#I knew that he as a defender of pure and true love would do everything for Yuji and Megumi to meet

[phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess]

Okay but consider this...

Lillith did not, in fact, order Alastor to go to the hotel or protect Charlie (per say)

In fact, she might have slapped the exact opposite order on the deer, because she knew what a nightmare he could be.

It would be inifinitely more fun to have her reveal that when she drops in for a visit.

"So you sent Alastor here to protect me?"

"My dear, I told him explicitly not to fucking come here in order to protect you. But he's a wilful bastard and I should have known better." Lillith sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"So why did you come here?"

"Why, pure spite and a desire for entertainment my dear. Why not?"

"...if that's true, why didn't you ask for my soul in our deal? I... would hope my mother would trade it for your own."

"She may have, she may not have. She could just force me to release it to her too, you know that's in her power."

"That didn't answer my question..."

Lillith laughs, "Darling, I think you actually endeared yourself to the Overlord when you fought that horrid mantis woman on television. He genuinely enjoys that level of chaos... and the fact he remained against my many subtle attempts to have him leave, means perhaps the stubborn deer might actually like you."

"Preposterous, it's mere entertainment..."

"Like Rosie? Like Vox? Are they entertainment? You let her hug you and didn't even try to bite Charlie once. Oh don't get steamed, deer, I'm just yanking your tail... it's not a bad thing to care for someone. And my-... Our darling daughter..." here she winked, having scryed the initial song battle between Alastor and Lucifer, grinning widely. The two were so similar when it came to theatricality, and yet, so different in terms of everything else. "here is just the sort of creature that no one but the bleakest of fools could fail to care for."

"...how dare you imply I have any emotions, you wretched diva." The tone was mock offence and joviality, and only Lillith's echoing laughter stopped Lucifer from defending her majesty's honour.

"Oh, you do, and I'm sure you're quite fawn'd of Charlotte, you antagonistic anachronistic ancient artifact." She bounces back, airily.

"Ho, I know one should never ask a lady her age, but I don't think there's a number high enough for you to provide in answer."

"I missed these little banter sessions, Bambi, it got quite boring without someone mocking my every waking moment."

"And your husband is a poor substitute for your cruel wit, Siren, and yet... we made do with what we had. Now, how are you here? I thought Adam's little nonsense kept you pinned in place?"

"I believe Niffty took the pest out on my behalf and snapped the threads binding me there. Do get her something pretty from Rosie's and put it on my account, I know the demonic doll will adore anything from her boutique."

"Hello, can I get a word in edgewise?" Lucifer has this too-cheerful grin on his face, waving his hand like an eager student aiming for the attention of the teacher. "Hi, your husband, hello. Quick question, what the fuck are you talking about? How do you know the bellhop? How is Adam involved in any of this? And again, what the FUCK is going on here?"

"Oh... did I not say, my love?" Lillith coos, a trembling note that she knew angels used between one another to help settle ffrazzled nerves. It was always a delightful amusement to see Lucifer's ruffled feathers settle. Intriguingly, the little ex-orcist does to, and then looks confused about it. "Why, I was trapped in Heaven with my boorish first fool of a 'husband', to prevent more 'rebellion nonsense'. I had to make a rather clever deal to help Alastor get back to Hell, and I technically own his soul... but we've been friends for decades, dear. You've met twice..."

Ah, that might be why Alucard was so pissed to be dismissed, Lucifer realises. Wouldn't be the first time he'd forgotten a face.

"Charlie was abooooout ten at the time, in terms of age, my dove..." Lillith prompts. "The television sinner was there too? Do you recall that?"

"...no. But a lot of those decades were a foggy mess." Lucifer admits, trying to work out how he forgot a guy with a tv for a head. Wait, he remembered the guy with a tv for a head. "Did the television have a yellow sweater on and I kept subtly asking how the fuck he managed to get it on given the neckhole didn't seem that stretchy?"

Audience applause played from the air. "That's the one. The secret was, of course, velcro down the back. He'll say he used his powers to put it on, but he didn't have that ability back then." Alastor explains. "I do believe it was a vaguely productive meeting, even if you were only physically present, your Lowness. Why, I recall we'd taught deer Charlotte at least four new swear words by the time we left..."

Charlie, whose eyes were wide as she Recalled Something, felt her mouth fall open. "Oooooh, so you're the ones who taught me to say [very long and complicated series of words that seem to be sending Lucifer into a state of rage as yet unattainable to sinners with every syllable]... right? I said that to dad when he told me it was bathtime and I didn't want to, and he had to go set something on fire before he came back to talk about 'good words and bad words'."

Vaggie looked horrified, and snapped a glare at the radio demon.

Alastor's grin was WIDER than it should be possible to get. "Are you telling me, my dear Charlotte, was that his Majesty's tantrum was the reason that half of pentagram city was burned to the ground shortly after we left that day? Oho, that's just... delicious."

"Well I shouldn't have said it..." Charlie agonised, "I'm sorry Dad. I mean, it was a while ago,but..."

"Oh, you're not to blame Char-Char... this fucker is." Lucifer launches for Alastor, whose tendrils are manifesting... and then a startled bleat escapes as Lillith yanks him practically into her lap by the collar.

"Hold, Luci, there was no harm done in the long run. And you know I found it hilarious, in the aftermath." Lillith waves it off. She turns to the Overlord trying to right himself. "And you, you terrible influence, I do hope you haven't taught our darling anything worse while I was away?"

Charlie, caught back on the bleat sound, is watching on with stars in her eyes. She blinks. "What? No, he hasn't... well, unless you count [a strange warbling static came out of her mouth as her lips moved in what seemed like words]?"

Alastor's ears went flat in shock. "I promise you I didn't teach her that... I had no idea she could even hear that frequency, nuch less verbalise it!"

"I heard you tell Vox he should-..."

"DO NOT REPEAT THAT!" Alastor just about begged as static spilled about the room. "Do you WANT your parents to reduce me to atoms?"

Charlie blinked. "No? It was a pretty creative threat, but it wasn't that bad..."

Lucifer was pulling at a mental thread from the conversation. "Hold on, can we back up to the part where the deer was in Heaven...? How did that happen?"

Angry static filled the room until it was oppressive. Vaggie clutched at Charlie's arm whilst also putting herself between Charlie and the Overlord.

"Enough of that..." Lillith murmured and tugged at an antler. She received an indignant noise that Alastor wouldn't ever admit to with a gun to his head. "They were going to find out eventually you overdramatic cervine... might as well out with it."

The ears pinned flat. "No."

"Fine, I will... this canibalistic mass-murdering psychopath somehow got accidentally redeemed whilst fending off angels during an extermination. I strongly suspect it was because, even though they had just been fighting to the death, he still put himself in the way of those who would have killed Vox..."

Charlie was flickering between shock, anger, confusion and something that looked like it wanted to be weepy and affectionate. Hopefully she didn't settle for the latter because Lillith and Lucifer would have to pin the deer in place to avoid Alastor throwing himself out a window to avoid the whole mess.

"You... you knew it was possible... and you didn't TELL ME?!" Charlie yelled, settling on Anger.

Alastor grins, "Well, you never directly asked, did you?"

Charlie steamed, then pivoted in the old Charlie Fashion (TM) to joyful. "It's possible?!"

Lillith also adds, "From what I have heard around Heaven, it may not have been the first time... they just keep it quiet. And... well, if someone gets up there who starts doing things like, say, eating Cherubs because they were furious they were trapped there... they usually just killed them off. Unless, of course, they had the Queen of Hell there who could convince them to try another way."

"You ate CHERUBS?! They're like CHILDREN?" Lucifer is aghast.

"They are infuriatingly too-positive little nightmares with no common sense or ability to accept anyone else's viewpoint. Yes. they were delicious."

"...well, okay they're a bit of an experience but eating them?!"

"Most of them are centuries older than myself, they had enough time to learn to back off. I warned them, they persisted, I got to try angelic veal..."

Vaggie looked like she wanted to throw up. "Don't. ever. say that phrase again."

"What, angelic ve-...?"

"You stop taunting my future daughter in law or I order you to let them pet your tail." Lillith warns. It's an empty threat, she was a major proponent of bodily autonomy (anyone who'd been trapped with Adam would be) but Alastor didn't need to know that.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"I would. Now, shall I continue? Lovely. We made a deal, with Adam cosigning because I was under his contract, to allow Alastor to return to Hell as a Sinner... with a few rules that the oaf created. Particularly the one around not raising an army against Heaven, and some poorly worded nonsense about not sharing the secrets of angelic steel and implying he should not be 'fucked with' which we took to assume meant no fighting the fool. Because he certainly made passes at both of us."

Lillith's mouth turned down in distaste. Alastor looked like HE was going to be sick.

Lucifer's expression flickered demonic. "If he wasn't dead, I'd kill him again..." After everything Lillith went through in the Garden, to be trapped with a man who could never learn from his mistakes, was blind to making them. Revolting.

"Didn't want to take the Dickmaster for a spin, Bambi?" he snipes, distracting himself with the casual patter of argumentation with the overlord.

"Why, your majesty, I was busy with your wife... although comparatively, I do have good time management skills, I suppose I COULD have managed if I tried..."

"You did WHAT?!"

Lillith was trying so hard to keep a straight face as she threw a pseudo seductive expression at Alastor. "Oh darling, he's not ready to know about that..." she purrs. She sees her husband attain an almost orange colouring. "We're joking, dear... I promise."

"Dad? Try counting to te-... fifty-seven." Charlie intervenes.

"One, two-... wait, why 57?" he says, colour settling again.

"Because the number was so unusual you'd get curious about it and drop out of your funk to ask."

"...you really are so clever, Char-Char, we really made something amazing when we created you."

"Daaaaaaaaaaad, please... not in front of Vaggie." she flushes.

"Unclench, your Lowness, your wife is aesthetically pleasing but we are but friends." Alastor shrugged.

"Because you liked Vox, right?" Lucifer was awarding himself a mental medal because he REMEMBERED bits of the conversation. Wasn't that sad?

Alastor snarled. "Hardly." Oooh, that seemed like a sore spot. Time to press.

"Didn't like you back, huh? Fair. I can't fucking stand you, and-..."

"Lucifer, leave it." Lillith said. It wasn't harsh or sharp, but it conveyed that she knew something about why the Overlord's expression had fallen behind that smile, even as he forced whatever emotion that meant back into a box and reasserted the mask. "It's complicated, and now is not the time for that conversation. Suffice to say, no one slept with Adam outside of his exorcists, but I did manage to get Alastor back to Hell as swiftly as I could in order to have him covertly assisting Charlie."

"How? If you wouldn't let him at the hotel, then how does that help?"

"Destabilise the Overlords, be more lenient about the souls on his chains trying out the hotel, spread information about the place in a covert manner that wouldn't get a target on you, so many underhanded things my dear. Though, I am glad he disobeyed... I hadn't realised how little you understood of management and staffing."

"Heh, yeah... it was the best we had."

"Charlotte, you could have ordered palace staff to come and help at the hotel, you were always too kind."

"Oh, I dismissed them when you left with Charlie..." Lucifer adds, sheepishly.

"It seems there is a lot I need to do in the interim, then." Lillith sighed. "Alastor, would you be open to helping me manage these tasks, even without the deal in place?"

"...I kept the last hotel together with magical duct tape and elbow grease, it's a matter of pride now to continue in the role." Alastor shrugs, as if unconcerned. The collar shatters with a snap of elegant pale fingers. "Thank you... now, what was it you needed seen to? I will need to schedule in a few hours to go and tear the Vees limb from limb, but outside of that, my calendar's quite open."

"Wait, we need to discuss everything we just learned! I have questions!"

"Later, Charlotte. Now is the time for action..." Alastor replies, radio dial eyes flaring, already planning on how he would prepare the Vees for dinner.

"How dare you talk to our daughter that way, Alastor, deer?" Lillith teases, tugging at his ear and laughing as he snaps his teeth at her fingers. "Oh, don't fight in front of Charlotte, she'll end up with a complex or something..."

"On top of her glaring daddy issues you mean?"

Alastor doesn't like the way Lucifer's expression goes from furious to cold, cruel delight in a heartbeat. "Well, it's on you to fix now as well, bellhop... seeing as you claimed her too. So, how about some..." the world seemed o slow down like a horror movie, "Family... therapy...?"

"...If you'll excuse me, I'm going to beg Vox to kill me."

Charlie leaps for him, "No, he's kidding!"

"So am I, Charlotte... do take a breath. Your parents are apparently comedians this afternoon, and I think we'd all best steer clear of them until whatever madness has swept over them, passes. Now, would you like to come and watch me dismember an overlord? You and Vagathat could even tag-team Velvette if you wished..."

Vaggie looks like she might pass out.

His ears flatten. "Ah, I believe I hit another slang term and I'm not going to like what it really means... am I?"

Lucifer curls half his wings around the Overlord, as one might companionably sling an arm over their shoulder if they were at comparable heights. Clearly having decided that he can torment the other better if he REALLY leans into this madness between them all.

He steers the deer towards the corridor as Lillith follows behind, unwilling to miss the fuss.

"Well, you're gonna love this, Al... husbando nuero uno, honey, deerly beloved, blood moon of our life..." Laying it on thick, but Al looked ready to claw his own ears off with each passing endearment. "...but tag-teaming used to mean fighting in tandem, and now it means-..."

The door clicks shut, but seconds later every radio in the c=vinciity blasts an air raid siren and something that sounds mysteriously like a clown falling down the stairs.

Charlie counts to ten, breathing hard.

"What the fuck is my life...?" she whispers.

Vaggie consoles her as best she can, tossing up if Charlie outweighed the insanity of her family enough to propose. She blanches, momentarily, imagining having to ask Lucifer and Lillith and Alastor's permission, before catching herself.

Sure just the first two, right?

Right?

But then she recalled the look in the royal couple's eye, and their infamous penchant for committing to the bit... and resigned herself to like, dragging a sinner home and offering it to the deer for his blessing. Or something insane like that.

"No matter what, I love you, Charlie..." she murmurs externally. "Let's go take a walk in the garden to calm down, okay?"

"...yeah, I could use fresh air after all this."

There'd be so much to talk about later, so much to ask... but for now?

Charlie needed cuddles and connection.

And, based on the sounds downstairs, someone needed a first aid kit or a priest... so they'd be taken the back staircase to avoid all that. The smoke alarms began to blare.

Vaggie tugged Charlie away from the choas just a little faster.

----------

no idea where this was going, it spiralled on me

it could be funny tho

[k-martins]

// Spoiler cap 249

YUJI ENTERED THE DOMAIN OF YUTA, WHICH IS CALLED PURE AND MUTUAL LOVE, TO SAVE HIS SLEEPING PRINCESS MEGUMI FUSHIGURO!!!!!

ITAFUSHI NATION WE ARE BACK!!!!!

[anaconamor]

love - jude bellingham x reader.

— small blurb (or scenario from my head) that i thought of to write this! 🤍😌

the wedding was wonderful. filled with many laughters and tears, everyone rejoicing, drinking, talking, or dancing. like how jude and you are, your bodies cling together as they swayed side to side. the sea breeze and smell reminding you of the beautiful paradise you got to travel to with your boyfriend.

when you met jude for the first time he had no clue how to dance, yet he’s still learning but right now you didn’t care, all you could feel was the warmth and safety in his embrace. his hands rested just above your bum, while yours were wrapped around his shoulders.

his head was rested gently on your temple, yours the same, just whispers of how happy the two of you were and stuff you wanted to do here on the island. but when it did get quiet, all you could hear was the commotion of people and your heart beginning to race faster. “you know… today has me thinking of something…”

your head pulled back to face him, his eyes filled with love and pure adoration as he looked into you. “yeah? and what is that?” you ask, your hand coming up to the nape of his neck to draw small shapes. “how badly i want this with you. a wedding. you and me married one day…” jude reveals, his face going from soft to serious in matter of seconds.

you intake a breath of air, the room becoming hot all of the sudden at his confession. one of his hand comes to your face where he tucked back a piece of hair behind your ear, being careful with your earrings, then holding your cheek as he continued to speak. “i love you, y/n… so much. i want to do everything with you…”

as your bodies continued to sway and danced to the music, you stayed put and came to a halt, tippy toeing to hug him tighter. you’d been together for a few months but never said the three words. there was times when you’d be on the phone, saying goodbye, when watching movies, or when you woke up from your sleep you almost said the words. when he visited your parents for the first time and the two of you were left alone by the bonfire.

love. the word love continued to replay in your head as you kissed his neck, jaw, cheek, his nose and then finally his plump lips. the two of you smiled into the kiss, teeth clashing as you kissed him a bit harder before pulling away. you held his face with both hands as his returned back to their place on your hips.

“i love you jude. i always have and always will.”

“i was so scared you’d say it, because i wanted to say it first,” he says making you giggle as you lean in to peck his lips once more. “i’m just so grateful to have found someone like you. you’re special and truly one of a kind, and i can’t help but feel to lucky to have a strong beautiful woman who isn’t afraid to follow me while i chase my dreams…”

“if anything im the lucky one… jude you’re my best friend, and if one thing is for sure, is that i’ll never stop following you as long as your happy and content,” you say, your bodies going side to side as you return to dance.

���but jude… if you want to get married one day, we have to work on your dance skills pretty boy,” you tease, jude gasping acting offended. “ma’am i’ll have you know my dancing skills are wonderful and unique,” jude defends himself with a joking smile plastered on his face.

“whatever you say…” you laughed, your forehead resting together as you continued to sway. it didn’t feel real, but when you felt him kiss your forehead and bridge of your nose you knew it wasn’t a dream or fairytale.

one day it’d be a different place and time. the dream of the both of you being married one day would become true. filled with many tears and laughter, but most importantly, love.

[ottosinventory]

As you've likely seen by now, I've been reblogging nearly every Hazbin fic you have, which I apologize if that bothers you at all. I simply see a lack of the x male reader department for this show, which is ironic considering mostly all the characters are queer and so are the creators. So thank you for what you write and how well you write it! I was hoping I could make a request for a part two of a fic I rather liked "(Vox x bar tander!Male reader)" this one specifically. The reader left off having their soul contract bought and offered to be a bartender at the Vee's private bar, and I was wondering what would happen from there?

HIIIIII

THANK YOU FOR THE REQUEST

Im really sorry it took so long😭

Also THANK YOU SO MUCH for the reblogs is doesn't bother me at all IM SO HAPPY YOU LIKE MY WRITING💗💗

I HOPE YOU LIKE IT, I THINK IT TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD😌

ENJOY READING LOVELY PEOPLE

Warnings: Attempted Rape, violance V@lentino

Habit of saving

as a thank you pt.2

Vox x bartender!male reader

"I just dont fucking understand why the fuck you prefer the company of a lowly bartender over mine"

You hear Valentino's yelling from the other room, again.

This was not uncommon. Since you became the bartender in the Vees manor Vox visited the bar more often than before.

You guys spent hours talking and just because of the drinks either, he barely drunk anything cuz he was busy talking to you.

However, this of course annoyed Valentino. He wanted Vox's attention purely on himself.

"I don't." Said Vox, you know, like a lier.

"Work has just been really stressful lately and I need more drinks than before."

This was all lies. But Vox was not in the mood to be taking Valentino's shit, he would much rather go get a drink with you.

"Bullshit, I know how your work is and you blame everything on it, you dont even want to fuck me anymore are you a fucking moron do you know how many people want to get with ME."

And here he goes again. Vox was a little embarrassed though. It was true that since you arrived he was never in the mood to do it with Val, but he found himself having much more sex dreams with you.

He got red at the thought of that.

"You know what, I don't fucking care, go be happy with your boy toy; but don't you dare forget that you are where you are because of me." Ended the Argument Valentino as he grabbed a bottle from above your head, and walked out of the room.

You were silent during the whole argument. You knew it was not smart to start defending Vox you tried that once and, well, Vox had to stich you up afterwards.

"Care for a drink, sir?" You asked Vox. He was still, just standing in the middle of the room looking at the door.

He felt weird. Well, not weird, happy. But that was strange. Usually he felt guilty or annoyed when Valentino stormed off after a fight, usually he wanted to go after him. But not now. Now he felt...calm. Relieved even. He really wanted to sit down and have that drink with you.

"Yes, I would love a drink, and I've told you multiple times to call me Vox."

"Yeah I know but I didn't want to risk Val still hearing it." You chuckled.

"So, the usual, Vox?"

"Obviously." He answered back.

"Are you ok?" You asked as you poured his drink. You two were close enough for this not to be an awkward question. You were the bartender, you have comforted him after a night of drunken crying and put him to bed multiple times. He always asked you to stay. You never did. You just didn't feel ready yet.

"Getting better by the day, his antics don't affect me as strongly anymore." He commented calmly.

"I'm glad." You gave him his drink and you two continued talking.

And you talked, long into the night. Vox got a bit drunk again.

"All right mister I think it's time to get you to bed." You said smiling softly as you were about to jump from behind the bar and help him to his room.

"I can take care of him." Came a creepy calm voice from the door way. You saw Valentino.

He had a fake smile on his face. You knew this was trouble but he was kind of your boss.

"All right, sir." You just answered quietly, as Val took Vox and started to take him to his room.

"What-no, you-- (Y/N)--I, don't"

Vox mumbled drunken.

When they left the room you had a silent debate with yourself.

Yes Val was your boss. But you knew that taking advantage of someone while they're drunk was not below him.

"Fuck it" you mumbled to yourself as you jumped from behind the bar and tried to quietly run after them.

Thankfully you found them when they were about to enter the room.

When they got in you made sure to put your foot between the door and the frame so it doesn't close.

You peered into the room and you saw Val throw Vox onto the bed.

"You fucking whore, you couldn't keep your hands of the cute bartender boy could you."

He started angrily as he stepped onto Vox's screen, breaking it. You already wanted to barge in there when you saw this but when he started unbuckling his belt, thats when you snapped.

You jumped on Val, literally. And while the man might be powerful he had close to no muscles so he crumbled under you.

You knew you had close to no chance of winning. But you didn't care. You had to save Vox.

You tried to cut off Val's breathing by holding onto his neck for dear life. You might have been physically stronger he was still an overlord. A very powerful one.

You expected to be thrown down onto the floor any minute when the struggling finally stopped.

Your eyes opened widely as you hurriedly got off of Valentino.

You started panicking. What the fuck did you just kill an overlord? No, no there is no way he is so powerful why didn't he stop you.

You kneeled down and checked for a heart beat.

When you felt faint beating a boulder fell off your shoulder.

"Thank fuck" you commented to yourself. He probably just passed out.

But still why didn't he stop you.

You thought about it a but when it hit you. He was probably batshit drunk himself. You saw that when he walked away from the bar he barely managed to walk straight.

You were still panting.

You looked over at Vox and a strong feeling of sadness filled you.

You stepped over Vals passed out form and lifted up Vox.

He was lighter than you thought. You carried him all the way to your room where you knew you had a first aid kit.

Sure you could have just bring the first aid kit to him but you were not going to leave him alone with Valentino jot even for a second. Not even when they're both passed out.

After you put Vox's screen back together and batched him up you laid him down onto your bed.

This gave you time to think things through.

Even you couldn't explain to yourself why you cared about Vox this much.

Its true you have become very close during your time working here.

But there are people who you have known longer yet do not love as much as him.

...love?

You love him?

"(Y/N)"

While you were occupied with your thought you didn't notice the time. It was morning already.

"Yeah, Vox?"

"What the fuck happened?" He asked as he started touching his patched up screen.

You told him everything. You also told him that you will very likely have to leave because once Val wakes up...you don't want to know what he'll do to you.

"He can't do anything your soul is mine you are under my protection." He said firmly. He sat silently after that. Like someone who is contemplating something.

"Can I ask you something?"

He asked after a long silence.

"Of course"

"Why did you save me?"

This surprised you.

"Well, I mean I know what Val is like and...I just did what any normal person would do really-"

"No. You know no one in hell would to that for the demon that owns their soul. Not to mention this was the second time you saved me."

"...I honestly don't know why I did it the first time; I guess I just felt like...I dont know"

"And the second time."

You couldn't answer this. You knew the answer but you didn't want to say it.

"Well, you are a nice boss you treat me with kindness and-"

"No one would attack a powerful overlord just to safe their boss who is just 'nice'; try answering truthfully this time."

Well fuck. You knew Vox was a smart man but that didn't help you in this situation.

"I..." you didn't know what to do. You could come up with another lie but he would detect it no problem.

"I love you" you blurted out before you could stop yourself. The moment the words left your lips you smacked your hands onto your lips.

"I'm sorry sir I will leave-"

Vox took your hand in his when you wanted to stand up and pulled you towards him.

With one swift movement he placed his lips on your in a tender kiss.

You have never kissed a screen before but you were pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be like this.

His lips were soft but cold. It was an amazing kiss.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere." Said Vox while he let out a little chuckle.

"Because I love you too."

[serialkilluh1996]

𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄™

Simon "Ghost" Riley x Bimboish-female-reader

Warnings; none. Just pure foolery.

Simon loved you. He wouldn't admit it, of course, but you were his favorite subordinate. You were kind and generous, like some princess who belonged in a castle, only to have wound up working as his assistant. He wondered how you even got hired at such a tough place. Maybe you'd sprinkled fairy dust on your application.

You made him weak, merely a facade of the stone cold man he used to be. It's like you had dug a hole in his heart, making a soft spot for yourself to burrow in. You made coming to work more bearable for Simon.

He was eager more willing to get up in the morning cause he knew he'd see you not once, not twice, but a plethora of times throughout the day. He'd see your defined smile and your lively eyes and your bubbly enthusiasm. Simon was convinced it was all just a facade you put on at work. There was no way someone could be this....happy all the time.

You walk into his office, a grin on your face so firm that it pulled the skin from your throat. "You called, Mr. Riley?" "It's lieutenant, sweetheart. But, yeah, I did." He didn't seem as chipper to see you today. He never expressed true happiness anyway. He was just more neutral when you were around. Not today, though. His brows were tense, his eyes were squinted, a tight and precise stare glaring you down like a sniper. "Have a seat." He demands, waving his hand in a come hither motion.

You comply, skipping over to the chair before plopping down and spinning in it. "Don't spend in the chair, please. I'm already on HR's ass about replacing these before they give out."

"Right, of course." You kick out your foot, stopping yourself on the desk, eyes landing directly on his. He looked pretty upset about something.

"I got a complaint about you being out with my men last night. Wanna explain what's going on?" He leans forward accusingly, elbows against the desk and hands under his chin. "Well, we were just out for drinks an–" "Oh, you were out for drinksss?" He says sarcastically, slightly more irritated. "And let me guess, you went home with them too?"

"Of course I did." "Oh, christ." He facepalms, leaning back in his chair, making it creak under his weight.

"Let me explain somethin'. You are MY assistant, you got that? That means your work here is exclusive to me and what I ask you to do. You don't take orders from anyone else here. Not even the captain. Therefore, you have no need or reason to be fraternizing with my men." He lectures you, now visibly angry.

You could tell that going home with them was what pushed him other the edge. "I couldn't let them go alone. They were too drunk to drive." You defended. "Sweetheart, these are grown men. They know their limit and they purposely exceeded it. It's not your responsibility to baby them. They can face the consequences of their actions. They are dangerous individuals that you should distance yourself from. You don't know my men."

"Of course I know them, we see eachother everyday." Simon sighs at your statement. "I'd like to believe that too. but at the end of the day, men always have ulterior motives."

"Ulterior motives?" You tilt your head in confusion. He huffs, muttering under his breath. "Alright, let's say Price, for example. You're this cute girl, smaller than most of the people here. And price is this huge caption, some hairy old weirdo pushing 40. And he invites you over his house. What do you think he wants from you?" His brow arches. "Well, I don't really know John enough to know what he wants."

".....god, why...." it took everything in his will power to hold back his emotions. How could you be so dense? He breathes, steadying himself for the next question.

"Well, would you go or not?" "Yes!" "Yes!?" His voice is strained with shock and distress. "Well, how else am I gonna find out what he wants?" You fold your arms, becoming upset yourself. "Did it not even cross your mind to just ask?!"

"Well, what if he lies?" "What if he lies...." Simon repeats, chuckling under the aggravation, holding back how much you were angering him. How could you be this...slow? "And that's your concern.....tell me, sweetheart...how old are you?" "21." You respond, a small pout in your tone.

"Twenty..one... just...take the week off. I want you to come by my office later on tonight..." "for what?" You ask. "Does it matter if I tell you? What if I lie?" He laughs with exhaustion, and you follow suite. You two were gonna have a looong talk.

You can support me by liking, commenting, reblogging, and/or cashapping me @fundsbrownie. Donations are optional, but much appreciated. Have fun! And remember, take care of yourself.

[xjulixred45x]

Platonic Yandere Satoru Gojo x Demaryius! Reader

This is the Request of @nunezs-stuff hope You like it sweetie!

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: male

Warnings: PLATONIC YANDERE BEHAVIOR, CLINGYNESS, ABUSE OF POWER, MANIPULATION , UNHEALTY MINDSET, Satoru is Jelous of the children of reader, BLACKMAID, treats of violence, Mainly located in the Star Plasma Arc. Satoru is a Brat. I think is done.

okay, something basic that must be learned from Platonic Yandere Gojo IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE is that although he was loved by his family, I would not say that he was completely genuine.

Satoru always felt entitled to MANY THINGS precisely because he was born so strong and everyone (including his family) followed that game.

Being loved like that felt like something written into his life. so to speak.

This is kind of where Geto's question comes in. Would his family have loved him so much if he had not been born with six eyes? Or did he depend on that to be so loved by people?

In general, Satoru doesn't know GENUINE AND PURE affection very well.

Satoru does not understand what NORMAL love is, so he wants it desperately as it is something he cannot obtain through "conventional" methods such as money or favors, no, it is something SELFLESS that he really does not distinguish.

IT FRUSTRATES him.

But he manages to reach adolescence without that feeling, he spends much of his greatest losses and TRAUMA alone (Riko, Touji almost killing him, Geto leaving him) and he doesn't have what others would have in that situation, there is no comforting hug or someone who tell him that everything "is going to be okay."

No. he is alone.

But that's when he knows you.

You are a sorcerer who has managed to stay quite long (not Tengen level, but you are quite good at what you do).

You have developed many powerful abilities, but at the same time you have also been able to see many things in the world that you have wanted to improve or change for the better.

Thanks to this, over the years you adopted many boys and girls around the world while you learned powerful techniques that made you unstoppable.

These children got everything from you, a roof, food, training, LOVE. They were indebted to you, so they followed your teachings.

They even brought even more children for you to take care of.

You were satisfied with your life.

but the higher-ups of the world of Jujustu felt threatened by you and your techniques.

It didn't help that your children were just as threatening and, unlike you, had no problem using more violent methods to defend themselves or your honor.

For this reason, Satoru was in charge of trying to find you and take you to the higher ups with the purpose of executing you.

Satoru from the beginning found this very unfair for you, because you weren't really hurting anyone, so he just thought of giving you a lecture not to use these skills in such a public way, for your own good.

He may even have found you through your children in the beginning.

and in a way, that's when he started to feel...strange, about you.

because your children spoke of you as a loving, friendly, but authoritative figure, someone too good to be true for Satoru.

But he thought your kids were just exaggerating how good you were.

But he realized it wasn't when he met you.

he met you when you were away from your family, and even if you knew what he was coming to do, you weren't angry or upset in the slightest.

You received it where you were staying and Satoru felt...strange again.

You treated him with too much familiarity. Satoru wanted to believe it was just because you wanted to blackmail him, but no.

You were just being yourself.

Satoru wanted to know better the context of WHY you were doing what you were doing (in case you were really dangerous) but he only got a more valid reason for wanting to protect you.

That's how it started, the seed was planted and it grew like a FUCKING oak tree.

You and Satoru were spending time together when he was supposedly "looking for you" and you wanted to meet him yourself.

You were one of the few people who looked through the image of Satoru Gojo and saw something REAL.

an injured boy

It reminded you of many of your children.

But when he referred to his "old friends" with an undertone of sadness, you could see that he had lost people he loved.

so you gave him a shoulder to cry on. a hug.

It was something so BASIC that the boy had NOT EVEN had access to it at his worst. It made you sad.

For you, it was lend a hand to a hurt child who NEEDED it. Like the times you make it before.

but for Satoru, IT WAS EVERYTHING.

WAS THIS? Was this what they were missing? Did it feel THIS GOOD? having someone who sincerely cares about you...

It was EVERYTHING he needed to obsess over you as a parental figure.

Satoru felt like he was FINALLY getting what he was missing all this time.

That's why it became worrying almost immediately. because Satoru became like a clingy teenager towards you.

You didn't think it was anything worrying at first, since the two of you had had quite an emotional moment and young people tend to be more affectionate after that.

You even saw it as something positive, that he was opening up to you.

but it escalated pretty quickly.

because eventually you had to return to your Clan, to your children.

Satoru insisted on accompanying you, and even if you say no, he will invite himself and go to where you live with your children.

warning sign number one!

NOW, even with all the time you spend together, I don't think you talked about your children for a mere matter of safety.

so when you get home with Satoru, keep looking closely, and find all these boys, children, even adults, calling you dad, wanting your affection, and seeing how you look at them with love...

it disgusts him.

not because of you...but because he feels a burning rush of jealousy.

and when your children notice it, he doesn't miss the opportunity to get angry with them.

when your children attack him believing him to be an intruder, even with how well trained they are, Satoru manages to beat EVERY SINGLE one of them.

Even those who didn't want to fight...

Even when you told him to stop...that he was hurting them...

when Satoru finished with all of them. He only left you one "option" (because you had no say in the situation now): do what he wanted and no one would get hurt. You wouldn't want YOUR NEW SON to be ANGRY with you, right?

If we go more advanced in time, Satoru at the beginning was much less manageable with his jealousy of your affection.

He would like to do "typical" parent-child activities, like go play together, go out, learn something together, help him choose some type of clothes, etc.

as if he wanted to relive his childhood and adolescence.

That is, without ANY comebakcs or anything similar.

He would threaten you with physical harm, breaking your legs so I could take you in a wheelchair :) (he doesn't mean it seriously but it's to make you afraid of the idea of rebelling)

He would constantly throw tantrums to get his way, threaten to hurt your children or worse, threaten to turn them over to the higher ups.

A moment that left a mark on you was on one occasion, when you were still very depressed because of all this adjustment, and so deep in your head that you answered Satoru badly.

He literally grabbed you by the hair, pulled you back so you were close and said:

"Listen, old man, I have no problem sending one of your children to the higher ups in your place and watching them execute them, so you better start cooperating or I'll have to MAKE YOU"

only to then COMPLETELY CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE and discuss with yourself what you would like to eat that night.

Trying to escape is difficult when they have your children hostage. You already know that even if you don't fulfill their fantasy well enough they could have them executed, so it's not a good idea to know what they would do in an escape scenario...

When certain events in the anime occur, he is much more mature and gentle with you AND with your children, he may even develop his own yandere tendencies about them (whether romantic or also platonic) which honestly only scares you more.

In general, at this stage of his life, his obsession with you is based more on his desire to have even some normality.

but he purposely ignores that YOU ARE NOT NORMAL and you never plan to be.

so it's an Infinite loop where Satoru tries to win your affection.

be strong.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

[st-dorothy-minority]

RadioApple one-shot

I both really don't want to post this and kind of do. So probably only have it up for 48 hours like I did the last one before deleting it and wondering why I post my dumb work.🤦‍♀️

I like comments, so if you want to feed me one, that's cool.

Duck, Duck, No

****

Alastor knew the exact buttons to push to cut someone down to the core. It was a talent he excelled at. Studying and learning what he could about a person in order to have the upper hand when it came to making a deal or making them wish they’d never challenged him was his specialty. He thrived on sniffing out a weakness and capitalizing on it for devastating effects.

In the heat of arguing, Lucifer was no different than anyone else. He was just another poor soul who dared to rattle the beast inside of him, leading him to exploit one of the devil’s biggest soft spots –

His beloved duckies.

“Honestly, it’s laughable! You’re the king of Hell, ruler of all sinners, and you care for these things as if they had any actual significance for existing. It’s pathetic how many you’ve accumulated over the centuries. And of all animals, a duck?! A pitiful creature that can easily be torn apart and has no real value. Seriously, Lucifer – you should be embarrassed. If these are the kind of animals you favor, then it’s no wonder you let yourself be a doormat to everyone. At this point, anyone would be a better fit for a king than you.”

While he spewed his vitriol, Alastor failed to notice how Lucifer’s posture began to slouch and his shoulders slumped. His rage blinded him to the shift in Lucifer’s eyes that were now filled with unbelievable shame and welling with tears. His antlers and tentacles were at full span, and his menacing aura suffocated whatever remained of Lucifer’s. The flames, horns, and tail that had manifested on Lucifer’s body disappeared; he clutched his arm, bowed his head, and closed his eyes as Alastor laid into him and destroyed him where it hurt most.

“Well? Nothing more to say, hm?” Alastor taunted, oblivious to how severely he had already defeated someone he claimed to love. “Don’t tell me you can’t even defend yourself now. This was just getting good.”

Lucifer was clearly shaking, and he did his best to quiet his sniffling. Without a word, he disappeared in a swirl of red and gold.

****

It had always been his private sanctuary. Lilith knew to keep disturbances to a minimum while he was in here; even Charlie wasn’t allowed inside except for special occasions or for a goodnight hug and kiss. There were times when he felt self-conscious and even ashamed by the amount of ducks he’d crafted and surrounded himself with, but they’d been the only constant in his life. They didn’t expect anything from him. They didn’t betray him.

He'd been persecuted, made fun of, and lost everything because he decided to love - to love ducks rather than majestic birds; to love Lilith rather than another angel; to love mankind enough to want them to experience what he thought was a gift: free will.

How foolish….

Still a fool after all these years.

As Lucifer’s eyes surveyed the room, the humiliation brought on by Alastor’s words was beginning to transform into deep-seeded rage. His true devilish appearance re-surfaced as he succumbed to the intense fury that now yearned to be expelled.

With his hands engulfed in flames and eyes pure red to match, Lucifer set fire to his safe space. His haven.

His cherished and adored duckie creations.

He shouted. He cursed. He took handfuls of his flock and crushed them, letting their remains slip from his grasp like sand.

When it was all over, there was nothing left but piles of ash and dust.

One slow step at a time, he walked around the room amid the ruin. As the air gradually cleared, it was then he saw a lone duck that remained. Hands poised to set it ablaze, he suddenly paused, and pupils returned to his glowing red eyes as he stared at it quizzically. He steadily approached, picked it up, dusted it off, and all at once, he was transported back to the memory of receiving it.

It was a stuffed animal, not one that he'd made, but rather that Lilith had sewn and crafted together just for him while she was pregnant with Charlie. It was one of her first attempts and very good, in Lucifer’s opinion. She’d wanted to perfect her skills in order to make simple and cute toys for Charlie before she was born.

Falling to his knees, Lucifer clutched the homemade duckie to his chest, buried his face against it, and began to sob uncontrollably.

“Look at little Lucifer – mesmerized by the ducks again. Hey Lucifer! Why don’t you spend your time obsessing over something actually impressive and worthy of admiration, like an eagle or an owl? Those ducks are worthless. Quit wasting your time with them.”

“Are you crazy, Lucifer?! You’re an archangel! God has even called you His most beautiful servant! What are you thinking, falling in love with the human woman?! Don’t be stupid and drop it!”

“You’re such an idiot!” “Traitor!” “How could you sin against your own Father?!” “You’ve ruined everything!” “Because of you, the world is going to be filled with darkness!” “How could you be so disobedient and selfish?!” “Your ideas are poison.” “You’re dangerous.” “You will never be welcome here again.”

It was an hour before he laid down in a bed of ash, still clinging to the stuffed animal duckie, and quietly cried himself to sleep.

****

The air felt heavy and smelled strongly of smoke. With every step Alastor took towards Lucifer’s workroom, the symptoms of fire grew stronger. He assumed Lucifer had erupted in a fit of rage, but he never suspected Lucifer to do what he’d done until he opened the doors and witnessed for himself.

Shock kept Alastor rooted to the spot, eyes wide and stunned as he looked about the room. He took it in, took all of it in. There was no more vibrant color, no more piles of yellow – the significance of what had been burned, it ate away at his heart.

Near the middle of the area, he spotted the familiar white garb and carefully began to stroll towards the prone form resting on the floor. Lucifer’s cheeks were dirtied from the ash, but it was visibly apparent how much he’d cried from the thin, clean lines the tears had left on his face. The way in which he was curled up and hugging the only duckie left gave him the appearance of a child, causing the sight to tug even more at Alastor’s heartstrings.

“Oh Luci,” he whispered regretfully and knelt beside him. He brushed back the strands of hair ghosting over the devil’s visage before conjuring a blanket and covering the other demon with it as if tucking him into bed.

“I’m deeply sorry, my dear….”

****

----Several Hours Later----

Lucifer blearily opened his eyes, sat up slowly, rubbed his face, and abruptly froze when his gaze landed on Alastor, who was sitting upright against the nearest wall and seemingly asleep. It took everything within Lucifer to not come undone all over again just from seeing him.

As if he had an acute sense of minimal movement, Alastor opened an eye to confirm he was right.

“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to move you,” he offered gently.

Lucifer stared at the floor and kept his head lowered, saying nothing.

“About last night-”

“Don’t,” Lucifer murmured in a trembling voice. “Just don’t. Not now.”

“Luci-”

“I SAID ‘DON’T’,” Lucifer snapped irately as he stood up, flames briefly materializing around him. He started for the doors, dropping the duckie plushie along the way, and grumbled, “You know where the door is. See your way out.”

Unbeknownst to Lucifer, Alastor trailed behind him in shadow to observe and make sure he didn’t do anything else drastic. The remorse for what he’d said returned exponentially while he watched Lucifer standing in the shower with the water cascading down his petite body, his face buried in his hands, shoulders slumped and shaking as he wept.

Alastor knew how draining Lucifer’s explosive and emotional episodes could be, was pleased to see his lover was going to try and get more rest when he slid under the covers of the large bed after a lengthy hot shower and ultimately closed his eyes. It was only then that Alastor finally obeyed the request and took his leave.

****

A few days passed without any communication between the two of them. Alastor wasn’t worried; they’d gone a week without talking in the past. He was giving Lucifer his space, and in the meantime, he was contemplating how best to apologize to him.

When several more days passed and he learned Lucifer had declined multiple requests from Charlie to spend time with him and proceeded to stop responding altogether, that was when he began to worry.

There was no way Lucifer would want to see him if he wasn’t even capable of seeing his own daughter, and there was no way he could begin to replace all that Lucifer had lost.

But he had an idea of where to start.

****

Another week passed, and still, Lucifer could barely get out of bed most days. Today proved the most productive by the simple fact he made it as far as the couch in the main living room. With TV remote in one hand and a half-consumed bottle of whiskey in the other, he disinterestedly channel surfed despite his mind not being able to focus on anything but how shattered he still felt.

At first, he thought he imagined the doorbell and knocking noise, yet when it repeated for a second and third time (each being louder than the last), he decided to get up and sauntered to the front door. He really didn’t want guests, but apparently whoever it was was persistent.

When he opened the door, his expression became utterly confused; there was no one.

“Hello?” he called weakly.

No answer.

He was about to close the door; however, he glanced downward and paused. Slowly, he crouched down and studied the objects left on the porch. There were seven duckies lined up, each one painted to look like Charlie and her original hotel companions. Dumbfounded, he picked up the one that resembled Charlie, inspected it from all angles, and noticed writing on the bottom.

“You QUACK me up, dad! Love, Charlie.”

Tears instantly flooded his eyes, and he continued to pick them up individually to admire and read the kind words underneath. Once he got to Alastor’s, he greatly hesitated, pulled his hand away numerous times before taking a deep breath and welcoming it into his hands. The message was the shortest out of all of them, though it had the deepest impact:

“I love you.”

He fell apart entirely at this and held the duckie to his chest. Seconds later, he felt someone’s presence, yet he kept his eyes shut tightly as he cried and soon melted in the embrace of his lover.

“I’m so very sorry, Luci,” Alastor whispered. “I was terribly wrong. I’d like to beg for your forgiveness….And I thought it could be fun if we started a new collection….together.”

Lucifer buried his face against Alastor’s chest and nodded, reveling in the touch of familiar hands petting his hair and rubbing his back.

“Perhaps I should begin calling you my ‘precious little duckling’,” Alastor teased. He was delighted when he heard a tiny, muffled laugh from Lucifer. “Like it?”

Lucifer nodded.

“Alright then, my precious little duckling. Let’s go take care of you and find a temporary home for these ducklings inside.”

[artist-issues]

it's really sad people will keep on defending the terrible little mermaid movie cause they wanna cry racism and other movies cause of crying racism. honestly I'm tired of it, the original little mermid is better, original snow white is better, everything orignal is better. but since disney want to get political, their stocks are failing and their losing money. disney is crashing and burning, they can't make anything original anymore.

Yeah, true.

I think the idea of "original is always better" isn't 100% true. The truth is, Disney used to do retellings better than anybody.

Snow White's original fairy tale, in the Brothers' Grimm version, is very good. It's all about pure innocence. But Disney came along and made a bigger, more fleshed-out version. In Disney's retelling, the Dwarves had personalities instead of being cave-dwelling blank slates, and the Prince actually met Snow White while she was dressed in rags and still loved her instead of seeing her asleep and dressed beautifully for the first time.

Those changes that Disney made to the "original" fairy tale for their movie didn't ruin the original. They just deepened the original. They complimented it.

Audiences back when the first fairy tale was being told may have understood that Snow White's beauty = purity and innocence, but Disney knew that audiences in the 1930s would need more information to understand, and enjoy that message. So

The Prince is interested in Snow White before be even knows she's a Princess, and before he even sees her beauty, because he hears her singing about love genuinely. It's her pure innocent love that attracts him.

The Dwarfs all have personalities, but the one thing they have in common is their fear of new, potentially uncomfortable things. It's not until Snow White and her genuine, selfless love comes into their lives that they start being selfless and brave, too.

The Queen dies the same way she lived: trying to bring harm to others because she only looks out for herself (even though in the original fairy tale I believe she faces capital punishment instead of her own jealousy destroying her.)

Same thing with Cinderella, and even with The Little Mermaid. The fairy tales weren't invented by Disney: the animated Disney versions were retellings. But that's the difference:

Retellings - Stories that change some details about the original, but never change anything that strengthens the important themes of the original. They're not exactly the same, but they're faithful to everything that the originals stood for.

Remakes - Stories that change the themes of the original: erasing everything that the original stood for and trying to re-write what the characters should stand for for modern audiences.

And that's the problem. Disney used to do faithful, complimentary retellings of timeless stories. Those stories were worthwhile, and Disney did them justice. Disney reminded modern audiences of the themes and values in old stories.

Now that's not true anymore. Disney doesn't remind people of the original, timeless values of old stories. It tries to rewrite those values, and in doing so, it says "those values were never timeless, or even fit to be called values."

That's the painful thing. Disney used to be the best name in retellings. Now it's the worst name in retellings.

[dannylovesstuff]

Random head canons I have

Roguefort

— i do think they do have a day time job wen they are not doing heist.

— roguefort has a good relationship with Colby jack cheese but it been years they haven’t seen each other but still thinks he’s a good boy

— roguefort has a apartment that he lives as a normal cookie

— they stash all the stolen goods in the old bleu’s mansion

— they cover for timekeeper sometimes if she’s off doing some doing chaos ( but sometimes croissants expose them)

— they use the daggers they have to defend themselves incase someone attack them

— roguefort in disguise do the part very well even mimic all the actions of that person do ( even if that person can be some over grown child that surprised they will do it )

— they use smoke booms a lot

— even if walnut chase them trying to arrest them, they care for her. Even that one time she collapsed in exhaustion they put her somewhere that her dad or anyone could find her

Pitaya dragon cookie

— they sleep a lot under the sun ( and be the part of the reason why hollyberry call them a lizard)

— pitaya has the ability to change there size and body, like it take a lot of power to put on shape but wen seen it true hight as a cookie they are smol. ( as well would gain or lose scales or wings to fit in as a cookie)

— pitaya got bit to addicted to berry juice so at times they sneak in and try to steal some.

— hate Dino-sour cookie cuz he say they are not actual dragon ( that piss then off real bad )

— visit snap dragon to see how they are doing and train them a bit on dragons stuff

— they act like a cat sometimes but don’t show it

—they love to hang around in the hollyberry kingdome more than the dragon valley

— the cut tail of there’s tells secrets about pitaya, they get angry and embarrassed about it

Ananas dragon cookie

— They every day they fly around the sodie Islands like some security to see everything in order

— the manager of the summer fest had gone to ananas personally to ask there permission to host the festival in there lands, they successfully did it but with a deal

— they hang around in the mango tribes and relax, they treat them as always a special guest

— they can see lychee dragon right through her deception and lies ( cuz they had to deal with them more )

— they do have a pride ego but the only few exceptions… mango being around

— they enjoy listening to mango and do understand his quick speech

— ananas absolutely hate the durian pirates because they ruined there lands and they try to steal them once

— they have a lot of pet lemurs

Shadow milk

— they can mimic voices without flaw but he chose to make it annoying

— before became the shadow milk he love to tell puns but was terrible at it so he always practice it , the light witch love those puns

— shadow milk can’t see well from a far at all so he has a blind spot but don’t saying anything that give it away

— he can see everything in pure vanilla soul jam so he is aware of everything

— probably his sharp weapon he can turn his staff into is a scythe

— he love to nag mystic flour a lot

— shadow milk get a long well with silence salt even before they became beasts

— shadow milk had a great relationship with the light witch ( and he knew well where it can hurt her the most )

— shadow milk long with the other beast kill off all the light witch coven members and her other cookie creations leaving behind a massacre of blood and strawberry jam

[tabitha42]

The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 33

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

Saff sat on her own, staring at the campfire. Across from her Astarion and Shadowheart spoke quietly to each other as they translated Malitas’s research. She knew she really should be helping them, but she couldn’t get her mind to focus right now. Questions and anxiety filled her head - she worried for Gale and wondered if she should go find him, she questioned why Malitas had been so cruel when she’d never known him to be like that, and she still wondered why she’d had such a strong reaction to him earlier when he’d looked at her. 

She was snapped out of her thoughts as she saw movement to her side and looked over to see Tara approaching her. She looked as worried as Saff was as she sat down next to her. 

“Are you alright, dear?” she asked softly as she looked up at her. 

“I’m… worried about him,” Saff replied quietly, looking back into the fire. 

“As am I,” Tara empathised. “I wanted to thank you for standing up for him. I know it wasn’t easy for you, and I also know that had any of the rest of us done so, Malitas would simply have ignored us. It took you standing up to him to turn the tides, and I know your words will mean a lot to Gale.” 

Saff remained quiet for a long moment, her mind still too clouded by everything to think of a proper response. 

“Do you think he was right?” she asked eventually, her voice quiet against the crackle of the fire. “About everything Mystra did…” 

Tara looked down slightly, letting out a deep, pained sigh. 

“As much as I hate to agree with such a vile man… yes, I fear he’s right. I didn’t know about Mystra’s involvement in Gale’s life until he started his relationship with her three years ago. That was when he told me she’d been visiting him since he was a child. I’d noticed over the years at times he was keeping something from me, but I never in a hundred years would have thought he was being visited by a goddess everyone thought was dead. He was so happy, so proud… he said it was what his whole life had been leading up to. But I could see the change in him. He became gradually more recluse, dedicating more and more of his time to her and whatever tasks she put him to. I tried to convince him to spend more time with others, reconnect with old friends and make new ones, but nothing I could say would tear him away from her. He insisted he was fine and happy, and I think he even believed that. But a man like Gale, who loves so deeply and so purely, deserves someone who can love him in the same way. Something Mystra could never do.” 

Saff was quiet as she thought back to what Gale had said when she’d first found out about the orb and Mystra. How Mystra had been everything to him and he’d dedicated all he had to her, how he’d missed the more mortal aspects of relationships, how he’d known deep down she didn’t love him the way he loved her… seems Tara had noticed it too, and it all rang painfully true to Malitas’s words. 

Malitas… normally she would defend him against someone who would call him a vile man. Right now, though, all she could do was agree. How could he throw Gale’s suffering in his face like that? It made her sick. 

The rest of Tara’s words went through her head, playing on her mind. 

“How can Mystra do that…” she whispered. “Gods are supposed to protect their followers. How can she treat him like that?” 

Tara looked into the fire for a moment, the gentle crackle the only sound in the air between them as she contemplated her answer. 

“Gods, for all their power, are a lot more human than they’d like any of us to believe. They still have their flaws and their vices… many of which are only amplified by their power. They do what they feel is necessary to protect their domain, and oftentimes, a few mortal lives lost in the process is a small price to pay for them. Their clerics will preach their words and sing their praises, but the gods will only protect their followers as long as they need to… and will let them suffer if it benefits them.” 

Another silence fell over them. Saff felt so disillusioned with everything. She’d never been a devout follower, but she worshipped Mystra as much as any wizard did, and had believed her to be a good goddess. To find out that she does this to her Chosen… how could she continue to follow her now? How could she call herself a wizard knowing this is what Mystra does? But at the same time, what choice did she have? Magic was the only way she had to defend herself… 

Perhaps it was all Gale had, too. He’d spoken about how much he loved it, how he’d dedicated his life to its study. And Mystra had used that to her advantage. Exploited him because of his abilities, then left him when he was of no more use to her.

The more she thought about it, the more she saw the truth of it all. Her uncertainty was slowly replaced by anger at the injustice, at the goddess who’d hurt Gale so deeply.

She looked over to the forest in the direction he’d disappeared off to. He’d been gone a long while now… too long…

“Someone who loves him deeply and purely…” she murmured to herself, quiet enough that Tara couldn’t hear. “Hm?” she asked, but Saff was already standing up. “Where are you going?” she asked as Saff began to walk off. 

“I’m going to find him.” 

The forest was quiet as she wandered through the trees, but it wasn’t til she emerged out to the mountain cliffs did she finally see him. He was sat on the edge, his feet dangling down, leaning forward on his knees as he looked up at the stars. Carefully she approached, the sounds of her footsteps breaking the tranquil silence. He looked up at her as she stood next to him, and for a moment she thought he looked more composed than she expected, til she saw beads of sweat on his forehead, heard the slightly ragged way he breathed - the orb had been flaring, reacting to the emotional turmoil he was going through. 

He looked forward again, out at the stars, as she sat down next to him, her legs dangling next to his. There was a moment of quiet between them, til he eventually spoke. 

“It is a strange thing… to have your head know something to be true, but have your heart so vehemently refuse to believe it.” 

He sighed deeply and looked downwards, shaking his head slightly. 

“Even as I say I know it to be true, I find myself rejecting my own words… it’s like my mind is fighting a battle with itself, and I do not know which side to take.” 

She saw him wince, and knew it wasn’t from physical pain. She realised there was something deeply familiar about how he was feeling. It was like looking into a mirror that reflected the same pain and confusion she’d felt herself not so long ago. 

“I felt the same… when I realised how things really were with Aryn,” she said quietly, looking out over the mountains. “You know logically what they’re doing is wrong, but you think, it can’t possibly be like that, cause they love you. They’d never actually hurt you, it’s all just… a misunderstanding. They don’t realise what they’re actually doing, or they wouldn’t do it. So you keep making excuses for them, you refuse to believe it… no matter how much you know it’s true.” 

He looked at her in surprise. Part of him started to believe she was right… but part of him also rejected the comparison. 

“What Aryn did to you-”

“Was not so different to what Mystra did to you,” she interrupted, speaking firmly as she looked at him. “Maybe she didn’t hit you or refuse to let you leave the house, but she still controlled you. When we spoke about this, you said the people who perpetuate these atrocities are masters of manipulation. You spoke about how he cut me off from my friends, controlled everything I did, and every time he hurt me he then showered me with all the love he’d made sure I couldn’t get from anywhere else so he’d be my only source of happiness. You said it was a cruel cycle that’s hard to break free from. Gale…” 

She raised her hand and gently touched his cheek, seeing the emotion in his eyes as he looked at her.

“Don’t you see? She cut you off from your friends - made sure you had so much work, so many responsibilities, that you had no more time to see them. She controlled everything you did - you said she guided you and mentored you, both in magic and in everything else. And she’d been doing that your whole life! I was only with Aryn a few months and look how much control he had over me. Mystra literally raised you from childhood to believe everything she wanted you to. And that cruel cycle you said Aryn put me in? You spoke about how your relationship with Mystra became addictive - she’d show you the most incredible things, then dump you back on Toril and leave you waiting for her. Mystra took everything you loved then and made sure you became addicted to being with her. And she’s a goddess! With Aryn, maybe I could believe he didn’t know any better. But she does. She knew exactly what she was doing… she had it planned right from the beginning.”

Gale could find no words in response as he stared at her in shock, and in that moment she could see the dawning realisation in his eyes. 

He looked away and gritted his teeth as the orb flared, reacting to his sorrow… and, she realised as she saw his fists clench, his anger. 

“How could I not see it…” he growled, fury simmering in his voice. 

“Don’t say that,” she said quickly, taking his hand in hers to try to calm him down before he hurt himself any more. “Don’t start blaming yourself.” 

His shoulders slumped and she could see his anger towards himself start to dissipate at her words… though it was soon replaced with anger towards Mystra. 

“I gave her everything… dedicated my life to her. Did everything she asked of me. But to her I was nothing more than a plaything, to be used and discarded!”

Saff could hear the fury in his voice as he threw a hand out in front of him to illustrate his point. 

“Everything she said… every kind word, every declaration of love… all lies. And I believed every one…” 

The anger turned to pain as she saw tears start to well in his eyes and heard his voice catch in his throat. She went to put her arm round him, wanting to hold him as he’d held her while she cried into his arms, but before she could he gasped as the orb flared once more. He choked in pain, hunching over, his usually swept-back hair now falling over his face. The tears fell from his eyes as he clutched at his chest, letting out pained whimpers. She leant close and put her hand on his shoulder, knowing that doing anything more might make it worse, and felt how he was shaking. 

She’d never seen him like this before, so vulnerable, so dishevelled, so desperate. The veins leading to his eyes were so prominent now, the purple glow making his skin look almost deathly pale. For a moment she saw him open his eyes, coughing weakly. He looked so… tired. It broke her heart. 

He sat up, taking deep breaths, squeezing his eyes shut. Gradually the streaks of light running up his neck began to fade, but she saw how his lip trembled, heard how ragged his breaths were as he tried to keep his composure. She realised he couldn’t even cry with the orb inside him. All this pain, and he couldn’t let it out. He had to bury it all, force himself not to feel. Crying in his arms had been so cathartic for her, but he couldn’t even do that. How could one face what had happened to them, come to terms with it, when they had to bury all their feelings about it?

She wanted to stay strong for him, but it was so hard to stop the tears that welled in her own eyes now at seeing him like this. Gently she lifted her hand to his face and stroked some of the hair away behind his ear, her thumb trailing his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at her through the strands of hair that fell over his face, looking almost surprised for a moment by her touch. He leant into her hand, pressing his face to her palm, closing his eyes as he lifted his hand and placed it over hers. As his eyes closed, even though he said nothing, she could sense how he was feeling, the emotions written over the creases of pain on his face. He yearned for connection, for love… real love, for comfort and understanding, tenderness and warmth, for a bond he never got from Mystra. 

She leant in and rested her forehead against his, lifting her free hand to cup his other cheek. 

“Gale…” she whispered, her voice shaking from emotion. 

“I can’t change what Mystra did to you… but I want you to know… no matter what you’re going through, no matter how much it hurts… I will always be here for you. I will always stand by you. I will fight every battle with you and bear your pain with you. Oh, Gale…” Tears finally ran down her cheeks as she opened her eyes. As Gale did the same, she saw a thousand emotions behind the deep, glistening brown of his eyes, but where before she saw only pain and despair, there was now hope, even happiness. A smile came to her lips as the words she’d been wanting to say for so long, the words that had been threatening at the tip of her tongue and running through her mind at their every touch, every look, every moment spent together, finally fell from her lips. “I love you…”

Both their hearts raced at the sound of those words. Gale felt almost light-headed at the wave of emotions that washed over him, from how utterly distraught he’d been before to the overwhelming warmth and love he felt from her words, her touch, her presence. It was like his heart had been ripped apart then tenderly put back together again by the hands that held him so lovingly. He was so tired, so weak, all he wanted to was to melt into her, and in that moment he could no longer resist. He didn’t care about the orb that burnt inside him, he couldn’t fight his feelings anymore. He finally gave in and wrapped his arms round her, pulling her in… 

At long last, his lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss. 

She wrapped her arms round his neck, reaching up to pull him in, her fingers lacing into his hair. Bodies pressed together, hearts beating as one, every ounce of love and longing that had been pent up inside them was poured into the kiss. They held each other tight, feeling each other’s yearning, each other’s love, finally feeling complete in each other’s arms. 

For a brief, glorious moment, everything in the world was perfect.

Then, very suddenly, it wasn’t. 

Gale tore himself away, coughing and gasping as pain ripped through his body. Agony shot through his veins like a wildfire, setting his skin alight. His lungs felt like they were being crushed til he could hardly breathe, and when he looked at Saff and saw her eyes wide with terror, he felt another wave of pain wash over him. He had to calm himself, bury his emotions again, before it was too late… and being next to her, seeing her fear, feeling his heart stir from both love and guilt, was only making it worse. 

He scrambled to his feet and tried to run, but he managed barely a few steps before his legs gave way to the pain and he fell to his knees, collapsing forward on all fours. 

“Gale!” Saff cried behind him, running to be with him, but when he looked up at her she skidded to a stop and stared with wide eyes at what she saw. The marking shone fiercely, the angry, flaring light reaching up his neck til even his eyes were glowing purple. Luminescent cracks began to spread from his chest across his skin, like deep fissures in the very fabric of his being. 

He cried out in pain, shaking as he felt the orb’s power tearing through him. Desperately he tried to fight it, a ferocious internal battle against his own emotions… but the more he failed to quell them, the more intense his fear burned, as he felt the orb’s power spilling over the edge. He tried to claw it back, desperate and terrified, feeling it overwhelming him and swallowing him…

Saff stumbled back as the orb’s light became almost blinding, lifting her hand to cover her eyes. She could feel the crackle of Weave in the air, hot against her skin. Her mind raced, but she had no idea what to do. Any attempt to comfort him would make it worse…

As she squinted through her fingers she saw bright, angry strands of purple light swirling in the air around him. Hunched over, he clutched his head and screamed in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks. All around them, particles of bright light began appearing in the air, slowly moving towards him. 

His eyes suddenly snapped open and he saw the chilling dance of magic around him, closing in on him, and as his eyes caught hers, he knew with a resigned dread what he had to do. With the last of his strength he sat up and lifted his arms wide, his hands glowing blue as he began to recite the incantation. “Fugamus…”

He gasped as the already unbearable pain flared at his use of magic, but forced himself through. His voice was hoarse, barely able to get the words out. 

“...inferni…”

Saff’s eyes widened. She knew that incantation… a teleportation spell. With a horrified gasp, she realised he was planning to teleport away so no one else would get caught in the blast. She barely even heard herself cry out ‘no’ as she ran towards him, arms outreached. There was nothing she could do to stop this from happening… but she couldn’t let him die alone.

I am so sorry, my love. 

“Blandimenta!”

There was a blinding flash. As Saff fell to her knees to throw her arms round him, she found only air. She opened her eyes and looked up to see falling droplets of light that fizzled as they hit the ground around her. 

Her heart stopped. She looked at her empty hands that shook in front of her, feeling the tingle of magic in the air. 

“No…” she whispered, her voice shaking. 

The terrible realisation that washed over her gripped at her heart and threatened to tear it from her chest. This couldn’t be happening… it couldn’t be…

“No…” 

Tears fell from her eyes. He was gone… 

And it was her fault. She’d vowed to protect him, to be there for him, to help him through it all, but all she’d done was make it worse. She knew how the orb worked, she knew making him more emotional would hurt him. Yet she'd still said it… why? Why had she done that? How could she have let this happen??

“Gale…”

A terrible, crippling emptiness filled her. Guilt ravaged her and she felt as if she was drowning, suffocating in the loneliness of the silence around her…

She clutched her head as tears streamed down her cheeks, and her scream echoed through the mountains. 

[evillittlebirdie]

The Lies We Want To Believe

Inspired by Daggers of the Mirror by ArtsyBecca.

Daggers of the Mirror is such a fantastic work of fiction. Please go read it. Also, we hold these truths to be self-evident. Gale is a chubby, indulgent bunny Gale is insecure about the aforementioned indulgence Gale uses a glamor spell.

There were few pleasantries in the world more pure than being in love.

At first, Gale was happy to find an educated, kindred spirit in Elisabeth. As slender and graceful as a willow, her body betrayed the amount of force Elisabeth could deliver with a single spell. He couldn't help but find Elisabeth cute when she engrossed herself in a book. Even if the book was found off a corpse or had a molded cover, Elisabeth struggled to let it go. She hoarded magical ingredients and flowers. Lavender was her favorite flower. When Gale offered to show Elisabeth his connection to the Weave, he knew he was planting a seed that could only be nurtured by Elisabeth's hand. He did not dare to think she would reciprocate. It was foolish to hope that guided him. But Elisabeth did return his interest. And even more.

Gale felt like a young man when he walked hand in hand with Elisabeth. Chaste kisses brought a blush to his cheeks every time. They made love in the Weave and physically. Elisabeth not only defended him against Mystra but empowered him. And not least of all, Tara absolutely adored Elisabeth. 

It was not all one-sided adoration. Elisabeth utilized Gale as her confidant. Gale could feel his heart skip a beat whenever Elisabeth asked for his input. 

Gale remembered entering the Gauntlet of Shar and Elisabeth suddenly freezing. She could not even talk or speak. Once Gale eliminated the possibility of enchantment or poison, Elisbath finally lifted her hand and pointed. It was the rats surrounding one of the alters to Shar. 

Later that night, Elisabeth shared with him her humble beginnings as a street urchin. She shared the days of hunger and sleeping in alleyways. She remembered waking up to vermin running through her hair and nibbling at her toes. Once Elisabeth revealed her fear of rats, she told him everything about her life. Gale held her as she shared finding a true family once she attended a school of magic; as she confessed falling in love with an older female sorcerer who let her feelings down easily; and as she revealed her hidden doubts about her leadership. 

After that long night, Gale and Elisabeth were closer than ever before.

Despite all of his misgivings and doubts, Gale admitted one last secret to Elisabeth. Gale brought her into his tent (or more aptly,  their  tent. It had been weeks since he slept alone). He twisted a plain silver ring on his right hand. He prefaced the action with an apology. Avoiding Elisabeth's confused expression, Gale pulled off his ring. Gale had utilized the glamor ring for years, especially since his age began to show. Without the glamor, his true body stood in front of Elisabeth. His hair was naturally grayer, his beard more rugged, and more noticeably, his true frame was nearly forty pounds heavier. He always had a weakness for rich food and decadent pastries. He had a penchant for snacking when he was studying. And the year he spent isolated in his tower did very little to help with keeping slim.

"I'll never take the ring off again. I just wanted you to know who you were truly with," Gale confessed, keeping his eyes away from her face. He couldn't bear to see her disgust. 

Instead of disdain or even polite rejection, Elisabeth just reached in and embraced Gale tightly. She buried her face in his chest and pleaded, "Wear it outside if it makes you feel comfortable, but please do not hide yourself from me."

Gale could have wept with joy. He had a beautiful, powerful woman who accepted him. She didn't need him to be a god. She didn't want him to hide his body. They shared the same interests, desires, and emotions. They were in love and nothing could tear them apart. 

Gale had to find a way to stabilize the Netherese orb and defeat the Absolute. Once the world breathed easy, he could begin the proper happily ever after. Wedding bells, cake, and flowers inclusive.

***

"Fantastic work today, soldier," Karlach praised, clapping her hand on Elisabeth's shoulder. 

Astarion rolled his eyes, "Yes, yes, praise the woman that hid back safely on a high ledge. Not the man who saved you from some brute bashing you in the skull," he feigned dismay, shaking his head in response.

"Oh, don't worry, I have full intentions on properly recognizing your efforts, pretty boy," Karlach grinned, winking her eye at Astarion. The pale elf returned her smile with a smug smirk before the two wandered off on their own. No doubt, Astarion would be thoroughly 'appreciated' by the end of the night. 

Lae'zel silently rolled her eyes at the pair before waving Elisabeth off. "Go mount your mate as well. You deserve to revel in your victory today."

Elisabeth chuckled at her companions' antics. As much as she enjoyed her company, there was someone else she would rather spend time with. "Good night, Lae'zel," She ended. She walked over to Gale's tent, seeing the flaps closed. She smiled endearingly. Maybe Gale had taken her advice and was resting. 

Typically, Elisabeth didn't like leaving camp without Gale by her side. But Gale deserved the break. Elisabeth was going after Guild thugs. Her magic was enough to ensure solid victory. Sometimes, having more than one magic user was a hindrance rather than an advantage. 

Elisabeth approached the tent and pulled the tent flap up, "Gale, sweetheart, I'm here-" Elisabeth stopped herself. Horror paled her face at the sight of... herself .

'Elisabeth' was straddling a shirtless Gale on his bedroll. He was unglamored. His silver ring was cast aside on the ground rather than safely put up. His eyes were closed tight and he was facing away from 'Elisabeth'. The double had Gale's wrists pinned above his head with one hand. With her other hand, she had a blade to Gale's cheek. 

"What in the hells?" Elisabeth shouted before taking her staff off her back. At the sudden yell, Gale opened his eyes and turned to face the tent's entrance. In doing so, his cheek cut against the doppelganger's blade. 

"Oh, here she is. Brave, brave adventurer back to save the damsel in distress," The replica responded with a mad laugh. Elisabeth's skin crawled at hearing her voice mimicked. The doppelganger's head twisted violently. Familiar ruby-red tones and pale skin appeared. And a devious laugh left the mouth of none other than Orin the Red. She pulled the knife from Gale's skin and ran her tongue along the bloodied blade. "Such as shame...If you only gave me a few more minutes, I could have made a  proper  damsel of him..." She cackled, disappearing in a shimmer before Elisabeth could brutally hit her with her staff. 

"Fucking bitch! I'll kill her," Elisabeth shouted angrily. She tossed her staff to the ground in frustration before rushing to Gale's side. 

Gale, who had shown every vulnerability to her, was unable to meet her gaze. Elisabeth placed her finger on the cut along his cheek. "Gods, look at that nasty wound. I need to get Shadowheart." She wanted nothing more than to pull Gale to her chest and never let go. But instead, she forced herself to move away.

But Gale reached up to grab Elisabeth's wrist. "Wait...I need my ring..."

Frustrated, not with Gale but with the situation, Elisabeth tried to pull her wrist away, "I'm very sure Shadowheart isn't going to mind-"

"Not without my ring," Gale insisted, his eyes darting around the floor of the tent. 

Elisabeth's eyes fell to the ground where the ring had fallen by the table. She picked it up and handed it over to Gale. The wizard let go of Elisabeth's wrist and quickly placed his ring back on. Elisabeth didn't wait to see the transformation; she just rushed to Shadowheart's tent.

"What's all the commotion? I thought I heard battle," Lae'zel stated her greatsword at the ready despite being out of her armor. She rushed to Elisabeth's side before her gaze moved to Gale's tent.

Even Astarion and Karlach had taken notice. Their weapons were at the ready. And if the situation was less serious, Elisabeth would have pointed out Astarion's backward shirt. 

"It's Orin, it was Orin..." 

It was all a blur. Finding Shadowheart and taking her to Gale's tent. It was only a flesh wound. And with Shadowheart's immediate intervention, there would be no scarring. Gale responded negatively to Shadowheart's question about additional physical wounds. 

Gale was present, but he didn't seem quite aware. He would answer yes or no questions, but otherwise, he was silent. He sat on the bedroll and kept his eyes on his lap. Once Elisabeth discussed with the group about Orin and increased defenses, she was able to speak to Gale alone.

"Gale, what happened?" Elisabeth asked before sitting down on the bedroll next to him. Gale was propped up by several pillows, encased in blankets. By this time of night, Elisabeth would have expected him to remove his glamor ring. It stayed on. 

Gale turned to look at Elisabeth, to truly look at her. He grimaced before Elisabeth felt the gentle probing of his tadpole. He wanted to show her something. Elisabeth nodded before she allowed the connection to form. 

***

Gale wasn't necessarily 'clingy'. He just felt out of place when Elisabeth left him back at camp. But he didn't complain. He gave Elisabeth a goodbye kiss and sent her off with Astarion, Lae'zel, and Karlach at her side. 

After preparing dinner for the members at camp, Gale retired to his tent with a cup of tea, two cinnamon buns, and a book on arcane cultivation. It would be enough to keep his mind busy until Elisabeth returned. 

It was after sunset when the tent flap wavered. Gale looked up from his chair in the tent and smiled at the sight of Elisabeth ducking in. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Gale beamed, setting the book on his desk. He got out of the chair and moved in to greet his lover. 

"I could say the same thing about you. My darling little pet wizard with his treats," Elisabeth cooed, gesturing over to the plate next to his glass of wine. Only a quarter of a cinnamon roll remained.

Gale chuckled good-naturedly before taking her hands in his own. He pressed his lips against her knuckles before kissing her lips. "Idling the hours away until I could see you again, my sweet."

"You like this, don't you?" Elisabeth hummed sweetly. She took her hands from his. She turned around and loosened the flap of the tent, giving them privacy.

"I love seeing you come back alive," Gale agreed with a nod before sitting down. 

"It's more than that. You like relaxing here, studying in safety, indulging in luxury, while I fight for us..." Elisabeth temped with a sly smile on her face, moving closer to him. 

Gale flushed as Elisabeth swayed with each step. Of course, she was instigating the prerequisite to a sensual game. "Well, I cannot deny the allure." 

"No, you cannot resist can you?" Elisabeth whispered. She moved to him, setting her hands on his knees. She began to spread them and Gale felt his heart jump. "My sweet little Gale, my sweet little lapdog, ready for me after a long day of...violence..." Gale couldn't help but notice the desire in her tone regarding 'violence'. It should have caused confusion or at least hesitation. But then Elisabeth suddenly cupped Gale's manhood through his trousers. The sudden sensation provoked a jerking motion and a thorough distraction from Elisabeth's manner. 

"Ah...not quite ready yet," Elisabeth huffed, referring to Gale's softness. "No matter."

"You're eager," Gale pointed out with a chuckle. It wasn't uncommon. They had planned lovemaking ventures. But due to their lifestyle, they often engaged in frenzied trysts. "Just give me a moment, love." 

"Well, of course...After today's bloodshed, I wanted nothing more than to find release with my Gale," Elisabeth murmured before she hooked her leg around Gale's waist. She pulled herself into his lap and kissed him warmly on his lips. Gale returned the kiss, sighing as his hands traveled along her back.

"The things I want to do to you," Elisabeth purred against his lips. She ended the kiss before she removed herself from Gale's lap. She gestured over to the bedroll. "Take off your shirt. Lie down." 

Gale nodded, his cheeks flushed with anticipation. He was not sure what his love had up her sleeve, but he was eager to partake in it. He walked over to the bedroll and took off his shirt. He folded the article of clothing neatly and placed it on top of the table near the bedroll. He lay down on his back, watching with a smile on his face as Elisabeth sauntered over to him. 

Elisabeth lowered herself to his body, straddling him. What a vision. "Ah, one more thing to remove..." She hummed quietly before she took Gale's hand. Gale's heart skipped a beat but he took a deep breath. Elisabeth knew what he looked like and she loved him and accepted him for it. Elisabeth removed the silver ring from his finger before promptly tossing it to the side. 

Gale winced as the ring disappeared somewhere on the floor of the tent. "Darling-"

"Oh, oh, oh, my. To see it in this light..." Elisabeth cackled demeaningly. The sound made Gale's blood run cold. The sound was so wrong to his ears. 

"Look at you, all plump and lazy. The picture of a spoiled scholar," Elisabeth mocked, a grin forming on her face.

"Ah...love, I don't know what type of game this is, but I'm not...I'm not a fan of it," Gale mustered out, his cheeks red from embarrassment and not arousal. 

"Game? Oh, he thinks we're playing a game? Oh if it were only a game," Elisabeth giggled out, her hand moving along his soft stomach. "I'm not playing a game." She pinched the side of his stomach, making him wince and turn.

"Eldritch," Gale stated firmly, pulling from her hand. He utilized their safe word. They came up with the safe word when Elisabeth utilized her strap. They never needed to use it outside of that context. But it had to apply in this situation too. She would stop this and he could shake off the crawling anxiety. 

But instead of ending this odd game, Elisabeth only laughed again. "As though you truly have any choice, any right to say no to my observations." Her hands and fingers traveled along his body, squeezing his skin. "Weak, useless, wizard...hiding off in his tent with his nose in a book, stuffing his face with pastries."

Gale attempted to sit up, but suddenly Elisabeth grabbed his wrists. She positioned them above his head and pressed down harshly. Surprised at her strength, Gale could only try to wiggle his way out. "El...Eldritch," He repeated desperately. Even though he knew she heard him, there was a small part that knew that Elisabeth would never purposely hurt him. 

"I heard you the first time, Gale. Do hush unless you have something important to say. Maybe someone else would like to speak for once, instead of hearing your inane, self-absorbed rambling. You're almost as bad as the elf. But at least he's a sight for sore eyes," Elisabeth criticized. She sighed, using her free hand to tap her lip, "Now...where was I..."

"You were exactly the type of person I hated growing up..." Elisabeth hissed at him, her nails digging into his wrists, "Privileged, spoiled, egotistical, power-hungry. Sitting fat and happy in their warm houses while people starved and froze in the streets. Craving power with no regard for the little people trampled in their midst."

Gale searched Elisabeth's face desperately. Something had to be wrong. But this was her voice, her words. Everything he feared was coming true. She finally saw him for what he was. The visions of Elisabeth smiling at him, holding him remained out of reach. He sought to hear the sound of her crying his name in passion, the sweet 'I love yous'. 

"But...because of my own benevolence...I saw past your shortcomings. I ignored the fact that behind the glamor I was laying with a wretch. To sleep with a goddess's ex-plaything; that is quite a trophy," Elisabeth continued to degrade him, her fingers resting now in his long hair. She pulled at his gray-brown locks. She laughed as she looked him over, "Yes, you're a novelty to me, Gale. A toy for me to use until I properly grow bored of you. Do you truly think I loved you? How stupid, how gullible."

"I keep you alive and comfortable. I shield you against Mystra's wrath. I risk my life again and again and again and again..." She gripped his hair tighter. She forced his head off the pillow and hit it against the ground with each 'again'. The shock overwhelmed any physical pain from the action.

"And I come to the tent  I  procured, to find my arrogant, gluttonous sloth of a lover unable to get it up on command. Like any other man. I have been too soft on you, little wizard." 

He couldn't handle looking at her anymore. Elisabeth who was so young, beautiful, confident, and powerful...She pitied him. And now she finally had enough. Gale forced his eyes closed and turned from her burning gaze.

Even if he couldn't see her, Gale could still hear her. She mockingly laughed at him before letting go of his hair. She kept his wrists together. "Hmmm, well, let's see if we can do anything to salvage this unhappy situation." 

Suddenly, something cold, sharp, and metallic was grazing against his face. "Let's see...I wonder if I could do something about this cheek, make it nice and lean." 

"Gale, sweetheart, I'm here-What in the hells?!"

***

Both Elisabeth and Gale physically pulled back once the memory ended. Elisabeth felt sick to her stomach. Gale's insecurity, panic, and sadness nearly drowned her. She struggled to keep her composure. 

"In retrospect, I should have known something was atypical. You never come to bed without refreshing the lavender satchels," Gale commented.

"That is what led you to believe something was wrong? Not the verbal abuse? If Orin bothered to shake up the dried flowers in our tent, you wouldn't have had a second thought?" Elisabeth fired off her questions in disbelief. When Gale flinched back, Elisabeth cursed herself and her tone. "Damn it, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to...I'm sorry." She scooted closer to Gale and wrapped her arms around him. She was relieved when Gale melted in her arms. 

"I am so sorry she hurt you. She's a twisted monster and I cannot wait to kill her for what she has done to you, to us," Elisabeth told him, running her fingers through his hair. "Nothing she said about you was true. I love you. You're brilliant, selfless, gorgeous."

Gale mumbled into her chest, "You're only saying that because of what she said..."

"Fuck that," Elisabeth remarked bluntly, "I'm saying that because it's true. And I'll say it every day until the day I can't speak anymore. Then I'll write it. And if I can't move my hand anymore, then I'll tell you in the Weave. Then we'll die. And I can tell you again and again in the afterlife." 

Gale's shoulders began to move into half of a laugh, half of a sob. Taking it as an encouraging sign, Elisabeth made circles in his back with her finger. "I'm not letting you out of my sight for a very long time. So I hope you enjoyed your privacy while it lasted." 

Gale looked up at Elisabeth. His dark eyes shined with tears but there was a weak smile on his face, "I was foolish to think for a moment that she was you. I'm sorry."

"You don't get to apologize anymore," Elisabeth tutted, continuing to rub his back. "But..." She sighed, setting her head on Gale's shoulder, "There had to be a reason you were so eager to believe her. Something lingering inside of you." 

Gale opened his mouth as though to speak, only for a small whimper to leave. 

"Shhh," Elisabeth comforted him, "We can discuss this tomorrow. When you get some rest. I'm here for you. No matter what. I've chosen you. Just listen..." She eased him onto his back and lay next to him. She kissed the top of his head. 

"I love the wrinkles around your eyes, especially when you smile or laugh. The gray that peppers through your hair. The way your beard feels between my thighs. Your mind is so brilliant and intelligent. I know you only want to do better for everyone. You want to please. You're not selfish. Someone selfish would not do half of what you are doing. Your body makes me feel warm and safe. You enjoy the fine things in life. That is not a vice. I love putting my head in your lap. I can see why I will need to fight Tara over it. You have pleased me in a way that makes me forget the name of any other man or woman. Not because of what you do, but because of the love that is behind it. You make me feel like the most important person in the room."

"I love you, Gale of Waterdeep, Gale Dekarios." Elisabeth continued to stroke his back. With Gale's even, deep breathing, she thought that perhaps he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. But suddenly, Elisabeth felt something cold and metal in her hand. She looked down to see that Gale had passed his ring to her. His glamor was off. Gale curled into her, his face nuzzling into her chest. Elisabeth clasped the ring protectively in her hand before setting it under the pillow. 

"Sweet dreams..." 

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

TW: Homophobia, Bullying, Mentions of violence.

"The company... That you keep, Albus. I don't think is helping you at all"

Elphias Dodge had been the only friend that Albus had managed to have at Hogwarts. Albus was shy and a bit of a nerd. Plus he had a scholarship. So the rich students his age didn't like him. Elphias' family had money. But he was different from the others. Elphias was quiet, reserved, only interested in science facts and outer space. Albus found it interesting to talk to him. And even though Elphias' company wasn't the most fun to be around, Albus appreciated the friendship they had built together. He was Albus only friend in fact. They kept each other company. They made conversation with each other. They studied and made homework together.

That was until Gellert came into his life.

Elphias wasn't a resentful kid. Not even with the assholes that made his life miserable all the time. But he held a grudge with Gellert. He had strong opinions about Gellert.

Perhaps, it had been true. Albus had to admit it. Since Gellert, Albus hadn't spend much time with his old friend. All his life had been surrounded by Gellert and Gellert only.

But Gellert was the contrary of what Elphias was. Gellert was full of life, he was reckless. He did things without thinking. He was passionate and fun. And Albus had discovered many feelings, desires, fears and pleasures with him. Things he didn't know he could feel.

Gellert was pure attraction. Elphias represented someone Albus was no more. He had been changing for the past six months.

"What company are you precisely talking about, Elphias?"

Albus was not stupid. He knew who this was about. Actually that precise person was hiding in Albus' closet at that moment. Albus' cheeks were still red, and Albus' body was still on fire for what they had been doing before they were interrupted.

Elphias sighed, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"You know Grindelwald is not trustworthy" he said "The boy is insane. He doesn't care about school, or grades, or even respecting the authority" he continued "You know the rumors about why he had been expelled from other schools"

Gellert had been an impossible case since day one. He didn't do homework. He answered teachers. He got in trouble. Mr. Dippet thought Albus would've been a good influence for this lost cause.

"That's what I am trying to do, Elphias. Helping him"

"I am afraid he is the other way around. He's corrupting you. He is a bad influence"

Perhaps Albus hadn't influenced Gellert in anything. It had been the other way around.

Albus sighed. Gellert would not like hearing this conversation.

"He is not as bad as he seems"

Elphias looked down, sadly.

"You've changed, Albus" he said, shaking his head "You would've never defended behavior like that before"

Albus didn't know what to say. Perhaps he had changed, yes. But he felt so much free. So much in love.

"You like him, don't you?"

Albus blinked in surprised. Elphias and him never talked about girls like other boys did. Albus thought he wasn't just interested. That he wanted to prioritize his studies and not lose his scholarship. Until he met Gellert and everything made sense.

"Yeah I do, Elphias" he said quietly "I like him so much"

Although Albus didn't know if he meant as friends or something more. He didn't know what Elphias would think about a two-boys-relationship.

"He-e is just using you-u to pa-ass his e-e-e-exams..."

When Elphias got too stressed or too nervous, he stuttered.

Albus sighed "Elphias..."

"Co-ome on! Ca-a-an't you see? He is only going to break yo-our heart!"

So he understood their relationship.

"Why-y... Why would some-e-e-o-o-one like hi- im would set e-eyes on someone li-i-ike you?"

Albus knew it perhaps was true. Ever since Gellert got to the school, he had become very popular amongst girls. Especially with his bad boy persona. Albus wasn't the most handsome or most interesting person there was. But Gellert seemed to want him and only him. Still Albus wondered why.

"Elphias, you don't know him actually..."

"You-u de-eserve bette-er, A-albus!"

"I get what you are saying but..."

Before Albus could continue, Elphias grabbed his shirt and pulled him for a kiss. It was breif. Albus didn't react he was too much in shock. Elphias tasted like cereal and toothpaste. Albus didn't feel anything but pity for him.

Elphias was surprised of what he had done. He started blinking hard and got bright red.

In that moment, Gellert got out of the closet. He seemed furious. He crossed his arms and looked at Elphias in disgust.

"Hello Elphias" he said.

When Elphias saw him he opened his eyes like plates and got even more red if possible.

Albus felt Gellert grabbing his chin.

"In case you are wondering, this is how it's done"

The way Gellert kissed him, left him with his knees weak and without breath. Damn... So much better.

Elphias was looking between the two in amazement. And Albus could see how his eyes got watery. Albus' expression softened.

"I'm sorry" Elphias murmured quickly and decided to disappear out of the dorm.

"Hey, Elphi...."

Albus felt sorry for him. He wanted to go after him. But Gellert grabbed his arm, stopping him.

Gellert laughed.

"Did you see his face?" Gellert said, pulling Albus closer.

Albus pushed him away.

"Did you have to do that?" Albus asked "What if he tells someone?"

Gellert shrugged.

"Who cares?"

"We could be expelled..."

Gellert came closer, Albus closed his eyes in response. It was what he provoked on him.

"That wanker was kissing my man. I had to show him"

Albus smiled.

Gellert began kissing his neck, and Albus felt weak.

"Gellert..." his voice shook "I think I have to talk to him"

Gellert pulled away.

"You care too much about him. Maybe you liked that little kiss of him"

Albus chuckled. But Gellert wasn't joking. He looked angry. He looked jealous. Albus loved it.

"I just don't want your father to find out and taking you away from me"

Gellert had told Albus about the other schools. How Gellert had been expelled for "harassing other boys" or "doing improper things with them". Gellert had been punished for them. His father had been violent with him. He thought that one of the best schools in the world (Hogwarts) would straightened his behavior by now. If Mr. Grindelwald found about Albus, they didn't know what would happen.

Gellert wrapped his arms around him.

"Let's run away together, then" he whispered in his ear.

Albus fantasized with the idea all the time. Most of his teachers told him he had a bright future ahead of him. They had offered recommendation letters to many Universities around the UK and in other countries. If Albus wished to apply, he could get a scholarship. He had top marks.

But that was before falling in love with Gellert. That was before, thinking about all the life they could have together. Universities didn't accept queer blokes.

"Let's wait until graduation first" Albus smiled and wrapped his arms around Gellert's neck "Otherwise, how are we going to have decent jobs out there?"

Albus was hopelessly in love. Many people had tried to reason with him into making him apply for Unis. Surely his father would be proud. He was proud of him being at Hogwarts. But Albus didn't want to listen.

Gellert's family wouldn't approve their relationship. And neither would Albus' family. His devoted Jewish father. His stubborn little brother. His mother and Ariana who had been brainwashed by men in their community. They would never accept Gellert. They would make sure to break them apart.

Albus wouldn't be happy without Gellert. That much was true. So they had to run away.

"I could talk to him. Try to make him stay silent"

Albus was guilty for Elphias' feelings. He didn't know his friend felt this way about him. Albus liked Elphias. Not that way. But he appreciated him as a friend.

"No Gellert" he said "Elphias is not a threat. He will understand and be silent. I promise"

Gellert made a a face. Like he didn't believe it.

"I don't like him..."

"Gellert..."

"He tried to kiss you!" Gellert protested like a little kid.

Albus smirked "He succeeded"

Gellert was red and furious. Albus concluded he looked adorable this jealous. Albus laughed.

"Precisely my point!"

Albus giggled. His fingers played with Gellert's platinum hair. He was so beautiful. Albus could look into those eyes forever. One blue, one brown. He pulled Gellert for a kiss. No one would ever kiss him this way. No one would make him feel this way.

"I will convince him, I promise" Albus whispered after.

"I trust you"

Gellert smirked and pushed Albus to bed.

"Now. Shall we continue with what we were doing before we were interrupted?"

Albus laughed as Gellert climbed on top of him. And Albus forgot about everything and everyone for a while.

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

Elphias didn't wait until Albus spoke to him. He avoided him around the halls, in class, in The Common Room and their dorm. Elphias ran away everytime he saw Albus. As if he had seen a ghost. And a week later, Albus was called to the Headmaster's office.

"Don't worry about it, Albus..." Professor Dippet was saying "Mr. Grindelwald had had this kind of behavior before... If he.... Well if he touched you or forced you to do anything..."

Albus' father was sitting beside him. Aberforth standing in a corner. Always following father around like a little pet.

Albus couldn't shake the horrified look from Gellert's face. He was just outside the Headmaster's office. With his parents. Albus hadn't officially met them. But they seemed horrid and terrifying.

"I understand you didn't have a choice... As innocent as you are..."

Professor Dippet continued speaking. And Albus felt like he wanted to die. He was having a hard time breathing.

"Albus!" his father spoke and made him react "Did that boy touch you or not?"

Albus set his eyes on his brother. He was disgusted and horrified at the same time. Aberforth didn't speak to Albus since he got the scholarship for Hogwarts. Not properly. Albus wondered why would they think of him if they knew he was queer?

His father grabbed his arm violently.

"Did you let him?" he asked with disgust.

Albus swallowed.

"Gellert is only my friend" he whispered.

"What was that?" Mr. Dippet asked.

"Speak up, Boy!" his father pulled his arm.

"I said Gellert is only my friend!" Albus spoke up, trying to sound convincing "He hadn't done anything I don't want to"

Aberforth raised his eyebrow at that. He knew.

"Alright..." his father groaned "I don't want you near him again. I've heard the rumors surrounding him. Why he had done with other..."

Albus panicked.

"No! You cannot forbide me to see him again! He is my friend!"

Albus had never spoke up over his father. He had never dared.

"The resolution is final, Albus!!" his father roared "If you don't listen, I will make sure to get you out of this school. You will become a rabbi, like me"

As his father raised, Mr. Dippet spoke up.

"I shouldn't have let that boy get into that school" then he looked at Albus "You have potential boy, a brilliant future ahead of you. Don't let him ruin it for you"

*********

Gellert wasn't expelled because his parents put a lot of money into the school. But Gellert's father had hit him hard. His beautiful face had bruises to prove it. It broke Albus' heart to see him like this.

"He said he thought I was cured" he said "He thinks I am mentally ill, Albus. He thinks I am bonkers"

Albus didn't know what to say.

Gellert was furious. He plotted about what to do to Elphias late at night while Albus stroked his hair. Of course he didn't stop seeing him. But they had to be more careful now.

"We are not even sure if it was him"

"Who else could had been, eh Albus?" Gellert yelled, now facing him "He was the only one who knew. The only one that saw us kissing!"

Albus didn't say anything.

"You cannot be this stupid, Albus"

"Gellert...You kissed me"

"I can fucking kiss you if I want! I have that right!" he yelled "I wanted to make sure he knew you are mine"

Albus didn't say anything.

"You're mine, Albus. Right?"

"Yes..." he sighed "Of course, but..."

"Fuck! Why don't you want to do anything?"

"Because we will get in trouble!!" Albus yelled too "And we are so close, Gellert! A few months until graduation. And then we will be gone!"

Gellert stared at him.

"I don't want to lose you before that" Albus said softly "I want to have our life together".

Gellert' expression softened. And he kissed him.

"Nobody is going to ruin that" he whispered before kissing him again.

*********

It happened a few days later. Elphias suffered from asthma. He had to have his inhaler all the time. Just in case he had an attack. What caused his attacks? One of the factors was increased intense bullying. Which stressed him a lot. Albus had watched it before. He had been victim of those wankers too. The Knights.

It was happening today. Albus stopped laughing at a joke Gellert was telling him when it started.

They didn't leave him alone. They were laughing and laughing. They laughed even more when the attack started.

Albus observed worried as Elphias searched for his inhaler in his bag. But couldn't seem to find it. The stress of not finding it was making everything worse.

"He is not finding it" Albus found himself saying "He always carries it with him" he was already on his feet "Maybe he left it in our dorm"

Before he could run. Gellert grabbed his arm.

"Albus"

Gellert was grinning. He retrieved something from his pocket. And Albus recognized immediately. Elphias' inhaler.

"Why do you have that?"

"He deserves it after what he did to us"

Albus felt really cold. Like suddenly a cold breeze ran through them. He got goosebumps on his skin. Gellert wouldn't do this. Is what he thought.

Albus swallowed. He couldn't deal with this right now. He reached for the inhaler but Gellert pulled away.

"Give it to me, Gellert" Albus said, he could feel his breathing getting harder "Elphias needs it"

"No"

Elphias seemed like he was struggling to breath. He was even a bit purple. Even the Knights stopped bothering him. Gellert was still grinning.

"Gellert" Albus was getting furious "Give it to me!"

"He wanted to break us apart, love" Gellert said, sadly "He almost managed it. Do you see this bruise?" he pointed to his face "Father was happy to hit me and hit me till death. If mother didn't stop him..."

Albus felt like he wanted to cry.

"Give it to me, Gellert!!" Albus yelled

"He wanted to break us apart. So that he could have you"

"Fuck, give it to me!" it was loud and clear now. Even a few faces turned.

Gellert was taken aback. So Albus took advantage of it and grabbed the inhaler from his hands.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Albus pushed him before running towards Elphias with the inhaler. People had already made a circle around Elphias.

"Move!" Albus spoke up, surprised by his confidence. He hated speaking in public "Everyone move!"

He pushed people away and made his way towards Elphias. He kneeled down in from of him.

"Elphias! Elphias!"

When Albus put his hand on his shoulder, Elphias looked at him with pure panic in his eyes. Albus felt so guilty.

He gave him the inhaler and Elphias grabbed desperately. His hands trembled as he put it on his mouth and inhaled. He had to repeat it three times before he started recovering.

"Seriously, what is wrong you?" Albus spoke the group of boys around them "He could've had died!"

They all seemed embarrassed.

"Gellert told us he was inventing rumors about him" one of them said.

"Yeah! That he is a little puff who had a crush on him? That's why he said Gellert was a puff too"

Albus felt a profound pain in his chest. And he didn't suffer from asthma.

"Gellert said that?" he murmured mostly to himself.

"I am sorry, Albus" Elphias was crying now. Fully crying "I wanted to protect you.... I wanted to get him as far away from you as possible... I had to tell Mr. Dippet. I am sorry"

Elphias sobbed into his hands. And Albus didn't know what to say. He should be the one saying sorry.

"Albus..."

Albus could feel Gellert behind him. With that sad expression. With those puppy eyes of him that made Albus weak. He didn't want to look.

"Albus!"

Albus spoke to Elphias instead.

"I am going to take you to the Hospital Wing"

Elphias had stopped crying. But he stared at Albus like he would start crying again.

"Don't worry about it, Eplhi" Albus smiled at him.

He took his arm and put it around his shoulder, pulling him from the ground.

"Albus!... Albus!!"

"Are you feeling better?"

Albus tried to ignore Gellert's pleads.

Elphias nodded.

They started walking away.

"Albus!... Albus!!.... Hey, Albus!"

Albus didn't want to listen. He didn't want to feel how his heart was already breaking. He was angry at Gellert but he loved him. He loved him so much. It was stupid to think that way but he had done that for them. No! He was bad. That was a bad thing to do.

Albus was still in love with him though. Albus would still run away with him. Albus would follow him to the end of the world.

Little did Albus knew it wouldn't be the first time Gellert would hurt someone for him. Soon enough, Albus would get to see his dark side. His true self.

The worst part was that even then, Albus Dumbledore wouldn't be able to stop loving him.

[academyofbrokenhearts]

Instead of Dancing Alone, I Should Be Dancing with You (IV)

Some introspection from Kaya's POV, followed by the confrontation with Seyran, with a twist.

Author note: I really don't think Seyran is that horrible. She does have the selfishness of the younger sibling who's used for the older sibling to always be there for them, yes, but let's admit it - she was quite on point that İfakat was manipulating Suna (which she was - I know we all loved İfakat for pushing Suna and Kaya together, but she did it for her own schemes, not because she cared about them as people too much), and she had no particular reason to trust Kaya. So I can understand her being bitter and mistrustful. She should have listened to Suna more, though, instead of concluding that the marriage to Kaya was purely the result of İfakat meddling into stuff. It must have been absolutely hurtful for Suna to be judged like that.

Do I think Kaya would ever speak so openly to Seyran? Hell no, not in a million years. But this is my AU fic, and I do what I want with it. He just wants Suna to be happy and at ease, and if that means having some real words with her sister, then this is what he's going to do.

AO3 link here.

So that's how it's going to be, Kaya thinks, laying in bed, eyes to the ceiling, the memory of Suna's lips still lingering on his. He's really getting engaged, and he's going to be married soon, to this girl who was a complete stranger to him merely weeks before.

Not for the first time, he wonders if he did the right thing by being so direct and honest with Suna. It would have been easier, probably, to just tell her he was in love with her. Easier for him to protect his true feelings and vulnerabilities, easier to just hide behind the facade of a man in love, while carefully planning his next steps. Easier all around.

But he really couldn't do it. Even in his room, before their ill-fated kiss (which he cannot bring himself to regret, however), he wanted to make sure that she wasn't doing it out of desperation or because of being manipulated into it, that it was her decision, and hers alone.

Then she came to talk to him, head held high, telling him she was going to solve everything, and he remembers his heart painfully clutching in his chest, because how in the world could she ever find a different solution? What other option did she really have? None, of course, he knew that, and she knew it as well. He saw it clearly in her eyes. I will defend myself, her eyes were saying. I will defend myself, because no one will, and I will not allow any stranger to partake in my misery, to witness my shame. They can trample all over me, I will still rise. Because I must. Because if I don't, no one will help me up.

How strange it was to look at someone else's eyes and see all his fears and insecurities and pride reflected back at him.

How strange it was to feel anything at all.

He's not in love with her, and he can't ever afford to love her, because she would be a weakness, and he can't be weak. Revenge does not suit the weak.

But really, how easy it would be to just let himself fall. If he were a different man. If there would be no nightmares, and no lost childhood. No trace of the suffocating loneliness that has never left him, that he could never alleviate. If his mother would be different. Better. Whole.

If. If. If.

Too many ifs.

He told her they could be good for each other. It would have been true in another life, maybe. In the current one, he doesn't see any happy ending as far as he is concerned. Maybe for her. Maybe the time she will spend at his side will help her spread her own wings. Maybe she will be able to do what he never could. Live a bit. Breathe. Escape the horror.

Maybe his thorns will not destroy her.

Maybe not all women rejected by their families end up as broken shells of themselves, talking with empty eyes to their reflection in the mirror.

He sighs, standing up. There is no use to think of this now.

The door of his room suddenly opens, putting an abrupt stop to his thoughts.

It's Seyran, and she looks angry.

He can't say he didn't expect this, especially after what Suna shared with him in the morning.

He doesn't even pretend to not know why she is there. It would be so easy to act like he has no idea what's wrong, to aggravate her some more, and that's what he would do in regular circumstances, but... He still remembers. Suna's sadness, the way her shoulders sagged in defeat when speaking about her fight with Seyran earlier. Her kindness when she asked him later about his mother, her gentle reassurance.

So he simply says:

"Yes, Seyran, go ahead and speak. I'm sure you have a lot to tell me. I'm listening."

She does seem to be taken aback for a second, then her anger seems to return in full force.

"Your purpose was to fight against me and Ferit from the beginning, am I correct? You helped me with the university thing just because of this. So that we would fight. And when I asked you to not tell him what I had told you... you went ahead and told him everything at dinner anyway, didn't you? Come on, admit it!"

Everything is about Ferit and her, Kaya thinks. Not a very charitable thought, especially considering that he actually did what she accuses him of. Then again, he doesn't feel particularly charitable towards her at the moment, even less so towards his cousin.

"I won't believe a single word coming out of your mouth again, Kaya," Seyran continues, seemingly even more angry at his silence. "And I for sure don't want you to marry my sister, so you will end this entire ridiculous thing!"

"Ridiculous thing, you say?" he finally speaks out, calmly, stepping in front of Seyran.

"You will not fool me, my friend. I will not be fooled. I'm sure you planned everything with İfakat. You saw a pure girl, didn't you? You saw her, and you decided to fool her, to involve her in your games. You saw she was in need of care and love. You saw her weaknesses and you fooled her. Didn't you? You don't even love her. You don't love her. But I will not allow this. I will not allow it, Kaya! That girl is my soul, my soul, my blood, okay?"

"The girl you are calling your soul and your blood was crying on the terrace this morning because of you," Kaya says, and when Seyran attempts to speak again, he raises his arm. "No. I listened to you until now. You will listen to me now. Because I think you have misunderstood some things, and it's about time to sort this out. And I am only going to say it once, and after that I will ask you not to bother me anymore about this topic. Ever."

He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, then opens them again.

"First of all, it's interesting how you seem to despise İfakat so much, and yet she came into this room just last night to tell me almost the same thing as you. Oh yes," he says, when Seyran's eyes widen in surprise, "yes, she told me that I had to do whatever I could to stop the wedding from happening. And I said to her the exact same thing I will say to you now. No. You talked to her before coming here? I'm sure she neglected to mention this small episode, didn't she?"

"You're making up things now and I told you-"

"Like I said, you are going to listen to me until the end. Whatever your opinion might be about me and my actions - I really don't give a damn. I'm not about to excuse or justify myself in front of you in any way. But if you claim to love your sister, just be quiet and go along with this wedding. You know your father pretty damn well by now. You know he will not budge, and any further protest from you will make things worse for Suna, and very likely for you as well. So don't."

"Is that why you are marrying her?!" Seyran exclaims in disbelief. "Because my father forces you to?"

"For the love of God, Seyran! Your father hit your sister. In front of me. He humiliated her. And you know, I pay attention to my surroundings, to the way people act. To what they say and do. It was not the first time it happened, and it won't be the last either, unless someone puts a stop to it."

At this, Seyran finally falls completely quiet, her lips trembling.

"You spoke to her this morning," Kaya says, after a moment of silence, "but I don't think you actually understood what she was trying to convey, right? It's suffocating, Seyran, you know. To live under the crushing thumb of someone else. To feel like you're unworthy. Like you could disappear forever, and no one would care. You got so used to have her by your side, always in your shadow, that you never stopped to ask yourself whether she wanted more, whether she deserved more. You say you want the best for her, but it is not for you to determine what's best for her. That's for her to decide. Don't ask her to choose between you and what she sees as her only chance to escape the hell she's living. It's a cruel thing to do."

By now, Seyran's eyes are full of tears, any trace of her previous anger gone.

"To answer your question," Kaya adds, not unkindly, "I'm marrying your sister because I want to marry her, and she wants to marry me as well. That's the most important part. That's what you need to tell yourself. That your sister and I took a decision like two responsible adults, and that you need to respect it. That's all there is. And whatever you might think about me, I never lied to her. Speak to her, if you don't believe me. Just don't hurt her anymore."

Seyran quickly wipes her eyes with the back of her hand, seemingly unsure of what to say and do. When she opens her mouth to speak again, Kaya stops her.

"Not to me. Remember. To her."

She nods, turns around, and leaves his room, quietly closing the door.

*

Later, he sees them in the garden, talking.

It doesn't look like a fight.

[aressida]

My entry: A Dream: "It is your season." - Aressida. 15.8.24.

And suddenly, it is my turn, and God makes it all happen for me, an opportunity that no one can cancel.

I am here, watching God’s next move unfold. I know He is our defender, and now, He’s turned His gaze toward my journey, along with others who also pray. This is my confirmation.

Is this why I am going to make it?

I can feel it. This is the week where everything changes for me. I see God and His angels working on my behalf right now. My breakthrough is near. He’s lifting me into my destiny.

"Yes, hold on, be strong, and do not give up. You are next in line for your miracle. A few months from now, you will be in a completely different place. Get some rest, it is in My hands."

When I know I am winning, that is when I will be guarding my words. Prayer is becoming my primary language. I know now that those prayers will be answered, one after the other.

God will bless me and my family. God will heal me and protect my loved ones, for I know He will provide for us all.

I prayed, "Thank You, Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, for hearing my cries and giving me strength beyond my natural ability. Great is Your faithfulness. I know I must always pray wholeheartedly, as I work and keep my faith. Thank You for blessing me beyond belief and guiding me to walk in it. I trust in Your promises. Thank You for everything. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

I want everyone to know that I did not get lucky, I prayed. A lot. So remember, never tire of asking God to guide you. This is why I owe God everything. The way He created me is more than enough.

Apart from God, humanity is full of futility.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5.

The Bible describes a prophet as an ordinary person chosen to reveal divine insights that would otherwise remain hidden.

I know in the Bible, Jesus warned His followers, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven."

The Bible is clear that genuine and false prophets will exist until the end. The reconciliation is set at God's appointed time. The Lord is true to His Word. We are to linger, to stay longer than expected, the nation is to wait for it, for it will surely come.

And the message of a true prophet is often hated. A prophet is one who speaks for another, someone who lends their voice to another.

I know this, we are all to be tested by Scripture.

True prophets always direct people to the Bible because every true prophet knows that the Bible is humanity’s sole authority in matters pertaining to God. Yes, we should consider the claims of people who say that God has told them something, but we must test their claims by the Bible.

We are living through seasons of wickedness, misery, and injustice, where the most evil acts of the enemy are being perpetrated against believers. Yet, we must never forget that the Lord is not slow about His promise to us, but is patient toward us, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. God desires that all men are saved and that His born-again children mature in the faith, grow in grace, look to Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, be conformed, day by day, into the image and likeness of Christ.

How, then, can anyone understand their own way?

I was called to live by His faith for years and to trust the Lord, who is faithful to rescue His people and true to His Word. This is why I challenge all words, to be thoroughly tested by the Word of God.

I see myself as an intercessor, transformed into a woman who is fearless, strong in resolve, meek in spirit, pure in heart, and deeply rooted in the Word of God. It takes practice. And I am grateful for this.

[multiverse-aesthetic]

• Chapter 9: Things go wonderfully right or horribly wrong

•A/n :the pic is edited by Me , you can't copy my work , if you share any parts of my fanfic on any kind of applications please give credit ..

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Aurora POV:

After the war we decided to take a break before we go to isngard just to catch our breaths.

I was sitting by table drinking the drink that awen gave it to me and suddenly, the door of the castle burst open

"Why you did not tell us?"

Legolas said angrily storming inside the castle and came at the table where i was sitting at

"Tell you what?" i said confused as i was sipping from the drink i had in my hand

"This" he slammed papers on the table while everyone sat there watching.

"What is this I don't know what are you talking about?" I said as i looked over the papers

Legolas handed me a paper with a sketch in it , a women flying high with a crown on her head and magic in her hands and in this moment i knew this is not going to end well .

"Did you know?" legolas asked Gandalf "that's why you wanted her with us" he added

"Of course i knew , what in those papers is not true she is a good person" Gandalf answered him legolas totally ignored his answer and looked back at me

"Go on read it" legolas handed the paper to me

"What?" I said with tears in my eyes

"You heard me read it"

"Legolas th-" Aragon said but legolas interpreted him

"No Aragorn, she lied to us all this time" he told him

"She is from another world , she even lied about it , she said she was from Nevada , a world were she doesn't even know about" he said angrily looking at me

"I did not lie" i said

"Yes you did" legolas said with more force

"She is a myth called the white witch, that's why she has this powers " he said pointing at me

"Why are you doing this?" I said tearfully

"We trusted you , I trusted you" he said more angry

"I- I know I lied but I was going to tell you all I swear " i said defending myself

"You know I'm not like this right? I don't use my power for this"

i said as tears streamed down my face i looked to them

"I - I know I lied but I did this for your own good I did this to help you I just didn't want to scare you that's all" I said explaining myself

"yes i may be the white  witch but I'm not a bad person" i confessed

"And even if some people think I'm evil" i say going up to him

"i would never hurt you" i said reaching for his hand but he quickly moved away

I turned to the rest more tears started to fall

"i would never hurt any of you"

"Legolas i think it is not a good time to discuss this , she helped us and she's a good person and our Friend" Aragorn said

Legolas looked at me , and this look was different so different not the lovely look any more

"legolas please" i said trying to reach out for his hands again but he packed away and left "i did not lie , i swear" i said

"No , what they said about you it's true" legolas said turning back at me

"It's your destiny to destroy the world , to corrupt everything that is alive and pure"

"What ? No you do not mean that" i said sadly walking up to him

"Oh no i mean it"

"You are a monster that's what you are" and with that he left the castle.

Everyone fell silent

I stood there in disbelief, I can't believe what had my ears heard

He called me a monster.

"I'm not a monster" i said to myself but Loud enough for others to hear "i - I'm not a monster" i said louder this time.

I got up and went to my room i sat on the bed that sketch it's still in my hands looking at it tears falling on the paper

And all i think about is that he would never trust me the same.

I heard knocking on the door i didn't have the urge to see who it is but when they took the paper from hands i knew it was Aragorn , he sat next to me

"Don't bother to think about it, he was just angry because he cares for you , he was just shook just like all of us but he reacted different,he did not mean to call you that" i heard him say softly

"He will never trust a monster like me and he made that clear" i say sniffling and wiping my tears from my face i look at him

He was concerned

"you are not a monster, you are our friend , things will work out , it's legolas he forgives quickly do not worry about him"

I took a deep breath

"fine , i think we should go now we have a long ride don't we Aragorn" i told him mocking the words he told me before in Rohan he smiled and said

"i think we do my lady"

[adventism-atheism-orthodoxy-me]

Nobody Cares. Period.

I said this to my daughter once.

That was a mistake, even though mostly true. Because I really did care, and I don't think she quite picked up that I wasn't talking about myself but of the World - "Out there".... However, even so, nobody else would have listened to either of us - her or me regarding her problem. That's why she was telling me about it, and I was helpless. It had to do with school, and interpersonal relationships, and I knew from experience that bullies don't care what others feel. It is completely beyond them - whether school administrators who were the problem, the garden variety playground bully who was the other problem, or corporate managers who were my most recent problems - nobody cares.

I think it might have been one of the things that damaged, broke even, our special father-daughter relationship - that failure to make clear that I didn't include myself among the 'nobody'.

Nevertheless, it's true. We live in a society where caring is institutionally useless, dangerous even. Nobody cares.

My family isn't rich or powerful. We don't give large amounts of money to prominent organizations or peddle influence to get friends and acquaintances into positions of wealth or power. We are nothing. We are representative of the nothings that have built pretty much everything that has defined every civilization since the dawn of man, while the credit has gone to our more powerful and connected superiors. Our Kings, Emperors, Caesars, and CEOs.

Nobody cares except God. He cares.

Scoff.

Feel free.

I believe in a God who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him would have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

People get bogged down in details - what does "believe" mean, what about people who don't know to "believe", etc…

All nonsense.

"…the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40)

Also,

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Some scoff at the idea of an "invisible Church".

Fine.

Scoff.

God will know his own.

"Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them." (Romans 2:14-15)

And the rest?

Well, there's the river of fire, the lake of fire… There's other imagery that various Christians use, some Biblical, some from Dante, some images come from other sources. But at the end of the day those who did not, or do not care, their self-absorbed entitlement, their narcissism, will be all they have to cling to in whatever future there is.

I believe that because of Christ's work on the cross, the infusion of divinity into the human condition, these people will live for eternity in the tatters of their self importance. Others believe in a different outcome. It really doesn't matter. None of it is good.

None of it will be punitive, as in, a transgression of a moral law, but will be entirely based upon the orientation of an individual's heart (Deuteronomy 30:6).

Our role on earth is to care as Christ did, when no one else will.

That's what makes Christianity so radical.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)