me”, you pleaded

“Nothing will change, you will be respected, your son will be King one day”

“No he won’t”, you whined, “he will only be a bastard”

“No”, he said, you wiped your tears, angry with yourself for being so bloody weak

“What if I don’t want to?”, to your question his face hardened, and it made you tremble, “you won’t marry me, but you won’t let me marry anyone else, can I please go back to Dragonstone?”, you asked with hope in your teary eyes, but you could tell he was keeping himself in check not to burst in anger

“Everyone knows that I fuck you”, he said in a manner so mean, you whined, “you are going to be my mistress and embrace it, or you are going to be only my whore”, he spitted out, “you have one day to come around”, he said, he stood up from the bed and abandoned the room, and you along the way

What was more pathetic than to cry because a man that abused you and killed your family wouldn’t marry you?

You couldn’t come out with an answer to that question

You had made up your mind that this was what you had to do to make everything worth it, but it was snatched from under your feet like a carpet and now you were landing flat on your face, again.

You whined, as you were hurting in your chest

“You are a Targaryen”, resounded the voice of your mother in your head, “That is all that matters”

“Dragons are fire made flesh, and Targaryens are dragons made men”, said Daemon

“You must be strong”, said Jacaerys

“I CAN’T!”, you screamed wanting all the voices inside your head to disappear, “I’m none of those things”, you whispered sadly 

Aemond was not angry, he was frustrated

He understand you would be disappointed that you were not going to marry him, but he never thought you would have want to leave back to Dragonstone

That is what frustrated him the most

He naively thought that you would want to stay here no matter what

“You will never have her heart”, Alys once said, and he growled when he head her voice as clearly as she was whispering in his ear

The new appointed small council had gathered and he was supposed to be there, once he got there, everybody as there already

Tyland Lannister

Borros

Even his mother even though she didn’t have a clear post in it, but being mother to the King and the Regent as well

“My King”, she greeted, pleased as she saw him enter the room

“We were discussing dates for the marriage ceremony”, said Borros, so pleased with himself that Aemon wanted to punch him in the face

“I think is insensitive… to marry while my brother the King is dying”

“Aemond, I’m aware, but…”

“Marriage, celebrations, are for the living boy”, said Borros, and Aemond’s jaw was was ticking

“In a fortnight”, Alicent offered, and Aemond nodded

“Being considerate of the current climate all over the seven Kingdoms, it is going to be a sober affair”, Aemond said, and he didn’t want to budge on that

“Of course my king”, said Borros

“Ravens will be send communicating everyone of the marriage, but only a few of the most important families will be invited”, said Alicent

“What about the girl?”, asked Borros, and Aemond looked at him 

“What girl?”, he threatened

“Rhaenyra’s last daughter”, he said, “is she your whore?”, Aemond looked at him, a silent warning in his eye

“She is not a whore”, he growled

“You bedded her, you are bedding her…”, the man continued, an the entire council got quiet, waiting for the answer of their King Regent

“But I’m marrying your daughter”, he said with a sharp voice

“You must understand that it is my daughter who will carry the heirs to the throne”, he said with a warning of his own on his lips, Aemond looked at him like he wanted to kill him, which he did

“And you must understand that I’m marrying her”, he said, “instead of the princess”, Borros looked into his eye, trying to intimidate him, but it didn’t work

“Very well”, he conceded 

He was not going to yield to anything else, he couldn’t, he owed it to you. The meeting went long, they started talking about things related to the realms, and that took him the rest of the day.

When it was finally done, the only thing he wanted to do was to see you. . 

He found you still in your room, more calmed than when he left you, when you hear him come in you stood up from your place in front of the hearth and bowed

“My king”, you greeted, with the voice of a little bird instead of a human

“My love”, you flinched when he called you that, but you couldn’t see his reaction as you still looked down to the floor, not daring to look at him in the eyes

“How was your day?”, you asked, adapted a demeanor similar to the one you had learned to have in Dragonstone, like the one of a personal servant, a handmaid. You didn't really gave a shit, but you had to be cordial

“I just had a very long meeting”, he thought it best to keep you away from the details of his marriage to Floris Baratheon 

“I am sorry”, you wanted him to leave, but you were nobody to kick the King Regent out of the rooms of his own castle. 

He walked until he had you at arms reach, and he caressed your upper arms gently

“Don’t you wish we could take a long bath like we did in Dragonstone?”, he offered, you looked at him, and the coldness in your eyes made him shiver, even though he didn’t show it

“We can do anything you like, my king”, you said, again, your voice so low, so insignificant it squeezed his heart, and he, again, was starting to get frustrated 

“Very well”, he had the maids prepare the bath, and when you were alone in the bathroom, he helped you out of your dress, you just let him, he then undid the braids in your hair and removed your jewelry.

You then undressed him, and even appreciated when he didn’t make you touch him

He help you into the bath, and he got in with you

The bathtub was bigger than the one in Dragonstone, you both fit perfectly together. He grabbed the sponge and started to rub your shoulders and your upper arms, he had a fixation with that part of your body you noticed.

You let yourself be handled by him, touched by him

“I love your hair”, he whispered to your ear, and if you haven't been crying for most part of the day, you would have laughed. You had the same color as him

“Thank you, my king”

“please”, it sounded like he was begging, “call me Aemond”, he sounded pitiful

“As you wish, Aemond”, you whispered. He kissed your shoulder softly, gently, as he fingers greedily caressed your back and your body, of course he wanted you, and now it was your job as his mistress to please him in that way

So you leaned back and let him touch you and kiss you

He couldn’t see you, but bitter tears fell down your eyes, but you managed to not make a sound

Luckily he noticed how tense you were, so he didn’t push you, instead he just helped you get out of the tub, he help you dry and then put on your night dress

“I should be doing this things to you my prince”, you offered, even though you didn’t have the strength to do it

“It is alright”, he got you into bed and then followed you, holding you in his arms, you appreciated the comfort, you just wished it came from someone else rather than him

“I’m very sorry”, he whispered in your ear

“You don’t don’t have to be, Aemond”, you whispered

“But I am”, he insisted, “believe me, I was forced into this”

“You don’t have to give me any explanations”, you sai, broken

“But I do”

“Please My King”

“Call me Aemond”

“I don’t feel comfortable, please, just.. let me call you my king”, you insisted, he sighed loudly, but didn’t refuse you

“I want you to call me by my name”

“But is not proper”, you said, “I am not going to be your wife”, his breathing hitched

“Call me your King then”, he relented, his fingers never stopped caressing your arm

You were lucky he wasn’t making you look at him in the day, he was comfortable with only spoon you

“I will sleep with you every night”, he promised

“You wife won’t be happy with that”, you observed

“I don’t give care”, he said

“Please, don’t make this more difficult that is has to be”, you begged him, the last thing you needed was to make enemies with the new Queen

“You can tell her that”, you didn’t press it

Did you even believe him? that someone made him do it? you believed no one could make him do anything, but again, he sounded so sincere when he said he was going to marry you. 

Anyways, you were feeling so terribly every breath you took hurts. 

[typecastwritesssss]

okay but like the wind waker man. that intro. so many questions. we all know ocarina is dark but man wind waker just straight up said "and then they all drowned and the gods never came to help" hello??? how many years. how many decades. how much time did the adult hero of time buy for them? which child of zelda’s was daphnes? her son? grandchild? great-grandchild? when he stared at the rising waters and realized nothing was going to save them, his kingdom, did he think it was retribution for all the war? 

has it really been all that long? yes and also no. the lines are so blurred. the zora are birds and the kokiri are koroks and they had time to Get That Way but everywhere you look the old Hyrule, the Hero of Time himself, they're both all over the place. the deku tree is implied to be the sprout from the adult timeline but honestly who knows. the golden goddesses are statues on islands somewhere and there was a tower built to test who came after but…who and how and why? what was the tower of the gods even for? how did they know they’d need it? at what point did they accept the hero of time was never coming back so they’d probably need to train a new one? 

and oh my god, that outset island tradition. “dress your kids in green and give ‘em a sword and pray to the gods they’ll have the courage to cast down evil.” link rolls his eyes at it but he wears them to appease grandma. the revered clothes of the hero have had time to pass into “stupid traditional getup” territory. how many “failed Links” were there before Aryll’s brother? what evil could those children have possibly stricken down? the monsters in the woods?

“what became of that kingdom? none remain who know” like goddamn. say what you want about the hero’s shade in twilight princess. but at least the traumatized ghost got to meet one of his descendants and pass on his songs and his knowledge, even if that knowledge was only of war and death and combat. in the wind waker he’s a statue. an element of a legend mentioned once or twice by the last remaining holdouts of the past—holdouts who so badly want him to return, view him as the solution over all else, that they never pause to consider any other option. there are stained glass windows of the seven sages in the master sword’s chamber that are never mentioned. there is so much that is never mentioned.

nobody knows what the fuck anybody is talking about. link doesn’t know old hylian. tetra is running around the high seas (as a pirate. she and her retainers are now pirates. how did things get that way) with a piece of the damn triforce around her neck and she doesn’t know who ‘princess zelda’ even is. the juxtaposition between ganondorf, older and tired and wiser but still hell-bent on ruling hyrule even if it is a dead land full of nothing and no one, and tetra, a zelda that knows nothing, asking why he’s laughing and calling him insane. because hyrule’s dead. she has no frame of reference for his longing, or what he found so great about this sunken kingdom.

and this is framed as a good thing. the king of red lions thinks it’s better not to let either of the kids in on the loop until tetra nearly dies for lack of knowledge. daphnes nolhansen hyrule brought “the hero” back just to end ganon, and hyrule with him. was the plan always to let the sea fall in on him? maybe. i don’t know. but he rejects zelda’s plea with him to take him with them to the land that will be the new hyrule, because “it will not be hyrule. it will be your land” and that still gets me. he thinks the best thing to do with his kingdom, Hyrule, the kingdom of a whole hell of a lot of irl people’s childhoods, is for it to wash away. he wants the kids to live for the future and they do and they will and they name it hyrule anyway in his honor but he never gets to see it.

anyways i’m still mad everybody got butthurt over “trains in a zelda game” like come on now

[redstrawbluestraw]

I woke up in the middle of the night and now its your problem

Is the cel city suppoust to be a refrence to animation cels?

seeing felix is back to his og annoying self (we love you toxic king welcome back) I wanna ask if he's still a journalist/writer or if he's the unemployed friend at wendsday in the last call?

Oswald doesnt seem as depressed in your ver (thank you thank you thank you thank you i would not take well a total whiplash of his character randomly) so I gotta ask AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWEAR if ortensias still dead in here or if oswalds just single as in he and her didnt ever/seriously get together?

Also I wanted to ask if mickey has any dynamic with either felix or sheba bc bc funny bc you get it? can and a mouse yea

Have a good one o/ love ur stuff 🫶

INFERNOOOOOOO HIHI HI ITS ALWAYS A BLESSING TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!! <3333

IM SORRY I DIDNT ANSWER THIS SOONER FINALS WEEK WAS CRAZY But anyways let’s get cookin

1. YES ABSOLUTELY IT IS!!!! I’m hoping to have other puns for future cities and places heehee, but I’m so happy somebody noticed it!!!! <333 Cel City is essentially where “every” toon lives, so anywhere from bg toons, to toons that were drawn once or twice, or toons that aren’t relevant, hence Cel City!

2. As much as him being the unemployed friend on a Wednesday would be funny as fuck (reread this so many times it made my day fr) unfortunately I did make him employed. He’s still a writer, and still an archaeologist! Just bc Anthro is a huge passion of mine, and my favorite parts in the og babqftim were always whenever Felix locked in and used his knowledge. Wish there was more of that instead of ykno

Anyways, It’ll be explained more why he went down that path, but ultimately he’s still an annoying ass friend lol

Exhibit A (this doodle was done forever ago hence why it’s so ugly SORRY 😭😭)

3. I’ll leave this one kinda vague cause I don’t wanna spoil too much but first of all, totally agree, it pissed me off hella how he acted 😭😭

Ortensia and Oswald were married, madly in love but she did pass due to reasons. Oswald in turn processed his feelings a lot more aggressively than the og babqftim. While he is depressed, it’s definitely not going to be portrayed in the ways that we saw. Less nonverbal, more defensive and overly paranoid. He’s protective towards those he cares about and his walls are too high up for anybody to break them (doesn’t stop Felix from trying tho)

4. Mickey and Felix go waaaaay back!!!! They get along almost too well for a cat and a mouse!!

They get into all sorts of trouble, Mickey hates to admit it but he doesn’t get the hate Oswald has towards the guy. They both are their biggest fans, Felix has a soft spot for Mickey

For Sheba I like to think she teases him a lot, and Mickey is too nice and polite to tell her something. She’ll say something about eating him alive and Mickey would go “Oh! Well… golly, I can’t imagine I’d taste good!”

TYSM FOR YOUR ASK INFERNO THIS LEGIT MADE ME SMILE SO WIDE I HOPE YOU’RE DOING GOOD!!!!!! <333333

[almdragonrend]

I have somthing I really need to say, I don't get how FL could be popular, I mean if you think for a moment about it even OG Katarina is morally superior to the Heroine in Maria and all The Capture Targets in the story, I mean nothing against an Evil protagonist or a good antagonist, but than don't portray Katarina as a Villain and Maria as a hero ! That's wrong! Katarina leaves Maria completely alone in both the Nicole and Alan route, meaning she only opposed Maria when she's trying to seduce HER fiancée or mess with her family or do both in the Harem route!

Than the fact that she's accused of bullying those bellow her station is bulls* she only bullied Maria who I just said why she did it and Keith whose arrival at HER HOME turned HER PARENTS against eachother when she was a Child! That doesn't make it right but she couldn't know that this wasn't his fault, and his own original family wanted to kill him! Luigi saved his life and that's how he thanked him ?

than Geordo she gave almost half her life up to that point in complete support and devotion to that mother fu* and he swore an Oath to marry her! I don't think many people get how bad a possible future king breaking an Oath is especially considering Geordo's Grandpa's actions,

further more Katarina actually don't mistreated dose below her status, first her Maid Anne who despite being related to Nobility is herself a Commoner just like Maria and Katarina even in FL verse treats her like a Sister more than a servant!

Next there's Sianna, she's the bottom of the barrel of Nobility and still Katarina cherished her more than anyone else! This makes the claim of her bullying people for their status down right nonsensicaly!

Especially when she's the only one who never partake in bullying everyone's favorite Target Sophia Ascart, since we see in VOD is never once mentioned that she did so when Sophia joined her book club, that would have had to be brought up than ! Meaning is the only Noble Girl who didn't bully Sophia! (Except Marry) and it's even implied she discouraged others from bullying Sophia!

When Bakarina in verge of doom just assumed OG Katarina bullied more people and wanted to apologize during VoD judgment event no one spoke up! And that Is most likely because she never bullied anyone other than the Girl who tried to steal her fiancée and/or shame her family!

Also, it's said that Katarina's bullying was only on the very edge of Criminal, meaning she never really committed a crime, the one attacking Maria with fire was Noelia, who acted on her own accord!

Keith and/or Geordo basically rigged the Trial to get Katarina stripped of her status and exiled which is a way to hard punishment anyway! When she comes back with dark magic she didn't even kill someone for it! She just had it !

And that idiots in the development team must have believe that this made her appear more evil since she's just born with the "bad magic" but instead it just means she didn't kill anybody for it ! Right OG Katarina is not a murderer and the idiots of the FL development believed Katarina being NOT a murderer makes her more evil than people who literally commit murder to get the same magic! what does that say about their Character ?

I heard a lot about people saying something for a Original Katarina redemption arc and I really hope she gets an happy ending, she deserves it but what people need to understand is Original Katarina dosen't need an redemption arc because she has not done anything so bad that she deserved getting to that point anyway, instead she deserved a pretty enormous apology from Geordo, Keith and Maria

To give her a redemption arc basically means recognizing Maria, Geordo and Keith, Cheating, betraying,Oath breaking and manipulate a Chords to commit prejudice as a good thing, Original Katarina shouldn't have to apologize to them! They should have to apologize to her! Even when something like that calls for ways more than an apology! And first of all her entire sentence should be revoked !!!! + there has to be compensation for everything she had to go trough!!!

[sevi007]

Tales of the abyss playthrough, part 5

Well, damn it. We are busted . Not that our disguises were any good but that’s a wooping 30 minutes of gameplay before they caught us

Interestingly enough, Jade does not seem particularly hostile towards us. It seems more like genuine intrigue to me

Yes thank you Luke. I'm honestly getting dizzy with all the exposition over here. There are so many factions within the same organisation and I still have not yet fully grasped all those score and fonon things.

So from what I gathered, the score is like a written history of everything that was, and will be. Talking to some NPCs, it also seems to server as a kind of horoscope (that's why I say it tells the future). So it's like a religion's bible in a way that they follow it's teaching, but it's also more, because it can make predicitons (or already made them).

There are two kingdoms we know of yet - Malkuth and Luke's home which's name I always forget - and they are on the brink of a war. Over what, I have not really understood yet. But despite the fact that Jade and Anise are part of Malkuth's military, they do not want any war and are on the way to help Ion (who is a neutral party not undre any kingdoms' rule) to the king for a peace treaty. Did I get most of it right? Sure hope so!

Jade, I do realize you're making fun of Luke. Bastard man XD (I'm kidding, it's funny)

Oh? See what I mean about fast-paced?! XD I was still mulling all this new info over, gimme a breather please

Yea does not look like I'm getting a breather.

Oh? Can we summon zombies now?

Is anybody on the Team already a zombie? Jade is pale like one... okay I will stop XD

Ah I see. That will explain how they nerf Jade so he can be part of the party.

Checking his stats... yeah he is on our level now. Dammit. I wanted to use him for easy farming for a bit longer. XD Curse you for seeing through my genius plan, game!

Well now, that’s interesting. I cannot recall a JRPG which actually adressed the fact that we kill the (human) enemies we face. (Disregarding Vesperia and Yuri‘s kills here, because those were outside of the battles that we as players control). I admit that I in front of the screen did not consider this either. In the back of my mind, I assumed we knock them out, rather than outright killing them

Not only is this interesting for me as the player, but also for Luke‘s character development. Remember, again, that his entire (remembered) life was a sheltered one. He barely learned how to fight- Tear points out flaws like not considering the environment, not knowing how to use arts - much less how to deal with a real battle field, or killing. Now he gets thrown into a situation where it‘s kill or be killed. How he will deal with this and what he will do from here on out might be an important milestone for him.

.....

Ah. Literally like two minutes later:

Oookay I had assumed Luke will have a bit more time to mull the whole killing thing over but alright, fast paced once more XD Poor boy.

Huh. I think I saw this guy in the opening? I‘m going by ear here, but I THINK he has the same voice actor as Luke? No don‘t tell me! I don’t want to look it up either. It’s just interesting. Jotting this down as important - especially since they are careful not to show us this man‘s face. Maybe a long-list twin? Although there‘s a lot of things that speak against that theory.

So I'm cutting this short here, this post is already long enough. I'm very intrigued so far!

@magicmetslogic