#He decided to leave his past life as the prince at the gate with his royal clothes and jewerly

[0xeyedaisy]

Random stuff

[whocaresstillthelouvre]

See The Road You're On

Elks Chapter 1

Pairing: Jackson Joel Miller x Female Reader Chapter Rating: T. (Nothing explicit for the first few chapters.) Chapter Summary: The man you've had a crush on since he showed up to Jackson just so happens to be your favorite student's caretaker... and he just saw you do a brutal face plant in front of his home. Chapter Warnings: FIX IT FIC ALERT, pov switching (joel is in bold), soft jackson joel, pining, yearning, outbreak and quarantine zone memories, ellie has a smart mouth, anxious reader, mentions of blood and an injury from falling, everyone lives happily ever after, joel and ellie don’t leave jackson (no hospital, no revenge, no bad things happen), early 2000’s indie rock, reader has a backstory Words: 6,565

A/N: Well folks, I did it... another Elks rewrite, as mentioned in this lengthy post. Today marks a year since I posted my first fic. There's a lot of cliche "wow, what a year it's been" feelings, but just know how grateful I am to you for reading my words. I wouldn't be here without @forspringcleaning, I'm forever grateful for her and our shared delulu🪿. Thank you to @mothandpidgeon, @schnarfer, @secretelephanttattoo, and @devineconjuring for being my writing and grammar hand holders. I can't imagine my life now without the five of you, so y'all are stuck with me. (Also, an extra shout out to Mothy for calling Joel a slut in my Google Docs.)

Elks Masterlist Masterlist Playlist Chapter Song: “Myth" by Beach House

Next Chapter

The world ended the day after you bought your first homecoming dress. You had begged your mom for it—a beautiful deep forest green sequined gown with a sweetheart neckline that perfectly framed your prized gold daisy pendant. You twirled in the mirror of the dressing room, feeling like a princess, sparkling under the fluorescent lights of the department store. Life seemed perfect.

On the morning of September 26, 2003, your alarm blared you awake, pulling you from the dream of dancing under glittering chandeliers with a handsome prince. The only concern floating around your teenage brain was the grade you’d receive for your AP English essay.

You survived yet another monotonous day at high school. On your way home, your essay with a bold red A+ was safely stored in your messenger bag. With your guitar strapped to your back and headphones on, you listened to what would be the last lyrics before everything changed:

Hold your glass up, hold it in Never betray the way you’ve always known it is One day, I’ll be wondering how I got so old, just wondering how

Twenty years later, hardened by life in the Denver Quarantine Zone and gently softened by your now-comfortable life in Jackson, you’re still waiting for your first dance.

—-

Art and music have always been at the forefront of your life; you’ve never allowed anything to take away your creativity, continuing to create despite the pain of losing everyone you’ve loved to the plague roaming the earth. You create for yourself, using art as a way to soothe your thoughts and anxieties. You create for the Settlement of Jackson, to give back to the town that has given you a good life for the past five years. Most importantly, you create for your students at the school you’ve taught at since your arrival. 

The fifteen years spent in the Denver QZ tried to steal your colors and mute your songs. Joy became more difficult to find as each year behind the imposing iron gates passed. The only sources of happiness were your small group of friends and your students in the desolate school you taught at. You never graduated high school; there was no pomp and circumstance, just a teaching job assigned to you because you were young and still remembered most of your high school education. That’s how your career was decided. It's funny how an apocalypse job search happens.

You tried to carve out as much of a life as you could under the overbearing and always watchful eyes of FEDRA soldiers, but it never felt whole. When the opportunity to leave Denver arrived, thanks to your kind neighbor’s sister, you grabbed the few items you could and ran away from the only state you’d ever called home. 

Now, five years after your escape through the wasteland of the world to a better existence in Jackson, your life is filled with art, music, and purpose. Art supplied by the jars of paints you learned to make, and what the patrollers bring you back. Music from the CD player in your house and the guitar you strum. Purpose from the weekdays spent teaching your impressionable students, who have actual well-rounded futures, no longer doomed to become FEDRA fodder, along with the Saturdays spent working at the library you run out of your classroom. 

It's a good and comfortable life here, even if the nights are lonely and the only company in your small cottage are your cats Ripley and Penny. Some extra lonely nights, when the moon sits high atop the mountains, you can’t silence the thoughts that there’s nobody in your life who creates beautiful things for you. Too many nights you find yourself thinking about the man that lives down the street from you.

Joel Miller. 

He’s so intimidating. Handsome and caged off, like he’s your own little museum piece you keep to yourself now that museums are obsolete. You’ve never seen anybody more gorgeous, not even in the faded celebrity magazines you cut up to make collages. Soft, full lips always hidden under a frowning mustache that rests below a large hooked nose. His dark brown eyes often focused forward, always appearing in thought underneath furrowed brows. Dark, wavy hair that matches his eye color, with soft silver streaks painted throughout. His body is strong and broad, often hidden underneath a tan flannel-lined jacket.  His hands are large, matching the rest of his features, with thick fingers that seem capable and dexterous; you can tell they’re efficient for any task you ask of them. His skin is golden, born that way and bronzed by years spent outdoors. He’s tall and big–so big. Somebody who has always been a protector. The precious pages of your notebook quickly deplete when you try to sketch and master the lines of his face. Maybe you could get the minute details if only you could stop being so afraid of the feelings he stirs inside you.  

You’ve been enamored with him since he first showed up in Jackson. Your life, and all of those feelings you’ve tried to avoid for years, upended by his presence. 

It was a normal day, like any other, when you walked into the Tipsy Bison to drop off some extra shoelaces and push pins for the community swap basket. Your eyes paused on the long communal table where your friends Maria and Tommy sat with two strangers. 

A small teenage girl with a tight ponytail and a tattered sweatshirt was talking animatedly with her mouth full. You know kids well after all your years of teaching, and you could already spot her tenacity across the room. Sitting next to her, bent over a plate of food and clutching a fork in an untamed way, was a man with a mess of graying hair and a permanent scowl plastered on his handsome face, his eyes staring straight forward, void of kindness. You wondered when the last time somebody created something beautiful for him was. 

You quickly flitted over to the corner where the communal basket sat and deposited your items, and as you turned around to head to the exit, you noticed the handsome stranger looking right at you. His eyes darted away right as yours widened at his attention before you made your hasty retreat out of the room.

That night you wrote a song about a once warm and inviting cabin sitting in the woods, now cold and desolate with tattered floor boards and a cracked window.

—-

The girl you saw at the Bison with the handsome stranger shows up in your class the following week. Ellie quickly becomes your favorite student thanks to her love of art and smart mouth. She’s always so eager to learn in the mornings before heading out with the other older kids for patrol and community training. 

She doesn’t shut up about your handsome stranger. Joel. You’re able to parse together a few facts you hold close to your heart:  he’s Tommy Miller’s older brother, Texas born-and-raised, grumpier than everyone else, and loves coffee. Everything she tells you makes you think about him more. 

Sometimes you’ll see him walking down the road headed right towards you, but a quick tuck of your head or dash around the nearest corner helps alleviate the panic of being near him. One night you see him at the Tipsy Bison, drinking whiskey with Tommy in the corner. Your eyes staring unblinking before you realized how anyone could look over and see the way you’re ogling; you quickly created an excuse, telling your friends why you needed to head home, too overwhelmed by his presence just a couple of tables down. Seeing him stirs up so many foreign emotions inside you, but you like the rush. You like having your little crush, as long as you can keep your distance from him.

—-

“Jeez, what were they thinking when they named these bands? The Shins? The Strokes? The Yeah Yeah Yeahs? Did every band just pick a random word and put The in front of it?” Ellie questions as she peruses your CD collection while you grade papers. With training for the older students canceled due to the winter snow outside, Ellie had decided that you needed company in your classroom after school.

“Seems like it, doesn’t it?” you answer. “I’ll have to play them for you one day, those were some of my favorite bands when I was your age.”

“Really? Wicked! I’d love that!” She looks up from your CD book with an enthusiastic smile. You return her smile, happy for the bond the two of you share. “Joel loves music too. Wonder if he’d like any of these.” Your pen pauses and your heart races at the mention of his name. You feel foolish for the crush you have on your student’s “father.” 

“I’m sure there’s something in there for everyone,” you say, stacking your papers and capping your pen. “I think we should get going before the sun sets, El. I’ll lock up.” 

“Aw man, there’s nothing to do at home,” she sighs. 

“Sorry, kid,” you shrug. “I’m helping at the Bison tonight.” 

“Fiiiiiine,” she sighs as she grabs her backpack and jacket. “Bye, Teach!”

Watching her leave, the thought plants in your head that she’s only a couple years younger than you were when the outbreak happened. You vow to be there for her in any way you can. 

—-

The world thaws as winter turns to spring, the sun stays up longer in the Wyoming sky each day. With clear roads and longer days, patrollers are able to venture farther from the gates, giving them a better chance to scavenge and bring their finds back. The wish list posted above the communal basket in the Tipsy Bison is filled with requests. 

Residents ask for a broom, a TV input cable, a glue gun, crayons, and other utilitarian items to help make life easier. You think about writing down the one thing you wish for the most: a new CD player. Your prized possession finally spun its last song a couple of days ago, making your home fall silent without your constant companion of music. The irony isn’t lost on you; your just-as-ancient guitar now lies silent against the wall, the crack on the neck finally broken from overuse. You don’t write down your main wish, instead choosing to note that the school needs chalk and you need a new oven mitt. 

That’s how life goes now, you’ve learned to live with much less before, and you’ll learn to do it again.

—-

When Joel Miller arrived in Jackson, he doubted he would ever feel at home. But now, as he approaches the white house with the mailbox labeled MILLER, he feels that feeling he hasn’t felt in almost two decades… a sense of peace.

Hell, he and Ellie have called Jackson home for six months now. He has a job, he’s met a couple people he can stand to be around, and he has a warm bed to sleep in every night. He has a home, even though he still feels like he’s a lost man.

His back aches when he bends over to remove his mud-caked boots by the door, a testament to the hard day’s work he put in helping Tommy haul bricks to repair one of the buildings on the main street. He welcomes the discomfort, it’s just like old times, the Miller brothers working together again.

He’s already thinking about the scalding hot shower he’ll take to soothe his muscles when he opens the front door.

His backpack almost slips out of his hand when he sees you in his living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor. He quietly closes the door, trying to stay as silent as he can. It’s you… Ellie’s teacher—the one she won’t shut up about. The pretty girl he saw at the Tipsy Bison all those months ago, the same pretty girl he sometimes watches when he thinks nobody is looking, the same pretty girl who he catches darting away each time he thinks their paths might just cross.

You're bent over a large sketchpad, pencil in hand, with Ellie beside you.

Both of you are so focused on whatever you're creating, the music coming from the stereo is loud enough that neither of you notice his entrance. He stands frozen in the doorway, taking in the sight of you in his home.

"The perspective is all wrong," Ellie groans. "I can't get it right."

"Here," you say, angling the paper. "Try looking at the paper like this, and imagine you're standing, looking at the tree."

“Ohhhh, shit,” Ellie happily exclaims.

“Language,” Joel reprimands, surprising himself. “And I thought I told you not to touch my stereo, kid.”

—-

The deep timbre of a Texas-accented voice shocks you. Your heart begins to thud against your chest, goosebumps spreading along your body; you’re frozen on the floor while you attempt to hide your internal panic.

Joel is home.

Of course he’s home. This is HIS home, and you’re in it breaking HIS rules by listening to your favorite mixed CD on HIS stereo system, which is much grander than your pitiful broken CD player. Why did you think letting YOUR STUDENT, who’s half your age, convince you this was a good idea?

He gives you a half smile when you turn to him, mouth slightly agape at the sight of him. Joel Miller is in Joel Miller’s house with you. 

“I know, relax!” Ellie’s response drips with her unshakeable sarcasm as she turns the stereo off. “This is the teacher I told you about. Her stereo broke and I invited her over so she could play me some of her stuff,” Ellie reasons. The kid is never not convincing. “I’m being active in the community like you asked me to,”

You quickly stuff your CD case into your backpack and stand, trying to escape the anxiety of being in the cozy Miller household with the not-so-cozy-looking Mr. Miller. 

“Mm,” Joel grunts out before turning to you and reaching his hand out. “I‘m Joel.” His big hand envelops yours when you softly grab it to say hello. 

You nervously give him your name, trying to calm your panicked heart. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep any boundaries. My stereo broke a couple days ago and she knew it upset me.” You nervously stammer feeling like a thirteen year old in trouble again as you begin to fiddle with the gold daisy chain around your neck.

“Don’t worry about it,” he insists, glancing at Ellie. “I can look past this if it means you’re getting out of that damn garage.” 

“She has way better music taste than you. None of that twangy sad music you try to get me to listen to,” Ellie replies, rolling her eyes. You wonder if every conversation they have is Joel putting a rule down and Ellie defying it.

“I-I need to go, I promised Helen I’d help at the Tipsy Bison tonight.” You’re not due for another hour but you can’t fathom the idea of being around Joel Miller for any longer.

“Well, you’re welcome back whenever you want… right Joel?” Ellie looks at him, angling her eyebrow, knowing she’s going to get the answer she wants from him. 

You can feel the heat rising to your cheeks, the rapid rise and fall of your chest. It’s almost too much… and then Joel looks at you with warmth in his eyes.

“Of course. S’pose any friend of Ellie’s is welcome here,” Joel hesitates with a smile, his deep brown eyes crinkle in the corners. He’s ridiculously handsome this close, it’s staggering. 

“Thank you again Ellie, I’ll see you tomorrow, make sure you bring your notebook.”

Joel opens the door for you and steps aside, as you pass him, your shoulder brushes his chest. You pray he doesn’t hear the way your breath hitches.

You hope the distinct woodsy smell of Joel’s house on your jacket will linger for a while. You almost trip when you realize you’ve left your favorite mixed CD in Joel’s stereo.

—-

Joel knows you’ll never be able to tell how many times he’s listened to your CD, and yet every time he plays it a pang of guilt sits within him. Funny that this is what he feels guilty about after all of his years.

The truth is, he doesn’t recognize any of the songs, and about half of the CD doesn’t appeal that much to him, but damn, he would love to hear you explain why you chose each song.

He hasn’t even taken your CD out of the player, too afraid to hurt a relic of yours. He really likes track 8. There’s a haunting guitar, a slightly whiny voice telling him to “cheer up honey, I hope you can.” He can feel the lyrics in his soul, he likes the way the static sounds, the strumming of the guitar, the hopelessness in the singer’s voice.

He often plays it on repeat, imagining you listening and humming along with your sweet voice.

He wonders how old you were when everything happened, where you’re from, how you got here… why he’s so drawn to you.

The song begins again, he closes his eyes and thinks of you.

—-

Weeks pass. Spring arrives, the ground softens, trees adorned with bright green leaves sway in the gentle breeze rolling off the mountains, and the flowers bloom along the vast gardens of fruits and vegetables. Everyone’s days turn longer with more tasks to accomplish. A sense of hope and rejuvenation fills the air for everyone, no longer bunkered down and locked away by the snowy weather. 

Your favorite mixed CD has fallen victim to your inability to be anywhere near Joel. Strangely, it brings a sense of nostalgia to you, kind of like when you'd forget a CD in your friend's car or in your locker over winter break. It's not like you have anything to play it on, your house still sits silent, your stereo and guitar still sit broken and unusable.

Though, during the early days of spring, you’re hardly ever home. You've been filling your time with extra work: assisting with spring planting in the community gardens, organizing the supply room at the schoolhouse, and taking more shifts at the Bison. Jackson is your home and you love making it better.

Today’s a warmer day than usual, the sun shines bright and hot in the clear, blue Wyoming sky; all you can think about is getting home and taking a long bath after helping out at the community garden.

Your quick footsteps pitter patter against the warm asphalt in front of Joel’s house. Your heart always starts to beat faster when it comes into view.

This sweltering afternoon you’ve certainly lucked out, he’s in his yard working on repairing a broken fence post. Your steps begin to slow as you see him set the hammer down, wipe the back of his hand across his sweaty brow, and stretch his back.

Panic sets in at the realization he could look right over and see you in the state you’re currently in. You’ve been up to your knees in soil since school ended, watering and deadheading plants while letting the dirt on your skin bake in the warm sun.

Your anxious steps pick up pace, failing to hop over the divot in the road you always remember to avoid. A trip and a fall ends with you landing hard on your stomach knocking the wind out of you. You can just make out the fall of heavy boot steps on the ground over the sound of your lungs gasping for air as you turn over.

“Whoa whoa whoa, you okay darlin’?” Joel asks. His broad body eclipses the bright sun when he bends over your body splayed out on the pavement. “S’alright, s’alright, breathe.” 

You lose even more breath at the sight of him. The sheen of sweat against his skin makes it glow bright. This is the first time you’ve seen him without a jacket or flannel, you can’t help but stare at the constellation of freckles on his neck that you’ve never noticed. His biceps strain the fabric of his short sleeves when he reaches to put a comforting hand on your shoulder. 

You can’t tell if you’re still panicking from your fall or the stress of Joel seeing you as pathetic as you think you look. He called you darling and you feel like a fool. 

"I'm alright—I-I'm sorry... I'm alright," you manage to say between breaths. A whimper of as you attempt to stand but it hurts far too much. 

“Hold on, hold on, there’s no need to rush, you took a mighty fall. Ya’ got a big cut on your knee, let me help you,” Joel says, his eyes scanning you, worry etching his furrowed brows. 

“No, no, I’m okay really, I-I’m really okay.”

“S’alright now, I have some peroxide and bandages in my house. Ellie’d kill me if she knew I left you here hurt ‘n alone,” he implores reaching his hand out. "I want to help you, come here."

“I– okay,” you grab his hand, his strong fingers wrap around yours, oh god he’s so warm. “I-I don’t want to bother you.”

“Now, I’ll have none ‘a that, come on,” he helps you stand steadying you with an arm around your waist, the adrenaline of being this close to him makes a bit of the pain fade, though the humiliation remains. 

He slowly leads you up his walkway, his hand firmly splayed against your hip. Your head rests against him, close enough to feel the dampness of his sweaty shirt on your cheek.

You’re back in Joel Miller’s house, the realization isn’t lost on you that you’ve felt like an idiot both times you've been here. What is your luck?

Joel gently helps you settle on his couch, placing a pillow behind your back for support. "You alright?” he asks, his voice drags heavily with concern.

You nod, keeping your eyes focused on your bare legs, marred by dirt and gravel mixed with blood.

“Just relax for a second, I’ll go grab everything." He retreats, his loud boot steps get fainter allowing you to take a deep breath, trying to regain your composure. 

Your solitude now allows a chance to look closely at Joel’s living room. The last time you were in his house you were far too anxious to focus on anything. But now you can look around, and realize that despite his reputation for being gruff and irritable, his home is quite warm and inviting.

Wood carvings sit on shelves, a couple of tattered sports magazines lay on the coffee table, a chipped owl mug sits atop a book on the side table next to a chair. All of it presents quite domestic and comfortable for a single man and an adopted daughter in the apocalypse.

Your eyes roam along the beige walls and pause when you spot a familiar painting hung near the front window. An elk stands alone, amongst a field of flowers, large antlers reach into the light blue sky. You painted it just a few months ago, using your favorite water colors. You gave it to Tommy for Christmas, as a thank you for always making sure you have first dibs of paints that patrollers bring in. Why does Joel have it?

“Don’t have any large bandages but I got a gauze roll,” Joel startles you when he takes a seat atop the coffee table across from you. 

“That’s my painting? I painted that… for Tommy,” your inner thoughts escape your mouth, surprising you.

He turns and follows your eyes to the small piece of paper pinned on his wall. “You painted that? S’good. Saw it on my brother’s wall and asked him if I could have it. He was kinda reluctant but I told him how it reminds me of the painting I used to have over my bed before… everything.” The last word comes out as a huff, like he still doesn't know what word to use for these last twenty years.

“I love elks, they remind me of where I’m from… I’ve always liked painting the wildlife I grew up around the most,” your eyes remain focused on your painting. “Herds of elk used to live near my Dad’s home in the mountains, I used to hear their calls during the mating season.” 

“S’nice to remember those small moments, I guess your painting helps me,” he gently muses. 

“I’m glad,” you whisper.

He clears his throat as he begins to prepare the supplies. "Let me clean up those knees," he lowly says.

You nod, grateful, but still embarrassed.

Joel delicately lifts your leg and places it on his lap, resting it against the soft strength of his thighs. Your heart feels like it’s going to burst out of your chest when you look down at this intimate moment with your dream man. Your breaths escape your mouth in rapid succession, your only hope is Joel blames your panic on the threat of the peroxide and not his close proximity. 

“S’gonna sting,” he warns before pouring the clear liquid onto your knee. Your breath catches in your throat when it hits your sensitive skin and burns. You suppress a whimper and feel slightly dizzy at the sight of him bending forward and delicately blowing on your wound. His breath cools the heat of your burning skin but lights a fire inside of your body you haven’t felt in years.  He glances up, his dark brown eyes stay focused on your face. “Doin’ alright?” 

You nervously chew on your bottom lip and nod. “Y-yes, yeah,” you mumble, “I-I’m okay it just hurts a lot to move.” Heaven forbid you tell him the truth, that you’re acting this way because he’s the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen, and now his hands are on you.

"I know, that gravel is a sucker," he gently reassures, picking up your other leg and placing it on top of his lap. “S’bouta sting again,” he warns. 

You try to focus on the burn of the peroxide and not on Joel’s fingertips resting against the back of your knee. He blows on the peroxide as it bubbles again, your heart skips a beat when his deep brown eyes meet yours again. You get the sense that he knows exactly why you’re responding the way you are. 

He lifts a faded gray wash cloth up and wipes both of your knees with the utmost tenderness. He picks up the fabric bandage, and lifts your knee higher to rest your foot against his broad chest. 

“Place a finger here so I can wrap you,” Joel directs just as gently as his touch. “Tell me if it feels too tight.” His hand tightens around your knee while he slowly winds the gauze around your leg and bandages your wound. “How’s that?” 

You bend your leg back and forth and place it on the floor. “Feels good, thanks.”

“Course,” he says, lifting your other leg higher to start. He smirks when you place your finger on top of the bandage without him asking, and begins to wrap the gauze around your other leg. 

“I’d try to take it easy the next few days, give you a chance to heal,” Joel utters, tucking the bandage in and smoothing it down. 

“I will. Thanks for all your help… you really didn’t have to,” your voice breaking with embarrassment. 

“You don’t have to thank me, Ellie’d kill me if she found out I left you hurt in front of my home,” he cracks a smile at the mention of her name. “She talks about you a lot, I should be thanking you for giving her a reason to love goin’ to school.”

“She’s one of the best parts of my day,” your smile matches his when you think about her and her smart mouth, “I love having her around, she’s always so eager to learn… and give her opinion."

“She's always showing me some new art way she learned from you or talking about a band she wants to hear that you told her about. You mean a lot to her.”

“She’s a special kid.”

“She is,” he says, his deep brown eyes looking into yours. You’ve never noticed just how much his dark eyes glisten. Like the perfect color of black coffee. 

The sweet shared moment turns more awkward as you both maintain eye contact and nod over your shared adoration of Ellie. It feels like he’s looking at you under a microscope.

“Well, I should get going,” you say cutting the tension before scooting forward on the couch.

Joel rises, reaching out his hand to help you. The warmth of his hand sends a shiver across your body as you stand, trying to hide the wince of pain when you put weight on your scraped knees.

"You sure you're alright to walk home?"

“Yeah, I think so,” you respond. “I’ve already taken up enough of your time. Thank you for everything.”

“S’no problem at all,” he says, placing a hand on your back as you walk towards the door. "I'd feel better walking you home… just to make sure."

“Oh, um—” you stammer, caught off guard by his offer. “I’ll be okay, I don’t live far at all. Plus, it’ll be good for me to get used to walking with the bandages on.”

“If you insist, at least take it slow.”

He helps you down the few steps, you spy his tools laying abandoned on the lawn. “I hope I didn’t keep you from finishing your fence,” you apologize.

“I’ll manage… take care of yourself,” his hand retreats from your back when he opens the gate for you. 

“Thanks Joel, you too.”

You really shouldn’t have looked back at him to get one last glimpse, he’s beautiful, especially now lit by the slowly setting sun. 

Walking away from him as confidently as you can, you feel his eyes follow you the whole way. You’ve never been so thankful to see your little cottage, escaping behind the protection of your front door before you grin and grab your paints and brushes. You sit at your kitchen table and paint a picture of an elk, this time with golden toned fur and deep brown eyes. 

—-

His heart beats with an unfamiliar feeling as he watches you hobble down the road, too proud to glance back, obviously too embarrassed for your own good. If only you knew how often he thinks about you, how closely he listens to Ellie when she talks about you, how many times he’s replayed that old mixed CD of yours with your name and the pretty faded flowers drawn on it… maybe then you’d look back at him. 

You fell in front of his home like an angel falling from the sky. He picked you up and bandaged your wounds.

Today, you gave him a purpose, he loves having a purpose. Some days he feels that purpose dwindling behind the protective gates of Jackson. Ellie’s comfortable here, she doesn’t need him as much, what with all of her friends and teenage responsibilities. She’s thriving here, and he’s left feeling adrift. He’d never admit it, not even to Tommy. At least there’s always patrol and the freedom that provides him.

Maybe he just needs more of a purpose, more of a reason here, maybe then he’d be satisfied. 

He steps back into his home, glancing at the couch you were just sitting on, before retreating to his studio. He unwraps his tools and picks up the perfect block of wood. Running his fingers over the smooth surface, he envisions the intricate lines he’ll carve for the fur, he feels a whisper of intimidation at the thought of shaping the delicate antlers.

Woodworking has been a new discovery for him, he’s always been better at settling his thoughts when his hands are occupied. He thinks of the first time he saw you all those months ago when he makes his first deliberate cut.

—-

Saturday mornings are always busy, running your library never allows you the luxury to eat breakfast at the hall like everyone else does on the weekends. You’re always turning to the left rushing towards the schoolhouse while everyone takes a right heading to eggs, pancakes, and coffee. This particular Saturday you’re moving slower thanks to your injured knees and the large box of books that patrol brought you from their runs. 

“Mornin’," Joel shouts, quickly striding towards you from the hall exit. “Lemme take those for you.” 

“Oh, hi,” you say as you pause in your tracks. You’re a little flustered to see him, completely thrown off when he stops in front of you, reaching out and taking the box out of your hands. “You really don’t have to take–"

“None ‘a that,” he shushes, effortlessly lifting the box of books higher. "Where are we going with these?"

"Just over to the school house for the library," you nod your head towards the little brick building.

“How are the knees doing?” he asks, slowing his gait to match your slower pace.

“A lot better, thanks.”

“Glad to hear.” 

You fish the key out of your pocket, unlock the door, and let Joel follow you down the hallway to your classroom. You flick the lights on, fluorescent bulbs buzz illuminating your second home. 

The thought of Joel seeing your second home, filled with your’s and your student’s art makes you nervous. The walls are covered with colorful drawings and paintings, shelves lined with worn books, and various art supplies organized in labeled containers.

You sit in your chair to rest your already aching knees, you’d still be halfway to the schoolhouse if it wasn’t for Joel’s kind assistance. 

“You can put the box on my desk,” you direct, rubbing your sore knee. 

He places the box on your desk, before his eyes shift to the bright mural on the wall behind your desk. “Wow, I haven’t seen something like this in a long time. S’beautiful,” he murmurs in awe. 

A grin lifts your tired face before you swivel in your chair to look at the mural. “Goodness, thank you. I just finished it a few weeks ago. I really wanted to make sure the kids had something fun and colorful to focus on while in class. It was hard for me to work in this plain, white room for so long. It took a long time to save up enough paint.” 

He slowly walks over and places his hand on the cinder block wall. “Bluebells. The flower of Texas,” he faintly whispers.

His large fingers trace the lines of your painted indigo petals, it feels almost forbidden to see such soft tenderness from hands that are usually so tough and strong. He had touched you with the same gentleness when he bandaged your scraped knees. There was once softness surrounding all of Joel, the permanent grimace and rough reputation for him brought on by the harshness of existing in this world. 

He turns to you, keeping his hand on your mural. “Where you from?” he asks, curiously gazing into your eyes.

“I was in the Denver QZ.”

“No, where were you from before everything?”

“Oh, sorry. Still Colorado, just more in the mountains,” you say, concentrating on the columbine flower painted next to the bluebell. “Florissant to be exact. It’s a little town famous for dinosaurs. I was very lucky to be where I was when everything happened—just far enough to escape.”

“Nice state, I went skiing there once as a teen, had plans to go again before… everything,” he turns to look back at the bluebells again.

“Big of a Texan to compliment Colorado,” you jest, as you stand up, picking up your library supplies from the desk. A smile tugs at your lips as you move around the desk.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Good one.”

You start placting down your hand-painted placards on the tables, each card illustrated with a different genre. 

He walks over and picks one of the cards up and admires it. “These are real nice,” Joel says picking up one labeled ‘Science Fiction’ with a painting of stars, and a rocket. “Can I help you?”

“If you want, just pick up a pile of books and put them on their respective tables. Children’s, Mystery, Romance, Non-Fiction, Sci-Fi, Miscellaneous.” 

He dutifully picks up a stack of books. “You do this by yourself?”

“Usually. I’ll sometimes have help, but I think everyone here works so hard during the week that they like their slow Saturdays. I wouldn’t want to ask them to give up sleeping in.” 

He holds up a thick paperback with yellowed pages and a burgundy cover. On the cover, a muscular, orange-toned man with flowing blonde hair cradles a wispy brunette damsel. “I take it with a title like ‘Burning Tenderness’ it goes in romance?” Joel winks. You’d never imagine you would ever see someone like him joke, let alone wink.

“Well, I’d fire you on the spot if you placed it in non-fiction.”

His bellowing laugh echoes across your classroom. You like hearing him laugh. 

—-

The library is set up in record time, a half hour before opening, thanks to Joel’s help.

You take a seat on the edge of your desk to rest your knees. “I’ve never gotten done this early before. Between your help with my knees and today I feel like I owe you something. Is there any way I could repay you for your kindness?” 

He sighs, glancing back at your mural. His brows furrow as his eyes move over the painted wall. “Those bluebells you painted,” he inhales a deep breath, “do you think you could paint some of those for me in my house?” 

You’re stunned by his request, his words taking a moment to register. Paint for Joel Miller? In his home? “You… want me to paint for you?”

“If you’d be willing,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“Oh my, I’d love to,” your face lights with a smile. “I can start it anytime.”

“D’you want to come over Monday after you’re done at the school? I already told Ellie I’d spend the day with her tomorrow.” 

“That sounds great,” you reply, not believing your luck that Joel Miller is inviting you over to his house.

“Alright, Monday it is. Should probably get going ‘n start my day,” he says, raising a book in his hand. “Taking this as payment for my work today.”

“‘As I Lay Dying?’ Didn’t pin you as a Faulkner fan,” you muse, opening your logbook to note the title down.

“Liked the horse on the cover.” 

“So Texas,” you chuckle, shaking your head. “It’s a good book. Enjoy it Joel.”

“See you Monday. Good luck today.” 

“Yes, Monday,” you respond, trying not to smile too hard. “Thanks again for all your help.”

“Course,” he nods before walking out the door. 

Today’s going to be a great day, it already started out better than you ever could have hoped.

—-

Back home after a busy day you sit in your favorite chair with your cats on your lap and sketch bluebells until you fall asleep with your pencil in hand. --- Next Chapter

Divider courtesy of @/saradika-graphics

perma tags: @forspringcleaning, @schnarfer, @mothandpidgeon

Tagging some mutuals and those who requested. (As always, let me know if you'd like to be put on or taken off.) @secretelephanttattoo, @sawymredfox, @moonlitbirdie, @arcanefox207, @almostfoxglove, @pascalssbabyy, @toomanytookas

@jolapeno, @goodwithcheese, @msjarvis, @itwasntimethatdidit40, @burntheedges, @magpiepills, @maggiemayhemnj

@ace-turned-confused, @lorettafudge, @jennaispunk, @lotusbxtch

@sunnytuliptime, @sizzlingcloudmentality, @cheekychaos28, @ashleyfilm

[woozisguitar]

GLITCH - a good plan

prev | 3.0 | next

masterlist

Recommended Song: Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift

Warnings: some hate tweets, mentions of anxiety, overthinking and panic attacks.

A/N: this part has both smau + written (2.6k words, no beta)

Your flight landed 20 minutes before schedule. After a few long hours of constant turbulence and the crying of babies, you were more than happy to disembark. But a sudden realisation of where you were and wanted was going to happen once you got off this flight made your anxiety rise again. Since the article about the dating rumor came out, it was almost like your usual anxiety had increased tenfold, making you want to run back and hide every time you left your house. Ella tapped you on the shoulder to signal that the gates were opening. You decided to swallow your nerves for the sake of the group. 

“Let’s go before it starts to rush,"  Iseul called out from her seat in the next row with Ash, who was packing her things. 

The security checks and baggage claim took ages, but finally, you were able to leave the airport and take in a much-needed breath of fresh air. There, at Arrivals, you saw a man who looked like he would be in his late 30s, holding a placard with your name on it. You nudged Iseul and nodded towards the man to signal that he might be the guide? SEVENTEEN’s management mentioned. 

“Hi, I’m y/n,"  you said, bowing slightly. “Oh hello! Nice to meet you. I am Ahn Ha-Joon, but feel free to call me Mr.  Ahn," he said with a kind smile. “I hope you all had a great flight. I have a car waiting for us right outside. Please follow me.”

You all followed Mr. Ahn out of the airport, where the cool evening air greeted us. Ash and Ella looked around in excitement, but Iseul had a mix of nostalgia and fear on her face. Knowing her past, you gave her a small squeeze on the shoulder, and she glanced over in appreciation. 

“Mr. Ahn, can we stop somewhere to eat?” Ella asked once we were all seated in the car. 

“Well, it's pretty late right now, so most restaurants would be closed, but we can stop at a 24-hour convenience store. My apologies, but there isn't any food at your accommodations right now.” 

You heard Ash whisper-yell a small yay under her breath before she decided to go back to watching videos on her phone. After that, you decided to zone out on your drive there, imagining and overthinking every possible scenario. 

Sleep didn't come easily to you the whole night, while others slept soundly after the long flight. Ever since you became a fan, Woozi has held a special place in your heart. Be it through his words, his songs, or his smile. You would wait days, often checking your phone like a depraved girlfriend and scrambling to open every notification in case Woozi posted something new. As sad and pathetic as it sounds, this is your normal. You worked on codes, you spent time with your friends, and you fangirled. Everyone knew this. And frankly, your life felt full to some extent. You never had time for anything or anyone else. Every single person you met was compared to Woozi in every aspect, and you knew how fucked up it was. He is an idol, for heaven's sake! No normal person would be this obsessed with someone they don't even know in person, but this was you. You've always found it easy to love from a distance, never knowing that love can be so self-consuming and overwhelming that you might lose a part of yourself in the process. But it was almost like you were addicted. You cried when they cried, and you laughed when they laughed. You felt proud when they achieved something and disappointed when they lost. Iseul once mentioned how this feels like a curse. To love someone so ardently and vehemently even after knowing that you never ever, not even in a million lifetimes, had a chance with this person. And perhaps she was right, because look at the mess you are in right now. You never wanted this. For you, Jihoon was a silly fantasy. Like a prince who would come sweep you off your feet, riding a white horse into the sunset. But this, this was real life. There are no princes and princesses, and there are no white horses. Just the same old you, who is a student, and your idol, Woozi. These agonizing thoughts consumed your mind until you somehow drifted off to sleep. 

The next day, you woke up to Iseul and Mr. Ahn talking by the door. She nodded in agreement at something he said. 

“Get up, girls; we leave in an hour.”

“TIME TO MEET JUNNIE LET’S GO!!!!,” Ash yelled and leaped from her bed to go take a shower. 

“Well, at least someone’s happy about this,"  Ella chuckled slightly, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. 

Well, I guess here goes nothing…

The ride to the headquarters was silent. Everyone knew that this could potentially end badly. While the management assured me that they wouldn’t, they were still very powerful and strong and could change their minds in an instant. You could be sued and blacklisted, and honestly, none of you had that kind of money. 

“We’re here. We will be taking the backdoor because it's safer than the general entrance.”

The elevator ride to SEVENTEEN’s headquarters took forever. If this were under any other conditions, you would probably be elated to meet the people you have looked up to for so long. But right now, all you could do was try and calm your nerves so that you wouldn't go into a panic attack in front of your idols. Well, at least Ella and Ash seemed excited as they were talking in hushed whispers, whereas Iseul seemed deep in thought. The elevator dinged, signaling that we had reached it, and Mr. Ahn led us through the various doors till we reached the one beyond which stood our fate, waiting to meet us. 

The first thing you noticed was how familiar this room felt. Having seen various videos of the group doing challenges in this same space, it felt surreal to stand in the same space. 

Then you heard Ash quietly squeal and cover it up with a cough, and Iseul took charge and introduced herself. 

Last, you saw him. 

Standing here casually as ever, with his black hair slightly longer than before, was Jihoon. He was wearing an all-black outfit, but it seemed like he made an effort to clean up a bit, as you noticed a slight contrast from his usual behind-the-scenes outfit. He had a bored expression on his face, but his eyes had a glint of curiosity as he kept scanning the group till they landed on you. And you, flustered as ever, averted your gaze and slightly bowed your head in greeting. 

“It's very lovely to meet you. Thank you all for all the support you have given us.” You heard a deep voice on your side to see Scoups greet your group. 

“Well, we'll get to introductions later! Ms. Lee is waiting for us in the meeting room.” Mr. Ahn interrupted and led us all towards another door at the back of the room. 

You tried to keep a low profile, almost shrinking into yourself. A very small, tiny part of you was excited to finally meet them, but a huge part was scared as to what would happen next. 

As you all settled in the meeting room, a lady in her late 20s entered and introduced herself as Ms. Lee. She claimed to be their publicist, handling all major events for all members, from scandals to photoshoots to everything. 

“I know this isn't the most ideal situation for either party, and frankly, none of us thought it would blow so out of proportion. I mean, almost every other fan pretends to date their idol. It's one of the foundation concepts in this industry, as much as we hate to accept that.”

The members nodded in agreement and understanding and wanted the ground to swallow you whole. All those stupif things you said on Twitter at 4 a.m. when you were overworked and tired are being referenced, and oh my god, I think I'm going to die. 

“Anyways, the main reason we called you here today, Ms. Y/N, was to discuss how we should handle this. As this ‘plan’ could possibly affect the whole group as well as your friends, it makes it more feasible to discuss it with all of you. So, my team has been working out numbers, and a rumor tweet hasn't generated this much interaction for SEVENTEEN in a while. And we think it might be a good idea to play into it.” 

Everyone around us leaned forward in curiosity as to how we would ‘play into it.’

“Ms. Y/N, we want you to date Mr. Woozi.”

Pin-fucking-drop silence. You were pretty sure everyone even stopped breathing for a second. 

“Umm, and how exactly was this a good idea?” asked Mingyu from his end, the first one among us to react in any way. 

“Well, they don't have to actually date but rather fake date. We spin a story about how they met and fell in love. And while we don't confirm or deny anything officially, we can hint at certain things. And for the next comeback, Mr. Woozi can write a love song as the title track, referring to Ms. Y/N. They keep up this ruse for a few days, and then they'll ‘break up’. And the only way to confirm this? The theme of the comeback after that would be heartbreak. That or Mr. Woozi can drop a solo whatever he wants. With this, everyone would be immersed in this love story between a fan and an idol, especially those who belong in an industry where parasocial relationships are one of the main pillars. Given the rise in Mr. Woozi's popularity lately, it makes more sense to fabricate a scandal involving him. Plus, it's human nature to want something you can't have.”

“And what does Y/N get out of this? I’m pretty sure you’ve seen all the hate comments and speculations on Y/N life treding all over Twitter. And if she agrees to this, she will be thrown deeper into this hate circle, so she should at least get something in return. The group gets their comeback theme, Woozi gets the popularity, and so what will Y/N get? And I hope you know that Woozi would get just as much hate as Y/N, so what are your plans on handling that?” Iseul spoke up from beside you with the same fire in her eyes she had when she knew she had finally cornered her opposition in the courtroom. 

The table fell into a murmured discussion, contemplating the pros and cons of this. Ms. Lee looked as if she had expected this. “Well, we plan on signing a six-month contract with Ms. Y/N at first, after which, depending on the reaction to the initial part of the plan, we might add another six months. And as for what Y/N gets? We compensate her for all the defamation, libel, and slander she faces. The amount can be discussed when we finalize the contract and get a lawyer for Ms. Y/N. As for the hate Mr. Woozi might receive, well, there's not much we can do unless we know what kind of hate we will receive.”

“I am Y/N’s lawyer; you can tell me the specifics.” Iseul spoke up again, surprising a few in the room. 

“And I’m sorry to interrupt, but you should really work on protecting your artists more. That being said, you also need to protect Y/N. By all means. Get her security, a car, and everything,” Ash spoke up, surprising you, as this was the most serious she had ever been since we commenced this trip. 

“Fine, fine, we will provide Ms. Y/N with all the security she needs. Any other questions?” Ms. Lee said, exasperated.

You saw Hoshi giving Ash a small thumbs up, and she nodded in return. 

"Yes, actually,” you said for the first time ever since this proportion was revealed, “I’m guessing I would have to move here temporarily in case I was to agree.” You continued as Ms. Lee nodded, “Well, that could be an issue because I can’t leave lab work or my graduation will be delayed. And all my equipment, my supervisor, and everything else are back home. Moving midway is a very bad idea.”

Ms. Lee seemed to think over this for a moment. “Well, that does sound like a problem. We can set up a lab for you to work in here at one of the universities we have good relations with and get you a local supervisor. We can also talk to your supervisor back home and get them on board with the idea. We will have to work out the specifics of this. Anything else? I am assuming your friends will stay with you, so we can work out something for their jobs as well.”

“I can tell my firm to put all cases on hold and make Y/N my primary client.”

“Well, I’m part of a dance crew, but it’s about time I took a break. And I suppose you can hook me up with some groups around here as well.”

The three of you looked at Ms. Lee expectantly. She sighed and nodded. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. And you, Ms. Ash?”

“Hmm, I don't know if I can take a break for that long from the clinic. I guess I could say I’m taking a sabbatical or something. But you are going to refer me if anyone asks for a vet,” Ash said, crossing her fingers and placing her chin on it, looking innocently at Ms. Lee. She groaned and said, “Fine, fine, fine. Are Ms. Y/N you in or not?”

You looked over at Woozi, who was quiet this whole time. He seemed to be contemplating what he wanted, and you had an epiphany that Ms. Lee never once asked him if he agreed to this. He simply had to do whatever the company asked him to do. Your choice would affect not just you but him as well. And when your eyes met his, you saw doubt and fear swirling in them, similar to yours this morning. You decided you had to talk to him about this first before you made any choice. “Can I get some time to think about this? Maybe a day,” you said, slightly nodding at Woozi, hoping he’d understand what you meant. 

“Very well then,” Ms. Lee clapped. “You can let Mr. Ahn know whatever your decision is, and we can get started on the paperwork right away. Thank you all for today.” 

“Not going to lie, but that was the most frustrated we have ever seen Ms. Lee,” Vernon said once she left the room. 

“And compromising. She doesn't even listen or negotiate with me,” Jeonghan pointed out, surprised. 

The members and your friends decided it was best to spend some time together before they had to go for their practice. Amidst the chaos of introductions and questions, you decided it was the best time to corner Woozi and ask him if he was okay with this. You saw him standing at the back of the room, texting someone, as you approached him. 

“We need to talk.”

taglist: @toplinehyunjin @neo-moa @khhminimalist @theidontknowmehn @moose-1555 @kittyhui @ra1n7b33 @hamji-hae @miriamxsworld @khaos-sodivine @intoanothermind @ins4nebish

A/N: hope y'all liked this! this one took forever to finish and tbh I never planned on writing almost 2k words but oh well 😭 excited to hear your thoughts on this and reblogs are always appreciated! oh also! during y/n's inner monologue she keeps going back on forth between woozi and jihoon. that is so symbolise how she sometimes sees him as an idol and other times as this guy she likes. its super conflicting for her.

[astral-mariner]

WIP Wednesday!

An excerpt from my dark saiyans under Freeza story, Homeworld Lost.

Some context: This comes from the first chapter of Part 8, titled "A Lonely World." Vegeta and Raditz have stolen an attack ball and escaped from Freeza's homeworld to a nearby empty planet. They've spent the past few months "recovering" under the care of Freeza's healers after an extremely harrowing purge mission. Raditz is still experiencing the aftereffects of a mind-altering drug on top of everything else. This empty planet is the first time they've been away from Freeza and his "healer" in quite a while. This, coupled with everything they experienced during their last assignment, was obviously extremely traumatic. The scene I've shared below is the first opportunity they've had to be alone and process anything. Vegeta is right around 17 here (about when a saiyan comes of age), and Raditz is around 24.

His arms folded over my own, and his hands clasped mine. After evening treatments—just like the night he returned—he’d often curl at the corner of his bed, leaving space for me, and shoulder to shoulder, we’d tell stories deep into the night. But we’d never sat so close as this. The prince bowed his head, leaving his neck exposed to my cheek as I leaned into him. His pulse fluttered beneath my lips; heat smoldered between us as if we warmed ourselves with energy.

***

Rain rushed over our pod’s round red window, rolling down in thick streams like tears down an already wet cheek. Neither of us moved to open the hatch. Still drowsy from stasis, the downpour occupied our silence. The pod was never meant for two passengers, and Vegeta had to sit in front of me between my spread legs, his back pressed to my chest, but we didn’t mind it. My arms tightened around his waist, and I rested my head on his shoulder. Warm—we’d left our armor behind. No room, and no protection would it offer if Freeza decided to punish us.

His grip tightened, fingers trembling. As my eyes drifted shut, visions flashed before them. For a moment, I felt the gentle clutch of an embrace as if my own arms encircled me, as if I occupied the prince’s space instead. Though Fuenghi’s effects were waning, I recognized the ghostly touch as Vegeta must. No one had held him like this since his mother had all those years ago. When Arcos was just another distant, meaningless world beyond the stars.

A flash of lightning, and the distant roll of thunder. We’d stay like this a little longer yet. Until the storm broke—the prince wouldn’t have to provide an excuse, justify anything. I wouldn’t call attention to it. I nuzzled his hair and breathed in his scent. My thumb stroked the back of his hand rhythmically, offering a small distraction lest the rest overwhelm him.

“I remember the first time I ever stepped inside the royal city,” I told him. Another distraction. Another story from a different life. “The day you were crowned prince and your mother named queen, actually. You were too young to remember. You’d just come back from your mother’s country. Lots of people talked about how strong you were, but I didn’t really care about the rumors then. They always say the newborn royal is strong. But I knew something was different when they named you Vegeta right then and there. You never knew any other name. Always Prince Vegeta.”

He nodded.

“I remember because they let even classless people through the palace gate. People like my mother had been. No one could believe it, especially with how your father was. But we all crowded in to see the forbidden grounds, to see you. Lots of shouting, fights in the square.”

I chuckled to myself. “I kicked an elite brat’s ass that day. Got myself to the front where I could see everything. Then it all went quiet when your mother stepped out with you and Nappa. Just whispers. Like she put a spell on everyone.”

Vegeta’s tail loosened from his waist. He let it drape over my thigh, the tip curling under my knee. When my hand shifted from his to his tail instead, tension melted from his shoulders.

“Then the king announced that there would be a tournament when the moon was half-full.” I went on. “The strongest; class didn’t matter. The gods alone would prove who was worthy to fight at your side, he said. You remember the tournament, of course. When we first met. But that day, when you were crowned—that was the day I decided I’d train, and I’d be the one to win.”

The rain slowed to a drizzle. The prince turned in my arms, then activated the hatch, opening it. Warm mist, tasting of the nearby sea, blew into the pod even if the curved walls still sheltered us from the passing storm. I thought Vegeta might step outside then, but he didn’t. He instead leaned back against my chest. Both of us looked out overhead; the wind chased somber clouds across the horizon.

Cautiously, my hands returned to his waist, and his tail, brushing my forearm and remaining loose, reassured me if his silence didn’t. “That was when the fighting broke out again. When your father presented the challenge. I flattened a few more noble brats. And I got thrashed too.”

I laughed. “But it was one of the best days. I was glad to be saiyan. Battles for the rush of it, low-classes and nobles together. It went late into the night. People from all over the world. Giving away food and wine in the streets. Got drunk for the first time, actually. Or maybe my head was spinning from that hard kick. I honestly couldn’t tell you.”

Vegeta hung his head. When he crossed his arms over his chest, his nails dug in and pulled at his bodysuit. “Gone. Doesn’t matter.”

I took his hand, twining our fingers together and unhooking them from his suit. “I know all of it’s gone.” I squeezed his palm and pressed it to his chest, holding him tight against me. “But it was good. That’s what I try to r-remember…”

I had to stop, choking up and desperate to compose myself. “It was good, and it’s worth fighting for. Avenging. So what if we die trying. It won’t be for nothing. However hard it is, it means something. It means that life was good sometimes, for someone, somewhere. Even if it isn’t for us. That we’re still here and still fighting—it proves just how much it matters.”

The prince captured my wrist with his other hand and used that grip to fling me away. He stood. Clambered out of the pod. His tail coiled tight around his waist as the wind whipped his hair into a jagged mess. “No,” he said, keeping his back to me. “What we’ve—seen…dealt…pointless.”

His fist so tight, his knuckles whitened. “Thought you’d know better. Killed all those children, didn’t you? For what? No glorious battle there, was there? So why’d you do it? Why does Freeza purge people he just sold a planet to, like the ones who lived here last season? It’s fucking pointless. Just the whim of a filthy lowlife. And the gods let all of it happen. Everywhere. There’s nothing you can do, Raditz, but make your enemies suffer. Make them pay for what they’ve taken.”

I got up and out of the pod as well.

Vegeta must’ve heard me, felt me. He raised his voice, daring me to step closer. “We’re alone against this universe. And if I transform, it’ll be in spite of the gods, not because of them. Alone. Hear me?”

“That’s not the Vegeta I know.” I didn’t come closer, but I hovered behind him. “I didn’t enter the tournament because I wanted to fight with you, you know. Thought it was a load of fucking royal nonsense as usual. Gods, I couldn’t fucking stand you. Like having a third-class partner was a fucking insult even though I fucking won—”

“Who cares about some pointless tournament?”

“Let me fucking finish, Vegeta.” I grabbed his shoulder even if I expected punishment. “But then you promised me you’d take Freeza down. That you’d make things right. That night on Freeza’s ship. Only believed you because I wanted to believe it. Hardly more than a child. All we had. Doubted it deep down even though I held on.”

He shuddered. “Raditz, don’t.”

“Then Fuenghi. Everything changed. I believed it—not just nonsense and stories. Really believed it. I promised I’d tell you. Couldn’t tell you on Arcos, not what really happened. [SPOILER].”

He froze.

“I lied to everyone. Zarbon, Rhysling, even Nappa. Would’ve lied to Freeza too. But I’m not lying to you. I wish you remembered so you could feel it like I do. It’s not pointless. It can’t be. It can’t.”

“D-don’t believe you.”

Staggering me, the prince’s energy flared around him. He took off for the sea before I could stop him. His path shredded the clouds, and a scar of starry sky split open above me.

[farity]

Sorrow, part 13

"I wish to go with you."

Aemond studied his wife. He was leaving the following day to get hands on Jacaerys Velaryon and to mete out some long-delayed consequences to Elyse's former brother-in-law.

After a week and a half, starved and nearly mad with fear, Jace had made a run for Vermax, the dragon that had now been secured by the men Ser Otto had sent to surround the estate. The bastard boy had been caught, but Aemond wanted it to be him who faced the Prince of Dragonstone and told him he would be prince of nothing for the rest of his life.

"Are you sure?"

Elyse nodded. "I wish to see him when you capture him. When you put an end to his aspirations."

Aemond pressed his lips together before reaching for her. "Has my soft and sweet wife developed a taste for vengeance?"

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her head on his chest. "I want him to know I do not fear him."

"Very well, then I shall make arrangements." He could not deny her. He knew well the deep seated need for retribution, how consuming it could be to know that someone who had hurt you was not suffering by your own hand, and he would not deny her that.

He speared his hand through her hair, pulling her back so he could kiss her. He had not imagined such a thing, such an addiction to touching her. If she weren't so responsive maybe he could hold back, tell himself that she was with him because he had rescued her and given her a safe place to live her life.

As much as he didn't want to examine his feelings, Aemond knew it went far beyond gratitude for her. Far beyond protectiveness for him. How far he did not know and he had to keep his wits about him for what was to come.

* * * * *

As quiet as she was during the ride to her old home, Aemond could feel the worry and nerves that started to plague her. She was strong, incredibly so, to have not only survived as she had, but to keep her kind and gentle nature, to keep her heart from hardening into stone. But it didn't mean she did not fear, even if he would strike down anyone who'd dare think of harming her.

When they pulled in to the gates of the small estate, Cole nodded to the men who had surrounded it for the past weeks. "My prince," the knight said, turning to Aemond, "my princess, say the word and we shall have the traitors brought out."

"Bring the bastard boy out," Aemond said, and turned to Elyse. "I will leave the fate of the Lord to you, wife."

Elyse stared at him. They had not discussed this. They had not discussed much of anything, really, other than coming here to have the two men surrender. Her former brother-in-law and the Prince of Dragonstone. But she met his gaze and nodded, and let him dismount and come over to help her off her horse.

She knew he would have ridden Vhagar if she hadn't wanted to accompany him. She was still terrified of the great beast, but she would prove to Aemond that she was brave, that she could place her hand on the old dragon's side without shaking with fear.

Three men came out of the house, a dark haired young man in the center, the two on either side holding him as they walked.

"Are you going to kill me, too, Kinslayer?" the young man, Jacaerys, shouted, and Elyse winced.

If Aemond minded the taunt, he didn't show it. "Jacaerys Velaryon. Your mother, the usurper Rhaenyra Targaryen, is dead. And you are no longer Prince of Dragonstone. You are Prince of Nothing."

Jacaerys tried to lunge at Aemond but the men holding him would not budge.

"You can bend the knee and I will allow you to live the rest of your years in Essos, or you can rot in our dungeons until the Stranger takes you. You have until we reach King's Landing to decide."

Aemond turned before Jacaerys could reply, and without giving him a second thought, went to Elyse, taking one of her hands in his. "Have you decided what you wish to do?" he asked softly.

"I do not think we can trust him to keep his word if he says he will bend the knee," she said. "But I do not wish his death on my conscience, either."

"We can find somewhere to put him," Aemond said with an ease he did not feel. The man had watched as Elyse was harmed, had let it happen, had cheered on his brother to hurt and humiliate her. If it was up to him, he'd tear the man's limbs off his body one by one. But Elyse had wanted to be here. And he would give her the choice, abide by it, and not show her the rage that burned inside him.

"Not in King's Landing," she replied.

Aemond shook his head. "He would not be anywhere near you." He kissed her fingers, and said very gently, "he will never again be close to you. I swear it."

She looked up at him, her eyes trusting, and she nodded. "I will let Ser Criston know he can bring him out."

* * * * *

Her back was straight, her shoulders squared, her hands clasped together, and when the man appeared, flanked by two of Cole's men, she did not react.

"My lord," she said when he set eyes on her. "You are to be taken to a place of my choosing, where you will spend the rest of your days. Your title and lands are forfeit, and the House ends with you."

When he spat near her feet, she still did not move, but Aemond's grip on his sword tightened. "Stupid bitch, my brother should have let you die, you rotten little whore-"

This time Aemond did not hold back, and he planted his fist in the middle of the man's face with a sickening crunch. He heard Elyse's soft gasp, but to her credit, she did not flinch.

"Shall I cut off his tongue, wife, for disrespecting you?"

When he turned, he saw she had paled, but she was still composed, despite the way the lord's broken nose gushed blood.

"He did nothing to stop my suffering, husband, so I will let you decide and I will turn my head and look away, as he did."

* * * * *

"Elyse."

She was looking out the window in their bedchamber. She'd said almost nothing on the way back home, and she'd headed straight for their room when they arrived at the keep. Usually she would go see the children or at least say hello to Helaena but this time she was quiet, and Aemond decided he would not let it consume her.

"Elyse."

She turned, startled, and smiled at him. "Husband, I apologize, were you-"

"There is nothing to apologize for. Come here."

Dutifully, she walked to him, extended her arms to him, and let him pull her in.

"Tell me," he demanded."

"What?"

"Your thoughts. I would know them."

She pulled back, studying him. "I am glad to be home, that is all."

He caressed her cheek, kissed the tip of her nose. "That is not all, wife. I would not have you hide from me. I know today was difficult and I would not see you dwelling on these events. If you must think of what transpired today, then I wish to share in your thoughts."

She smiled again. "Aemond, truly, there is nothing to share."

He had to smile back. Despite his instinct telling him that she was very much thinking about what had transpired earlier, he could not resist the sweet way she looked at him. No one else had ever looked at him like that, and he would not push her if she was not ready to tell him.

* * * * *

Aemond awoke to the sound of her screams.

Even before he was fully awake, he had reached for her, placed himself protectively around her, when he realized that she was in the grip of a nightmare.

"Elyse," he said, pulling her up to sitting as the door opened and her maid rushed in. He heard the guard rushing in, the sound of his sword being freed from the scabbard, but he was only focused on his wife.

Elyse's eyes opened and he saw the confusion and terror in the dim light of dawn. Tears had fallen down her face and she now looked at him, her cold, cold hands gripping his arms. "Aemond."

"You're safe," he said steadily. "I have you."

The maid walked around the bed, carrying a cup. "Princess, this will help."

"What is it?" Aemond demanded.

"Orange blossoms are good for settling down the nerves. She has taken it before."

He turned to Elyse, who nodded and reached out for the cup. She sipped slowly, and he simply held her other hand. She had not had a nightmare in a long time, but he was not surprised that the previous day would have caused one.

"Thank you," she said quietly, handing the cup back. The maid curtsied and left along with the guard, closing the door gently behind them.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Aemond, I'm so-"

He pulled her in, his throat too tight to speak. He knew what horror nightmares could be, but he had not suffered what she had. He could not imagine. He kissed the top of her head, wanting to take all that pain away, wanting to free her from it, despairing that he could not.

He felt her heart beating wildly against his chest, her unsteady breathing, but she let him soothe her, and he decided to try something else.

"Tell me about the orphanage."

She pulled back, swiped at her eyes, and gave him a small smile. "I think the children will like it," she began, "it will be a happier place than the old one, larger."

He saw the immediate change in her, when she spoke of helping others, and sat up against the headboard with her in his arms. "Tell me everything."

* * * * *

"What will you do with Jacaerys?"

Aemond tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. "As I guessed, he will not bend the knee. Not that I would trust him if he did, but he cannot be kept anywhere he will cause trouble."

Elyse walked over to where he sat, leaned down and kissed his cheek. "So young, and now his future is to rot," she murmured, and gasped when Aemond pulled her over to sit on his lap.

She had not had any nightmares in the last few days, and he'd encouraged her when she'd wanted to visit the new orphanage, make sure all was as she envisioned. Her face was no longer so pale, her features not so drawn, and he thought, maybe, she was happy here. With him.

"I do not wish to speak of Jacaerys Velaryon," he said against her ear. "Not when you're sitting here, so warm and soft in my arms."

She sighed when he took her mouth, threaded her fingers through his hair, and when he rose to take her to their bed, she wrapped her arms around him.

"I much prefer to speak of you, wife," he said, running a hand up her calf.

"Of me?" she asked, unlacing her dress. "What would you say of me?"

He ran his hand back down to her ankle, brought it up to his lips and kissed the hollow inside as Elyse squirmed. "I would speak of your delightful legs, and how good they feel wrapped around me."

She blushed, but undid the rest of her clothes as he pulled off his shirt.

He pushed her down onto the bed once she'd tugged off the dress, and brushed her hair off her face. "I would tell you how I love your breasts." Before she could reply, he dipped down to taste one, smiling when she arched against him. "They're soft, like the finest silk," he added, rubbing his cheek against one small mound.

"Aemond," she whispered.

"I would tell you that you're soft all over, and your skin smells like wildflowers, and I cannot get enough of it."

He kissed his way down over her ribs, which he was glad to see were not as prominent any more. She made a little noise when he kissed her belly, and whimpered when he spread her legs open, "I would tell you the taste of you is intoxicating." He ran his tongue between her legs and she moaned. He gripped her hips, holding her still while she grabbed at the bedding.

He felt the moment she gave in, the feel of her fingers in his hair as she began rolling her hips, seeking release. He didn't stop, not when she came the first time, not when her moans grew loud enough that he knew the guards outside could hear, not when he saw tears rolling down the sides of her face. She was mindlessly chanting his name, her body his and he wanted, oh, he wanted to sink inside her so badly, but he wanted this more, to see her surrender to the pleasure he could give her, lost to everything but him. If it made him a monster, so be it. She knew what she'd married.

Only when she said, "please," did he stop, and then only to drive inside her, to feel her heat surrounding his cock and feel her shaky legs go around him. He loomed over her, one hand on her cheek as he held himself on the other. Her face was flushed, her skin so warm, and he knew he wasn't going to last long, so he buried his face in her hair and let the tide take him.

* * * * *

"I am offering you one chance, Lord Strong. To regain what is left of your dignity and bring peace to the realm."

From where he sat in his cell, Jacaerys Velaryon stared up at Aemond with rage in his eyes. But Aemond saw there was also curiosity, and he had counted on that to be the key to this conversation.

"Speak, Kinslayer," Jacaerys spat. "As you see, I am very busy here in your dungeon."

Aemond smirked. "I am offering you a place in the Small Council."

* * * * *

[jabberwockymoreau]

Chapter 11: We Prepare For the Big Boss Battle

Things are definitely starting to pop off now, and also oh god this fic is already so long and the chapters ahead aren't going to be any shorter...we'll be breezing right past that 100k mark, huh?! Anyway, in this one the party witnesses some horrors, gets caught in a snow storm, and then Mike has his heart broken :)

Tags: M, Graphic Descriptions of Violence, Fantasy AU, Canon Typical Violence, Canon Typical Horror, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn

Summary:

Mike Wheeler hates High School, so when he almost dies and falls through a portal to another world, he’s not going to complain. Especially not when that world does not only have swords and magic but seems to work exactly according to the rules of his favorite tabletop role-playing game. But his euphoria might be short lived because the party of adventurers he falls in with turns out to be the target of an evil god and the fate of the world might rest on their shoulders. So, exactly like his games of D&D. Except the wanna-be Paladin soon realizes that being a hero is much harder in real life than it is in-game. - Or, Mike gets isekai’d into a world where D&D is real.

An excerpt and taglist below the cut:

Excerpt:

Lucas and Hop spend breakfast arguing with that part of Kali’s group about the best path up the mountain and then lead them out of town through the northernmost gate. The Prince falls back towards the two Sorceresses once they’ve left Blackhollow behind, joining the discussion that had broken out between them, Max and Funshine about how to best approach their homicidal brother. Somehow, despite the topic the conversation seems almost boisterous as laughter and delighted squeals make their way to the back of their now even longer procession, where Mike is shuffling along.

Jonathan joins his stepfather in the front, falling into easy conversation. His mother has to try a little harder as she and Dustin try to connect with the rest of Kali’s group, who have taken up post just behind their leader. Eric and Max flit in and out of sight as they scout ahead, leaving the guarding of the rear to Will and Mike. Considering his state of exhaustion it’s not a bad place to be in. He’d rather walk in silence with Will than try to have a conversation with a woman he’d seen murder someone last night – and besides they’ll be rethinking and overthrowing their plans more than a dozen times on their trek up the mountain. There’s time for Mike to join that conversation, maybe even be invited to it, later.

For now he sticks to Will, although the Cleric is more quiet than usual. Mike doesn’t mind, though. They talk for a bit as they set off, small talk about where they’re headed and how soon they can expect to reach the top of the mountain, and then fall into a semi-comfortable silence. Will seems deeply stuck in his head, likely just as exhausted as Mike and unsettled by last nights events, and as the silence stretches on Mike follows, his thoughts drifting.

He spends the first day’s walk trying to connect to the magic around him, focusing on channeling its energy into this sword to create a smiting effect. Having taken his oath he should be at level 3, in game terms, and that should allow him to create more magical effects, including dealing elemental damage with his weapon attacks. But only in theory. He half considers snapping Will out of his reverie to ask him for help, but stubbornly decides against it because none of the smiting spells are on the Cleric spell list and besides, being a Paladin the magic of his oath should allow him to create these magical effects intuitively. He just needs to practice more, is all.

Not that things go any better when he gets the chance to do that.

They make early camp just outside the next village, sending Dustin and Jonathan in to gather some more supplies and otherwise fanning out around their camp to practice, just like Mike had predicted. Hop already gets on his case during warm ups, which Mike supposes is fair because he is distracted by their new allies training around them. Which doesn’t mean it doesn’t still piss him off – and it doesn’t get better when they finally move on to practicing his stances and sparring. Mike’s not much more than a training dummy for Hop to practice his own swordsmanship on, is still only helplessly hacking and slashing at the other Paladin, barely able to parry strikes that would cut him to pieces in seconds, while apparently not just everyone in this party but everyone in the god damn world is better than him at fighting. And Hop seems to be solely capable of criticizing and yelling at him.

So, it’s almost a relief when Hop kicks him to the floor, sword hovering dangerously close to Mike’s neck, and announces they’re done unless Mike can stop acting like a damn Barbarian.

It only makes him wonder if he’s in too deep with his Paladin oath to switch classes over to Barbarian instead. The anger boiling in his chest sure feels easier than trying to harness magic, that’s for sure.

Unofficial Tag List (aka you interacted with my posts about this fic, please tell me if you want me to not tag you in the future (or want to be added)): @smalltownwheeler @wheelerpilled @wrong-energy @foodiewithdahoodie @doggozzy @gardenfairie @beelikesbirds @beverlysclown @yickarus @sourdough-el @hessolivagant @hesquietoday @oldfashionedmorphine @total-serene560 @bylersrise @hawkinsunderground @generalstorecashier @snixx @camel-casing @bylersbear01 @turningsoft @casatoan @maru-chu @mid13s @goldentrunks @bunnybylerfangirl @willbyersenthusiast @letterstomichelangelo @drowninginideas @fluffyfangirl @artsyna @absolutelynotyouidiot @bymarara @unknowmiau @are-you-reddie @elherself134 @longtallglasses @kennahjune @easilyentertained99 @bylerschapter @eli-being-silly @bylerina

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura LN13 Chapter 3 Summary

I am currently reading Hamefura LN13 and will post summaries after each chapter.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Foreign Study

Chapter 2: The Prince Of Ethenell (Part 1)

Chapter 2: The Prince Of Ethenell (Part 2)

Chapter 3: The Sightseeing Outing With Cezar

Preparing for the Sightseeing Outing

Katarina is back home. She is working on the program for the sightseeing outing. Even though she has accepted to be Cezar and Jean's guide tomorrow, she is not confident that she is up to the task. Unlike Nathan, Cezar and Jean don't seem to have a poor sense of direction, so they will probably not get on the wrong path. She could actually get lost herself since she doesn't know the streets so well.

Katarina has recommended a lot of places, so they won't be able to cover it in one day. She should focus on the places they might like, but she doesn't know their tastes. In retrospect, today she should have talked about their likes instead of their siblings stories. In her past life, she could have used her smartphone to ask them, but in this life, she can only send letters, which is less convenient.

Katarina tries to select several places that Cezar might enjoy and be interested in. She also picks vacation-like spots to make him rest.

After deciding on a program, Katarina falls asleep right away. She is tired after her busy day.

Before the Sightseeing Outing

In the morning, Anne wakes Katarina up and helps her get ready.

While half-asleep, Katarina heads towards the carriage. On the way, she meets Keith, who asks her if she is going out in town. Katarina replies that she will act as a sightseeing guide today. Keith asks her who she will guide around. Katarina vaguely answers "Ethenell people" since Cezar and Jean want to go out incognito. Keith still guesses that she is referring to the Prince of Ethenell. He shockingly asks her how she became his guide. Katarina simply replies that it somehow happened. Keith is not satisfied with Katarina's explanation. Keith is protesting but she leaves him behind because she doesn't want to be late.

Meeting Cezar

Katarina will meet Cezar and Jean on the outskirts of town. They don't want to openly go out through the castle gate because they would be assigned lots of guards if they did.

Katarina arrives at the meeting place. Cezar calls her out. He is dressed the same way as on their first meeting.

Katarina notices that Jean is not there. Cezar awkwardly explains that Jean had a sudden business coming up and couldn't come. Katarina thinks it is a shame, but they can buy lots of souvenirs for him. Cezar is surprised that Katarina is okay with them being alone together. Katarina doesn't understand why. After all, they were alone together when they met.

Katarina wonders if Cezar is feeling uneasy because Jean is not here to protect him. Katarina tries to reassure him by telling him that this area is safe and that she is also very strong despite how she looks. Katarina has a dark familiar, the magnifying magic tool created by Larna, and the antique magic tool that she keeps on her as a charm, she is all set. Cezar makes an awkward smile while listening to her. After all, he is also strong himself. So strong that some people run away upon seeing him. Katarina remembers that Cezar is a former mercenary. There should be no problem in that case.

Cezar mutters to himself that he can understand why the people around Katarina worry so much. Even so, he won't hold back and have Katarina be his guide today.

Cezar asks Katarina not to speak so formally with him since he is dressed as a servant.

Visiting the Bookstore

They start sightseeing.

Katarina takes Cezar to the biggest bookstore in town. She thought it would be a good place to show him since Cezar wants to study all kinds of things. Cezar seems to enjoy the place, so she is glad.

Katarina explains to Cezar that this bookstore has a large selection of books, and they also receive new releases quickly. Herself, she purchases novels and agriculture books there. Cezar wonders why a noble lady like her would read agriculture books. Katarina explains that it is her hobby. On her days off, she changes into farming clothes and works the fields. Hearing this, Cezar bursts laughing. He laughs hard while holding his stomach. They attract the attention of passersby who are curious about a handsome young man laughing so hard. Katarina asks Cezar what is so funny with farming. After all, you get to work out, stay in good health, and eat vegetables. Cezar laughs even more. Katarina really wonders what makes him laugh.

After he has finished laughing, Cezar explains that there is nothing wrong with farming. What is funny is just the idea of a high-ranking noble lady in farming clothes working the fields. Especially since he can easily imagine her doing it happily. Katarina shrugs it off since she is used to people getting surprised by this.

Moving on, Katarina explains that she has taken him here because she thought this place would be useful for his studies. Cezar thanks her for her solicitude with a grinning smile. Katarina feels relieved that she made the right choice.

They enter the bookstore and look at the books. Katarina usually only checks romance novels and agriculture books, but she feels unusually captivated by the other genres of books that Cezar is interested in. She enjoys herself in a different way from browsing romance novels with her friends.

Katarina's stomach rumbles. Cezar proposes they go eat something.

Visiting the Restaurant

Katarina and Cezar head to a small restaurant that Katarina often visits incognito. It serves food that tastes nostalgic to her. It isn't the kind of place fit for royalty, but she has included it in the program since Cezar wouldn't mind it.

Katarina is nervous about whether Cezar will like the food. Cezar loves it, so she feels relieved. She excitedly tells him that it is one of her favorite restaurants. Cezar is happy she took him to her favorite place. He gives her a natural smile, different from his princely smile.

Despite Katarina being his guide, Cezar actually escorts her and acts like a big brother. He pays the restaurant bill and buys her some snacks at the street stands.

Katarina tells Cezar he is like a reliable big brother. Cezar is surprised since he is heavily taken care of by his older brother. It feels new and nice to him to be called a reliable older brother. Cezar is making a mischievous smile.

Visiting the Farm

Cezar would like to study farms and agriculture. It seems like today's outing will include an observation trip.

They head out of town to the closest farm. After getting permission, they look at the fields.

There is a large field with abundant golden crops. It looks like a sea of gold. Katarina excitedly tells Cezar the field is the same color as his eyes. Cezar has golden eyes but he usually hides their color with black lenses. Cezar doesn't think his eyes are so beautiful since people are terrified of them. Katarina assures him they are. Cezar smiles.

While looking at the fields, Cezar mutters to himself that Ethenell still can't produce crops well since the fields have been burned during the civil war. He would like Ethenell to have abundant fields like that soon.

Katarina remembers that her international affairs lesson mentioned that Ethenell had been plagued by a civil war up until the current king ascended the throne. Fields had been burned down during the civil war.

Katarina doesn't know what to say so she keeps watching the fields silently with Cezar. After a while, Cezar snaps out of it and goes to the farmers to ask them questions. The farmers kindly answer them. Katarina and Cezar thank them.

Cezar and Katarina go back to the carriage. Katarina regrets that she couldn't prevent Cezar from working during his holiday. But since Cezar seems to have enjoyed himself, she guesses it is fine.

Arriving at the Orphanage

Next, Cezar would like to visit an orphanage.

Katarina thinks it must be because they are building orphanages in Ethenell after many children lost their parents during the civil war. Incidentally, Sora's childhood friend, Arnaud, has started working in one of these orphanages. Katarina would have preferred their next destination wasn't related to work, but she still wants to fulfill Cezar's wish.

Katarina takes Cezar to the orphanage where Cyrus delivers his crops. Upon arriving, Katarina is warmly welcomed by the kids and the teachers. They all know her because she has come back several times after Cyrus took her there. The kids are curious about Cezar since they are not shy of strangers. The precocious girls even are sparkly-eyed looking at him since he is a wild type.

The small kids (the age of kindergartners) ask Katarina to play with them. Whenever she comes over, Katarina always takes on the job of playing with the small kids since she can't teach the other kids anything. As a result, she is popular with the small kids. Also, when she comes with her beautiful friends, the precocious boys get careful about their appearances and keep glancing at her friends, while with her, they just ask for treats and leave. Except for one boy.

Liam is shouting at the small kids to let Katarina rest since she has just arrived.

When she first came here, Liam was a foul-mouthed kid with a bad attitude. But now, he is a serious, diligent, and considerate boy who is proactive with his studies and work. Only Liam doesn't ask for treats and leaves.

Liam invites Katarina to rest in the dining hall. He will make her some tea. Katarina is impressed he can make tea. Liam says he can handle this much, though he can't make fine tea that would satisfy a noble lady.

Only the director and Liam know that Katarina is a noble. All the others think she and her friends are from merchants' families. Because of this, she has introduced Cezar as an acquaintance from a foreign merchant family.

Katarina tells Liam that it will be fine but if the tea is too bitter, she might spit it out on his face. Liam is surprised, then replies with a grin that in that case, he will run away before she spits it out.

Katarina calls Cezar over not to leave him alone. She also tells the small kids that she will play with them after having tea.

Tasting Liam's Tea and the Girl's Cookies

Katarina sits in the dining hall with Cezar. Cezar looks at the kids around them chatting away and thinks it is a good orphanage. Katarina tells him that the orphanage is well-equipped thanks to the donations of the nobles. Cezar is surprised that nobles in Sorcier make donations to orphanages. Katarina replies that they do that out of duty. They allocate a donation portion in their work budget. Cezar is impressed that there is this kind of system in Sorcier.

Liam and a girl arrive with the tea. Katarina is pleasantly surprised that they have brought cookies with the tea.

Liam explains that these cookies were made by the girl. She wants to have another person taste them and give them their opinion. The girl is about the age of a grade schooler. She shyly explains that she is learning baking from Maria. Everyone here says her sweets are good but she would like the opinion of another person. Liam adds that the girl was already baking sweets before but she has greatly improved after learning from Maria. In his opinion, her sweets are as good as the ones sold in shops. Hearing Liam's praise, the girl blushes. Katarina realizes that Liam has not only become considerate but also popular with girls.

Katarina thinks it is indeed a great advantage to have learned from Maria. After all, Maria is a pro baker whose delicious sweets rival those of the shops around.

Cezar discreetly asks Katarina if, by "Maria", she means Maria Campbell, the Wielder of Light. Katarina says yes and remembers that Cezar knows her. Cezar only knows her because she is famous, they are not acquainted.

Katarina realizes that Cezar and Maria haven't met yet. They were supposed to meet at the International Assembly, but she may have prevented their meeting. This sightseeing outing could also be a game event that she has unknowingly stolen. She may have already been acting as the villainess who gets in the way of the capture target. Still, she wonders if Cezar will really fall in love with Maria if he meets her.

Katarina tastes the tea made by Liam. She tells him it is good. Liam smiles. Katarina tastes the cookies made by the girl. She excitedly shouts that they are delicious and that they will definitely be popular. The girl's face lights up. Liam happily tells the girl that, since her cookies have gotten the stamp of approval of a noble lady, she should be able to work in a pastry shop. The girl blushes. Katarina can tell that the girl loves Liam.

Comparing Orphanages in Sorcier and Ethenell

The other kids in the dining hall approach them and tell them what they want to be in the future. A girl is learning sewing and wants to work in a clothes store later. A boy likes learning new things and wants to be a scholar. A boy is learning swordplay and wants to become a knight. Katarina feels like a grandma as she is looking fondly at the children expressing their dreams for the future.

Cezar is impressed that the orphanage not only gives an education to the children but also teaches them all kinds of things. Katarina explains that in addition to giving them an education, the orphanage also teaches the children practical skills like cooking and sewing so that they can live by themselves once they are adults. The occasional visitors also teach the kids, and the kids can further their studies with them. Cezar finds it amazing that orphans can further their studies and have dreams. Cezar is smiling fondly.

When Katarina asks why he is making that face, Cezar explains that the orphanages in Ethenell have their hands full looking after the kids so it is difficult for them to give them a proper education. Cezar feels frustrated over the difference between Ethenell and Sorcier. He mutters to himself with a pained face:

Cezar: What should I do for the people of Ethenell to be able to live more happily?

Katarina can tell Cezar is really concerned for his people and that's why he keeps working relentlessly. His concern is a wonderful thing, but she is worried he might overwork himself to death. Katarina doesn't know the answer to his question but she can tell him one thing. 

Katarina: I don't think this is something you should think about here alone. When you return to your country, please talk about it to your older brother, His Majesty the King of Ethenell, and to the people you rely on. If you talk about it and think about it together, it should be enough. It should not be an issue that you can take on by yourself.

Cezar is frozen in shock, then smiles. He thinks Katarina is indeed right and will follow her advice when he returns to Ethenell. Katarina encourages him to do so or else he will make lots of mistakes. Cezar thanks Katarina with a smile. Katarina is embarrassed that Cezar takes her opinion so seriously.

Cezar Discusses With Liam

Liam asks Cezar if he is from Ethenell. Cezar says yes. Liam says he is from Ethenell too. He asks Cezar if he lives there. Cezar answers he is in Sorcier for work but he will return to Ethenell later.

Liam asks if the war is over in Ethenell. Cezar says it is not completely, but mostly over. Liam is glad since it means that there will be fewer robbers. His dad said that it was because the war was going on that the number of robbers increased. Cezar agrees since the people who lost everything because of the war would become robbers to survive. However, there should be less damage now. Liam is glad that there won't be more people like him.

Katarina remembers that Liam's parents were killed by robbers.

Cezar awkwardly asks Liam if his parents were killed by robbers. Liam replies that his father, mother, older brother, older sister, and the people of the villages all died protecting him. He was the only one to survive. Then he lived like an animal in the slums, got caught, and after various things happened, he was taken to Sorcier.

Liam has said it in an unconcerned way unlike before, when he said it in a painful way. When Katarina asks him why, Liam tells her it is because he has decided to face forward and live. Liam is such a strong boy.

Cezar's eyes cloud and he apologizes to Liam. Liam doesn't understand why Cezar apologizes to him. Cezar probably wanted to apologize to him as a royal, but he is a foreign trader at the moment. He suddenly realizes he is supposed to hide his social status and tries to fix his mistake. He tells Liam he is apologizing to him as an adult who is supposed to protect children like him. Liam says he doesn't need excuses and would rather Cezar make Ethenell a better place so that there won't be more children like him. Cezar says he will work hard for it.

Cezar asks Liam if he plans to stay in Sorcier forever. Cezar looks like he expects Liam to say yes. But Liam says that he plans to return to Ethenell once he is an adult and has saved money. Cezar is surprised since Sorcier is a wealthy country with better life conditions. Liam explains that he hasn't returned to his village ever since it burned down. He would like to go back there and see with his own eyes what it has become. He has also heard that the new king is working hard on making Ethenell a good country, so the situation should be better once he goes back there. He also would like to use what he has learned in Sorcier to get a job where he can make Ethenell a way better country. It is his dream.

Liam has said it in a little bashful way. Katarina is impressed to see how much Liam has changed since the first time she met him. He told her before that it was his plan, but it is the first time she has heard him say that it was his "dream". Katarina is glad that Liam has a dream.

Cezar has been oddly silent. Looking at him, Katarina realizes that he is trying hard not to cry. Cezar is probably trying to hold back tears of joy. Liam is confused by Cezar's reaction and asks him if there is something wrong. Cezar pulls himself together and tells Liam that he is just happy hearing his words. He thinks Ethenell will become a way better country with people like him. He will have Liam work hard for it. Liam shyly says yes.

Katarina Gets Questioned by the Girls

Cezar and Liam are now talking about Ethenell. Katarina wants to listen too, but she is discreetly called by a girl.

When she comes over to her, she gets surrounded by girls. Katarina has often been surrounded by small kids, but this is the first time she is surrounded by girls of this age. 

-----------

Katarina: Umm~ Is there something wrong?

When I asked this to the girl who called me over,

Girl A: Big Sister Katarina, what is your relationship with that mister?

...she asked while leaning forward.

Katarina: Umm..... A friend?

I couldn't possibly tell them he was a foreign prince and that I was his guide showing him around, so I replied this.

Girl A: Oh, I see. Since you have come together today, I thought he was your real boyfriend.

She readily said this. I was so shocked that my mouth was wide open.

While I was frozen like that, the girls continued talking.

Girl B: As I said, Big Sister Katarina's boyfriend is Big Brother Geordo. Am I wrong?

Girl C: Whaaat~? Her boyfriend is Big Brother Keith, don't you think?

Girl B: But Big Brother Keith said they were brother and sister.

Girl C: No, when I asked him, he said she was his adoptive sister. So he can be her secret boyfriend.

Girl D: In that case, Big Brother Alan too!

Girl E: What about Big Brother Nicol?

The girls happily chatted while I felt so embarrassed I wished I could run away.

For these girls to look at my relationship with my brothers and my friends that way, girls these days really are precocious.

Girl B: But Big Brother Geordo definitely loves Big Sister Katarina!

Girl C: Big Brother Keith too!

After saying this, the girls looked at me.

Uuuh, I still hadn't tackled this topic yet, it was a delicate period for me.

To begin with, how come the girls here are so perceptive and notice things that I haven't noticed for a long time myself? How are girls these days?

Girl B: Hey, Big Sister Katarina, who do you like?

Girl C: Did someone confess to you?

After she had said this, a lot of girls turned their sparkly eyes towards me. I...

Girl B: Ah, wait!

Girl C: She ran away!

I ran away full speed.

----------------

Katarina ran away from the dining hall because she couldn't handle the girls. She feels relieved that they didn't chase her. 

Katarina Plays Tag With the Small Kids

Katarina sees the small kids playing tag in the garden. She feels like she is more suited to interacting with kids that age rather than more grown-up girls.

Katarina comes near the small kids. They surround her and all talk to her about playing tag. Katarina asks them if they can join them, which they happily accept.

Katarina starts playing tag with the small kids. They are unexpectedly nimble so Katarina must go at it seriously.

After a while, Katarina is out of breath while the small kids are not tired from running around. She takes a break while sitting on the grass. The small kids ask her if she wants to play hide-and-seek.

Cezar arrives and asks her if she is alright. Katarina says she will once she catches her breath.

Katarina asks Cezar if he has finished talking with Liam. Cezar smiles and says they have talked about lots of nice things. Katarina remembers that Cezar was about to cry of happiness earlier, and feels happy for him.

Katarina Holds a Baby

Katarina and Cezar hear a baby crying. Katarina is confused since there are not supposed to be babies in the orphanage. When she looks in the direction of the cries, she sees one of the female staff members holding a baby in her arms.

The staff member comes towards Katarina and thanks her for playing with the kids

Katarina asks the staff member about the baby. The staff member explains that the baby's mother hasn't recovered well after giving birth and thus can't look after the baby. As a result, they will temporarily look after the baby instead. Katarina didn't know that the orphanage could temporarily look after kids. Though, now that she thinks about it, there are some kids that she has never seen again. Cezar is impressed that the orphanage can also temporarily look after kids. Katarina feels the same.

Katarina looks at the baby. She can't believe how small they are. The staff member chuckles and says it's because the baby was just born this month. The baby was crying but now he is silently looking at Katarina with round eyes. Katarina finds them cute.

The staff member chuckles and asks Katarina if she wants to hold them. Katarina flusteredly refuses since she has never held a baby before. The staff member insists. After all, Katarina may be blessed with a child in just a little while. She will also thoroughly teach Katarina to hold them, so she should try. The staff member is a little pushy, but Katarina also wants to hold them, so she accepts.

The staff member gives her directions and Katarina holds the baby. Katarina is holding the baby well. The baby is so soft and warm, and he smells so good. Katarina is overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling while holding them.

Katarina excitedly calls Cezar over to see them. For some reason, Cezar is a little distant from her. He still comes over but he has an awkward face. 

The staff member tells Katarina that the baby has fallen asleep. Katarina looks down at the baby in her arms and can see they are sleeping peacefully. The staff member thinks it must be because Katarina is holding them well. Katarina thinks it is rather because the warmth and the nice scent of the baby have put her in a good mood.

The staff member will take the baby to a quiet place so that the small kids won't wake them up. Katarina softly gives back the baby to her. Now that the warmth and the softness of the baby is gone, Katarina feels somewhat lonely. The staff member leaves with the baby.

Cezar Thinks He Is Filthy

Katarina comes close to Cezar and asks him if he doesn't like babies. Cezar replies that it is not that he dislikes them, it is just that sometimes, he feels like he shouldn't get close to pure beings like that baby and the small kids. Katarina is surprised. Cezar explains that ever since he was 15, he has taken the lives of many people as a mercenary. It is not only his hands that are filthy with blood, his whole self is filthy. So he feels like he must not get near beautiful things so that he wouldn't soil them.

Cezar looks like a different person as he says this while looking at his hands. Katarina thought Cezar enjoyed his former mercenary life, but after hearing this, she realizes that it was actually hard for him. When she thinks about it, it must have been hard to suddenly become a mercenary after leaving the inner palace at 15. There must have been some circumstances behind it.

Just by spending some time with him, Katarina can tell Cezar is a gentle person. Since he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would keep hurting people, the mercenary life must have been hard for him. Cezar was feared because of his golden eyes, he had to fight painful memories. Behind his bright smile, there is actually a wounded heart.

In the game, maybe he fell for the heroine after she had healed his heart. In that case, she should maybe introduce Maria to Cezar. Katarina is afraid of her doom but she can't possibly leave Cezar like that. As a villainess, she can't heal his heart like the heroine would. She will introduce Maria to him and let her handle the healing. As for her, she will just express her own feelings on the matter.

----

After I had decided this, I held Cezar's hands tightly. Cezar had a very surprised face. I told him...

Katarina: Your hands supported me when I was about to fall. They are warm and gentle, I don't find them filthy. I am sure that Mister Jean, your older brother, and all the people who cherish you think the same thing. That's why I don't want you to say that your hands are filthy.

Cezar: ........

Cezar was silent while gazing at me with wide eyes.  I continued.

Katarina: I think the people who cherish you would be sad if they heard you denigrate yourself like this.

After saying this, I held Cezar's hands even more strongly.

Katarina: Your hands are warm and gentle. And you are too.

As I had talked one-sidedly, I thought I might have upset him, but when I looked up at him, he had an even more surprised face.

He didn't seem angry. His face gradually broke into a gentle smile. Then Cezar said...

Cezar: Thank you.

Thank goodness, I didn't upset him.

When I relieved my grip on his hands out of relief, this time, Cezar was the one to grasp my hand. Then for some reason, he approached it towards his mouth.

----

Maria and Cezar's Standoff

Katarina is confused about the situation when someone suddenly calls her out. When she turns around, she sees Maria.

Maria usually looks lovely, but for some reason, she has a sharp stare and a stern expression.

----

Maria: What are you doing?

She didn't say this in her usual gentle tone but in a stern resounding one.

What we were doing, huh? Well, I didn't know myself.

Until a while ago I was speaking my mind to Cezar, I was holding his hands and he is the one holding mine right now. I also would like to ask about this situation.

I was full of questions, but Cezar was the one who started speaking.

Cezar: We were just talking a little.

After saying this, he quickly released my hand and faced Maria. He had the smile I saw him making when he was standing up to people as a royal and noble.

Cezar: Could you be the famous Wielder of Light, Maria Campbell?

Maria: I don't know whether I am famous, but I indeed am Maria Campbell. You must be Prince Cezar Dahl from Ethenell?

Cezar: Yes, that's right.

Ah, it seemed like the two of them each knew about the other.

It felt like they knew about each other but were not acquainted with each other. And that it was their first meeting right now.

This handsome boy and pretty girl gazing at each other… It was such a beautiful sight. This must have been a game CG.

Now that they had met, these two would fall in love with each other, and...

Maria: And so, Prince Cezar Dahl, why might you be alone with Lady Katarina here?

Cezar: I have asked her to show me around the towns in Sorcier and following this, I had her take me here. Also, just "Cezar" is fine. 

Maria: Then I will take you up on your word, Prince Cezar. If you want to engage in sightseeing of the towns in Sorcier, you can find people who serve as guides. I shall advise you to ask these people next time.

Cezar: Well, with my position, I just won't hire people I can't trust. And since I show myself plain like this, it can't just be anyone.

Maria: Is that so? Still, Lady Katarina is someone you have just met.

Cezar: Well, actually, I met her at the International Assembly and we hit it off. 

---------

Katarina is confused since, despite their smiles, there isn't a sweet mood around Maria and Cezar. Rather than sweet, it actually feels electric. Katarina didn't expect a sweet mood right away since Maria was playing hard-to-get but she at least expected Cezar to take interest in her and gradually get charmed by her. But however she looks at them, Cezar doesn't look charmed at all. And Maria is colder than usual.

Cezar and Maria's conversation goes on. While listening, Katarina learns that Maria came here because she had a mission outside, and since the location was close to the orphanage, Cyrus asked her to deliver vegetables there for him. Then she saw Katarina and Cezar alone together without any servants and she thought that it was dangerous. Katarina also thinks it was dangerous for Cezar to go out without a servant but he insisted that it was fine. 

Since they had their encounter, Katarina wonders if Cezar and Maria will interact with each other from now on. Katarina thought earlier that she should have the two of them deepen their relationship for Cezar's sake, but their relationship doesn't seem to deepen at the moment. It bothers her but she won't cut in their conversation.

After a while, it is time for Cezar to go home. Maria wishes him a safe trip back. The encounter event seems to be over. Despite only watching, Katarina feels exhausted.

Cezar tells Maria he is going home with Katarina. Hearing this, Maria offers to take him back home since the ministry and the castle are in the same direction. It will also be convenient for Katarina that way since she can directly go home. Cezar accepts Maria's offer with a princely smile. 

Katarina goes back home alone. She is completely exhausted.

*** Cezar's POV ***

Maria's Hostility

Cezar is riding a carriage back with Maria.

Maria is so famous that rumors about her have reached Ethenell. Cezar has seen her at the International Assembly, so it doesn't feel like a first meeting for him.

He doesn't mind riding a carriage with someone he has just met, but her sharp stare makes him feel awkward. She has directed full hostility towards him ever since she has called out to him. He finally had some alone time with the girl who opened his eyes, and it turned out like this. This isn't funny.

Cezar tells Maria she doesn't need to show him so much hostility since he won't do anything to Katarina. Maria is surprised. She wasn't aware that she was making a hostile face. Cezar wonders how much Maria loves Katarina for her to unconsciously pour hostility on him. 

Maria Asks Cezar About His Bride Searching Plans

After pulling herself together, Maria asks Cezar if it is true that he has come to Sorcier to search for a bride. Cezar sharply asks where she has heard that. Maria chuckles and replies that her superior at the Ministry of Magic cautioned her about Cezar approaching her. Though, she hasn't told anyone since he asked her not to. Cezar guesses that her superior must have been worried about Cezar taking Maria as his fiancée.

Maria looks so lovely and beautiful that some men could fall in love with her at first sight. She looks like an honest girl and she must be pretty smart since she always scored high at the Academy of Magic. Even if she is a commoner, it wouldn't be strange for a foreign royal to propose to her.

If Cezar hadn't met Katarina, maybe he would have taken an interest in Maria and gotten fascinated by her. But this is just hypothetical and in this reality, he does not have such feelings for Maria, and Maria probably doesn't have any for him either.

-----

Maria: Prince Cezar, I have heard that if your desired partner responds favorably, you can take her back to Ethenell as your fiancée. However, Lady Katarina is the fiancée of one of the royals of this country. I don't think she would be a suitable partner for you.

Maria said this while firmly staring at me. I could feel a strong determination in her defiant eyes.

As expected. Maria was wary of me seducing Katarina and taking her away to Ethenell as my fiancée.

I could see this look too, earlier. I could tell that she would think that if she knew about me searching for a fiancée. However, I really shouldn't make an enemy of Maria right now.  

I put on a gentle smile on my face, then...

Cezar: Of course, I have no intention of making a pass at the fiancée of the third prince.

I decisively said this, like it was all but common sense.

All while shooting sparks from her eyes, 

Maria: Is it true?

She asked this while still suspicious of me.

Cezar: Yes, of course.

I asserted with a smile.

She must have been an honest girl. She relaxed her guard after I had said this without thinking any of it.

She didn't seem to notice that I add secretly added "For now" in my heart.

-----

Cezar Listens to Maria Talk About Katarina

Maria has relaxed her guard and is now looking gently at Cezar. Since Cezar has asked, she is happily talking about Katarina.

While listening, Cezar realizes that Maria loves Katarina from the bottom of her heart. If he made an enemy of her, she would be an opponent as troublesome as Geordo. He is all smiles while listening but he actually has cold shivers. 

Cezar Is Back at the Royal Palace

Cezar has arrived at the royal palace. He can finally relax.

Cezar returns to his room. Jean has been waiting for him and asks him with a grin how it went.

Jean has pretended to have something to do today so that Cezar and Katarina could be alone together.

At first, Cezar wanted to tell Jean "Mind your own business", but since he actually had a good time with Katarina, he considers telling him "Thank you. It is thanks to you that I could have a good time" but it was embarrassing, so he ends up saying "It was okay" before entering his room. He can faintly hear Jean giggling behind him.

Cezar Can't Ignore his Feelings for Katarina Anymore

Cezar dives onto his bed. He is thinking of Katarina.

He took an interest in Katarina back at the International Assembly when she was not scared of his golden eyes and said they were pretty. He could contain his feelings when he learned that she was the fiancée of a royal of Sorcier. However, when she told him with her gentle voice and warm hands "Your hands are warm and gentle. And you are too." he felt his heart getting healed.

When he was a mercenary, he had relationships with female nightlife workers. Despite this, when he thinks of Katarina, his cheeks turn hot as if he had just reached puberty. It is the first time he has felt like this.

He has fallen in love with the woman named Katarina Claes.

He can't contain his feelings with reason anymore. Katarina's fiancée is a prince of Sorcier who is infatuated with her. And the people around Katarina are all infatuated with her, including Maria Campbell. He won't be able to freely make a move on her.

Even so, these newborn feelings will be painful when he has to end his relationship with her at the end of the foreign study. He would hate not to see her ever again. He wishes to have some kind of connection with her. And to this end, he will need to make Sorcier indebted to him. This is what he intended in the first place for Ethenell's sake, but now he also has personal reasons.

Something Liam told him about the incident in Ocean Harbor Town bothers him, so he will investigate it. By doing so, he feels like he will uncover information that will make Sorcier indebted to him. 

Cezar shakes off the fluffy feelings in his head and switches to work mode.

[saintbrown]

Idea for a Steven Universe AU fic:

Pink Prince AU

Here’s how it goes:

During the gem war, sometime before what would have been Bismuth’s bubbling, Rose watches Pearl be shattered in the middle of a battle and is overwhelmed with rage. She lets go of every restraint she has imposed on herself since she lost her original pearl and unleashes her destructive powers on the opposing army, turning the tides of war in a matter of minutes, as well as shapeshifting back into Pink Diamond in the process. When Blue and Yellow Diamond come down to Earth to reprimand her, Pink, no longer feeling any sort of emotion towards them, attacks them too, bouncing off Yellow’s destabilizing attacks and shrugging off Blue’s emotional ones, calling them too weak in comparison to her own turmoil. She sends them both back to Homeworld, telling them that if they ever come back, they will be shattered.

After the battle, the Crystal Gems are divided, between a majority like Garnet and Bismuth, who feel betrayed by Pink’s lies and blame her for the death of Pearl (as well as many others), and a minority that decides to stay by her side, along side most of her court from Homeworld (who turned sides after the revelation) and the humans that survived the battle. Garnet and Bismuth lead their group to a place far away where they can start over, which would later be called Beach City. Meanwhile, in the time it took for Pink to grieve everything she had lost, the gems and humans that stayed started a kingdom around her and asked her to be their Queen, a position she accepts reluctantly.

Cut to 5,400 years later and Pink’s new kingdom is thriving. It’s rivers are overflowing with the Diamond’s lacrimal essence, which means it’s people have never seen a day of disease in their lives and the ground is the most fertile that the Earth has ever seen. The Queen’s close circle consists of a Zircon who serves as her political advisor, a Jasper who, once her deadliest enemy, is now her most loyal soldier and captain of the guard, as well as Jasper’s squire, the last Amethyst that the Prime Kindergarten ever produced.

One day, a musician rolls into town, a man by the name of Greg Universe. Usually, the thick forest that surrounds the kingdom (which Pink raised to prevent invading armies from reaching her kingdom (and being decimated by Jasper)) would only grant safe passage to her citizens, and yet Mr. Universe’s peaceful nature and harmonious melodies lead him straight to the gates, just as he runs out of gas. Without a gas station in sight, Greg has to stay put while his car is adapted to be solar powered, just like every other vehicle in the kingdom, and Pink takes the opportunity to get to know the outsider that her forest deemed worthy. Once it’s time for Greg to leave, he decides not to as he has already fallen in love with Pink. The two fall deeper in love every day they are together until finally, Pink gives up her physical form and the Pink Prince is born: Steven Universe.

As he grows up, Steven is trained by Jasper and Amethyst to be just as strong as his mother, while Zircon teaches him to be just as wise (she also serves as the kingdom’s regent until Steven is ready to take up the throne). During a history lesson, Zircon brings out a mirror that is meant to give the prince a visual aid. One thing leads to another and Steven releases a Lapis Lazuli that runs away and takes all of the kingdom’s water with her. Steven, Jasper, Amethyst, Zircon and Greg set out to recover their most precious resource and as they arrive at the water tower that Lapis has erected, the group realizes that they aren’t the only ones there. From the opposite direction, approach a Bismuth, a Ruby and a Sapphire.

After the Lapis situation is resolved, having learned of his mom’s past before the kingdom, Steven decides that the best way to become just as great a ruler as her is to learn about all facets of her life, even Rose Quartz. So he starts using the warp pad on a regular basis to visit the Crystal Gems, in Beach City.

[books-and-strawberry-tea]

New Books 2025 ₍ ᐢ.ˬ.ᐢ₎˚୨୧

(That I've found so far)˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

I'm a little unsure about Gate to Kagoshima. I've seen the blue cover in the shops before, I know the publishers are different now, but I don't know the reason why as of yet. And the same for My Funny Demon Valentine, I know that was released digitally, but I'm unsure about physically (in the past I mean).

My Funny Demon Valentine˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Romance, Paranormals, Demons

Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, just wants to make music. Jazz, specifically. Unfortunately, he’s a demon. And he’s supposed to be evil.

Clearly, for Ash, a career as a musician isn’t exactly an option. Plus, he’s cursed.Sick of playing by the rules, Ash and his three brothers escape Hell in search of freedom on Earth. But it’s harder than they thought to keep their enemies off their tail . . .

The four rogues quickly become the Underworld’s Most Wanted, and if they’re caught, the consequences will be dire. Yet everything changes for Ash when he meets a beautiful violinist who can see through his curse. It must be too good to be true, but, no matter the risk, he has to have her.

Evangeline Gregory is just your average human. She works at a jazz bar, plays gigs on weekends . . . and, apparently, hallucinates demons.

At least that’s what Eva tells herself when, moments after she meets the man of her dreams, she sees him shift into a 7-foot-tall monster. Not believing her own eyes, Eva decides to investigate and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a supernatural clusterf**k of epic proportions. But Ash isn’t the only one keeping secrets, and the search for answers reveals a shocking truth that will change the course of her life forever. Or maybe just doom it. Eva and Ash will learn the path to love can be complete Hell.

Gate to Kagoshima˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Japan, Historical, Romance, Time Travel

They lay… Her heart torn to ribbons. How would she ever let him go now? 2005: While researching her Japanese ancestors, Isla travels from Scotland to Kagoshima. There, a vicious typhoon and a strange white gate in a deserted shrine tumbles Isla back to 1877 and the dawn of the Satsuma Rebellion, the conflict that heralded the end of the samurai. Keiichirō Maeda, a samurai with eyes that promise the world, introduces Isla to a way of life only previously encountered in books, and Isla begins to wonder if she has found her true home. But as the samurai muster against what she knows will be a futile battle and the end of everything they hold dear, Isla is increasingly anxious. Should she tell the man she now loves what history has taught will happen to the samurai, or should she let Keiichirō die the glorious death he so believes in, proud to the end that he remained a faithful warrior? And if that does happen, can Isla ever find her way back to her modern-day life in the Highlands? Only time can tell…

The Legend of Meneka˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Romance, Mythology, Fiction, Retelling

In this sweeping crossover of romantic fantasy and Hindu mythology, acclaimed author Kritika H. Rao reimagines the famous tale of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling in love with her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalty to her home and being true to herself—perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, and Circe.

Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.

The The End of the World There is a Pond˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Poetry

A stunning debut volume infused with apocalyptic overload, beginnings and endings, and all the ways we betray ourselves.

At the End of the World There Is a Pond is a book about aftermaths. Each poem comes in the wake of a deep rupture—the rupture of mental illness and addiction, of migration and displacement, of violence, familial conflict, and ecological catastrophe. The speakers of these poems engage with despair and playfulness in equal measure, always allowing humor, irony, and the exuberance of the natural world to bend darkness toward something like hope.

Again and again, Steven Duong’s writing excavates the unnatural conditions of the seemingly natural the betta fish trapped in its mason jar, the forest choked by invasive kudzu, the elephant wounded in a landmine blast. Ultimately, At the End of the World There Is a Pond articulates an impossible How can we reconcile a deep love for the world in all its buzzing, wriggling aliveness with an equally deep self-destructive desire to leave it behind?

The Lotus Shoes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Historical, China, Women's Fiction

An astonishing story set in 1800s China. Little Flower is sold into slavery, and Linjing into marriage . . .

As a child, Little Flower is sold to Linjing's wealthy family to become a muizai. In a fit of childish jealousy over her new handmaiden's ladylike bound feet and talent for embroidery, Linjing ensures Little Flower can never leave her to ascend in society.

Despite their starkly different places in the Fong household, over the years the two girls must work together to secure both their futures through Linjing's marriage. As the two grow up, they are by turns bitter rivals and tentative friends.

Until scandal strikes the family, and Linjing and Little Flower's lives are unexpectedly thrown into chaos. Linjing's fall from grace could be an opportunity for Little Flower - but will their intertwined fates lead to triumph, or tragedy for them both?

Lies on the Serpents Tongue˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Mystery, Gothic, Thriller, Horror

A beautifully dark YA set in Appalachia tinged with magic, mystery, murder, and romance. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls! As Caball Hollow slowly recovers after a tumultuous summer, the James family must also come to terms with their own newly revealed secrets.        18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies and no one is who they seem to be. So when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the Forest that surrounds Caball Hollow.       Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?

Where Did You Go?˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Fae, Dark Fantasy, Romance

Trapped in the In-Between, Caly, Mendax, and Aurelius are fighting for their lives—they just don't know whose.

Caly's bond to Mendax from their bonding ceremony and her mortality being tied to Aurelius's from when he saved her life mean the three of them have tangled their life forces together. And now that they know maintaining both connections is against the natural order of things, one of them must be sacrificed for the other two.

Caly can't let another one of her loved ones die, but she also needs to answer the summons so she can finally meet her father. Then, perhaps, she can be sent to the Elysian Fields to be with her mother and sister. But her father has information that could change everything—and even if she's ready to sacrifice herself, she'll have to get through the Seelie Prince and the Unseelie Prince to do so, while also keeping them from killing each other.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Vampires, Lesbian, Horror, Paranormal

Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532. London, 1837. Boston, 2019.

Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.

One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.

And all of them grow teeth.

[ashleyrowanthewriter]

Rooks of Petersburg - a fanfic of Jaromír Nohavica's Petěrburg

Through the night downpour one could only hear cries of vagrant dogs. From the Tikhvin Cemetery came deafening shrieks as two shadowy shapes sat on its graves.

"Tell me of what you saw tonight, dear Ya," said the bird that sat on a grave with a letter I.

"I remember seeing a white carriage, I," said the other rook. "It carried a woman I see in my flights."

"My flight was similar," said the bird called I. "But my carriage was black. And I saw my woman outside. I remembered her crying at the carriage."

"What do you think it means, I?" asked Ya.

"From what I understand so far my carriage means death," said I.

"Then does my carriage mean life?" asked Ya.

"No. I would rather say it means love," said I.

Ever since the two bird came to that was their existence.

They could not leave the cemetery and they never saw people cross its gate, dead or alive. They did not know their names, so they decided to call themselves after the letters on the gravestones they slept on.

Every night at midnight the two birds felt an instinctive call. They left the cemetery and flew through the city, each in its own direction. During their flights they saw blurry visions. These distant images felt like memories of someone.

In I's visions he could see life of a prince. Meanwhile Ya saw life of a low class man. Both of their visions however shared one thing in common. They both have seen their men with a woman by their side. A woman whom they seemed to love.

"Listen, I, do you think there is a meaning to our flights?" asked Ya.

"I believe they show us our past lives," said I.

"What makes you believe that?" asked Ya.

"It only makes sens that a prince would be given a new life," said I. "It amuses me however why would I be such a low animal as a rook."

"Your logic has to be flawed, I," said Ya. "That would mean that I am a reborn low class."

"Then maybe you died with honour, my friend," said I.

The next night the Moon was close to full and the rain was intensifying. The clocks stroke midnight and the rooks once again felt the call to fly. They circled the air above their graves and flew, each their own way.

Ya saw the man he saw every night. Under his window there was a stray dog yelping at scraps of bread crust. From the city wedding music could be heard. Meanwhile the tenant stuck himself in a game of Russian roulette and only stopped after the bullet flew out.

I meanwhile saw a chapel and heard the orchestra playing wedding music. He still believed he was seeing his past live. As such he believed he saw the marriage of his old self and the woman he loved. For a moment it seemed a lovely scene. But then an unexpected guest entered the chapel with a revolver. I heard shots and shouts from the inside. Then he flew away just as if he got scared by these sounds.

"Tonight flight was difficult to watch," said Ya. "And it would be better for me if your theory about past life was false."

"If it is true then my end was not too nice," said I. "It was actually very gruesome."

"I guess I could say the same about past me," said Ya. "If I may be honest, I'm actually starting to worry about what we might see on the coming nights."

"I think I understand your worries," said I. "What could have caused me such a horrible death?"

That night the rooks told stories of pity and tragedy.

Next night the birds saw the same scene. The woman was rejecting the man who Ya followed and following the man who Igor followed. Just then they heard her name - Nadezhda.

In a few more nights filled with visions the rooks came to conclusions about their lives.

"So I see that it was you who killed me," said I.

"How could I have killed you?" asked Ya. "I could not have done it. It was too early."

"Then how would you explain that shooting?" asked I.

"I do not know, but I can assure that the only person I killed was myself," said Ya.

From his heavenly throne God was watching all of the worlds he has created. Every Middle Earth, every Hell and every Purgatory. He was especially interested in a little Hell where two rooks were closed. He wasn't even sure whether they came from the same Middle Earth or two separate. But their Hell was interesting either way.

*************

I wanted this story to be longer, but I wanted to release it today for a boost in self-esteem. I needed it.

I grew up listening to a disc with Polish translations of Nohavica's songs. Petěrburg had a cover by Andrzej Ozga. Through changes in text and music style I believed that it was a song about a bloody revenge on prince Igor. How great was my surprise when I listened to the Czech original and found out it's actually about a suicide of Nadezhda Ivanovna's lover. It was such a surreal experience that it inspired this story.

Happy Halloween, happy Samhain and happy everything else today!

[tarvastries]

what if boromir knew?

obviously he didn’t, because he was just a captain and a steward’s son and only princes and kings and great heroes have their futures told before their past is even their past, and he didn’t realize the quest would claim his life too until that first arrow hit his heart, but still. what if he knew?

that when he left minas tirith, he would never see the white city again. that his last words with his little brother before riding away would be his last words with him ever. that the way he would ultimately serve his friends and family and fellow men would be by leaving them behind.

he tried to run from the quest when his father first told him to go. tried to pass it to faramir (always downtrodden, never less of a son or captain but still treated as such) in order to give him a chance to show his quality and worth.

did he somehow know, as faramir discovered later, how costly following a father’s orders can be?

the purpose of the fellowship was never survival, at least, not for 8 out of the 9. frodo was really the only one who had to make it to the end alive. but that doesn’t mean they expected death to come knocking.

what if he knew, before ever stepping foot beyond the white city’s walls for the final time, it would be his door the great sleep would be waiting at?

that he would lay down his life not in glorious battle at the gates of mordor or in defense of the plains before his city, but on a small wooded hill, protecting two halflings who would be taken captive anyway? that his end would come before their quest began in earnest? that he would fall to temptation only to be redeemed by the short skirmish that would claim his life?

if he knew what he had to give up and who he would give it for, would he have gone? would he have ever stepped foot outside those pristine gates?

if he knew the suffering his friends would endure, the lengths they would go to and never be able to fully return from, would he have wanted to ever meet them at all?

i believe he would.

all those raids, all those battles, and he died on a small wooded hill fighting for two halflings — four halflings — who the world at large had been content to ignore for so long. a wasteful death, to some, but it changed the course of millions of lives. it mattered to them. it mattered to him.

it took three arrows, nearly four, to bring him down. he could’ve run, or collapsed, or tried to plead. if he didn’t know before that his time was coming to a close, he knew it then. and still he stood and fought until he couldn’t anymore. he counted the cost of his life and decided it was worth giving, worth losing, if it meant others wouldn’t have to do the same.

what if he knew, before the leaving and the council and the journey and the mines and the grief and the temptation that he was hurtling toward the end of the track, the final fight?

what if he knew all the suffering that would come, but saw the peace it would bring? i don’t think it would have changed his mind.

the only thing that would change, if he had known all that was to come, would be his courage and strength, multiplied tenfold.

so maybe, just maybe, he did know. and decided it would all be worth it in the end, even if he wouldn’t be there to see it.

[inthebamboogrove]

Stray rain. Part 4.

At dusk, the outlines of the Village began to appear. Once it had a name and people lived in it. Now she stands in the Wasteland, abandoned and dead. Detachments and armies often stayed there. It was too dangerous for the bandits here, so this place could not be their base.

-But it still wasn’t possible to go around it somehow?-Giev asked, stopping his horse next to Jaswant.

-It would be possible to turn south, drown in the swamps and not reach Urayur.- A calm answer followed.

-Oh, well, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have done that.- Giev smiled. Jaswant rode his horse forward towards the vanguard, leaving the chattering minstrel behind.

Prince Arslan stopped his horse next to Daryun and Narsas. There was wariness in their gaze, the warriors were ready to confront any danger.

Jaswant rode forward, past the parsias prince's defenders. For a moment, the gaze of blue eyes met the gaze of light turquoise, in which cold, tired determination froze.

***

All sounds here seemed to disappear. Nothing was heard. All colors disappeared, fading into the cold twilight. The village greeted the parsian army with the dead silhouettes of huts and low concrete houses. The remains of the gate stood like sentries at its entrance. From a distance it looked like ruins. -It’s creepy here.- Whispered Alfrid, a red-haired girl from the Parsi people of Zott, apparently also part of Prince Arslan’s squad.

Elam nodded silently in agreement.

Closer to the center there were crumbling two-story concrete houses. Black gaps in window openings with broken glass pulled me into impenetrable uncertainty. Dead trees stretched their twisted branches towards the heavy gray sky. Underfoot, with every step, stones, fragments of glass and dishes crunched. Sounds in this silence died instantly, as soon as they moved a few steps away from their companions. The crunch of broken glass underfoot was deafening. In the black gaps of the doors and windows one could see the outlines of the furniture that was left here from the inhabitants. The roofs of the adobe huts had fallen in, and their rotten remains had long been used as kindling for fires. Now all that remains of them are crumbling four walls with traces of the life of people who once upon a time called this place home.

Arslan's squad looked around anxiously, the oppressive silence bothered them more than the sound of danger. Part of the army was stationed around this abandoned place. Cold impenetrable darkness crept up unnoticed, plunging everything into silent uncertainty.

-It's so quiet here. You can’t even hear the howling of sick animals.- Arslan said quietly, raising a lantern, the orange light of which picked out from the thick darkness fragments of multi-colored dishes and the remains of furniture that littered the hard ground.

-They don’t come here,- Jaswant answered. -The soldiers who stay here drove them away a long time ago, so it’s even safer here.- The horse he was leading nervously pressed his ears back and reluctantly walked forward. It was his first time here.

The silence frightened him, as did the strangers who now relied on Jaswant.

In the center of the square there was a well, a black abyss going deep into the earth. The wooden canopy and gate had long since rotted away, leaving only a round stone cap.

-You can get water here, it’s clean.- Jaswant decided not to wait for questions about such a rare phenomenon as a well in the middle of the dead Wasteland.

Narsas nodded slightly, he was their strategist and they always listened to his decisions.

-We'll spend the night here today. Make yourself comfortable.- Jaswant said, turning around.

Even the wind did not howl between the houses. It was an impenetrable cold night all around.

***

The heart could not calm down. Arslan turned over on his other side, wrapped in a warm woolen blanket. The hard, cold bed that stood against the clay wall seemed as if it had never been a part of a person’s daily life. The prince settled down for the night in one of the huts, from the roof of which only pieces of the ceiling around the edges remained. There was only a dark, starless sky overhead.

Daryun settled down against the wall. After the unexpected attack of the enemy, he did not dare to move far from His Highness.

Heart was simply breaking. Arslan turned over on his other side. Silvery strands fell on a forehead covered with cold sweat. It wasn't the creepy place they were staying at. On the contrary, despite all the gloom, it was safer here. Jaswant also said so. Without knowing why, Arslan did not doubt his words. Gloomy, unfriendly, but polite, the Shindrian guide did not inspire hostility. There was an air of honesty and strength about him.

Arslan liked ordinary people. He was drawn to them.

Suspicions that he was not a guide arose immediately as soon as he caught the eye of Narsas and Gieve… repelling the snake attack completed the impression. Jaswant is a warrior. And yet, somewhere in the depths of his soul, Arslan hoped that the clear-eyed shindrian would not turn out to be their opponent. He wouldn't want to fight him.

He thought about what awaited them. What is Rajendra up to? Arslan did not believe a single word he said, his wide smile always made him wary… But he always smiled back at him, weighed every word. The warriors who followed him believed Arslan, praised him and believed him, but…

When there was no one around, when darkness surrounded him on all sides, Arslan felt his heart become heavy, and the merciless thoughts that surrounded him on all sides, only waiting for that moment to tear apart his tormented consciousness like animals prey, did not allow him to fall asleep. .

Recently, he has completely lost peace, beginning to realize that he could endanger everything… Is he the son of the king of Pars? All his life he had been told that yes… Cruel, strong and uncompromising… that was his father… but was it his father? Lately there has been plenty of evidence… a tapestry in one of the fortresses in which they tried to find support… Rumors that Andragoras had ascended to the throne of Pars by deceit, killing his brother, the true king… on the day this happened there was a fire… a terrible fire …And the ruler of the border fortress of Pars knows something…

Less than a month ago, just before Rajendra’s invasion of the border fortress of Pars, one man attacked him… Mad and filled with incredible anger… His face was adorned with a silver mask, he pounced on him like a madman… the blows that rained down on Arslan almost broke his bones… he shouted that he would not let him die just like that… that he was to blame for all his suffering… that he was Hermes, the son of the true king of Pars… And when he saw the fire, he, emitting a piercing cry, disappeared, as if he had never existed…

The life of prince Arslan was generally strange… he lived the first years among ordinary people, he was raised by one family, then it turned out that he was prince of Pars, and his parents were King Andragoras III and Queen Takhaminai… so he ended up in the Ektabana palace… Prince Arslan.

And now everything has turned upside down again… Most likely, he is not the son of his parents… has no right to the throne… only an obstacle in the endless struggle for power… He has encountered evidence of all this too often to begin to doubt.

The worst thing was that they looked at him with confidence… They fought to the death and died. Is a simple boy of fourteen, whom everyone decided to consider a prince, worth it? How many more people must die for him? The consciousness of this tore my heart… I wanted to cry… it became more and more difficult to breathe. The icy hand clenched into a fist.

Only now, left alone, could he allow himself to do this… to fall into despair from which he could not escape. Daryun and Narsas must not see this. It would be an insult to their concern.

Arslan opened his eyes, looking with an empty gaze at the square doorway, through which a row of the same abandoned houses could be seen… Ordinary people once lived in this house. The old hard bed, the table, even the stove, on which no food had been cooked for decades, were preserved…

The burning wet cold cut right to the bones. It had nothing to do with the winter air. Despair drove him crazy… The only thing that protected him from him was the torn mind-consciousness of the one for whom he had not yet retreated…

Daryun… Narsas… Giev, Farangiz, Alfrid… this is the only way I can repay you… but I'm scared. I'm so scared…

***

Quiet. Jaswant looked at the empty, forever silent houses. He sat in the empty window opening, straightening his flexible back and placing his hands on his knees. In the darkness he could be mistaken for a motionless statue, but not for a living creature. Despite the fact that a whole detachment of warriors settled here, this place still did not look alive. Sleep did not come. The brain refused to turn off… Most likely he would not get even two or three hours of rest, more than which he had not been able to sleep lately.

Gujarat is only a day's journey away… And only one opportunity to stop an entire army. The boy prince will have to leave his homeland. Heart was disgustingly heavy. This feeling did not leave him even now, when he settled down in the window opening, giving up his futile attempts to sleep. All sounds disappeared, only his body felt a strange hum, as if the cold clay wall on which he was leaning was alive.

His face was imperturbable, it did not show how his heart was squeezing in an unbearable premonition of trouble. Light turquoise eyes that looked somewhere into the distance became silver-gray in the cold darkness. The steel hoops of the trap will soon slam shut. Bad… how bad…

Suddenly two figures appeared in the doorway. Black and white. Daryun and Arslan.

Not this… not now…

-Jaswant, I want to ask about our next path…- Arslan came almost close to him. The gloomy Daryun remained a little behind.

The noise intensified. It pierced the whole body, made a noise in the blood, stopped the heart, squeezed the air out of the lungs…

-Jaswant?

The awareness of what was happening shot through my entire body like an electric discharge. No! No! No!

-Hurry up from here!- Jaswant jumped to his feet, pushing the prince towards the wary Daryun. His scream was drowned out by a deafening roar. The window opening on which he was sitting a moment ago was crushed by debris. The enraged earth rushed from side to side. No… it’s too late… the sinking concrete wall crushed the low clay wall under itself, blocking the doorway. Everything disappeared in darkness and noise. The earth beat and cracked, as if it hated all living things on it… Everything disappeared in noise, darkness and dust. They were trapped. It was an earthquake.

[toobusybeingdead]

Skyrim OC Leo Chapter 1: Lucifer

Authors note: This is going to be a series about my Dragonborn character and how I feel her life goes as she fulfills her destiny. Several quests are going to be different than in game but that just makes it more interesting.

Leo had known she was different for as long as she’d been alive. Was this some sort of punishment for something she did in a past life or was a Daedric Prince simply bored and decided to use her as a source of entertainment? Either way, she was going to die, drowning in the frozen water as the ship sank to the bottom of the Sea of Ghosts. They tried to warn her about the curse that was placed on the ship but she wouldn’t listen. She closed her eyes as the water reached up to her neck. Maybe she will finally be able to find the reason she was born into this cruel world.

“There she is!” A voice yelled. Water began to splash as a set of arms wrapped themselves around the woman. “She’s barely alive!”

She felt herself being dragged out of the water and wrapped in warmth. “Poor thing.” An older woman’s voice cooed. “She’s so tiny, even for a Breton. Are you sure she’s not a runaway?”

“She had all of the proper documents. Twenty-five-year-old Breton traveling from Roscrea to the mainland.” The two continued their conversation but as Leo tried to listen, exhaustion took over.

She felt warm. Was the hypothermia setting in? But she could feel her fingers and the tips of her ears. “You’re finally waking up, my child.” A calm voice said. “Try opening up your eyes slowly, you are safe here.” She cracked open her emerald eyes and looked at the wooden ceiling above her. “You are in the Temple of Kynereth in Whiterun, the Collage of Winterhold sent you here to heal.” She sat up and held the blanket to her chest. “They said you were not recovering due to the cold and thought you would be better off here.” The priestess handed Leo some clothes. “Put these on, we tried to change you out of your old clothes but you were putting up a fight, even when sleeping.”

The woman left to give Leo her privacy to change. “How long was I asleep?” She asked in a rough voice. She winced at the dryness in her throat.

“Five days.” She came back as Leo finished tying the cinches. “I feared that you were not going to make it.” Leo nodded her head and sat on the edge of the bed. “My name is Danica Pure-Spring. I am in charge of the temple here.”

“My name is Leo.”

Danica smiled and handed the Breton woman a cup of water. “The ship captain was able to provide us with some information before you were sent here. You were wanting to begin a new life, yeah?” Leo nodded her head. “There are plenty of jobs here. You could begin working on one of the farms, or I’m sure Hulda could use another hand at the inn. The Companions are always looking for new members as well.”

“I-I’ll look around. Thank you.”

The summer sun warmed Leo as she walked out of the city gates. When she was pulled from the ship she still had her enchanted satchel on her. It was a gift from her father when she was born and enabled her to carry almost everything she possessed. She was able to change into her traveling clothes and found her family's sword that she now carried by her side. As she was about to take her first steps into her new life she heard someone shouting.

“Wait!” She turned around and saw an Argonian man running up to her. “Wait!” he panted out as he finally caught up. “Y-you’re the one from that shipwreck up north, right?” He hunched over, hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

Leo slowly nodded her head. “Yeah?”

The man stood up and looked down at her. “I asked Danica about you and she said you were leaving on some sort of adventure, would you mind if I went with you? As protection of some sort?” His eyes had a hopeful glint in them.

Leo stood in shock for a moment. She has never seen this man before in her life and now he wants to travel with her? Was this some sort of trap or was he just that desperate for some adventure? “I guess you can join me.” She said slowly and began walking.

The Argonian smiled. “Then let’s get going!” He took in a deep breath as he walked next to his new companion. “My name is Lucifer, by the way.”

“Leo.” She replied.

[pyro-the-kin]

The Elder Scrolls II / IV / V - The Agent of Daggerfall | The Champion of Cyrodill | The Last Dragonborn

I'll be trying to resume three lives in one post, since they are all related:

I'll be trying to resume three lives in one post, since they are all related:

First, there was some random dunmer, ailing from mainland Morrowind, who for some reason was acquainted with the Emperor Uriel Septim VII, and promptly sent to Daggerfall to deal with local political matters.

That dunmer did so, following with the events of TES III: Daggerfall, eventually gifting the tokem of Tiber Septim to someone. That act proved a disaster for said dunmer, who by being at the centre of all events, was wiped out of existence by a Dragon Break.

Well, Akatosh remained very apologetic about that, and promised that dunmer a second change to correct his error.

Then there's another dunmer, this time a lad by the name of Verlo Santri of Vvanderfel. Inspired by the tales of the Nerevarine, he decides to become a hero himself and travels to Cyrodill. Where he is immediately jailed after getting into a fistfight with some off-duty guard.

That turns out to be the key to success, and he is met again (unknowingly) with Uriel Septim VII. Thus begins the events of TES IV: Oblivion. Until finishing with the main questline, Cyrodill and the Empire. But still mourning the sacrifice of his friend Martin Septim, Verlo leaves to another place, crossing a mysterious gate into the Shivering Isles.

Thus goes the events of the Shivering Isles add-on. Verlo meets with Sheogorath, daedric prince of madness, goes on his quests and eventually mantles the daedric prince. Now, such act of apotheosis isn't easy, and he finds his soul getting replaced by the prince's, until being completely driven out of the body.

Again Akatosh appears. "This time didn't count", he paraphrases. Promises a third chance, a final to finally deal with this.

And a small kajhiit is born, in some distant land many decades later.

Raised by caravan merchants, Ta'zir eventually crosses the border into Skyrim at the wrong time, being captured by Imperial soldiers. This begins the events of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Now, what's really special about this one, is that Ta'zir is specially sensitive about things. Perhaps it's the dragon blood, or perhaps something related to the khajiit, but he is very aware of having had some past lives. And promptly freaks out when meeting with certain individuals again (Being, Mehrunes Dagon and Sheogorath).

Luckily for him, the dragons and the Greybeards don't really care about it, so life goes on, eventually leading with the events of the two DLCs Dawnguard and Dragonborn.

Ta'zir eventually finds his demise at the end of his life, ending this cycle of repetition cast upon him by the Divine.

[pin-acolada]

CHAPTER FOUR (TQOHH)

Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen OC

Description: Her warmth and love caress his soul making him hum with bliss. Having her presence near makes all of the dark thoughts perish, as she was the flowers that grew in the darkest part of him. She is the keeper of his soul. Holder of his heart. Without her, he is nothing.

A/N: thank you for your patience. I have been feeling sick this whole week so it took time away from me to finish this chapter. Plus, I had so many idea on how this chapter was going to go, until I finally decided so again thank you for your patience. I might go back and revise some details because I feel it’s not my best. xo

The Queen of His Heart Series

Word count: 6592

italic - flashback

Winter collapsed into Spring, a season that symbolizes new beginnings that awaits to be strived. It is the time where the flowers are nourished and the sun above grants them the approval to blossom to present their beauty. The pure season was the Targaryen princess favorite out of the three seasons. The night wind begins to feel moist with the smell of turned loam and the early flowers. The moon pouring out its beauty for those to stop and admire, and allow the lick of the moons energy spur onto them beginning to feel light and safe.

She would spend most of her time out in the garden where she gets to capture the perfume of the flowers. She would sit under the looming tree that dance with the wind, and at times goosebumps will travel throughout her arm when it shyly looms over her; it made her soul smile.

The admiration she holds for such season was ethereal sight to admire from where the prince was standing. He loved how adorning she was for just being. The way the radiant grass surrounded he made her be unreal. She radiated colorful hues that it was too hard to look away, so drinking her appearance till he was full will satisfy his heart, but like always he can never get enough as she was so addicting that she became his drug.

The past four years, Aemond has watched Eudora transform into the greatest version of herself. He watched her behind the shadows – watched the care of her heart that she gives to those that needed a reminder that they were still people like her. He watched the smile she gifts to them and the help she grants without cost. He watched her leave her chambers at late hour to sneak into the Maestors hall to steal medicine, and then she would head down to town where she awaits by a door for someone to open.

There, he saw an older woman who would usher her in and would look out to make sure no one was around. There he found a roof that gave him window access to what the princess transpires, and he spied with his one good eye how she nursed a little boy to good health. There he watched the woman giving her a crying hug when she saw how her son was getting better. He watched how she will look take off her disguise and saw how unafraid she was to show who she was. He thought, at first, how daft she was to do that as she could've lost her life from there, but over time the more she went out and continue to uncover her identity made him see that everyone did not once snitch of the princess; instead, they protected her.

Aemond had pride in his heart knowing he was with someone with heart of gold. Aemond had pride in his heart knowing that someone with a heart of gold, also had a heart of a warrior.

Through the four years that'd past, he has watch her skills advanced. The way she dances with the sword, the way her eyes sharpen and her senses heighten showed how hard she trained in hiding. When Eudora was ten and four and Aemond ten and six, he once asked her "why do you train till the sun rise?"

"why do you train when the sun is full horizon?" she countered questioned.

"Because it is my duty of course. When the time comes where war knocks at our gates, it is my duty to fight for my house, my realm, my family."

"You have answered your questioned then" she said not giving any further explanation which Aemond found unreasonable seeing how the two shared everything together, except for this reason. Till this day, he still wonders and he still questions her and in return, she gives him another dead end. Though she does not offer her reason, she does offer him her wisdom.

The moon light greeted them when they enter the training yard. Aemond was behind her – observing the way her fingers touch each weaponry. He watched her picking one weapon, twirling it around and touch the edge where it was the sharpest, and put them back down. He watch her do that for every weapon, and when she was done she turned to look at him over her shoulder. She extends her hands out which he takes without hesitation.

When he was by her side, their hands never once let go as she spoke, "my father once told me that a sword is given to one who's bravery stoke the spirits. Its blade rivals crystal clear water, and like fire, calcines in each cut – because of its brightness, it appears crowned with pearl. By what I translated from him and what I have learn throughout my training is that a warrior must know the purposeful difference of each weapon. The shield is defense. The spear a battle trench. The sword is a guardian. The dagger is an ambush; knowing these ranking give you a good outlook what will help guide you what will beat your opponent.

But what every solider does not keep in mind is the bondage that must forge between them and their sword – with any other weapon in fact. A soldier and their sword is one, it is a sigil of unity and when you have acknowledge that you will become unstoppable."

"Why are you telling me this," he questioned her – eye still on her as he has never focus on the weapon she has not taken her eyes off, until she finally strip her eyes away and turn to him.

Violet meet Vermillion.

"I've seen you train with Ser Criston, and you train very hard. He rewards with words that you have potential, that you're getting better, and he's not wrong. You are becoming well with the sword, but his teaching lacks valuation. I observed you from behind – when you swing you swing with hate, not swiftness. Hatred has bared you in shackles my Aemond, it has blinded you from what is in front of you."

"Hatred is what got me becoming the best swordsmen Westeros has ever laid eyes on," he argued. She could see it in eyes again, the anger. But deep within she sees a boy whose afraid and needs a hand to hold. A boy who hides as he is to afraid to reopen what has been neglected.

"But it is also a form that will have you dead," she sniped. "What will happen when that anger consumes you Aemond, what then?" She pushed herself closer where now their chest touched, making Aemond breath to hitch feeling how close she was and to feel that familiar feeling of her warmth radiate off to him. "I tell you this for your own good because I care for you" she gently lay her hands on the side of his cheek making him lean down against them. "I am not trying to lower your self-esteem – that will never be my intention my love. This is my wisdom I gift to you: connect with the weaponry art you handle, mend with the past that brought the invasive vines. When you do that you will be unstoppable, you will see the truth." she promised.

She knew she can't change Aemond, no one can change the boy who is man becoming. What happened four years at Driftmark traumatized him, and it is what brought him to who he was now. Nevertheless, she will still stand by him and watch him transform on his own accord. That is the reason why Aemond can not help but love her. His Eudora, the keeper of his soul, holder of his heart – without her he will be lost.

Aemond, the one-eye prince has become a very quiet and angry child. Eudora, the realm jewel has become a wise and the anchor child of the family. They are two opposites that attract to each other.

Black and White.

Violet and Vermillion.

He snapped himself out of his thoughts, and focused back his attention on her. Aemond looked back down at the bouquet of Irises he held, making sure they were the ones she favored. Black Irises, her favorites.

This became a traditional exchange every time Eudora comes back from Dragonstone. She had spent a moon there having the joy of spending time with her family, whilst Aemond dreaded that whole entire month as he awaited for her to return. That was the longest she has gone away from Kings Landing, usually her travel is two weeks – no more longer than that.

When Aemond received news of her arrival, he put down everything that he was doing and ran toward the window where view the red keep, and from a distant he saw Jyrot's big figure concluding the prince that his princess had arrived and was sure she was making her way to the gardens, and he was right as he stood not far from where she laid.

As Aemond began to make his way his footsteps that pressed against the pebbles perk her ears up; her eyes abandoning the book that was laying across her lap. When she met eye contact with the one-eye prince, a smile immediately began to spread on her lips. "My Aemond."

My Aemond, oh how he treasure that name that glides from her tongue so smoothly. It made his heart hammer and when she brought herself close to now he felt her chest pressed against his own, he was afraid with how close she was she might've hear how his heart raced for her. She looked at the Irises that he held with both hands knowing it was a welcome gift for her, as she was finally home where she belonged. "My Eudora welcome home" was he said and smirked when he saw the blush blossoming her cheek. "I gift your favorite, black irises. I had made sure the gardeners to plant them from the direction of your chambers, so when you wake up on the morrow they will be the first sight you'll see from your window."

The princess was absolutely touched by Aemond's munificence, and gladly took the flower from his hand. "Aemond how considerate of you to do that; you know you didn't have to extend ways to do that for me," she said shyly as she took the flowers from his hands. "But like always, I thank you."

"For you... anything my love" he placed his hand on her cheek, and his thumb caress her soft features. "I have you missed you" he confessed, "a moon without you made the castle felt so empty, felt so dark without your light."  

"And I am now here" she reminded "do not fret my princeling as I assure you I will not abandon you. I can see from the bags under your eyes that you lack sleep. Oh my Aemond do you wish that I continue to remind you the importance of taking care of yourself" she tsked.

"I guess I need to be kept reminded," he smiled making Eudora roll her eyes at the boy, however, deep down Eudora does sometime grow concern for Aemond. Being by his side made her see how much he overworks himself, and she is always the one to remind him to take afternoon naps for his body to reset from the hours of training that consisted  of attentiveness and agility. Sometimes, she would wait outside his chambers when he was finished bathing and would get the queue that she was able to come inside. When she did, she would walk up to him and began to brush his hair while humming a lullaby. The two will then move to the bed where Aemond will have his head laid on her lap as she continue to comb her fingers through his hair to ease the tension that would flex. Oh how Aemond had miss her care that he had to depend on tea that the Maester brew to relax his body.

"Well then you can rest your head on my lap as we bath under the sun. I think this will calm your senses and blanket you to sleep. I read that the earth's perfume is quite grounding for the body.   I will comb through your hair while I tell you of my time spent in Dragonstone, I'm sure the topic of our nephews will drowse you to sleep" she joked making the prince to chuckle at that.

"Or we could head to my chambers where it just the two of us, or yours  either will work" he began to step closer having her to move back further, but stopped when her back was pressed against the bark. "I would rather us have the privacy in order for I to share how I've truly missed you. I want to feel your lips against mine again."

"Can you make your voice any louder my prince? I'm sure the ears of others will be delighted to hear your intentions and gossip" she hissed.

"And I'll let them" he challenged, "as it will be easier on my part to have all of Westeros know who holds your heart, and who holds mine."

Ah yes, another thing that began to blossom over the years, the secret relationship between Eudora and Aemond Targaryen. In a week, it will mark two years since they've been in a relationship and two moons till Eudora name day where Aemond would go up to his King father and Queen mother to ask for her hand. Of course over the time of them being intimate in the dark, never did Aemond take the girls virtue, but there wasn't a time where he did thought about it.

It started when Eudora was in the library alone, until Aegon made himself present making it now the both of them. What the two didn't know was that Aemond was also present as he was hiding behind the shelves where he saw how his brother tried to advance himself onto Eudora. The thought of another man, especially his brother, thinking that they had the privilege of placing their grimy hands against her delicate skin made him mad. Aemond over the years has grown quite cold since that time his nephews took his eye. But with the intense training and education, Aemond body and mind grew strong making him evaluate that he was the only one to be worthy of her, which is when he began to be possessive over Eudora.

When Eudora try talking to Aegon of keeping his distance and how inappropriate his intentions were, did Aemond came around the corner making his presence known. Aegon the eldest no longer had the upper hand as he grew quite intimidated of his little brother, especially the way Aemond towers Aegon height made him seem the eldest. When Aegon understood the message, did he left the library leaving only the two left.

Aemond checked to see if she was not in no ways harm, and kept asking her multiples questions that were left unanswered. He eventually stopped when he felt her hands rest against his cheek. The two looked at one another, and sense of calmness cascade through his body when he saw the peace into her eyes. "My Aemond" that name, oh how he loved the way she said. "Always my knight to rescue me from danger, how could I ever repay you?"

With a kiss, he thought or so he thought he did.

"With a kiss? I see... then I a kiss I grant you" and so she granted placing her plump lips against his own making him instinctively grasp her waist pulling her closer. Her hands that rested around his neck began to travel their way to underneath his hair, pulling it making him groan into the kiss.

Eudora was the one to pull away and she smirk when Aemond tried to press his lips onto hers again, but she jerked her head back preventing that to happen. Aemond eyes flutter open, his violet eyes meeting her vermillion ones. "Did that satisfy you my prince?"

"More than you know," he dipped his head making his nose brush hers. Eudora could see the questions beginning to pile in his head, and he wanted to ask her if she felt the same; she just waited for him to ask and where she can say yes.

Eudora has been having romantic feelings for her Aemond, ever since she was ten and two. Unlike Aemond, she knew how to bay her feelings for him, but there would be times where she will make it known in the most littlest ways; it astounded her though of how blind Aemond was as satirical that metaphorically sounds.

Aemond for her, was everything that she wanted.

Eudora for him, was everything he wanted.

When Aemond finally grew the guts to say the words, and hearing her being on the same page made his heart brighten with glee making it travel throughout his body. Eudora smiled at the boy smile that he gifted her. "You don't understand the relief that is soaring from my heart, my love" he said out of breath. "I have waited since I was ten and three to tell you how I truly felt, and hearing that you too feel the same; that your heart yearns to connect with mine, it has me make sure that no lords take your hand."

"And no lord will take it because I belong too you, as you belong to me. Till death do we part my Aemond," she assured, caressing his missing eye that is hidden behind the patch.

"Till death do we part..." I'll make sure death does not take you away.

News of the princess arrival travel it's way to Aegon who was making his way to the kitchen to get another bottle of wine. However, he came to a stop when he heard his mother calling out for him. Alicent with Haleana behind made her way to her son, and base off the look on her face made him dread that he was still sober knowing what will lead from this conversation.

Without another word coming from the Queen, she took her sons arm pulling him to wherever she was going. He looked behind to his sister who hands was intertwined in front of her, her head bowing down as he could see she was in some sort of trance. He roll his eyes at the thought of marrying her, and his stomach turn knowing he was going to have too... consummate with her.

Aegon does not hate his sister, he just doesn't want to do anything with her. She was the odd siblings and he didn't want to have kids with her believing that his children might be like their mother, making it even more of a headache to hear another voice speaking mad nonsense.

Aegon was hoping to be married off to rather Eudora, the realms jewel. Ever since they were children Aegon did not hide his infatuation toward her, in fact at every chance that he had he will try to steal a kiss; he always wonder how they would feel against his own. They seem so soft and fluffy, that he swore he may moan. Aside of that, Eudora is a woman that has ever man to be transfixed. It is a rarity to find beauty of someone inside and out, and seeing the care she gives to others, and surprisingly sometimes Aegon – made him want her even more.

He would find servant maids that had dark hair, and would blindfold them to help his delusional mind to think it was her he was fucking, and will easily moan out her name through his lips. The servants of course did not know how to close their mouths, as the gossip began to travel all the way to the Queens ear.

When Alicent figured out her sons transgression she never felt such vicarious embarrassment. She didn't hesitate to smack harder sense into Aegon. She seethe at her son repugnancy and began to make it known that if his father heard of this atrociousness, he would have his head irregardless if he was his son. He would strip him of his title giving it the more reason the council to not take Aegon seriously. Especially, if word went to Dragonstone of her son lascivious Alicent would be afraid that the rogue prince will not hesitate to take his head, and even more afraid that her dear husband wouldn't do nothing about it.

From there on, Alicent made it known that Aegon was no son of hers, but just a pawn that has she saved on the chess board where to can finally yell out 'check mate'.

As Alicent and her children enter her chambers, the two sat themselves down but sure they were at a distance. Alicent who was still standing looked at her children facial expression that read misery. She paused for a moment to gather herself, and eventually let out a breath to announce what she was going say, "I have you two here today because we need to plan your ceremony that will be taking place in three weeks. Since the announcing the two of you being betrothed, I and your grandsire could see that either never made the effort to spend quality time as a... couple. For the sake of reassuring the council, you two must present yourself as a strong couple who will one day rule the seven kingdom."

"I thought the quality time spent as children was enough bonding," Aegon said.

"Aegon please..." stress began to consume the Queen and the beginning of a headache. "Heedless of your credence, you and Haleana are to marry to strengthen claim to the Iron Throne."

"Then why not wed me to Eudora, she is of Targaryen blood what's the difference within that?" Aegon thought this to be sense. If he were to marry Eudora his claim will be strengthen due to their family be in the highest position of power, with Aegon and Eudora heirs also being full-blooded Targaryens making them legitimate. "Not only that, but she is the daughter of Maegor The Mighty making him known to be the most admirable of our family history. Me being married to Eudora will evidence that our future children will take those traits making us even more powerful and over trump Rhaenyra bastards children. None other than that, everyone is practically in love with her because she hold the perfect trait as Queen; think about it mother–" Aegon stands up as he made his way to his mother who eyes never waver from her son. He took both of her hands, gripping them to signal his emphasis. "Eudora and I will be pictured the perfect sovereigns. Marry me to Eudora and I will complain no longer. Marry me to her and I will change, please."

Before she was able to speak her thoughts, a voice interrupts ruining Aegon chance "I applaud of your ambition grandson, but that will not be allowed unfortunately," coming out from the shadows was the Hand, his grandsire and behind him was his brother who walked behind him.

"I'm glad that my grandson over here–" Otto paused as he turn to Aemond who kept staring at Aegon who was fuming from within. "–who spoke of this meeting that I was not inform about" he then looked at his Queen daughter who had her head bow, not wanting to meet the eyes of her father.

"I was just reminding them of the wedding that's not to far father."

"Yet by the look in your eyes I could see you were considering your eldest sons ideation. Nevertheless, the answer is no. Eudora is off limits according to the King, I apologize my grandchild but your father will deny your proposal – in fact he will not allow it. Trust me when I say that I have consider the notion to the King, but he has no intention of her being married as of now. According to his words, he would rather prefer her choose someone than being forced; similar to what he had done for Rhaenyra."

"Then I have time to sway her to like me, and if I can do that she will want to marry me. Her words hold power over the King, he will not deny her if he sees the love in her eyes" Aegon prevail. "Her name-day is what? two moons from now? That gives me enough time–"

"She will not even look your way brother" Aemond butted in. "and if you knew her well enough, you would've known that she has no intention in marrying at all as she has dreams to travel. So I am apologize to break it to you, but taking the princess hand is a lost cause."

"Then I will change her mind," Aemond eye began to twitch as he could see how sedulous his brother is becoming. Aemond wanted to laugh at his brother thinking he had a chance of scooping Eudora into his arms, when already she was in his and he has no intention of loosing his grasp. "And if her heart does not beat for me then I will just... bed her" and that is where he overstep the line.

"You dare!" Aemond spoke, but was cut off by his mother who grabbed the collar of Aegon shirt making him come eye-to-eye at the fire spitting off.

"Do you truly want to be put on your death bed Aegon? I'm being serious – are you out of your goddamn mind, dear sevens you will be dead once the guards will hear her screams. Viserys alongside Rhaenyra will burn you alive by the time you even have the chance to flee! In result, you as my son will have us ruined!" Alicent pushed him off of her as she wiped her hand harshly on her dress. "And I for one will not have you even touch Eudora, that girl has done nothing wrong but care for not only your brothers, but Haleana as well." Alicent couldn't believe the person in front of her was her son, and it made her think what she did wrong that made him turn out this way. "You will marry Haleana end of discussion." With that the Queen along with the Hand left the room as they had further themes to discuss.

Now it was the only the three Hightower-Targaryens left in their mothers room, none moving. Haleana began to pick at her skin causing her to bleed, eyes closing as she tried to soothe the voices that were beginning to grow louder and louder. Unfortunately, none of her brother noticed as they still stared at one another.

Aemond took a couple steps forward, now closer face-to-face toward his brother. "You will steer clear of Eudora, and if I hear that you place a single hand on her eyes regardless if it was friendly... I will take you by the neck and have you be Vhagar's meal."

"You wouldn't do that" Aegon cackled "or else you will be known not as the one-eye prince, but Aemond the Kinslayer; would you corrupt your image to that little brother?"

Aemond hummed processing the name, has a nice tune to it. "For her I will wear the name proudly – with honor" Aegon look into the depth of eye to see he was bluffing, he saw none. Usually Aegon would back away, but the anger rising inside him did not falter.

"You think you have a chance with Eudora brother" Aegon questioned with amusement. "You think the realm jewel will ever consider you? The second son, fourth child of King Viserys? Eudora is a gem and you... you are crippled." he laughed. "No amount of training will ever hide that because that right there" he pointed at the patch "is a reminder that you are nothing but worthy of her. You really think the kindness of her heat is genuine, are you sure it's not pity that she has for you? Like mother?" Before Aegon could further deepen the knife, Aemond grabbed him by the neck.

"You know know nothing of her heart" he seethed. "And you will never know because you as well brother are not worthy to have her, and to think you had the window of opportunity because you're the first son is satirical. You are a drunkard, disappointing prince and that is what you will always be."

Aemond marched his way to Eudora's chamber where he knew she was taking her afternoon nap or reading the book of herbal medicine she stole from the Maesters. When he turned the corner he saw Eudora's knight guarding the door, Ser Arron Petrovy. When the knight saw the one-eye prince and the urgency into his walk he didn't question him nor stop him from entering into her chambers unannounced.

Eudora pull herself away from the book, standing Aemond correct of his assumption. Eudora looked over his body language and immediately know that something, or rather someone had bothered to the core that he was irregular breathing.

She placed her book down by the table next to her, and made her way to the one-eye prince who's hands come to rest on her elbows pulling her in close where he could feel her breast plush against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she felt the tightness around them as if he was afraid she will be taken any moment. Aemond pressed his forehead against her own, cuddling further into her where he nose brush against her once again. Eudora hand began to stroke his cheek lovingly and traveled up to the cut. "What has you tense my love" she spoke.

"Just my brother" was all he said, not explaining further which she decided not to pry him out of which he felt grateful for. "I just needed to come here, I just... had to make sure you were here."

"We were literally laying in the garden for the past two hours my love" she chuckled. "And it's been barely an hour since we parted ways."

"I just need your warmth against my own once again" he said. "your lack of presence for the past moon was very much missed that I think I might sleep in your chambers once again."

"If that what you want then be my guess, I will not complain" she pulled their heads apart where she can meet his eye. "Besides, I think I will like to have you with me tonight. The past nights I haven been having... questionable dreams that I wake up every night confused."

"Your dreams has come back again? Why didn't you tell me or write to me?" He questioned.

"Well I didn't want to bother you, plus mother was there to aid me and she given me a tea that helped–"

"I would've flown out with Vhagar and take you back home if you were struggling; don't you remember what happened last time, you went through a seizure Eudora I thought... I thought I was going to loose you" he said perturbed. Eudora grew guilty as she began to see the worry in Aemond. He felt she didn't understand how much she meant to him, and he felt that him not being acknowledge about the issue made him assume that maybe she no longer needed him anymore. That maybe Aegon was right.

The anxiety begun to overcome him making the intrusive thoughts to invade him. Aegon voice was heard, then his bastard nephews and his father who did not want to spend dime with him. His mother voice calling out the maids to take Aemond as he could hear how she didn't want to be bothered by him. It was too much for him to handle that his legs began to give up on him making him fall on his knees.

Aemond for years felt like he was not needed. He was never needed by father nor his mother – not even his own sister. He felt he wasn't seen, he felt like a burden to everyone. He was only the second son, the fourth child of Viserys – what is he even needed for?

"Am I no longer needed?" He whispered.

"W-What? Aemond where is this comin – of course you are needed." Eudora began to panic as she could see that he was having another episode of anxiety. "Aemond look at me, what happened? What had Aegon tell you that is making you be this way. Aemond please, my love I worry for you... let me in" she begged.

"No... No I am a burden to you – I don't need your pity" he snapped.

"Aemond you are never a burden to me and what I give to you is not pity, but love. Aemond don't turn away from me – look at me" she grabbed his head forcing his eye to meet hers. "I see you Aemond Targaryen, I see you."

"You see me..." he was entranced by her voice.

"Yes, I see you" she gentle smiled. "You are seen, you are loved, you are worthy Aemond."

"I am?" He questioned.

"Yes my sweet, you are. You don't have to tell me what Aegon told you, you don't. Whatever it was don't let it consume you. Remember what I told you when we were little? People who are blinded by their insecurities would press them onto you to satisfy their ego, don't let their words trump you over my love. Don't let it."

Eudora fingers ran through his hair to comfort him. Her hands then traveled to his eye patch where she paused for a moment to ask him if it was okay, and when he nodded she took off his eye patch revealing the scar. He waited to see if she was going to back away by the scar that held a sapphire in his eye socket, but she didn't. Instead he saw the love in her eyes that never wavered.

"There would be people that will come into your life Aemond that would ravish to see you at your downfall. It will bring them pleasure knowing they have you by the neck where you are weak, and I tell you right now, don't let them. You may think yourself small, but I don't. I see a strong man who holds a sword that he dances so well with. The way he moves and the way he presents himself shows me how powerful of a character he is, that nothing and no one could ever stoop over his level.  However, I also see a lost man who tries too hard. Throughout your life Aemond you have train harder than anyone I've known. I see you screaming at them telling them you are worthy. I see that you try to be seen by those who barely glance your way. My love, don't be desperate; don't waste your time on those who barely even take a time out of their life to return the favor. You will never find what you want if you continue walking on this endless path. You must recognize yourself and reflect. You must meet yourself and mend. You must accept the ugly and the beauty of you.

Once you do that Aemond, others validations are insignificant. Their words are not even worth than your own." She pressed her hand against his heart, "Your heart and soul are the strongest armor you could ever have, and your mind is your sword. Use them. Accept who you are, don't let others rule over you, you are not their slave; you are in control of who you are and who you want to be... do you understand."

"I understand," he whispered. "Thank you."

"Promise me not to hide yourself when you're in pain, it's unfair that we laughed together but you cry alone."

"I promise. You are a gift Eudora, a rarity in this time that I am fortunate to be living in." Aemond continues to believe he has been saved by the angel in front of him, but Eudora did not save him she just found him. He needed to be found and appreciated for exactly who he was, and she doesn't mind if she had to look for him again in the dark. After all, he was the love of her life and someone with that title she will make sure of that.

"I have a gift for you" she said. She stood up from the ground made her way to her satchel where she takes a pouch. She made her way back and sat back herself down where she holds the pouch to him. "Take it."

Aemond obeys and opens the pouch. On the palm of his hand laid a ruby crystal. " I don't mind if you continue to put on the sapphire, but you have two options to choose for whatever occasion. The ruby was given to me from my father who given it to my mother. I thought I lost it and I remember crying to my father about it because we no longer matched. This whole entire time the my father had it put away" she giggled. "I guess he forgot to give it back to me."

"Why gift me something that is so precious to you?" he questioned.

"Because I already have this" she told him as she held the ruby necklace that's wrapped around her neck. "thanks to uncle daemon, he given me my fathers ruby as a token that means so much because it wraps all of my father memories. This necklace alone is precious to me. This ruby was original gifted from our grandmother who given to my father. She told him that to give this ruby only to someone you care deeply, so he given it to my mother. But when my mother passed away, he knew there is no other person he could hand this necklace to other than me because I was his last love. Similiar to what grandmother told him, he told it to me: give it to someone you care deeply about, the person who you love the most. So I thought of you."

"You love me?"

"Yes Aemond, I do."

Aemond looked back down at the ruby and he swore he saw a glint of light speck out of it. Aemond took off the sapphire from the socket of his eye, and place into the pouch that the ruby was once in. Aemond looked back at Eudora who watched him with gentle eyes, he brought the ruby to her "can you do the honors" he asked. With gentle fingers, Eudora placed the ruby into the socket of his eye, "How do I look?"

"Handsome like you always do" she said. "Now we match."

"I love you too," Aemond said. "With all of my heart."

Aemond brought her close to him and captured her lips. She sat on his lap and her arms wrapped around his neck. Aemond brought herself closer and tighten his grasp around her. When the two broke apart, Aemond nuzzled his head into the pocket of her neck as he inhaled her scent bringing him to a peaceful state.

The sapphire gifted by his mother was no longer going to be put back on, Aemond decided that he will have it put in a place somewhere in his room. He had something better and more meaningful that was gifted to the one wrapped in his arm.

His Eudora.

NEXT: CHAPTER FIVE

——————————-

TQOHH taglist:

@jugheadisaweirdo​, @caspianobsessed,

@xcharlottemikaelsonx, @zgzgzh​,

@sawendel​, @mariaelizabeth21-blog1​

[princessasmosprincess]

Mermaid Splash

Chapter 2

Summary: Obey Me! Fairy tale au. A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.

Pairing: Asmodeus × GN MC

Warnings: Mild blood.

***

Author's Note: This chapter probably has the most direct references to the original fairy tale. A few of the Wizard's lines are pulled directly from the text.

***

The next evening Asmo asked Levi and Beel to help him move the remains of your boat to shore. He told them the fish and octopuses on the reef had been complaining that they couldn't return to their favorite nesting spots.

There were no signs of you or any other humans on the shore. He looked up at the lights of the castle and the village nearby and he hoped he would see you again.

The following night was stormy, but Asmo told his brothers he wasn't feeling well enough to sing to the passing ships. He laid in his sea bed, his thoughts constantly drifting to you.

By the third evening he couldn't take it anymore.

“What if there was a human who was immune to our song?” He asked as the seven brothers took their dinner.

“Impossible,” said Lucifer.

“It’s certainly not a situation that's ever come up in any book I've read.” said Satan.

The others agreed.

Asmo bristled. “None of you have been around since the beginning of time, it could have happened at least once.”

“If it has,” Lucifer said. “I know nothing of it.”

“Only the King of the Sea would be old enough to know if it ever happened,” said Mammon. “Or the Old Wizard.”

“The Old Wizard?” Asmo asked.

“He’s as old as the Sea King, maybe older.” Mammon played with one of the many necklaces he wore. “They say he was once human, but he gave his life up for the sea. They say he can’t die.”

“If he gave his life up for the sea, how is it that he can’t die?” Satan asked, skeptical.

“I heard he can grant any wish.” Levi said. “He lives in a cave just outside the kingdom, it’s hidden by a shipwre–”

“That is enough!” Lucifer stopped him. “It is forbidden to speak of the Old Wizard of the Sea. We do not speak of those who have been cast out of the kingdom. And we do not leave the kingdom without express permission from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The brothers went silent.

“Let us take solace that in our lifetime no human has been immune to our song.” said Lucifer. He turned to his younger brother. “Asmo, you may ask the Sea King your question on the day that he wakes.”

No one in the kingdom knew the day the Sea King would wake. Not even his son, the Crown Prince. The King had been sleeping for well over a hundred years and he could sleep for a hundred more. Maybe a thousand. Merpeople were gifted with longer lifetimes than that of humans, but even so Asmo didn't think he could wait that long for an answer.

Asmo stayed home that night, once again tossing and turning in his sea bed. He longed to be in the sun. He longed to be with you.

He was half tempted to ask Satan or Belphie to accompany him at the surface and sing to you. Maybe a second voice harmonizing with his could charm you. Both of them would be willing to defy Lucifer. Asmo just didn't want to be responsible for either of them getting in trouble.

He turned on his side. Then there was the matter of the Old Sea Wizard. If he truly did have an answer it wouldn't hurt to ask him. And if he could grant a wish that would be even better. Asmo just had to make sure Lucifer didn't find out. He decided to leave while his brothers were out.

Being a prince of the sea, Asmo knew the route of the kingdom guards, which sections of the gate were the most protected. It was so simple to slip past a lone guard who had fallen asleep at his post.

Asmo circled the outside of the kingdom walls, darting behind rocks and patches of seaweed so as to not be spotted by diligent guards keeping an eye out for wayward merpeople.

Asmo began to lose faith that he'd find the Wizard’s cave after a while. He was tired of swimming, he should have stayed home and slept. He was about to turn back when he spotted a shipwreck. Could this be the one that hid the Old Wizard’s cave?

He pushed past the rubble, swimming through what had once been a window on the stern of the ship. The cave was quite dark, but Asmo could see in the dark so he was able to navigate it. The cave twisted and turned, Asmo went deeper. Soon he saw a dim light above him. He swam for it.

Asmo surfaced in an air pocket of the cave. There was light here but there was no sky or stars.

“Welcome, my child.” said the Old Wizard of the sea. “I am the Great Wizard Solomon.”

The Old Wizard didn't look so old. He looked no older than Asmo or any of his brothers. His silver hair was the only thing that gave away his aged state.

Asmo saw that the air pocket formed a little room with a stone floor. Stalagmites were set with hundreds of candles that cast a dim yellow light about the room. The Old Wizard sat on a carved wooden chair at the side of a cauldron that took up the middle of the room. He had taken the form of a human.

The Old Wizard gave a little cough, “Ahem.”

“I- I am Asmodeus, Fifth Prince of the Sea.” He recited his full title.

“Yes I know who you are, child.”

Asmo gave a nervous smile. “I have a question.”

“You have a question?” The Wizard’s tone was patronizing.

“Yes, I wanted to know what would happen if there was ever a human who was immune to the song of merpeople, oh Great Wizard Solomon of the Sea.” said Asmo with his head bowed.

The Wizard was pleased with Asmo’s reverence. “You may call me Wizard Solomon.”

“Oh,” said Asmo, surprised at the Wizard's friendliness. “Thank you Wizard Solomon.”

“Now about your question…” Wizard Solomon tapped his chin with one finger. “I will admit that I do not know of any humans being immune to the song of merpeople. I doubt there are any in existence.”

Asmo knew this was untrue but he wouldn't dare defy the Great Wizard Solomon. So you were the only one. This only made Asmo want you more.

“Thank you oh Great-” Asmo corrected himself. “Oh Wizard Solomon.” He bowed again to the Wizard, ready to leave the eccentric man's cave.

“That is not all, I presume,” Wizard Solomon stared deeply into Asmo’s eyes. “You, dear little prince, have a wish.”

“I-”

“There is no use denying it, Asmodeus.”

Asmo swallowed awkwardly. “I do have a wish.” He admitted. “I wish to bask in the sun and walk on land with the humans.”

Wizard Solomon laughed, “And not just any human, your human. The one who is supposedly immune to your voice.”

“How did you-”

“I know what you want,” said Wizard Solomon. “It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty prince.”

Asmo wrapped his arms around himself, unsure. “So you can grant my wish?”

“You are lucky I can switch between land and sea myself. I can grant your wish,” he said. “I can make a potion to split your tail in two and shrink into human legs. You will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw.”

“I would like that very much.” Asmo smiled.

“You do understand if you forsake the sea, the kingdom will forsake you.” said the Wizard.

Asmo nodded gravely. He knew this was a betrayal of the Crown Prince and the kingdom.

“And of course I will require payment.” Said Wizard Solomon.

Asmo took off six of the pearl necklaces he was wearing. He reluctantly went to remove the seventh and smallest necklace when Wizard Solomon stopped him.

“Keep it to remind you of your loss,” he said. “I will take the others but you must know I need so much more to work this spell. Something dear to you.”

“Something dear?”

“Your voice, perhaps?” the Wizard suggested.

“My voice? But-”

The wizard cut him off. “Does your voice work on this human?”

“No.”

“Then what use do you have for it?”

Asmo thought for a moment. “I wouldn't be able to talk to them without it.”

“There are other ways to communicate,” said Wizard Solomon. “Everyone knows you are the most beautiful creature under the sea.”

Asmo preened at this flattery. What he’d said was true, mermaids and mermen from all over the kingdom fell for him on his looks alone. And from the illustrations in Satan’s books, he might surpass the beauty of most humans.

“You will still have your beautiful form, your graceful walk, and your expressive eyes; surely with these you can enchain a human’s heart.”

The Wizard made a good point. You were the human he wanted, and if he could not use his voice to charm you he could afford to lose it.

“I will do it.” Asmo said.

“Now, the terms for our agreement, our pact, shall we say, are thus: you will have thirty days to win the heart of your human. The spell will become permanent and you will get to keep the beautiful legs I give you if you accomplish this.”

As the Wizard spoke, Asmo became more and more excited to have legs of his own.

“But,” the Wizard continued. “In that time if the human chooses to give their heart to another, on the dawn of the thirty-first day you will turn into seafoam and die. You are aware that merpeople don’t have eternal souls like humans do.”

Asmo nodded.

“Is this still what you want to do?”

Asmo considered it before giving his answer. “I do.”

“Very well then.” The Wizard scooped up the six pearl necklaces and put all but one aside. He set a little fire underneath the cauldron, it burned bright gold. He rummaged through the shelves lining the wall, gathering all sorts of vials. He poured the contents of the vials in the cauldron. He snapped the string of the necklace he was still holding and let the pearls fall into the potion. The Wizard then took a knife and sliced his palm, letting the blood drip into the cauldron. It began to boil and flash with light.

Asmo was entranced watching as the Wizard’s spell took shape. Wizard Solomon gestured for him to come forward. He lifted himself by his arms onto the stone floor, his entire body, tail and all, out of the water.

“I need you to sing for me, Asmodeus.” said the Wizard.

Asmo chose his most beautiful song and sang with his whole heart. His voice echoed throughout the little room. There was such passion in his voice.

“Very nice.” said the Wizard. “A fitting voice for a jewel of the sea.”

Wizard Solomon held a nautilus shell in his hands, reciting an elaborate incantation.

The wizard’s magic reached deep into Asmo’s throat, drawing out his voice. He was losing control of the melody as his voice in the form of a glowing bubble was torn from his mouth as he sang. It was painful, it felt like a part of his heart was being ripped away, but he kept his mind on his new legs and the prospect of winning your heart.

The Wizard Solomon simpered, maintaining eye contact with Asmo as he threw the nautilus shell into the cauldron. All the while he continued to recite the incantation, the words coming faster and faster.

When he was finished, the wizard poured the potion into a vial. It was clear like the purest water.

“Drink, dear prince.” said the Wizard.

Asmo took the vial and downed the potion in one swallow. His entire body warmed, almost to burning.

It felt as if a sword was ripping through his tail. He writhed in pain on the stone floor. If he could have screamed he would have. At some point Asmo fainted from the pain. When he awoke his tail was gone and in its place were two perfect human legs. Breathing felt different now. Asmo also noticed that his vision was much dimmer than before, he could barely see the Wizard by the light of the candles.

“It is finished,” said the Wizard. He used his magic to call upon a sea creature. An eel swam up to the side of the stone floor.

“Take a deep breath and grab onto the tail of this eel, he will bring you to the surface. From then you will be on your own.”

His head still reeling with pain, Asmo nodded, his fingers closing around the eel's tail.

“Remember, you have thirty days,” said Wizard Solomon. “Good luck.” It was a sincere statement, more so than anything the Wizard had said that night.

Asmo took a deep, shaky breath and the eel took off, dragging him back into the water and racing for the surface.

The eel wound through the Wizard’s cave with great speed. Asmo was blind in the dark water, his eyes stinging from the salt. The pressure and lack of air was getting to him, he felt dizzy.

Asmo gasped for air as he breached the surface. The moon was high in the sky, peeking through the clouds. There was still a storm churning the waters. He got one glimpse at the stars before the current dragged at him Asmo was not used to how his legs worked, try as he might, he floundered in the water. It pulled him under.

***

Cross-posted on AO3