#BURDEN OF OATH

[maddymoreau]

Thinking about how Diavolo’s feelings transcend time and how in the Nightbringer UR+ card Demon Lord’s Castle Tour this conversation happens.

When asked, “Do you wish to see your father?”

Diavolo responds:

“I suppose I do . . .” isn’t the typical reaction to how a child would feel about wanting to see their parent. Especially when said parent has essentially been in a coma for a year.

Along with how Diavolo describe his father.

It makes more sense why when you learn in Lesson 56 how Diavolo was treated by him growing up.

Diavolo can tell when others are lying but is unable to understand his father’s intentions.

Diavolo mentions that he lived a very sheltered life growing up. That from a young age his father never allowed him a chance to talk to anyone outside the castle.

His childhood friend was Mephistopheles. A demon literally RAISED to be his friend. Putting a barrier between the two because Mephistopheles would put Diavolo on a pedestal.

The isolating childhood he experienced riddled with his strict father constantly scolding him.

Despite everything MC is so important to him he wants to see his father again so we can meet.

[fatedroses]

NOOOOOO Blueberry Grandpa!! 🥺🥺🥺 Atticus (and Regent by extension) is such an interesting character. Especially with his complecated relationships with what seems like everyone. I can see why Tsukiko loves her Dad so much. He's so kind and caring despite everything.

:D I'm glad to hear you enjoy old mr.blueberry!

I'm also gonna put this here because I felt like talking a bit more about him as a character:

I started writing Atticus because I wanted to explore pre-imperial and early imperial Garlemald with a character that lived through the brunt of some of the early conflicts (i.e, the reaper society, the home-front war, and the beginning of Solus' reign). Because a lot of the pre-history and subtext caught my eye while I was looking into lore.

He is a character I define almost primarily for the compassion and love he has for others, with Regent balancing him out by being an embodiment of his loyalty, determination, and sense of justice. And I've enjoyed writing him keeping that sense of self, even as it often puts him at odds with those he cares about. For Atticus, to pay the kindness he had gotten from those he had lost forward was the only way he knew of to keep that spark of their memory alive, and in how he thinks of himself, it is how he mentally prevents himself from becoming the man that took his village and his family from him in the first place.

The other main thing I wanted to explore with him is that he is, in archetype, a previous generation non-azem warrior of light, and the concept of him growing up and being from a place like Garlemald and the struggles that came with it because of how his motivations deviated from a lot of his kin.

Also in part because I thought it would be a least a little amusing for Emet to get attached to Atticus only to realize way too late that Hydaelyn had "gotten to him first". (Cue a man angrily shaking his fist towards the earth LOL)

[acourtofquestions]

"A decent attempt, but Celaena Sardothien looked a little more amused when she cut men into ribbons."

He knew-who Aelin was, what she'd been. Lysandra said nothing, and kept walking toward her tent. If she told Aedion, how quickly could Nox be buried under the frozen earth?

"Your secret is safe," Nox murmured.

"Celaena—Aelin was a friend. Is still one, I'd hope."

"How." She'd admit no more than that regarding her role in this.

"We fought in the competition together at the glass castle." He snorted. "I had no idea until today. Gods, I was there for Minister Joval as a spy for the rebels. It was my first time out of Perranth. My first time, and I wound up unwittingly training alongside my queen." He laughed, low and amazed. "I'd been working with the rebels for years, even as a thief. They wanted me to be their inside eyes on the castle, the king's plans. I reported the strange goings-on until it became too dangerous. Until Cel— Aelin warned me to run. I listened, and came back here. Joval is dead. Fell in a skirmish with a band of rebels by the border this spring.

Darrow plucked me up to be his own messenger and spy. So here I am." A sidelong glance at her, awe still on his face. "I am at your disposal, even if you're not... you." He angled his head.

"Who are you, anyway?"

"Aelin."

Nox smiled knowingly. "Fair enough."

Lysandra paused before the queen's too-small tent, nestled between Aedion's and Ren's own. "What's the cost of your silence? Or does Darrow already know?"

"Why would I tell him? I serve Terrasen, and the Galathynius family. I always have."

"Some might say Darrow has a strong claim to the throne, given his relationship with Orlon."

"I realized today that the assassin I came to call a friend is actually the queen I believed dead. I think the gods are pointing me in a certain direction, don't you?"

She lingered between the tent flaps.

Delicious warmth beckoned within. "And if I were to tell you we needed your help tonight, and that the risk was being branded a traitor?" Nox only sketched a bow. "Then I'd say I owe my friend Celaena a favor for her warning at the castle, plus saving my life before that." She didn't know why she trusted him. But she'd developed an instinct for men that had always proved correct, even if she had been unable to act on it in the past. Had only been able to brace herself for them.

But Nox Owen—the kindness in his face was true. His words were true. Another ally Aelin had wrangled for them, this time unwittingly.

[thedragonagelesbian]

you’re you.................................

[volo-omnia]

Not me fixating a little to closely to Cogita's dialogue and how she uses the word "pact"

[silent-sentinels]

i want a name

oh fr? cool cool what name do you want bud? :]

uhm.

oh uh do you have any vibes in mind? sounds you like? do you wanna check our names list?

mm... i wanna be softer than Sharps. um, feminine i think? n maybe something to match with lili?

hm okay let's think then. Elizabeth is on our name list, thoughts?

don't like the z. uhm elise?

oh yeah like that one saint moteI song :3 i like that, do you not like it?

mm.. its okay. good direction?

lets seeee~ elena? eleanor? elodie? evangeline?

maybe. eleanors too hard to spell. elodie sounds nice but i dont like how it looks... uhm i like evangeline for when im feeling. older. i dunno if it fits for other times...

okay, evangeline for when you're older then! hmm nicknames, nicknames... eva, angel... evie?

!! me! yes!

oh NICE that's REALLY cute, okay ready? hi evie! evie how are you doing? evie and lili are my two little sisters~!!! :3

!!! yes! c:

my little evie~!! oh and we can sing that one song hkj look how she lights up the sky~! ma belle evangeline~!!!

^^!!!!! <333

[lamaery]

It’s the season for treason (and romance) and what better seasoning for this than planning regicide with your best mate and captain (forever).

And as a treat in the next days @priscellie and I want to show you the additions we made (mainly in text by my partner in crime and fictional romance) for the book jackets we printed for display only at Nexus. NO, WE CANNOT SELL THEM (for various reason. Sorry! 🥲) I’ll tell you these descriptions and quotes are worth reading:

❤️🩷❤️ on the back of the book ❤️🩷❤️

“You don’t need to salute me, Moash,” Kaladin said. “You’re lighteyed now. You outrank me by a mile or two.” “I’ll never outrank you, Kal,” Moash said, faceplate of his helm up. “You’re my captain. Forever.” 

Kaladin Stormblessed was not a man who trusted easily. After enduring slavery and injustice, shame and loss, there was only one man he could open his heart to: Moash, a brother-in-arms who understood his pain like none other.

Now, Kaladin has won for his men a tenuous freedom and a heavy responsibility, guarding the royal family from assassins. As he struggles with the burdens of living up to his ideals and proving the worth of his entire caste, a new threat emerges: Moash himself, whose thirst for vengeance drives him to target the king Kaladin has been charged to defend. Amid clashing oaths, Kaladin must decide: which act of protection is the greater betrayal?

(Meanwhile, Shallan balances becoming a super spy and dating a human golden retriever.)

“F*** Moash, but in a FUN way!” MARA J. SAAS

❤️🩷❤️ Praise for Sandra Branderson’s WORDS OF RADIANCE ❤️🩷❤️

“Sandra Branderson weaves heartbreak and heroism into a dazzling tapestry of betrayal and redemption. This is romantasy at its most gut-wrenching. I’m still crying.” Londa Fee

“Only Branderson could take a subplot about loyalty, revenge, socioeconomic inequality, and morally dubious choices and soulcast it into an unforgettable love story.” Brett Peters

“Move over, epic battles. Sandra Branderson proves the most devastating wars are waged within the heart. This book will leave you breathless, teary-eyed, and desperate for more. Like her characters, amirite?” Astoria Vaub

“This book severed my heart like a shardblade cleaving a soul.”Comment on Instagram

“Can I steal her keyboard? Maybe just the H key? Slow her down in some way?” Martina George

“I am breaking into her house to steal the H key as we speak.” Patricia Rothfaux

“Sleep is for people who don’t know how to have fun.” Priscilla and Marie

[radio-fmm]

Ok but Prince!Sanji not aware that his knight is in fact a woman?

Reader!knight, the first born of her family and a woman struggling to help her family financially because a woman having a job was not accepted, so what did she do? Lied to her family saying she got a job overseas, stole an armor and a sword and joined the kingdoms army.

Turns out you were exceptionally good at the job and got promoted from a simple squire to the prince personal royal guard

And Sanji loathed it, he hated being followed around and observed by his dad’s little helpers

He felt judged

At least that was for a while until he eased into your presence, even though you didn’t speak (rumor had rolled around you took an oath to never speak until reaching the higher rank, of course that’s not the case you were trying to blend in) you always felt warm, and understanding

You allowed Sanji to do things that normally he wasn’t allowed to do; like helping in the kitchen or stroll around the perimeters of the royal garden and sometimes even go out of the walls of the castle to buy and enjoy whatever he pleased.

You knew a lot of the restrictions the king had on Sanji were either just petty or in all honesty cruel, so as long as he was safe, you didn’t step in

And of course Sanji appreciated it, pouting and sighing loudly when sometimes they swapped you for the day either because of sickness or “family business”

And you also became fond of the prince’s company, you found out Sanji was extremely caring, strong willed and empathetic; qualities his brothers lacked. Sanji’s love for cooking and adventure shaped him into a proper young man, sometimes even fearing what his family may do to him one day you aren’t around to protect him, because between the castle’s walls was were the actual danger lurked.

You had experienced it with your own eyes, how he was degraded by his own blood, hated for having an actual human heart beating under his ribs. Maybe that’s why you ended up bonding with the prince, you never allowed anyone to step on him.

He would thank you from the bottom of his heart but adverted his gaze feeling humiliated, and there was just so much you could do being mute

Slowly Sanji opened the doors of his troubled mind to you, finding you were the only person around in his life he could actually confide in and trust, after all, you put your life in the line everyday for him

You went for being a burden, to a dear friend of his; you didn’t just hover over his presence anymore, you shared space and sympathy

And of course you fell head over heels for the prince. How could you not to? You were allowed into the deepest crevices of his mind and soul, laying his heart bear for you to protect. He didn’t view you as just another pawn on the royal army, for Sanji you had feelings, opinions and desires, you were allowed to be human around him, and he was just oh so sweet and handsome

But you felt everything falling apart when one day you saw him almost trip and fall on the terrace of the castle after getting a little tipsy. You ran as fast as you could and catched him, in your fast movements your helmet fell to the ground, revealing your real identity to the prince

Both of you stood frozen, your heart in your throat as you feared for not only your future, but your life

“Your highness” the words fall out of your lips like butter, a shiver running down Sanji’s spine being able to hear your voice for the first time in years, now painted with your very afraid but beautiful face inches before his

“You’re-“ Sanji is in a trance, eyes committing your face to memory as they travel all around it. Big doe eyes sparkling up to him, lips so kissable and skin soft beneath his palms he bets “-beautiful”

Before the red travels to your cheeks you duck and gather your helmet before hastily putting it in and rushing out the terrace. Your heart beats loudly in your ears as you stand outside cursing to yourself for not being more careful, after all this years keeping the secret you screwed up big time

Sanji on the other side of the big door just remains transfixed, from a million questions he should be wondering your presence remains on his thoughts. He swears he had never ever lay eyes on someone as beautiful as you before, not even the most perfect princesses his father had before made travel overseas to try and marry him could compare to you, and your voice? Oh gods above. He would not get you out of his head.

Nor out of his sight

Pt.2

Masterlist

[crimsonspring]

sylus was his own protector, always has been. growing up in such a way has made him become a capable and dependable man. but at the same time, over time, it had naturally built a wall of defence around him. always on guard, always strong.

but it feels like sylus has ran out of his strength today. it's barely midnight (and that's practically morning for him) yet both his mind, body and soul are begging him for some rest. it's been an exhausting week full of deals and meetings (some successful, some not - the latter taking the bulk of the percentage). he was tired, disappointed and truth to be told, upset.

she senses something is wrong immediately when sylus wordlessly slips into bed next to her, immediately nuzzling her back against his own broad chest. there was no quip about her wearing the same sleep shirt two days in a row, nor was there a snicker about how her glasses were resting too low on the bridge of her nose as she scrolls through her phone. like clockwork, she presses herself even closer against him, his warmth immediately coaxing a contented sigh out of her.

she hears him sigh too, yet his was laced with some unsettledness, most definitely contrasting her blissful one. locking her phone, she shifts her neck a little to face him, a quiet yet simple question lingering in the air as she whispers, "you okay?"

he barely responds, a low hum all that he could muster. he was awfully quiet today, and she knew exactly what that meant. and he didn't have to explain further. she knew he felt a responsibility to constantly play the part of the fearless provider - he'd never share with her his own worries and troubles. ask him, and he'll agree. she was already burdened with so much of her own life events and bothers, many of those he oathed to carry off her shoulders. why would he let her learn even a glimpse of his troubles - why would he tarnish the reputation and image she has of him. he was her protector, her confidante, her rock - not her burden.

but she knows him better than he thinks she does. throughout the time she's known him, she's learned about his little quirks that to her, are a tell all. when a man full off snide comments suddenly falls silent, she knows it's a man in need of some love.

she hums back in response and a second later, she's turning in his arms to face him. she watches the wrinkle in between his forehead, signalling his deep in thought, stressed, despite his eyes shut. ever so gently, she presses a kiss to said crease before pressing one to his lips. "can i try something?" she asks.

his crimson orbs finally come into view, though very a limited one at that, as his eyelids open halfway. curious, he raises a brow. "try what, kitten?" he asks, bulky arm still draped across her waist. she meets his eye, and shoots him a small smile before using her hands to push his forearms off her. she then pushes his shoulders away, resulting a displeased grunt to escape his lips. "trust me." she reassures him.

his body molds against the movement of her hands, and soon enough, their positions were switched. sylus's brows are furrowed even deeper, his mouth gaping slightly at the very foreign position. (well, foreign to him.) "sweetie, what are you doing?" he grumbles out, body stiffening as he cranes his neck to meet her eyes.

like carrying a scared cat in your arms for the first time, she hushes gently into his ear, but holds him firmly. "just relax, sy." bewildered, sylus is still unable to settle in this new position. with a hand over his chest, she rubs the area soothingly. she decides not to make a comment about the rapidness she feels. "i just want to hold you like this tonight, my love." not exactly a lie, she truly does. but she knows she's doing it more for him, than she is for herself. and knowing sylus, he'd never admit that he'd need his girlfriend to baby and spoon him like this.

though not immediately, sylus slowly (and very slowly) relaxes, though the confusion on his face remains. he's confused indeed. confused as to why she wants to hold him this way. confused as to why this feels so nice.

sighing grumpily (he thinks) he eases his body into her and feeling him slowly but surely melt into her arms brings a smile to her face. she wonders if he can feel the smile playing on her lips as she presses a kisses to the back of his neck. her hand continues to rub his chest soothingly, and sylus swallows the lump that begun to form in his throat. this feeling was so foreign. to be held, to be comforted - he was sure he had never felt this way ever before. grappled with emotion that he tries to lock away, his large palm reaches back to hold onto the back of her thigh, squeezing it in silent gratitude.

so this is intimacy, he wonders to himself. it wasn't as though the fear and stress for tomorrow's troubles have dissipated completely, yet he knows that this was exactly what he needed to calm his racing mind. even if it was just for tonight. tomorrow, he'll take care of the matters. tonight, he's getting taken care of.

"i'll bring you shopping tomorrow, how about that, hm sweetie?" he suggests. it almost felt like he had to return the favour, taking care of big bad sylus - surely it came with a price right? it felt like this angel's kindness for him must be repaid. chuckling, she shakes her head, pressing another chaste kiss against the warm skin of his neck. "we don't have to, sy. how about we cook dinner together tomorrow, hm? you said you'd teach me how to make that pasta thing you made the other week."

"i'd like that, sweetie." he responds, fully relaxed now in the safety of his lover's arms. "i'll make sure to remind the twins to get the fire extinguisher ready this time." he chuckles, and while she'd usually smack his arm in annoyance, she simply smiles in response, grateful she senses that he's feeling a little better now that he has it in her to tease her.

"hmmm.. i'm going to put extra chillies in your food." she playfully threatens, but the squeeze her arms give around his body tells him that she loves him. and if it doesn't, she tells him anyway.

"go to sleep, sylus. we'll do tomorrow together when we wake up, okay?" she whispers quietly, pressing one last kiss against his shoulder. "i love you very much."

she hears him sigh once more, but this time it mirrors her contented one earlier. wordlessly, she grabs onto one of her hands, bringing it to his lips as he kisses her each one of he knuckles in thanks. "okay. i love you, kitten."

sylus thinks he is determined to change his sleep schedule if this is how safe falling asleep at midnight was going to be like.

[haikyu-mp4]

Secret circle – technically Kita x reader wc 301 – gn!reader

Imagine you’re the Miya twins’ older sibling. The three of you have gathered for your start-of-the-year secret-sharing session. Sitting in a circle and holding each other’s hands, as per tradition, you all glance at each other anxiously while chanting the stupid oath you made many years ago. What secrets will be revealed this year?

It’s a known fact that any Miya is terrible at keeping secrets, and so you made this tradition while growing up where you would share something every January to let the burden of the secret off your chest.

Now the twins are in their second year of high school and you’re in your third. It’s time for your last secret circle before you inevitably move somewhere else for college, as your brothers have been trying to prepare themselves for.

Taking deep breaths, you move a hand to start the countdown of ten seconds on your phone before hurriedly grabbing Osamu’s hand again.

As the time nears zero, you’re all red in the face and not entirely sure if you’re ready, but here it goes…

“I’m quitting volleyball after high school!” Osamu yelled, squeezing his eyes shut.

“I’m bisexual!” Atsumu squeaked dramatically, nodding as if in response to his own secret.

“I’m dating Kita!” you admitted with a sheepish grin.

“Dinner’s ready!” your mother announced from downstairs, but there was no peaceful dinner that day. You barely made it past the bedroom door before Osamu had your ankle in a clutch, pulling you back in while you yelled for your mom‘s help. Meanwhile, Atsumu had Osamu in a headlock and ultimately pulled all three of you back into the twins’ shared bedroom.

You almost missed the years when the worst confession was that someone liked the taste of boogers.

There’s no denying this was your favourite tradition ever.

masterlist

[haloud]

the thing about fire emblem radiant dawn is that it's been almost 20 years and i still don't know another video game that followed up its quite well-told but traditional fantasy story of heroes and princesses with a deconstruction of how the conquered enemy nation recovers and how just being good and heroic doesn't protect the people and the road to hell being paved with good intentions and how oaths are made and broken and how propaganda can grow out of good deeds and the horrifying burden of living with your choices and the nature of leadership and power and whether or not the world needs gods

and also naesala is there

[faesdreaming]

𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐥𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐱 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

────────────────────────

content warnings: yandere themes/behaviours, possessiveness, forced companionship, threatened self harm (not reader), reader can be read as afab or amab

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆:

His royal highness, your sworn liege. You swore an oath, forever binding yourself and your service to him. Knights, of course, he has a plenty. But you? You’re different. Special. He sits above all upon his throne. The burden of his crown is a heavy toll. And unlike the other knights he has in his command, you don’t simply act to obey.

You’re his most trusted advisor alongside being his most loyal soldier. You act to soothe his woes and offer insight. You traverse not just his kingdom but many others on your journey, enabling you to provide a different and rather refreshing perspective. Knights are made to uphold values of honour, loyalty, and nobility but the King has never met one quite as earnest as you.

He remembers the day you were knighted. How you knelt before him and pleaded your eternal loyalty. It’s a fond memory, one he replays whenever your admirers fawn over you or when you go on quests. It acts as a balm to soothe the possessive jealousy that rears its head. And how he loathes your seemingly never ending desire to go on quests. Certainly, before you endeared yourself to him, he hadn’t cared. Attain glory, uphold your honour. It is what knights are meant to do.

Alas, now, he cannot help but detest when you leave. His attempts at making you stay only delay it slightly longer. His orders for your aid, for your company all interrupted by the endless demands for your talents. It drives him mad. You’ve won more than enough glory. You’ve proven your honour and how noble you are countless times.

Stay with him, he’ll grant you every knight’s dream. A castle, large and built with grandeur. And what better castle than his palace? He’ll construct an entire wing, or perhaps an entirely new palace for you. He’ll shower you in all the gold and jewels you could ever want and more. He’ll throw the grandest of feasts and balls in celebration. Whatever your heart desires.

Or perhaps he’ll lock you away in a tower as all mad kings tend to do. Keep his knight all to himself, dressed in the finest silks and draped in exuberant jewelry. Oh, but you’d hate him wouldn’t you? Eyes once filled with shining loyalty showing nothing but contempt and bringing him despair. He couldn’t take it. Yet, he’s slowly and surely waning. Look at what you’ve done to him. Your mighty king beholden to your wishes.

He’s desperate, hungry, yearning for you. His knight, his soldier, his advisor, his confidant. His. Heed his commands, won’t you? For even the kindest rulers committed the worst atrocities when driven mad, and you’ve certainly ignited his descent.

“𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒:

The loveliest damsel across the lands, her highness, the princess. Locked away in a tower by an evil wizard, waiting to be saved by you. Her gallant knight. Do you know how long she’s awaited your arrival? It’s to be expected, of course. Princesses being kidnapped by evil wizards, dragons and other malevolent entities are a common occurrence. As is a knight saving them. It’s destiny.

Certainly other knights have tried before. But all perished at the hands of the wizard who abducted her when she was but a girl and locked her away. She was beginning to think it was hopeless until you came along. Silly her, she knows how it goes. Damsels are saved by honourable knights, then, they live happily ever after. Her entire life she has waited to be saved by you. And now that you have, you’ll wed her of course!

Except you don’t. You refuse to, politely declining her advances. She doesn’t understand. Do you not know how these stories are meant to end? She’s supposed to be your reward, your prize for your heroic deeds. But then, you tell her she’s not a reward, eyes shining earnestly. And oh, even that doesn’t make her fall harder.

No one has ever afforded her autonomy before, she’s always been an object, a prize. It’s like a switch is turned. Suddenly, it’s not a duty, but a desire. She needs you to be by her side. You’re the only person who sees her for who she is.

The princess grows obsessive. She wants to be with you and will do anything to achieve it. Thus, she schemes. She fakes kidnappings and attempted assassinations, all conveniently timed and placed so you’ll be the one to save her. Yes, it may be a tad suspicious but you wouldn’t question her. She’s a hapless damsel and you’re a noble knight, after all.

Of course, she’s not the only damsel you’ve ever saved. She isn’t the first either. But the princess is determined to be the last. Whatever true dangers that require your skills will be shoved to the side when she grows more dramatic with her plots to gain your attention. You must see she’s in need of you. Always in danger. She needs you by her side to protect her.

And if you still refuse to be with her? The princess will have no other option than to take the most drastic measures. You’ll find her up at the edge of the top of the castle’s towers. Dagger poised above her chest, plump eyelashes wet with tears, and a wobbly bottom lip. But in her eyes, all you can see is the madness only lovesick lass could have. She can’t live without you. Thus, you must choose: to be with her or to have the crushing guilt of her death haunt for eternity. Either way, you will hers. Whether through life or death.

“𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨.”

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃:

The fiercest creature known to man, the dragon lord is your natural enemy. He is able to shift from dragon to man in a matter of seconds. Not that it matters, of course. For all knights will fall to his prowess. Then, you come along. At first, the dragon lord dismisses you as yet another fool attempting to slay him. He sighs, bored. Stupid mortals and their useless prides. Did they not understand they would never be able to win? He is the best of both worlds, the mightiest of dragons and men.

Yet, you don’t. You don’t try to slay him. You don’t try to steal his treasures. You reason with him. Your sword is a powerful tool, but you’re a reputed charmer for a reasons. Your words are crafted from a silver tongue. There isn’t a hint of the usual arrogance that men of your station usually hold. This intrigues him. Genuineness is something he hasn’t encountered for centuries. Especially not from a mortal. So, he entertains you. He leaves the village he’s terrorizing, not because he’s swayed by your words, more so you amused him. Yes, that’s it. He returns to his cove of golden treasures, not anticipating to waste a single moment thinking back on you.

Unfortunately for the dragon lord, you plague his mind. He’s an old creature, far older than even your kingdom. And he’s been so very bored for so very long. It leads to him shifting into his human form to gain more information. Only to sate his curiosity, though. Certainly not for any other reason.

His interest is once again peaked when he hears tales of your immense talent. You were holding back against him, weren’t you? Oh, how vexing you are. A simple knight, daring to try and swindle the dragon lord. And how vexing it is for him to have fallen for your coy act. It should irritate him far more than it does. But he’s lacked true companionship for so long. Dragons are a dying species and mortals are unworthy. Well, except for you.

Yes, you’d make a suitable companion. The dragon lord decides that you are his new companion and sets off to find you. Shifting back into his dragon form, he scours the land for you. Upon recognizing your scent, the dragon lord swoops down and nabs your unsuspecting form. You try and protests but he’s far too strong and large for you to fight off. He flies you back to his trove of treasures. The dragon lord sets you amongst his precious possessions, at the center, of course. For you are the most precious of all.

You’re smart, aware you cannot escape him with strength. So you try with wit. You bide time, keep him entertained and try to slip out. It’s a process you repeat multiple times, with the dragon lord catching you each time. He’s never cross with you, if anything, he’s amused. You truly are entertaining. The dragon lord will never take your attempts seriously. You’re a game to him. You may be his companion, but you’re more akin to a bird in a cage than an equal. You’re still his possession, after all. He’s a dragon lord, possessive instincts demanding he hoards you away from everything and keep you all to himself.

“𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞.”

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇:

The mistress of the black arts, the witch doesn’t expect to fall for someone such as yourself. She doesn’t expect to fall for anyone at all. Witches are, by nature, deceitful. They are beautiful and cruel. They engage in the dark arts. However, they are not all pure evil. Some have a modicum of compassion in their hearts. And you seem to draw out hers. Perhaps it’s because she’s known you since childhood. Before you were a glorious knight and she an infamous witch, you two were just children with seemingly impossible dreams and the weight of the world on your shoulders. But time changes things, it’s made what should be enemies out of you by the nature of your positions. Yet she cannot bring herself to hate you.

Not when you are truly noble, as knights are supposed to be. She’s encountered many a proclaimed knight in her time. All eager to vanquish her. Yet they all fail. And they all contribute to her disdain towards the blinded citizens of kingdom and the selfish aristocracy. What are knights but dogs to the nobility and monsters to the innocents? She’s seen knights and paladins set villages ablaze, slaughter innocents in the name of either their king or their whims. All knights disgust her. All except you, of course.

You’re her dreamer. You’re her innocence. You’re still the same person who believed in fairytales and noble values because you uphold them. That’s why you’re so beloved. By everyone, but most of all, her. You’ve never turned on her. You understand her nature as not evil. You even go as far as to bring her potion ingredients. She’s your dearest companion. The witch relishes in the thrall she has over you. In the thrall you have over her. You two, bound by mutual past, shall be intertwined in the future.

The witch strives to protect you. She patches up every wound you receive, regardless of how small, with her potion brews. She enchants a charm to ensure your safety— and if it happens to allow her to watch over her at all times, then it’s only because she wishes to keep you safe. And perhaps she may curse her rivals for your affection, so what? A light hex never hurt anyone. She’s indefinitely more relaxed than your other options, though. Witches, while some join covens, prefer independence. She would never want to stifle you.

So, the witch does what she does best. She casts curses and creates enchantments to keep you out of harms way. You may embark on your quests, you may indulge in your whims, but she is certain you will always return to her. And if you don’t? Well, she is a master of the dark arts. She can easily summon you and tether you to her. But she won’t. Probably.

Overall, the witch is concerned about your safety. She may guard you from a distance, but she guards you viciously. You are the only connection to her past, you are the only one who understands her. She cannot bear to lose you to anyone or anything.

“𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜.”

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍:

A rival, a friend, an equal. This is what they are to you. The paladin, once a squire alongside you, now a sworn knight of the Holy Order. How your paths have differed. Yet, in some ways, you remain the same. Namely, the competition between you. The paladin is always one step behind, has been since your days as a squire. You best them at spars, at races both on horse and foot, in accolades as well. They’re a paladin, and yet, you receive more recognition than them. It drives them mad. You drive them mad.

For one, they should be above the petty jealousy you stir. They should be satisfied with their status. But they are not. They always compare themself to you. They want so desperately to share the light you unwittingly bask in. Alas, none of it is for them. They resent you, they loathe you. Even worse, they respect you. Beyond your skill, you’re the paradigm of a true knight. You’re noble and good-hearted in a cruel world. You’re pure in a way no one else is. It inspires nothing but admiration. The paladin has admired you since your shared youth, they even tried to convince you to take up the Holy Vows

They’ve yet to succeed, but they won’t stop trying. After all, you’re all they’ve been chasing after. You’re the peak they seek. They train relentlessly to improve. Not to become your equal, but to become your better. They want to surpass you, to prove themselves worthy. They want you to look at them the way they’ve looked at you. The paladin wants to be the center of your world.

They work tirelessly. And yet, you always seem to far away. Their obsession grows deeper, more dangerous. The more attention you gain, the more desperate they become. How can the paladin reach you if you’re so far away? It calls for more drastic measures. Perhaps sabotaging your reputation, or ruining your quests. Ensuring you have no one to turn to beside them. Maybe even a maiming is in order, something to incapacitate you and keep you in the paladin’s grasp.

Don’t worry. They’ll be worthy someday. Until then, the paladin will watch from afar, stewing with jealousy and yearning. Be careful though. One wrong move could have the paladin turning towards the more unsavoury means of attaining you. They’d be remiss to, of course, but they cannot let you slip from their hold.

“𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.”

────────────────────────

a/n: I’m back, from a very long hiatus. Special thanks to @forbidden-sunlight for motivating me to get back into writing :)

more yandere fae + new works coming soon

[cherimoyatea]

The LaDs Men healing your inner child...

...they accidentally evoke your insecurities and comfort you.

❧ Part III - Zayne - Healing Hearts

Pairing: Zayne x You Synopsis: You pretend to be fine when Zayne is called back to work on his day off. Word count: 901 Tags: workaholic zayne, disappointment, neglect, romance, fluff, comfort Side notes: Wow, are we already at Part III? Zayne's story is actually the reason why I created a mini-series instead of posting all four stories at once. It simply got too long, and I had to rewrite the other stories to match their length. In this part, we address the theme of rejection and neglect, but luckily, we have Zayne to help us realize that our feelings matter. Part I - Xavier ❧ Part II - Rafayel ❧ Part IV Sylus

Beep-Beeeep.

A sharp sound cuts through the peaceful moment as you lie on the couch with Zayne. Still exhausted from yesterday's mission, your head rests on his lap, and you're about to fall asleep halfway through the movie while his fingers softly stroke your hair.

He carefully leans forward to reach for his pager on the coffee table while you rub your sleepy eyes. Noticing Zayne's serious expression you slowly sit up next to him. ''What's wrong? An emergency at the hospital?''

Zayne nods as he stares at the pager, reading the message from Akso Hospital. Today was his day off, and he promised to spend it with you. He takes a deep breath and sighs, sliding the pager into his pocket while he shifts his worried gaze to you. He hates himself for asking you this. ''MC, do you mind if we reschedule our movie date?''

You swallow as your heart drops at his words. You saw that coming.

More people are falling ill since the days grow shorter and the nights become colder. Even doctors and nurses aren't spared, which leads to a shortage at the hospital. Zayne had already told you that he was on call, but you had hoped he wouldn't be needed.

''No, it's fine. I think I'm too tired for a movie marathon anyway.'' You reply with a forced smile, even though you feel like crying. You haven't had time for each other in weeks, but you know how important his patients are to him. Putting your needs aside is something you're used to, and you don't want to be a burden by asking him to stay. Instead, you nod heavily as you stand up from the couch, pretending to be alright. ''Let's go, Zayne.''

The young doctor watches you intently for a moment before responding, his eyes following your movements as you walk over to the coat rack to grab your jacket. He knows you too well and can clearly see the disappointment behind your feigned bright expression.

He wishes he could silence the pager and dismiss it, but the oath he's sworn holds him to his duty. So he clears his throat and keeps a straight face, even though it’s breaking him inside to walk away from you.

''Alright. I’ll drop you off on the way.''

Zayne's attentive eyes are focused on your profile while the motor of his vehicle purrs softly. It's been the only sound since you left his apartment and your silence couldn't be louder to him.

When the signal turns green again, he reluctantly takes his gaze back to the road, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel as he tries to figure out how to get to you.

Beep-Beeeep.

The sigh that escapes your lips as his Pager goes off for the second time today is not missed by him.

''I apologize that we have to postpone our date. I didn't expect it to end like this.'' You hear Zayne's calm voice as he tries to reach you, hoping for a response. You shift in the passenger seat, staring out the window, not really focusing on anything. Another faint smile appears on your face as you turn to him, wondering whether you should tell him the truth: That you feel rejected and disappointed. That you miss him and want to be with him.

But there is this numbing feeling that you might come off as too needy, as someone who clings and is just too much to handle. ''It's okay; don't worry too much about it, Doctor Zayne. We can always meet again on your next free day.'' You say as you stop in front of your apartment building.

Without waiting for his response, you get out of Zayne's car and close the door a bit harder than you intended. You know it's not his fault and that he didn't intentionally let you down. Yet a crippling feeling of neglect washes over you as you retreat from his sight. Completely unaware of his longing gaze upon you as the engine starts again.

Later that day, you have already resigned yourself to spending the evening alone when you suddenly hear your phone vibrate on your desk. Your heart skips a beat as you see Zayne's name on the display:

''I'm taking the day off tomorrow to compensate for today and bought two tickets for a movie tonight. Would you like to accompany me? I'm waiting downstairs.''

You rush out of your apartment as fast as you can, still in disbelief that he is actually here. Zayne is leaning against his car, and a smile spreads across his handsome face as he sees you running towards him, jumping straight into the arms of your beloved. He chuckles softly as you bury your face in his chest before looking up at him.

''Zayne, about earlier... I'm so sorry for how I acted I-'' Your words are interrupted as gentle, green eyes stare back at you while he slowly shakes his head. ''No. You don't have to act strong all the time.''

You feel his arms loosen around you, and just as you start to panic, his warm hands gently wrap around your trembling fingers. ''It's alright to feel disappointed when things don't go your way. All you have to do is tell me how you feel and promise to be honest. I will accept you, no matter which side you show.''

Thank you for reading! Cherry 🍒 Updated Nov. 20th: Added links to the other parts + fixed formatting.

[deadrobinthoughts]

†  a binding oath : damian.

request: yes - marriage of convinience. ♦ beta’d: nope ♦ a/n: enjoy~

marriage is a transaction, a contract, a necessity.

that is what he tells himself. what he needs to believe. because there is no room for foolishness in his life - no space for weakness, for sentiment, for affairs of the heart. there is only duty, only the weight of his name, only the ever-present demand for more.

and so, when the proposal is made - clean, logical, mutually beneficial - damian does not hesitate. it is the most rational course of action, the only way to secure what must be secured. his voice is steady when he presents it to you, explaining the terms as though they are nothing more than a mission briefing. there will be no expectations beyond what is necessary.

a public front, a shared existence dictated by obligation, but nothing more. It is simple. It is necessary.

and you agree.

the wedding itself is an empty spectacle, all silk and vows and rings that are worn for the world, but mean nothing beneath the surface. a wayne affair - elegant, elaborate, a performance for the public eye. damian does everything as he should, guiding you through the carefully choreographed steps of a ceremony neither of you planned for yourselves. he places the ring on your finger with precision, a movement too steady, too practiced, too detached.

it is not real. it is not real. it is not..

something shifts when his fingers brush against yours, lingering just a fraction too long. it is imperceptible to the crowd, to the press, to the countless watching eyes, but not to him. he feels the warmth of your skin against his, the way your pulse flutters beneath his touch, the way your lips part just slightly before you speak your vows. and then, as tradition dictates, he must kiss you. a simple act, a formality, yet when his lips press against yours, something in his chest tightens, something claws at his ribs, something betrays him in a way he does not have words for. it is warm - too warm - lingering in a way that makes his breath catch when he finally pulls away. he should not have felt anything. he should not have let it affect him. and yet, he cannot ignore the way something deep inside him has already begun to shift.

the world continues and he plays his role. the public sees what it is meant to see; a perfect union, a seamless transition into this new phase of life. the weight of expectation does not sit heavy on him; he has carried burdens all his life. but when night falls and the guests disappear, when the façade no longer needs to be upheld for anyone but you, he feels something foreign creep in - uncertainty.

nights are the worst.

the world outside remains convinced of the performance, but here, in the quiet of shared space, there is no script to follow. he should not hesitate before stepping into the room where you now sleep. he should not feel his chest tighten at the sight of you without the weight of pretense, without the armor of expectation. he watches, unblinking, as you move about the space with ease, settling into the shape of a life that was never meant to be yours, yet somehow already is. he cannot reconcile the way this should feel with the way it does.

he tells himself that nothing has changed, that this is simply an arrangement, a necessity, nothing more.

the truth is that it has already changed. it changed the moment you looked at him with something unspoken in your eyes, something he could not name, something he did not have the language to define. it changed when his gaze lingered too long, when he memorized the way your fingers curled into the fabric of your sleeves, when he learned the precise cadence of your sighs. it changed when he realized he had come to expect your presence, had begun to search for you in the quiet moments between duty and expectation.

then, without warning, the realization becomes unbearable.

a simple thing - a fleeting touch, nothing more. your fingers graze his wrist, absentminded, unintentional, a gesture so small it should mean nothing. But he stops breathing. his muscles lock, his mind stalls, and in that instant, he understands. he has lost the battle he did not even realize he was fighting. he has already been undone.

this is no longer an arrangement. no longer a convenience.

it is something irreversible, something dangerous, something real. and damian wayne does not know if he will ever recover from it.

[faircastle]

ALSO ACTUALLY HEY!!! what do you mean the aiel call the tuatha'an the lost ones? the ones who kept the oaths, who bury their dead and go on, who refuse to pick up a weapon. what do you mean they are the lost ones and the aiel have a ritual where they go through the past and learn their history and some of them know this and must spare the rest of their people this knowledge because it is such a burden? what do you mean history flips things around, makes the aiel dismiss the tuatha'an as dishonorable but still insisting that the only thing more dishonorable is to kill those who won't defend themselves? what do you meeeeeeaaaaaaaannnnnnnn??

[generalsmemories]

How do I tell my husband he got scammed into buying a lion?

✧ jing yuan x gn!reader

✧ summary: during one autumn afternoon you're suddenly faced with another one of your husband's impulsive purchases. only that this time it's a living being.

✧ content: established relationship, fluff, humor, might be a bit ooc

✧ a/n: hello there hsr fandom! i have unfortunately lost the battle against myself on making another sideblog for jing yuan, the man who has singlehandedly occupied my mind since his first appearance in the beta. i do hope that this will actually appear in the tags, but every infomation you would need if you want to request something is all up on the blog if you so wish! i hope we can have a pleasant time together !!

also this is not beta-read, we die like how fast my resolve to not create a jing yuan blog died.

Being the spouse of the Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou Luofu comes with it's share of benefits and disadvantages. For one you're regarded at a higher position than most of it's citizens, often being stopped on the side of the road when taking a walk to exchange numerous pleasantries with merchants from outside of Xianzhou, various store owners or cloud knights on duty.

Another factor is shouldering the burden your husband has on his shoulder, an oath you had taken yourself the day you accepted Jing Yuan's nth proposal. You considered that a fair trade with his vast knowledge and insight into a possible future and doing everything behind the scene to avoid colliding headfirst into said problem. A feat that attracted you towards the general in the first place, minus his dashing looks of course.

The biggest disadvantage of publicly announcing that you were indeed the Arbiter-General's significant other was doing everything within your power to not throw your husband's famous title away for a newer, more terrible one. (more utc!)

Because as you see him walking up the steps of the Seat of Divine Foresight, your gaze is not locked with your husband's smiling face, rather it's fixated on the small being he has cradled in his arms. The soft smile you had quickly spreading into a more nervous and confused smile as you glance over at Qingzu, the counselor looking at you with just as much confusion.

How in the world did you manage to leave him alone out in the market area for an hour and he comes back with a lion cub?

"[Name], darling! Look at this grimalkin that a merchant had!"

A what now?

"... A grimalkin, you say?" Every book that has recorded history had specified that the grimalkin species had gone extinct, and you were well aware that your husband knew this fact. And yet here you were, faced with his smile directed down towards what you can clearly tell is a lion cub, his thumb pressing down at its paws affectionately.

You're starting to think that Yanqing's impulsive purchases with his sword collection aligns with your own husband's impulsiveness.

Coughing loudly into your hand, you take a deep breath before descending down the stairs to be on the same level as Jing Yuan, peering down onto the cub's face. It was indeed cute, and judging by how enamored Jing Yuan is, you can clearly tell that it's small stature is what attracted him to it in the first place.

Oh he's going to be crushed when it grows up, "It's adorable, Jing Yuan," you settle on saying, waving a finger over the lion's grimalkin face, the animal lifting its paws to try to grab it. You shoot a look towards Qingzu, a silent command for her to look into which outer merchant was now scamming people into buying literal lions. The counselor quickly excusing herself to look into the matter immediately, Jing Yuan only giving her a smile and a wave of his hand as she scurries down the stairs.

"Right? I decided to name it Mimi," he muses, and your heart breaks a tiny bit for him, but there are more pressing matters at hand than the fact that your husband once again got scammed because he was most likely bored out of his mind.

You would rather that the Xianzhou citizens know him as "The Dozing General" instead of the general that gets scammed a few times too many. How does one even go on about trying to tell their husband that the grimalkin in his arms is actually a lion?

"A fitting name indeed," you mutter, raising a hand to caress Jing Yuan's cheek, a simple gesture to make the general direct his attention to you. However, you could still see that his guard was slightly up with you. You only chuckle at that, leaning in to slide your lips over his own, Jing Yuan wasting no time to press back.

Another well hidden secret reserved for the walls of the Divine Foresight is the fact your husband is incredibly weak for his own spouse.

"... Want to tell me how much you paid for Mimi, dear?" you ask in a whisper when your lips part, thumb caressing over the mole under his eye.

Jing Yuan merely smiles, twisting his head to press his lips against your hand instead, "It was from my personal wallet, dear. Please don't fret over the small details."

"Darling, I hope you're aware that the small details would be the necessary funding for accomodation, toys and food, right?" you say with a chuckle, your husband freezing with his ministrations upon remembering that fact.

Oh well, you want to see how long it takes before your husband comes to realization that it's a lion. You just have to be extra vigilant towards the numerous fundings in the meantime.

While scrolling through your schedule for the next morning, your phone dings with a message from Qingzu. You quickly look down at Mimi whose resting on your belly and then at Jing Yuan whose sleeping self is still snoring away by your shoulder before letting out a small sigh in relief that the loud noise didn't awake any of them.

Qingzu:

Do I even have a say in this?

Was the message sent by Qingzu, attatched to it is a picture taken of what you can only presume is one of Jing Yuan's "diaries". The contents of it making you let out a low laugh, the shaking making said man beside you grumble before pressing his face into your neck.

Attatched image:

"Eventually, I paid hefty sum for the grimalkin, named it "Mimi", and took it home. Only that I'm too busy with official business and have little time to take care of Mimi. After thinking it over, chores like feeding it and changing its water should also be entrusted to Qingzu. I do wonder why [Name] looked so distraught when they first saw Mimi though. Maybe they didn't think I would favor the petite and small animals instead of the usual large and strong ones?"

[Name]:

So Qingzu, do you have an idea what the easiest way to tell someone they got scammed is?

Qingzu:

That is the role of the spouse, not the counselor.