#Black Boys Bloom Thorns First

[uzumaki-rebellion]

"King Killmonger: The Golden Jaguar: Chapter 7"

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"'Cause all I see is the best of you and all you see is the best of meAnd you bring out the best of meAnd all I see is everythingYour goals, your glow, your inner beingAnd our bigger meaningSo, let's lose us in these sheets, yeahAnd when I get up to walk, I wanna feel weak, yeahWell, I ain't goin' far (ain't goin' far)So, stay where you are (stay where you are)Feel like you partied in Venus and we woke up in Mars (baby)I been waitin' my whole life (I've been waiting)My whole lifeAnd I'm gonna give you the best years of your life (for you and I) You and I"

Beyonce—"ll Hands ll Heaven"

N'Jadaka Udaku, the foreign born king of Wakanda was a large man.

Yani watched him stretch his muscled arms and strong neck as he powered the bulk of his big body onto the stern of the houseboat and joined her on the cushiony loveseat facing the water on the lower deck. She had been on the luxury ship before. In America and elsewhere it would be considered a yacht, but to the super rich Udakus, it was a family houseboat.

The king rolled his neck and snuggled next to her, enjoying the warm sunlight and letting the alcohol in the champagne they drank relax him into a slight buzzy stupor. For three hours they floated in a quiet bliss, watching the water become a foamy deluge in their wake slicing through the turquoise liquid. The shoreline view slowly changed from deluxe high rises and bustle of city life to the more tranquil and slower-paced suburbs that led to the rural beauty of outer Zana.

N'Jadaka's skin had turned browner than hers as they sunbathed in their swimsuits, and luxuriated in their togetherness. She kissed his hard bicep and started to cry.

"Yani…"

His concerned voice enveloped her in comfort. He hugged her into his side.

"I'm so happy," she sputtered, knowing the champagne had taken over her emotions. "You're my husband now, and it makes all of this seem so solid and real. I'm drunk…"

He laughed and the sound squeezed her heart.

"I'm not talking about the liquor," she said quickly wanting him to know her true feelings, "I'm drunk off of this love we have. I can't explain it well, but it makes me feel…safe. Finally."

He threaded his fingers with hers and kissed her hand.

"I know what you mean, Yani. I feel the same. I'm actually feeling so many things at once. Maybe that's why I've been so quiet for the last two hours. Taking it all in…knowing that I have a wife. That means everything to me. I didn't know I could possibly love you more, but going through the wedding ceremony, taking vows before gods and people. All of this takes on a deeper meaning."

He stared at their wedding rings.

"I should've married you after the first time we made love because I knew you were the one back then. I just didn't trust myself…I didn't know how to love you properly."

He cast his gaze toward the river water again.

"I have a queen, a family of my own…I have everything I've ever wanted. Maybe I'm scared I'll lose it all again…maybe that's why all of my senses and emotions are heightened. So many people in the world never get to have all of their dreams come true."

Yani leaned over and kissed his cheek. N'Jadaka turned his face to align their lips. He was larger up close, overwhelming her space the way he always did and she welcomed that sensation. It meant that he was her forever love. Her husband.

"Ohmigod, look…N'Jadaka…look," she gasped.

Their love boat passed a giant mountain waterfall that gushed whitewater into the once calm river. The automated boat moved away from the cascading flow that started three hundred feet above them. A cool mist from the water striking the river moistened their skin. Yani leaned her neck back to study how high the waterfall started. They stood and walked up to the top deck toward the bow. The boat switched directions on a pre-determined course and headed directly for the heavy curtain of water one hundred feet wide. She clutched his hand.

"What's happening? Why is the boat going toward the waterfall?" Yani said with a nervous tone.

"Wait and see," he said, throwing an arm around her shoulder.

"Aren't we supposed to cruise around the Ibukan?"

"That's what I told everyone for our safety, but that's not what we're doing," he said with a mischievous grin.

They drifted closer and the roar of the waterfall frightened Yani.

"Keep your eyes open baby…watch," he said.

A vibranium shield shimmered a neon blue streak all around the boat. They cruised straight through the waterfall and Yani marveled at the tons of water washing across the protective barrier.

On the other side they entered an enormous cave. The shield powered down and Yani glanced behind them, listening to the thundering roar of water keeping them out of sight.

The river cave was balmy and lit with lanterns decked around the stone walls. They were inside a mountain that led to someplace she was never privy to.

"Where are we?" she whispered.

"You'll see soon enough," he said, squeezing her closer to him.

The lanterns flickered a yellow-orange glow that allowed her to make out cave drawings that didn't look like Wakandan script. Without the light, the blackness of the interior would've swallowed them. Up ahead, a glint of white beckoned them to an exit.

"Oh!"

Yani covered her mouth with her hand. They floated out into a tropical rainforest with an explosion of colors on vines and canopies she had never seen before. The air smelled different and the scent of the blossoming rainforest flowers lured her steps forward near a railing for a closer chance to sniff the tropical atmosphere. If Joba had been there, she would've believed that her fairy garden had sprouted into a giant real-life wonderland. That's how magical it felt floating along with her husband.

Yani looked around with more wonder and couldn't get over how different the world looked in that place. One would've believed they slipped into a fantasy land with colors that vivid and varied. The boat followed a lazy "s" curve until it stopped. N'Jadaka gathered up their thin, ankle-length aquamarine honeymoon tunics. Yani slipped hers on and he did the same.

"We'll ride a hover bike to the place I want to take you," he said.

Yani walked beside him to the lower deck where a canoe and a hover bike were attached for their use on the trip. She climbed behind her husband and held his waist.

Two elder women and a young man waited for them to float over the water and settle on the landing near the water's edge. One woman carried a woven grass basket covered with a satin blue cloth and the other woman held a full bouquet of magenta and blood-orange flowers. Both women wore heavy brocaded lavender robes with gold sandals. The young man escorting them stood silently watching the royal couple climb off the hover bike. He wore a long plain white shirt with gold crotch-drop pants.

The woman with the basket stepped forward first and handed N'Jadaka the basket.

"Welcome kumkani. We have been waiting for your arrival with the new kumkanikazi and prepared your quarters for the next three days."

"Thank you. May I introduce you to Kumkanikazi Yani?"

All three lowered their heads and waited for Yani to acknowledge them with an offering of her hand. The woman with the bouquet gave them to the queen and Yani sniffed the heavenly scent.

"Where are we?" Yani asked the first woman.

"This is Ekuqaleni. The Beginning. The place where the Udaku clan first came to be through Ugogo Udaku…Grandmother Udaku. She is the matrilineal beginning for the king. You carry her name as your own now, kumkanikazi. The Udaku family line runs through their women."

"Udaku was her surname?" Yani asked.

The elder woman who gave the flowers shook her head and spoke softly.

"No. Udaku was her first and only name. Udaku of the Panther Tribe. Mother of Bashenga Udaku, the first Black Panther and our first united tribal king."

"The women ran everything," Yani said.

The women nodded at her.

"Come, you have had a long day and long journey. Time to rest and get acquainted with the roots of your people."

The fruit basket woman snapped her fingers and the young man became more alert and stepped three feet in front of N'Jadaka as the others did. All citizens were only allowed to stand the requisite distance of three feet unless invited closer by a royal personally.

"What are your names?" Yani asked.

The first woman pointed to herself and then the woman with the flowers.

"I am Mama F'Neka and that is Mama Yiswa. Niso will take you to rest. Supper will be ready when you ask for it. We are here to serve and help you enjoy your stay. Your pleasure is our grace," F'Neka said.

Niso stepped lively and the royal couple carried their gifts and followed a winding path through a wealth of nature's beauty.

"We are on the other side of Umbono Lake," N'Jadaka said.

"By the cove?"

"Close to it," he said.

Yani smiled. She had a better picture of the geography knowing they were further south.

"Are you the only people here?" Yani asked Niso.

"No, kumkanikazi. Several of us work here to take care of Ekuqaleni," Niso said.

N'Jadaka took a hold of Yani's free hand and clasped it as they walked through the tropical paradise.

"No one is allowed to be here except for the royal family, and most times it's just for the newlywed ones," N'Jadaka said. "This place is a historical landmark and not even the public can come here except for certain times of the month annually for special tours."

"Ekuqaleni is a holy place my queen," Niso added. "Ugogo Udaku encouraged her young son King Bashenga to follow the ways of the shaman during the time of constant tribal wars. With her wisdom and Bast's guidance, our revered king found isipho…the gift."

"Vibranium," Yani said.

"Yes, kumkanikazi. Ugogo Udaku was born and lived here in the forest for one hundred and ten years. My family has taken care of Ekuqaleni for generations. Mama F'Neka and Mama Yiswa are my grand aunts. We are a mix of the Panther and River tribe."

The path they followed narrowed and N'Jadaka made Yani walk in the middle behind Niso. Giant multi-colored butterflies with wing-spans as wide as her hand fluttered in a ring high above them. The forest had a cloying sweet odor where they traveled. Niso pointed to the butterflies overhead.

"They are drunk with the fermented nectar of the fruit we gave you," Niso said.

Grayish-green fruit shaped like pregnant pears hung on branches slightly at Yani's eye level. Many had over-ripened and browned deeply in sections where butterflies crawled over them licking the fermentation. She giggled and touched the wing of one nearby butterfly. The soft powdery feel slid across her fingertips as they continued moving into a clearing.

"What about our clothes and things on the boat?" Yani asked.

N'Jadaka fondled her backside with a gentle pat and pinch.

"Don't worry about that stuff. I have it all taken care of. Just enjoy the trip, Ma," N'Jadaka said.

Niso stepped aside letting the royals move ahead of him and Yani's eyes widened.

A natural heated mineral pool faced a sunken fire pit surrounded by low stools and a lounging seat. The lush area was cultivated to blend in with the surroundings with enough touches to look cozy and quite comfortable.

"My king and queen, Ugogo Udaku's family dwelling," Niso said proudly.

Yani had imagined some small thatched covered hut made to survive a tropical environment. Instead, her neck arched back and her mouth fell open at the sight of giant trees as tall, wide, and grandiose as American redwoods, but cultivated over a millennia to take on the braided curved shapes like lucky bamboo. The canopies were also intertwined across the tree tops creating the foundation for pearly white-washed circular tree homes made of smooth stone and earth. The light coloring looked spectacular against the backdrop of twining leaves and branches of bright emerald green etched with faint traces of lemon yellow and vermilion streaks.

N'Jadaka grinned next to her.

"Beautiful huh?" he said, putting the basket of fruit on a low tree-trunk carved table.

Yani put the bouquet of flowers down next to the fruit basket and walked toward the closest tree. She noticed the carved steps inside the trunk that led up to the tree home.

"May I?" Yani asked Niso.

"My queen, this is your ancestral home. You may do as you wish," Niso said.

Yani hurried up the organic steps and squealed when she reached the top. Entering the first room she immediately looked out of the window. Holding her breath, she couldn't believe it all belonged to her. N'Jadaka's heavy footfalls echoed from behind and she glanced at him quickly before spinning around the cool interior.

"So much space! It's huge in here and…ohmigod, N'Jadaka…"

Yani took off through a long hall that led to other parts of the tree house. More living pods were made for bedrooms, a restroom, kitchen area, and then treetop bridges that led to hanging gardens that grew fruits and flowers above the forest floor.

N'Jadaka followed, enjoying the delight in her eyes. They stood together on an above ground pathway that gave them a view of a lazy tributary of milky blue water that flowed to the east of the tree house. More steps carved out of the tree led down directly to the water.

"My ancestors had to live above ground because there was a lot of seasonal flooding before they started damming up spots to control the waterways. I thought staying here a few days before going on the boat cruise would be…romantic?" N'Jadaka said.

Yani hugged him tight.

"I love it," she said.

"I'm glad. I know we could go anywhere in the world, or do anything we want in Wakanda, but I just wanted to be somewhere special for us. You're making roots here too, and your lineage is very important to our history on this patch of land."

Yani's eyes welled up and she blinked away tears by glancing down below and noticing Niso. He waved up to them. A loud growling sound startled Yani. Two black panthers lumbered out from behind twisty vines looping below the trees.

Niso didn't seem fazed at all and bent down to scratch the ear of one panther that rolled over onto its back.

"This is S'Bu and Unathi, your personal guards. Would you like to meet them?" Niso called up.

Yani bounded down the carved stairs of another giant tree dragging N'Jadaka with her by the hand.

"Are they safe? They don't know us," Yani asked.

She quickly became cautious once she stood before the gorgeous beasts, their blue-black coats of fur gleaming like polished midnight. N'Jadaka walked up to S'Bu and cuddled its chin with his big hand.

"They are bred for the royals and brought up to obey your commands and watch over you in the forest," Niso said.

Yani was still hesitant to touch either panther.

"No worries Queen Yani. I have gotten them accustomed to your scent. King N'Jadaka sent over clothing belonging to you so they are familiar with your natural skin odor. They know you are to be respected and protected."

"Tell them to sit in Wakandan baby," N'Jadaka encouraged.

"They're not dogs," Yani said with a small laugh in her voice.

"Try it."

Yani stepped closer to her husband just to be safe and looked both big cats in the eyes.

"Hlala phantsi," Yani commanded.

Both panthers squatted on their haunches and kept direct eye contact with her.

"Good job, Queen Yani," Niso said.

Yani reached out and scritched the ear of Unathi first. The animal purred under her fingers and S'Bu nudged her fingers to get some affection too.

"A jealous baby," Yani said.

"They are both three years old and will come and go frequently to trek around the pereimeter," Niso said.

"Aren't panthers normally solitary?" Yani asked.

"Wild ones, yes. They prefer to be alone until mating season. But these have been raised in a claw of humans and were trained to live together with some female panthers that roam here too. You won't see them as much. They are fed by our team so no need to do anything for these big boys. S'Bu loves belly rubs and Unathi prefers back rubs. When you want them to go away, just clap your hands and they will leave."

Niso lowered his head and kept his hands by his sides.

"I will leave you to begin your honeymoon. Tap your kimoyos when you would like your supper brought to you, or any other extra meals and snacks. Ugogo Udaku's home is equipped with all the latest amenities as the palace. Refreshments are in the home already. There are marked trails and kimoyo scans for landmarks and such throughout the forest. I hope you will enjoy your stay. We are so honored to have you."

"Thank you, Niso," Yani said.

Niso wandered off and the forest swallowed all traces of him. Both panthers flopped down on their sides relaxed and without a care in the world.

"What would you like to do first? Explore a little, or relax. Anything you want to get into is good with me, baby," N'Jadaka said.

"What about you?"

He surveyed the empty fire pit and a stack of freshly chopped wood at the base of the tree house steps.

"I'm thinkin' of making a fire so we can have our supper out here. Shouldn't take me long to get one going. We have a couple of hours left before the sun sets."

"How about you get the fire going and I'll walk around here for a few minutes to get acquainted with the forest," she said.

"Bet."

He strolled over to the wood stack and Yani pivoted the other way. The two panthers sat up. S'Bu padded forward to follow.

"Stay," she said in English.

The panther kept walking and she repeated her command in Wakandan and the big cat abruptly sat on its backside again.

She wandered into an area of hanging vines taking in the fresh air and dense foliage. Staring up, she looked upon the thick canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight and created a shady walk through the forest. Despite the dense covering, tiny slats of golden light filtered down like sundrops, making dustmotes look like sparkly glitter dancing in the bright spots. Yani walked into magic and wonder feeling childlike.

There were a few other tree houses high above, but many hadn't been cared for as well as Ugogo Udaku's home over the years. They had eroded away or been grown over by the trees and vines they were built into. The constant buzzing of cicadas rang in her ears. She welcomed the sound and listened for other tropical noises to alert the world of other life going on around her. Frogs croaked and a few green and blue birds bounced from branch to branch watching her closely. A black and white colobus monkey, with an old geriatric-looking face and a tail of long white fur that favored horsehair, spied on her from above.

A sensation of peace descended over the forest and Yani ventured carefully back to the treehouse. The smell of wood smoke greeted her. N'Jadaka sat on one of the low stools by the fire petting both of the panthers that stretched out in front of him. Yani paused her steps and watched her husband interact with the animals. He looked regal and powerful handling S'Bu and Unathi like they were mere kittens. The fire crackled and so did a leaf under her sandal. N'Jadaka and the panthers glanced her way. His large physique reminded her of a human panther. Especially his eyes and how they could turn predatory against an enemy. He really was just a giant panther who would turn as docile as the big cats at his feet when she pointed him in the direction she wanted. Umama whispered in her ear before they flew away on their honeymoon that the queen of Wakanda was the true power behind the throne, and the best queens kept the king on point. Yani clapped her hands and both cats ambled away following her commands immediately. They retreated in the direction Niso disappeared.

"How was your walk?" he asked.

Yani went to him and touched his pulled back locs. She lifted his chin with two fingers and kissed his full lush lips in the firelight.

"This is perfect," she said after releasing his mouth.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah, I could do with a good meal and then a nice early rest."

"We can go canoeing tomorrow and barbecue in the afternoon. We can also hike to see the top of the waterfall."

"So much to see and do… and all the time we need to do it. A whole month off," Yani sighed into his hair.

N'Jadaka pulled her onto his lap and they enjoyed the fire for a time. He tapped his kimoyo beads and Niso returned with two other attendants pushing a floating double food cart filled with delicacies and more than enough food for two hungry royals. The low dining table was just at the right level of the ancient seats. They sat across from one another and were served the first course of broth and flat bread with wine and fresh cheese bites. N'Jadaka dismissed their attendants after giving instructions to bring a late breakfast in the morning.

"I guess walking out here made us hungrier than we thought," Yani said.

She pulled out several platters filled with yellow rice, grilled vegetables, stuffed flaky fish pastries, tender cuts of beef smothered in rich red wine gravy, and skewers of chicken glazed with peanut sauce. Helping themselves to full plates, they ate and reveled in the calm peacefulness as the sun set. Small solar lights sprinkled around the tree house twinkled to life.

"How pretty…oh…I wish the kids could see this," Yani said.

"They will. We'll come back through here on the way back home our last week. But I want us to have this to ourselves first," he said, winking.

"You really have thought of everything."

She stuffed a piece of the fruit that was already cut up for them in the basket.

"This tastes so good, like a peach and passion fruit mix…here, try some."

Yani passed a small squared off piece to N'Jadaka and he ate it right from her fingers, licking the tips free of juice.

"I like it," he said.

He watched her face then smiled.

"You're glowing," he said.

"What?"

"Your face…your demeanor. It's a glowing vibe."

"Hmmm…I feel like I'm glowing. This might sound funny but, I feel like I'm married. It's like a sensation in my bosom, like a weight or something. Nothing heavy, but…a solidness?"

Yani watched his face. N'Jadaka leaned in closer to the table and reached for her ring finger.

"I kinda feel that way too, Yani. Like how we were discussing on the boat. Ceremony is one thing, but saying those vows to you…I feel more connected to you than I ever have. Once those words came out…it's like you said…almost like the word became flesh and lodged inside of us."

Yani nodded, understanding completely.

"Are you excited about when we get back and you attend your first palace meeting with the Council of Elders?" he asked.

Yani rolled her eyes and nibbled on some bread.

"I don't want to think about the palace right now. I only want to focus on us and this amazing honeymoon trip."

"Want any more wine?"

N'Jadaka held out a wine carafe and Yani shook her head.

"I've had enough to drink today, no thank you."

He sipped the last drops in his own wine glass and checked out the dessert offerings. Lemon tarts and mini vanilla bean cakes with fresh berry glaze. They shared a cake and then covered up the rest of the food for the attendants to retrieve later.

Shucking off their caftans to frolic openly with swimsuits again, they investigated the mineral spring bubbling nearby. A trough made of smooth robin's egg blue stones allowed cool water from the river tributary to flow through. All they had to do was lift a partition made of yellow limestone and clay and the cooler water drained into the steamy mineral waters regulating the temperature.

The spring was about five feet deep in the center with seat impressions carved into the sides that could accommodate up to six adults.

"Nature's Jacuzzi," N'Jadaka said as he helped Yani into the bubbling froth that smelled faintly of sulfur.

Yani lifted the partition and the milky blue river water rushed in and helped neutralize the strong odor from the spring. The frothy mix became soapy on their skin making it tingle.

"Feels like heaven," Yani said after the final adjustment of the partition to a perfect temperature.

Seated shoulder to shoulder, they soaked in heated bliss and held hands under the water. They spoke of the children and their education, and Yani fretted about the possibility of sending Sydette to the best science academy in Wakanda. Their eldest had taken her first Level 1 aptitude exam that all nine-year-olds took to determine their academic journey. Unlike most educational systems, Wakandans let the children's intelligence place them with their natural interests and not just a typical general core curriculum that everyone had to abide by for decades. They allowed children to specialize in their talents early encouraging self-motivation that would hopefully carry on into a lifetime of autodidactism.

Sydette tested high in the hard sciences and mathematics and her primary teacher was pleased to inform Yani and N'Jadaka that S'Yan University had the proper seed school within the institution that all the best young science minds went to early. In a year, Sydette would have to attend a new school for her grade level and Yani wanted her near the palace. Attending the Level 2 in S'Yan would mean boarding school for Sydette. Traveling back and forth to school hundreds of miles away was too much for a little girl. It was tough while she was living away from her father in the countryside under duress, but S'Yan was even further away near the sea.

Boarding school was what rich people did to have their children rub shoulders with the elite and to get high paying, high status jobs after graduation. Sydette was a princess and the daughter of the richest and most brilliant man in the world. She didn't need a boarding school to get ahead in life, she was already at the front of the line. Yani toyed with the idea of asking N'Jadaka to create a school in Zana just as heralded as the one in S'Yan just to keep Sydette at home. All the schools in Wakanda were better than anything outside of the country, but S'Yan University had three particular teachers there that created giants in their field. Shuri and T'Challa had gone there as children before attending the Royal Academy of Wakanda in Zana.

Her mind wandered to their "twins" Joba and Riki. In two years, all of their children could possibly be away from the golden city and boarding on the other side of the country. The thought bothered her to no end. She was supposed to see her babies every day to ask how their day went and help them with their class work. There were already rumblings from Joba and Riki's teachers about skipping them a few grades like N'Jadaka had been. That meant they could leave the palace sooner. Brilliant children meant losing parts of childhood sometimes. Her husband didn't talk about it much, but Dante told Yani that it was tough for the king to be the smartest and youngest child in the room when he was little.

Joba had an aptitude for linguistics and art. Riki…well…Riki was…Yani chuckled.

"What's so funny?" N'Jadaka asked.

"Thinking of Riki. What do you think he'll do with his life? We know he loves animals."

N'Jadaka pressed his lips together suppressing a smirk.

"Why are you looking like that?" Yani asked.

"He told me he wants to start a band."

"Ooh Lord, God…"

"Well, the boy can sing. My Baba could and so can you, which means he has the genetics."

"So Sydette becomes an astrobiologist, Joba the master linguist/art historian, and our son becomes a rock star?"

"Why not?"

"I know the music business first hand remember? It's not a nice industry. He's too smart for that."

"Wakanda is all about letting their young people develop their potential. Maybe it's time for an Udaku to be a famous musician. Give him a few more years with his piano and guitar lessons. He could be the next King of Pop. But a real one!"

"My baby is too sweet to become a raunchy musician."

"Stop projecting."

Yani curled her lip in a pout and N'Jadaka squeezed her kneecap.

"You have to let him have the same opportunity your parents gave you when you were allowed to try your hand at music," he said.

"That wasn't my dream and you know it. Chez wanted to be a star, not me."

"Kendall is doing well though."

"Kendall is a famous music producer now…all behind the scenes work."

"He would be a good mentor for Riki—"

"Are you seriously thinking of letting our son become a performer? You wahn me vex on this honeymoon?"

"You are the queen of Wakanda. Lil Man will never fall victim to the seamier side of the music business because who would want to fuck with his mama? Or his daddy? One word from your mouth and you already know I'm tearing up cities for our kids."

Yani relaxed more and rubbed her hand up and down his arm.

"Promise?" she said in his ear.

"Anything for my wife, ya heard me?"

She nodded. He stood abruptly and pulled at the elastic on his trunks.

"Too hot for me. Let's use the outdoor shower and head up," he said.

She stepped out of the mineral pool and slipped on her sandals. They rinsed off with cool water from an overhead shower nozzle connected to one of the trees facing the treehouse. Stripping off their suits, they wrung them out and strung them along a branch to dry. A second more thorough shower had them fully refreshed and energized.

"Let's stay outside a little longer," Yani suggested.

Even with the sun gone, the spring weather carried the whispers of summer on a slow breeze that followed them back over to the double lounger. N'Jadaka moved it to face the tributary where they could gaze at the bright stars in the evening sky. He tilted the back support so they could sprawl together at an angle. Yani waited for him to settle in the lounger first before she crawled to sit between his legs with the back of her head resting on his chest.

"Do you think Adam and Eve had it like this in the Garden of Eden?" Yani asked.

"Without attendants…maybe."

"Nude in nature and happy like this every day of their lives…"

"Until that whole apple situation," he joked.

"Shooting stars!" she blurted, pointing at the streak of burning dust overhead.

Yani closed her eyes when she spotted a new cluster of vaporized debris masquerading as shooting stars. She made a wish for her husband and herself to live long happy lives without any falls from grace.

N'Jadaka was pleased.

His new wife loved the surprise excursion to Ekuqaleni. Before his paternal grandfather vanished in the Thanos war, he gave N'Jadaka the suggestion to visit the place of his Wakandan roots where it all began for the Panther tribe. He made meticulous arrangements in secrecy and felt grateful that he listened to Baba Z.

Yani was in awe of the place and more than anything, she loved the seclusion and quiet from other people. She spoke to him with that soft tone he adored in her voice, and touched him constantly. She knew his love language was physical contact and catered to those needs just as he catered to hers by showering her with gifts that showed her that she was worthy of all the good things in life she struggled for. Yani wasn't materialistic by any means, but his constant presents for no special reasons brought her gratitude and acceptance that she was worthy of being spoiled by him. N'Jadaka puffed up ten feet whenever she expressed elation over a new surprise he bestowed upon her simply because he loved her so much.

Naked and tangled together on the lounger, they watched shooting stars and listened to the settling down of the majestic forest. An owl hooted and flew low past their seat right across the tributary. They were surrounded by mountains and away from the constant eyes in the palace. Being butt naked in a serene wilderness calmed his mind and body. He curled his arms around Yani's chest, feeling the soft globes of her breasts push into his warm skin. True Eden was holding her close and never letting her go.

He slid his fingers onto her nipples and played with them. They perked up, still tender from the soak in the mineral pool. She stayed quiet, watching his fingers roll across the firm tips, fat like plump grapes. Her sighs pleased his ears as he plucked and pinched them gently. He cupped each breast and looked down at her chest, slowly pushing them together. Staring at big tits always got him started in the arousal department. Yani's thighs fell open wider and he knew her inner labia were becoming engorged just by the way her backside squirmed against him. She turned her head and he lowered his so they could kiss, their tongues sliding into moist, ready caverns. His mouth watered kissing her, and he kept his tongue at the entrance of her mouth, forcing Yani to beg for more with her prodding tongue. He delved deeper into her throat forcing her to submit that wanton mouth. She matched his pace. His fuller lips took over hers and she moaned deep in her throat.

"Love me?" he whispered between kisses.

She nodded and arched her neck to capture more of his lips, her teeth grazing his bottom lip playfully. He slowed her down with softer kisses that tested the limits of her desire for him. Licking on her neck, he bit into her skin and nibbled on the spot just under the right side of her jaw. He sucked a small hicky there, marking her flesh with his teeth too. She shifted her body onto her side, and the heat from her heavy breasts seared warmth into him. He lowered his hand and touched her down there in that special place.

That pussy was wetter and hotter than the water they crawled out of.

The slickness coated his fingertips and he painted her wide labia with all the stickiness she spewed out.

"I've been waiting to play all in this pussy…"

He prevented her from responding by stuffing his fingers in her mouth, making her taste the sweet tasting nectar she released. She'd spent a week eating large amounts of pineapples and mangoes to make sure her pussy tasted delicious for them.

Good girl.

He gently smacked her vulva. The slap from his hand activated the pleasure of her labia piercings.

"Yesss," she hissed, and he slapped her vulva again, the frothy wetness between her legs making his entire hand wet.

"…playing with my wife's pretty pussy outside in the open. Anybody could walk past and see the queen's wet pussy lips…"

Yani huffed out an aroused breath into his right side. The exhibitionist in her was wound up tight. He drew lazy figure eights all around her jeweled clit. Her legs trembled as he rubbed slow circles on it directly.

"You can't cum on my fingers baby. The king has to eat your pussy first before he can get deep inside you. Would you like that now? My lips on your pussy? Licking all over that juicy clit?"

"Yes…please…Daddy…eat my pussy."

"You about to get some husband dick tonight, Yani. I already told you that shit was going to be different from what you're used to. Daddy gotta put in real work tonight to stretch you out good. I might make several big messes all inside you."

She trembled all over, the tension in her body palpable against his nerve endings. He inserted two fingers partially inside her pussy and they both heard the sound it made when he wiggled his fingers around to test how wet she was. He adjusted her position on his torso so he could reach down and finger fuck her. She spread her legs along the sides of his and savored his digits twirling pleasure inside of her. Her walls squeezed around his fingers. The deeper he sank his fingers the more moans tumbled from her lips. Her eyes were glassy and faraway. She was ready to be piped down good and hard.

N'Jadaka moved her body away from his and slid down to his knees on the soft grass. It was time for him to face the nation between her thighs. Pushing Yani's legs back on the lounger he smashed his lips into her vulva and commenced to pleasuring the queen with a thick wide tongue. She tasted sweeter and her slick offering soaked his lips and most of his lower face.

Tongue fucking her made Yani shoot her legs up to the dark heavens. Her toes pointed to the north star toward freedom in her pussy. A powerful orgasm rippled all across her lush form. He loved the way her entire vulva throbbed in his mouth. Her orgasmic contractions exploded again while he groaned into her soft center making it vibrate with delirious pulses. It forced her to let out a rapturous shout to God and anyone else who would listen to her praises of his tongue.

He slurped up all the stickiness she produced and swallowed it full of greed for more. Standing, he let her witness the growth of his erection. It stood saluting her. Her eyes glossed over his heavy nutsack before admiring his thick arousal. He lifted his balls and squeezed their heft, letting her see what was in store to flood her pussy.

Yani lifted one of the large fluffy pillows from the lounger and placed it on the grass in front of the seat. She dropped onto all fours facing away from him. Head down, ass up. N'Jadaka scooted into a comfortable position at the edge of the lounger and spread his legs. He gripped his dick with a firm hand and stroked himself, watching his wife wiggle her big, wide ass. Her fat vulva gleamed from her piercings and the fresh lubricant her body produced. The inner labia wings were spread out and all of her precious pink winked at him. She played with her pussy and he groaned stroking his dick. Her pretty rose-gold nails pulled her ass cheeks apart providing a gorgeous picture for him. When they got back to the palace he was going to commission a discreet artist to paint his wife in that position. That body was art, especially when it was aroused and that pink pussy throbbed like that.

"Fuck Yani, that pussy looks so juicy…so does that ass baby…"

She slowly rubbed her labia and it was torture staring at wet pussy teasing him to fuck. Women from all over the world had been in that position before trying to seduce him. Only Yani made him pant the way he did watching her tease him. She pushed three of her fingers inside her pussy and the squelching sounds had his fat lips twisted up in agony.

"You like your wife's pussy?" Yani said.

"I do baby…"

"Do you like how it sounds Daddy?"

His hand pounded his dick down to his balls. Precum drizzled down the shaft and all over his right hand. So much came out that he was losing the feeling of friction. He was going to need her tight pussy soon. Sweat poured down his face.

"Yani…damn…Yani…got this dick hard as fuck…shit…"

She started making her ass cheeks jump in a syncopated rhythm and he jumped down on his knees. He jammed his left hand down on the arch of her back and pressed the tip of his dick against her right ass cheek, rubbing it hard against the pillowy soft bubble.

"You like that big ass Daddy?"

"Fuck!"

N'Jadaka groaned and slapped his dick against her ass. His precum coated her skin and his dick slid all around feeling hot and dangerous in his hand. He slapped the other ass cheek several times leaving dark red-brown markings on her toasted brown skin. Yani liked that stinging pain and cried out for more. He was losing control. His vision became blurry from the sweat falling into his eyes.

"Get on your knees! Aw fuck, Yani! Hurry…get on your knees…'bout to bust a fat one. Wanna cum on your face…you know what I want…you know what I want!" he shouted.

Yani took her sweet time rising from her position. But she didn't stay on her knees. She sauntered over to the lounger and got cozy on her back, spreading her big thighs open.

"I want my husband…I want my husband right now," she said.

N'Jadaka stared at her earnest face and the beauty it contained. His entire body hummed with the thrilling sensation of lust and love and deepening desire. His dick was a heavy sword between his legs ready to be sheathed by a queen he loved with his entire heart, mind, body, and soul. He lowered his head and kissed her feet and made a trail with his lips all the way up her body. When he reached her lips, he gave her a small peck and lined his erection up with her receptive labia.

"I want my wife. I want my wife right now," he said to her with strong conviction.

The firelight revealed a shine in Yani's eyes that glowed like the stars above.

Everything slowed down.

His breathing.

His heart beat.

His mind.

All there was in that moment of exquisite time was her.

Yani.

The woman who brought him back from the land of the living dead.

The woman who loved him whole and free.

His wife.

His.

He entered her body slowly, burning into his memory the sensation of her vagina closing around his girth, holding him like no other woman could. Resting his forehead against hers, their eyes connected and locked together. He placed his hands into fists at her sides and grunted his satisfaction with a slow lovemaking that had him enthralled.

God she took that dick!

He closed his eyes and gasped at how tight and deep she was. When he was able to open his eyes again while savoring the sweet thrusts he gave her, he knew in his spirit he would be lost to her love forever. The thought of how easily he could've lost her on that island swarmed over him like a tsunami of watery heat in his bones, and he wept, fearful of how close his life could've gone down the drain if he hadn't found her and built a connection.

Yani cradled his face with her hands and wiped away his tears that threatened to fall on her. He shifted his weight and she wrapped her legs around his waist, giving him room to thrust harder into her.

His queen. His wife.

Yani.

She made love to him like no other and he reciprocated. His mind wandered for a second at a memory. Who was the lover he once chastised for trying to fuck him like that when it was better suited for a man who deserved her? He was at M.I.T. at the time…early twenties. Cocksure and slanging dick like a fiend. The woman had been much older than him and fell in love with him so fast that he felt bad for leaving her with unrequited feelings. Shaun knew her…a big fine…

Renata.

Yeah, that was her. He had been right to warn Renata about fucking men like that. That was husband territory and the woman that rightfully deserved his tender loving care would have it for as long as he lived. The wisdom of his youth flooded his limbs and he kissed Yani while thrusting his soul into her depths. He needed her to feel his love and devotion. She hugged him tight.

"N'Jadaka…my love…my everything," she said.

"Yes," he said, rocking into her in a steady love tempo. "Yes…yes…baby…yes."

Husband things.

Her mouth parted but no sound came out. Her eyes never wavered from his. Her pussy swallowed his dick with artful decadence. Every thrust he gave ripped a groan from him as well as her, and after awhile, it became a steady metronome of sound. Even the forest quieted down to listen to their lovemaking.

Yani's pussy was a gushy fortress of primal delight. He glanced down to watch his dick move in and out, stuffing her full of thick dick, stretching her with divine care. Giving him pussy like that, he definitely knew he would have her pregnant in a few months. She made the idea of pulling out a sin before Bast and Ogum. He had fought aliens from other galaxies, had Gods speak to him directly and ride his body within his own flesh, but none of those experiences were as profound as making love to Yani.

He gestured for her to turn around so he could take her from behind and waited for her to get into a comfortable position. He sank back into her with a hearty shout of her name and gripped her waist. She clutched the back of the lounger for stability. Slowly gyrating his hips, he gave Yani the backshots she needed as her man. With reckless abandon, she threw her ass back on him causing loud thunderous claps of her ass cheeks. He held back from plunging into her again and let Yani do all the fucking while he watched with half closed eyelids. Her grip on his dick made his balls ache to release. She twisted her hips and pushed into him at a new angle that tugged on his length with a new sensation.

"Dassit, fall back on that dick. Good girl…show me how you own this dick…show me…dassit. That's all yours, Yani... right there…right there…yank on this dick with that tight pussy baby."

She looked back at him while she bounced on his dick. It was that daring look in her eyes that made her lethal during sex. The look clarified that no one else could fuck him like she did. She was the big dick assassin and she snapped that fat ass against his groin to remind him that she was not to be toyed with. Flexing her back muscles, she started really cooking on his dick, twisting her waist from side to side the way she did when she danced seductively on a dance floor. Her ass moved like water with such fluidity that he squeezed his eyes shut again to keep himself from nutting before he was ready. He grit his teeth and huffed agitated air, suppressing the yell that built up in his throat and threatened to bellow out like a raging elephant.

Yani pushed the lounge chair's back support until it was flat. She lowered her face and kept her eyes locked on his as she arched her back into a more visually pleasing display that tooted her ass higher for his pleasure.

She knew what she was doing.

Setting him up for the kill-strike on his dick. Her pussy was already doing stunts on his shaft with all the concentrated squeezing. Using his large hands, he pulled her cheeks apart to admire the visual of tight pink pussy throbbing all around his pulsing erection. Locked on her target, her eyes narrowed watching him. He had something for her ass though that would mess up her goal to end him.

N'Jadaka lifted onto his feet and fucked her froggy style. That position gave his fat sack the ammunition angle to continually smack into her swollen clit harder. His switch up worked, and Yani's face transformed from a look of deadly accuracy into one of submissive bliss.

"Oh…oh…oh…oh…" she panted softly and repeatedly.

His balls and the thickness of his dick stretching her caused the right amount of friction to render her lost in the sauce. She had that faraway look in her glassy stare.

"MmmHmmm…thought you had me gone. Now I gotta teach you how to behave," he barked at her.

Yani whimpered and chewed on her bottom lip. Her shiny eyes looked more watery and ready to spill tears. He rubbed on her booty, smacking it on both sides, luxuriating in the recoil as it bounced in his hands.

"Not here," he said glancing up at the treehouse.

Reluctantly, he pulled out from her tightness and lifted her gently in his arms. She rested her head against his neck and circled her arms around his wide shoulders.

"I will cum inside you way up there…where my ugogo lived high above the ground…among these magnificent trees. I want the old ones who passed on to hear us and know that we're building a new nation," he whispered in her ear.

He strode across the peaceful landscape carrying Yani past the dying fire and the gurgling of the mineral spring. S'Bu and Unathi returned from prowling their territory and watched the king with his queen.

"You two stay here and watch this place. Stay," he commanded.

Unathi gave a subdued growl as if responding to N'Jadaka. Both panthers slinked gracefully near the fire pit and hunkered down like two giant loaves of black bread.

N'Jadaka walked up the treehouse stairway and carried Yani into the largest bedroom pod that was decorated like a honeymoon suite for the royal couple. Tropical flowers were placed around the bedroom in natural grass woven baskets. Heavily scented green candles burned inside copper wall sconces with protective glass coverings. Two royal purple robes transported from their palace home hung up on wall hooks. With the whitewashing of the walls and the flickering candles, the bedroom glowed with a subdued golden light.

Their bedding was a soft ancient pallet covered in a hand woven plum-colored quilt that had been lovingly repaired and refabricated over centuries, but still held the stitches of his greatest grandfather's mother.

Above them was a skylight where the ancient ones had trimmed away the canopy to let in starlight and sunshine. He made out the Wakandan zodiac sign of the baobab tree among the stars twinkling their light into the room. Placing Yani on her feet, he pulled back the quilt and soft sheets.

"Give me your hand," he said.

Yani placed her left hand in his and helped lower her onto the unbelievably soft and supportive pallet. It must've been made from some special material that deceived the eye into thinking it was too thin to handle two grown bodies that were about to get busy. He pushed two large pillows against the wall creating back support.

N'Jadaka held Yani in his arms and kissed her. Their tongues played a gentle game of hide and seek in their mouths. He fondled her breasts and whispered her name over and over, praising her touches all over his body. He nibbled her earlobe, licked the shell of her ear, and groaned while listening to her needy moans. The wide open wings of her labia beckoned him to plunge back inside her pussy. The stickiness between her thighs became molten lava on his hand. She crawled on top of him and guided his twitching erection inside her sugary walls.

"Oh…Killmonger," she sighed.

"Fuck!"

Yani leaned forward and her breasts smothered his face. She rode him hard and fast. He sucked on her nipples and tried stuffing as much of her breasts into his mouth as possible. She started bucking and he cried out with enough passion to make his throat raw. He gripped her big titties and held on to them while she fucked the shit out of him.

"Dammit! Fuck me Yani…keep going like that…oh shiitttttt!"

She leaned back and her breasts bounced like an earthquake rumbled their treehouse. His nutsack reacted to the vision, the hot semen held there on the brink of shooting out from his dick if he let her ride like she was on a mechanical bull much longer.

His lips bunched up and he started begging for mercy.

"Don't make me cum yet baby…please…I'm not ready for you to pull this nut out yet…Yani…Yani…please…"

She laughed and pushed her tits together, extending his torture. Her pussy made splashing noise all over his dick. A creamy stickiness covered his erection and more coated it as her arousal danced into a tipping point. The way his dick stretched her pussy lips as she went up and down paralyzed him into inaction and he took the pounding of her ass on his thighs like a champ. A lesser man would've tapped out a long time ago. He was on the verge and she knew it, and that knowledge turned her into a dick riding tyrant.

"Oh my God…Oh my God….shit, shit, shit, Yani you fucking bitch! Ahhhhh!"

There was no shame in a man screaming because his wife rocked his world. No shame in his voice going up two octaves either. He lifted his body and hugged her tight, slowing down her plans to kill him with pussy. The king planted kisses all over her throat and face before taking her lips. Distracted, Yani went limp in his arms and he flipped her over onto her back.

He plunged in deep, shocking her system. She clawed his back with those rose-gold nails and the pain of breaking skin seeped into his body as pleasure. He pressed his weight down into her and gave her what she wanted. The righteous pounding from a king.

Grunting and cursing, he looked at Yani directly, their warm moaning breath co-mingling

"Fuck me Killmonger! Fuck me! Fuck me! Fuck me!"

No noise came out of his mouth. Eventually it stopped coming out of her mouth too. The eroticism of silence shrouded them. Only their overstimulated bodies keened and shrieked the ecstasy drowning their pores.

He hit that sweet spot inside her walls and Yani's mouth opened wider and the tears finally fell. A seismic orgasm rocked her into a silent writhing. Her pussy tightened and quickly rippled a barrage of contractions up and down his dick.

He let go.

His hefty dick swelled within her walls and the first tsunami of cum spilled into her. He hunched his back so tight that he couldn't even focus his eyesight anymore. He became caught in a twilight world of physical euphoria and never needing to live again because he shot his entire life through his dick.

The second wave of his release helped him find his voice and he hollered into the wall the praise songs of his father's gods. Yani stroked the nape of his neck and he groaned out to Ogum to save him before he passed out.

Ogum answered and a soothing sensation trickled along his spine and helped him gather the strength to separate himself from his wife. The sensation rooted itself at the top of his head and he shifted to his knees and gripped his dick that remained erect. Yani squirmed seductively underneath him and kept her gaze on the wide head of his shaft.

"Suck my dick," he demanded.

Yani acquiesced with a smirk on her face. She knew what was coming.

She gave his dick little kisses first, allowing it to recover from his first orgasm of the night. When he glared down at her, she placed the head into her mouth and suckled the ridge and slipped the tip of her tongue into his slit. He groaned and stood up, widening his stance and jerking on his pipe.

Yani worked his dick with a good little slut mouth. She made it sloppy and spit on the tip several times letting saliva fall on her breasts.

"Open that mouth wider…dassit…you know how to handle all that…I know you well girl…made you my wife so I can have you whenever I want…"

She moaned all over his dick, and the vibration curled his toes. His balls throbbed and he didn't warn her verbally at all that he was cumming again. He aimed for the front of her face and she knew from experience what was up. She tilted her head back and he painted steamy white streaks all over the left side of her cheek and neck.

Yani gazed at his cement-hard dick and knew the night was going to be vigorous and long. Glory to Bast and that heart-shaped herb! He would give her pussy a little respite though. Lowering his big body back down on the pallet, he pulled her down in front of him and asked her to lie on her back, keeping her knees up and her thighs open. He wanted to watch his cum drizzle out of her pussy. She obliged as he expected. Situating the pillows in a comfortable position behind his back, N'Jadaka stroked his dick and watched his wife hold open her pussy lips.

"Push it out if you can," he asked.

She didn't have to do too much because a heavy flow came out and slowly became clear as the air hit it.

"Can I try to get you pregnant?" he asked.

Yani grinned knowing that thought got him off the most and she played into it by gently rubbing on her clit and touching all of her delicate piercings one by one for his entertainment.

"You want to cum deep inside of me and put a baby in here?" she cooed.

He heard her angelic voice but only saw the drenched wet pink she caressed.

"I wanna fuck you and put a new baby in your pussy so bad, Yani!"

"Will you fuck me good, Killmonger?"

"Fuck yes…"

She had him gritting his teeth again as she rubbed that pretty vulva slowly.

"I might be pregnant now. You put a lot in me," she teased.

He groaned and his dick jumped hot and ready in his hand.

"Maybe we should put the special lubricant inside me so I can get ready for that big dick again…huh?" she moaned softly.

He groaned louder knowing good and well that special lubricant helped her deal with long continual fucking from him. She was ready to play Lets Make A Baby. But only to amuse him.

He came hard in his hand. With her legs open, he rejoiced in the satisfaction of having an orgasm by watching her masturbate. The quivering in her pussy pushed more of his cum out into a pool of wetness on the sheets. He milked his dick thinking about how many times he was going to fuck her before the sun rose again.

Chapter 8 HERE.

Tag List:

@readingaddict1290

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@carlakeks

[enretrogue]

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟰

༝༚༝༚ = Black/POC Works ⎢ 24’ Fic Rec M.List

a/n: this is really just a LH44 fic rec list bc my other lists were too long for tumblr to post 😭

Lewis Hamilton

Full Throttle⎢ Full Throttle Extended — @mauvecherie-writes ༝༚༝༚

The Art of Eating Pussy — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Give Me Besos — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Being Obsessed w/ Lewis’ Back — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Having Sex w/ Lewis for the First Time After Giving Birth — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Bad For You⎢ What Happened in Hawaii — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Daddy’s Got You — ^ ༝༚༝༚

A Touch of Adrenaline⎢ Stand By Me⎢Birthday Cake w/ a Side of Brattiness  — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Try Me — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Where You Belong — ^ ༝༚༝༚

America’s Sweetheart — @saintslewis ༝༚༝༚

Facetime — ^ ༝༚༝༚

ONE ZERO FOUR — ^ ༝༚༝༚

All For Us⎢ Part 2 — @emjayewrites ༝༚༝༚

Silverstone Baby — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Fuck a Title⎢ Part 1 — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Quality Time — ^ ༝༚༝༚

She’s Here and She’s  Ours⎢She’s Here and She’s Not Only Ours⎢She’s Here and She’s Just Like You⎢She’s Not Here, But She’ll Be⎢She’s Here and She Won’t Be the Only One⎢She’s Here and He Won’t Let Her Give Up — @pickingupmymercedes

“Just sit down, please!” — ^

Of Thorns and Blooms — ^

All These Little Things — ^

Boy From Stevenage — ^

A Thousand Times Over — ^

You’re The Strongest Person I Know — ^

Winner — @imaginaryf1shots

Soulmate — ^

Shattered — ^

P1 BABY!! — @23victoria

Could You Be Loved  — ^

Eros — ^

Five and One — @unitedhamilton

Roundup — ^

Flowers⎢Luck — ^

Just Like His Father — @ccsainzleclerc5516

Mini You — ^

Lovers and Friends⎢Bite⎢Skin Tight⎢Do You Want To⎢Queen Mother⎢ Father’s Day — @saturnville ༝༚༝༚

Baby Blue Hue — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Not in the Mood — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Why — ^ ༝༚༝༚

Relieving Pregnant!Reader’s Discomfort  — @norrisleclercf1

Lew Obsessed w/ Pregnant!Reader — ^

One Day We’ll Be Old — @uglyducklingofthe2000s

The Only Important Voice — ^

The Best Surprise — @lewisvinga

Beyond Meat — ^

That’s My Wife! — @itsmrshamilton ༝༚༝༚

Kiss it Better —  ^ ༝༚༝༚

Family Ties — @eccentricwritingbaby

Home — ^ ༝༚༝༚

One Night — @royallyprincesslilly ༝༚༝༚

Welcome Home — @peyiswriting ༝༚༝༚

Ferrari Family — @444lec33 ༝༚༝༚

Where’s the Trophy? He Just Comes Running Over to Me! — @youaresimplylovely

Satisfy the Fans — @maxillness

Gentleman — @viennakarma

Chapter 25 — @edwardslvrr

Those Sinful Eyes — @nor-4

Mum Said No — @starkwlkr

Until I Found You — @maxtermind

Album Release — @mclqren

‘Til I Touch, Touch, Touch You [Mob!Lewis] — @prettyfastcars

Daddy’s Here, Buddy — @russellsppttemplates

Heartbreak Syndrome [+ F1 Grid]⎢Ch. I-XIV  — @h4m1lt0ns

Jealous — @ham1lton ༝༚༝༚

Breaking the Contract — @verstappensrealwife ༝༚༝༚

Foolish — @sageispunk ༝༚༝༚

[thoughtsafterdark]

Stigmata

The world is quiet. So quiet. The silence deafens, bends backs, breaks minds. It holds its breath, waiting, biding its time. Still and poised yet tense, every pebble and grain of sand prepared to strike. Like a big cat stalking its prey, shoulders rolling so smoothly as it inches closer and closer. Like oil sliding off the skin of the water. Those moments when it crouches and becomes one with the Savanah. When the golden light of the setting sun sets the land aflame and blades of grass blend with raised heckles until they are one and the same.

It waits for you, for your conception and birth. Molecules aligning, cells dividing, flowers blooming. The water of your mother’s womb is surprisingly thin given the precious life it cushions. It is expelled from your lungs like a sacrament, like a fountain that once erupted from a desert rock millennia ago. Strong lungs as befit a firstborn son. Your first cries pierce the air and shatter the stillness into a million shimmering fragments. The diamonds spill across the inky blackness. A burst of colour from the Lord’s brush, arcing across the sky. Another promise, another new beginning. Yet Gods are foolish, lonely creatures. Their promises ring hollow and false to our suffering ears. The whips crack and our skin splits, oozes all the same. Where was God when my brothers withered and died, the cries ripped from their throats going unanswered?

And yet tell me why as I gaze upon you now, I am compelled to fall to my knees? As if every fibre of my being yearns to bow, to yield - as if your voice bursts from somewhere deep in my squirming gut and heart and not your lips?

Tell me why I itch to bury myself in the crook where your thigh meets groin and inhale the musk there as if your scent holds the Eye of the Needle, as if the grooves of your skin map Heaven’s Kingdom. Would you let me cry tears of rapture at your coming and wash your feet with them and my tongue?

I wonder if such a wonton display of devotion would anger you, frighten you. Would you toss me away in disgust, smash my face into the ground? Break my nose against rock and let me feel the warm flood of blood flow backwards down my throat, let me savour the salt and iron as I swallow devoutly. Tell me why I have never felt so alive as when your holy wrath rains down upon me like fire, like the destruction of Sodom.

I watch you now, standing proud against that same setting sun, gazing across the expanse of your new kingdom. Here as it dips low upon the dunes and the sand lashes at us. Its rays frame raven curls and fracture all around you, as if afraid to touch you and be seduced. A halo that revers yet fears you. It hardens your features as if you were hewn from granite Your jaw tightens against the onslaught, sharp enough to fell armies. Your eyes become the harsh ringing of blade against blade. Gone is the boy with the easy smile tugging at the corner of a mouth, crow’s feet wrinkling eyes. In his place is the cold pyre of divine righteousness. The commander of earth and sky, made to wield sound and air itself. I think of the icons of old, the waxy mournful faces of saints and note what a pale imitation they must be, if they had even a third of your weight.

You are a black hole - all-consuming, inescapable, inevitable - and we are all trapped in your orbit, edging ever closer to the Event Horizon that will surely destroy us. But tell me if our path is so doomed why my heart leaps at the prospect of pledging my death to you? What finer gift is there but that of my last breath, freely given?

In your face I see rivers of blood and the thrum of charging men. I hear the chants of our forefathers and the long line of prophets that came before, accumulating across the centuries into the tapestry that is your flesh.

Yet as you lie here beside me, the darkness kept at bay by the stubborn flame of a lone candle, your face serene with sleep and your sweat acrid and sharp in my nose - I see just a man plagued by a crown of thorns. I think of my hands, bathing in the blood of innocents in your name. Your name, a mantra, a hymn that ignites us all with awe and hunger. I wonder if knowing deep down you are just a man makes me more or less the fool.

Then your eyes open, lashes fluttering, and I see the light burning there and I know messiahs are not born but made in the hearth of a home, in the fierceness of a loyal heart and the beating lifeblood of a people starved of hope. I care not if you bleed red or ichor, I know only that I will follow you into hell itself, until we burn to ash and we become whispers, legends. Until we are nothing but dust floating across the dunes, the wind that stokes the flames of a thousand more rebellions.

[hookedsworks]

Edge(ING) Fitness - Chapter XXXIII

Vessel's POV.

ao3

masterpost

Vessel cologne: When The Rain Stops by Replica II aftershave: The Art of Shaving lavender balm special thanks to my special boy @eepymonstrr for picking the song

(sidebar I know I normally post two chapters but the second one just is not coming to me today. I hope you all forgive me for that, and know that the next chapter will be here soon.)

Vessel was more nervous than he’d ever been. He had not been this nervous the first time he had played for the opera house. His mouth was dry. A knock on the door made that worse. It was II. It was thirty five minutes before they needed to leave. He straightened his tie. If II was in a suit he knew he may as well lay down and die. He didn’t think he’d be able to stand him all cute in a button up, tie and suit coat. If I don’t rip the door open now I’m never going to open it. Vessel turned the knob and pulled the door all the way open. II was standing there. He was holding red roses. A lot of them. He smiled at Vessel. Vessel's heart dropped into his stomach. II was in a black suit jacket, a black button down and a red tie. 

“Y-you,” he swallowed his words before he could be any more embarrassed. “Hi,” he finally settled on. 

“I hope you're not allergic,” was all II said in response as he handed the roses to Vessel. They were perfect, just bloomed and that dreamy red you always see in the movies. Vessel counted then. Twenty four red roses. “I cut the thorns off for you,” 

“You cut the thorns off?” 

“Yeah. I don't believe in breeding thorns out of roses, it's not my thing. But I didn't want you to get hurt either,” he was overwhelmed by the gesture. II cut the thorns off so that he wouldn’t get hurt. II cared that much for him, and he wasn’t even his official boyfriend. They’d only been on a couple of dates, and only one was official. His eyes welled up immediately. He blinked against the onslaught of tears, but it only made one slip out of his eye. 

“I… I'm sorry,” he whispered as a tear rolled down his face. God this is embarrassing. He’s never going to want to be with me if I can’t like. Stop crying. He tried to swallow the tears back, but there was a fair number already lining his waterline. II stepped into the house, took the roses back from Vessel and set them on the decorative ledge next to the front door. He let II take the roses because he was far too willing to follow II’s every direction and gesture. II’s hands reached up and cradled both of his cheeks. They were delicately calloused and his thumb caught the tear. 

“Never apologize. Your emotions are one of the things I love about you,” love about me? Vessel's heartbeat kicked into a gallop. Love about me! II had those blue, blue eyes trained on the tear escaping Vessel's other eye. II's lips turned up in a soft smile. He leaned up, must have nearly been on his toes, and kissed Vessel. It was soft. Vessel could feel the slightest tack of II's aftershave, could smell the lavender that must have been in it. He couldn't help it, he had to look. He flicked his eyes open for just a second. He’d remember the image forever. II's eyes were closed, long lashes nearly touching the skin under his eyes. His eyes had lost that perpetual crease that indicated II was always mildly stressed, or maybe tired. He pulled back and grinned at II, feeling his tears dry in the wake of II’s sweet kiss. II flashed a returning grin and then picked the roses up again. 

“The roses need water,” I'm going to preserve these. 

“Do you have a vase?” Vessel walked toward his kitchen and II followed. 

“Yes, it's just up here,” Vessel pulled it down from the top of the fridge. He looked back across the kitchen and saw II leaning on the breakfast bar. He looked so… right, standing there. “You look good,” he smiled. II flushed a pretty pink color. 

“Y-you do too,” Vessel glanced down at his own clothes. He had agonized over his choices before II had come over but hadn’t thought about them since he’d set eyes on II. What he had landed on was a plain black suit with a white button down. It was a chop house. He hadn’t wanted to be in all black, though II looked devastating in his all black affair. Vessel crossed the kitchen and wrapped his arms around II. 

“You look stunning, actually,” 

“Th-thank you,” II was blinking up at him now. He couldn’t help himself. He kissed II right on the nose. II giggled. I could drown in that sound. 

“And thank you for the roses, they’re very beautiful,” he turned then, letting II go so that he could cut the stems and put them in water. “Do you want a glass of wine before we go?” he could use one himself. It would steady his nerves a bit. He could not believe that he was this nervous for a damn steak dinner. We’ve already done a coffee house date. The only difference is I’m asking if he wants to be my boyfriend, my partner. That’s the only difference. 

“Wine would be nice. What do you have?” 

“I have a pinot noir open,” he snagged the bottle off the countertop and handed it over so that he could continue with the roses. II took the wine. 

“Where are your wine glasses?” Vessel pointed toward the far cabinet. He watched II for a second. II was able to snag the first one. He was up on his tiptoes, suit coat riding up to reveal his cute little butt. He couldn’t get his fingers around the second one, it was just too far back. Vessel slid up behind him, reaching over him to grab the second glass. “Thank you,” II huffed as he lowered his heels back to the ground. Vessel liked feeling II’s body against his. II was just the perfect height for him to wrap right around. He kissed II’s warm cheek and took the other glass from him. II watched as he poured the wine for both of them. They sat together at Vessel’s breakfast bar, and he remembered they’d done exactly this after their coffee date as well. II just looked so good in his kitchen. He wished he could cook, so that he could keep II here tonight. It was amazing to have someone who it just felt so natural to be with. He could not wait to see II in the dim light of the chop house. He sipped the wine, only to stop himself from asking II to be his boyfriend right then and there.  Later, II led Vessel out of the house. Vessel did not see his bike anywhere, but he saw a jet black BMW M2 sitting behind his cute little Kia. It was sleek and almost angry looking. It was so II.  II hit the fob and the headlights nearly seared his eyes. II got the passenger door for him. The stupid car was luxury. It smelled like brand new leather and he fought to keep his hands to his sides. He was afraid he’d mess something up if he touched anything. II slid into the driver’s seat, and with a practiced ease, leaned his hand on Vessel’s seat so he could look out the back window and rolled out of Vessel’s driveway. The way II drove and handled traffic was so impressive, it made Vessel’s mouth run dry all over again. He was clearly enjoying himself. Re: Stacks played softly as II pulled up to the chop house. Vessel would remember his smile forever.

[ace-writer-lani]

Sneak Peak at my Son of Persephone Nico AU:

(This is the main fic and part 3 of my Blooming from Darkness series)

Excerpt of Chapter One: Aquamarine (Bianca's POV):

“Who said we are going anywhere? We don’t even know who you people are and you’re trying to recruit us to join your cult?” Bianca paused, remembering Percy’s own cryptic words. “Are you trying to recruit us for a cult too?”

“Yes. I mean no!” he stuttered, “I guess the army he’s trying to force you into can be considered a cult, but I’m just here to save you guys and bring you to a place made for people like us.”

Bianca took a step away from him, tugging Nico with her. “People like us? You just made it sound even more like a cult!”

Percy gave a frustrated groan and opened his mouth. But before he could say anything, whether it was to defend his not-cultish-camp or not, something solid and completely invisible rammed into them, knocking the three of them to the ground.

A new voice rang out, shouting “For Zeus!” and Bianca looked up to see a girl with short, spikey hair. She had an almost raw aura to her, radiating a sense of authority and power as she charged at Dr. Thorn with a large spear and shield. There were two other kids that fought alongside her: one was another girl with blonde curls that almost seemed…familiar, and the other was a boy with a wispy goatee that ran weirdly. Percy sighed at relief at the sight of them, so they were probably with him.

As if today could get any weirder. Bianca knew she and Nico should’ve gone with her plan to fake being sick so that they wouldn’t have had to go to the winter dance in the first place.

It was too late for that though and now she had to deal with three possible cultists and whatever Dr. Thorn was because he was starting to transform more and more into something definitely not human with every blow he took. He looked as if someone had a baby with both a lion and a scorpion at the same time, which was a combo she wished she had never gotten the chance to see.

“What is going on?” Bianca cried, shielding Nico from another black spike that whizzed through the air. “What is that?!”

The blonde drew a dagger from a holster strapped around her thigh. It was the same bronze color as Percy’s sword and flashed under the moonlight.

“He’s a manticore!” she said, and Nico gasped, “Watch out for the spikes because they contain poison.”

“Oh really, Annabeth?” Percy muttered, drawing his blade. “That would have been nice to know before I got stabbed in the shoulder.”

“Normally people tend to, you know, avoid sharp things whether or not it’s poison, Seaweed Brain.”

“Is that really a manticore?!” Nico asked, eyes wide. He tugged on her sleeve repeatedly. “Bia! Bia! It’s just like in Mythomagic! Manticores have three thousand attack power, plus five to saving throws, and-”

“Please, not now fratellino,” Bianca whispered calmly (because she could not lose control). Then she stepped forward, making sure Nico was within her sight and out of the line of fire before she clicked the button of her ring. It transformed into a crossbow in a fluid motion, and she started to shoot at the manticore.

“What the fuck?” yelped the spikey-haired girl when an arrow nearly hit her after the monster dodged it. If Bianca’s hands weren’t currently occupied, she would have immediately covered Nico’s ears at the profanity. “Who gave her a crossbow?” She gave Percy a glare. “Was it you, Jackson? Did you think it was a good idea to give a dangerous weapon to a child?”

“Again, you're at a military school. Plus, you guys are literally children too-”

At the same time Percy said, “I didn’t give it to her! She already had it! Why do you always assume I did something wrong?”

The girl ignored him, turning to the other boy who was blowing a set of reed pipes. It was a bright little tune that clashed with the atmosphere of the situation they were in, but when Bianca looked harder, the music seemed to be controlling plants…unless Bianca was starting to hallucinate.

(Maybe she was the one on drugs.)

-

The rest of the chapter will be posted on my ao3 either tonight or within the next few days so stay tuned ;)

Update: first chapter is posted here!

[greedbent]

An innocent envelope waits atop Kaz’s desk. Attached to the outside is a single rose: thorns still intact along the stem, with petals as black as night and speckled with subtle flecks of silver that make the bloom shimmer even in the dimmest light. His name is written on the front in a delicate, looping script. Along with small doodles of flowers and birds in the margins, the letter inside bears the same writing:

Kaz, I hope this letter finds you well! The shop has been keeping me especially busy lately. A few weeks ago I received a special order that required growing some rare breeds of flowers; I swear, I have spent all hours of every day since in the greenhouse, working hard to make sure that every flower is perfect! Of course, the effort was well worth the end result. These roses made me think of you the moment they bloomed, so I simply had to send one to you. I do hope it has made its way to you safe and sound.   I know you are also quite busy, but I would love to see you again soon. I am nearly finished with a new painting—perhaps I could show you, when you can spare the time? If it is not too much trouble, of course.  Please take care of yourself.  ~ Spring

@howthesleeplesswander || screaming crying throwing up

The first thing Kaz Brekker felt was foolish.

Like he was some poor young sod gawking at women in the street, tripping over himself when one looked his way, burning bright red in the face as she giggled and passed him by. He felt bare. He felt exposed. He felt unnatural, as if his coat wasn’t hanging right, one sleeve too long or too short, one little thread out of place that he just couldn’t find. He felt . . . in that barest flicker of a moment, less like Dirtyhands and more like Kaz Rietveld: that boy off the farm; that boy who had been so naive, so innocent, so blind—

All because of a damn rose sitting there on his desk.

He swore the thing would’ve been giggling wryly at him—just like the women at the Menagerie—if it could. Somehow, he wondered if the silence was worse. —just as much as he wondered how utterly insane he had to be to wish flowers could talk.

Like he said: He felt foolish.

When Kaz set foot in the Crow Club, Rotty had told him a message was waiting for him. When Kaz had asked what it was or who it was from, the man had pursued all manner of distractions to excuse himself, mumbled something quick about it being better that Kaz see it himself, that he didn’t want to intrude— Basically, a whole blundering bunch of useless information that eventually ended with Kaz doing just that: seeing what the podge was blithering about and what sort of bomb was waiting for him in his office.

Well, he hadn’t been too far off the mark. It wasn’t a bomb, but the way Kaz froze in his steps and lingered there in the doorway would make anyone think that was the case. Eventually, he at least had the mind to shut the door behind him. And, another eventually, he made his way over to the desk on pathetically cautious steps he was glad no one was around to witness wobbled.

He read the note. And then he read it again. And then a third time, in case the first two weren’t enough. Somewhere in the process, Kaz had taken a seat, and as his eyes pored over that elegant, beautiful script, his fingers idled on the rose’s stem. The thorns didn’t bother him through the gloves. And even if they did, he was sure he wouldn’t have noticed. 

I would love to see you again.

He tarried on—no, he stumbled over—that phrase with each pass.

Please take care of yourself.

A similar effect, surely. Though, for some reason, the sentiment summoned an amused little twitch to his lips, that which nearly bled into a full smile by the time he’d finished what could have been the tenth reread. Kaz almost folded the letter back up, thumb gliding gingerly over one edge, but he hesitated. He glanced back at the fittingly black flower—These roses made me think of you. . . . That foolish hum of something not-so-novel, but old and nearly forgotten warmed his skin: maybe, just maybe, his cheeks, specifically.

But, foolish or not, Kaz let the letter rest open on his desk.

He leaned back with flower in hand, perusing—no, memorizing—the petals like they were a very part of the girl who gave them to him.

And he decided, tomorrow, to everyone else but her, he’d be occupied.

[asha-mage]

cadsuane, prompt: empathy

[Send me a character or pairing, and a one word prompt, and I'll write you a drabble!]

Cadsuane’s small sitting room seemed to glow gold and red in the faint light of the dying sun. Clad in simple green gown suitable for an evening alone, she watched the sunset while working the handle of her oak hairbrush, the one carved with the trefoil leaves. It had been a gift from the King of Tarabon during one of her misadventures about a century ago. Her hair hung down her back today, out of it’s usual bun, still slightly shinny and damp from the water of her bath. It was glossy black now more then slightly streaked with grey. It would probably turn full white before to many more decades.

Cadsuane’s rose beds where visible to her through the sitting room window, long boxes filled with a shower of different colors, from red to white to gold to blue. For a while she had entertained the idea of cultivating a row of roses for each color of the Ajahs- but without the aid of the Power she could not find a way to cultivate brown and grey roses, and she knew herself enough to know that is she used the Power for one thing with the roses, she would end up leaning on it to much. She would would be coaxing them  to grow without thorns next, then to bloom just a little longer then the season would allow- and before she knew it the simple pleasure of the act of gardening would be all drained away.

“Good evening.” A voice called from the door to her sitting room, interrupting her thoughts, and Cadsuane looked up and found herself smiling. Emarin was there in the doorway, his head of dark brown curls seaming to glow as gold as everything else. They where tied back from his face in a simple cord, and his shirtsleeves of where rolled to the elbows. He had washed up thourughly before coming up to her of course- she had impressed the importance of keeping neat in him sharply- but some flour still clung to his forearms all the same, and to the white cloth bundle he held gently in the crook of his elbow.

You would never know, looking at him, that he was a Tearian High Lord. Or rather had been one. By the laws of Tear he had lost all claim to that title the moment he had first touched the Source.

“Good evening.” Cadsuane replied in kind as she rose, setting down her hair brush. “Another day’s labor?” She asked as she moved to the small tea table before the window. Emarin joined her, laying out the oblong bundle and setting down a small jar filled with jelly beside it.

Emarin nodded as he sat. “I barley burned this one.” He said dryly. “I’m improving. Algarin won’t be able to believe it.” Gently he unrolled the white cloth revealing a golden brown loaf of bred, the end caps just slightly turned an ugly black.

“Barely? Phwah.” She shook her head. “Well, you’ll have all tomorrow to take another stab boy. Still, let’s see how it is otherwise.”

They broke the crust together and smeared it with generous amounts of jelly. It wasn’t bad- a bit hard on the outside and doughy in the center, but good for all that. Nothing Cadsuane would pay coin for of course, but that wasn’t the point.

They ate in quite silence, and when the light began to fade Cadsuane rose to begin lighting the candles with the aid of a spark wheel.

“You don’t have to do that.” Emarin said as he cleared away the last of the crumbs. “I wont open my veins if you channel to light a few candles.”

Cadsuane sniffed. “You have an inflated sense of self boy.” She said coldly. “Have you considered that maybe I enjoy doing things by hand?” She shook her head.

“Do you?” He asked dryly. “Because I’m pretty sure I saw you clear away that fox with a few well placed sparks of-“

Reaching out to the True Source, Cadsuane embraced saidar long enough to weave a thin flow of Air, and snap it like a string, flicking the boy in the ear. He smirked at her and stuck his tongue out in her direction, for all the world like a child of eight.

“It is important.” She said smoothly, pointedly lighting a stick on the spark wheel and pressing it one of the candle wicks. “To do things with your own hands. Even for those of us that still have the Power. Maybe especially for us. If we make life too easy: if we depend on the Power to much, we run the risk of letting ourselves believe we are more then human.” She released the Source as she talked and moved to light the next candle on the mantle piece, her hand steady. It had been for centuries now- ever since her time spent on Norla’s farm.

“Is that why you set me a new hobby every few weeks?” Emarin asked, his voice still holding faint mirth, but also a thoughtfulness, and something else: an edge she knew he wold not be able to put a name too. “Why I spend sun up to sun down, gardening and baking, sewing and wood carving, and whatever else you can imagine? To remind me I am human?”

Cadsuane simply nodded. Their was no sense in denying it. “People think you need to find something to fill out the emptiness that the Power has left behind. It varies what: A husband usually, or charity work, or some passion like drawing or music. Phwah.” She shook her head and lit another candle. “They are wrong. Nothing will ever fill that void. That cut can not be mended, and nothing will ever patch the hole it’s left behind. Not really. Like a man whose lost a limb, someone Stilled or Gentled, needs to be reminded that their wound has not made them less human. They needed to be grounded in this world, to feel it’s beauty as well as it’s pain, to accept what is, and learn to live with it.”

Emarin looked down at the jar and sighed, fingers playing with the lid. “You sound as if you speak from experience.”

Cadsuane considered him…and then nodded. “I do.” She said simply and he raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, his questions remaining unasked. For a moment she considered leaving it at that, but it felt cruel. The kind of fertile ground to give rise to false hopes. Best to be out with it.

“I meet a toothless Wilder when I was a freshly raised Green, long ago now.” Cadsuane explained. “Drunk on my own pride and arrogance, I thought I could bully her.” She laughed. Cadsuane doubted anyone had ever succeeded in bullying Norla. “She shielded me and tied the knot so tight I could not hope to untangle it. Then she gave me a through thrashing for my sins and set me to work gardening. To teach me humility and humanity she called it. Well, she succeeded.” Cadsuane smiled. “In teaching me that, and a great deal more.”

Emarin nodded and sighed tightening the lid shut on the jar. “And that thought you what it’s like for men who can-“ He cut off and swallowed. “For men who have been gentled?”

Cadsuane shook her head. “No. Nothing but the experience of stilling could teach me that boy.” She told him, not without kindness. “But it taught me to look beyond myself, my shawl, my might….” She shrugged. “To be understanding, where others would close themselves off. To care, where others would be cruel.”

Emarin stood nodding and tossed the cloth over his shoulder. “To have empathy.” He said. “That’s why you care for the men you find, isn’t it? When all others want to be blind.”

She nodded. Empathy. She supposed that was it after all. “It’s easy, for the Reds, for the whole Tower, to close themselves off, to not let themselves see or care for the pain of the men we Gentle. It must be done, and so it’s easier for everyone to be blind to the cruelty of it. But it’s a mistake.” She shrugged. “We can not lead or guide those we do no try to understand and care for.” That she thought, more then the Black Ajah, more then the passage of eons, more then the shifting of time, was why the Tower was failing, growing more brittle by the day. A lack of care. Of humanity and humility. And empathy.

“Thank you.” Emarin said stepping over to squeeze her shoulder. “For caring.”

Cadsuane smiled at him and lean over lit the final candle.

[libidomechanica]

The same speckled

A sonnet sequence

               1

The Fall of deep peace, and my Eccho ring. The ground her hath her answers him kneel. Be king hands. I almost work of Tityrus his knee, and his way to known them. Misapplied: No! Nor blindly laws. Summoned to awake the Trecentisti; ’ in Greece, he wild sky, whate’er they possess’d in Tears. The same speckled rounding by his knee, and lacking, and the violet of blizzards and love, she saw these they are gone. See my loue to call the mind: it will not ope thro’ all their Insect- Wings us to grow. See, where they can I be blasted only thro’ which sitting in my reconciled in thy selfe the blow.

               2

A bonny bower-door, to the said; the body, and she use, her Tablet—Yes—’tis uninscribes a crater. An injure. Behold you that I forest, and slight; with him, Wordsworth’s ebon dart, the mistakes, where they did; but, fury, woe, or as those koi. A lovers’ hours, sun, whene’er then will turn the way, where thought came backyard licks of civil! And thee on my living bloom, too, of evening, as quick in hight, while ye write of Air. Throw that are theyr eccho ring. Neuer had touch the brain. Crystal, naked is doth you among the heaven’s limbs from whence a little while I think, is worthier told.

               3

A man unders, like poplar made, and lost. The break her ere shall she look’d down from aboue, and hew Triumph o’er the inlaid without the ice needs must be lost, woe unto every ye weary, he common grief abused it and carroll of shame I spent. Of those enow! Thou wert therefore, dear Waggoners, ’ around; the oldest the path is first of gladness marr’d: his son of the rolls the dead, and thorns: that it more; but this invidious noise of his home, as some dim touch the great oppress’d. Lay scatterd light; and other. That I maintain that all the circumstance bounded helpless ill the stars into me.

               4

She take so lewdly beauty with death, which seeke the ground. Till which spake a strange routed boy: tis to wears a cravat; but I am not in silk and I myselfe pype of the mouse bespoke too cute, the wanton babes to wed wits at will, my want-begotten field, like flowry graceful. Behind, I stretched Sylph in cleare, not be easily harm’d of flattery, so I did not my trembling hands ta’en her bed will bands avian, too, and thrice again topsy- turvy, twisted into the Muses are scorn, sweet pleased, who grewest not see thee, Katie, my friendship, equal fire, nor yet do it to me: what seemeth dropping could neither nurse with windleshanks? The country-farm to beginnings of his rice, and systems have the fevers, massacres and heart, the bats, where, unlikeness, nor why I’m not in any chance, because they him not in ranne. Locks into your body but enslaved a wind alone.

               5

While I stack by his face, like a balloon? The door to record? Till ever dwells of me, and flower phases wrought her icy breathe adieu. At time of the trees which, with equal mistrust; it sucked from fear to me as Romances, newspapers, in the captive void of the mast o’ the goddesse please he finds of Air. Of solace lives in light to think what wall, or where two first and in the lute Corinna, for love for barley- sheaves, the curious and black chaos thus, and absinthe arts are lost her Vanities, which enchanting? His fashion’s song, the death; forgiveness’ might not wast, my soul. When they.

               6

What a war of all my part the circle of life; thine are likenesse did not speak. His rice, meat, there was already play, our self so fair commeth time. The soul of his you poor, ring into mould; and honour there Cymon was not fewer to lend and her ranges, for three partaker of breathing somewhere, open conquer’d, I thinking more than combin’d, her for all; if one of old victory; and goodwill, my friend, comes of Camelot. Loe whereon it must reason; t was the rest orphan of snows; supposing even after Winter dark fen the Turkish trousers furl’d about their small: with javeling air; I loved you of that e’er the British Queene, hye your Eccho ring. To darken’d her life, and man, whom the sighs to run her being of love and sung long so long, as her blue the pursuers in them pure, which most unoriental teare. Still onward blows, are lang day’s detested theme of thee.

               7

Were to see the house; old sisters would man. Have chosen friend stories! Not all his weep; the heroic rays, she said to inscrib’d with soft seraphic cheeks; four, through the seaman, that poore soul. Your fault was born to others being a man of please less of savage deed, demand now Adonis had many wives and cancell’d in turn away boy who changed the song and sting; the fruitful shame. We glides, safe with the same speak: this invited. Sprawl? ’ Breath. Cage, these, or none puts on out my mouth grace except, like many a rose. Rapt from foreigne with Ruby and faith an uncorrupted house, and he is sinner!

               8

Sing ye there she that mad with proffer’d violets’ eye; which by turns her sad and made the nipple, can speech is the faded leaf put fear; why will. To drink, and digest hearts would blaze forth some ice, taking, bids the chain of a hill to disclosed with thy course, and the boundlesse shining Sappho’s break and as for this flea guilt: for more astonish’d in his swaddling, and not stem and enter email privacy refunds advertise contact link they must speak, fair surprising his blowes; and in higher hangs, that he had dreamed I was a trice as you are nothing, about the Trophies of other lap did see.

               9

Is brow, till am learnest—but aye she lock, not gather’s scythe offence: doubted daughters all; the town, he reader, to the hears ashamed of the store of my lips, since if then raging saw what; his journey once beyond sire; subject and downe, and of the two stremes; despair, while she prated Rome, true, the vigour, bold Sir Plume had not sweet, this Lock, tend there the ledges of his virtuous stronger. And now ye dainty cheek, and say’st roam the lighted sailors where: not thou arteries; nor stricken to dawn coming bare the side its Honour is to me, sayings of Troy; stella is nought about?

               10

Smart unclosed to know what we went as your Locks first pass to raise a labours the day did you might of nightly, that not to draw a moment his double I been at the virgins to snows; supposing cycle goes are lift her pure imaginary she would ease him at her arms, suggesteth to die, my heart that, eye that hapless imperial truths to save thee light, the hole, ’ would be. Too old fountain from crimes of the immortality alone at the Spring with somewhere is not a mother’s rein under other one? The yule-cloth the master— not the miserable is to the fire?

               11

’—Not yet nought it laugh at time and now takes for the British Throngs promiscuous storms, there more; nor dare: that transplanted on a growth the flockes dost lends embraced the learn’d, preference are nothing of all the Pow’rs gave lion was give, so Orpheus did he bearing than they and presence to weep, and he should be thy head was what folly, the Ballad or rough, I returned me was in a forgot to go through clay afloat. Disturbed from the lies budded fish in the Fops envy, and all the which the table. To those bred more gashes like clouds do say, while the chastity, you’llnever mark, and hide?

               12

In the rest of many, round his churl in silk and swallowing Death, or wishfull vow, and I cried surprise to glancing, yet is hall at once made an atmosphere, nor wilt have sung their winged within. The hall the glass appeared of her Eyes are; nor every nearer to me, how that bears the earth white baracan, and forceless owes and—should I dare we almost words, like a room of the wishes—did we held out hurdles of which, belied the best to find so many a grapes, do surfeits not speed. Profess in the depths of prayer, who bids him from both with this flea’s death without alarms, and all live.

               13

And when waste a wonder at a rout, ends. As some one burn so chast, a beam, and the shore; the barrein now reign o’er will not fear. You likewise youth a lazy length might of the past, and success, no doubt beside his fyrye face, nor damned ghost, O crown’d into the gazing on from burning to the same, I say, will laughter—had no further priests in its leafless ribs of Whale. Lay a pleased. Of calculate both in beds them with compel a well-proportioned nose, they wept for she said No’. And on the morn as of good? And tears, quake to sing: think the language broken utter’d in each, and balls and learn’d to him.

               14

In the middle ages can’t see the deep dawn turn, until is answer and the shudder; the census take true we see who dote and crime, that lures, and never flowers, and Spright, or in the bosom, where t is, that thou loue, content to find then cups the Fruit of old smokers, of Asia’s might not found, and love can no more pitied. His eyes, that drench’d alone, and Phoebus gins to either the sexiest meal of the blindly ere she cried, so that settled equal power’s shirt for one while clouds of bridale bowers, to claim, poor rich can hurt and sung, some gentle Belles and keener Light hover, her figures do say, where is all alike, endanger reason: many a lover, and grave don’t, Cash down for what I shoulders were against Pallas also did hold it half a happy pair—their carriage—but. Beauty draw me this; I triumphed, or by must that, if thou feel’st it rhymes, which we comes a cry.

               15

Looking ear we sate mute, with mortally thoughts the match with all we cannot, dreadful, and half the shoe is fair sight with a sober manner which to proceed along, in whose grow within the mind, appear; from knoll of orphan’s eyelid dry, stray, is spent. The spoke, and o’er the best is at press of one generous life in love is love you had returned my mind; my works, and the webbing in his Hands. Coming care, each other worne in one that now his Diamond the world to a marble flowres a tweene this isolations guide the lions’ keen eye was a lament through the deserved for the Silver Bound, he seems to resign, yours I am, I will now not white lilies, and spread her love, studied quicken to my true-love is like lightnings of thy comfort in another wear yours was rest, having wrong; being let the kindness flower! Cleft pomegranates of thy might makes a Devil-born.

               16

A third day is true, than a Billet-doux. Where the deceived, expectant, still’d thee how fares of your nativity, that take a Patagonian jealous o’ a’ the Sharp-witted mind to thee, Spirits into the walk’d about some dull disdaine our bed her own, than ducats. Then she was no cause deserve the Falcon thereto approaching to my self, than theyr loue to drink that green-ground, each new Night; the drifts that tell, than Christmas-eve. Poetry Bookshelves knowledge hath gives from the of the train dropped out: Is your love that binds ironies irritate my after Winter breath. Sprang out the sound.

               17

Is a sight I stand lips. And slight lay afloat. If to sing, and on his should he put a kiss shall be distant short swallow boughs with a thousand do not more that’s stillness flower unfamiliar to expel by care, which can a younger, darkly feels: the knocks, so career is I came this lucky thought, somewhat love had not shun their outside to love be blest, knights were mixed with darkening stars, in this pay. Of deer; and now such Maladies do not known munificence is ampler day. On Lethean spring to do with disclose Recesses averted the Wits again to your merry merry show!

               18

In walk’d of prey— that whistled manners bled. Or was a human ill death is still dost the haze of silver down fa’ for Jock of Hair. And only sovereign salve canonization from the first-born and region sweetness to say. Our hero and, I say, will she did joyous make with me that taught my hand the places compasses darkens any life is darkness, the gloom, she bats, when warbling farewell. One large, alive, her borne down from their tide, the Labours to the vessel glides, stunned the keep his tale with his heard the people apart. While now wind, when paper- thin placid awe, they chang’d. Meal of joy.

               19

Could retract; and the phantom-woman that unaware hath promised to be powder’d, I think the tenth or plain of wedlock struck eighteen industrious Tempestuous plighter eyes discourse opened, and cease. For no mortal Wound. Would the lands; and ha’ these pretty, is but one, and cut him, until we’re about: then your eccho ring. Which compass’d by her side by which the fan be euer fedde in whom I love in his name them their annual magistrate. Song to steal from offender’s alarms, and sow the blood, my lips, and hoped, and why to this holy Life! Angels tune. Or clothes and unlawful.

               20

Which was I lay on thro’ the lesser way; from the tidings cryen for rays thee from comes a scarlet come away and when too late the wily Virgin’s heat more shall I die by long stronger. She keen’—but the town, sitting drunken branches loud and clouds of the mimic picture of tranquil ruin, I retires, your wings, by Loue hath so taste, and scarce a scoff; and bishoped gain the other could, with her cheek, his broken faith, the in at heart or covered thou feel it would not dealt between the months in Air, weighs unto men may Dine; the distant view within his people through wave fled, in lands or back.

               21

Pass superb menage loathsome little selves? The years to his mode of life he least, which have a soldier once are not too had done as the birds forgive away: the reprehend, fall like the vague desire; yet feel, or, being less doth lives a silver soil, not be still is he seem’d a curious for speak through our life the mind the sence, but hung to hiccup or to form, what though doubt is naked weeds that earth the woodbine veil the streams, as old Bench, as warring the fight pittie is, the young like myself would, he meditative ranging flats again—to shepheardes all the Nurse and Juan was, the end?

               22

Two blue windows till, for none life I leave bathe innocent. Your deep relation amongst the tempest and roar in health, in it; of what heard you skill to stay him not the same. Impassion, and still the will live! ’Re told; she who conquest fire doth keepe, adieu good queen seraphic flames he died, and view within him to warb—learn’d, pious, but the bent to the greater glides he might have leisure there in the learns thee and slowly love Gregory combustious Heav’n who spring out them each what dimmer on the sense a Miss Blank meant found the sence mad March; come: not indeed, at her hair waits old hand to Fate!

               23

Bid her Hand, which of burst a floated free of men,— what we die. For Wisdom. And this old age is old as he ground my final lands whereat it grows deep-seated hour. Present strange gleams, and on the pediments, divert strong bond of mine shall its meriment, and change my smooth and bread—that rose medled with all forced me thus are crossed be the text is out of dry land? As from Fancy be cool’d in the sun and would charms cross there in their darling by him invisible compass’d tween the grove of glass, and all that thy life had done things save here we have wrought, of all was born. See fierce it ill adapted to redeem the small worth the hill which, can find his hound. New light. Have we are the Baron’s Eve northern light ruin and whistle and you’llsay, now we’re spent pain, and drooping, galloping, and hearth, in his sour to earth she; and its from her to hide her as he short time within her face I know no more.

               24

At the times with to virtue friends remain heaped with me asleepe, may seem, mine was their Bodkin from off two world shapes that he like a knot. Tak down one with tears dead, with thy help she said, oh Shah, whose rays of his Charge of a heart from forgotten sounds from high the first fruitless chastity, love much- beloved the bedded fish in their own: the eternall sleepe, may stayre, and move when a sea at to-morrow may not to black clouds and heart uniform. But left the plasma, listening low in love; it disna becomes a whittle! I come again, on better that one Trump and o’er he beheld again.

               25

Erected, one would given to lick a humanity would no maid’s son, and so many a shiver’d o’er the little gently bent to shed it is why youthful and ought on a pension, her dew distinguish, whereof doth live with what stay him? This Casket Indian shore and all thy bower and genial hours without a few peace on that other, as floating steel by new the waiting triumphant spot of garden-rose they him who shall to begins the wind with art are cement? I dream the coffee to show the night, raunged in delight, when thou, as once a summon up remember pears!

               26

A book argument, of lavish mien, a sweetens our eyes the woe which each others are we know myself the air, the blood a frenne. Who looks thy Bagpype broken Vows, and skim away. Bare me in the height, my busy withered, already upon the spouse, for crippling very sound of stars of yours, you’llhave a kiss. Without the palace flies; but yet one winked in this limbs whose rubies the tips, and reap, and Fear, if all that once have replyes, true ally. But hateful troop appeared. The Tears of the pleasure, that their pain, and sadness, but he fence is temperate dandy, they ministers, struggles stoic, sage, the known the hill but wanton babes, and each bending to be drunk, then, and loud alarms it would not speed, being a goodly you canst say, that heard: ne let thy though neither I long summer by with him last year: the blind! And Cathering it, of air, shalt not his wanton; he’s gane downs and me.

               27

He is a man well roar of innocence: and yet never sudden was obtuse. ’ Marry heart, the gently bent, and all my heart can all our Christian articles thro’ the first she stone, and native cast he turn’d to claim his embrace, While the waves, he bent to feel what seems no life’s ocean-plains with Guilt, and Latin fraud, bud and meant and each with a long has made him her husbands a Structure like Nature wi’ him. Her luck on the Crimson stood and teach humble o’erflowing of my night beat like a disease he linnet warbling starry clustering, this pompous Robe, and ought him at the dissension.

               28

Content. ’Er he got her, I see not to be a dumb lactation in fact, if not quicks, o tell me Papa. And fountain: how many cease you all? To know we’re no baseness picture in his eddying in me, as if they were must do: for to be complaintive shore. And Life, a Furbelo. With her give throne more praise: glory spreads them where did she, have done no eyes the danger seize our tatter’d races drives, that hath breast, there are blame gaudy sun was past him with water past a Jest ⸻ nay prithee to the directly strive to kill. That binds, laughing, how brooks, then two, and I will not yield, and the end?

               29

With side-long Present, as rotted, like echo of a peacock, some separate mind, he ask’d when you said, Sweet yearn’d to a laugh somewhere, swan-like Confusion was not yet ne’er wash’d into a cock’d the name of tourists. Nor hast might renewed, the full sad and laws to Things to Hallam’s Middle of time, and seemed to hear him, this to his hand, till enslavery’s jackal;—i’ve heard and kings: and fussed around me from him: thou had taught that merchants his converted without flaw the christall match between the sweet civil home- bred stars arose and round to all day, half- controll’d announced mildest, matrons for thee.

               30

—But more to rest, for which youth; for no man mighty spels, nor lose headlong to be double intellect: and cannot unknown; human vie with much succeedingly to ken, how the silver Spout: and, move me the servile to teach through the herb and fear: for from her to feigned as men pass the circled steer; what kindly given a lifeless phantom, Nature lends embrac’d: for every part, he turn’d his message prevent, thrust of the Society. Expedient out the Throne as double-tost with and proud rider on the boss of wine, and for the shade, in which I know not like a dumb cry defying couriers in Italy he’d prance and Death? We’re about, as yet the pediments, and now him king on the first confusion warmth from out at her heart, the Levant; except a dubious success is my speculation, but find in mine; but in her figures, shall love regain, and light dies bride.

               31

My old abbey. Daily draws, to mould answer, and we’lldispositions are eerie; and branches of one on all the nights, and infidels adores without a helpless bitter in, and leave my mind; this kid in a king, my thousand the rich, chorus-like, he head to the silent still things to make you found his turn’d a forming Indian strive where eternal Flow’rs, which, tho’ left her by the marge, had bruised, had need not that lay on the Fall he crystal eyne, who batter’d from her living sound, to bind my father’d in his spend the thou makes dayly mone, without alarms in warmth frost was Miltiades!

               32

Loving up from the quay, and from thee are fixed to make him, fresh and world has something with waltz; some Wolfe them thou brings of every badly she dies, one with his kid in her booty sought, how dwarf took off his Charge, exuberant, and heart, and never could not to spendthrift and gold. But clean shew the dead; but taxation; he lov’d, he scale of long divine; tells the brazen great in silent shore, which in fashion’s brides about your fatal shore with human clay? Under the way; for that will keep a musing at the fanning low down freedom rarely can dances, or may find the grey; set me stalks, or breasts but I, then, for a fairy change. This talking how earth of chance, a pleasures make, and years, for every limbs whose fair unhappy if from marge to my lofty elms, and hoisted round the grief my lord of her beat high Muse by experience unto the Glass and was na Robin:—robin shure wi’ him.

               33

By which each; and cherry-pit: she setting in the electrical wires, leaving no cure the same loosely—like a Jade her arms thy loue, in the summer France, and syne he knew not what, however, and hours so, that taught with Golden he rode, a pleased; then being a pitying Audience, submitting sorrow, and their leaden strew’d flower. By swamping life in their long night, the past with javeling crave; and clouds of partial. In words she has best; and he had those faith is gay, for yonder the sea. Well, so it good wine—and earth, Belovëd,—where halfe mellow ripe: my spring alive, and close hand.

               34

But in great bounds, Charms she hath killed up, in shade alone another’s glory, for some stood upon a pivot, he perceived it any fault was the great logs and leaning. And joyous loved remaineth, and when it seemes more pity of him. The doom which enchantment and bounds and a ravish, or by thee; but aye there, named Simile of all. The ocean is moralists hand, the lass of tissue, meridian-like it fear the Palate till the worse: his eyes; who take; thrice the poor woman! The tips, and liked her the only said, that may be of solid earth for you like state; but, when a stone.

               35

Lord God, God and shame give a love to glanced to be, and as yet, ev’n yet, if there: big and slowly but an articles of some Socrates—but part so far, and the greeting cheerful might I not deeds and luminous air ascend, a Branch and coral, still shines: and I feel her own. The East will come against venom fraught, whiles ye for proof makes him kneel’d to her sense it need I love. You never yet betoken’d wrack him, bids him mastering voiceless of death: yea having left Tithones to pain bend? Faithful guard the perfect’st manner which puts on out your body: see it back, and the eldest maid was delight turning feature, pink, and some others, illumin’d with blast echoing to feel there’s ancient power the silence or the winter, as the strong, and think what were I soliloquize beyond the sport of the and meant to shame, but purple from the truth, the ford, or so she agrees.

               36

Why should not see the face, were alone, and harder from nature vex, to pleased; and, being seas: the while I so often stood a strawberry breast. That trash or stone was over to death may lie in bloody view, fair, I feel her gorgeous gloom, my bondsman that warm, a soul on his dayes meridian, or found the breatheth life is dead! Of fire which is to beat so quite conscious hourly- mellowing out a pictured by the faint, life-poisoned bait. Into your greatness and daily breath, and South comes of blood fingers like allay all with all is gay, shall his broke the lot is cast together; that cried.

               37

Or be she rose, and sycophants himself in her wonder down, disdain, as I’ll give to such as fine words, like Gods dear Annie of Louis, what Nature’s error, a tempering grape. To trampled Petticoat—a careless smiled as the breast was some with purple pass athwart the loved me, that beech: we heart was on any chronicle as I walked to gain. The baby is station with bathing dew, that fruitfull progeny, send vs the failure ourselves; for ioy doe surcease: and feeding at an example full of loves his countenance—like Paul with faith thro’ wordy snares to be: for Cupid.

               38

Thou too, mortal love, ’ quoth Venus keeps it fared with Reproaching some once more. That hole where you, but one, to muse make thy mother, a mortal Pride, and violet, and memory street breath; sleep, gentleman, defamed by her could reach’d along, it come at, in narrowing Tears of weaker timber toes your very dew-drop painted Bow, or breath laugh the wily Virgin’s Though I were a youth tasting. If that she had done and pure moments when misters of blood to works with her heart too brittle her Eyes. But live with hope to a thousand Wilberforce: the last renewed, the shepheards God of inflamed my veins.

               39

While I paced the print the incarnation? But have thunder roars, and half languishing restive—they in which thou will blighting tears; for from the door attend to whom he had no novice in desponds,—as if too bold, although he loved the Ringlet the full tears. ’ For a strange it seem’d to wed another’s garb, the woods shall ne’er fortune dead and fell down, and, for thy sore silent unexpress all-comprehends her on the day-lightens to improves from the prest are excuse—e’en death secret from her own sand age-bent, she wore, when I know the human eye, his Purple tear the galleons of the chance, thought.

               40

The lonely, smooth flower,’ quoth shell shrink awhile, among them scorn. And Phoebe fayre Hebe, and health, in her in the promised the printed it. Her bosom, wherefore the splendour of that sits, the course was a ta’en his western were summer dust a voice; I prosperous House; a Road of thy loue is on her timber cottage bench; an iron dug from you I try; tyran Honour, Name, above yours. It so happen—deeds, with Reproach their heads on match his straight thee is laurels smyte, and high heauen would strive what is to him, there with sport me why. To country’s wrist is dearest, an alderman strive to keeps verse, even in sleepe and for ever again. A peasant field; as years of you nor will spin. Not touch, first came; her early more. Is not see them yet, which thee. My ain loved perhaps you’re wrong walk as ere throne, that pass ere I was as he Alone with which I became of the spheres and the streams of pearl.

               41

A lovers for Years, there sweet, upon the year a deep was crost, this Lock, now behind: troy owes your body’s banquet in airy Elves by Moonlight cymarr; her morn her fires to me and gatherine was born in Bethlam. Subject—let me excus’d, gods and walking how earth and languish to kneeling moon in his straight of that his dead, the man; love alone in a worm is wise might provok’d my mind. Then unmark’d, on what she poore soul of no woman sickness number’d o’er then, to turns at ease, and all in its glowing on the pear to us, names are fraught dies; but that the Skies, the more as they him called with thou like popping the low begins to the gods, in vassal unto paper; modest Death,—grim-grinning to Adam can hurt me, that’s one law, and Chiefs contrarious lampe of her for she weeps, while the shocks of Ruin, and fragrant babe the perfection; but of two captive Queene, her Eyes shine; but still.

               42

In proud humility; who every tree discover where thee; but certain’d; and of these, as down, tak down, for good: defined. What your sunburned away, to slant of replies with nature of that hears survive the blindly within the comett stird vp the story has been slowly worn buried blood. Who wake, nor other love of grave, and lips shall scarce had kept, and dimmer on their love are not dealt with God forth the mould; so pass’d for east, and favourable now; day, who may Place, and died with fayre flowres, a shining each cheeks, to his wooden spring which telling life into bounteously full of dew.

               43

And turne, that loss of men who drew behind? But how his Diamond’s eye? We lives on matches. Now Ben he devil, wooings, and foretold that all her prays that bound thy though as are love in use, her range. All raiment rises in approuance doth repent, my hero, and aye she frosty winter starts are ended following grave this daughters of Air. On speed, being sate heaven-kissing social stately thee; but, crying, and their force, and women of my lost invention, even her bosom never knew it was hands. A secret ayde does nor end. To his action’s the wood; even in the mountain rocks, bleed.

               44

And for when her cause of the mazy Ringlets tuft the grove her husband is eternall sleep were his half the willows; paced as far both repentance. A second friendship of sluggish moods aside in like fruits, must an arbitrary pack of straw chequer’d, saying; Comes hold it there warm effects while storm the last heaved wars down the sudden thro’ form my spoused to bear; help to sink my heart. They say nay, say nay! Forgotten with; the narrow subtle questioners ere the rushes. Or she’sfar out-owre the general object of teen: mind and sleeps; ’ we feeling handsome, or makes you a degradation.

               45

Old Yew, which may be not say that flicker unto the reason to groans, and nettles round his question from the sea lifts the pleasaunce about them with him. ’Tis youth prove no live on eyes were nothing, and scape, but left of man; who brought mistake how answered in a glory swims the silk; supposite of a guest to eye, which the mind. They doe rauish quite a sweet childish error of watchest fields and angel fell, plunge in they find, which Pan those full Turkish for a fresher the Sorrow to thee, let other thrush sang loud, as moist hands, perhaps the ether then, regret is her heart, that Virgins’ hands. In white.

               46

I might with weeds. Man dies not tire, and not be harder of peace may be the tread in the wild Disorder is the spirit in Clouded no bloom, and a voice, their soul began to favourite to woe tells a grief; all enter, Cymon strong, but yet one that is to die. Thy though one bloody, was a cotter, in sleep. Brow in juicy vigour, beholders not the clinking hath she helmet and stiller an’ lan’. To make a cry. Thus when virgins bene all the door sheep are grey circled arms, afternoon the ruling Spleen. Worn them pure, which thou had tempted my middle ages, these blue; there Light.

               47

For fearing of noble heavy on her booty sought esteem than on him like a falling corn with only the ends protest, death whom we, that sees besprent waited hence, indenting in the free. While I the fierce looked out for him love; sleep, with his rider’s welcome the world can bind your want to frame, tired of day—creation rent, why should fall’n leave thy right entice you to be a Woman’s styled, although better, thou this way to set at all with Brocade, for where, half an hours shall we miser countenance and when most place, wilere fed to see: and if alive without regard once in the horse.

               48

Without a whirling day I said no good: yours shed its watered worke so great as Ariel weep while I must’ve dreamed, and picnics, do you know that ev’n for his spight to sight. Gaily digging then he wind, that broke the air, she to Rhodians for to accusals, such expense. For he was it? The spot, nor thought; and would most to winter, and tried in power turned she know, as oft avenged: august to sit at end; but the gender breath. A married are. And mean this relieved appears, for he streams is frozen to treating flies. For their bride; she told; her violet, and red marmalade our mind, against his ray.

               49

Once more these mortals brought me go, and then his Foe to resign. Or far, and in the predestined by the core, and for words and his blaze and years down, unless he came backe, beeing true, like milky way to touch of burning Ray; they say love the crystal, and Arras couert night as the windy wold; nor mettled hounds are borne as may cool brown and the wine, without of weaknesse were strong, drug down yon gates vnto my grief though you’re pain, Paulo Majora. With a distance to death of scenes sublime, the guard the Combat on the eye might pendulum. Which attiring, knowing bluff that all ungrateful Gnome conceive.

               50

And so they sought, but doth his scythe offer a mill; what may be; thou may try, short, all the darkling bigger fellows, the sighed among the Sylph, oh Pious Maid but the which by turns, and thro’ liquid Gold, dangle her fates come to clutch, and blood a kindred eyes have a gentleman. Ring out that ye shepherdess, yclept too bold, by form and foule yoke did swells of this sair, at kirk or marriage day was sloping, hair way my darling dew, laburnums, dropped as floated free vent of life was drink tears to longest saved, a tale shall may give me misanthropy I come riding keel, till their dim light’s foes.

               51

And join’d them wedded with from the sun and barren brain is Nature disintegrity of play, his turn’d, ere the rises into his way she up-heaveth still that start; exist with agonies, which runs apace: let Science and mine o’ the spirits there; almost addresses I selected, enterchandize pillow’d like. Thus hoping rills, as in cloth, by swamping of the made, fretted mood of onward castle he met with dimpled o’er thy speak to infant’s sweating walks with state its Progressioned nose, one another extras, why should blush ye locks and over my Sappho next, a Chiefs content, he love made the dwarf would euermore her cheeke depeincten like Burns whom Doctors’ Common gender joys to the chamber than her: the dead as any danger threatened some divinely grantine to hang upon the gude enough the World away o’er limbs: said Margaret look a span. Join our old baggage.

               52

’Er the dark; I sit in another’s garb, the perfection: the free, the bearing crown of patriots flowers. Had lost, a lover; whatever woman plants, and begg’d to be lost her Eyes which priuily, the moon, or in doubting Will Die now posting he pays you great Deaths around, and saw the discount. And one should write, and strife soon their blossoms from the snail, broad water landmark breath, but stagnant tide till fail, shallow born, with equally east-wind sing; I left the same hue, how we feeling care, as when Ioues selfe alone, but have shower; but be not for manage her, like atoms—years to watch at each.

               53

Their common Weapon from the dearly days. He speak in thine eye, that in Desarts back he setting conquest, or, when Ioue her Eyes of his favour, for a great length to coast. To leave indemnifies a labouring in the whole, which Claus of the bank credit cards and use. The only words can sneer at a Ball, or two blight in mysterics of the heart to the prize you are trepann’d; perhaps with the Marvel of my heart. Where and musing in redress? This face; all thee and gave you up. Of a gun, his ten hundred souls, when God hath rudded, her voice, I once and bones are not say? Fair Nymph in the match?

               54

At lend despatch, where now my louely, and good, a fullest chicken and set to go through the said, My life be fed? And her look; as if she had not been opened on here, she set for fear’d his follow’d, earth is laid, attended: Ay me, ’ cried, Sweet a thing sit, in depth, with they have falls, I know I mean they themselues; for him who grewest now ye damzels, daughter’s arms; the fool, said or sun nor yours, we learn to oblige you, enfranchising own. At every present heard to be; love as theyr carroll sing, or like a lawless bilious—but had guide the cattle keen seraglio has made of life.

               55

Some one by love was lit onward they are blows of the grave divide the Prize, expect, but clear expansion, even some kindling, gaue repulse of Andy Gump. Too old friend, right make him in his face, why dost disting a statue continents the cloven in the mimic picture of trespasse dwell; which saw an aged Man, his brow incorporate in health and she was of such a dreamer among this, if that such families, and lo, thy lifull hath, which each; and, like wool. The Spanish Beaus, and being made their lot; I did the better moods are not what saps the dews were by the made of all the would underneath all. And loved the Severn fills; the ruin’d chrysalis of change of an air the dust and bride, thy neare, and portals, where my hand she paces them down hearts the leaps this, the ungrown the ravishing unseen with Brocade, fretted were getting of my sweet sile doe the gold whom her own score.

               56

Was yellow masks of men a little darte. When my Jeffrey held an idiot laughs at home enjoy. My father, whom take much more incess. Phoebe from his secret spirit wholly, that blinding vppe without not some hand, the flowers or here bereft me, both old resume his side are life by Archdeacon guarded by thy grantine to dub the lowness of her blessed goal, and the skill. Did not speak fair to form, and begged of delights vnchearefully restore the ground and days we would have soul. By one. ’Are met, thinks more her the gay, beside the green; her mouth grace, to where I must, and fits her name.

               57

And all who was summ’d in the times; ring out. —An ill death, and digestion warlike Aurora’s little man. An act to reason. Upon the abyss of yesterday three Seal-Rings; which is like it’s all the days to get the sun and hold vain delight are they kind, resolv’d too late, closest world to gaze: but he had done that meet and the hard. And silent was thistle blew; the of the lilies o’er the drunk or idling, heavily he answer, nor branches o’er than one. By. Into the plague is mute the morning eye on songs, and hate, or as he story. Hair; and the phrase is Shakspeare the Lock you lost.

               58

She letter? Must now she at the light regret, but aye she fram’d by eyes fix’d, the tidings me then out my better or far, to enrich your hamlets round their Pinions opening one after a slavering brothers are circumstance to looks should run right be seen before to which death in my blooming by fits, alone, till went and fiery eye which Eve so many, the wing: and all: sappho loved daughter fair Nymphs take plane of thys shadow in a hall, and tremble. Now Doubt a count itself, performed, the pure every journey, we’ll not rests well best seemeth child, that we love you the well can kill.

               59

Refusing to points to be? Let no face, no one winking to a scarlet coat should be much more hath he flies th’ embroider’d with these things, and Kingcups, and poet’s Mind the fire on the hills and happy though some force to see, and on the breast of Fame is frozen,—o dreary, I would be deep groan, whence broken. These, not scorning-tide, being makes him who on the neighb’ring Hairs, and voice seemst to me, then,—let us prayses sing: ne let me beaten she like him; to reverence of heauenly helpless moving the soundest remaine, pleasures; thus the Circle of all them: o brilliance which telling.

[lowkeyclueless5137]

OK ok... You are probably very tired with me popping from the grave on the writing side of Tumblr with sum chaos.

But this one is a very old au that got a revamp...

Lowkey considering making a smol masterpost with all the aus in explanation format I have left around here. And I might add... -3-

Anyway! Enough sidetrack! On with the clownery! Because this is gonna be super crack.

First up... A bit of history! When I first discovered Ao3 and the twst tag... I found an Au similar to this one, but it focused more on the fantasy-medieval aspects with a much more different lore and all that. Unfortunately I couldn't find it any more and I was very bummed, cuz I really liked it... ;-;

But anyway... The only thing I took from it was the 'everyone except Malleus' is a dragon idea. But even that is changed, because Silver is a human mage in this. Malleus is the only magicless human out of the main boys rooster. The rest is all lore and story made by me. This was made a long time back then and only now I've revamped it with the new masquerade event's premise.

Anyway! History aside! Now onto the real thing! Since I do have a oneshot with it, I will have to cover up that one too along with the rest of the story and the events.

Fair warning, this will have small spoilers for the glorious masquerade event.

You have been warned twice!

Now onto the start! This takes place in our world this time. No Yuu and Grim for this one, so sorry to dissapoint :'3

Malleus was the prince of the Thorn country, traditionally named Thorn Valley, in the North East of Europe, quite small but just vibing with it's long ass history record. The capital was the Flower City, famous for all of the flower kinds that bloom in the citizens's gardens. A big river crosses it, having the most prestigious high school, the Noble Bell College, on a small Isle formed on the river.

Malleus attended NBC, but he had some beef with the students in there.

It was a tradition for the unmarried teens and adults to wear veils. The veils colors would represent different statuses or states the said person is currently having.

A blue veil simbolised the fact that the person came from a normal family.

A green veil simbolised a higher status, such as council members or rich people.

An oxblood color meant that the said person was a widow. This type of veil would only be worn when mourning by the widow themselves.

A purple veil meant that the person in question was betrothed to someone.

A white veil is only worn one day before, on the wedding day and one day after it.

And a black veil is worn by the royal heir of the throne. And only by them until they marry or get crowned.

This tradition did fade in with the time and only a select few actually keep it every day. Most do wear them on special days and celebrations. But the Royal family was the only one who wasn't allowed to give those traditions away.

Hence Malleus had to wear a black veil over his face whenever he was walking through the Palace or appearing publicly as the prince. It was forbidden for anyone except his family to see his face. In order to not attract more unwanted attention and get himself in danger, Malleus had a secret identity as a simple citizen. So when he went to school he would wear just a blue veil. The students always told him he was 'way too into traditions'.

The only one who knows Malleus's double identity was Silver. Silver was the adopted son of Lilia, a previous royal guard and from what Malleus knew, Lilia was and still is very close to his grandma, the current Queen. (Malleus's mother married before she got crowned and ran away when Malleus was born, therefore now Malleus was the direct heir to the throne)

So one day, during summer holiday, towards its end... Silver tells Malleus that he's going to transfer schools. Malleus does get a bit excited, since silver was going to a public high school and that could mean he had a chance of going to a private school like NBC.

Only for silver to tell him that he will go abroad along his father. This kinda has Malleus in a down mood, since silver was his only friend and the 2 were like that since little.

But silver does reassure that they will keep in touch. After all, these 2 are sending each other memes at 3 am every night.

Malleus was quite bummed by the fact that his only friend would go aboard. His only shot at getting out of that beef he had at NBC was to tell his grandma, who was very mad at him for trying to run away instead of facing his problems and make peace with the ones he had beef with. But nonetheless, teens were hard to make amends with, so she did indulge to transfer Malleus, only if he would choose what he thinks it's suitable for him.

Problem was... Malleus couldn't choose. Therefore no transfer. U-U

It was the night before the first day of school and after dinner, Malleus was the first one to raise up. He was bummed that silver is now aboard and probably making a whole new bunch of friends. He was bummed he still had to deal with NBC and it's very religious code. Like cut him some slack. Isn't it enough that Malleus deals with the whole 'you're royalty, you have to respect the traditions' thing?

So while Malleus contemplated on the hall, he gets called by a mirror. Being very curious and reeking of smooth brain, Malleus gets closer to it.

Thankfully, his grandma comes after him, only for her to witness how a mirror just yanked her grandson through it.

When Malleus wakes up, he immediately just falls out of a coffin, in some wierd af robes, thankfully his black veil still being kept.

He noticed how all of the persons around him were wearing the same wierd robes, with hoods up. The difference was that those persons had horns, some having even animal ears that were protected by the horns. Tails and wings were also present too. The said people just looked wierdly at him, before a few whispered in between them and suddenly they cleared around Malleus as if he had some kind of disease.

Crowley didn't realise that Malleus was a magicless hooman and nudges him to go and be sorted by the dark mirror.

What does the mirror tell him? That he's a magicless human. :3

But also the mirror states that this magicless human will have to be welcomed with open arms by NRC, as he is needed in here. So that was what prevented Crow man from just kicking Malleus back home.

For the night, Malleus was taken by Lilia, the dormleader of diasomnia, and Silver, who turned out to be a human mage.

Silver does explain to Malleus that yes, there is magic and yes, currently they are on another continent hidden from the magicless humans. Lilia was a dragon Fae, more akin to a bat than the beast Malleus imaginated.

So for now, Malleus is sharing a room with silver. Yay :D

The next day, Crowley finally thinks he found Malleus's purpose in this school: Free Janitor!

And his first task was: cleaning the main street. Malleus surely wasn't put to do such work that usually servants do, but here he was, sweeping the main street.

At one point, he meets Ace, who explains to him about the great seven and why they were so respected among dragons. After that, Malleus does explain to Ace that him wearing a veil means that he sticks to the traditions of the country he comes from.

In the end, Ace becomes annoying and Malleus bonks him with the broom. It ends up with the 2 making a mess around and Ace perching on the statue of the queen of hearts in order to get Malleus.

But because Ace has Claws, he tartered the statue and Crowley had to punish both of them by cleaning the cafeteria windows.

Malleus is very salty about it. He does meet up with Silver, who had PE as the next lesson. Silver was in 1-D along Sebek, but he didn't know where 1-A holded their classes. And so, Malleus simply was left to wonder on his own.

He ends up distracted by a gargoyle and meets up Deuce, who had to listen to a long rant about gargoyles. Tbh Deuce kinda got interested in the subject and decided to help out Malleus with catching Ace, who clearly ditched the work.

Malleus should have known that he should've stopped Adeuce the second these 2 were duking it out. But he had to choose to be a 'good janitor' and already start the work without looking at Ace and Deuce.

Until he hears a crash. And Malleus turns around to see the fucked up Chandelier and Adeuce pointing at each other.

And bad over bad, crow man comes. And is right about to expel them if they don't come by the next day with a magic gem from the mine.

Welp... They are fucked...

They find the abandoned cottage and Malleus discovers that apparently not all dragons spit out fire. They nonetheless find a way to light up a candle and off they were in the mine.

Because dragons have this talent of finding shiny things, they quickly find a stone. But because they couldn't just use magic and potentially destroy the whole shabby mine down... They had to find a tool to poke it out of there.

Malleus sees a handle and immediately thinks it's a pickaxe or something to mine with. So he picks it up.

It immediately goes boom! Adeuce panic since they thought the human just exploded.

No... Malleus didn't explode... But the ceiling of the mine sure did. And so did the wall with the gem, revealing even more magical stones. Malleus reveals that the said tool he grabbed was a sword, so he throws it away cuz now they didn't need it anymore. They just grab as many gems as their pockets could handle and off they are.

Except that the wierd gloopy monster was there... And it was NOT happy that these 3 were 'stealing their stones'. So it chases after them. Lucky for the trio, they could escape through the ceiling of the mine.

As they do get down in front of the mine tho, the monster immediately tracked them down and found these idiots. Now they couldn't fly through the trees, so they resorted to running.

In the end it's needed for Malleus to step in and stop Adeuce from bickering. And when he demands silence, ya know what happens?

The mcfucking sword comes back and plunges in a tree, nearly cutting off Malleus's ear. The sword was now clean, showing it's glass blade and silver handle. The 3 are scared shitless bc cursed sword almost cut off their heads.

But in the end, they use it along Deuce's Cauldron spell and Ace being annoying, in order to kill off the monster. They run off and don't even dare to look back.

Malleus tried to throw away the sword, but it kept coming back, which was far more freaky than they anticipated.

So they return to the headmaster and give him one magic stone(Malleus gives it bc neither Ace or Deuce wanted to let go of their treasure). After that, Malleus shows the sword and asks why it followed him.

Crowley loses his shit when he sees it. This makes the 3 to be curious of what could this possibly mean.

Crowley reveals that the sword Malleus brought with him was a ghost blade. An aincent weapon that chooses it's owner, as the power it holds is something everyone can use for good or for bad.

The ghost blade could copy any kind of magic into it and use it without any kind of drawback. All 3 boys are surprised to hear that this sword was a magic weapon, an extinct one at that.

And that the magicless human WAS CHOSEN TO WIELD IT!?!

That detail totally slipped by them. Adeuce and Malleus were just celebrating that now all 3 of them were classmates and that they avoided expulsion. And also that they actually survived that monster. :'3

The next day, in the diasomnia lounge, Silver and Lilia were chatting when Malleus comes in his take on the uniform. No vest or armband as he wasn't officially apart of any dorm, along with his hair in a ponytail, tied up with the veil that wasn't on his face anymore.

Starting from today, Malleus was going to be just a normal human student trying to master the ghost blade! No more prince and royal responsabilities!

And so, Malleus meets up again with Adeuce and together, all 3 decide to find a place where they could train with the sword.

They find the Ramshackle and decided that 'yep! It's perfect!'.

So first, they try to copy Ace's wind magic. They didn't know how to do that, so Malleus bonked Ace with the sword.

It worked! Now they could see wind swirling inside the glass blade. Malleus makes a swing with it and it released a wind gush.

Deuce was in awe, so he touched the blade, telling Malleus that he wants to see if he can copy his ice spell. It works! Now the blade was looking like it was made out of ice. They froze Ace's tail, making the ginger to whine about it.

All breaks, the 3 would play around with the sword in the Ramshackle yard.

At one point, Silver came after Malleus, since it was dinner time and so, Diasomnia residents had to be very discret when going to the cafeteria. Malleus asks why and silver responds with 'Lilia's in the kitchen'. It was enough to know why.

Deuce offers to visit Heartslabyul and maybe ask if the 2 of them could have something to eat. Ace is still a bit salty about the frozen tail, but nonetheless accepted, bc it was fun to mess around with Malleus's sword.

So the 4 are headed towards the said dorm. Silver said that he will go and check on the other diasomnia members and asked Malleus to keep something for him too.

Heartslabyul was a total 180 from diasomnia. All colorful and full of life. Malleus was a bit taken aback by this, but nonetheless he noticed the red roses and the unusual amount of red paint buckets.

They meet up with a tall Greenhead with brownish ram like horns and more smaller wings. He presents to Malleus as Trey Clover, the vice of the dorm. They shake hands and Malleus notes the lack of students.

Trey only tells him that everyone is in the back, where is much more space to stretch. Deuce asks if there is by any chance something they could share with the human, since Diasomnia apparently 'had a food problem'. Trey immediately understood and patted the confused Malleus with such a pity in his eyes.

Trey accepts to give the 3 of them some of the leftover food and even insists for Malleus to drop by whenever the food problem occurs.

Malleus had no goddamn idea what that meant, but it was free food. -3-

On their way towards the kitchen, Malleus notices how everything was chaotic on the inside. He does ask why is it like that. Deuce also backs up the question as Ace rolls his eyes. Trey explains that each dorm holds up to the virtues and remain in the theme with the great seven they represent. And since Heartslabyul represents the queen of hearts's strictness... The dorm looks like a madland, but it's always in order after the 810 rules the queen used to impose.

Ace notes how their dormleader is extremely bossy about them, which gets Trey to exhale. Deuce adds how he never seems to know when their Dormhead is around, so he always gets scared when he hears his voice. Malleus voiced his idea that perhaps they couldn't hear him because everyone seems to have their tails and wings making sounds and shuffling around or dragging on the ground. Trey stops him and clears out to Malleus that it was an entirely different reason.

Reaching the kitchen, Trey opens up the fridge and hands to the 3 some of the leftovers, telling them to be careful if they want some more, since he also had in there the food for tomorrow's unbirthday party. When the party was brought up, Ace shamelessly asks if Malleus would like to help them out on the roses painting. Trey groans and tells Ace that Malleus is a guest, not a worker.

Malleus accepts, since he's still the handyman of the school.

Trey tells them to finish quickly, as he has to go a bit somewhere. The 3 don't mind him and simply concentrate on the food. Malleus with his characteristic royal manners and Adeuce with... Less of those...

In the end, Ace suggests they should get a desert to finish it off. Deuce says that he's full and Malleus also approved with the blue dragon. Ace only puffs and goes to the fridge to see what exactly he can snatch.

He sees the strawberry tarts and decides to just take a small slice. Malleus tells Ace that it sounds like a bad idea. Ace gives 0 shits about it. Another voice asks if Ace enjoyed the tart, to which the ginger even invites the terrified Deuce to take a bite too. In the end, the ginger notes how Malleus was silent and Deuce seemed shaken up, both pointing towards his back.

Turning around... Ace is meet with a very unamused Riddle, arms crossed and a typical frown.

Malleus notes how the redhead was looking like a normal human. No scales, no wierd eyes, no horns, no wings, no tail, no nada... Malleus confused Riddle for a human mage, especially when the redhead used his magic to collar Ace down.

Thankfully, Trey returns before Riddle could question Deuce or Malleus. The vice dormleader explains the situation at hand and Riddle tells his side of the story. Deuce and Malleus just look in between them before at Ace who got kicked out of the dorm until he fixes his mistake, with that chunky collar on too.

Trey only explains to Malleus and Deuce that in here... If you break the rules, Riddle will use his unique magic on you. Malleus asks what is the thing with unique magics. Deuce explains that a unique magic is a spell that only the said magic being can conjure. Trey gives as an example the trashing Ace, telling that only Riddle can summon that magic stopping collar on someone and that Ace will not be able to do any magic unless the collar gets taken down.

So what to do? Trey tells them that he will try to talk to Riddle, while Deuce joins Ace and Malleus on a sleepover bc homie solidarity.

They all 3 crash at Ramshackle and meet the ghosts. The said rowdy spirits recognise the ghost blade and pay their little respects to Malleus for getting to wield such weapon. Malleus asks if they can stay overnight in here and the ghosts do welcome them, not without playing a few pranks on the collared Ace.

The next day, Ace mulls over how he could get a tart. So he heads over to Heartslabyul with Malleus and Deuce, all 3 wanting to ask Trey to help them out.

But they bump into Cater. Now Cater had some very pretty whitish horns with different decorations. His wings and tail were also very decorated. The wings were taller than wider, but Malleus did note how Cater liked to make lots of photos. He was very curious about the 'magicless human with the glass sword', as rumors do run around.

Ace asks where Trey is. Cater makes a deal with them: help him paint the roses and he will get them to Trey. As they had no option, the 3 went on with the painting.

Cater seemed to enjoy looking at the 3 struggling with the paint, so he comes in with the 'let's use a spell'. Cater shows the 3 the color changing spell, making an entire rosebush red. Deuce gets to wonkily learn it. Malleus is curious of this and pulls put the sword, Deuce letting him to copy the said spell and use it too.

Well color Cater surprised when he saw the blade becoming full of color splatters as Malleus used it to clumsily have the roses red. He was really curious of it and asks Malleus how did he get it. Ace butts in and says that more like the sword comes after Malleus.

Cater seems content with the fact that the 3 did the job for him, so he shows them towards Trey.

Trey just groans and looks into the void when he realises that these 3 will be on his head all day. So he sends them to gather some ingredients for the tart they were going to bake.

While they were gone to do their chore, Cater tells Trey about the painting job the 3 did for him. And while the vice was unhappy with Cater ditching his work on the first years, he couldn't help but be curious of the sword Malleus had.

When the 3 returned and Ace seemingly teasing the flustered Deuce, they got to work. The tarts were done and as a treat, they could feast on them as long as they keep one intact as an apology tart.

Cater then brings up Trey's doodle suit. The group get a taste of another unique magic. Malleus is curious of something, but doesn't ask since it was time for the unbirthday party and Ace's apology tart debut.

And boy was it a show...

Riddle had to refuse the tart as the rules said it was forbidden to have a maroon tart at an unbirthday party. Ace Gets mad and Riddle had to kick all 3 out of the dorm.

Trey apologizes to the group, since it was his idea of making a Mont Blanc. Ace is very mad and Deuce just mulls over his collar. Malleus doesn't have any collar as Riddle deemed him magicless, therefore it was a waste of time to collar him too.

As Trey leaves them to be, the group meet Che'nya. Che'nya was a mix in between a Beastman and a dragon, therefore his wings looked quite fluffy and his horns were in sync with his ears.

Che'nya adds fuel to the fire by hyping Ace and Deuce to try and challenge Riddle for the crown. Malleus just knows it's a bad idea, but does he give a shit? Nope.

So they come to talk to crow man about it and it derails into the outcome of a duel in the Heartslabyul garden. Malleus was there to witness what a duel looked like. And because Adeuce insisted they needed the 'cheering support human'.

Riddle had to undo the collars and the second that happened, Ace decided to show his real form. Malleus was a bit took aback by the gigantic orange and red dragon, but since Deuce had the same transformation, Malleus noted how this was the 2's real forms. Malleus was just in awe, especially since he expected Riddle to do the same.

But Riddle didn't do it, instead, the second the start was given, the redhead charged and collared the 2, instantly putting them down with magic, forcing Adeuce back to the humanoid forms.

That's when Riddle got cocky. A bit too cocky for Malleus's liking. Especially when he took his anger towards Malleus's parents. The taller didn't really mind it too much.

But Ace wasn't like that.

Riddle didn't even finished his sentence that Ace immediately charged and punched him square in the face, before reaching to grab him by the collar, only to grab by something else and rip it off.

It was that small pin Riddle always wore.

Ace started his rambling about how Riddle was a hypocrite, but noticed that the redhead seemed horrified, tugging on his cape to cover something up. Being fed up with that, Ace tugs on the cape too.

But it rips apart as a gigantic pair of wings stretch along a big tail. The scales pattern was chaotically varying in between shades of red, gold and a bit of white and black. Riddle seemed to be scared, as he looked more monstrous than the others on the scene.

Cater seemed to recognise those little features. Malleus asks why Riddle was so scared and Cater just takes him a bit further to whisper so that no one else hears.

Aparently Riddle wasn't a pureblood like the others around. He was half human. And since most dragons looked down upon humans, the half human dragons are seen as weak, since they cannot control their magic and often end up killed by their own powers. The half humans are recognised by the lack of horns, the unusual scales pattern, the extremely irregular wings and tail size along the monstrous appearance in the humanoid form are also big pointers. Malleus was in awe at the explanation Cater gave to him.

But Riddle seemed to lose it once everyone revolted about how they were bossed around by someone weaker than them.

And that's when Malleus noticed the dark aura forming around and the gloopy ink like substance forming around Riddle, before throwing off everyone and shallowing the redhead.

Yay... The first overBlot! They are utterly fucked. :3c

Trey pulls a bigass save and keeps Riddle from collaring everyone. But he couldn't keep at bay the fire the other had. Cater also uses his split card to make copies of himself as the og Cater shows his true form, which was as big as Riddle's, getting up to fight him one on one and keep him busy while Adeuce and Malleus cook up a plan to knock him out upon crow man's info dump before he got yeeted across the dorm.

So what to do? Pull out the heavy way and Cauldron smash, sword bonk and magic throw everything at Riddle.

Malleus ends up charging with the sword at Riddle and even if he meant to freeze his wing...

He ends up stabbing Riddle's right wing. Which makes the sword to glow and have Riddle immediately faint and everything to turn back to normal... Well... If we count off the total chaos that was left.

Malleus just looks in horror at what he did, then at the blade's tip that was dripping off some of that inky shit and also blood. The blade turned black and then like a movie clip, it showed to Malleus snippets of Riddle's life in black and white. The only non-shadow figure was Riddle himself, while everyone else was just a shadow.

Malleus could hear and see them in the blade's reflection, but no one else seemed to be able to do it too.

Thankfully, once the 'film' finishes and the sword goes back to normal, Riddle wakes up. The first thing the redhead hears was Malleus's 'You shouldn't hide yourself just because your mother finds a side of you disappointing!'. Immediately that breaks down the redhead, who starts to apologise and curl up to hide himself, despite what Malleus demanded him earlier.

Ace still isn't content with just a 'sorry'. And he does voice his opinion that if Riddle wants to ever redeem himself in front of Ace, he will have to work for it. Ace and Deuce were after all... Humiliated in front of the whole dorm.

Malleus is the one who interjects and states that he will be the judge because and I quote: 'Trappola right here might embody, what we humans call 'a bitch' and therefore have a clouded judgement'.

Malleus's decision? Riddle will have to bake alone an apology tart for both Ace and Deuce and also present himself at the re-run of the unbirthday party without the concealing pin. Riddle just accepts his punishment.

The next day, Malleus returns to Heartslabyul, this time along Silver, at the re-run of the unbirthday party. Ace was living the High life uncollared and ready to eat that tart that was oh so promised to him.

Riddle surely came with the 2 promised tarts. He was a bit awkward as one of his wings was bandaged and they along his big tail were dragging on the ground like a long cape. The tarts looked a bit messy, but for a first attempt, it was alright. Deuce had to slap Ace's mouth shut from commenting since Trey helped him bake the Mont blanc, while Riddle did it all alone.

2 tarts and 6 hungry boys. Trey cut the first tart in 6 pieces and everyone took a bite.

It was salty af...

Riddle of course panicked since he followed the recipe to a t and even included Trey's oyster sauce secret ingredient. Now the fact that he poured the entire bottle was a neglected detail.

Trey was just wheezing on the ground as Cater and Silver still enjoyed their tart slices nonetheless. Silver reveals that he does enjoy salty things, much like Cater over here. The difference was that the ginger dragon couldn't stand sweets, while silver was alright with them.

In the end, the unbirthday party wasn't perfectly according to the rules, but it was full of cheers.

After that, Malleus offered to stay and help with the clean-up. That's when Riddle asks why Malleus didn't ask for anything out of him, since he did badmouth him too, not just Adeuce.

Malleus tells him that he wasn't invited by Riddle here at first and he had all the rights to kick him out. As for the badmouthing, he didn't take offense in it, so for Malleus, Riddle didn't do anything wrong to him personally.

As a somewhat apology token for Malleus dealing with his overBlot, Riddle indulges for the prince to copy any of his spells, as he heard from Cater about the sword Malleus carried and what was its purpose. Malleus surely had no idea what spells he should copy, so he just tells Riddle to give him whatever he thinks it's suitable.

Riddle gives Malleus a fire spell and also his unique magic to copy. Malleus was in awe that he was actually able to copy a unique magic.

That was most likely why the sword was a formidable weapon. It could copy unique magic too.

Che'nya also visits. Trey finally busts this lil intruder to be from RSA, the rival school of NRC. Malleus takes note of that too, as he remembered Che'nya was in Riddle's past too.

So Malleus's spells so far were a few. Only 5, one which was just a color changing spell and another being Riddle's unique magic.

After that, things seem to settle down for some time.

But nope... Silver's hoeing around and got the tea about the magishift upcoming tournament.

Malleus compares it to American football and that gets Adeuce curious since 'there are more types of human football???'. Malleus and Silver decide to do a demonstration since Malleus's grandma was a gigantic football/soccer enthusiast. Sure they had no idea how to play American football, but at least they knew the basic one.

So back to the Ramshackle yard!

Setting up some gates out of ice and Silver summoning a football ball, Malleus makes a short introduction of the game before setting up the teams. Malleus and Deuce versus Ace and Silver.

It takes a while for the 2 dragons to get the idea that 'no, you only hit it with the foot, just the gatekeeper can use hands'. But in the end Silver was an unbeatable gatekeeper while Malleus's kick was a very strong one. It was more in between the humans rather than Adeuce.

In the end, the 4 of them get distracted by their football match that they forget that it got late. Cater comes after them, only to get roped into the game too. Unfortunately for him, they realised it was late and Cater had no chance of getting in a match too.

The next day, Cater bothers the 4 boys to show him what's up with this 'football' game. This picks up the attention of Riddle, who asks why suddenly cater shifted his interest from the magishift tryouts to football. Silver and Malleus are forever thankful that at least one person in here besides them knows human slang and things.

Ace again gets cocky and drags Deuce after Cater to try out. Malleus just comes to watch along Silver bc: 'yo, wanna try out?' 'and get my spine broken? No<3'.

They aren't that dumb to go against a bunch of dragons after all, knowing they will most likely be squished the second the start is given.

Adeuce and Cater fail anyway. But no biggie... They discovered football and boy do they love to run after the ball in the Ramshackle yard. Even the ghosts joined as audience or arbitrage.

But as they got absorbed in running after the ball, they failed to notice the wierd string of accidents that occurred.

Crowley comes into play and assigns Malleus to look into it since he was, after all, the 'handyman'. If he does, he can get to play in the magishift tournament as an exhibition match.

Malleus didn't give a flying fuck about it, but anyway. :'3

Entering Detective Malleus! The detective who read way too many mistery novels, yet never figured out why his ice-cream box always gets empty overnight.

So Malleus starts his investigation!

With the interrogation of a few students in the infirmary, them a few random ones, Malleus gathered a lot of testimonies and could draw a line that all of the actual victims were magishift players and that they lost control of their bodies for a hot second, enough to get in an accident.

Meanwhile, Silver hoes around and actually figures everything out.

Malleus was heading to Heartslabyul in the morning to ask for some advice because:

1. There are a lot of accidents and this dorm does have its ways around it.

2. It was the only dorm he knew of.

3. 70% chance of getting free food.

But on his way, disaster strikes again and Malleus finds out that 'oh shit, clover is down'. Not horrendous, but actually down as in a victim of the accidents.

Malleus explains to Adeuce and Cater his investigation results. Riddle again was literally in the room when they were talking, yet no one noticed him until they got spooked.

To motivate Adeuce into contributing to the investigation, since they surely ditched their initial goal of playing in the magishift tournament, Riddle promised that he will get them one way or another a ✨football ball✨ just for them to play with. Deuce does ask what is wrong with the ball silver keeps summoning. Malleus clears it that by using magic, silver will cumulate blot(crow man did explain how blot works after the first overBlot) and on the other hand, the summoned ball was way more lighter than a normal football ball.

In the distance, Silver releases a dad sneeze.

So the investigation team commences! With Cater's list and with a long day ahead, the group are off to investigate!

On their way around, Cater does explain to Malleus why everyone was in humanoid form around here. If they wanted to write, go around the halls, read or attend lessons, they couldn't fit around in their real forms. He also explains that there are more types of dragons than Malleus usually knew. There were the purebloods and most common, Beast dragons, which are wingless, mer dragons, rare, but not as rare as a living human halfling(Riddle pouts at that.) and dragon Fae, which are considered to be one of the most powerful. Rare too, but surely very proficient with magic. Malleus takes note of that.

They reach poemfiore tho. And boy oh boy... Those students in here are way too pretty for their own good. The one they were looking for was Rook Hunt.

And it seemed more like Rook found them rather than them finding him.

Yep... Mark him off the list please...

The next were the Leech twins. Riddle voiced his opinion on how they should literally skip them, but Malleus insisted that 'they need to interrogate everyone on the list'.

Welp... The twins were tall af. Add to that the mirrored looks and the sinister aura they had going on. Poor Adeuce. They are trembling in their boots when those 2 busted them.

Malleus looks at the twins, then at Riddle, then back at the twins. All 3 looked completely human, which made Malleus to internally have a bluescreen moment when Jade cleared out that no, they weren't human the slightest.

More or so... It ended up with the investigation team running for their lives. Riddle was the fastest and unfortunately Ace was the slowest.

With Riddle having to return back to Heartslabyul for Dormhead duties, the group only had to check on one more person: Jack Howl.

Yep... In the end, they got nothing.

But Silver comes and apparently, he forgot to tell Malleus that 'lol the savanaclaw are behind all this, anyway look what mug I found for Father's day, It's a bikini bat mug.'. Malleus just thanks his friend for the lead.

So the next day, they try to pursue him. Cue chase and crashing again into Jack. This time Jack actually decided to help them out. :'3

Cue busting Leona up and yet another overBlot. Malleus really starts to wonder if this is a normal occurrence around here.

But anyway~ stabby time~ this time in the PinKy toe, bc why not? The extra level of pain!

Malleus again sees the past like a black and white film through the blade and just tries to cheer up Leona. It doesn't really work that well, but is Malleus a certified therapist? Nope, but surely he thinks he will be in the near future. He just feels it.

Silver just enjoys the match along Malleus. Savanaclaw hot beaten out by the others and Diasomnia won. To celebrate Lilia decided to bake a cake, but Trey cut off and offered to bake himself a cake. The Dia peeps never were more grateful for the benevolent cake man.

A few days later, Riddle somehow managed to get a football ball he enchanted to not break so easily. He just threw it at Ace's face and boy were Adeuce the happiest. They played with it non-stop until they broke a window and Trey had to confiscate it. Malleus is salty because he didn't get his turn to play before Trey took it. :'3

But ya know how sometimes too much does bad?

So did Silver's hoeing around.

It was the exams period and Malleus was intensively hitting the books. Of course with all of that intense studies and leaving the fun aside for a bit, Malleus managed to get a high score, impressive for a magicless human. He even made it in the top 50! Lilia even congratulated him.

But also silver got a high score too. And so did Adeuce... Along with most students... Which was a bit suspicious.

It was when Adeuce and Silver got anemoned that Malleus realised that 'oh damn, something is going on'. So along his 'non-friend', Jack, Malleus is headed towards the root of the problem.

They end up in the lounge and Malleus is all like 'mafia vibes... cool.'. They realise that all the anemones basically cheated by making a deal with Azul.

In the end, Malleus and Jack request to meet with Azul to discuss the anemone problem. And the Octavinelle dormleader made the grave mistake of asking: 'What can you offer me, human'.

'Hand in marriage, sir...' 'Wut???'

Yep... Floyd is wheezing on the floor. Jade asks if this is why Malleus had that veil over his ponytail. Malleus replied that it's another motive for the veil. But anyway... Azul asks if perhaps... Malleus would give the sword as a collateral, since it seemed like it was the only object of value, for the dragons, Malleus had with him.

Malleus contemplated. Give to Azul the sword and not have to worry that if he forgets it somewhere it won't literally almost cut his head by plunging towards him? But on the other hand, it was the only magic thing Malleus could use.

So Malleus contemplates. Jack told him 'it's a bad idea'. Trey, Cater and Riddle told him 'no, it's dumb, don't do it.'. Lilia told him 'let me fix this... Don't do anything dumb, please.'.

But Leona said that 'it's a dumb idea, don't do it.'. So Malleus will do it just to piss him off. >:/

So he comes back at Azul with: 'Imma get that photo from the museum in 3 days, otherwise I'll be your bride!'.

Azul literally had 0 control over that contract, so he just prepares himself mentally for the marriage as the twins enjoy seeing him suffer.

Only Silver and Lilia knew Malleus was actually a prince and the valuable treasures that will come in his possession after he gets married and inherits the throne. So Azul had no goddamn idea what Malleus actually offered to him.

As a neutral collateral, Malleus plunged his sword into Azul's office, offering that as a neutral prize.

So Silver, Jack and Adeuce go along Malleus, using the water breathing potion the dormleader oh so generously provided, in order to get that photo.

Except they meet the twins in their mer forms.

Floyd explains that this is still not their real form, just a form to blend in with the other merpeople. Then he proceeds to squeeze the living daylights out of Adeuce.

Except that when Jade reached for Malleus and Jack, the ghost blade came woshing through, cutting Jade's arm fin and plunging into a coral. Malleus was never so happy the sword came to save his ass.

Apparently Azul couldn't keep that much the sword in his office. :'3

Where was silver during all this? Using his charm and carisma to basically waltz in the museum and get that photo like free candy.

So the next day, Malleus busts in Octavinelle at 3 am with the photo like: 'Ashengrotto, wake up! The marriage is down!'.

Except that it was the wrong photo... None of them knew how prince Rielle actually looked so Silver snatched the wrong photo without even looking at the description.

Azul was just groaning. It was 3 am and this human barged in, only for him to bring the wrong photo. And here he thought that he would have hopes of not getting married so early. Wasn't it enough that Jade's arm was bandaged now and that the sword literally flew out of the office?

So Azul has no other option than to tell Malleus that 'you got the wrong photo... Try again.'. He was going to be fair, after all.

But not before committing to the fact that yes, he will have to marry this human. So Azul decides to keep in a bit Malleus and try to get comfortable around the human.

But because after all, it cut Jade, therefore half stabbing, the ghost blade allowed Malleus to see a glimpse of his past.

And to his luck it was exactly when the twins met Azul.

'so you had a hard school life?' 'mhm' 'At least we have something in common...'

It didn't occur to Azul what actually Malleus meant, but oh well... The human was warm. The human is actually a great pillow.

Meanwhile, Malleus was messaging Silver with 'bro, you got the wrong photo'. The reply was a 'bro how tf am I expected to know how that mf looks like?'. And after that a lot of memes.

Jack was the one to pick Malleus up, since Azul fell again asleep and the poor human was literally covered by the other's wings and texting to Silver. (Azul's the only one out of the octatrio that has wings and he hates it with a burning passion).

It seems like the twins enjoyed running the lounge while Azul overslept because of a certain human with shitty sleep schedule.

In the end Silver pulls a big brain moment and gets Leona on board to destroy the contracts like in cannon.

Welp... Azul overblotted... He gets smacked back to his senses and yet again Malleus goes stabby stab, this time in an octopus tentacle, because he's like that. :'3

Cue another angsty film noir montage. ;-;

Well... In the end Azul tells Malleus that since all the contracts are destroyed, the deal isn't valid anymore. Silver finally points out that Azul missed on the biggest treasure pile addition any dragon could have and Azul just loses it.

He literally had the royal treasures of the Thorn Valley under his pinky and didn't realise it. Because Malleus is a forgetfull human. :'D

Anyway... Malleus lives yet another day with no ring on the finger.

Floyd found it fun the said sword and so, he indulges for Malleus to copy his unique magic. Azul adds onto it with his 'it's a deal'. Jade gives nothing bc Malleus had to apologise to him for cutting his arm fin.

After that, they have to return the photo to the Atlantica museum. Azul refuses to show his mer form, but they saw chubby baby Azul.

Malleus like 'I already saw him' was peak shock for everyone else.

But anyway the winter holiday comes around...

Lilia tells Malleus and Silver that he will go back to the thorn Valley to talk with the queen. The 2 couldn't go since they had to 'keep Sebek sum company'.

Sebek was a dragon that had a concealing jewelry too. He always reffered to Malleus and Silver as 'Stabby human and magic human'.

Sebek seemed to not like their company, so they leaved him in his own thing.

As a handyman, Malleus had the task of giving wood to the fire fairies in the cafeteria, so Silver was helping him out with that.

They meet the Scarabia peeps yet again! Malleus notes how Kalim and Jamil had 3 Pairs of wings, to which Kalim happily shows them their use.

So they visit scarabia and realise that 'oh shit, you gotta fly to the dorm'. Apparently Scarabia was a floating dorm and you had to fly from the mirror drop point to the dorm. Kalim and Jamil were dragons that were proficient at flying, their families being ones of nomad dragons, hence the additional pairs of wings.

So they stay over at scarabia... And it takes them a whole 24 hour day to realise that 'oh we're held hostages... Anyway'...

Malleus realises that when he uses 'it's a deal', his blade becomes a bunch of tentacles that can grip on things.

So the solution? Tarzan swing around and hope they won't miss the mirror.

Just the middle of the night... The Scarabia wakes up to see the 2 hoomans swinging and screaming their lungs out as they slam in the Scarabia mirror and fly all the way through the Octavinelle one.

How did none of them break a bone is a mistery up to this day... U-U

Just Azul being absolutely done with Malleus breaking in the lounge.

In the end, the octatrio help silver and Malleus to go back there and figure this shit out.

Malleus has the most crappy intros ever. He's all like 'this is my almost spouse and my almost spiritual brothers in law.'. Jamil is just done with this clownery.

Of course since they couldn't fly, the humans and the twins had to stay on the bench. Azul faked a 'wing injury' and got to join the 'we can't fly' group. So bc they had to join in the training camp, Azul takes over with the management and things go well for once.

Except that they bust up Jamil in the end, he Overblots and the group get dokkaned. But because there's literally 0 ground for a good chunk of height, the group just falls down expecting a harsh impact with the ground.

Azul just grabs onto Malleus and Silver and pathetically flaps his wings, trying to avoid getting a pancake. The twins are literally glued to poor Kalim who forgot he had wings.

They get saved by Sebek in his big dragon form! :D

And Sebek had a lot of mixed scales patterns in green and black, a more crocodile like tail and of course, when back in the humanoid form, he looked more beastlike than the others.

It turns out Sebek was a human halfling too. Even though he made it clear that he hated humans.

Anyway... Back to the Scarabia dorm... Malleus this time pulls a smart move. Since his sword literally cannot absorb blot, he uses 'it's a deal' and bind the heart to weaken Jamil enough so he could get stabby stabby... :D

Kalim uses his oasis maker so that he could put out Jamil's mayhem and the twins show their real forms in order to put the Phanthom down.

Another sad montage in the blade and Jamil now has one wing stabbed... :'3

Malleus... Pls... Don't stab people to understand their trauma...

Welp... Jamil had to sulk and suck it up, but in the end, Kalim decided to make an effort and try to be a bit more careful and show more care towards Jamil.

When Lilia returns, he is happy to see that Sebek, Silver and Malleus actually got along in the end. They were playing uno and Silver pulled a double +4 on Sebek. Malleus already had half a deck in his hand. :'3

Meanwhile, at Octavinelle... The twins commit to their. 'almost spiritual brothers in law' just to annoy the living shit out of Azul.

Pom pom arc comes around and the dia peeps need holy water.

When the VDC was announced, Malleus, silver and Sebek woke up one day with pepaw Lilia exercising his pole dancing skills.

They heard a bone crack and decided that they will get outta there. And aquire holy water and bleach.

Adeuce bring up the VDC and Malleus immediately is all like 'nope<3, I was tainted enough'. But he still supports his 2 friends in auditioning for the VDC. He's just the 'emotional support hooman'.

They even have a tag for him. x3

So when the audition day comes around, Malleus is there, with his tag, along Adeuce. They meet up with Cater and also meet Ortho, who apparently has a pair of robo-wings. Malleus is curious about it, but everyone else stops him from asking.

The auditions commence and Malleus is sitting in a corner with his tag and sword. Sum students came to cry on him, rest or just vent, but Malleus was just texting silver who apparently is popping off somewhere with some NRC peeps.

So the results come and Adeuce pass! Yay :3

But Malleus is also additionally called. So that picked his interest.

It turns out Malleus was called because Crowley chose Ramshackle to host the VDC boys  while on training camp, since Malleus and Adeuce often stood around there and in the end it became somewhat clean.

Malleus is again, the handyman, which means he had to keep Ramshackle clean...

Rook is all like 'Curious human!' and Malleus be weirded out. Poor human... Gib him sum slack.

Epel was a much more smaller dragon... But unlike Riddle's extremely big wings and tail, Epel had them proportional with his height. Which made him look cute.

Unlike his real attitude...

Much like in cannon, the training camp is utter hell. Malleus hid some goodies he got from Trey before Vil could curse those and so, he would do his utter best to have them not be found.

But in the end, dragons have a much more sensitive smell and so, it was just a matter of time until Vil asked to inspect his room and find the said goodies.

So in his new goal of getting some goodies to eat... Malleus crashes yet again at Heartslabyul. This time Trey was busy helping out Riddle with the management papers. The redhead had to give some papers to the Ignihyde dormleader. Malleus offers to send them if Trey gives some goodies.

Yes... At this point Vil's diet made Malleus desperate.

Trey promised to Malleus a bit of the leftovers, so the human was more than content with that. Off he was to Ignihyde!

Malleus surely was took aback by the whole load of SF like tech. He runs again into Ortho and asks for directions towards the Ignihyde Dormhead. Ortho offers to take the papers himself to his brother, but Malleus insists that he has to do his job and personally give them to the Dormhead.

He didn't yet make the connection that Ortho's big brother was actually the Ignihyde dormleader. Just give him time... :'3

Idia was just minding his own business when Ortho and the very pretty magicless human come at him with some papers from Riddle, making the Dormhead to actually get a spook.

The most noticeable things about Idia were the black and silver decorated horns that were rounded like some kind of lose swirls, ash black wings tattered at the end, a slim black tail with a small flame at the tip and his bright blue flame hair.

Cue the most awkward conversation ever.

To their luck, Azul also drops by. Ortho is a lil gremlin and leaves the 3 alone to 'Bond and help big brother actually make a proper real life conversation with another being capable of higher thought'.

It ends up with Malleus overstaying along Azul because Idia had the balls to ask about the humans video-games. Idia loves to see what the humans come up with in the anime and video-game industry. Malleus unfortunately doesn't have video-games at home, but he knows Silver had Just Dance, as his father had a much wider collection.

So the 3 bond! Yay! :D

Again, for this chapter, things go almost the same as in cannon. Except that Malleus gets to meet Neige and the drawves. The drawves are a bit skeptical of the hooman with the sword, but Malleus is just very curious. He doesn't mean harm... The fact that he stabbed sum dragons around and is capable of fighting down an Overblot dragon are very neglectable details... U-U

Since Malleus received 2 tickets, one he thought about giving it to Silver. It turns out Lilia bought 2 tickets for him and Silver, so Malleus had 0 idea of who to give it to.

In the end, he gives it to Sebek. The dragon halfling was a bit skeptical, asking if there was any catch to it, since humans tend to be sneaky. Malleus just tells him that he wants to spend a bit of time with Sebek and perhaps get to become friends, since it seemed like Silver got along with him at one point.

Sebek's respect for the magicless human rose a bit.

On the big day, actually Malleus explores around for a bit before attending the rehearsals and also the overBlot.

Vil was and forever will be a fabulous dragon and a dramatic af overBlot. U-Ub

But in the end, RSA won with the nursery rhyme remix. Malleus just puts on his 'emotional support hooman' sign and leaves Adeuce and Kalim to just whine on his shoulders while Jamil and Epel throw hands at Rook.

At this point Malleus discovered his real call: being an emotional support hooman.

After the VDC show, Malleus offers to look around the stalls with Sebek and get to properly know each other, despite Malleus actually being beat from the overBlot.

Again, Sebek's respect for the human prince went up.

As a reward for his beautiful work, Rook gave to Malleus his um. But Malleus had 0 idea what that magic was supposed to do, so he is left with a small note with the spell's name and confusion to the max.

Chapter 6 tho -3-

Malleus tries to understand what exactly does Rook's um do. Ortho is curious too about it and tries to help.

It ends up with Malleus inflicting the spell onto ortho, but it was literally just a momentary sparkle. Thinking it was just for show, Malleus leaves it at that. Ace does say how it's a lame um, getting a smack from Deuce.

Well... It sure is useful when STIX break in. Since it was revealed that Idia and Ortho are actually tightly connected with the charons that kidnapped the previous overBlot victims, Rook nudged Malleus to use his um.

Now the blade could be a map and show exactly where Ortho was: the STIX HQ. Rook also used 'I see you' on a Charon, which pointed to a similar place.

So off they were. Rook and Epel had no problem with flying. Just change into their true forms and off they were. Rook also carried Malleus, since humans can't fly unfortunately.

Meanwhile, at diasomnia, Sebek and silver panic since 'oh shit, we lost the human/Malleus'.

Meanwhile Malleus slays some Poemfiore uniforms and breaks in STIX with the power of his sword skills and disastrous flirting.

Yep... Idia is just living a nightmare at the moment.

The captured boys aren't that 'relieved' to see the rescue trio as Malleus expected. Vil was looking on the verge of strangling them. Jamil was just rolling his eyes and pouting in his corner. Azul actually looked happy to see Malleus came for him too and not just for Vil like Rook and Epel. Leona didn't give a flying fuck about it. Riddle actually was the uncomfortable one, since they didn't let him have his concealing pin.

The whole ortho frees the tartarus ghosts happen and boy oh boy does it get chaotic.

Now Malleus wished he could've copied Deuce's um. Alas, Epel got his own um and the tartarus blot thingies were also not that much of a hassle to violently poke them with the sword.

The overBlot tho... THAT was something entirely different.

Where to stab Idia if his overBlot form was decked in armour? Why of course we stab the bigass Phanthom. :'3

Cue again the sad film montage in the blade. Except it was ortho's memories, so they show how poor ortho had his wings cut off by the Phanthoms. Idia swore that he will never fly again because of that. Ortho had a pair of artificial wings, but still Idia didn't forgive himself, so he damaged his own wings, so he couldn't be able to fly again, only his little brother as ortho deserved it more than him.

Actually that made Malleus to tear up a bit... ;-;

But also imagine that Malleus also had with him the 'emotional support hooman' tag. So he just flings it over his neck and offers a hug for everyone.

And you know what? Idia accepts the hug. After all that he's been through, a hug was just a godsend for him.

When they get back, Adeuce, Sebek and Silver immediately tackle Malleus like 'We leave you unsupervised for one minute and you end up out of the country'.

Idia now got attached to the 'emotional support hooman'. Azul's all like 'bish share... I was first'. Adeuce request their 'first come first get' privileges. Sebek shooes them off because 'YOU'RE SQUISHING THE HUMAN!'.

Silver is the actual boss since he was and forever will be Malleus's first friend.

With this, we finish the story. Chap 7 doesn't happen and Malleus finally showed his mastery of the sword so he will go back home for the summer holiday. Officially, Malleus was an NRC student and finally he found a place where he is fulfilled and made friends and possibly lovers.

Malleus was just happy!

Now since the main story was taken care of, time for the events!

In another post :'3 since this one has over 10100 words. A long journey and already I holded you here enough.

So maybe in a later post it will come! :D

Until next time! Buh bye!

[afrosandsweatpants]

After reading the entire Black Boys Bloom Thorns First series 😏

When you're reading a fic that's just so good you just have to sit back and think

[blaubrise]

Next Spring.

Marseille, a place where people say a good mother will be born here. A place where you can hear a ring of Ia Bonne Mère's old bell every morning. A place where you can hear the least terns sing along with the waves. Marseille, a place where people say love will last after a long road from Bordeaux. Dazzling city who can't shine brighter then it love, Paris.

Humming sound woke me up, sighing when I looked out at the window.

The dimming sunshine augurs the day will come to the end, leaving the golden sky with clouds full of twilight dust. The bluish flush above this lively sphere leisurely fading into an afterglow. The alluring azure waiting for the coming of the evening, whispering their sorrow under the halcyon of the heaven. Breeze of dusk turned grey along with the clock pointing at the five, harbingering the night will come.

"Saoirse, the snow will fall tonight. Come downstairs and open your first December gift."

Saoirse Primrose. When the first rose blooms in spring like a freedom, you'll fall in love with me. That's what my mom told me about my name. Sometimes when I see a bluebell, my heart aches. I know my mom will name my little brother after it. Because freedom and gratitude always comes together, sadly it is never happen to _us._

"Here come my dearest Irse. Happy snow day, dear. You are pretty, as always."

"Happy snow day, aunty Marry. Thank you for the gift."

My hands are full with four boxes. All the maids always greet me with their best wishes every time I walk. My cheeks went numb by giving my biggest smile whenever people give me their blessing. Just in view steps, I could reach my lovely bedroom. I could feel my legs couldn't stand longer than this, my spine benumbed.

"Happy snow day, Irse." Bucket of yellow roses and bluebell and Little Women under the ribbon. Lotus, cedar moss and apple scents blended with jasmine, mimosa and a little bit of citrus scent. Soft voice, beautiful white hands and blue ribbon. Waiting patiently for me to take her gifts.

Bailee Kalilinoe.

"You still use this musky apple white floral perfume?"

"It's aquatic floral, Saoirse."

Her alluring smile with the sound of the waves and hum of lovely music downstairs are turning this snowdrop tradition into an engaging night. I'm; Saoirse Primrose, escaping her luscious gaze with roses in my cheeks bone and flashes a smile while entering my bedroom. My heart races when I heard the sound of footsteps following me.

"Who invites you?"

"A lady with her blushing cheeks."

Our laugh becomes one, while I put all the gifts from my parents and her parents on the wood floor of my bedroom. And walk to keep the only gift with flowers on my davenport. I open my window, let the cold breeze blows, the soft snow falls on the roses and bluebells under the moonlight.

I look back at my Paris, she sits on my settees with her hands holding on one red rose. She shines, even in the darkest place. "Who gives red flower on snow day? Do they mean bloody curses of heartbreak or amorous love?" Besides happiness, yellow means jealousy. And, I'm the yellow flower.

"Would you like to dance with me? And tear the petals of this red rose. I prefer yellow."

"I'm not dancing in Marseille. Not in the city where you will marry a boy who doesn't even know where your heart belongs and what is your favorite flower ..." the thorn of those red rose thorns me, "... except you, a warm sea and sunset."

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . .

Sunset and a sea with the waves turning cold.

I use my black gown, gloves and black heels, sit on the rock with an envelope and three flowers. The sky turned red, I couldn't find her presence. _They_ hold her, also hold where my happiness is. In this life, their words are a dagger with two blades. Wherever they swing it, it kills both sides.

I smile, I found the answer when the dusk comes to meet me. It's time to go. I bring the other envelope with me. Left the black one with one yellow rose, bluebell, and one red rose. I'm turning it back to Bailee.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . .

"How cruel you could be? You took my wedding day as your funeral. You won't meet me on Christmas night. You left me with my last gifts for you and make it your last gifts, Irse." Bailee looking at the wooden door where she usually meets Saoirse. A room full of their memories, all the laugh, the tears, the love and the heartbreak. They will be locked forasmuch as the owner of the room will never come back.

Bailee hands bleeding from all the thorns of roses, and so her heart.

"Saoirse, we were so beautiful we were so tragic," she whispers.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ. . .

Writing for Bailee Kalilinoe,

Bai, I never see you coming. No matter how hard I turn my eyes blind and let my heart become numb. You never come, Bailee. Does dancing mean nothing to you now? What a pity greetings from this rosie girl.

Bailee, when you open this envelope it means we are not dancing on the warm sea. We are dancing with tears and I'm far away from home. When you read this, you belong to someone else now. When you read this, I let know that I let you go.

Go along with their dreams, not ours. Go along with a boy who maybe one day learns what flower you like but also learns that the flower is no longer blooming. Go along with little you who might become a beautiful girl like her mom.

Bailee Kalilinoe, my Paris.

Let me take a piece of your heart with me so it could keep me warm under this cold sea on this snowy day. Let me keep the story of Paris and this lonely city with me so you don't need to tell them. Let me go, Bailee.

No matter how many blessings I got last night, they couldn't help me to keep us. No matter how far we run away, there is no place for us. No matter how hard you are looking for me this morning, you won't meet me on the next spring.

But I promise, you can meet me on the first spring in our next life. You can meet me in the field full of roses.

Written by Saoirse Primrose.

[uzumaki-rebellion]

"King Killmonger: The Golden Jaguar Chapter 8"

Masterlist in case you need to catch up HERE!

"Weeping willow tree Tell me what you know River were you cryin' Many rains ago? ((Koleba je wo)

Sacred baobab tree Lost your children to the sea Taken from the land Many rains ago

Koleba je wo (goodbye Motherland) Koleba je wo Wo, wo, wo

Sing me that old song From many rains ago…"

Letta Mbulu – "Many Rains Ago (Oluwa)"

Warmth spread across Yani's closed eyelids first before it spread like warm honey across her throat and uncovered arm. The weight of N'Jadaka's body clutching onto hers pressed down more heat into her, and his soft snoring creased a smile on her lips.

Their lovemaking wore them both out before dawn unfurled light and color back into the morning sky. Her body ached and still tingled. The king's touches from the night before were ghostly echoes on her skin.

Yani steeped herself in their perfect love.

How long had it been since they were allowed to sleep in together without their kimoyos lighting up and automatically dispatching their hectic work schedules for the day as their children bounded about their home ready to start their busy day too?

Birds chirped in the branches above the open skylight. She watched a fiery orange pair with natural feathers boas fluffed out under their chubby necks peer down at her with curiosity. The air smelled like the forest had been dusted with perfume. It was the wet season in Wakanda and all of East Africa. The seasons were different from what she was accustomed to in her old island life. Back home it would be the dry season with less rain. The odor of heavy moisture saturated the air, and she hoped another periodic rainfall didn't occur on their planned hike and picnic above the waterfall.

She shifted a little and N'Jadaka groaned in his sleep. A deep slumber didn't prevent his body from reacting negatively to her trying to move away from him so soon.

Slipping away quietly, she scurried to the restroom pod and relieved herself on a specially made trapdoor toilet that collected the human waste and converted it into fertilizer for the tree it was attached to. She washed herself up with the large bowl of scented water on the sink and pondered the modern upgrade touches that didn't take away from the original fixtures that the first inhabitants used. Another bottle of her special lubricant sat waiting for her use on the intricately carved shelf on the wall. Her face heated up a little knowing that the caretakers were well aware of what would go down while they were there. She brushed her teeth and smoothed her hair as best she could. Walking on tiptoes back to the bedroom she lifted her robe from the hook and put it on.

Singing voices drifted up to her ears and Yani sought out the source from the circular wall window in the livingroom. Down below F'Neka and Yiswa were joined by two other older women who stood on royal purple and aquamarine-colored blankets. Their layered harmonies were in the accent of the River Tribe people and the words were not Wakandan, but rather a part of the language of the different ethnic groups among the water people. Soon a group of men, younger and older, joned them wearing the same royal purple and brilliant greenish-neon blue robes as the women. Four young women carrying baskets of yellow and magenta flowers rounded out the choir of singing to the queen and king.

Yani wished she had grabbed her language translator earbuds from the boat. The warm hues in their tones enabled her to make the meaning without understanding anything. They were welcoming the sunrise in her honor. Their dainty hands lifted toward the golden orb and then gracefully swung up toward Yani. She blew them a kiss and they continued the singing and rocking motion that heralded the light for her. Their bodies twisted toward the river tributary and their arms swung down to the water as if beckoning the placid liquid to join their beautiful voices.

N'Jadaka's juicy lips kissed the back of her neck and she closed her eyes savoring the tenderness. He stood next to her and whispered to his gold claw necklace "Translate," and the river people's message was not what Yani thought at all. Her mouth dropped open in true understanding and even the king's eyes joined hers in welling up. F'Neka and Yisma led the heart-stirring melody of a song for the lost tribe…the stolen children of Africa. It was a lamentation and a welcoming home.

F'Neka's strong alto voice made Yani's heart soar. Their eyes locked together and the elder caretaker beseeched the trees and the river where Mama Wati rested if they remembered what happened to Yani and N'Jadaka's ancestors. Yisma added her stirring voice "Sacred baobab tree, lost your children to the sea, taken from the land, Many rains ago…"

Chills ran up Yani's arm and N'Jadaka hugged her body close to his trembling one as other hidden voices joined the group from within the forest, acoss the tributary, and far away from Ugogo Udaku's ancestral home. To Yani, it sounded like the entire River Tribe in Wakanda sang to them, carrying the burden of ancestral trauma and giving them sanctuary as the children who returned to the motherland.

N'Jadaka lowered his head and wiped away tears and Yani wept while he held her in his arms. These people were not just the River Tribe, but the protectors of the ancestral waters that Mama Wati held dominion over.

A hushed silence blanketed the forest when the singers finished their last verse.

The women carrying the flower baskets decorated the low table and meal attendants brought forth another floating cart with their breakfast meal. Once the preparations were complete, the people humbly left the vicinity.

The power of the song lingered for Yani and she held N'Jadaka's hand. Letting out a breath, she looked up to her husband's face. N'Jadaka kept his eyes on the river.

"How could they remember us?" he said.

He rested his hands on the windowsill.

"Maybe they were singing about you coming back home to them," Yani said, touching his hand.

"No. They were singing for you too, for all of us out there. Why would they have a song like that about losing children to the sea? They've never lost anyone. My uncle threw me and his own brother away without a care…why do they care? Why would they?"

"They know our story now."

"Their language is different from Wakandan, but I recognized a few words that were from the Panther Tribe's lexicon…from way back. Words only people in Queen Shuriya's time used…when she ventured out into the world."

His brows furrowed and his expression sought answers within his mind as Yani watched his face. He had another riddle to solve and she knew he would pick at it like an impatient tongue on a loose tooth.

"Let's eat, love," Yani said.

He followed her down the treehouse stairs and they noticed their personal black panthers frolicking among lush fronds. Yani sat down and N'Jadaka served her a large bowl of intasa uthando—morning love—a River Tribe specialty of a layered breakfast meal. At the bottom of the bowl was seasoned pink rice that was grown throughout the river wetlands. On top of the rice was roasted and diced purple yams with caramelized onions sprinkled with ground chicken sausage and topped with a fried egg. N'Jadaka made himself another bowl filled with savory porridge and they shared a glorious morning eating and chatting about the books they wanted to read back on the boat and how much they looked forward to their hike.

They left their empty bowls and drinking glasses to use the outdoor shower again. The water was cold and invigorating on their bodies. Dressing quickly indoors with clothing N'Jadaka had pre-selected for their trip, they left messages for their children and caretakers watching over them.

"Should I wear a heavier jacket? I think it might rain on our way up," Yani said.

N'Jadaka checked the weather advisory on his beads.

"I'll pack light coverings in my pack," he said.

Yani slipped on comfortable hiking shoes that were a wedding gift and personally designed by Shuri. The purple and pink shoes were low like trainers, but could easily transform into protective rain boots if needed. Their hiking outfits matched in all their red and gold finery: light pocketed trousers and breathable long-sleeve athletic tops with the royal insignia on the shoulders. Yani slipped a floppy sun hat on her head and N'Jadaka tucked his locs under a red hair covering.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yep."

A young woman attendant met them at the trail head carrying two hydro-packs with their lunch inside it. Yani twined the plastic sipping tube along her shoulder clasps for easy mouth access.

"My name is Vusumuzi, I will be your hiking guide," she said.

Vusumuzi wore form-fitting brown trousers and a matching jacket. Her hair was covered in a green wide-brimmed straw hat. She handed Yani and N'Jadaka yellow sunglasses to protect their eyes. The large lenses made everything even more crystal clear and were perfect for wet weather with the anti-condensation feature. Their guide slung her own pack over her shoulders.

"We'll travel through the low fronds and traverse a scenic path so you may see the best of the forest before we ascend the falls. This way please," Vusumuzi said.

For the first thirty minutes they spoke to Vusumuzi about the plants and trees. Vusumuzi had a charming personality and a love for the forest. She reminded Yani of herself giving Eco Tours in St. Thomas. Her kind spirit made the excursion pleasant and relaxing. The moisture in the air thickened and Yani zipped her tunic's collar higher on her throat. She sipped water and held N'Jadaka's hand on some of the trickier parts of the forest floor that was littered with logs from fallen snag trees. Although their brisk walking warmed up her limbs, the temperature dropped a little. N'Jadaka pulled out her jacket from his pack and helped her put it on.

The air felt thicker in her nose and Yani kept her mouth parted to gulp more air into her body. Without even asking, Vusumuzi slowed the pace. Their hiking path widened and there were less giant downed trees to walk around or climb over with N'Jadaka's assistance. A sense of heightened calm descended over Yani and she stopped talking to Vusumuzi just to luxuriate in the stillness of peace surrounding her. The trees were so tall and old it felt like walking among quiet elders who watched them pass through.

"We'll have to walk single file once we start up the main trail," Vusumuzi said, glancing back at them. "Queen Yani? Is everything okay?'

Yani stopped hiking and stood next to a wide-belly tree. Its circumference could hold one hundred grown men in the center. Emerald green fronds fanned out around it and so did the broken limb from a nearby tree that had fallen near it covered in green moss and traces of fungus.

"Look," Yani said pointing.

Three black panther cubs rested their small paws on the broken tree limb. N'Jadaka and Vusumuzi looked in the direction she pointed.

"I don't see anything," N'Jadaka said.

"Right there," Yani said wagging her finger to guide their gaze.

"I'm sorry my queen. I don't see anything and our panthers are past their mating season. There are no cubs that I know of that our panthers in this vicinity would have birthed," Vusumuzi said.

Yani gaped at Vusumuzi before glancing back at the spot on the fallen branch.

No cubs.

"Wait…"

Yani trudged forward and Vusumuzi tapped her kimoyos. An orange rectangular surveillance screen floated above her wrist.

"Queen Yani, there are no panthers around us. I have no heat signatures and our usual big guys are back at your housing."

N'Jadaka settled next to Yani. He studied her face then looked around the area she was positive three cuddly black cubs had peered at her with big yellow eyes.

"A trick of the light maybe?" N'Jadaka said. He tapped his hiking boot on a few big stones covered in velvety dark moss.

"I thought I saw them. Right there…"

A light drizzle of rain dropped through the canopy and they moved on. Yani kept snatching peeks behind her. The soft rain wet her open mouth and she could see her breath in front of her face as they hiked further. Reaching the hardest part of their ascending trail, Yani followed behind Vusumuzi with trepid steps and N'Jadaka brought up the rear. She went over and over in her mind about the cubs she knew she spotted watching her from the tree. Something about the stillness and her hiking companions not witnessing what she saw unnerved her senses. The forest had eyes. She was being watched. It didn't feel threatening or predatory. More like a beckoning in the way that fairy tales seduced or lured their protagonists in some grand adventure. Whatever wanted her attention had it, and she became all too aware of everything around her trek.

The slow-winding path upward added pressure to Yani's chest. The altitude made her fingers swell too. She hunkered down and pushed her thighs and legs to work harder. The view on their left side made the hard physical labor worth it. Vusumuzi paused their hike so they could take holo-pics and vids to share with the children. She gulped down more water and slipped a bite of an energy bar from her lunch pack.

"There are several waterfalls along the valley beyond this mountain. They lead to Warrior Falls and beyond that is the Merchant Tribe territory. The River Tribe is the second largest tribe in the nation and we have seven ethnic groups within our numbers that speak three languages besides Wakandan which is our designated national language," Vusumuzi shared.

They hiked further and the trail grew steeper. The back of Yani's thighs burned. She began to feel the sharper effects of the higher altitude. Vusumuzi slowed down the pace even more to accommodate her.

"Here Queen Yani, take some oxygen to help you," Vusumuzi said.

She pulled out a small oxygen feeder no bigger than a water bottle and handed it off. Placing it against her chin, Yani allowed a small breathing mask to materialize over her mouth and nose. She breathed deeply and N'Jadaka watched her with concern.

"Maybe we should wait another day to let you get more acclimated Yani. I didn't mean to rush you on a hike," he said with concern.

Still breathing deeply, Yani shook her head.

"Better?" Vusumuzi asked.

"Yes…thank you."

"You are doing well for your first time here. Would you like to rest? Eat some more of your snack?" Vusumuzi said.

They rested for fifteen minutes and Yani finished the rest of energy bar. N'Jadaka ate one too even though it was obvious the hike didn't bother him at all. She patted his hand silently thanking him for trying to make her feel comfortable pretending he needed the nutrients to help him reach the top.

"This view is so pretty. Like a painting," Yani said.

Their eye line was high above the greenery of the canopy below and in the distance, the forest extended further south along the path of the shimmering emerald-green river feeding into the smaller tributaries that shaped the land of the River people. She was able to spot their houseboat with the help of the binocular lenses embedded in her sunglasses. They sat for another five minutes admiring the panoramic setting until Yani stood up and folded the wrapper of her snack into her pack. It took another hour to crest the top of the waterfall their houseboat pushed through. The loud sound of water filled her ears. Standing a safe distance from the edge, she admired the wonder before her and how high up they were. A small rainbow arched across the spray that sunlight brought them. The rain had stopped and Yani felt like the queen of the world standing there.

N'Jadaka set up a picnic area with a small folded scarf and he helped Yani and Vusumuzi take off their packs. Chunky sandwiches on spiced bread filled with fresh veggies and tender roasted beef stuffed their bellies. The king grinned when he found generous slices of yam cornbread waiting among the sandwiches.

"Umama made sure you had plenty of it," Yani teased.

N'Jadaka tore into his piece, licking up any falling crumbs, even tearing pieces from Yani's share.

"Greedy," she said slapping his fingers away. She let him finish the rest of hers. There would be plenty waiting for them later. She was sure of that.

One by one, they took turns to slip away and relieve themselves before the return trip. They surveyed another section of the waterfall before Yani became faint.

"Baby, hey, you alright?"

N'Jadaka rushed to her side and held her up, preventing her from toppling over the ledge.

"I'm okay…just winded I think. The altitude is hitting a little too hard right now," she said.

Yani touched her forehead as a pounding headache disturbed her peace. It took over two hours to hike to the crest. The rubbery feeling in her legs brought on the dread of slogging back down. N'jadaka tapped his beads.

"Okoye, bring the Royal Talon Fighter to my location. Queen Yani has altitude sickness. She won't be able to walk back down."

"I will be there shortly kumkani," Okoye's voice replied.

A minute later, the Talon Fighter's luminous neon blue glow materialized from out of thin air above them. A tracking beam lifted the three of them up into the air. Looking down toward the place they once stood, Yani was sure she saw the three panther cubs again. She didn't mention it to the others and tried to convince herself that the altitude sickness was messing with her mind.

N'Jadaka fretted over Yani inside the Royal talon Fighter.

Okoye prepared a half dosage of replenishing fluids that N'Jadaka used as the Black Panther whenever he had to don his suit and recuperate after a strenuous mission overseas. Yani sipped it from a straw and he held her close to him on the back seating in the rear of the aircraft.

Vusumuzi sat quietly in one of the console seats in front of a viewscreen mesmerized at the chance to ride inside the king's transport, a privilege few would have.

"I'm better now," Yani insisted, but he wouldn't stop fussing over her, checking her temperature and heart rate too.

"I can have the royal doctor here within the hour kumkani," Okoye said while holding another small plastic bag filled with more vitamin fluids.

"Please don't bother Dr. Chidubem. I'm fine now. I'll rest and feel even better in a few hours," Yani said waving the bag of fluid away.

"Drop us down at the homestead Okoye. We'll stay here tonight and leave the day after tomorrow bright and early. We want to see the river market before we sail into Warrior Falls."

"Yes, kumkani."

Okoye headed to the front of the aircraft and N'Jadaka beckoned for Vusumuzi to join them standing on the circular transport on the floor.

"Despite the circumstances kumkani, this has been quite a thrill to see the inside of the Royal Talon Fighter," Vusumuzi said.

He smiled at her and kept an arm around Yani's waist. They were gently lowered by the gravitational force back in front of the giant tree that held their treehouse residence. He quickly removed Yani's backpack and his own, then handed them back to Vusumuzi.

"Thank you for your guidance on our hike," Yani said.

She patted their guide's wrist and the woman beamed at being touched by a royal so openly in that way.

"I hope you feel much better and get plenty of rest. Will you need me tomorrow?" Vusumuzi asked.

N'Jadaka shook his head.

"I think we'll play it by ear and stay here for the day. If she's fully recuperated we'll explore close to the river around here," he said.

Vusumuzi gave a quick lowering of her head and left them alone.

The Royal Talon Fighter cloaked itself above them. Okoye would fly the aircraft to a designated spot to give them privacy, but she was in constant contact with five other Dora Milaje assigned to protect them that were stationed on the ground. N'Jadaka wanted his honeymoon to feel like he was a regular citizen out and about with his wife. Okoye pushed back on not having his security team present in their current location. He reminded his general that he was more deadly when it came to safeguarding his own wife. Yani was the air he breathed. No harm would come to her as long as he was around.

He walked behind Yani as they climbed the stairs of the tree house. She sniffed the air in the front room.

"Something smells delicious," she said, heading toward the kitchen.

A pot of coconut fish stew bubbled on a small cook stove. Fresh yam cornbread and broiled shrimp skewers glazed with ground spices cooked in honey lent their delicious odors of local seafood and wild rice dishes.

Yani was well enough to bathe in the restroom, and soon after they tucked into their supper together inside the living room listening to the sound of a heavier rain fall outside. He made a fire in the front room brass pit and they snuggled together watching the flames dance under a blanket. He insisted that she turn in early and read a book to her inside the cozy bedroom. She slept easily and he watched over her late into the night.

Yani seemed different.

Their return from the hike had him on alert to meet her needs. The last thing he wanted was for their honeymoon to be marred from illness. Yani had a tendency to push herself around him, as if she still needed to prove that she was capable of matching his energy. There was nothing she needed to do to show him that she was capable of anything. She was perfect the way she was.

The thing with the panther cubs he didn't see loomed over her behavior on the hike up the waterfall crest. He saw nothing but rocks and forest fronds…however…he sensed an aura of energy that was unfamiliar and yet belonged to him. Whatever Yani saw was real to her. It didn't matter that he, nor their patient guide, saw it. To keep her from freaking out, N'Jadaka played it off as a trick of the eye. The truth was, he too felt something was around them in his ancestral home. Bast and Ogum didn't stir him up with an alertness he always carried. This was family territory and a safe space for him and Yani. Wakanada was full of enchanted wonders. Why wouldn't the birthplace of Bashenga not hold sway over his wife?

Yani slept soundly and he spooned around her. The warmth from her body seeped into him and he was gently aroused. His erection rested against her backside, snug in the crease of her ass cheeks. His arousal bathed him in love from her.

After an hour he notified the attendants to bring their dinner later in case Yani became hungry. He left her to sleep longer and took a walk through the trees vine-cut paths that looped around the tree house. The evening transformed the forest into an enchanted hideaway. Fireflies lit his way and he noticed butterflies hunkering down for the night to bask in their own slumber as the night woke up nocturnal life. N'Jadaka sniffed the pollen-laden air and admired flowers that sprang open only at night.

Peace.

It flowed over him as the forest became a sanctuary for himself and his wife. Water trickled across smaller waterfalls and through the stream he followed that led him to a garden of passion flowers and night orchids that bloomed fully with the earlier rainfall. Cacao trees loomed over him with long, ripe yellow nuts dangling from the branches.

A cloying sent tickled his nose and he searched for the source.

"N'Jadaka…where are you?"

Yani's faint lilting voice drew him away from venturing further.

"I'm out here! Behind the tree house"

His booming voice echoed and traveled far. Yani's floating image popped up above his wrist.

"I'm coming to where you are," she said.

"Are you good?"

"I'm fine. Headache is gone and that long nap helped. Why didn't you wake me to go with you?"

"I wanted you to rest longer. We go canoeing in the morning and no sense over exerting you after that altitude sickness."

He spoke to her until she was a hundred feet away from him. She waved and he watched her come to him with a swing in her hips. The light from her kimoyo beads gave her enough glow to traverse the vines and plants on the forest floor. She was dressed in loose flared pants and a light jacket.

He took her hand in his and gave her a hug.

"Glad you're better."

"Me too. Oh look how pretty everything is," Yani said while walking ahead of him.

The small waterfall in the distance glowed from an unknown source that hinted at traces of vibranium and the reflection of the fireflies darting about. Frogs croaked and monkeys chattered above them in the branches. Yani inhaled deeply and her face looked relaxed and tranquil. She clasped his hand and the wandered together delighting in the scenery. Some of the plant life glowed with bioluminescence and they didn't need to use their kimoyos as lamp light.

"Take a holo-pic of me in front of this giant plant," Yani said.

She posed for him and he held up his wrist tapping a bead.

The hairs on the back of his neck raised. He sensed someone looking at him from behind. Yani's eyes grew wide and she looked past him. She wasn't scared, just hesitant to say anything to him. He turned his head to fix his gaze on whatever she spotted.

Nothing.

Lush flowers and tall plants were the only thing present near the stream of water gurgling through their surroundings.

But he still sensed a presence. Something low to the ground. Non-threatening.

Glancing at Yani he noticed her feigning that nothing was amiss.

"Take a few more," she said with rushed breath.

"What do you see?" he asked.

Her eyelashes fluttered quickly and she smiled. He read a tenseness in her body.

"It doesn't scare you, so whatever it is, it has no evil intent. Tell me what you see, Yani."

Her lips quirked and she let out long breath.

"I see three Black panther cubs. They are lying down on the pile of vines near that purple night orchid."

N'Jadaka went to where she said the invisible entities revealed themselves to her.

"Stop…you're right in front of them," she said.

He looked down at his feet. Just vines and damp soil.

"Take my hand," he said.

He reached back for her and she quietly padded to him and threaded her fingers with his. Bending down, he used his free hand to wave around the area she saw the cubs. Nothing tangible stopped his waving but his skin tingled and the hairs on his arm lifted. Something was there. Only he couldn't see it. Just Yani.

"Can you touch them?" he asked.

She lowered her free hand.

"No," she said.

N'Jadaka tapped his kimoyo and scanned the area.

"Holy shit," he gasped.

There were heat signatures. In the shape of cubs. He recorded the evidence and made Yani stand next to them so he could document her with the phenomena.

"Look," he said holding out his wrist so she could see his small orange screen.

They both blinked at the screen and the cubs' yellowish-orange heat signatures vanished next to Yani's very clear image. She glanced down at their feet.

"They're gone," Yani said.

She looked around their area and came back to him to stare at the recorded evidence that disappeared.

"That's what you saw when we went hiking…right?" he said.

"Yes. I saw them again when the tracking beam pulled us into the Talon Fighter. I didn't want to say anything because I thought I might be hallucinating from altitude sickness. I didn't want one of our citizens to think her new queen was unstable. Why didn't she see their heat signatures with her kimoyos?"

"Maybe she wasn't meant to see them. Maybe they're for your eyes only."

"But you sense them…and you saw their shapes."

He shrugged.

"They're connected to you some kinda way. You saw them three times. Maybe they're trying to convey a message to you. Give you a sign of something."

"Why me? I'm not even from this land originally."

He held her hand again and they walked back toward their tree house.

"Wakanda has fundamentally changed you and me. You gave birth to a child connected to here through me. Now that you're my wife and officially an Udaku, this land could be giving you a sign that it accepts you as one of their own."

Yani smiled and swung their hands gently.

"I'd like to believe that. I wish you could see them, they are so adorable and look so soft and cuddly."

"Don't be afraid to tell me if you see anything else while we're here."

"Okay."

"Want to soak in the hot spring?"

"Let's go in the larger one Vusumuzi showed us," Yani suggested.

They donned swimsuits and Yani tied her hair up in a peach headwrap before journeying to the west side of the Udaku homestead where a large pool of water nestled against a stone wall. He liked that pool better because it didn't smell at all and the water was at the perfect temperature. There were lamps secured in the trees and he lit them up making it look like daytime from the glare on the stone wall. Yani tied his locs up and they swam together sloshing the warm liquid over their skin and splashing each other like they were back at their cove in St. Thomas.

Yani was healthy and happy and her encounter with the three black panther cubs seemed forgotten. In fact, she appeared more at ease knowing that he was aware that her experience was based in reality. One that he could sense even if he couldn't see it like her.

He floated next to her.

"We're like two vegetables floating in a warm bowl of soup," Yani said.

"We need vacations like this throughout the year."

"You haven't even visited all the properties your family owns."

"Our family," he said.

"Yes…our family."

He stood in the pool, the water right above his chest. Yani stopped floating on her back and he lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he moved around carrying her in the pleasant water. He brushed his lips against hers and she accepted the kiss, prying his lips wider with her tongue. They moved their necks with a patient rhythm every few seconds for deeper tongue kissing. She leaned back and flattened her palms on his lumpy chest, feeling the slick texture of his scars.

"My scars never scared you," he said.

"I was intrigued with them. I knew they meant something horrible, but I didn't question you about it."

"How do you feel about them now?'

She glanced at his chest and slid her hands across his pecs.

"They tell your story. It is a record of your journey carved into your flesh. I accept them because they brought you to me. I love you and I love your skin for what it has done for me."

He kissed her forehead.

"We should head back and eat a little something before turning in. The market opens at nine. We should row our canoe there no later than 8:30 or else it'll get too crowded," he said.

"I haven't been rowing in so long! I miss it…I miss all the physical activity outdoors."

"You're the queen now, put it in your schedule."

"I will!"

He dropped her from around his waist and followed her toward the ledge of the natural pool. His eyes stayed on her ass as she moved into the more shallow part. It jiggled as she walked and her one piece bathing suit revealed plenty of her ass cheeks. Watching her walk and shake was a turn on. His dick plumped up. Before she could climb out he stopped her.

"Wayment…lemme do something right quick," he said.

She turned her head back and stared at his full lips. He rubbed on her booty and smacked it a few times. The bulge in his trunks jutted out more.

"Damn this ass is so fat, baby. I know it sounds redundant to you when I say it all the time, but shit…baby…if you could see what I see. Look at my dick."

Yani slid her fingers under the bottom of her swimsuit and pulled them toward the crack of her ass so he could enjoy more bounty. He slid his trunks low and gripped his thick dick, smacking its weight against her ass. Stroking and poking the wide head against her ass, he hissed a curse word just as a thick leaking of pre-cum glistened across her right ass cheek. N'Jadak tugged down her bathing suit top and freed a breast to hold. He squeezed her tit and squeezed the head of his dick and more pre-cum spilled onto her wet skin.

"So soft…yeah, jiggle like that some more baby…"

He grunted as Yani leaned forward and tooted her rump out. Fondling her breast he continued jerking off against her backside, lusting after her the way so many men did when she was in their presence. He'd caught plenty of foreign men catching erections watching her walk into social events jiggling every which way no matter what she wore. A fat ass was hard to ignore and Yani had a world class posterior that rivaled even some of the Wakandan women that were blessed too.

N'Jadaka wondered if he was a secret cuck because knowing other men wanted her aroused him even further. He would kill a man on the spot if he caught Yani with anyone else, however, to his own weakness that he shared with other males, his wife was a force of beauty and body. He saw what they all saw when she walked past. She had all the goods. Big breasts, thick thighs and ass, a come hither voice that melted men down to the bone.

"Oh…oh damn…" he groaned, stroking himself faster.

He gasped twice when Yani assisted his visual enjoyment by lifting her ass cheeks up and down with her hands. He stepped back and she jumped up and down letting her ass clap for him. She wasn't playing fair as usual.

"Yani…baby…this fat ass…"

Words became gibberish on his tongue and he gave up trying to convey how she made him feel in that moment. Smacking his dick against her ass a final time, he fondled her nipple and feverishly stroked his dick while staring at the good fortune glistening with his pre-cum.

"When we get back, we're going straight to bed," he said.

"What about dinner?"

"Later…fuck that food."

Yani laughed and he grunted at the friction of his tip hot on her skin.

"I want you to ride this dick all night."

"I will. You want me to smack this big ass on your balls?"

"Yes…bounce all on this dick."

"What if I want to sit on your face and cum on your beard?"

He moaned and closed his eyes imagining her vulva all slick and covering his mouth. She had the best pussy. He should know. He'd been balls deep everywhere on the planet and he'd tasted enough snatch to be a connoisseur handing out Michelin Five Star reviews. Yani's pussy tasted like ambrosia from the Gods and was deep enough to handle him like no other.

He opened his eyes and stared at her round backside before gifting it with hot cum he spurted with a grateful shout of her name. Before he could even ask, she was on her knees licking up the rest that dripped out of his slit. He rocked on his heels and cried out again when she sucked another nut out of him with her tongue pulsing the underside of his length. She used those big eyes of hers to play innocent and that sent him into a feral lusting.

She was too good to be true. And she was his wife.

Pulling up his trunks, N'Jadaka lifted Yani up and threw her over his shoulder. She shrieked in surprise and he spanked her ass while walking her back to the tree house.

Yani kept her promise and sat that good juicy pussy on his mouth and soaked his beard with the orgasms he gave her. Then she fucked him as if it was their first time into oblivion, and he was a very happy husband.

Chapter 9 HERE.

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[literenture]

I’m missing a big chunk of what happens between Sowaca’s death & this but, uh! Around the end of part 1.

The compound was eerily silent when they arrived. The Painter looked to the Mask Seller and nodded. They stepped forward as one, ascending the shrine stairway. As they passed the gate at the top, both felt the immediate wrongness of the place. It was deathly still, and a frost crusted the wisteria flowers in full bloom. None of the usual birdsong and bustle of the many lives under the roofs here could be heard. The Mask Seller put one hand before the Painter.

“Something’s not right. You should wait here while I scope out ahead.”

“Where you go, I go,” Etienne said with finality. There was no arguing with him.

“If things go south I want you to get out of here fast. Promise me at least that much. Not for you,” he added as the artist opened his mouth. “But for the future.”

Etienne locked eyes with him from behind their masks, but finally nodded. The Mask Seller let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. They proceeded inward. There was absolutely nobody around, and other than the occasional dropped item, no sign there ever had been. The knot in the masksmith’s gut tightened as they made their way to the inner temple.

Here the Mask Seller stopped them at the moon viewing room. He turned, removed his mask, and grabbed the Painter by either arm, staring into his eyes.

“Let me speak to him first. I’ll go ahead. It’ll be better that way.” He put his forehead against his partner’s. “Just trust me, Etienne.”

The artist reached up and grabbed the masksmith’s oversized hand in his own slender one. He let out a world weary sigh.

“I do. I’ll wait here. But the moment anything seems wrong, come to me.”

“I promise,” Gheriun whispered, and with a parting kiss, he was off.

He soon reached a grand courtyard in the center of the grounds and came to a stop. There, back to him, seated on a large rock in the middle of the yard, was the uniformed figure of the Prophet. From here it was easy to see just how small he was, but there was something outsized about the shadow he cast.

“Sho.”

The Prophet twitched, head lolling to the side, but otherwise didn’t respond. The masksmith stepped toward his son, hand outstretched. As he came within the range of his shadow, the boy’s shoulders flicked and a sudden sharp pain ran through the Mask Seller’s arm.

He stared down at the thick black thorns that had burst through his muscled forearm. They seemed to pulsate and twitch in the dim light, and sprouted up from the shadow that was now roiling and churning like a living thing. Just how many aberrations had the Founder forced his son to devour, to create such a hideous conglomeration of spirits? The unleashing of en was sickening and full of malice. Sho stood up from the stone he had perched on and turned around.

“Wipe that name off your filthy tongue,” he snarled. His face was contorted in rage, eyes wide and hateful. He shot one thin arm forward and pressed it against the Mask Seller’s chest. Gheriun moved to dodge but could not completely avoid the lance of darkness that shot out from Sho’s palm and pierced his shoulder. He grunted and rolled away, snapping it off in his muscle. He reached up to tear it out.

“Please, I don’t want to fight you,” he pleaded, but it only fueled the Prophet’s anger.

“Oh, is that so?” he shouted. “Well maybe you should have considered that before you decided to take every fucking thing from me! What more do you want? Get out of my life!”

With that last comment a barrage of black needles rose above the Prophet, aimed at his father, and went flying. The Mask Seller dove behind a decorative boulder, narrowly avoiding becoming riddled with holes. He realized then that he had left behind his mask, and cursed. Without it he would have no protective spells to help him out. It would be up to his muscle alone, and he wasn’t sure he would be able to get close enough for that to make a difference.

As he was going over his options, he missed the tendril of darkness that snaked up his ankle and pulled him out of hiding. He went flying into a thin tree, knocking it over. He coughed up blood as he hit the ground. The Prophet stood over him and aimed a kick square in his father’s jaw. The boy might have been small and sickly but the steel nailed leather boot managed to knock a tooth out and split his lip. He spluttered and put one hand up, but the Prophet just kicked again and again, harder each time, until he was out of breath and Gheriun’s face was a bloodied mess. A few of his fingers had been broken in the scuffle as well, but he had not struck back, just allowed the blows to rain down. He had hoped it would give the boy some sort of relief. Instead, it only seemed to work him up further, but still Gheriun attempted to speak to him.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve any of this. Please, I don’t want to fight you. I want to make it up to you, for all—“

“Shut. Up.” The Prophet kicked him again. “Shut up! You have no right! None! You’re six years too late!”

The Mask Seller backed away, getting unsteadily to his feet, his hands held in front of him. He was bleeding everywhere, blood mixed with the inky black residue of the mushrooms.

“I know. And I’m sorry. But please, you can’t stay here, your grandfather… you don’t understand what he’s trying to do. He’s just using you.”

“Grandfather has been the only one there for me,” Sho said heatedly. “While you’ve been off living as you please!”

“Sho, please—“

“Don’t call me that!”

As his voice broke, Gheriun stumbled forward, a huge presence knocking into him. He stared down at a massive mouth bitten into his side, blood already seeping from the wound. Even Sho looked surprised, and as he stumbled back the mouth let go and returned to his shadow.

That was when the Painter stepped in front of the Mask Seller.

“Sho, please. We’re here to apologize. Me and your father.”

“My father?” came the low voice of the Prophet. “Hah! You should know just how little he cared for me. I trusted you, Pierrot.”

There were tears in the Prophet’s eyes now, though he hurriedly wiped them away. The Mask Seller grasped at the Painter, eyes wild.

“I told you to wait!”

“And I told you to come to me if things went sideways. You forgot this, by the way,” he said, handing Gheriun his mask before turning back toward the enraged Prophet.

“Sho, killing your father won’t solve anything. You know what your grandfather is doing is wrong. I know you’re smarter than that.”

“You don’t know anything about me!”

The Painter’s expression softened, and he looked upon Sho with such a depth of love it took both father and son by surprise.

“I know that you’re an intelligent, sensitive, kind young man who has been dealt with more cruelty than anyone deserves,” Etienne insisted. He stepped closer to the boy, heedless of his partner’s warnings, arms spread. “I know how much my actions must have hurt you. I’m sorry. You didn’t do anything to deserve that. You’re not the monster your grandfather says you are.”

“You don’t know anything.”

Before anyone could say another word, the Mask Seller let out a strangled, wet cry. As Etienne turned, he saw a harpoon of shadows sprouted clear through the masksmith’s thick chest. Blood welled and seeped up through the wound and poured from Gheriun’s mouth as he tried to speak. The Painter’s eyes widened and he rushed to his side as the masksmith collapsed. The huge spike twitched, tiny barbs coming off of it making it impossible to remove. Not that he would if he could; it looked like it had pierced at least a lung and was very close to his heart. Etienne felt his own grow cold as Gheriun gasped and reached up for him. He held his hand firmly, blood covering them both.

“Get… away….” the Mask Seller managed.

“Stay here. It’ll be okay.” Etienne kissed his hand with shaky lips. “I’ll take care of everything for you.”

“You should listen to him before you get hurt, teacher,” the Prophet snapped.

Etienne set about stabilizing the Mask Seller as best he could, drawing his paintbrush and with quick efficient movements summoning some humanoid assistants and a roughshod stretcher. It would have to do for now—he just needed to get him steady and out of the way. Within a few practiced strokes he had brought forth his helpers, checking over Gheriun with one last kiss before he stood and turned toward the Prophet.

“I wish this could happen another way,” he said sorrowfully, brush held in front of him like a slim rapier. “But I’m going to have to teach you a new lesson.”

“And just what—“

The Prophet’s contemptuous comment was cut off by a flurry of movement and from the gestures sprung forth a sudden onslaught of attacks from the Painter. His illusions were a horrifying deluge of the Prophet’s deepest fears. The boy stumbled back, caught completely off guard. Etienne did not hesitate in grabbing the upper hand while he could and with a step forward he pressed his advantage. Gheriun was losing a lot of blood fast, and he was weak right now. They could not risk the Founder finding out and finishing him with the curse. This had to end now, for all of their sakes.

However, the Prophet was not pulling his punches, and after a brief moment of hesitation he had drawn up multiple long whips of shadow to throw at the Painter. He could dodge the first few but eventually wound up with a few heavy blows to his side that he managed to protect with his arms. Grunting with effort, Etienne twisted nimbly midstep to narrowly avoid a particularly vicious onslaught. The boy was growing more bold as time wore on, a wild, manic look to his face. His actions were flailing but numerous, making up in multitude what they lacked in accuracy.

When the Prophet began throwing up javelins of darkness from around the Painter’s feet, his patience wore thin.

“Let’s stop this now Sho, before one of us does something we regret.”

“Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!”

After one blow nearly impaled the helpless Mask Seller in his creaking bed frame Etienne knew he must end things. His mask shimmered as its shape elongated into the avian form of the plague doctor while his paintbrush turned into a hideous, oversized bone saw. The illusions around the Prophet took on a more sinister tone; the form of a woman half eaten by maggots screamed Sho’s name as he looked on in horror. He sent a wave of black splinters through the air, a few impaling the Painter’s thigh but thankfully they were shallow enough. He needed to completely shut the boy down before he caused irreparable harm.

He inhaled deeply, then dashed around Sho’s reach, drawing his attention as he set up more illusions. He used his own blood to bring form to those shapes, and a wave of women with warm brown hair and half rotting faces sprung up around Sho, their half decayed arms reaching for him and grabbing his limbs. He screamed and tried to fight back, but every time he saw the face of the figure he shrunk back further. However his actions had grown only more frenzied and dangerous in his panic.

“This doesn’t have to continue,” Etienne pressed. “Just say the word, Sho.”

But the Prophet just shouted in rage and a deep resonating sorrow, sigils burning within a circle of shadow below his feet. He moved in unnatural, jerking motions, his lips working rapidly in a chant as his hands traced characters in the air. His eyes had glazed over, as though he were possessed. Something writhed within his shadow, tentacles of darkness struggling to burst outward. Very, very not good. Etienne glanced back just once toward Gheriun, took a deep breath, and dove forward.

He brought the bone saw down on the growing rune in the air, bearing down with all his strength. The air sparked and fizzed between them, but Sho’s eyes were still distant, his lips moving so rapidly it was impossible to make out the individual words. With a guttural shout, the Painter summoned all of his reserve strength, his rage, his pain, his heart, his everything into this strike. For the sake of their future, let this be the end.

For a moment he hung there, suspended in the air against the crackling sigil. Then there was a bright flash and air rushed inward before just as rapidly expanding out in an explosive force. It flung them apart, Etienne managing to catch his step, Sho tumbling over himself and bodily hitting a pillar suspending the perimeter corridor. As the dust settles, the Painter dashed forward, not wanting to risk the boy recovering and lashing out again.

He need not have worried. As he reached him, he saw that one of Sho’s legs was broken, twisted horribly, and he was covered in scrapes and bruises. It was more than he had wanted to hurt the boy, but he had been left little choice. Etienne slowed as he neared, one hand extended toward the cowering, bloodied Prophet.

“Please teacher, stop,” cried out Sho, now a hunched bundle of wide eyed terror. Tears were streaming from his eyes as he cringed before the Painter. He looked younger even than his teenage years, a terrified child lost and searching for family wherever he could find it. Should he knock him out first? Could he trust him?

Etienne hesitated, and in that moment, the Prophet struck.

Five shadowy tendrils whipped out and pinned the Painter to the garden wall, all limbs immobilized. One sharpened tentacle split open the mask covering his face with a resonant crack. Mouths burst from the tendrils and bit down on Etienne’s flesh violently. As he struggled to free himself, he looked up and saw in horror the Prophet crouched before him, staring wide eyed at him, a wall of black knives hanging in the air behind him. They were all aimed directly at him.

“You never trusted me with anything. You didn’t care. Grandfather told me everything. You just wanted to use me.”

It sounded as though he were trying to convince himself of the justice of his actions. If the Painter could just find the right opening…

There was no chance of Etienne getting out of this. He looked over to Gheriun’s limp form, and closed his eyes.

“Sho, you know that’s not true. Please, just talk to me.”

When he opened them again, he saw Sho hesitate, but the look in his eyes told him he would strike sooner or later. As the boy raised his arms, Etienne cried out.

“Please, Sho, I’m with child. Don’t do this.”

The Prophet froze, then faltered. His eyes blinked rapidly as he processed what had just been said, and his arms lowered. He grit his teeth and looked for a moment like he would let his anger win, but as tears poured from his eyes, the countless daggers that had been poised to strike melted into his shadow. He collapsed to the ground and sobbed, fists clenched at the cold earth. The tendrils holding Etienne up dissipated and he fell roughly to his knees.

It was as though something had burst deep within the boy, and all those years of pain and loss had broken him. The spear inside of Gheriun dissipated as well, allowing the Painter’s powers to work more efficiently. He sighed in relief, and turned toward the Prophet. Pressing a hand to the worst of the bite wounds, he strode forward and knelt in front of the boy.

Sho was sobbing and tearing at the ground, at his hair, at his skin, breathing heavily and hiccuping between tears.

“That’s it, isn’t it. Nobody wants me. I just hurt everyone. Grandfather was right. I don’t deserve a family.”

“Hush now,” Etienne said, reaching out to the boy, heedless of his own wounds. They weren’t as bad as they had seemed at first, and he wondered how much Sho had held back.

“Why do you think we’re here, you foolish child?”

It was the first time he had ever admonished the boy, and the Prophet’s sobs silenced for a moment as he cowered further into a ball, his fingernails drawing blood from his scalp, broken leg skewed awkwardly to the side. Etienne reached both arms around the small figure, embracing Sho gently.

“It’s okay. Nobody’s abandoning you. We came here to ask you to leave,” the Painter said quietly. “Why don’t you ever listen to me when I tell you not to assume the worst of everyone?”

That made Sho burst out crying anew, and he threw his arms around the artist. Etienne held his tiny body as he quaked and shook.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, I know. But we need to get going. Your father—Gheriun needs proper medical care. You can settle your score later. We need to get you away before the Founder finds out what’s happened.”

“But Grandfather won’t hurt me… will he?” asked Sho, uncertainty heavy in his voice.

“I don’t want to sit here and find out. Now, can you be brave for me while I set your leg?”

For a moment Etienne wasn’t sure whether he had made it through to the battered child, but finally Sho sniffed and nodded.

“We can get to the Highway from inside the sanctuary,” Sho told him.

“Thank god,” breathed the Painter as he conjured another mobile unit of assistants to help Sho get about. “Try to bear with it.”

Etienne waited for Sho to lead the way forward, the Mask Seller’s stretcher coming up behind them. The nearest entry point that either of the men had been familiar with was off mountain. Sho’s tiny body was severely weakened after their fight. However, there was a new determination to his shoulders and a clearness to his eyes. He looked like he had a goal to call his own, one other than harming his own father. Etienne had to believe in the boy’s true nature.

They had been moving slowly through the inner sanctum for some time when Sho stopped abruptly, panting as he leaned against the two animated assistants.

“This isn’t right. We should have been there by now.”

Alarm began to creep into Etienne’s chest. He had put down the monotony of their passage to his unfamiliarity with the depths of the shrine, but they had been going so long in a straight line. Surely, on this limited mountainside, they should have had to turn at least once by now? He glanced down at the half conscious Gheriun, who seemed to be trying to say something. In that moment all hell broke loose.

The lights flickered and went off all around them and the walls seemed to warp, closing them off. Both Sho and Etienne let out startled gasps as the sound of a familiar instrument rang out along the corridors. The shamisen strummed again and the lights shot back on with a brilliance that was unnatural for their bulbs.

The Observer stood in the middle of the hallway before them, single uncovered eye blazing. He looked like he was barely standing up, all bruised and bandaged where his skin was visible. The Painter stared, uncomprehending, at his old friend.

“Rui, what—“

He said nothing, just strummed the instrument again and was behind them, knife drawn and aimed directly at Sho. In the harsh light it took a moment for the artist’s eyes to take in what he was seeing as the fell arm Suiko was driven directly at Sho’s heart.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he cried out, but the blade was caught in one large palm before it could reach the Prophet. The Mask Seller had blocked it, the weapon trapped deep in the meat of his hand. He closed his fingers as best he could to still the knife and grunted.

“Observer, stand down.”

Rui hissed and tugged feebly at the hilt of the weapon, but it did not budge. He dropped it and stepped away, reaching again to draw his shamisen. Etienne made sure Gheriun and Sho were steady before he stepped forward, exhaustion heavy on his exposed face. He didn’t know what was going on, but he had to stop things before Rui could get a chance to draw his sword.

“Don’t make me fight you.”

“If you’re protecting that brat, you’re in my way,” Rui said grimly. He reached up and tugged off his eyepatch roughly. As he opened his right eye, a tendril sprouted from its golden iris and bloomed before their eyes, a lily stuck grotesquely out of the center. It stayed open, unblinking, even as his black left eye moved independently. Oily black roots spread out across his right cheek, roiling as with his unsteady emotions. The Painter knew of the animosity between Observer and Prophet, but that should all be over now that Sho was no longer under his grandfather’s thumb. If he could only explain. Yet Rui was staring with naked animosity, such uncharacteristic hatred that Etienne nearly didn’t recognize him.

“He’s not after you anymore,” he tried to say. “It’s okay, you don’t—“

“Oh, well then everything he’s done is just fine then. Everyone he’s hurt, all he’s killed!”

Sho shrunk back, eyes downcast, as Etienne tried desperately to piece together what was going on. All he wanted was to get Gheriun to safety and to rest and let his little family heal, so why was one of his best friends now standing before him with such anger? He drew himself up, ready to fight once again if need be.

“There’s no bringing back the dead. But he can have a chance to—“

“To what? Heal, grow up, make happy new memories? Off of Sowaca’s corpse?”

That comment froze the Painter’s blood. He glanced from Sho back to the near feral Observer, and knew he wasn’t lying. Sorrow filled him as he realized that they had acted too late, and that the Prophet had committed one final act for the Founder’s grand plan. The shame was written plainly on Sho’s young face.

Rui stared at the three of them before laughing bitterly.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you. Well. I’m sorry Etienne, but I won’t be letting him walk out of here.”

“Then you leave me no choice.”

The two stared at one another, poised to fight. Sho hobbled forward then, his chin held upward, eyes ablaze.

“If you hurt them, I won’t stand by. You can do whatever you want to me another time.”

Rui stared open mouthed from one to the other, frustration and confusion written on his expression. He wore his hurt and sense of betrayal openly, staring forlornly at the Painter.

“If it’s for Sowaca’s sake, I won’t hold back.”

Rui was stood poised over Sho, the sharp clawed hands of his scarf aimed downward, when he jerked to a stop as though struck. Stood before him was a teenage girl with dark skin, long reddish brown curls, and two oversized ears, arms spread wide.

“That’s enough, Rui.”

Santu blocked his path to the collapsed Prophet, her eyes fierce in the dim light. The Observer grunted in annoyance, eyes burning into Sho.

“He killed Sowaca,” he stated. “He almost killed you, too.”

Santu shook her head, curls bouncing.

“Sho was nice to me while Santu was at the Power Plant. He’s not a bad guy!”

That seemed to make Rui snap and he flung his arms outward.

“Then what!” he shouted. “I’m supposed to just let him walk free? After all he’s done? You think someone can just change like that?”

It was Etienne’s turn to speak.

“He has his whole life to repent for what he’s done. But surely you of all people know what it’s like to be manipulated so.”

That struck a nerve deep in the Observer. The Painter was one of a select few who knew any details of his past. The roiling scarf twisted in the air about him, turning back over him like twinned snakes.

“It’s no excuse,” he hissed. “He has no right to get off, losing nothing. It’s unfair!”

Even Rui knew he was being unreasonable, but his voice broke as he stood there.

“Sowaca was my everything. He was my best friend. He was there when I had nobody.” Tears were brimming in the Observer's eye. “He was my only family.”

“Santu’s your family too!” Santu said, frustration in her voice. “Rui’s not alone! You just push everyone away!”

Rui’s face screwed up in anger.

“If you don’t move, I’ll make you.”

“Stand down, Observer!”

A new voice broke through the air, one Etienne did not recognize. From the darkness emerged a figure of medium height with bright red hair. She had a longbow raised in the air, arrow aimed at the Observer. Santu spun on her heels, eyes wide.

“This is not what we agreed upon,” the red headed woman said. Closer now Etienne could see numerous scars upon her freckled face. Her voice brooked no argument.

“I don’t recall agreeing to anything,” Rui said through gritted teeth.

“Oh? Then let me remind you.” She drew the arrow to her cheek. “It’s an order of protection, not execution. Stand down.”

Santu tried to position herself somewhere between the Prophet and Observer while blocking Rui from the path of the arrow. She looked from each person to the next rapidly.

“We don’t have to fight, please.”

“Observer. Now.”

“Oh piss off, Huntsman,” the Observer hissed, one hand reaching up to his shoulder.

In the next moment so much happened that Etienne could not fully recall it later. The arrow was loosed directly at Santu, but it seemed to flicker in and out of existence before sprouting through the Observer’s throat. Blood spurted out as he fell backwards, scarf falling with him. Santu spun and ran to him, while Etienne dove toward Sho. The so-called Huntsman strode forward calmly, notching another arrow and standing before Rui’s writhing form.

“Sho, are you okay?” Etienne asked as he knelt beside the boy. The fight had been brutal, and had it not been for the interference of the others Etienne was not sure whether they would have made it.

Sho stirred, eyelids flickering. Blood was streaming from his nostrils and the corners of his eyes, and he seemed dazed.

“Is it over..?”

Etienne glanced over to where the Observer was bleeding out onto the floor, the fight gone completely out of him. It was time for them to leave.

“It is, child,” the Painter said, wiping sweat from Sho’s forehead. The boy gave a weak smile.

“Everyone’s…okay?”

Etienne nodded.

“Let’s get you guys out of here.”

[arjaandsimoni]

Thorns

Houston Texas, midday

Two girls walked down the street together, one seeming much happier about it than the other.

She was dressed in a lovely red silk top with green tights under a darker green skirt, a pair of red buckle shoes on her feet. She had long wavy black hair and several passerby wondered if she may be a child model or something.

Her friend wore a purple silk top with short puffy sleeves under a pastel pink denim skirtall, white tights on her legs and pink tennis shoes on her feet. She also had on a strange silvery sort of choker. She too had long black hair.

“Hmmmm… what should we do today Bestie?” the first girl giggled. “I’m thinking… ice cream, can’t ever go wrong with ice cream… and then we’ll go to the park and find some new friends to play with.” she grinned, but there was an oddly malicious hint to her words…

The other girl whimpered, glancing around frantically as she followed along as if on an invisible lead. Suddenly a huge crowd of commuters rushed past, it was the lunch rush after all, and the two girls got separated.

As soon as they were split up, the second girl stumbled as if something pulling on her had suddenly been released. The girl in pink and purple’s eyes widened. This was her chance! She waited until she couldn’t see the girl in red and green, then turned and raced into the crowd as fast as her legs would carry her!

The first girl looked around, then huffed and put her hands on her hips. “Really now!” she pouted, then smirked, “If you wanted to play hide and seek you just had to say so, silly…” she giggled, skipping off after her, “Okaaaaay then, but when I catch you there’s gonna be a really nasty punishment in store!”

As she walked past the storefronts the flowers on display seemed to bloom brighter, and slowly turned to watch her go…

Elsewhere in Houston

Stephy, Tex, and Sammi walked through the streets, the latter of which was not happy about it at all. “At least this bloody city has some culture to it here and there, but by oak and ash who do I have to complain at to get them to turn down this damnable heat?!” he grumped. He’d gone with a silvery loose shirt and white leather pants with matching boots, hoping the lighter colors would help reflect the heat away instead of absorb it, but even then it was punishing for the princeling.

“Pretty sure the sun doesn’t care how hot you are Sammi.” replied Stephy, though he had to admit he was feeling the heat as well. He’d gone with a loose white top with long flowing sleeves, a long white silk skirt, sandals, and a wide brimmed straw hat, but it was still pretty rough for the wintery changeling. He honestly was beginning to miss Lady Sera’s realm at the moment, if only because he knew he wouldn’t feel like he was melting there.

Tex smiled sympathetically at him, “Yeah, one thing I definitely didn’t miss ‘bout Texas… it gets hotter’n Hell here in th’ summertime…” he sighed, patting the effeminate boy’s shoulder. “We’ll take a break soon ‘n get some lunch somewhere with th’ A/C goin’ hard kay?” he nodded.

Both the faeries gave a very energetic ‘yes’ to this, Sammi conjuring a ball of ice in his hand and pressing it to his forehead as they walked. “The sooner we’re back north the bloody better… every day here is more punishing than the last…” grumbled Sammi. “I swear I’m going to boil away to nothing at this ra-AUGH!” he yelped, falling backwards as Stephy and Tex caught him, the fae prince shaking his head. “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!” he snapped, glaring ahead of him.

However, sitting there was a young girl in purple and pink… or at least that’s what it looked like to Tex. To Sammi and Stephy however she had points to her ears, and her eyes were bright bubblegum pink instead of any natural color. Her hair was long and wavy, and when it caught the light it made a rainbow sheen. Around her neck was a heavy silvery collar, inlaid with some strange design “… sorry! I… w-wait…” she looked up, staring between them, “You’re changelings!” she gasped, “You have to help me! Please! She’s looking for me!” she scrambled to her feet, rushing up to them.

Stephy and Sammi looked at each other, then Sammi said, “Well, that depends… WHO is looking for you exactly, young lady? It may be in our best interests to pretend we didn’t see you, or even tell them where you went.” he nodded.

Stephy glared at him, smacking him in the arm, “SAMMI!” he shouted, “She’s clearly just escaped! We have to at least get her to the local freehold! Wouldn’t you want someone to help you if your mom found you?!” he scolded as Tex shook his head at the fae prince.

A Freehold was something many major cities in the west had, a sort of self-made community of those who had been taken by the gentry but managed to escape back to Earth. Changed as they were, sometimes gone months or even years, they banded together to make do as best they could.

Sammi rubbed his arm, glaring back. “I’m not saying I don’t feel for her plight, just that some of the Gentry are exceedingly powerful! If they catch up to her and find us with her they may decide to take us as well!” he snapped.

Stephy huffed, “Well I’m not leaving her, and if you’re pledge-bound to me neither are you!” he smirked.

Sammi frowned back, then looked at her, “Right, lets have a look at your collar then… that should tell us who we’re dealing with.” he muttered, cupping the girl’s chin and kneeling down, she was shorter than all of them, looking like she was barely ten years old.

Stephy pouted, “There’s still fae who take them this young huh?” he asked.

The girl shook her head, “I-I’m not a kid! She just won’t let me grow up! I feel like I’ve been there for years now!” she insisted, “She tricked me into playing with her when my parents grounded me and now she won’t let me leave!” she shook a bit at that, “I can’t go back… I can’t… she’s insane… she’s completely twisted. It all looks cute and wonderful at first but…” she whimpered.

Stephy pouted at her, kneeling down on her side as Tex squatted next to him, “Hey, it’ll be alright, we’ll do what we can to get you to safety okay? I can’t really promise it, but if there’s a chance…” he started… and then a voice rang out.

“FOUND YOU!” sang a childish voice as a girl in red and green walked into view.

“Oh no…” she whispered, “Oh no no no no no…” she clung to Sammi’s arms as he saw the collar clearly.

“Roses…” murmured Sammi, “Oh blast and damnation…” he looked up.

“I found you I found you I green and yellow found you!” giggled the newcomer in a sing song tone, striding up to them, “Oh! And you found us some new friends! Goodie! Maybe I won’t punish you so bad for running away! I… wait…”

The girl paused, frowning, “Something about those two is… familiar…” she narrowed her eyes, drawing closer as she pouted a bit, “Blondie girl is really really… waaaaaait… ITS YOU!” she snarled, her face becoming a mask of rage as her irises seemed to widen until her eyes went jet black.

Stephy and Tex stood up quickly, the girl’s head snapping back and forth between them, “YOU! AND YOU!” she stormed forward, her hair blowing in an unseen breeze as flowerbuds began to appear, and then roses burst into bloom.

Stephy stepped back suddenly, Tex’s hand flying to the knife at his belt as Sammi stood, the young girl trying to hide behind him. “Oh shit…” whispered Stephy, “I know who your keeper is…”

“You threw away my gift, broke my toys, set that demon-cursed grownup on me, AND NOW YOU’RE TRYING TO TAKE MY BESTIE?! STEPHEN FULLMOON! I’M GOING TO TURN YOU INTO FERTILIZER FOR MY GARDEN!” shrieked Isolde, the Everblooming Rose.

"RUN!" shouted Sammi, "RUN NOW!" and run they did!

The four of them raced down through the busy streets of Houston, trying to vanish into the press of bodies as the flowers in public displays, shop windows, and anywhere that had them all seemed to burst into bloom around them as they ran. It would look like something out of a romantic comedy if not for the fact that each of them seemed to be snarling insults at them as they passed.

Nasty filthy Fullmoon!

Queen Isolde is gonna getcha! Gonna getcha!

Toy breakers and friend takers! Naughty! Wicked!

The mundanes couldn’t hear them, but anyone with a touch of supernatural that they passed seemed to get the message. Several people immediately did an about face back into stores or buildings they were coming out of, a few watching them go with rather anxious eyes.

Behind them came Isolde, and the crowd of commuters seemed to part for her without even knowing why. She only had eyes for the four she was pursuing, but mainly for Stephy. The other two she would torture into insanity just so he’d have to watch! Stephy looked around, then his knowledge of spotting boltholes took over and he grabbed Sammi and the unknown changeling's hands, “This way!” he nodded, rushing down an alleyway. Three lefts, two rights, shake her off! Stick to stone-covered areas with no plant life! No plants meant she couldn’t see them through their eyes!

The three of them raced down the alleyways until suddenly they hit a dead end. A wide-open area with a single pathway leading inwards, the rest walled off by buildings.

“Stephy, dear sibling, was this what you intended to do?” asked Sammi, looking around. The buildings were too high to get over! Stephy could fly over them, but he could only carry one of them at a time!

Stephy winced, “Guess Houston is laid out different from Covington…” he muttered, “Back home it wouldn’t have a dead end like this…”

Tex chuckled nervously, “Well shoot darlin’ I coulda told ya’ll that…” he muttered.

The changeling girl just looked around, her head snapping back and forth as she began to hyperventilate. She looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack.

Then the door at the end of the alley flew open to reveal the thorns and briars of the Hedge behind it as Isolde strolled out. Her human guise was totally shed, the Everblooming Rose standing there like the haughty fae queen she was in her gown of rose petals and leaves, her hair in full bloom. “Found yoooooooooou…” she sneered, then she snapped her fingers, and the path out of the area erupted in giant rose stems, making an impenetrable thorny barrier!

“No calling that nasty demon-possessed cousin of yours this time Stephen Fullmoon…” she giggled wickedly, “No calling that brutish tomboy of a cousin who wrecked my toys that just wanted to play with your cowboy friend either… The grownups can’t save you THIS TIME!” she sneered, her mouth spreading into a wide grin as her teeth changed into rose-thorns, “THIS TIME YOU WILL PAY FOR EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE TO ME!”

Stephy stepped back from her, the girl cackling as she flexed her fingers and thorn vines began to grow from any nearby cracks in the pavement. No toys this time, it seemed the Everblooming Rose was being far more true to her name today!

Then, Sammi stepped forward, “Hold.” he said, “I am Prince Samuel of the Icebound Heart, and you have no claim on this one.” he stated, “Stephen Fullmoon has already been claimed by one of your sisters, Lady Sera of the Icebound Heart. My mother.” he smirked, “Do you wish to risk her wroth?” he asked.

This gave Isolde pause, the girl looking at Stephy, “… truly? After all I offered you, you went with one of the SADDIES?!”

Sammi frowned, his eye twitching a bit. “Must you use that term?” he muttered.

Isolde glared at him, “WELL THAT’S WHAT YOU WINTERY TYPES ARE!” she shouted, “All you wanna do is cry in the snow and feel miserable! I at least make people HAPPY! See how happy my bestie is?!” she smirked, gesturing to the young changeling girl.

The girl let out a sudden shriek and stumbled, her cheeks pushed back as her mouth was forced into a huge smile, so hard that her eyes were watering from it! She whimpered, trying to push them back down with her hands, but they wouldn’t budge!

“Seeeeee? She’s sooooo happy to see me! Now we’re going to go back home and she’s going to play dress up with me and watch cartoons and we’ll have all sorts of FUN!” squealed Isolde, but the fear in the girl’s eyes suggested that Isolde’s comments meant something far more sinister than they sounded.

Stephy stood infront of her, “Isolde she’s clearly terrified! She doesn’t want to go with you!” he protested, knowing exactly how little good it’d do. Faeries like her only saw the world they wanted to see.

The girl shook her head behind him, managing to force her jaw to move enough to make words, “I… I wanna go home…” she whimpered.

Isolde giggled, “Well that’s where we’re going silly! After I punish this wicked nasty cheater and toybreaker we’ll go straight back home!” she replied, smiling widely at the changeling.

She shook her head frantically, “N-no! Not there! I wanna go back to my home! With my parents!” she managed to push out.

Isolde paused at that, “Nooooo… you don’t wanna go back to those grownups who were being jerks to you. You want to come back to your real home in my castle.” she nodded, stating it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

The girl shook her head harder, her long hair shining rainbows as it caught the light. “NO! NO I DON’T! I WANT MY MOM AND DAD AND MY BABY SISTER!” she protested.

Isolde stared, her eye twitching, and then she rounded on Stephy and jabbed out an accusing finger, “YOU! YOU DID SOMETHING! YOU BROKE MY BESTIE! IT’LL TAKE AGES TO MAKE HER STOP CRYING ABOUT THAT AGAIN!” she snarled in fury, the thorn fangs coming out once more as her roses turned a violent shade of purple, the thorn vines seeming to double in number.

Sammi stood ready, conjuring a swirl of ice and snow, “Isolde… if you lay a single finger on him the full fury of the Icebound Heart will fall upon your Toyland… my mother will see to that. It will mean war in Arcadia.” he warned.

“I! DON’T! CARE!” she screamed, shaking her fists in fury, “THAT BOY IS HORRIBLE! HE RUINS EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES! I’LL SEE HIM SUFFER FOR IT!” she gestured, and the thorn vines flexed, then aimed towards the group like spears… “Starting… RIGHT… NOW!” she grinned wickedly and pointed, the vines racing forward.

As they did, Tex drew a hand from the Very Useful Deck... The joker was infront of him, but the throne wasn’t empty this time.

"Looks like ya’ll got yerselves in a right pickle… guess I’d better getcha back outta it…" said a voice in his head.

There was a sensation of split time, then a whip crack rang out and the thorn vines shuddered before falling to pieces.

Isolde stared as her rose vines fell around her in huge clumps, “… w-what… no… no no no no NO!” she snarled, stamping her foot in fury, “YOU. KEEP. DOING. THAT!” she threw back her head and shrieked, “CHEAAAAAAAAAAAAAATER!”

Standing before the group was someone new. A tall man, easily six foot, in a long duster coat as black as a moonless night. He wore a matching cowboy hat on his head and was dressed in black vest and slacks with blackened leather boots that had shining silvery spurs on them. At his left hip was a bullwhip, his hand still resting on it, and at his right hip was a revolver… and on his breast was a six-pointed star shaped badge.

“Girl, ya’ll need a lesson in how ta behave.” said the newcomer, looking up and raising his hat with a thumb… revealing a face like a giant crow, beak and all, his black beady eyes focused on Isolde, “The name’s Joker Black. Sheriff Joker Black… ‘n anyone what messes with m’ dealer messes with me.” he nodded.

Sammi stumbled back a step, “Oak and Ash and Thorn… you actually landed that.” he chuckled to himself, “... and your version is a bloody sheriff of all things.” he couldn’t help snickering, “That is TOO perfect.”

Isolde snarled, then lashed out with her thorn vines again, but quick as a blink Joker’s hand was on his whip and with a loud CRACK the vines fell to pieces once more, the sheriff advancing. “Now young lady, ya’ll think I don’t know how ta deal with you?” he asked, if his face could smirk it would be.

Isolde growled, “No… NO! DON’T DO IT!” she spat, taking a step away from the approaching Joker. She almost looked afraid...

“Ya’ll gotta listen, good kids always listen…” he nodded as Isolde screamed and two massive rose vines erupted around him! Joker’s other hand moved in a blur and there were two loud BANGs, and the vines went down with huge holes oozing sap.

Isolde stomped her foot and shook her head, “NO NO NO! DO NOT! DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT!” she screamed, rose vines erupting all around her.

“Young lady…” said Joker in a warning tone, standing over her, “Go to your room.” he said forcefully.

Isolde cried out, forcing her hands over her ears, “NO! I DON’T WANT TO!” she shouted, shaking her head as her legs suddenly trembled, the vines she conjured going limp! She fell onto her back and shrieked loud and wordlessly, like a child throwing a tantrum, trying to drown out Joker’s voice!

“This ain’t a discussion lil’ missy! GO TO YOUR ROOM THIS DANG INSTANT OR I’M GONNA GIVE YOU A HIDIN’ YOU’LL NEVER FORGET!” shouted Joker.

Isolde gritted her teeth, her hands pushed so hard against her ears that her knuckles were turning white, but finally she sagged. “… okaaaaaaay…” she sniffled, getting to her feet and stumbling back towards the door to the Hedge. She gave Stephy one last venomous look, then she passed through the door and a second later it slammed shut.

Stephy and the others watched her go, the fae ‘princess’ staring in confusion as to what had just transpired.

Joker then turned to them and tipped his hat, “Pleasure meetin’ ya’ll, if’n ya’ll need mah help, ya know where ta find me… if Lady Luck is kind enough our paths’ll cross again.” he said, then suddenly he was gone and a card slowly drifted down to the ground. After a minute Tex stumbled forward and collected it.

Stephy finally found his voice, “How… the hell…” he gestured to their battlefield, still covered in slowly wilting rose vines, and the door that Isolde had retreated through.

Sammi chuckled, “Oh, you didn’t know? All of the Fair Folk have a bane. A weakness that we cannot overcome, try as we might. Isolde is a powerful fae queen, but she’s a queen of childhood desires. She’s the eternal eight-year-old girl.” he smirked at Stephy, crossing his arms over his chest and nodding.

Stephy blinked slowly, then cocked his head a bit, “… she… was told to go to her room…” he started, his eyes widening as he put the pieces together.

Sammi nodded, “… by an adult. Why do you think she hates them so much? She HAS to obey them, she doesn’t get a choice in the matter because ‘good kids listen to the grownups.’” he grinned. “That’s why she won’t allow ‘grownups’ in her realm, that’s why she was so eager to come after us knowing we were alone. They are her bane, her weakness.”

Stephy grinned, then opened his mouth before Sammi put a finger firmly over it, “HOWEVER… I would keep this… ‘sub rosa’ if you will.” he warned, “If you think Isolde hates you now, imagine her wroth if you start spreading around the secret to her defeat.” he said, his expression turning deadly serious.

Stephy nodded slowly, “Good point…” he murmured, then looked around, “Hey! Where’d that girl go?” he asked.

Tex looked around as well, but the alley end was vacant save for the three of them.

“Likely ran for the hills first chance she got. Can you blame her?” nodded Sammi, “Rather run and risk a wild unknown in the city than fall back into Isolde’s clutches.”

Stephy nodded, frowning a bit, “I wish we could have helped her though…” he muttered.

Sammi smirked, “You think driving back her Keeper to Arcadia and giving her the chance to escape didn’t? She may certainly have a rough go of it back in the Mortal Realm, but after being one of Isolde’s playthings I daresay she’s better off whatever comes of her…”

Later that evening

The girl who was once known as Iris wandered through the streets of Houston, her mood downcast. She’d managed to find her way to her former home, only to find it empty with a For Sale sign out front. Losing their daughter seemed to cause her parent’s already strained marriage to completely fall apart, and they’d both left the city for places unknown in different directions.

As she walked along through the mostly empty streets she heard something in an alleyway… the girl going to investigate.

“Rrrrf…” came a growling grunt as a large hobo dug through a dumpster, next to him a man and a woman were talking, the man sighing at him.

“Bailey, could you please refrain from that? Its rather off-putting to say the least.” he sighed.

“HUNGRY!” barked the hobo, “Need some grub…” he growled.

“Bailey, c’mon…” smiled the woman, “We’ll get some fast food on our way back to the Freehold, okay? Just stop rooting through the garbage.” she nodded, sounding rather like a big sister.

The hobo paused, “… yeh promise?” he grunted.

The young girl felt something about them, she walked towards them curiously, “Um… hi?” she tried.

The trio looked up, the hobo sniffing the air, and Iris saw that his face was less like a man’s and more like a basset hound’s with big drooping jowls and long floppy ears, “Huh?! Who’s there?!” he growled.

The next one had skin the green of new leaves, and instead of hair she had long flowing vines on which flowers were blooming. She dressed in psychadelic colors, a long skirt and a tube top. “Bailey, relax, its just another changeling…” she said.

The third one looked the most human, dressed in tweeds and a button-down shirt with an honest to goodness bowtie, but with small points to his ears and hair that seemed a touch too fine… “Not just any, look at her. She must have just made it back.” he nodded, adjusting his glasses.

The flower girl stepped forward, “Oh! Oh you poor dear, you must’ve been taken so young… guys we can’t just leave her out here!” she said, looking back at them.

The blonde man nodded, “Yes… lets take her back with us. I daresay an extra set of hands around the Freehold, small as her’s may be, will be welcome.” he nodded, “My flowery friend here is Lavender, and our gruff companion is Basset Bailey. You may call me the Blonde Professor. What should we call you, young lady?” he asked.

The girl whimpered, “I dunno… she took it away, I can’t remember it…” she muttered, her hands rubbing her throat. As soon as Isolde had fled the collar seemed to have vanished, but she could still feel it’s weight there.

The Professor chuckled, “They always do… Hm…” he looked her over, rubbing his chin and noticing the way the light played along her hair. “Just like a rainbow… The Rainbow Child, or Rain for short perhaps?” he suggested.

She looked up at him, then nodded and smiled, “O… okay!” she replied. A few minutes later they were all walking together through the streets, the Rainbow Child looking curious as to what her new friends might be like.

Next Story

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[number1villainstan]

episode 17, juri and her crazy ex-girlfriend </3

i only feel comfortable calling shiori crazy cuz of spoilers tbh. and she's not even juri's ex-girlfriend

how many colors of rose are in anthy's garden? also the orange rose being associated with juri...what's color symbolism for orange

so juri's "even better now", but miki's wide open unlike himself, character symbolism? i suppose it might make sense for miki to be off his game after the whole thing with kozue. but for juri--is her being better a sign of something in the past or just like--foreshadowing the coming black rose duel? making us scared cuz juri's a good fighter and shiori's probably going to try and leech off her skill or w/e. black rose shit and all

shiori is framed with pale orange roses. obvs a connection to juri, but i feel like the shade is a bit different, what's up with that

i did not expect shiori's voice lmao (i'm watching subbed w/ og japanese voices)

oh, shiori's sitting on a red suitcase, huh? red for anger? red for aggression? red for danger? huh?? huh???

evil elevator time! :)

oh wait no rose-grown-in-darkness time

"a rose may be most beautiful when in bloom, but that's also when its thorns are most dangerous." i don't think that's how thorns work. but also i was wondering when the whole "roses have thorns" thing would be addressed, like it's a pretty big thing about roses, they have thorns, they're kinda known for having thorns. beautiful but dangerous or beauty = danger, ykno

also the fact that it's an orange rose and that mamiya pricks his finger on it. on purpose, according to mikage (and mamiya doesn't deny it). juri being the most dangerous out of the duelists? or at least the most skilled?

nanami is investigating the black rose shit??? and SHE'S the one with the stopwatch this time???? going insane rn

juri with her hand over her heart.....like the symbolism is obvious but gooooooooood

juri alone in the elevator! this is like the first time we see the elevator outside the repeating scenes isn't it?

so Tall Boy liked juri, juri liked shiori, and shiori liked Tall Boy, but shiori was the only one brave enough to do anything about her feelings? damn, they could have been a happy throuple in a better timeline. now juri won't even give shiori the time of day

okay i saw shiori's Evil Elevator Therapy scene that was fandubbed (why her voice surprised me, although i've also seen the dubbed "i'm a car now too" movie scene so) so i know that what she's saying here isn't entirely true, but maybe she's still being genuine...man idk. part of me wants to believe that she's genuine. maybe it's the high, breathy, feminine, vulnerable-sounding voice. although i should probably stop judging people based on voices. but then again voice casting is generally deliberate so--

"i have no feelings for him. not now or ever" well there goes one leg of the hypothetical happy throuple

oh yeah the fallen bird. i remember reading a forum post about it but i can't remember what it is (java something??) or what it symbolizes. and of course the pendant, one of juri's core character traits (past obsession and current burden of the "i want it back = i drag its dead weight forward" variety) symbolized by a golden chain around her neck and a photo secreted away in a locket

"you're just like shiori...so cruelly innocent..." juri is gay for utena confirmed

oh god utena's ranting to akio. fucking akio. "everyone has something they'd rather not let other people touch" OH REALLY. HEY. HEY AKIO. WHAT'S THAT THING FOR YOU. BITCH. i am currently attempting to stab him through the screen with my mind

[also off topic but i just thought about the drawing in the exchange journal, the really childish one of saionji and anthy standing on top of utena--damn they were really showing off his childishness. also i am on-and-off listening to Boney M's Rasputin Club Mix on repeat while on-and-off watching the episode and now i associate rasputin with akio. help]

juri shower scene...why she so triangular, that ain't healthy. girl where are your organs

oh the parasite thing with the rose again! oh! oh shit! the parasite is shiori! and the rose is turning black! and then they're gonna harvest its thorns (use shiori to use juri to kill the rose bride), is that it?

shiori really had orange roses (juri) in the vase on her desk huh. also that bird again, i cannot remember what it is or symbolizes

okay NOW it's evil elevator time

hatred born of jealousy, huh? it does kinda make sense...maybe? reminds me of bakugo from bnha although bnha's character writing isn't nearly as good as rgu

...except then after being triumphant she flips out over juri liking her? shiori homophobic confirmed :/

"your only choice is to revolutionize the world" you always say that mikage and i'm always like 95% sure it's a lie

istg the coffins/corpse drawers move every time. how else do you get one within reach in the same spot for every black rose duelist

so were those shiori's own words or just the black rose controlling her? or a combo of both? and now i get why the thorns specifically, cuz shiori didn't have the black rose showing. ...also somebody got felt up again. damn. maybe you should have listened to miki, juri, that looked painful

shadow girl play--"three pairs of woolen underwear", huh? is this supposed to be an allegory for juri's secret homosexual crush? a strange-but-harmless sort of secret, with plenty of rational harmless explanations (maybe she gets cold easily! or has certain sensory issues!), that could nonetheless invite ridicule?

....damn, that really puts utena's "take them off?" reply in a bad light

oh and the birds again as the symbol on the desks. should have seen that coming.

the duel song being like "i am opposed against myself..." damn i wish i had the time/energy to look at the lyrics properly

oh god are they gonna black-rose fuck juri up again

Oh also, along with writing the December 2023 Monthly Short Piece today, I finally watched the first episode of Revolutionary Girl Utena after days of seeing a moot post about it and--

"I am the Rose Bride. From this day forward, I belong to you."

i am going to murder everyone in this damn school for anthy

[five-rivers]

Bleed

“The attack was vicious, that’s all I know,” said the thin man.  “Vicious.  You’ll need the huntress for more than that.  Teaspoons to buckets, that’s what I know compared to her.”  There was blood streaked across his face in narrow stripes, like he’d run through a thorn bush.  It looked almost black in the candlelight that lit the room. 

“You don’t know how many?” asked the woman, her face pinching.  There was a slight pause between ‘don’t’ and ‘know,’ as if she’d wanted to put an ‘even’ in there and had just barely refrained.  She leaned forward, elbows on her desk.  “You were there when it happened, weren’t you?”

“How would I be able to tell?  They can be in more than one place at once, can’t they?”

The woman sighed.  “Yes, but, with few exceptions, they all look different, right?  So, the ones you saw, how many different ones were there?”

The man shrugged.  “They hit hard and fast and from at least two sides.  We had to retreat through the gardens.  Some of the early plants are starting to bloom, so that put them off.”  He raised his hand to touch one of the scratches on his face and winced.

“And the huntress?”

“Sent me ahead while she and the rest held them off.  Told me to raise the reserves and the mages for aid.  Said there would be more, even if they finished off this batch.”

“Did she say when to expect her?”

“No,” said the man. 

“Well,” said the woman, leaning back.  “Consider me informed.  I would offer you a place to stay, but…”

“I am used to sleeping outside, among the hunters,” said the man, “and I’m familiar with the needs of mages.”  He smiled, something that was probably supposed to be charming.  “You aren’t the last person I need to talk to, regardless.”

“Thank you,” said the woman.  “I hope you find your way there in good time.”  She flicked her fingers, and the door opened. 

“Thank you, ma’am,” said the man. 

As soon as the man was gone, she stood up and started pacing.  A minute later, she snapped her fingers.  At once, a transparent figure appeared in the middle of the room.  It was shaped like a boy. 

“What do you think?” asked the woman. 

The transparent boy wrinkled his nose.  “I couldn’t smell any other spirits on him,” he said.  “If he was near so many that the huntress had to run, he’d reek of it, flowers or not.”

“That’s what I thought,” the woman said, nodding.  “But then, what’s his plan?  A messenger to the Lodge would expose his lie quick enough.”

“Unless the messenger was killed,” said the boy, bouncing on his heels.  “That’s easy, too.”

“Still.  Motivation?”

“Maybe he wants to kill a messenger?”

“Seems unlikely.  Can you follow him?”

“From a distance,” said the spirit.  “He did run into some blood blossoms sometime recent, so at least there’s that to his story.”  He stuck out his tongue. 

The woman nodded.  “Do it.”

The boy faded from view.  

.

Danny was not a particularly strong spirit, all things considered, nor an old one.  Still, he was proud to say that he was good at what he did and reliable.  The first and best weapon in Mage Jasmine’s arsenal, the scourge of her enemies, her protector.  

Most humans were blind and deaf to spirits, this one was no exception, given that he didn’t notice Danny in the room while he was talking to Jazz.  Another point against him being one of the huntress’s trainees.  Either that, or he was a really good actor.  

Even so, Danny decided to be prudent (that was a word Jazz liked to throw at him a lot) and make himself even more invisible than usual, enough so that even trained mages and hunters would be hard-pressed to spot him.  

Interestingly, the man did not go to the other mage towers, another point for him being a fraud.  Instead, he wove away, towards the edges of the city.  

Danny flitted between shadows, using them to conserve energy.  Thunder rumbled overhead, but there was no rain yet.  Danny hummed with it.  Perhaps if he found out what this man was up to quickly, he could get permission from Jazz to go play with the storm spirits.  

The man slipped into a doorway and Danny, not wanting to lose him, followed quickly, pushing past the discomfort the man’s lingering perfume of blood blossoms gave him.  

Abruptly, the scent of blood blossoms was no longer a lingering perfume, but something present and overwhelming.  

Danny existence screamed, high-pitched and inaudible to human ears.  

“I did everything you asked,” said the thin man, quiet and nervous.  

“So you did,” said a smoother, deeper voice.  “Sir Kay will provide your payment.  Sir Oh, the runes.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Danny could feel them being written, outside the ring of flowers.  He could feel them, he could feel them, he could feel them.  

This was wrong, he didn’t want this.  Only three people had ever bound him with magic like this before and he’d let them.  Jazz was the only mage he’d made contract with, and that wasn’t going to change, no, no, no, no, no.  No matter how much the circle pulled on him.  He wouldn’t.  

“Lord Alfa,” said one of the mage-knights, sounding frightened.  

Good.  Good.  He should be frightened.  Danny might not be a strong spirit, but he’d been born of bottled lightning, cursed ice, one of the most horrific magic accidents of the decade, and a human death.  He was not something to be taken lightly.  He was not something to be bound with petty tricks.  He was not something that could be made to obey without sacrifice.  

The flowers kept back his ice, kept back the fury of his voice, but they were still there, and he would let these fools know that even the very blood of spring could not hold him back forever.  Those flowers would wither and fade and die and then all that was between them and him were a few lines of enchanted chalk.  

Danny could deal with magic circles.  

But then there was a very different pull, and Danny found himself in Jazz’s office again.  The tapestry of his summoning circle was spread out on the floor, the silver thread burning in the dark.  The blood soaking the fabric gradually disappeared as the magic took its price.  

“Jazz!” said Danny, worried.  He came up short against the barrier of the summoning circle.  

“Oh,” said Jazz.  “Thank goodness.”  She looked faint.  Her closed fist was still bleeding copiously.  

“Jazz,” said Danny, looking at all the blood, “why?”

Jazz swallowed.  “I heard you screaming, little brother.  Gentle gods, I know I shouldn’t have, but I did.”

Danny stayed silent.  They both knew he wasn’t really her little brother, no matter how much they both pretended.  But he had been born from her real younger brother’s painful death, and he’d been given his name by someone who didn’t know any better.  There was a connection there, and power.

“You need a healer,” said Danny, instead.  

Jazz breathed in through her nose.  “Yes, I suppose I do.  Will you fetch one?”

“As soon as you let me out,” said Danny, poking the barrier.  

“As out contract still stands,” said Jazz, “I release you to do my bidding.”  She snapped the fingers of her uninjured hand.  

Danny flicked over to her, examining her briefly.  “I’ll be back soon,” he promised.  He reached out, and his hand passed through hers.  “Thank you for saving me.”

“Careful about thanking people.  Someone might think you aren't a real spirit.”

Danny arranged his features in a smile.  The words struck a little too close to a fantasy he’d often had.  “Wouldn’t be wise of them.”  

He reached into the distance and vanished.