#FORBIDDEN SOULMATES

[rainbow-sunshine-unicorn]

I love how Kate and Anthony are the ‘love at first sight’ trope because Anthony has loved Kate, “since the moment they raced each other in that park”, but also ‘enemies to lovers’ because Kate is “the bane of his existence and the object of all his desires” and most importantly the malewife trope because Anthony will “humble himself” before Kate “because he cannot imagine a life without her”

[arxhafleu]

ooh, this comment just made me loveee this scene nd the whole movie a lot more. i already know hiccup nd toothless' concept with BOUNDARIES. i've seen people talk about it, how toothless helped hiccup to set boundaries, uplifting his self-worth by making people apologize to him in the first movie. but this interpretation/analysis just explained more about the "Boundary" surrounding their relationship/friendship. i love this

[ellesthots]

the way that some people degrade romance as a genre is soooo frustrating. romance is not inherently superficial—literally no genre is. it’s not basic, or plain, or unimaginative. love and romance are SO FUN !!! i can’t help but see the correlation between our sex-shaming, vulnerability-hiding, misogynistic culture and romance slander. there’s also such a crucial element of feminism to romance that people tend to overlook—men being kind, thoughtful, considerate, devoted, and vulnerable in this genre sets a higher standard for how women should be treated in relationships. it can help people recognize how they like to be loved, and where they are being mistreated in their own lives. there’s no need for authors to ‘transcend’ the romance genre; it stands validly on its own. shoutout to romance lovers !!!! 💌💘💐

[sskybooks]

MASTER POST!

These are character development prompts 1-100. There are some funny, some serious, but all of them to help flesh out your character. (I also screwed up the numbering somewhere soo... things may or may not be out of line."

#1 What if your character was in a zombie apocalypse?

#2 What would your character do if they got everything they wanted?

#3 What would your character do if they were evil?

#5 What would your character do if they saw a tyrannosaurus-rex?

#6 What would your character do if accidentally hurt someone really badly?

#7 What would your character do if a cult member asked them to join them?

#8 What would your character do if they met the Grinch?

#9 What would your Character do if a gun was put to their head?

#10 What would your character do if they were kidnapped?

#11 What would your character do if they were deserted on an island?

#13 What would your character do if they met the Batman?

#14 What would your character do if they got reincarnated as a child?

#15 What would your character do if they met the hulk?

#16 What would your character do if someone slapped them?

#17 What would your character do if there was an earthquake?

#18 What would your character do if the world flooded?

#19 What would your character do if the president suddenly showed up at their front door?

#20 What would your character do if they where told “you can’t come.”

#22 What would your character do if they owned a Walmart?

#24 What would your character do if they could only eat one food for the rest of their life, what food would it be?

#25 What would your character do if they were a superhero? (And what would their powers be?)

#26 What would your character do if they were forced to perform on stage?

#27 What would your character do if they were a ruler of the world?

#28 What would your character do if time machines existed, what would be the first thing they’d do?

#29 What would your character do if the mailman handed them a baby?

#30 What would your character do if they were homeless?

#31 What would your character do if there was a serial killer on the loose?

#32 What would your character do if their wanted poster went up?

#33 What would your character do if they turned into a monster? (like their body turned into a monster form)

#34 What would your character do if they went to a farm?

#35 What would your character do if during of of the biggest battles of their life their mom called them?

#36 What would your character do if they discovered their sibling/friend was abused?

#38 What would your character do if they could be granted three wishes?

#39 What would your character do if they got magic powers? (or if they already have them, what would they do if they have none?)

#40 What would your character do if they were deaf?

#41 What would your character do if they couldn’t speak?

#42 What would your character do if they can’t feel anything?(physically)

#43 What would your character do if they were blind?

#44 What would your character do if their hair fell out?

#45 What would your character do if they were imprisoned?

#46 What would your character do if every time they said a mean thing a disfiguring tattoo appeared on them?

#47 What would your character do if their best friend died in front of them?

#48 What would your character do if a loved one turned evil?

#49 What would your character do if they got a surprise kiss?

#50 What would your character do if they met Jinx? (From arcane)

#51 What would your character do if they were placed in front of the end of the world button?

#52 What would your character do if they couldn't use their legs?

#53 What would your character do if they where stabbed?

#54 What would your character do, if didn’t have a phone? (Or if they already don't have one;) What would they do with one?

#55 What would your character do if a lost child came to them?

#56 What would your character do if they where shunned?

#57 What would your character do if they where handed drugs?

#58 What would your character do if they couldn’t talk

#59 What would your character do if someone stalked them?

#60 What would your character do if someone had a crush on them?

#61 What would your character do if can't use their arms?

#62 What would your character do if they found treasure?

#63 What would your character do if they met Thor?

#64 What would your character do if they where called ugly?

#65 What would your character do if their car was hijacked? (Or their mode of transportation)

#66 What would your character do if their home was invaded?

#67 What would your character do if they were stalked?

#68 What would your character do if they were treated as property?

#69 What would your character do if they witnessed a murder?

#70 What would your character do if they were paralyzed from the waist down?

#71 What would your character do if they lost an arm?

#72 What would your character do if they were failing at school? (or if they already are what if they suddenly got an A+)

#73 What would your character do if they failed at their goal? 

#74 Bird talking to a sea fish goddess and ask to turn into a fire breathing dragon and to have multiple different pastries shops.

#78 How does your character do with a discriminatory world, culture, or home life?

#79 What would your character do if they became allergic to their favorite food?

#80 What would your character do with wings (or without)?

#81 If your character was a ghost who/where would they haunt?

#82 What would your character do with a key that unlocked any door?

#83 What would your character do if (in universe) they found a book written about them?

#84 How would your character react if faced with their greatest fear?

#85 What would your character do if they found out they only have a year left to live?

#85 What are some favorite headcanons and fan theories? or small details about them.

#86 "What would your character do if they met an AU version of themself"

#87 "What would the OC be like without trama (or with trama)?

#88 What would your OC do if a person they knew was dead. Was chilling at a cafe.

#89 What would characters think of Bob Ross?

#90 what would your characters do if they started turning into a tree?

#91 what would your character do if someone told them they looked like an in-universe celebrity/famous person?

#92 what would they do if someone stuck a spoonful of mayonnaise in their face and told them to eat it?

#93 What would they do if they woke up and their hair was a different color?

#94 What would they do if a donkey started following them around (or any other animal)

#95 how would they react to a dancing chicken (with music coming from who knows where)

#96 What if they fell off a very high cliff?

#97 What would your characters do if suddenly they couldn’t understand what each other were saying? Then had to communicate other ways?

#98 what would your character do if they got turned into an animal?

#99 how would your character respond to back hugs?

#100 How would your character respond to scalp massages?

[nxyofkrypton]

🌌💔 supercorp isn’t just a ship — it’s a tragedy that dared to hope 💔🌌

it’s not just a super and a luthor.

it’s the super and the luthor.

they were never meant to meet in the middle — and yet, they did.

Kara Danvers: light in human form, a girl made of hope, a smile that could stop wars.

lena luthor: forged in fire and expectation, born with a legacy she never asked for and a heart she kept trying to make good.

they met as strangers.

became friends.

became more.

and then it broke. spectacularly. tragically. inevitably.

because how do you love someone who was raised to destroy you?

how do you trust someone who hides their truth behind a cape and a name you thought meant safety?

lena built machines to help supergirl and shared secrets with kara — never knowing they were the same person.

kara chose to save the world but couldn’t find the courage to tell the one person she trusted most.

this wasn’t just a friendship gone wrong.

this was a love story buried beneath years of almosts and “you lied to me” and “i was trying to protect you.”

they were each other’s first real choice.

and their biggest mistake.

romeo and juliet? they had it easy. at least they got to say they loved each other before the end.

supercorp is "i would’ve chosen you if the world had let me."

it’s "i kept your coffee mug after you left."

it’s "you were never just a luthor to me."

they loved each other in a world that taught them not to.

And somehow… some part of them always will.

[queen-helaenas-pet-spider]

Post Ned's Execution Sansa wearing the same pretty green dress that she wore at the Hand's Tourney in hopes that seeing her in it will magically make Joffrey "fall in love with her again" and stop being a dick.

But the only person that truly fell in love with Sansa while she was wearing that pretty green Hand's Tourney dress was :

S A N D O R ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

{Technically, he loved he when he first saw her, but her comforting him and then oh so politely telling him that Gregor *Sandor's older brother who's about a BILLION times worse than Sandor and most of the villains in the series* ain't nothing but a B-I-T-C-H was what really cemented his love for her!}

[sweetest-cherries]

OH, ME

two princesses, one a dragon and the other a siren cross paths by fate, not by choice.

chapter one

contains mythical creatures re-told by me. this is lesbian fiction. leave the homophobia at the door. words in italics are either thoughts or words in a different language. pronunciations: amamkele— ah-mum-gae-leh. lungalomndeni— loong-ah-lom-deh-knee. themes: loyalty, fate/destiny, status/rank, self-awareness. wc: 6.1k 🫧 link to chapter two 🫧

- The body of first girl born of the fourth generation of Qamatas will turn to water the day the moon leaks into the ocean.

"Mother, the Water is enraged." The young nymph signed, attempting a calm demeanour. "It rejects her. She is struggling." The urgency of his signing proved otherwise. "We must—"

The woman in front of him raised her hand to silence him and clenched her jaw indifferently as a front of strength, but she still gulped from anxiety. Her husband next to her was as worried as his son — if not, more — awaiting her judgement. "What do the Healers say?"

"We abandoned tradition and culture. It made the Water furious."

Her heart thumped against her chest. "Manipulation?" She asked.

"Useless, mother."

"Remedies?"

"Feeble."

She looked ahead above his head at the centrepiece of the throne room, a sculpted fist around a spear. It taunted her, asking how she expected it to protect her, her family and people without wanting anything in return. She silently asked for a hero, for mercy, for a miracle.

The surrounding audience of guards with spears and shields feigned inattentiveness, eyes hard as they stared ahead into the blue of the ocean. Such drama in this important family would bring about treason and death, so they prepared themselves to follow through with their oath: To stand for the crown in adversity, even if it means in death. "My Queen," said her husband. "It will take her. We must act."

This had been her worst fear ever since her firstborn entered the world. She'd always hoped for the prophecy never to come true, but deemed herself foolish for such optimism. She thought that perhaps her second born would be accepted, but she turned out to be a boy. Then the third was a boy too. And then the fourth, fifth, sixth and still no baby girl. Her bravest warriors carried an orca to the temple as a peace offering, and it simply rotted away, untouched.

I have even birthed a little girl from another man only for her to die in just a few days.

It was enough.

“I will never allow the Water to take my only daughter,” the Queen grumbled. “The ocean will burn to crisp before she participates in such "tradition".”

How many times had she stayed up to beg for mercy? Night after night she prayed and prayed and prayed, but her daughter only got worse. She was unable to swim alone, eat without help, or stay conscious for more than two hours at a time without her flourum; a rare and sacred substance used to maximise siren health. She was much weaker than a normal maid her age, and the light in the poor girl's eyes was dimmed. This Queen was tired of pleading and negotiating. It was enough. She was tired of seeing her weaken day by day, her brothers and father under so much strain and losing rest because of an unreasonable deity. It was enough.

It is enough.

"To land."

A deafening silence resounded in the throne room. Bodies were stiff, in shock and unmoving. Land? The father and son looked at each other in disbelief. They would try to change the matriarch's mind, but her word was as good as gold.

"Land, mother?"

She nodded once.

"Land, son."

~

"Dear, are you not excited?"

The young princess pouted from her seat, staring out the carriage from boredom. "No." she was curt in her answer, so obviously uninterested in the arrival of a group of people from another kingdom because they've met plenty of them before; unicorns, gryphons, fairies, centaurs, manticore — oh, she could go on — how were they any different?

The older woman hummed disapprovingly of her daughter’s attitude. "Why not? This must be exciting for you! Have you ever seen the Water nymphs?"

"No, and I do not wish to. How will this help my knowledge of our kingdom? I could have been focusing on my studies."

The Queen gave a large smile, petting the top of the girl’s head across the table in front of her. "You are only thirteen years old, my girl. Do not fret on matters that will only apply to you in eight years."

She shrugged, indifferent, eyes trained out the window. "Eight years or one month, I will have to lead our kingdom, and I will prepare for it with dignity."

"Do you ever allow yourself to rest? You will look like an old woman when you are an adolescent. Be a child, Hyunjin. And savour it."

The princess chose not to reply and continued to watch the trees with her red ombré eyes, almost jumping at the sound of her father sarcastic chuckling next to her. Such a quiet man. She even forgot she was there with them. "Don't bother with the girl. She will suffer the brunt of her arrogance soon."

It was not rare to hear him speak like this to her, as the serious man was one of very few, stern words. His Queen always took delight in entertaining and encouraging him when she did, but he normally went back to being curt.

"My apologies to disturb, your majesties! We have arrived!" The rider chirped, enticing the Queen to squeal and clap her hands in excitement.

"This is thrilling! Hyunjin, did you know one of them will come work for the castle? Of course, not inside, but in the lake near the waterfall?"

"Oh."

The smile on her face twitched, but she still held the grin, quite embarrassed by her daughter’s sombre personality in contrast with her energetic one. What would become of her? She would ask herself.

The door opened for them and Hyunjin got out first, her father following and finally her mother, who was still crazed with energy that it looked abnormal. "They must be quite aggressive, so stay close to me, alright my girl?"

"Yes, mother."

They'd come with some extended family including her two cousins, aunt and uncle, who all shared the buzz her mother oozed.

They shared the ombré of the first family in their eyes, but instead of red, it was orange, proving their dragon blood.

The royal family was lead through the town, the inhabitants smiling big in their shops in hopes of being approached but were simply ignored and not even glanced at. All Hyunjin had on her mind was books. She had never completed her geography worksheet and was impossibly bored by walking through the sandy town for what seemed like forever. Why were they here again?

"Cousin, look!" Gasped Nabin, pointing to a tall, fit man with navy blue skin and thick, curly black hair that had stepped out of his house, mouth straight and jaw tensed. Next to him, stood another man in nice clothing who began to speak.

"Good afternoon, your highnesses. This midday I have the honour of translating and demonstrating the ways of these families from the southern tribe of the Pacific Ocean. Please, enquire about anything and I will answer. Follow me."

As everyone else followed, Hyunjin stayed put and her mother noticed, sending her a glare. "Not now. Do not be rude."

"Mother, I need to relieve myself."

The Queen sighed in annoyance. "You will go with a guard and come back immediately. Yes?"

"Yes."

"Your majesty, this way," a soldier said, and they left Hyunjin with a very young-looking soldier, who bowed a 90° angle in her direction.

"My princess! I have been bestowed with the duty of ensuring your safety outside of the castle! I wish to fulfil this task with utmost dignity, loyalty and respect! Please, allow me to guide you to somewhere private so you may take care of yourself!"

Upon receiving no response, the man looked up from the ground to the vacant space in front of him. Just like that, the princess had disappeared from the soldier's very eyes. His heart stopped as he whipped his head around looking for the young girl that vanished into thin air. He touched the skin around his neck, gulping and shivering at the thought of his fate to come.

Hyunjin strolled the streets of the town, oddly not drawing any attention to herself despite her bright, clean clothing and confident strut. She loved her mother and the rest of her family dearly, but sometimes being around them when they were unnecessarily excited evoked a flame of anger in her. For both of their comfort, she normally kept away as to resist snapping and ruining their day.

“They should be grateful, I’m doing them a favour,” she mumbled as she touched the trees she passed.

Upon turning a corner far from the busyness of the town, clouds of dust came to her nose, causing her to sneeze.

The sound of screaming and children yelling then fell onto her ears and she was overwhelmed by need to investigate. She couldn’t help but feel directly involved in the commotion, and the sensation unnerved her.

And, finally, when she was close enough, she saw her.

Granted, it was quite difficult to see her clearly, given she was surrounded by young boys and girls, kicking sand in her direction and shouting curses at her. A water nymph. She could tell by her skin alone. The navy-blue tone was unmissable.

"You are a curse!"

"You came here to kill us!"

"We won't let you!"

Her face was guilt-tripping; she was scared, but determined to fight, regardless of her body being covered in bruises and scars. She was kicked back down every time she tried to get up. With each kick to her body, she hissed at them, baring her sharp teeth, reaching out and scratching whatever was closest. She fought so hard.

"Your entire family are killers!"

Hyunjin's legs moved on their own, running to a nearby tree to hide behind. She had no plan. But her heart raced, and her limbs twitched. Something inside of her was telling her to do something to stop the commotion— anything. It was still so mysterious to her why, but only for a minute more.

Because then, a slow heat crept up and enveloped her chest. With wide eyes, her hand shot up to feel it, confirm it. “Oh, Gods,” she gasped. “Is that what it is?”

Think think think thi—her heart dropped to her feet when she saw one boy who couldn't be older than 12 pull out a bronze dagger.

Her eyes shot back to the nymph, and only then did she realise that her eyes were whitened over, irises only slightly darker. They were essentially two white marbles: like Agate. Hyunjin knew what this meant, and she couldn't stand back any longer.

She jumped out behind the tree and puffed out her chest, chin high like her mother taught her.

"Cease this!" she called.

They didn’t even hear her. 

“Dammit!” She ran closer, grabbed one of their arms, and louder: “Yah, you! Cease this!”

“Yah, leave me alone, reptile!” they replied, snatching their arm back.

Hyunjin gaped in disbelief at the disrespect.

I need something. Her eyes searched around for a weapon, but all that she could see were branches. She picked up the biggest one she could find and ran up behind the boy who held the dagger in his hand and hit his back with a large stick.

The boy fell forward, yelling out in shock from the impact. The rest of the children finally directed their attention to her, eyes wide from seeing their leader attacked and in pain on the ground.

"I said cease this nonsense!" she growled at him, chest huffing.

The boy began to sob loudly, up into the sky and his little posse grew uncomfortable with the situation and began to run away.

Hyunjin zeroed on the girl with blue skin; she was less than two meters away. She hissed at anyone near her, and once all of them were far from reach, she crawled away while trying to get back onto her feet. It was clear she was running away too.

"No, wai—AH-“

Hyunjin's feet were jerked from beneath her.

THUD

She stumbled and knocked the back of her head on the ground.

“Dammit!” She cursed, arms sheathing her head in torture. At the yell, the nymph whipped around, coming face to face with the leader of the gang.

"You-You've summoned a victim to save you!" he aimed the dagger at her, his tear-filled eyes big and red. "I won't let you!" She caught sight of the sharp object in his hold and bared her teeth in warning. "I am not scared of you, siren! This will be the end of the terror your kind bring."

The princess was still able to get to her feet despite her pain and clumsily tackled the big boy to the ground. "I order you to stop!"

The boy's head spun for a couple of seconds before he could train his eyes on Hyunjin on top of him. He shouted in frustration. "Fool! She has blinded you!"

"No! You are a terrorist that deserves to lose his head!"

"She does not deserve to live and does not care for you! Watch how she runs away!"

And out of insecurity, Hyunjin lifted her head up in the nymph's direction, just to see trees upon trees with no girl. Distracted, she did not notice the boy huff, trying and succeeding to push her off by swiping his arm up in a backhanded punch.

Hyunjin screamed another loud cry, cupping her eye with both hands as her back surrendered to the ground a second time.

Again, the young girl’s pained sounds caused the nymph to freeze behind a big bush and grope her hair over her ears. This is not how I was raised. I cannot leave my saviour behind. Peaking over the shrub, she could faintly see the two on the ground, the bigger one frozen in shock with his gaze directed at the other. The smell of blood reached her nostrils, and the situation became clearer. The bigger boy already looked vulnerable, so she decided to take advantage of his fear.

A low rumble vibrated from her chest as she stalked towards him slowly, and he stumbled to his feet in false confidence. "I—I will return, siren!" And he ran away.

The girl made sure that he was a good distance away before dropping to her knees before her rescuer, watching her with furrowed eyebrows as she groaned and rocked from left to right to comfort herself.

She reached out to hold her pale, slim wrists, and moved her bloody hands away from her face.

A large, diagonal gash was fresh on her left eye.

Blood oozed from the eye as if it were tears, and she continued to sob from pain, her other eye shut tight. To the nymph, it all lacked definition, and for this she was grateful, because it seemed to be a traumatic wound that would take an immensely long time to heal. She did not know how she'd react to such a disturbing picture. The princess’s sniffing brought her back.

"It hurts..." she wept, whimpering.

"Shh..." the other responded. She covered her eyes with her hands, bent down for them to touch foreheads, then took a deep breath before humming softly.

The young princess was alarmed: a water nymph was singing to her in a defenceless state. "I don't..." she slowly fell from consciousness, words slurring as she tried to stay awake but that proved to be useless. She experienced an irresistible drowsiness that made her pain dull, and she didn't want to actively stop it anymore.

Once the siren was sure that she was unconscious, she took the princess’s arms and hooked them around her neck over her shoulders. She then adjusted her position on her back and began her trek to town.

This seemed like a very rich girl and if she were caught carrying her unconscious with an injury... well she'd finally be united with her ancestors.

With her eyes squinted, she tried her best not to step on anything sharp as she had no shoes. At least the other was not too heavy for her— she was already weak and sore as it was, but the dragon’s weight was manageable.

She could hear her slow breathing near her ear, but underneath the inhale and exhale, she was trying to speak. "Hhh..." was all that came out.

"Ungazami uk'khuluma." Do not try to speak.

She went quiet after that and that seemed like the end of it, but it wasn't silent for long because she tried again. "Hhy...in...hy..."

The nymph ignored her, determined to just dump her in town and go back home. She could faintly remember her mom telling her to be there by noon, but it was already well over. A drop of blood fell onto her shoulder.

"Pl... mee..." the princess tried again.

The town was coming into view, bustling and chaotic with people calling out a name while looking around. Some were sobbing on their knees while some were more focused on finding whatever it was they were looking for.

"Hyunjin!" They called. "Hyunjin, where are you?!"

The nymph could understand the land people's language only to an extent, but what she could piece together she was very grateful for. A girl with very expensive-looking clothes was in this poor town, while people with equally as expensive-looking clothing called out for someone. The situation read like an open book.

She tried to not come too close as to be in the range of the searching party, being as gentle as she could when dismounting the girl from her back. She laid her on the dead leaves.

"Hyunjin?"

Receiving a faint nod at her suspicion, her legs went jelly from fear. She could not be found with her.

From the ground, Hyunjin watched her tear a piece of her long-sleeve shirt with her teeth and bring it to her head to measure it. In her drunkenness, all she could do was watch her face. Her hair... She thought hazily. It was strange. There was a small white patch in the middle of her hairline, contrasting both the rest of her head and her skin. Now that she was close, she could see another white patch, but below her chin. Another one underneath her arm. The tips of her ears were white too. How did she miss that?

Unbeknownst to her staring, the siren tore the cloth and tied it around the dragon’s head over her eye. She did not have the energy to keep the other one open either.

"Hyunjin..." she murmured, bringing her forehead down to touch his, the same way she did before. She held this touch for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "Thank you." She then stood up and took a couple of steps back. "Here! Hyunjin!" She yelled as loud as her voice could let her, and after getting the attention of some people, she fled the traumatic scene.

Hyunjin.

She would not forget her name.

~

Many, many moons later the girl was adolescent and waiting for her father to get home. She sat in the living room of the small house, playing with her charms. It was her favourite passing time since they stimulated her eyes so much.

A shiver coursed through her, and she looked to the fireplace. The wood inside was no longer red, and the fire would die out soon. She searched for wood around the sides, only to find a few sticks. Those would not even boil a pot of water. She couldn't let her father come back to such a cold house after working the entire day.

With her mother gone back to Pecia, there has been a strain on him to both work and hunt for food nutritional enough for her while she stayed in the house. Oh, how she hated being useless. "I'll just go to get some wood." She decided, taking one of the crates next to the door. "I'll just get wood to make fire," she murmured, and silently asked for a safe trip from the Water before stepping out of the house.

The town was the same as always: slow, but impossibly loud. There was a family of canaries nearby that absolutely loved to sing everyone good morning every single day and they helped her know of the time so she could get into a routine.

That day, she would show him that she was able to do things herself. Just because she was weak did not mean that she was incapable of making their house warm. And to prove a point she needed to act on it.

~

Hyunjin was finally successful in creeping out of the castle. It took months for her to convince the Physicians that treated her eye that she was okay, and they could stop hawking her. She had a painfully slow recovery, but it was a recovery, nonetheless. The pain was soothed by the medication and ointments that she applied every night before sleeping. Or rather, attempted sleeping.

It was punishing; trying to forget what happened that day and fall asleep as if she didn't care. She laid awake, reliving the span of a few hours over, and over, and over again in her mind, until she gave up trying to rest. The trauma was one aspect, but why she got it was another one. Her thoughts raced constantly. I risked my own safety to save her. And fabricated a lie about it to my mother.

"It was a poor man. He wanted my clothing, but I refused. He tried to take it by force, but I fought back as well."

"You still have all of your clothes, my dear," the Queen said. "Why would she have fled without taking anything? And the cloth around your head? Who found you?"

Hyunjin had stayed silent and said she did not know, causing her mother to frown deeply. One eye searched for her father on the other side of the room, who looked out of a large window nonchalantly. He'd said nothing, but Hyunjin could feel the resentment directed towards her. Of course, he didn’t say anything. The way he looked at her was enough. He knows I am lying. But he does nothing.

He began to refer to her as Hanun, short for nun hana, which meant "one eye". That said enough about his reaction to her accident.

Hyunjin fiddled with her hands, letting out a shaky breath and a tear fell onto her palm. I met my person, she admitted to herself. She would have never done any of what she did for just anyone.

She was then allowed to roam the coven alone, but she never felt any less free. With every appearance she made in any part of the castle, the servants deliberately looked away from her eyes in pity, some shook their heads in sorrow, and she heard a few mumble "Shame, poor girl. She used to be so beautiful."

And she began to second-guess herself. Am I ugly? she was never insecure about how she looked, as she had always been praised ever since... well, as far back as she could remember. She’d been called a marvel, a spectacle, the most beautiful Hwang princess in her lineage.

Even her mother thought the same about her scar.

"I got a veil for you, my dear. It will cover your accident nicely," she'd said as she held up a shimmery, translucent cloth.

Hyunjin would've been lying if she said that she didn't want it and would've definitely been dishonest with herself if she said she did not care about how she looked. For hours, she sat in front of her mirror looking at the scar, wanting to see it fade in real-time.

She had no sight in that eye anymore.

Even she pitied herself. She wore the veil every day until she acquired a collection of custom-made cloths to cover her face. Some were long, some short, some shiny, some dull. She wore them depending on her mood and clothing of the day. She matched them, decorated some herself during free time and even made some herself when she felt creative. Not participating in conventions during her lockdown allowed her this creative outlet.

She found different methods of beauty. "Even if I'm not beautiful anymore, I can still be presentable." she decided to grow out her hair and groom it, pay close attention to her skin when bathing, use fragrances and be gentle with the skin of her face. She began to dress up only to read a book by herself in her garden. Her mirrors became one of the most important things to her.

But any thoughts of mirrors, her "accident" and her suffocating guards came to a stop when she reached the cliff near where her suffering began.

There she sat, at the edge. Knees to her chest as she looked out into the sea, absolutely hypnotised with her gaze fixed and zeroed on the waters ahead.

Hyunjin’s chest warmed up delightfully and she couldn't help but hold her hands to the warmth. There it was again. She couldn't get enough of the feeling, exhaling a contended sigh through her nostrils.

The nymph's endless thoughts of nothing were interrupted at the sound. Whoever was behind her, was not being subtle. It was difficult to determine the colour of a stranger, so her best option was to defend herself no matter what.

The princess’s weight crunched the leaves beneath her feet, and she was breathing too hard. But, instead of attacking, she just stood there. Maybe it was some sick game of letting the nymph notice her so she could try to run away and hunt her.

I am the predator. She echoed confidently in her mind. She waited for the other with her jaws hard against each other, anticipating another step. Another step and I kill her.

"H—"

She heard none of it, swiftly rising to her feet; spinning around and aimed her cupped hand for a neck. It wasn't too difficult to find, and once she had it in her grip, she scowled at the woman and pushed her to a nearby tree.

Her grip was tight.

Hyunjin gasped, hands flying to hers trying to tug them away. The force of the clutch only increased the more she struggled, she knew this, but her throat burned hotter with each second that passed until she lost her common sense.

She was waiting for her to stop fighting and to go limp.

Tighter.

"Sto— plhh! I-"

What could possibly be so important to say to me? She wondered. She would've bid a silent goodbye to the world and closed her eyes in acceptance.

Her stance did not falter; feet at shoulder width with her dominant one forward, right arm outstretched and hand's claws digging into the flesh of her hunter. Not deep enough to draw blood, she didn't want that; just hard enough to scare her even further.

She was very clean, she noticed. Much cleaner than the people of this town normally were. Wore quality clothing too. She also wore a... veil? Is it for modesty? Her hair was so long... reached her hips... Odd...

But she had to snap out of it.

Even tighter.

Hyunjin was quickly growing weak and light in her head, her instincts telling her to use what she had against the other to keep herself alive, but she refused the mere thought of hurting her. Those cold, robotic, Agate eyes stared at her hard and she whined, desperate for this tragic moment to end.

She just wanted to be able to look into those eyes without fear.

There must be a way... She remembered almost too late but was able to use the little of her strength left over to pull the veil up from her face.

"Hyuhjih..."

THUD!

The nymph’s heart skipped a beat once it registered. The discolouration on her eye was unmissable, even by her, and her name rang in her head like a bell.

Hyunjin collapsed by her feet in a coughing fit, inhaling a century's worth of air all while holding the skin of her neck desperately. The siren also fell to her knees, not knowing what she could do other than stare in absolute shock.

Of course, she had thought about her after she was found and wondered how she was doing, but she never thought that she would ever see her again. Why would she be back?

“Hhmyghh...” Hyunjin heaved, beginning to calm down with her eye still wet from tears. She caught the other’s face, and for her safety, shuffled away from her reach. She wiped her mouth from saliva, partial relief calming her terror.

"I am sorry." The girl bowed her head; eyes closed from shame and regret. "I... cannot see well. I apologise."

Those were the most words Hyunjin has ever heard her say, and the fact that they were an apology made her unhappy. Her voice was deep and the tone reverent; Hyunjin wondered if she knew her status. Swallowing was still painful, and she wanted to reply, but a fit of coughing followed instead.

The nymph cringed at the sound.

"I—I am fine," her voice was still strained, but it was audible. "I ca—me to lo—ok for you."

She leaned against a tree, chest rising and falling rapidly, but gaze steady.

The girl’s head lifted, but only enough to stare at the ground in front of her. "The boy. It was him. I was on my way home."

Hyunjin was confused but only for a moment until she remembered the big boy: leader of the little terrorist gang. Her blood boiled at the thought of him, but she shook off the feeling to focus.

"I know that you are innocent."

A few moments later, the girl nodded. "I am." She fiddled on her lap, picking at her fingers with her sharp, dark nails in visible discomfort.

"What is your name?"

The siren hesitated before answering: "Amamkele Lithemba Qamata."

Hyunjin stayed silent, stunned at the pour that came from her mouth and wondered how long it would take for her to perfect the pronunciation of her name.

Noticing, the girl humbled herself. "Ama. Ama is my name."

"No, no,” Hyunjin adjusted herself on the ground. “I will learn your full name," she said with a determined nod to herself. "What does it mean?"

"To be welcomed," she used her hands as well to sign. "With hope."

The princess softened at the explanation and smiled softly. "That's beautiful," she shifted just a bit closer and kept her hands clasped on her lap, "My name means kind-hearted and truthful, yet I don't believe I'm either, especially not recently. But wow, I could not imagine learning a language only from speech. How old are you?"

"Why are you here?"

The smile fell and she swallowed. She did not know much about water nymphs, but since they were reptiles, they had to be similar to dragons in a set of ways, but the girl's obliviousness spurred disappointment in her. "I... I wanted to see you."

Ama tilted her head, frown deepening even further. "Why?"

"When I got injured," Hyunjin mimicked slicing her eye. "You helped me."

The nymph nodded slowly. "You helped me."

"Yes, we helped each other." Hyunjin crossed her legs to sit comfortably. "Are you okay? Were you hurt badly?"

"I was hurt, but I healed," she watched the other nod in understanding. Her eyes fell on the scar on her face again and then came with a question of her own. "Did you heal?"

Hyunjin's mouth formed an o, not having had expected the question. "Hmm! I healed, yes, thank you for asking."

"Mmm..." She moved from the injured eye to the more intimidating one reminiscent of a snake's eye. She was undoubtedly suspicious of her real intentions; did not believe that she told her her full story. So she decided on using her gift to help her.

Her breathing slowed and she lowered her head slightly, focusing all of her energy on her. She could feel spirit moving in the soil beneath her to the dragon, and for the first time ever doing this, it felt so divine.

Soft clouds of lavender ghosted the princess’s torso, slowly consuming her being entirely. She even began to smell like it too. No, that's not right. Ama refused, concentrating even more and expecting the colour to turn into something else, but it only seemed to darken.

Hyunjin finally felt as if she was allowed to look at the other girl, and her breath was taken away. She looked the same as she did four years ago, but at the same time completely different. Firstly, she was sure the siren now stood above her a few centimetres. She was dressed in dried deer skin made into a skirt with a similar strapless top. She also wore white beads as a necklace, which stood out in contrast of her skin. There were more of those white patches, she noticed. She had them patterned on her like cow skin.

There was a particularly big stripe down the middle of her big hair that was tied low on the base of her neck. For some reason she wanted to see it free— like how it was when they'd first met. She had a big forehead, broad nose and very full lips with a prominent Cupid's bow. Then the glorious agate in her eye sockets. To someone else they would seem cold and emotionless, but Hyunjin felt Eden when she looked at them.

Hyunjin took a breath in, almost hesitating, but finally; "You are a wonder to look at, Ama."

It was her turn to go speechless. What in the world... She thought back to the day they met and the memory of her singing to her stuck out. No, it was not the enchantment song. She couldn't have made such a grave mistake. She didn't. But then why was she acting this way? "You must go to a healer," she finally said. "And she must fix your head."

Hyunjin frowned. "A healer? My head?"

"Amamkele!" A voice boomed from the other side of the forest.

"Tixho..." Ama cursed, rushing to her feet and remembering that she went out with the intention of gathering some wood. She'd gotten distracted.

Hyunjin watched as she frantically collected wood and threw it into a crate nearby. "Who is that?"

"My father."

She stood up in alarm, motivated by fear. "Your father? Wait, please explain what you mean! Why should I go to a healer?"

"You are sick."

She did not pay her much attention at all after this, grabbing a group of the wood and breaking it with her knee to make sure that it would fit. She is very strong. She noticed how instead of walking, she shuffled as to not step in anything sharp and made a mental note to herself to get her a pair of shoes. And looking glass. Maybe she enjoyed delicacies?

"Could you meet me again soon?"

Confused, a frown formed between Ama's eyes from failing to understand her. She spoke too fast.

"I'm sorry— Here? Tomorrow? Can you come?"

Appalled, the girl made sounds of disapproval. "No, no." She shook her head, then brought the crate to her head and balanced it accordingly. She collected the extra that could not fit in the crate in her arms.

Hyunjin stood up too, pulling her veil on for comfort. How she carried the crate with such ease and grace would be something she could ponder about later, because she was leaving. "No? But—"

"Cha. Udidekile, ntomabazane. Angazi yindaba uzizwa ngalendlela, kodwa yingozi kakhulu." No. You are confused, girl. I don't know why you feel this way, but it is dangerous. "Do not come back."

"But why? We have a lot to talk about! What happened those years ago was an immensely important part of my life. It w—" she stopped herself from continuing her speech at the look the siren gave her. It reminded her of the look a mother would give to her naughty child, and it worked in keeping her humbled.

She cowered, averting her eyes.

"Khuzeka." Be reprimandable.

"Amamkele Lithemba!"

The voice travelled through the thick trees of the forest, loud and piercing.

"Ngiyeza, baba!"I'm coming, father!

Her voice also travelled, so thunderous that Hyunjin had to cover her ears. It must've been how they were able to hear each other over the sounds of the ocean. Which reminded her... Why is she on land in the first place?

[themadrabbit]

Inspired by “The kiss” - Gustav Klimt

[ba0shanblack]

[ Seonghwa's voice was almost a whisper, ''I didn’t know you saw me that clearly.''

''I tried not to.'' Hongjoong was looking at him now, eyes steady, ''I should’ve protected you better. From them. From me.''

Seonghwa was staring ahead instead of Hongjoong, ''You don’t owe me that.''

''Don’t I?'' Hongjoong asked quietly. ]

or;

A soft spoken lead actor. A closed off creative director. And a play script that brings every hidden wound, feeling and fate to the surface.

Ugly Things Still Shine

B.B

A SeongJoong fic

3/18

🦢 Read on Ao3 🦢

[bonnibelleangelica]

Men in Books

I recently went to my local bookshop after reading Fourth Wing and asked the shop girl,

“Do you have anything where the love interest isn’t a brooding, emotionless Cool Guy who shows no vulnerability even once the characters fall in love? Anything with a well-rounded human man?”

She laughed.

“No.”

No wonder people struggle to read romances after the confession, the characters don’t actually like each other and the interest relies on mystery. Once that’s gone, all you have is an emotionally unavailible, controling boyfriend who gets jealous sometimes. Where’s the intimacy? Where’s the love?

Anyway, I wrote a dystopian romance about a biologist from a cult not realising he’s Madly In Love with a forest girl. They have banter, inside jokes, affection, interests in common and are best friends long before they get together. Its the first of at least 4 books and its well and truly Tumblr User Targeted. If you’re reading this, you’ll like it.

@statusquoofficial

Take a look, tell me what you think and help me get it into that bookshop so that poor shop girl can give people some good fucking food.

[hot-astrology]

Souls on Fire

(Soul Ties)

As we traverse the pages of life, we cross paths with a multitude of souls. Yet, some among them ignite a flame within us, a primal force that beckons us towards them. At a deeper level, our essence recognizes them and whispers that there is more to our story together - a contract to fulfill or unfinished tales to unravel. In this physical realm, it can be hard to remember this due to the barriers that are placed on us. We weren't even given a chance to understand what our soul is, let alone soul ties.

These particular souls we meet bring with them an energy of karma, passion, or pure love. There are numerous types of karmic ties that fall under these titles, but we are focusing on the 3 most prominent ones to further give you an understanding of how you may encounter them throughout our life. There are karmic, twin flames, and soulmates. There’s a saying that you have 3 loves in a lifetime.

KARMICS

The 1st is usually when you're younger or in a stage of immaturity. This is where you guys may idealize each other, and most time's it may start off as friends or having no title to the relationship. This one teaches you boundaries. This karmic relationship will be very interesting, intense, emotionally draining & passionate. You will crave this person sexually. They will be co-dependent for each other's energy as well presence knowing that they are kryptonite. These relationships can bring alcoholism, abuse in all forms, narcissism, and jealousy. They will have you on an emotional roller-coaster, mind lost, soul gone, and reaching out for help consciously but subconsciously yearning for more pain, not even knowing why. The way you meet can be a fated meet like no other and will seem like you would never meet anyone with their deep sexual energy intense hold on your soul. Yet, at the same time, you would never want to run into someone like that person again. They remind you of all the hurt & lessons, and mind fuck games they had you in, you had to learn these lessons, even through all the difficult, murky, lustful waters of sexuality and deceit. I like to say this one is the karmic relationship. This karmic debt is to help change you, and mold you into a more conscious individual who can know when lust and sexual craves can put you in a bad situation that can destroy you mentally, physicall, as well as soulfully. You may look back at this one later on, like, "What was i thinking & why did i stay so long?" Karmic relationships can happen at any time in your life but are more prone to happen when you're younger, and soul is less evolved. As you get older, these relationships tend to be very sexual and harder to get away from. It seems like each karmic relationship gets more and more intense when your soul is still yearning for the old karmic thrills. You can encounter numerous karmic partners in one lifetime, depending on how many karmic lessons you need for your soul to evolve and ascend to the next journey.

Twinflames

The 2nd can be very skeptical and alluring at the same time, which brings a sense of familiarity & similarity between the two partners. These two can be so alike that they trigger each other without knowing it. The meeting; one can be more attracted to the other. This brings your class dynamic of the twin flame. The runner & the chaser dynamic is what usually results in this duo, which can look crazy to others while you both are playing tag in your relationship. It can feel like an obsessive connection, and the more you talk to each other, the more your souls intertwine without consent. The more you get to know each other you feel like you don't want to leave, yet something keeps exploding between you two, causing separation. The twin flame is a mirror showing you flaws within yourself. Many times, the karmic energy is confused with this because they hold similar traits. Both can end up obsessive, but you'll realize that with the karmic partner, you'll stay in the same place for years with no progression. With a karmic, you two could make plans together that usually won't come true. With a twin flame, there is a chance for it to last but with great challenge and change. This energy is similar to Uranus with a touch of Neptune & Pluto, giving you shocking changes and turning you into a new person. Even through separation, you still feel a psychic connection with the other. It's hard to let go because, inevitably, you're leaving a piece of yourself behind for the better. They show you your flaws that you didn't know you had. This is probably one of the hardest to break. Even if one does try to break it off, the other is likely to keep coming back and be filled with regret. Usually when they both part ways on agreement or one tends to escape then both take time apart and let their soul mature, heal, process and overstand the lesson. Only then, may they reunite and can be a more prolific couple or just be best friends. People tend to have numerous twinflames throughout their lives, and they can be family, friends, neighbors, etc. Today, we are mostly focusing on sexual companionship.

Soulmates

Lastly, the 3rd.... I was going to say that this is a partner you find you truly mesh with and have a lot in common with. Which is true but not entirely. This is the one that comes very unexpectedly, and possibly even when you’ve given up on love or when your soul knows you have evolved and deserve more. When you first lay eyes on them, you can feel that they will cause a huge shift in your life for the better. It's the feeling you get when you've known you met the one. You two complement one another, and think of opposition in astrology. Cancer/Capricorn, Aries/Libra, Pisces/Virgo. It's the merging of the divinity inside each person, masculine & feminine. You can lose all standards and traditional mindsets you have been conditioned with and conformed by when it comes to this partner. You suddenly just flow like the water down a creek, and everything else falls into line as it's supposed to. You two may find many similarities yet differences, but nothing is ever perfect. You teach each other for a higher calling and purpose usually this is the time when your soul is ready and has been through so much turmoil and pain or yet you could be a blessed soul that went straight for the goal and gained this emaculate relationship without the the other intense relationships. The soulmate is the one your soul has been yearning for. This is someone you may have known last lifetime or multiple past lifetimes. You feel at home with them because they are from your soul family. People usually only meet 1 soulmate, or they never get a chance to meet them due to so much time and lessons dealing with the lustful and chaotic side of the less fortunate relationships. The world can distance or distract you away from one another, but it's only so long that this pull and connection can be restricted and restrained.

In some cases, we may try to avoid these karmic debts, but it's important to recognize that evolved souls deal with them in a positive approach. In fact, these experiences can be seen as a spiritual mindset for growth and transformation. By facing these challenges head-on, we can develop a stronger sense of resilience and inner strength that can help us navigate future obstacles with greater ease. By taking this information in, we want you to dive deep. Deeper than you have ever gone to your souls core. Listen to its stir of echoes that ripple against your soft internal essence that talks to you from within and guides you through the dark shadow nights and unfamiliar relationships with other entities. They are also here to experience the unexpected and unfamiliar mentally and, also, familiar spiritually. Every experience is not to be great and cherished. Many are to wake you, shake you, and break you into your new souls enlightened path. This creates a new perspective on life, people, relationships, boundaries, accountability, acceptance, desires, self-love, self-worth, and knowing you deserve your soulmate.

If anyone has these type of experiences, and would like to share your experiences, we would love to hear about them in our Ask Box! If you want to know if you're currently dealing with these energies or if you were previously involved with these energies. We are open for readings. Please feel free to email us at Hotastrology444@gmail.com for a composite, synastry, or natal chart reading!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐳 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐳 || 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬...

Fire Divider By graphics-cafe

[aadhinagony]

-You don't believe in finding romantic love for yourself?

One day maybe.... but not now definitely. I hate myself too much to like someone else.

[sskybooks]

#138 (In small talk voice) sooo how'd your characters meet?

Prompt by @119outofthisworld119

(This was an anonymous post, put they just gave me their initial so that's what they get.)

I know you all have amazing creative juices in you and some amazing characters. This prompt is just for you to have fun and to help you explore your Character in a different setting. I would LOVE to hear what your Characters would do.

Have at it as you will!

(Also some of you ask how to submit prompts, you can just drop them in my ask box. )-

[oceansssblue]

100 CELEBRATION — PROMPT 17. PRINCE&SERVANT AU

REX/F READER 💖💔

WARNINGS: servant/slavery themes, social gap, mentions of war, soulbonds, first crush, fantasy aspects.

Note: Here we have a really fluffy timid sweet one for a servant!rex and princess!femalereader !! It will start in their childhood and skip through time. Switches between 1st pov and 3rd pov. Hope you like it! Xx, Blue.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The citizens of Bahr were also known as "water spirits" because of their surprising affinity with water creatures. The humanoid species could survive both underwater and in land; which made Bahr's cities beautifully diverse. Some towns were completely built under the ocean; others were constructed besides lakes and rivers. The Outer Rim planet had joined the Republic Alliance not so long ago; also enthraced by the idea of bidirectional protection and the reputation of the GAR. The Kaminoans had created clones of a mandalorian warrior that they later trained for different purposes; sold in batches all around the Republic for both servitude and personal army.

For the birth of Bahr's princess –the first descendant of King Fraland and Queen Altea– a new order of clones was sent to Kamino; and the kaminoans produced new batches of CT's and CC's and trained them for their new life. Some would end up serving in the palace or any of the Crown's properties; others would add to Bahr's already impressive army.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You had grown up with all the commodities of the world; from endless food on the table to the prettiest of dresses. As the only princess of Bahr, your education had been impecable as well; closely monitored by the planet's best academics and literates. You had a small flock of servants personally encharged of you; from nannies that looked after you during the day or night, to other female bahrises who were tasked to help you dress or join you in any of your multiple hobbies. Not all servants in the palace were natives; but yours were.

You had always been curious about the others, the humans; the clones. They were young too –almost as young as yourself– and from a different species; and they were boys. It was inevitable to want to find more about them. However, both the Queen and your nanies had always scolded you whenever you had tried to interact with one; so you had eventually given up on being friends with them. You still curiously observed them in the distance.

It was only at eight years old when you had your first conversation with a clone. With three clones, to be precise. They were arguing about going out on an adventure; and that had instantly caught your attention. Life in palace was –though you knew you were incredibly lucky– often boring. The oportunity of going outside was too tempting to ignore.

You remained hidden behind one of the numerous statues that were placed on both sides of the corridors –old Kings and Queens of Bahr, your ancestors–; attention tunned in in the conversation between the three boys. They weren't speaking in your native language; but your teachers had already taught you a handful of others, mando'a being one of them.

"We're not going to be able to see them properly, Fives" one of the boys said, voice a mix of exasperation and resignation. "They only come up to the surface when two true soulmates are on their own there".

Your curiosity deepens; they're talking about the Lake of the Soulmates; were small water dragons live in harmony until a couple of soulmates call them. Only in pairs they will respond; only when genuine, sincere emotions came into play. It was a sacred tradition on Bahr; though some often used it as a proof of a partner's intentions or honesty. It was a beautiful idea, the fact that soulmates existed, that someone was made specifically for you; you had always dreamed of visiting it.

"Yeah, I know" the boy named Fives whispered. "But won't seing them even under the surface be worth it? Please, Echo. I'm so tired of being trapped in here".

Something softened in Echo's face; the boy glancing at the third clone of the group with reluctant acceptance. This last one had short blond hair; a trait you hadn't seen in the rest of his brothers. It was a beautiful contrast with the bronze of his skin.

"If we get caught we could be punished or even decomissioned" he wasn't fully convinced either, though it was clear he wanted to go as well. "I don't know if we should risk it".

This was the perfect chance for you to step in.

You left the secrecy of your hideout; quietly walking towards them.

"You wouldn't be if you kindly allowed me to join you".

The three clones showed various levels of surprise and fear; jumping at the unexpected sound of your voice. Their eyes widenned.

"P-princess!" Fives stuttered, back in your native language.

Echo and the clone with the blond hair straightened inmediately.

"I desire to visit the Soulmate Lake as well" you continued, undisturbed. "I've always felt curious about them. If you allow me to tag along, and the guards find us, you may even tell them I asked you to follow me there; since I wasn't keen on going on my own. Do we have an agreement?"

Fives grinned; the other two looked unsure. Upon the first's incesant pleadings, they finally gave in, nodding in silence. The blond one turned towards you, speaking to you with a timid politeness.

"Your majesty, you may want to change to a less delicate shoe choice" he pointed out, carefully, and your eyes travelled down to your cristal sparkling sandals.

"Oh!" You blushed softly. "You are right, of course. I'll retire and switch to a more comfortable pair. I will see the three of you in the North Door in ten".

You gave them a firm nod and walked away. You were going to see the water dragons for the first time ever.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

At first, Fives, Echo and Rex were incredibly wary and tense around the princess. They had grown up learning about her; about how important she was and the responsabilities she was destined to carry. They were taught how to behave around royals; how they were not the same. It was shocking, the fact that she had even talked to them. The way she phrased things was a bit unusual, and perhaps so were some of her gestures and manerisms; but in all honestly, for a princess, she looked pretty normal.

The small trip to the Lake of the Soulmates was filled with Fives animated story-telling; Rex and Echo having long learnt how to filter him out, while the princess looked almost engrossed in his tale. All words extinguished when they finally arrived, though; the beauty of the scene that powerfull. The water looked almost like a mirror of the sky above; the trees painted in vibrant greens and oranges. There was a sort of magical peace that could almost be breathed in.

"Woah" Fives looked and wandered around almost in a trance.

Echo grabbed his shoulder and tugged him back before his brother could accidentally dip a feet on the lake's water.

The three clones and the princess made their way to the edge of it and kneeled on the grass, carefully pushing their bodies forward to inspect it; trying to get a peak of the creatures swimming beneath. But the creatures stayed hidden –as Echo had predicted–; and soon the adrenaline and excitement of the adventure extinguished.

Rex discovered himself observing the princess instead. Her hair was pinned up in an intricate updo; and a small sparkly tiara was perfectly positioned on top of her head. She had what looked like diamond earings too; and she was wearing a –expensive, he was sure– violet dress with some more accesories around her wrists and neck. Under all of that, Rex noticed her big expressive eyes and the warmth of her smile. He had always thought royalty as cold and distant –no matter how well they governed–; but perhaps he had been wrong all along. The princess chuckled at something Fives said; and Rex's eyes couldn't stop staring at her.

A splash and a gasp finally called his attention; wonder and excitement shining again in all of their faces. There was a water dragon close to the surface; it was a blurred mix of blues, cyan on it's head and turning progressively darker towards the blue indigo of the tail. The creature seemed to be curious about them as well; as it swam close to the four kids for a few minutes before dissapearing into the depths of the lake again.

They all glanced at each other in shock before chuckling and smiling happily. They stayed for what felt like another hour there, with mainly Fives and Echo bickering and Rex and the princess quietly observing. It was peaceful; freeing. Rex tenderly saved the memory in his mind.

The grins were still painted on their faces with their return to the palace.

"I had a wonderful time" the princess aknowledged them before they had to part ways. "Thank you for your company".

Fives grinned, showing a silly thumbs up.

"Yeah, cool shit, princess".

Echo rolled his eyes at his brother's choice of words and lack of proper decorum; and smacked the back of his head.

Fives shot a glance at him, pouting and catching up on Echo's silent complaint inmediately.

"Hey! I said princess!"

Luckily for all of them, the royal only watched them in amusement.

"We enjoyed your company as well, your majesty" Rex tried to spare them, nodding politely, golden brown eyes making contact with the princess's. "We wish you a good rest of your evening".

She smiled genuineningly; then courtsied in a last goodbye, walking away timidly, a small happy skip to her step.

Fives and Echo bickered at his back. Rex only wished their escapade to remain a secret –for their safety–; and to have shown the princess –she'd be their queen, someday– that clones weren't that bad.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Weeks pass after that evening with the clone boys; but thoughts about them haven't yet left your mind. You don't have much contact with people your age –or any at all, for that fact–; and you somehow find yourself yearning for more. You had enjoyed the afternoon with them; void of responsabilities and the pressure of being a princess. A royal. There was no-one to watch you with a critic at the tip of their tongue; no one to tell you how to talk or move, to punish you for things that weren't considered lady like. The memory of that tiny bit of freedom, of life, had stayed roaming around in your mind.

You had carefully asked around; tried to find more information about them. They worked in the kitchens; and though there were a few complaints about them being a bit of trouble, you generally only heard good things about the three clones. They were only two years –one, in Rex's case– younger than you; though a maid had –tried to– explain to you that with the clone's accelerated aging they'd look progressively older very soon.

Temptatively, you had tried to interact with them in the few months that followed the first escapade. They reacted exactly the same way as the first time; first with cautious wariness, and then slowly easing into a quiet, gentle friendship. Fives was the main source of trouble; Echo being the one to often reel him in and cut his crazyness short. He still joined him in few ocassions, though, and then it was Rex's turn to be the voice of reason. He was not boring by any chance –in fact, you find him very intriguing–; he just seemed more mature. Rex was observant, and surprisingly firm for someone as young as him; but he knew how to relax too. You felt warm each time you caught sight of his gentle smile.

You're on a quest to personally ask the palace's main cook to bake your favorite pie when you caught sight of them again; though not in a pleasant situation. Fives, Echo and Rex are all standing up in front of a –very obviously– angry chef; heads lowered down in a sign of repentance while the man screams inches away of their face. A quick glance around is enough to know what this is all about. The kitchen is a mess; almost as if there had been a fight –or an explosion– of flour all around. You understand the need to reprimand them if this has been the case; but the way the cook is spitting ill-words so close to their faces rubs you the wrong way.

"Useless clones, genetically engineered for what? You can't even behave in a kitchen! It's a relief you can't roam around through Bahr!"

Different degrees of hurt and anger crosses the boys faces. It grows like a flame inside of you as well.

"We understand your point, sir" Rex grits out, eyes still on the floor but posture firm. "It won't happen again".

"Of course it won't!" The cook suddenly invades his personal space and takes a violent hold of his face, nails digging into the skin of both cheeks to obligue Rex to look at him. "Because if you do, i'll make sure you're all sent back to Kamino and never see a ray of sunglight ever again!"

Something inside of you fiercely wakes up and shakes. A wave of ire and an overwhelming need to protect spreads through your veins; and you take a step into the kitchen and clear your throat, eyes settling on the cook in a heated stare.

"Princess!" The man exclaims, releasing the boy's face and taking a step back in utter surprise.

The three clones inmediately look at you. You want to comfort them, but it is a priority to get them away from this man first.

"Let this be the last time you dare to treat anyone this way" your voice holds an authority that doesn't really come from being a royal, but of a fierce heart that won't let any other option exist. "You will request a transfer to any other of the Crown's properties and leave inmediately".

The man is so shocked he almost sputters in his place.

"B-but princess..." his eyes flicker over your smaller form in a desperate way to find something to convince you with. "I'm the only one who knows how to bake your favorite Jhogan pie!"

Your expresion turns to one of disgust. The fact that this man...

"My favorite dessert can't be more irrelevant as opposed to the safety of other's lifes. I have given you the option to continue working elsewhere as a courtsey for all the years you've been working for us; but if you insist, I can make sure you won't find a job anywhere in Bahr".

The clear warning is enough to shut all of the cook's complaints down; and he turns around to send a hatefull glance to the three clones as if they have been the ones to dig his way out.

"Leave" you almost hiss then, years of trained patience coming to an end.

The man nods tersely, huffs, and walks away.

You breathe a sigh of relief when you're left alone in the kitchen with the other three boys. Their posture relax too; inmediately aproaching each other and mutually making sure they are all safe and good. The need extends to you.

"Are you alright?" You ask them, slowly aproaching them.

Fives and Echo look at you. Rex, for some reason, keeps staring at the floor.

"Yeah" Echo eventually answers. "Thank you for the save, princess. It was a kind gesture of you".

To your surprise, Fives steps forward and envelops you in a big, sudden hug.

"It was awesome! Did you see his face?" He laughs, and you chuckle as he releases you and takes a step back.

"It looked like his head was going to explode from holding all his anger back" you confirm with a tiny smile.

Your eyes travel back to Rex; who is still painfully silent, expresion closed off as if he were thinking of something deeply emotional and delicate.

"Hey" you carefully squeeze his shoulder and he breaks off of his trance, golden eyes locking on yours. "Are you okay?"

His eyes flicker over your face. He nods without saying a thing.

Your hand moves up and your fingertips carefully graze the skin of his redenned cheek. They won't be hurt like that ever again.

"You should get that checked by the doctor" you advise gently, lowering your traitorous hand to it's rightfull place. "Some marks have managed to break the skin and they might scar if you don't tend to them".

His golden eyes continue staring at you; creating a mess of contradicting and confusing emotions and thoughts you're too young to descipher yet.

"I will" Rex finally says.

When you leave the kitchen two minutes later, you murmur a soft and quiet "keep an eye on him" to Fives. The clone nods and grins.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It has been a long day for Rex and his brothers. Their working conditions are vastly different from those of two years ago; from when the princess had faced off the main palace cook and sent the monster away. When she had protected them. The memory is still vivid and clear in Rex's memory. She had been so small, so young; and yet her voice had held such a fierce authority. She clearly cared for them; and in a world where clones –where he– meant nothing, that had touched Rex's heart.

Not having a dickhead for a boss doesn't make the hours and hours of baking any less demanding, though; and Rex can feel the ache on his muscles begging for a rest. He's on his way to the servant's floor when he hears music floating down the stairs; it's such a beautiful melody that the curious clone is already following it with quiet steps. He recognises the sound of the clarinas; small air instruments native from Bahr. But there's someone singing as well; and Rex's instincts are pushing him towards it, for some misterious reason he has no time –or desire– to analise.

He comes to a stop in front of the music salon; and takes a quiet peak inside to scan the room. At first, his eyes widen in surprise; then, he's left staring enthraced, hipnotized. He didn't know she could sing like that. The princess's voice is sweet and delicate; her range gently dancing over the notes in a peaceful melody. The song has a hint of melancholy; like a bird who sees the beauty of the outside world and feels awed and warmed by it, but can't quite hold enough strength on his wings to fly in it.

Rex golden eyes are absort on her face for the few minutes he stays listening; until a maid passing by the corridor softly reprimands him and he flushes in silence, straigthening back up guiltily.

"Don't just stand there all day, young boy. Go on" the woman tuts with a knowing smile on her face, and Rex fights down his blush and walks away.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When you almost run into Rex in one of your late afternoon walks through the gardens, you can't help but gasp and stare at him in surprise. And not just because of the unexpected, clumsy encounter; but because of how different he looks. His growth has sprinted in this last four years. While you're looking your age –fourteen, now–, Rex –his brothers too– appear to be seventeen or so; the physical signs and changes of their teenage years dissapearing in a blink and quickly transitioning into his current appearence. He's tall, really tall now; slightly towering above you when you had once been of the same height. His facial features have changed too; shaped into firm, sharp lines. Gone is the kid Rex once was; he's certainly turning into a young man.

"Your majesty" he gives you a small courtsey and you smile at him with warmth. No matter how many little interactions you've both had over the years, Rex has never dropped certain formalities around you. It's endearing, really. "Enjoying a bit of fresh air before dinner is served?"

You nod without dropping your smile.

"Yes, indeed. The gardens are beautiful this time of the year, and a break from the noise of the palace is always welcomed" you pause and study him briefly. "Would you like to join me?"

Surprise fills his expresion; an sort of timid hesitance following.

"If you're sure, princess. I wouldn't want to disturb your moment of peace...".

You chuckle and tilt your head in a carefree grin.

"I wouldn't have offered if I found your presence disturbing, Rex" you tease him in good humour, gently linking your hand around his arm and tugging forward carefully. "It will be a short stroll, don't worry".

He doesn't say a thing. His golden eyes travel down to your hand anchored on his –surprisingly defined– bycep; then back to your face. It almost looks like he's thinking what the kriff you're doing with him. Ah, you suppose this tiptoes the line of being a royal, taking a walk with a –male– servant; but you can't help yourself. You enjoy his presence; always have, and right now a relaxing stroll between friends sounds nice.

Trying not to dwell on the fact that your bodies are touching –and the tingling sensation derived from it– you fill the –perhaps initially akward– silence with curiosities and stories about the plants you pass by; wether it's just their medical use or a particularity of a flower, or some other tradition that is rumoured in Bahr. He listens attentively, quietly; only intervening here and there. It's only after a while when you grow self-conscious; realising you're perhaps talking a bit too much.

"Forgive me" you smile guiltily, hand dropping from where you had been pointing at the petals of yet another flower. "You probably don't find all of this rants about flora interesting. You might not even like flowers for all I know..."

To your honest surprise, Rex carefully tugs said hand forward and holds it in his, gently squeezing.

"I do" he replies calmly, soothing your worries, voice deeper than it had been just a year ago. He glances at the green jade flowers and back at you. "It's the colour of your eyes, princess".

It's such an unexpected comment –and more so coming from him– that you can't control the flustered blush that inmediatelly spreads through your cheeks and down your neck. You shyly tuck a strand of hair behind your ear with your other hand; warmth spreading from where you hold him with the other one –as if some sort of energy were flowing between the two of you–.

Rex doesn't retract his comment; temptitavely caressing the dorso of your hand with his thumb, and a peacefull, almost pensive expresion on his face. You fall equally enthraced by him; gaze lost in the tenderness of his warm, golden eyes, on this new feeling sparkling between the two of you.

You had just started to see boys in another way; and Rex... Rex is beautiful. The sunset does wonders on his bronze skin, brings the gold out of his gentle brown eyes, he is undeniably handsome and his physicall appearence has nothing to envy the...

"Princess! Your majesty!" the urgent voice of your maid breaks the moment rather abruptly, tearing you out of your trance cruelly. "The King and Queen have been waiting for you in the Grand Comedor for almost ten minutes now!"

The woman continues to rant from far away, and you turn to look back at Rex with an amused chuckle –cheeks still redenned and already missing the warmth of his hand in yours–.

"I shall better go before they send a flock of angry maids to find me" you joke, still a hint of shyness on your voice and face.

Rex nods and takes a polite step back. You ignore how much your heart complains about that.

"Of course" he agrees, eyes still fixed on yours. "Have a good night, princess".

Your smile is as soft as melting butter.

"You as well, Rex".

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next day, upon numerous innapropiate whispers of maids and servants all around the palace that reaches the rulers ears, three clones are sent away to be trained in Bahrs army. When a week later the princess's personal maids finally ask the royal sucessor the reason for her late melancholy, she brushes it aside and conjures an empty smile. She's a bird; but she has no wings.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Seven years later, life has not changed much. At least for you. At 21, you have more responsabilities as the Crown's succesor, and take a participant role in Bahr's important decisions; but that aside, life around you moves like it always has. Slow and boring; though comfortable and coveted. Diplomatic travels have become part of your favorite rutine At least that way you're able to explore Bahr's diverse cities, though you're not completely free to roam around as you'd like, but tied to long dinners and debates.

Your father has subtly questioned you about wether if you feel connected to any of Bahr's important houses heirs. Your answer has always been short and clipped. It's not that you hate all of them; some are not pretentious and fairly good company –hadsome, even–, but none make your heart skip a bit. You'll settle for someone eventually; but for now, you'll still hold onto the hope that someone who can will appear.

You're lost in thoughts when the sound of someone arriving at the Lake of the Soulmates –you had taken to visit it sort of regularly lately– pulls you out of your mind. You glance back at the new comer; a gasp inmediately abandoning your lips, face shifting with shock and surprise.

"R-rex?"

You stand up from the blanket you've placed on the grass, carefully making your way towards him. He looks just as shocked; stunned. It has been seven years since you last saw each other. He's so... He's a man, now. His eyes, though... His golden eyes hold the same gentleness.

"Princess..." he takes two slow steps towards you as well –until you're both standing in front of each other, your chin tilting up so you can see his face–. "Long time no see".

You shoot him a fond smile.

"Yes" your eyes flicker over every inch of his face. His brow is more pronounced, his jaw sharper. His lips... pouty. "You've changed".

Age has done nothing but make him look more atractive. The white and blue armour he's currently wearing –clinging to his strong muscles– only make the picture prettier.

"You as well, princess. You look..." he stops himself, cheeks tinged in red.

You can feel your heart trying to beat it's way out of your chest. You're nervous, but excited; you encourage him to finish the sentence with bright eyes and a tempting smile.

"I look?"

At first, Rex seems to hesitate; then, the soldier squares his shoulders and fixes his eyes on yours.

"You look more beautiful than ever, princess".

He tells you this tenderly but firmly; like there's no option to disagree, like it's an universal truth. The quiet passion swirling in his golden eyes makes your heart clench; tugging the corner of your lips into a radiant smile.

You close the small distance between each other with another tiny step; your body almost grazing his.

Years and years of lessons on politeness and decency, on how a royal should behave, sprints through your mind; though they are quickly shut down in favor of the fire that burns bright in your heart. Rex... Rex makes your heart skip a bit. Perhaps he always has –even when in your young age you couldn't see it as clearly as now–.

"You do too, Rex" you whisper fervently, looking up at him. "Beautiful".

Rex releases a deep breath; almost as if he had been afraid of you reacting badly to his compliment. He closes the eyes for a few seconds; as if saving the moment in his memory.

You gather your courage and swallow your own insecurities down; temptitavely caressing his hand with the very tip of your fingers –a sort of cautious invitation to do more about it–.

Rex opens his eyes and glances at you in surprise.

"Is this... okay?" you ask him timidly, hand almost trembling with your nervousness.

Rex looks to be lost in your eyes; he barely reacts, not moving a single inch.

"Y-yes, yes. If you want to, princess..."

The carefull caress turns into proper holding hands. You smile at how right such a simple thing feels.

"Will you ever call me by my name?" You tease him in good humour, a little amused chuckle escaping your lips.

Rex's eyes travel around as if you have put him in a four way crossroad.

"I shouldn't..."

Perhaps years and years of lessons on how not to behave around and with royals are flickering through his mind too.

The fire inside of you burns stronger. You end the distance between your bodies, softly anchoring yourself to him and gently wrapping your hands around his shoulders. He freezes, eyes fixed on your face, now so close to his.

"But I want you too" you reply, fervently.

Rex swallows; and you can almost feel his throat move.

"It might take some time for me to get used to it. But I can try... meshla".

You release all your tension and nervousness with a long, happy sigh; closing your eyes and pressing your forehead against his plated chest, breathing the warmth feeling he provoques in you in. Rex hands tentatively takes place in your back and caresses you gently. His tension deflates as well in the tender embrace.

Splashing water sounds force you to break apart; you both glance at the lake, but upon finding everything as usual, quickly return to search into each other's gaze. You already miss his arms around you –yours around him–; though there's still minimum space between you.

"How have you been all this time, Rex?" You ask him fondly. "You've been working for the army, have you not?"

"Just got promoted to Captain, yes" he confirms, and your eyes fly down to quickly study the pauldron on his shoulder and his blue kama, armour touches and upgrades you know well. "It has been..."

He hesitates, and you encourage him to continue with a soft smile.

"Go on. You can be frank with me".

Rex sighs and confesses.

"It's better than staying in the palace all day, every day. It makes me feel more usefull, valuable. I'm protecting people. Doing good things" he takes a breath in and quietly admits, a troubled expresion on his face. "It's not an easy task, though. I've seen... Men and woman die, lost friends. I never realised just how many brothers I had in Bahr until I started to feel like I was losing them".

His words and emotions are so honest and raw it brings tears to your eyes; though you don't allow a single one to fall.

You hold his hands in yours.

"I'm sorry, Rex. That Fives, Echo and you all felt trapped in the palace and then forced to walk away. Every native servant has decided to be there; but you clones never had the oportunity to choose. I'm sorry you've lost family as well. I hope one day you'd be able to forgive me, Rex..."

He shows you a fond smile and gentle squeezes your hand with one hand; the other coming up to cup your face.

"It's not like you had any say in our creation, meshla, or what we came to be. You were just a child as well. And honestly, the King treats us much better than other clones in other parts of the galaxy. I'm happy with where I am now; Fives and Echo as well".

"How are they, Echo and Fives?" You curiously ask him, wanting to know about the other two boys –now men– as well.

Rex smile can only be defined as proud.

"They're doing well. Both got promoted to ARC's at the same time, which is why we're all in the Capital now. There's going to be a small ceremony in the palace for all new ARC's, Commanders and Captains".

You blink in surprise.

"Oh, I wasn't aware of this".

Rex shrugs.

"I don't believe the royal family attends this" he explains "just some other high ranks from the army and the war council. It's a small thing".

You tilt up your chin and make up a quick decision.

"It's a big thing for you. I'll be there"

"You don't have to, prin... meshla..."

You smile and squeeze his hand.

"I know. I'll still try".

Rex nods, innerly touched and gratefull; and you're both left in silence for a few seconds, studying each other's hands and eyes.

"I thought of doing this a lot when we were kids" you confess, voice quiet.

Rex shoots you a surprised look.

"Holding hands?" He asks, a timid expresion on his face too.

"Among other things" you admit with a blush.

Rex is shocked by your confession; but his eyes only fill with tenderness and warmth.

"Why didn't you?"

You shrug.

"I was reprimanded a lot, told to not interact with the three of you. I was also afraid of you only accepting because you'd be afraid to say no and... And I was shy and just a child. I didn't truly understand what I was feeling and what to do about it" you glance to the say and chuckle, cheeks painted in an embarassed red. "You were my first boy crush".

Rex can't believe at first the words that are coming out of your mouth. But he sees the honesty in your eyes, the vulnerability, the tenderness and the desire; and he knows it's the beautiful truth.

He smiles and caresses your cheek with his thumb. He decides to confess as well.

"I would have accepted anything from you, princess, and not out of obligation".

Warmth spreads inside of you; this time the title sounding more of a sweet, personal pet name on his lips than a polite status reference.

Rex decides to risk it all. His other hand also travels up to cup your face in his palms; softly tilting it up towards him so he can study and caress every inch of your skin with his golden eyes.

"And now, meshla? Now that we aren't kids?"

"I..." you want him. You love him. He's the one. "I want the same things".

Rex's relieved breath flickers over your face; and barely a second later, he dips down to catch your lips in a tender, heartfelt kiss. You make a small, pleased sound in your throat and surrender to him; body melting in his embrace and kissing him back with the same softness and hunger, both mixed into perfect bliss.

When you're forced to breathe, Rex rests his forehead against you in what you know is a Keldabe kiss; taking each other in.

"I've told myself a million times iver the years that this couldn't be. That you were just a dream, an illusion I would never reach".

Your heart aches. Perhaps true, honest love is just like that; so raw and powerfull it heals as much as it aches.

You nuzzle your nose against his and answer him softly.

"I know there's responsabilities to both and that we'll face more than one public judgement. We will need to be carefull. But I've always felt curious about you, Rex. We're both older now. Perhaps things won't work out, and that's okay; but I feel very strongly towards you and I'd like to have the chance to see where this goes now".

Rex smiles and pecks your lips again. Oh, you'll soon grow addicted to it.

"Like I said, princess, I'll take whatever you're willing to give" he grins, and you're so happy you can't help but laugh against his lips.

There's a louder splash coming from the water again; and this time, a quick, initially uninterested glance turns to be an overwhelming shock. You both watch, stunned, how two blue water dragons repetitively jump up and down the surface of the lake, clearly playing with each other and having fun, oblivious to the two of you.

You stare at Rex in shock.

"Are those... Did we... Are we..." you can't seem to form the words, too overwhelmed and nervous about the possible implications of this.

Rex stares back at the small creatures.

"If we were... We should be able to call them towards us, right?" He cautiously asks.

You nod, heart pounding. The two water dragons stop playing and hover over the surface of the lake, as if suddenly realising they were being watched and looking back at you curiously.

You take a deep, centering breath and close your eyes; focusing on trying to conect with any of them. To tug at some sort of invisible connection.

You gasp at the feeling of something wet and slippery pressing against the skin of your neck; opening your eyes in wonder, staring at the almost magical female water dragon that is nuzzling against you and chirping happily.

"T-try it" you tell Rex, hands shaking to caress the legendary creature, the animal playfully nipping at your fingertips.

Rex imitates you; closing his eyes and trying to find his own connection with the other water dragon. He frowns, and nothing happens at first; but then, the creature –darker in colour but with also more white streaks in it's tail– shyly aproaches him and spins around his forearm, then moving to hover in front of him.

Rex looks at his dragon in awe and then turns towards you.

"We're soulmates" he voices, love and wonder shining in his golden eyes.

You smile and close the distance to kiss him.

"I guess that explains why I have always felt drawn to you. Yes, we are".

Rex swallows your happy chuckles and you smile against his lips. The two water dragons play around your entwinned shape, chirping happily.

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Author note:

I love Rex so much godddddd...

Ps. With this one we only have one more prompt left for the 100blueceleb. It's a short story of a demon!echo / angel!ofc ; I have already planned it through and am in the process of writing it. It's gonna be a blast, mark my words! I'm so excited to share it with y'all. Stay tunned!

Xx, Blue.

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[queen-helaenas-pet-spider]

Out of all the ASOIAF characters that want Sansa Stark, Sandor Clegane is the ONLY ONE that HATES HIMSELF for it! Unlike SO MANY other men in this series {who will see someone they like and take them with no hesitation, and zero regard to that desired person and everyone else around them}, from the moment Sandor laid his Stark like grey eyes on her, and every blessed second he had with her after that, he actually FOUGHT those desires {which were made worse by his alcoholism}! He KNOWS Sansa is far too young for him, far too sweet for him, and miles above his station! He's SEEN how the world treats people like her! And most importantly, Sandor WAS HER!

Like Sansa, Sandor thought his life would be like the songs. While Sansa dreamt of being some beautiful, brave, gentle, and strong man's Lady or Queen and then be the mother of his children, Sandor dreamt of being a knight. They trusted too much, wanted to be loved by everyone, and had their lives shattered in the most DEVASTATING ways. And while their traumas affect them differently, she's still the ONLY one on the entire planet that TRULY understands him {you could argue that Arya *Sansa's little sister* does too, but not as much as Sansa}. And while Sandor grew to HATE everything about knights, the songs, etc, part of him still WANTS to be the kind of hero that he and Sansa used to love. And despite his many flaws, he's actually one of the very few "true knights" in the series.

And so, unlike those many men, Sandor fought his feelings for Sansa by trying to DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM HER. He stayed close enough to be sweet to her and protect her, of course, but also tried to make himself look as awful as possible. Said lots of cruel and lewd things, called her Little Bird, Child, Girl, etc instead of My Lady, Lady Sansa, Lady Stark, or just Sansa. And even after she REJECTED HIM, he also reminded a group of men {as well as himself} who were speaking ill of Sansa that not only is Sansa a LADY, but a PROPER LITTLE LADY. But to his great surprise and even greater despair, instead of watching her run for her life like everyone else does, all of his attempts to preserve what little honor they have left, only make {sadly just Book} Sansa all but CLING TO HIM like a damn FACEHUGGER.

Sadly, there were a few times {mainly in the books} where Sandor slipped up {mainly while he was drunk, which was almost the whole time they knew each other} and almost turned into Gregor {Sandor's older brother that's like ten to twenty million times worse} and all of those other men. He checked Sansa out, made some sexual comments about her still growing body, grabbed her too tight, broke in her room while she wasn't there and slept in her empty bed, pinned her to her bed at knifepoint, allegedly led a raping and killing spree at Saltpans, and admitted to Arya that he regrets not raping Sansa and tearing her heart out before he reluctantly left King's Landing without her.

But as disappointing as it sounds, Sandor {who again was almost always insanely drunk during those times} realized what he was doing, quickly stopped, and then went back to being what she REALLY needed at that time: Her guardian angel. Her dearest true knight. {I know, I know! "The bare minimum!", "The bar is in hell!", but Sansa and all the other girls and women in this series are BARELY even getting that!} He's innocent of what happened at Saltpans {it was another huge man, Rorge, who somehow got his grubby paws on Sandor's famous Hound helmet, and then wore it during the spree}. Also, Sandor's "confession" to Arya was made while he was literally DYING from some injuries he sustained while fighting that same group of men that were speaking ill of Sansa {which in my mind was Sandor trying to kill himself cause he just learned that the one he loves most married a man that they hated *and for good reason*, is accused of killing a king that they hated *and for good reason*, and is now on the run} and was hoping to be PUT OUT OF HIS MISERY. And since Arya didn't want to, he said awful things that he DID NOT MEAN FOR EVEN A MILLISECOND, things he KNEW would finally get her to change her mind, only for it to backfire on him BIG TIME.

While everyone else that wants Sansa Stark only wants her for her CLAIM, her STOLEN ANCESTRAL HOME, and her STILL DEVELOPING WOMB, Sandor Clegane is the ONLY ONE among them that wants Sansa because he actually LOVES HER. And though he many never know that Sansa DOES love him back {the way Sansa talks about Sandor in her chapters is DEFINITELY NOT out of hatred, though it would be understandable if it was. And if I told y'all to take a shot every time Sandor is mentioned in Sansa's chapters, y'all would die of alcohol poisoning} and get to be with her in that way, just seeing her and protecting her one last time would probably be enough for him. And if it isn't, well, then he'll probably just leave her again {either the normal way or through dying}. Because the only thing WORSE than never ending up with Sansa Stark is turning into his older brother.

[crimsonlovebartylus]

bartylus nation, i present to you a mafia bartylus one shot written by my amazing bestfriend. <3