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a-whispering-echo · 2 months ago

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Nightmare - Crown Prince of Durmous

Durmous - aka, the place the story is set in! - is the largest and most prosperous kingdom, famous for its robust economy, advanced infrastructure, and diplomacy. It’s a central hub for trade and intellectual pursuits, known for its universities and libraries, which attract scholars and diplomats from far and wide.

Customs & Culture: Durmous values peace and stability, with a strong emphasis on unity and legacy. Marriages are often arranged between nobles to keep alliances strong, but the kingdom is known for its tolerance and open-mindedness, particularly regarding individual freedoms. Durmous celebrates an annual festival in the spring, honouring life and renewal, which often includes public feasts, games, and the sharing of traditional songs and stories.

Religion: While the people of Durmous are free to practice any faith, the kingdom generally honours the Celestials, a pantheon representing wisdom, justice, and compassion. They believe the stars guide the fate of royalty, and it’s common to consult astrologers on major decisions.

Royalty: Nym, Nightmare’s mother and the ruling King, is wise and forward-thinking, renowned for her strength and diplomacy. She has a strategic mind and encourages intellectual and cultural growth. Nightmare, the eldest prince, has one sibling, Dream, who has a more emotional and idealistic temperament.

Architecture: Durmous boasts dark stone castles with high, spired turrets and elaborate gothic designs. The structures have pointed arches, intricate stained glass windows, and iron detailing. Buildings are arranged in an open, sweeping formation around the palace, giving a sense of controlled elegance rather than claustrophobic defence. Courtyards and gardens feature twisted, elegant iron benches and statues of mythical beasts.

Clothing: Durmous fashions lean toward heavy, rich fabrics like velvet, silk, and brocade in dark jewel tones—deep purples, emeralds, and midnight blues. The wealthy favour sweeping cloaks and high-collared coats with elaborate embroidery and gems. They love long sleeves, tall boots, and rings with dark stones, reflecting a sense of mystery. Even in common clothing, Durmous citizens prefer dark tones, which plays well with darker dyes like indigo and crimson from locally grown grapes and fruits. This makes Dream, with his preference for bright yellows and blues, unusual.

Climate: The climate is temperate but misty, with frequent fog rolling in from the mountains, making mornings and evenings cool. The temperate climate makes it perfect for growing rich fruits like apples, blackberries, and grapes, which are the kingdom’s main exports. Wines from Durmous are prized for their dark, full-bodied flavours, often enriched with spices traded from distant lands.

Diet: Durmous’s diet focuses on fruits, cheeses, pastries, dark bread, and preserved meats, with a special fondness for wine and cider. They’re known for their vineyards and orchards, with wines and ciders aged to a rich, complex depth. Meals tend to be hearty but reserved—Durmous citizens are sophisticated in their preferences, enjoying quality over variety.

Fauna & Flora: The plants and herbs native to Durmous include hemlock, belladonna, elderberries, and sage. The landscape around the castle is dotted with thorny rose bushes, ivy, and climbing blackberries, which reflect the dark and enigmatic culture. Animals in the kingdom include ravens, foxes, and large black hounds. The people of Durmous also dye their fabrics in hues taken from these plants, giving their clothing an earthy, moody tone.

Nightmare is seen as a cruel man. he is cold, dark, and drawn to all things macabre. More than one person has called him ‘evil’ before, a creature borne of complete darkness and negativity. it was widely believed that as a child, he was swapped out for a changeling. Nightmare doesn’t know why people see him the way they do; he doesn’t realise anything’s wrong? he’s just quiet, and prefers time to himself.

he enjoys reading a great deal, and spends most of his days in the library, reading books, playing the grand piano, writing, or tending to needle work. he is naturally very smart and book savvy, but less understanding of social circumstances.

He also seem to just KNOW things that people don’t, he KNOWS secrets you’ve never told people, and he can and WILL hold them over your head if needs be. there’s no doubt he will be a GREAT leader.

Nightmare used to escape the castle grounds as a child to take a book and climb a tree, to read alone, undisturbed by his hand staff or his brother who wants to play.

Both Dream and Nightmare dislike their Mother, the King, but constantly vie for her attention.

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throneofsmut · 1 year ago

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Bound In Flames - Part 9

Eris Vanserra × Archeron-Sister-Reader || WC: 3.4k || Warnings: Mentions of Death and Trauma

Summary: Feyre and her younger sister go hunting in the forest behind their family's cottage and go through life changing experiences.

****

You didn’t realize you had fallen asleep, but it couldn’t have been for long because from the window in Eris’s cabin—your cabin—you could still see the night sky and lit bonfires in the distance. You were still in the same position you were in when you had finished fucking.

You on top of him with him still inside of you.

Eris still had a hand on your hip while the other rubbed lazily across your back.

Slowly pushing up, your hands braced against his muscular chest, “How long was I asleep?” you whispered, your voice still thick with sleep.

He didn’t respond, he only gave you a small smile and continued to rub his hands along your thighs.

“How long was I asleep?” You asked again, and noticed a hint of red in his cheeks. “You were asleep too?”

Eris let out a small laugh, “Until you started squirming trying to get more comfortable.”

You let out a small laugh of your own, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You can go back to sleep if you want. I’ll wake you up before I go back.” Something like anger and pain seemed to flash across his face, his eyes, at the last four words he spoke.

“Before you go back. . . Under the Mountain?”

He nods. Once. Tightly.

Your hands cupped his face, making him meet your gaze, “I don’t want to sleep then. Let’s spend our last night together.”

Those amber eyes, his eyes, searched your face, for what you don’t know, but then he was kissing you. Wordlessly he pulled away and then he was carrying you to the bathroom and sat you atop the counter.

Watching him as he filled the tub with water, added soaps and oils to it. Then he grabbed bottles of hair products and towels before setting them on the chair near the tub then carried you to the tub and placed you in it. He followed in right after and silently washed your hair and skin. Placing soft kisses as he went and you did the same for him. When you were done he dried you both off and then you dressed.

You were waiting for him to finish lacing up his boots when he caught you yawning, “Are you sure you don’t want to sleep, little flame?”

“I’m sure,” you nod. “Do you have any food here? I’m starving.”

“No, but, there is an orange grove and grape vineyard a mile back.”

You arch a brow, “What kind of grapes?”

“Green.”

“Autumn or Spring?”

“Autumn,” he smirks, “why?”

“I haven’t had Autumn grapes in years and they’re my favorite.”

He laughs softly, “So, no, oranges?”

“I mean, I love oranges too, but I don’t want to peel them. I hate how my hands feel after. And Autumn grapes are always crispy.”

He walks up to you, placing his hands on your hips, “I’ll peel them for you.”

But before you get a chance to respond he leads you out of the cabin and the crisp autumn night breeze hits your face. Eris puts his arm over your shoulders, tucking you into him and one of your hand fists the back of his tunic as if he’ll vanish. As he leads you down a trail, towards the vineyard and grove.

“So your favorite color is blue and autumn green grapes are your favorite, you love oranges. . . What else?” Eris asks.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. Everything.”

“I don’t know anything about you. So how about a question for a question ?” You offer.

“All right, fair enough.”

“What’s your favorite color?” you ask.

“Red.”

You snort, “That’s not surprising.”

“Family?” He asks.

“My mother died when I was young and my father doesn’t know about me. . . at least he acts like he doesn’t.”

Your mate leans down and places another kiss atop your head, “I’m sorry, little flame.”

“Me too,” you whisper. “Anyways, what about you?”

“My mother and father are both still alive. No sisters. Six younger brothers, but two died years ago.”

“Lucien told me about that. Where you. . . one of the ones—“

“One of the ones holding him down while his lover was executed? No.” He looks over his shoulder, “Who do you think got word to Tamlin and slowed down my other brothers?”

“Does Lucien know?” you ask softly.

“If he does, he doesn’t show it.” He answers. “What about you, any siblings?”

“No,” you breathe. “But, after my mother died, another family took me in and they already had three daughters. They became my family or the closest thing I had to one. The three of them were like my sisters—they are my sisters.”

“Older or younger?”

“All older.”

“Are you close with them?”

“Uh, no, not really. Just with the youngest one out of the three. The two oldest ones were closer to each other and the third one and I were closer.” You confess and some part of you wishes you had tried more to get along with Nesta and Elain. To get closer. Since you might not have the chance to later. “What about you and your brothers? Are you close with them?”

Eris lets out a bitter laugh, “Gods, no. When we were younger I tried to protect them from our father, before he could turn them into cruel, sick bastards—“

“Like him?” You finish for him.

“Like him,” he nods. “Then when we got older, I had to keep them in check,” another bitter laugh, “while playing the cold, cruel and calculating heir of autumn.” He stops. Then moves to stand in front of you and struggles to meet your eyes. “You’re going to hear things about me, if you haven’t already and—“

“I’ve done things too,” you tell him. “And I’m going to do more.”

You’ve already made your peace with doing whatever you have to do to kill Amarantha and those who get in your way. For your mother, for the summer court faerie, for Lucien and anyone else she’s hurt. And for you.

“What are you talking about. . . what have you done ?” His large hands cup your face, tilting your head up, making you look at him. “Talk to me. . . please,” he says. Softly. Gently.

“We become monsters, to survive monsters.” You say deathly soft and Eris’s brows furrow as he searches your face for more answers, but it’s too late. You’ve already put on the cold mask you’ve worn for years.

“What happened? What have you d— What are you going to do?”

You shook your head, “I won’t ask you what you’ve done or what you’ll do and neither should you.” You hardly recognize your own voice. Except for the coldness of it. The sharpness of it.

Eris let go of your face and took one, two, three steps back. Away from you. Then he runs his right hand through his hair before covering his mouth with the back of it. He lets out a shaky breath, “Do you not trust me—did I do something?”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, you look at him. Really look at him and realize that his hands are shaking, his heart is racing and his breathing is uneven.

He’s nervous. Scared.

Scared of what you’ll say and the fact that you haven’t said anything is only making it worse. You blink once and you can see yourself through his eyes. Your head is cocked in a way that is more animalistic than anything. Like a predator sizing up its prey. You blinked again and now you’re looking at him through your own eyes again.

Shaking your head, “No, Eris, you haven’t done anything.” You tell him, hoping to soothe his nerves.

He lets out a sharp breath. His hands have stopped shaking and his heart isn’t racing anymore. “So you don’t trust me.” He’s says it more to himself than to you.

“I never said that.”

“Then what is it?” He says feigning nonchalance, but you can still hear the doubt lacing his words.

“There’s no point in me telling you, when you’ll see it,” you admit.

He prowled closer to you until you were chest to chest, needing to crane your neck back to look him in the eyes because of your height difference. You forgot how tall he was—how powerfully built he was.

A muscle in his jaw feathered before he spoke, “If you’re not going to tell me what you’re talking about, then tell me something real.” Not a request, a command.

“I’m scared,” you whisper. His brows furrow and his eyes widen, that wasn’t at all what he had expected you to say. “I’m scared of how you’ll feel when you find out about the real me. . . When you see the real me. Who I am.”

It’s no secret that none of the seven courts are really friends, but your mother used to tell you about how feared she and her brother were. Her twin. He is the most powerful High Lord in history and she is—was—the most powerful female in history. And how feared their inner circle is.

Your mother was second in command to her brother. His third in command is more powerful than them but her power is different. Otherworldly. Their cousin is his fourth and she has the power of truth. The general of his armies and his spymaster are the most powerful Illyrian’s in history. Each needing seven siphons to hold the raw killing power they possess. And his spymaster is also a shadowsinger.

You inherited your mother and her brother’s magic and then some from your father, but you had also been born with the power of fire. You used to ask her why you had fire and she didn’t, if she was from Night and my father wasn’t from Autumn or the Day Court. And she would simply kiss the palms of your hands and say, “Is the sun not a star.”

She always told you, you were blessed by the Mother and the Cauldron for having so much power. But, as you got older you realized she said that because you’d been born with a target on your back. Which was why she trained you the way she did.

You let out a few sharp breaths, trying to will away the tears pooling in your eyes, to no avail. “When you find out what I did and. . . what I’m going to do. What I can do. What I will do.” Your throat working as you spoke your last fear, eyes squeezing shut, “I’m scared that you’ll die because of me. Just for being my mate. . . and I won’t be able to do anything about.”

Your eyes are still squeezed shut as you feel Eris gently, so gently, tuck your hair behind your now rounded ears. His fingers tracing the rounded curve of them so softly. And it’s all you can do to not flinch beneath his touch.

You hadn’t realized you were holding your breath until he whispered, “The real you. . . the real you, that has pointed ears.”

Not exactly a question, but you nodded your head anyways.

“Can you show me?” His voice was gentle like his touch had been moments ago.

You shake your head, “Even if I wanted to, I can’t.”

“Can you tell me, why?”

“It’s a blood spell.” Your voice was barely audible, you only knew he heard you because of how close we were. “My mother made it so that only someone on her side of the family could undo it. I can’t do it.” You left out the part that there’s only one person alive in the entire world that could do it and you don’t even know if he would do it. “I can show you my true form for a couple seconds, but the. . .“ Your voice trailed off as you remembered how much pain you felt when you showed yourself to Raihn. How it intensified until it was all you knew. Until it nearly killed you.

“But, what?”

Eris’s voice brought you back to the present and you shook your head, “But, the pain I’d feel, would be all consuming. Searing. So hot that it felt impossibly cold, until it killed me. . . I’ve only done it once before and was surprised I survived. I doubt I would survive it a second time.”

The only reason you survived then was because Raihn had channeled some of his power into you. And continued throughout the next couple days. Since the blood spell suppresses your powers. You can only feel that you still have your magic—barely—but you can’t access it. Except for one, but it’s not much. It feels like a drop instead of a vast ocean like it used to.

“Why are you scared of how I’ll feel when I see you? Did the blood spell affect your physical appearance?” Eris asked.

You nodded your head, “I still look the same, but my coloring is different. This isn’t my true hair or eye color.”

“Do your sisters know?”

“No,” you breathed, “and they’d probably hate me. For lying and being fae.”

“Look at me.”

You shook your head.

“Little flame, look at me.” His voice a plea and prayer.

So you did.

“Because you told me something real, I’ll tell you something real,” his throat bobbing, “You're capable of hurting me in ways I'm not sure you've even begun to fathom. I might be skilled enough to land a death blow, but you alone have the power to fucking destroy me. And I would let you because you are everything to me. Do you understand that ?” His voice raw with emotion.

“Yes,” you said softly.

You didn’t even realize you had started crying again until Eris was wiping them away. “I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, you’re my mate. Mine.”

You had no more words for him—your eyes saying what you couldn’t put into words. A new sort of vulnerability as you laid yourself bare for him. Eris. My mate. Mine. A challenge thrown down. Waiting to see how he would react.

Eris Pov:

How many others had run from this part of her, not being able to handle all that she is? I hated them all merely for putting the question in her eyes.

I love her as she is. All that she is.

I wouldn’t run from her. No, I only met her stare as I let her see all of me too. Her throat bobbed before her lips curved up into a smirk. My eyes falling to her lips, tracking the movement and then back up to her eyes. Without even thinking my hands settled on her hips, her cheeks flushing from my touch, her pupils flaring.

I see you, I silently conveyed to her. And I like all of it.

Likewise, her smirk seemed to say.

Dragging my eyes from the smirk that made the floor a little uneven. I gripped her hips a little tighter with hands that were surprisingly shaky. Then my mouth was on hers. Claiming her.

I begrudgingly pulled away from her when my stomach growled, quietly cursing myself while she laughed at me. “Come on, let’s get the grapes and oranges.”

****

Reader POV:

Eris winnowed you back to the cabin, his arms full of grapes and oranges along two plates piled with meat and sauce and bread, and a bottle of red sparkling wine—he said he would hold it all.

Eris was hesitant to take it, but Bayne—the owner of the vineyard and orange grove—insisted. You were the one that had knocked on his door. The last time you saw him you were eight years old, yet something like recognition flared in his eyes when he took you in. It took him a moment to respond when you asked if you could pick some grapes and oranges, but he said yes and went back into his home. So Eris and you went about picking them when he came out with two plates in hand. Startling when he saw you were with Eris.

It didn’t help that, Eris immediately stood between you. Walking around him, to hand Bayne a few gold coins—more than what was needed—but he had always been kind to you and your mother. He politely declined and insisted you take the plates. Bowing your head in thanks and took them, Eris’s voice cut between your silent interaction. “Why?” he asked.

Bayne never took his eyes off you as he said sadly, “She reminds me of someone. . . of an old friend who passed a few years ago.” An old friend—your mother.

Eris didn’t say anything else as you handed him the two plates you were holding and placed the gold coins in his hand and thanked him again. Then Eris winnowed you back to the cabin. And you both ate your plates in comfortable silence. You sat atop the kitchen counter and he remained standing, next to you.

He finished his plate before you did and kept true to his word. He silently went about rinsing the grapes and peeling oranges before plating them between you. And once you finished your plate, he took it and washed it, before pushing the plate of fruit closer to you. Moaning at the taste of them and he laughed softly. “Good?”

“So fucking good.” You said around a mouthful of orange, which earned you another mirthy laugh from him.

****

You had moved back to the bedroom, your head settled on his chest, his hand playing with your hair as the other rested on the small of your back.

Huffing as you looked out the window.

“What’s wrong, little flame,” he asked.

“It’s almost dawn,” you grumbled. Which meant it was almost time for him to go back Under the Mountain.

He kissed the top of your head, “We’ll see each other again. Soon.” He promised.

And he had no idea how true that was.

But, right now, you wanted him. No, needed him. You needed him. To feel him, incase you wouldn’t have the chance to again.

He didn’t stop you as you moved to straddle him. Not as you pulled at his tunic—a silent request for him to take it off, and he did. He didn’t say anything as you leaned down, kissing his lips, his neck, his chest. The only thing you heard was his heart pounding, when your fingers lightly skimmed where his skin and his pants met. You weren’t sure he was breathing and just to see what he’d do, you palmed him through his pants.

Eris barked a curse.

You laughed quietly, kissing his chest again, and then swirled your tongue around his nipple, teasingly, letting him know what was to come.

And when you laid your palm flat on him again, “You’re mine,” you breathed.

Eris’s breathing started again, jagged and savage. Feral. You flicked open the top button of his pants. “I’m yours,” he ground out.

Another button popped free. Then the third, but then you felt him before you heard him.

Raihn.

It’s nearly dawn, his deep gruff voice sounded in your head. He was pissed and now so were you.

You growled and Eris just stared at you confused. Shaking your head at him and before you could tell Raihn to go back to the Manor, his growl shook the entire cabin and seconds later he had broke down the door and was in the bedroom. Snarling and baring his teeth.

It was all Eris could do to put you between him and the wall. His body a solid wall between you and the white wolf. Raihn’s eyes fell to the dagger Eris was clutching, his knuckles white from the grip. Then the wolf’s eyes tracked the hand Eris had placed on you protectively. Raihn cocked his head, his snout twitching once, twice, scenting us. Scenting Eris and he growled, baring his teeth in a snarl.

Eris readied himself for the massive wolf’s attack, but before he could do anything you snarled at Raihn, “I’m gonna kill you!” Raihn only growled in response.

Trying to make your way to him, but Eris was holding you back, Raihn noticed and took a step forward. He snapped at Eris in warning and Eris to his credit didn’t falter, he only readjusted his grip on his dagger. You rolled your eyes, pushing past Eris, standing right in front of Raihn, “I’m gonna kill you!” Pinching the bridge of your nose, “I told you to stay in my room, you know it’s not safe out here for you. They’re hunting you!”

He let out an annoyed huff.

“And you can’t just barge in like that, where are your manners ?” You said scolding him like a mother would a child—your hands now on your hips—and he whined. You turned back to look at Eris, still shaking your head at Raihn, and he—Eris— was just gaping at you.

For other parts: Bound In Flames Series Masterlist

part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6 part 7 part 8 part 10 part 11 part 12

Taglist: @historygeekqueen @cat-or-kitten @yeeyeebabe @khaleesihavilliard @impossibelle @sleepylunarwolf @cutie232 @meepmeep-318 @belledawnidk @fandomrejects @wasntpriscilla @brandywineeeee @consultinghuntresshasthetardis @thescooby-gang @annblvd @poetryinshadows @isa1b2h3 @tele86 @esposadomd @fabulouslyflamboyant5 @glaciuswduo @laceandsuch @hnyclover @spookyboogyuniverse @kennedy-brooke @minaethrym @lili-flower03

*If you would like to be added to the taglist for this story or to my general taglist, please either reply to this post or send me a message.

#acotar fanfiction #eris vanserra #eris vanserra acotar #eris vanserra fanfic #eris vanserra smut #eris vanserra x reader #eris acotar #eris fanfic #eris smut #eris x reader #bound in flames #eris x you #eris vanserra x you #eris x y/n #eris vanserra x y/n

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flightfoot · 10 days ago

Note

Do you have any good fic recs on Ladynoir. Them just hanging out or being angsty? They don’t have to be long either

Hopefully these fic recs work out for you!

Veritas by writer_slk

The latest akumatized villain is filling the mouths of its victims with criticisms and complaints. If left unchecked, every relationship in Paris will be put at risk. While Ladybug and Chat Noir are trying to stop the villain, Ladybug learns something about her partner that she didn’t want to know and then says something she didn’t mean to say.

---

Imaginary Friend by Engineerd

Alya went back to typing on her screen. “You’re right,” she agreed. “All that pressure? No wonder Ladybug made herself a boyfriend.” “Chat Noir is not her boyfriend,” Marinette scoffed. In which Ladybug summons Chat Noir as her lucky charm one day. (She keeps summoning him.)

---

The Son of my Enemy by Saccha

Cat Noir never wanted to be a villain, but he doesn't have a choice. Ladybug wishes she could save him. A reverse love square, villain!Cat Noir AU.

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you deserve to be loved and you deserve what you are given by thescuttlebug

Marinette is terrified, suddenly. She’s not like this. She’s not this kind of alpha, to get her head turned by any pretty pheromones she trips over. She’s not--she’s not disloyal, she’s not inconstant. Chat smells like moonlight, like the sudden shock of night air and the terrifying rush of leaping out into the empty dark, like deserted city sidewalks and unfamiliar corners: something midnight-metallic, something strange, something wild. Nothing like Adrien. Not a single note in common. She’s not like this. She’s not like this. He smells-- He smells-- “Ladybug,” Chat croaks, still staring at her. He smells stray.

---

Evergreen by tanyatakaishi

Everything was gone. The entire cityscape had been obliterated, leaving them in a valley of trees. Blue mountains, peaks dressed in snow, stretched tall in the distance and at their foot lay an array of vineyards, miles wide with no civilization in sight. AKA: two heroes lost alone in the woods with no cheese.

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As the dust settles by Pengirl91

After Ladybug lost everything and yet her partner stood by her, she realized what she had been trying to lie to herself about for months. She is undoubtedly in love with him. The only problem is that she's terrified of what that could lead to and there's a monumental task ahead of them before it might be safe to act on her feelings for him... more than she already has. Post Strike Back with my hopes, wishes, and predictions for season 5 as I wait with great impatience. Now complete.

The meat of this story is mostly a SentiAdrien fic. Adrien discovers that Gabriel is Hawkmoth, so Gabriel orders him to stay silent about what he found out, as well as giving orders to help him with plans to obtain the Miraculous he needs. Luckily, he doesn’t know that Adrien is Chat Noir...

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I (Wish I) Knew You by @buggachat

University has been hard on Marinette. Making new friends and maintaining her grades is a lot easier said than done when she has to disappear at odd times to fight akumas. She's struggling, and with Alya away with family and Adrien painfully out of reach, she's never felt lonelier. If only she could talk to someone who really understood her struggles... but it's not like Chat Noir would know anything about loneliness. Right?

Nice aged-up Ladynoir fic here! Marinette’s struggling with losing friends and lovers because of her flakiness due to her superhero activities, until at last she breaks down. Thankfully, Chat Noir’s there at least - and it soon turns out he’s got problems of his own that he’s been hiding.

There’s some fluff and angst, it’s mostly just the two of them navigating life, dealing with their feelings and talking things out.

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To Have Loved by @trishacollins

Adrien struggles with the loss of children he never had, with a life he remembers living but that wasn't real. The only person who understands him is Ladybug, his wife and his children's mother. Sleeping alone is such an empty feeling. Together, they might make a start at healing. Or they might just make a new disaster.

I love Jubilation angst. Depending on how "real" that timeline felt, waking up could be devastating - and Chat WAS certainly devastated in that episode. It's akin to the Pevensie kids in Narnia growing up, becoming rulers, and then tumbling out of the wardrobe a couple decades later, the same age at which they left. Of course Ladybug and Chat Noir would cling to each other afterwards, the only other person who remembers that imaginary timeline.

That's not all this story entails, however. Gabriel isn't too happy about Adrien sneaking out as much as he has been, and he WILL get answers, one way or another...

---

in which chat noir comes up with an awesome gift for ladybug by @mixelation

If his Lady wants ultra rare Adrien Agreste merch, then that’s what his Lady will get! Written for the Miraculous Ladybug Secret Santa exchange.

This was really sweet and I love how mixelation wrote Adrien's internal narration! You really viscerally understood his thoughts and feelings. It had some of the intimacy of a first person perspective, but well, in third person.

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Mamma Mia! by @ladynoirfanao3

When Marinette discovers she is pregnant, she is distressed to realize any of the three men she slept with in the recent past could be the father; Chat Noir, Ladybug’s partner and ex with whom she had gone through a tearful breakup - the mysterious Cat Walker, Ladybug’s rebound - or Adrien Agreste, Marinette’s current boyfriend. Bit of a twist on the base concept of Mamma Mia, where she doesn't realize all three potential fathers are, in fact, the same man.

So this is a fun little fic. I loved seeing Adrien and Marinette independently wrestle with the situation - Adrien, with maybe being the father of his former girlfriend's children (but maybe not), and Marinette, with needing to tell her former and current boyfriends that they might or might not be the father, and having to deal with a potential change in their relationship because of that.

Oh yeah, this fic is rated M, but the sexual content is relatively mild. The foreplay is detailed, but the actual sex is just implied.

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Bend the World Around It by @kasienda

“Tell me it was real." She can’t look at him. She can barely stand the pain in his voice. She definitely can’t face it. “It wasn’t.” He shakes his head, and turns to her - his eyes swirling in their intensity. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Tell me that you were there. We were there together, having the same dream.” She squeezes her eyes shut. She wants to lie to him. She needs to lie to him. But she can’t. Lying would be like it never happened. But it did happen. And if it’s all they get to have, she wants him to know it. “I think we were having the same dream,” she whispers, unable to meet his eyes.

So this is an adorable Jubilation aftermath fic, with Ladybug and Chat Noir both mourning the loss of what only they remember, of a dream that never was. And them deciding that screw it, it may not have been real to anyone else, but it was real to them. They remember those years together, and they want to live together, if only during the times when they can afford to be missing from home. They remember being happily married, and crave that life.

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(Drag) Kings And Queens by @entity9silvergen

Marinette sees one of her commissions on drag performer Chat Noir and a friendship is born. If only she could get her girlfriend Adriana to go to one of his performances… Adrien plays with a new side of himself through drag with some help from his new online friend Ladybug. If only his newfound confidence could help him work up the courage to tell his boyfriend Marino about it… Closeted T4T Drag AU based on buggachat’s tumblr post with lots of extra identity shenanigans.

So like entity says, this fic is based on one of @buggachat's tumblr posts.

Though it actually manages to be even MORE queer since both Adrien and Marinette are trans.

It's an utter delight! The drag performances are a treat, and I love the identity shenanigans XD. It's just a lot of fun.

---

Phantom Pains (and other hints of you) by @buggachat

She couldn't remember anything. Not where she was going, where she'd been, why she was in this stairwell, or even her own name. But as she watched the blood pool at the base of the steps, she at least knew one thing for certain: the corpse was hers. Getting used to being dead was going to have its growing pains. — “Well, unlucky lady,” Chat Noir greeted with a bow, “Can I get your name?” “Didn’t we just talk about this? I told you, I don’t remember it.” “And I told you,” he reminded, “that you can just pick whatever fits you best.” — Ladybug and Chat Noir may not remember who they once were, but at least the two lost souls can find comfort in each other's company. But as Ladybug starts uncovering more and more memories of her life, letting the past go doesn't seem as easy as Chat Noir claims it to be.

So this is a beautiful, sweet, tragic love story of two lost souls wandering around with each other, yet with Ladybug still desperately wanting to be found, to remember who she was - and wanting to know why Chat so adamantly wanted to stay amnesiac. It's got some neat worldbuilding, and some fantastic prose. It's just a really nice little story!

#ask #miraculous ladybug #ml fanfic rec #ladynoir #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng

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smidge-j · 1 month ago

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Back on my train map making part three

I have previously designed hypothetical train maps for the Christchurch metro area, and the West Coast Regional Area, both in Aotearoa.

I'm back with a third hypothetical map, this time for the Queenstown Lakes Regional Area.

[A metro style map of the Queenstown Lakes Area and descriptions of each line.

A yellow line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, Lake Hayes, then northeast to Arrowtown and Cardrona Ski Area, then north to terminate in Wānaka.

A red line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, Lake Hayes, then east through the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell. There is a split in the line, with one branch going south to Alexandra, and the other branch going north alongside Lake Dunstan to Luggate, then northwest to Albert Town, then west to terminate in Wānaka.

A brown line goes east from Queenstown to Frankton & Airport, then south to Jack's Point, then continues south alongside Lake Wakatipu to Kingston and Invercargill.

A purple line follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu west from Queenstown to Fernhill, then north to terminate in Glenorchy.

A green line goes west from Remarkables Ski Are to Jacks Point, then northwest to Kelvin Heights, then north across the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, then northeast to Arthurs Point, then east to Coronet Ski Area and terminating in Arrowtown.

A blue line goes south from Lake Hāwea to Albert Town, then west to Wānaka, then west alongside Lake Wānaka to terminate at Treblecone Ski Area.

End description of each line]

My thoughts

Although the region has a small permanent population, there are around 1.5 million tourists annually to the towns of Queenstown and Wānaka and the four ski areas. With so many tourists, I think a train system would work incredibly well, as most tourists fly in, and currently need to either rent a car or use the limited bus network to get around. A train system would be a good alternative.

I tried to think about the geography of the routes when designing this map, as the area is very mountainous. The only place that would need a major tunnel is the section between Arrowtown and the Cardrona Ski Area, as there is a full mountain range in between. The only other significantly challenging bit of terrain would be the Kawarau Gorge between Cromwell and Lake Hayes, and the track would have to have steep gradients and sharp curves to fit in the winding gorge.

Speaking of the Kawarau gorge, there could be additional stops through the gorge for the many tourist activities along the way, from the bungy jumping and white water rafting, to vineyards and LOTR filming locations. I haven't included those stops on the map, I've only included population areas and ski fields.

With the ski stations, I'm envisioning that the stations would be at the base of the mountains, with cable car, chairlift, or gondola access up to the actual ski fields.

The brown line south to Kingston could connect to the historical railway in Kingston, which could once again connect to Invercargill, and the rest of Southland. Similarly, the red branch line from Cromwell to Alexandra could connect with the historical rail there, and reconnect to Dunedin through Central Otago. (Did you know that Aotearoa used to have a fairly comprehensive rail network, and only a fraction of it remains today? Doesn't that just grind your gears? It certainly grinds my gears, but that's a separate post.)

The blue line could also extend north alongside Lake Wānaka all the way up to Makaroa, and then potentially across the Southern Alps to the West Coast, but that would be significantly more challenging geographically, with far less population

I don't like how empty the top left corner of the map looks, but there's nothing I could put there. The area turns into wilderness very quickly, forming part of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. Maybe if this was an actual map of a real train system, that space could be used for a logo or a key, or something, but because this is a hypothetical map made by an amateur cartographer and train enthusiast I am going to leave it blank.

Anyway, this is all just a passion project, and as far as I know there are no official plans even remotely close to this, nor is it likely any time soon. I just enjoy trains and enjoy making maps for what could be, not what is.

#thanks for reading I know it's a lot of text #project trains #Trains #train station #Aotearoa #new zealand #map #cartography #graphic design #Queenstown #Wanaka #alt text is stored in the image

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phoenix-downer · 5 months ago

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Olympus Ascent

Sora was on top of the world.

No, literally. He suspected that the well-worn, often-used suitcase was doing more than just carrying clothes and toiletries; its steady weight was helping him stay grounded on this tall, windy mountain. That and his traveling companion, her red hair whipping back and forth, the skirt of her blue dress flapping loudly, her cheeks flushed with a combo of the climb, the climate, and excitement.

“Let's sit here and rest a while,” she said, one hand grasped firmly in Sora’s, the other clutching her wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with blue roses. The breeze up here was strong, ready to lift unsuspecting hats off of pretty redheads as it had once already, so she was right to be careful.

Here was a comfortable-enough looking spot of gray rock and green grass on the ascent to Mount Olympus, and Sora gratefully set the suitcase down and took a seat. Kairi soon joined him, finding his hand again and resting her other hand on the suitcase. Her breathing was hard at first, but gradually, it slowed down, as did his.

“Wow, the view from up here is incredible.” Her violet eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the rolling green hills, sapphire blue lakes, winding rivers fed by clear streams, multicolored autumn leaves swaying on trees, and vineyards full of ripe grapes. Human settlements dotted the landscape, and in the far, far distance below near Thebes, the sea sparkled.

The weather here was perfect, one of those sunny fall days that cools down enough at night to make cuddling by campfires pleasant but is warm enough during the day for short sleeves and summer dresses. The puffy, fluffy clouds provided just the right shade coverage, too.

Sora smiled softly, content to watch Kairi take it all in. As far as he was concerned, she was the best part of the view. Journeying with her was something he'd always dreamed of, seeing the worlds side-by-side, hand in hand. He kept having to pinch himself to make sure this was real. But one glance at Kairi's smiling, delighted face reminded him it was.

“To think, we made it up all that way on foot!” she said presently. “I can see why people think ascending a mountain is like ascending to the gods.”

“On this world, that actually is true.” Sora wondered if all the stories of gods living in high up places were various worlds’ ancestral memories of Mount Olympus, dating from when all the worlds were one World. Or maybe some of the other worlds had gods who lived on mountains, too. He hadn't really run into any, unless you counted Mushu (though he was more like a guardian spirit), but there were still so many worlds out there to see.

Kairi looked at him. “Oh, right, the gods of this world live on top of Olympus. I guess we'll be seeing them soon.” She thought about this for a moment, fiddling with her enchanted necklace as was her habit.

He nodded. “Herc will be sure to introduce us properly.”

She giggled into her hand, that delightful Kairi giggle he loved so much.

He tilted his head. “What?”

“It's just so funny to me, how casually you talk about such amazing things. I guess you're used to it, huh?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, right. I guess I don't really think about how weird or cool or awesome this stuff must seem to normal people.”

“So I'm just a normal person, hmmmm?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, her lips twitching.

Darn, he’d walked right into that trap.

“No, anything but!” he exclaimed, waving his hands in front of him. ”I mean you're not weird, you’re just…Different. I mean, special.” She was growing increasingly amused by his inability to get his foot out of his mouth. He groaned and rested his head in his hands. “You’re…Kairi,” he settled on at last.

“Uh-huh,” she said cheerfully as she stood, then clasped her hands behind her back. “So, Sora, what happens after we meet these gods?”

“I'll give you a tour of Olympus!” he said, springing to his feet. “There's the Courtyard when you first get there, and it's massive. Then there are the Corridors which take you to different areas, like the Secluded Forge, where you can make some really good weapons and armor. Oh, and there's the Cloud Ridge too, which is exactly what it sounds like. And all the way up at the top is the Apex! The gods have all their thrones there and stuff, and this big golden gate guards it.”

She tilted her head. “That's allowed? Us mere mortals have permission to explore the abode of the gods?”

He put his hands behind his head and nodded, grinning. “Comes with helping save their realm and all.”

“I thought so,” she said, smiling shyly. “To the people and gods here, you must be something special. A real hero.”

Heat crept up his cheeks, and then he pouted because he'd remembered something. “I wish, but Phil insists I'm only a junior hero.”

“Not to me you aren't. After what you did for me, I'd say you're the truest hero I've ever met. If giving your life for me doesn't make you a hero, I don't know what would.”

He was about to say something in response when she bounced up on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek.

It was just as well. He probably would've said something stupid again that would've ruined the moment, so his flustered silence and her knowing giggles spared him from that.

She picked up their suitcase with ease and handed it to him. He mutely took it, his face still bright red and his thoughts still scrambled.

“C’mon, my hero, we've got a mountain to finish climbing.”

With that she flounced off, turning back to grin and wink.

He grinned, too. “Yes, princess of my heart!”

It was a silly, sappy nickname that every single one of his friends would've teased him over, but going by Kairi's giggle, it made her very, very happy.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

————————————————————————

A/N: This story is dedicated to @apticho for doing the promo artwork for SoKai Week this year ❤️ thank you so much for doing it 🥺 It's such a wonderful, heartfelt piece, and I really appreciate it 🥹❤️

I really enjoyed writing this story because Olympus has such good thematic potential as a setting and I loved it in KH3 (all that ominous talk about Sora’s fate and then the field music on Mount Olympus as you ascended was perfection), flirty banter between Sora and Kairi is always fun to write, and it's such a blast to imagine them traveling the worlds together.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed!

#kingdom hearts #kh fanfiction #sokai #sokaiweek #sokaiweek2024 #sora #kairi #sora/kairi #sora x kairi #phoenix writes #phoenix-downer #romance #fluff #flirting #long post

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the-overreactress · 7 months ago

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Fellow Appalachia enthusiast! Which Gilmore Girls characters would thrive in Appalachia and what would they love best about it?

I love this question!!! So glad to see there are other Appalachian enthusiasts out there in the ether.

Luke would easily be the one to LOVE living in Appalachia. His quiet, unassuming nature fits the region best, I think. He'd own a diner in a small Appalachian town, go fishing on his off time, and live a cabin in the woods. As someone from an Appalachian town comparable to Stars Hollow, I remember the grumpy diner owner there fondly. (Holler!! Now I want to write a Gilmore Girls/Appalachian AU titled Stars Holler). Luke would THRIVE in Appalachia.

Lorelai and Rory feel slightly too city girl to live in a holler, but they would like Roanoke or Ashveille, I think. They take an annual pilgramge to Dollywood and Pigeon Forge and make fun of tourists together. They'd share an undying obsession with Dolly Parton and her incredible park food (seriously, Dollywood has the best park food.) Lorelai would appreciate and participate in Appalachia's long hand-crafting and quilting cultures. Imagine if she owned an Inn there and sourced all of the decor, bedding, and art from local artisans. Same goes for Sookie and the food. (Sookie and Luke would make amazing biscuits, ham, and collard greens!!)

Rory would love Appalachia's literary history. We already know her appreciation for William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Wolfe, etc. She'd appreciate the cultural landmarks of Appalachia (The AT, FoxFire, labor union history, etc.) more than the daily life there. I think it may bore her. This is why she'd like Asheville or Roanoke more than anywhere else. Both of those cities are full of artists and writers. Also, Roanoke is a local news haven.

I could only see Jess living there permanently in a city like Roanoke or Pittsburgh (which I'm choosing to include here because I feel sure he'd like it and its in PA). Places like Huntington, Morgantown, and Ashveille would remind him too much of Liz/TJ (hippy dippy druggy) for him to fully enjoy them. He would also be the type to visit Luke for a few days and revel in the quiet magnificence of the mountains. He reminds me a little of James Still, an Appalachian contemporary of the Beats. I could see him taking 6 months off from Truncheon, renting a cabin in the woods, and writing a book. Jess would appreciate the solitude of Appalachia the most. (I miss this aspect of it the most, myself.)

Characters who I think would love Appalachia: Lane (the live music), Richard (history buff, though he'd have a complex about it), Christopher (he'd love riding his motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway), Sookie & Jackson (the agriculture and food ways), and really, the enitre Stars Hollow Gang, especially Taylor. Liz and TJ strike me as WV types, Huntington or Morgantown. They can't afford Asheville (trust me, no one can.)

Characters who I think would hate Appalachia: Logan, Paris, and Emily. Emily might enjoy the vineyards, musuems, and things specifically tailored to wealthy, Northeastern visitors. I can see her calling most of it "quaint." Logan and Paris would be the ones to make cruel incest jokes. Sorry to all you Logan and Paris lovers, but that's completely true.

I hope I didn't miss anyone! This was a great ask, thank you :D

#gilmore girls #luke danes #lorelai gilmore #rory gilmore #jess mariano #ask

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annachum · 2 months ago

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Some 7 Rings Hell Royalty aesthetic lists

Pride

Huge gold statues, trophy cases, Mirror Halls, portraits of your ancestors and descendants, dark book shelves, ancient astronomy books, red capes and robes, apples, snakes, the weather, starry night sky

Wrath

Fire everywhere, horses, sand dunes, oasis, wild Plains, scorching mountains, the Grand Canyon, spices, orange silks, gold accessories

Gluttony

A sumptuous buffet, warm surroundings, tropical setting, lots of drinks, canine demons, yellow armors and capes, culinary magic, hearth magic, herbs

Greed

Banknotes, coins, banks, limousines, Circus tents, money trees, green royal garments, currency signs, stock market, financial charts

Lust

Fields of flowers, art galleries, libraries, herbal teas, botanic hospitals, lingerie sets, lipstick marks, masquerade balls, blue and purple silk, river gondola rides, gardens, vineyards, romantic poetry

Envy

Undersea palaces, pearls, blown glass artifacts, mirrors, the Green Eye of Envy, ocean demons, pirate ships, navy vessels, rainforests, beaches

Sloth

Snow, Frost, Hot drinks, shadows, fogs, rager sleepovers, sleeping till noon, houses on clouds, fancy pyjamas, hypnosis, incense candles, divination

#7 sins #hell royalty #hellaverse

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 1 month ago

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[This is my Grandmother, Janet in her youth.]

* * * *

“When I take you to the Valley, you’ll see the blue hills on the left and the blue hills on the right, the rainbow and the vineyards under the rainbow late in the rainy season, and maybe you’ll say, “There it is, that’s it!” But I’ll say. “A little farther.” We’ll go on, I hope, and you’ll see the roofs of the little towns and the hillsides yellow with wild oats, a buzzard soaring and a woman singing by the shadows of a creek in the dry season, and maybe you’ll say, “Let’s stop here, this is it!” But I’ll say, “A little farther yet.” We’ll go on, and you’ll hear the quail calling on the mountain by the springs of the river, and looking back you’ll see the river running downward through the wild hills behind, below, and you’ll say, “Isn’t that the Valley?” And all I will be able to say is “Drink this water of the spring, rest here awhile, we have a long way yet to go and I can’t go without you.”

Remembering Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018), from “Always Coming Home”

[HELL AND EARTH]

#quotes #Hell and Earth #my flickr files #Ursula K. LeGuin #Always Coming Home #Janet #ancestors

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blacklegsanjiii · 1 year ago

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North Blue Language CH 6

He stitches Zoro's ankles up the way his dad would sew him up. Minus the apologies because he didn't give these cuts to Zoro, he did it to himself.

(chapter contains brief acesan)

Travelling with Luffy was a whole new level of excitement that coated Sanji's haki to become tiresome very quickly but he powered through. Luffy was a bundle of excited energy and Nami's freedom overwhelming at times but he cooked. Usopp was nervous as he told stories about his dad on the seas travelling with Shanks. All clips from the paper Sanji knows. Zoro also refuses to see his worth it seems. No matter how Sanji can defend or care for the crew Zoro seems to find him lacking.

So Sanji cooks. He's rarely out of the galley but since the Merry is small he still has quite a few interactions with his crew and fights with Zoro more often than not it seems. He wishes he could get along with the Mosshead but there's just something about him that irks Sanji. Not even the fact the guy wants to kill his dad, that's not even part of the problem, even if he has the potential to get good enough to do it. Maybe it's because his dad let him live? Sanji isn't going to waste energy, he can't. He has a crew to cook for after all.

When they pick up Vivi and Karoo, both of them are bigger than Sanji remembers. Up until now they were permanently small, three and just barely a year old. The small duckling could fit in his hands then. They don't talk about it, Sanji acts aloof when she asks if she knows him. He can't let it get out, get uncontrollable because he and his crew will die before they reach Alabasta otherwise.

Little Garden leaves Sanji with the ship and no crew. It's a couple hours after the crew is supposed to be back when he goes searching and finds the hut with the forever post to Alabasta. He finds his crew mostly fine and some guy he assumes is the Mr. 3 that Mr. 0 was looking for on the denden.

“Oh, Sanji. What are you doing off ship?” Nami asks him.

“It's a few hours past when you guys said you'd be back so I came looking. Good thing too, I found this.” He smiles as he presents the post. Vivi squeals in delight and hugs him and Sanji hugs back and helps her put it on her wrist. It reminds him of his parents. Of his dad who would rarely bring home jewellery for his mother but placed it on her with the utmost care. He stitches Zoro's ankles up the way his dad would sew him up. Minus the apologies because he didn't give these cuts to Zoro, he did it to himself. He doesn't even give the sentient algae a smile or call him dumb, just focuses on the task.

That night when he and Vivi meet in the crows nest, her doing the first watch him doing second does he give her a sorry smile.

“My crew, they can't know. It's a secret.” He explains.

“I'm glad you're alive, I'm sorry about your mother.” Vivi says.

“Don't be, she's alive and well. I am sorry about yours.” Sanji replies as he rubs her shoulder.

“Thank you, you both got out then?” She asks.

“Yes, it was rough but a man found us and took us in.” Sanji nods.

“Zeff, right? The retired pirate at Baratie?” Vivi asks with a smile.

“No, someone far more dangerous.” Sanji laughs as he leans over the side. “Dracule Mihawk. He found me stealing food from his ship and then took us in. He trained me in my observation haki. He told us he loved us not even four months after he took us to Kuraigana, he has a massive vineyard and learned Northern because I often gave up on Common towards the end of the day.” He smiles at her.

“You're both very lovable, your father was an idiot for not seeing it.” Vivi agrees evenly. “Thank you for trusting me Sanji, it means a lot. For all that it's worth I am glad you're alive.” She leans against him and Sanji leans his head on hers.

“I'm glad you're alive too, Princess.” He says.

Nami gets sick so they stop at Drum Island. Luffy carries Nami up the mountain and Sanji protects them. Sanji throws them up as he lets himself get washed away in the avalanche. He will sacrifice himself for his crew, to repay the kindness they have shown him. Even Zoro. Maybe to prove his worth to the asshole or prove that he belongs to the crew. To Luffy.

He feels a sharp pain in his back that steals the breath from him. His legs fill with pins and needles as the snow swallows him while he can't get out. He can't escape. He lets the black swallow him whole.

“Huh, I haven't seen something like this in ages.” An old witch looking woman says as he awakes. “Ah, you're waking up. Want to tell me why a Vinsmoke made his way into my care?”

“I'm not.” Sanji answers. “I'm the failure so I'm not a Vinsmoke.” The witch looks at him and nods.

“Fair enough. Whatever. Don't move too much. We had to do surgery on your back, you should only have a small scar though.” Witch lady says.

“My crewmates?” Sanji asks.

“Alive.” She answers. “Get some more sleep.” Sanji nods and closes his eyes and sleeps. He awakes to Luffy asking for food so he gets up.

“That was dumb.” Luffy scolds him. “You don't need to sacrifice yourself for people, least of all me!”

“But if I hadn't done that we all would have been swallowed by the avalanche, Luffy.” Sanji replies as he gets dressed. “Besides, thanks to you we all made it up here! So let's find the kitchen, okay?” He smiles at his captain and they leave once he's dressed. They chase a deer and find Nami, who is luckily. He makes sure he's okay and apologises to the deer, Chopper, and is led to the kitchen to cook.

Chopper sits and watches him. Sanji hums as he cooks, the same melodies of a dead god and the lullaby of the moon he grew up with. He cooks for them and plates it up. Luffy finds his way and he takes plates to Kureha and Nami. They fight Wapol who demands to take down the Jolly Roger at the top of the castle and somehow Luffy has worn down Chopper enough to become a member of the crew, their doctor.

The pink snow, the cherry blossom mirage as they escape. It's sweet as Chopper cries about his dead father. Vivi comforts him as they sail off. Sanji does what he does best and makes sweets for the deer, the kid really. Alabasta in their sights as Luffy's brother shows up.

Sanji knows he likes men, he told his parents he liked both genders and Mihawk sat him down for a talk about Shanks specifically. About disappointing partners and ambition. Ace doesn't seem that way though and he's surprised he doesn't have a nosebleed when Ace lights his cigarette for him from where he's perched on the railing and Vivi gives him a knowing look as he flusters his way to the galley.

Ace offers his help with dishes, with packing, he keeps lighting his cigarettes and he calls Sanji cute. Zoro keeps glaring at them. Ace helps them a little and finds Luffy in the desert and returns him before he goes back on his hunt for Black Beard. All in all they only spend a day and a half together but Sanji kisses Ace goodbye in private and has a nosebleed they laugh at.

“I'll see you again soon, Blondie.” Ace promises him.

“I'm holding you to that, Commander.” Sanji grins at him. He flies to his ship and they wave him off. They make it through Alabasta and King Cobra is back on the throne where he should be. Ms. All Sunday, Nico Robin joins their crew and the festivities. King Cobra knows who Sanji is but doesn't say anything about it. Vivi must have filled him in, Sanji thinks.

They set off and when everyone but him is on deck Nico Robin comes into the galley and sits at the table, eyeing him. Scrutinising him.

“Can I do something for you, Robin-chan?” He asks lightly as he pulls his haki in closer to himself.

“Your haki.” She says. He can't tell if it's a demand or a statement of fact.

“What about it?” He asks hesitantly and she narrows her eyes at him.

“Hawkeye trained you.” She states.

“I'd prefer it if you didn't say that so loud. Whoever he knew died when I left Baratie.” Sanji says while fixing her a look. “Safer that way.”

Robin nods as he sets a cup of coffee near her. They don't talk about it further. They can't really. There's no privacy, really. She eyes him though, always watching like Zoro does. Like he's a liability and he hates it.

“What's that song about?” Luffy asks after dinner as it's his turn to help with dishes. Robin is still sitting at the table and reading a book she found. Sanji looks at his captain and smiles softly.

“It's a lullaby about a man and the moon.” Sanji answers.

“Oh. Cool.” Luffy says. “Can you sing it?” He looks at Sanji with a goofy smile and Sanji obliges. He can feel the barest hint of a smile from Robin at the table.

~*~

BLACKLEG SANJI

77,000,000 BERI

DEAD OR ALIVE

What an awful portrait. Sora is laughing at it like she lost her damn mind. Mihawk keeps looking at it in confusion because Sanji does not look like that. Sora is crying and cannot right herself.

“P-put it away!” She chokes out through the laughter.

“I would if I knew where.” Mihawk argues but Sora is turning blue from laughing and Mihawk worried that she would faint. Sure she was stronger now but some days were harder than others.

“Dracule!” She laughed as he showed it to her again.

“I think we ought to display it, it is his first bounty after all.” Mihawk smirked at the woman. She squeals again and tries to cover her face and shield herself from it. “Sora, he'd be upset if we didn't.” He chuckles and Sora runs away from him but Mihawk chases her.

“Don't you dare!” She yells.

“We could display it next to the family photos!” He yells back with a grin. They make a sharp turn around a corner and through a door to make it outside near the vegetable garden. Mihawk manages to catch her and swing her around in a spin, arms tight around her waist.

“We cannot put that up, he'll kill you.” Sora laughs, shoving the poster away while trying to catch her breath.

“Mm, he'll certainly try his best.” Mihawk laughs. “Maybe that green haired imbecile will do it. He wants to be the greatest swordsman next.”

“I wish you wouldn't have to die to pass that title on. It's a stupid tradition and what if Sanji brings us grandkids? Grandkids! You could have a real swordsman to train then.” Sora huffs at him. It's a conversation they've had several times and Mihawk has been wavering on the ‘to the death’ portion of the duel rules that usually come with the passing of the title.

“We'll see, now won't we?” He asked as he heaved her over his shoulder. “For now we need to hang this up.” He starts heading back to the castle as Sora hits his back more as an act of annoyance than anger. The poster is nearly hung next to Mihawk's latest underneath the family photos. Sora giggles helplessly at it every time she passes it in the hallway.

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