#Onyx Stone Price List

[sakhshimandal]

Affordable Wristwear Ideas That Make Great Gifts for Men

When it comes to finding the perfect gift for men, wristwear often tops the list. It combines practicality with style, making it a versatile and thoughtful choice. While watches are the most common type of wristwear, there’s an entire world of other accessories that can adorn a man’s wrist and elevate his style. From bracelets to fitness bands, wristwear offers numerous affordable options that are perfect for gifting.

1. Leather Bracelets

Leather bracelets are a timeless and versatile option. They come in various designs, ranging from sleek and minimalistic to rugged and bold. Affordable and durable, leather bracelets can match both casual and semi-formal outfits, making them a great gift for men who appreciate understated elegance. Many options include adjustable straps, ensuring a perfect fit for the recipient.

2. Beaded Bracelets

Beaded bracelets are trendy, stylish, and available in a wide range of colors and materials. Whether made from natural stones like lava, tiger’s eye, or onyx, these bracelets add a unique touch to a man’s wardrobe. Beaded wristwear is often associated with energy and mindfulness, making it an excellent choice for someone who values wellness and spirituality. You can even find budget-friendly options that maintain a premium look.

3. Cuff Bracelets

Cuff bracelets are bold, sleek, and minimalistic. These accessories are usually made from metals like stainless steel, copper, or brass, and can feature unique engravings or finishes. Cuff bracelets are easy to wear and pair well with both formal and casual attire. For an affordable option, look for simple designs that offer sophistication without breaking the bank.

4. Fabric Wristbands

Fabric wristbands are another excellent wristwear choice, especially for those who enjoy a sporty or casual look. Made from durable materials like nylon or paracord, these wristbands often come in vibrant colors and patterns. Some designs are even multifunctional, such as survival paracord bracelets, which include tools like compasses or fire starters. These practical and budget-friendly options make a thoughtful gift for men with an adventurous spirit.

5. Silicone Bracelets

Silicone bracelets are lightweight, comfortable, and perfect for active men. They are water-resistant and ideal for workouts, outdoor activities, or casual wear. Silicone bracelets come in various designs, including motivational quotes, logos, or sleek solid colors. Their affordability makes them an excellent gift idea, especially for fitness enthusiasts.

6. Magnetic Therapy Bracelets

Magnetic therapy bracelets combine style with functionality. Believed to have health benefits, these bracelets are said to help with blood circulation and pain relief. Made from materials like stainless steel or titanium, they are often available at affordable prices. With their subtle designs and potential wellness benefits, they’re a thoughtful gift for men who prioritize health.

7. Chain-Link Bracelets

Chain-link bracelets are a bold and classic wristwear option. These bracelets, often made from stainless steel or other durable materials, come in various finishes like silver, gold, or black. Chain-link designs are eye-catching yet versatile, suitable for men who enjoy making a style statement. Affordable options often replicate the look of high-end designs, providing a luxurious appearance without the hefty price tag.

8. Wrap Bracelets

Wrap bracelets, typically made of leather, fabric, or a combination of materials, are a trendy and affordable choice. They offer a layered look that adds depth to a man’s style. Some designs incorporate beads, charms, or metallic elements for extra flair. Wrap bracelets are ideal for men who appreciate bohemian or artistic aesthetics.

9. Fitness Bands (Non-Smart)

If you want to gift something practical, consider non-smart fitness bands. Unlike their high-tech counterparts, these wristbands are budget-friendly and focus on basic features like step counting or calorie tracking. Their sleek and sporty designs make them a functional yet affordable wristwear option.

10. Customizable Wristwear

Customizable wristwear allows you to add a personal touch without overspending. Options like engraved cuffs, braided leather bracelets with initials, or beaded designs featuring birthstones or favorite colors make for meaningful gifts. Customization adds sentimental value, making the gift memorable.

How to Choose the Right Wristwear

When selecting wristwear as a gift for men, consider the recipient’s personal style and lifestyle. A sporty individual may prefer silicone or fabric wristbands, while someone with a more formal wardrobe might enjoy cuff or chain-link bracelets. Additionally, neutral colors like black, brown, or silver are versatile and complement most outfits.

Conclusion

Affordable wristwear provides an excellent way to give a thoughtful and stylish gift for men without exceeding your budget. From leather and beaded bracelets to chain-link and silicone options, the variety ensures that you can find something for every personality and occasion. These accessories not only enhance a man’s style but also show that you’ve put thought into the gift. So, whether you’re shopping for a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, wristwear is a practical, trendy, and meaningful choice.

[vintagebitchgifts]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: New S925 Sterling Silver Artisan Natural Polished Black Onyx Tibetan Earrings.

[y2k-aesthetic]

I know it's off topic for my blog, but due to serious need for the money, I'm sharing a couple other items I'm listing for sale online.

I've been selling things off wherever I can for some much-needed cash right now.

I figured I'd share here too, on the tiny offchance anyone would be interested, or would know someone else who might be.

It would help a TON if I could find a buyer for one or both items. I've also listed them locally on FB Marketplace and shared in a few Discord servers. Basically anywhere I can that makes sense.

Item 1: Set of 2 Authentic German Beer Steins: $50 for the pair (plus $10 for US domestic shipping)

These lovely German beer steins are a great addition to an enthusiast's collection, or to your kitchen decor!

Item 2: Set of two solid carved onyx horsehead bookends: $50 for the pair (plus $20 for US domestic shipping, due to their weight)

Hate to ask so much for shipping, but it's almost certainly in line with the expected cost, possibly even a little low, because they're solid stone and they're heavy. (UPS prices by weight.)

These striking bookends are carved from 100% pure grey and reddish onyx. An elegant addition to a book lover's shelf!

DM me if interested, and we'll go from there.

PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp would be fine for payment. If outside the US, we can talk a bit and figure out what's fair for shipping since the cost would be higher.

[mandragora-officinorum]

If I may, I'd like to add to this as a practicing occultist/witch (and not the threefold law type, the "how far do I go down the trance rabbit hole and who do I meet there" type).

From a practitioner's and an academic standpoint, crystals/stones/rocks don't have innate healing powers. What they have (in the Renaissance model) is an innate resonance or synchronicity with a celestial sphere. Each celestial body has its own sphere of influence, excepting the fixed stars which have their own massive one outside of the planets/luminaries, and each one of the celestial spheres has its own connections to Earth, or the sublunar sphere. That's why you'll find old lists from, say, the Picatrix listing traits, times of day, places, colors, and yes, even stones that are linked to a planetary sphere. Everything in this model has synchronicity with something here, and as a result that particular thing carries the resonance or connection with that planetary sphere.

For example, Saturn is listed as the ruler of "onyx and all black stones; among metals lead, iron and all metals that are black and smell bad." (Picatrix, Greer and Warnock, 2010) Per this, all black stones would be ruled by Saturn, and thus find a sort of natural harmony with that sphere of influence.

With that established, let's talk about why these are all definitely still scammers!

Do you know why the Picatrix lists things like this? Not just because all things in the sublunar sphere have connections and resonance with the celestial spheres, but specifically to show how to do magic with them. I won't go into the nitty-gritty of astrological magic and talismans (Chris Warnock is a fantastic resource on this; if you want to understand it better I recommend his website https://www.renaissanceastrology.com/), but the essential part I want you to grasp is that a specific rite and action must be taken to "ensoul" the intended item with the relevant planet. Talismans in the Renaissance astrological magic tradition are ensouled items, born under specific conditions that do best with an item that is under that planet's rulership (to make the spiriting easier) and actively beseeching the planet itself to make a home in the item. (There's also a lot of rules for auspicious timing for these that are far too thorough for me to list here, and that can also change depending on the effect you want to have.)

Now, this is just for the Renaissance astrological magic model of dealing with stones, but I can assure you that I've never seen any other spiritual or magical model where you just pick a fucking rock up and say, "This can fix you!" Not without actual effort from some kind of person who specializes in that exact thing. And let's be real, no talismanic artist worth their salt would ever tell anyone that their talismans will cure them. Every responsible occultist knows the phrase, "Please go talk to your doctor about that."

If you do find a talismanic artist who makes those claims, run, don't walk, away from them.

So just to recap: per Renaissance-era astrological magic, stones might have an innate synchronicity with a planet, but you actually have to do something to it to refine it in order for any magic to actually happen. You can't just pick it up off the fucking ground, mark up the price by 300%, and say it cures polio. And even then, talismans wouldn't have been the go-to for curative properties either - that's what medicine was for. Only swindlers would act like this, and even if you are magically operant, I don't want to hear anything defending these scammers.

good fucking lord we need to demystify minerals. crystals do not have healing or magical powers you guys are just getting scammed

[vandecloset]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Colorful Pandora Cabochon Charms - PRICE PER CHARM.

[ourtumbler30things]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWT BARSE 3-Set Onyx Howlite Abalone Bracelets.

[pweetykitten]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWOT Natural Onyx Stone Unisex Cross.

[ageue]

Agra and last day in Delhi. 🪴

We arrived at Agra train station on time and had organised a taxi driver to take us to the Taj Mahal for 2 hours and then onto Delhi so we could get in for a dinner reservation at 7pm. In india (as I’ve mentioned) you could be taken on all sorts of journeys and the driver first took us to his friend as he was a guide before jay told him ‘just take us to the Taj’ - this was the beginning of Jays frustration. Never did I think he would be the one to say he’s looking forward to some ‘order’.

The Taj was absolutely beautiful - it was crazy and chaotic and full of people but absolutely magnificent. It’s one of those moments where photos really don’t encapsulate what it’s like in the flesh. The Taj is actually a graveyard for a famous King and took 22 years to build. The building is completely made out of marble, adorned with beautiful floral work and Arabic writings from the Koran. All of the flowers (which I’ll put a photo up) are not painted but made from stones such as Indian jade, onyx and Coral. You definitely get an appreciation for the design as the marble had to be carried by camels from 350km away…Furthermore, the four pillars on each corner are at a slight angle pointing outwards. This was designed so if there was ever an earthquake, the pillars would not fall directly onto the central structure but fall outwards. It’s incredibly intricate and I’m surprised it only took 22 years! By the time we were taken through, it was 1.30pm so we were on time (so we thought) as it was a 3.5 hour drive back to Delhi. We got to our hostel at 6:45pm following some tough words with our driver, we quickly showered and jumped in a Tuk-Tuk to head to dinner. It was a lovely night and great to dress up. The restaurant is called Indian Accent and has been ranked in Asia’s Top 50 restaurants. I’m going to say that as much as it was nice to enjoy an absolutely delicious Aperol spritz, the food was average and it made me feel incredibly blessed for the food we have back home. We were laughing over dinner at the fact you can’t turn Indian street food into fine-dining food…it’s just not quite the same!

The next day Jay picked up his Sitar and we had made a list of the things we wanted to get in Delhi. First stop was Khan Market to pick up this silk dress I had my eye on since visiting Delhi at the start (I said to myself if it was there when we returned, it was meant to be). We also visited this beautiful little bookshop called Faqir-Chand bookstore which just had piles and piles of books. We have been reading lots so had to find new books 📚 The second stop was tricky to find from our first visit (there are many shops called Textile Bazaar) but we managed to hunt it down and got our favourite scarves for an incredible price. We then perused Connaught place for the last time and had a bite to eat before heading back. We were so desperate for some cornflakes so we had cornflakes and milk in our coffee mugs for dinner. Hilariously, the supermarket downstairs had nothing smaller than a 1kg bag (but the shopkeeper ensured we got this one as it was ‘buy one get one free’ so we offered the rest to the workers at the hostel haha). The milk here is so cute - it comes in a small square plastic bag which you wouldn’t expect (I can’t work out how they get it in there!).

The next day at the airport was somewhat stressful. Jay had a flight at 8am and my flight was at 9am so we went together. We eventually got through but I had to reprint my ticket which delayed us. I then I said I’d meet jay at his gate (as he was flying to Europe) and I missed him as it was the last gate at the very end of the airport! Very sad 😢 but at least we both got on our flights!

There’s certainly a charm to India. I’ve spent this flight reflecting on the trip. It was unlike anywhere I’ve been before. Just as Jay and I were saying in the Tuk-Tuk last night, it’s somewhere you have to visit to understand it’s magic.

[atelier27]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NATIVE AMERICAN Inspired Costume Jewelry Set, Brooch & Earrings.

[rkmarblesindia-blogs]

Are Onyx Stone kitchen countertops right for you?

Onyx countertops are an increasingly popular choice for home and commercial applications. Onyx stone has a unique natural beauty and due to its rarity and price, it is becoming just a popular design choice. While onyx has aesthetic benefits, there are also some practical challenges you should consider before installing an onyx countertop.

Onyx is considered a limestone and naturally forms when limestone melts and turns into a new solid. The properties of this new material make onyx translucent, which is one of the reasons why Onyx Stone is a popular choice. Compared to other stones, this makes onyx a fragile material that should be handled with care. Onyx can be found in a variety of light or pastel colors including but not limited to reds, browns, blues and greens. Because of the way onyx is formed, it often has beautiful swirls, circles, or other fluid patterns that give it a unique and dramatic appearance.

Translucent pieces of onyx lend themselves to recessed lighting for an added wow factor. This makes onyx a popular choice for nightclubs and restaurants where the bar is the focus of the space and often the entire counter is made with onyx backlit and give it a unique and sexy look. Homeowners and living room owners can copy this look on their kitchen table, bathroom or wet bar. Before choosing onyx for your countertop, there are a few things you should consider.

Onyx is considered a soft stone. Because it is recycled from molten material, it is fragile in nature and can easily be chipped, scraped or broken. For vertical applications, it will usually come with a fiberglass backing to prevent damage. If your countertop is for food preparation or enjoyment, keep in mind that acidic substances such as wine and lemon juice can stain the onyx. Onyx Stone will almost always be sealed before use to give you protection. Since onyx is not as hard as other countertops, be careful with heavy objects and activities that can cut things.

Using a large onyx countertop will eventually make it look worn. This is something to consider because onyx is considered a rare material and will be expensive. This is another reason why you will want to save money on this type of sealant. Preferably one that doesn't fail. Because onyx stone is expensive, you will find these types of countertops in high-end applications such as hotels, restaurants, hotels and restaurants, condominiums and apartments. Undoubtedly, Onyx Stone can be a sexy and outstanding design choice. Its unique creative design lends itself to unique colors and patterns that add architectural impact to your kitchen or bathroom. When you consider the choice of this material, consider its effectiveness and pay close attention to your budget, because onyx is an expensive material that will require your care.

Please take some time to visit mine..

[softinkshadows]

Hot spring tales (Hisoka x female reader)

A Hisoka x female reader one-shot, with a sprinkle of Chrollo.

Situated in the HxH universe with canon timeline.

Disclaimer: nsfw, contains smut and explicit sex (but we know you're here for that)

Word count: 5000++ (wow did i just write 5000 words of smutty smut)

----

Pale, slender fingers tap against the phone screen. He finds the contact he is looking for and dials the number, raising the phone to his ear. Around him, dusk settles over the ragged terrain of the Gordeau desert. The wind gains in strength, almost pushing his combed black hair free.  The phone rings for a few seconds before the person on the other end picks up.

“Did you figure it out already?”

“Probably,” he says, his grey eyes catching the last wisps of fading light to the west. “The nen exorcist may very well be on Greed Island, which is East of York New. It seems you will need to enter the game as well.”

“Shall I procure one of Battera’s? He did buy all of the ones auctioned this time round.”

“No, that risks complicating things. What we need is a game privately owned by someone who is easily contactable, allows us to stay untraceable, preferably one who we wouldn’t have to kill and is reasonable towards helping…” he trails off, realizing that there is indeed someone who matches the conditions, someone who he would very much like to avoid for the time being… The irony of fate, he thinks, grimacing in irritation.

“It seems we will need to pay a visit to her.”

“Her?”

“I will send the address over to you. It’ll take me at least a day to get there, so you should start moving first. It would be better if you were the one handling negotiations this time round. And avoid mentioning my name, or the troupe’s.”

“Oh?” the voice on the other end piques with curiosity.

“We have… history. I’ll trust that you can strike a deal by the time I’m there?”

“Of course. After all, the chance to fight you is on the line.” He can almost hear the other man smirking gleefully through the phone.

“It’ll be dangerous, so try your best to be good, or our deal is off. Consider this a warning, Hisoka.”

----

You find yourself back at your quarters after dinner, alone in the large dressing room. Looking in the mirror, you arrange your hair neatly around your bun, making sure to tidy it for the next wave of customers tonight.

The underground auction has recently ended, and more people are flocking to your establishment. Kurohasu Onsen (Black Lotus Onsen) is renowned as the gathering-place for anybody who is somebody: a bathhouse that functions as neutral ground for politicians, powerful members of the mafia and hunters who have ties to the underworld to carry out business negotiations. A safe haven for murderers and thieves. All are welcome, although at a hefty price. The exorbitant entry fee is itself a gatekeeper of accessibility, and many have brought treasures and precious artefacts in the hope of gaining your favour. As weapons are allowed for protection, fights inevitably break out, but rarely do they erupt into something serious. All staff at the onsen are strong nen-users who pay close watch to customer behaviour. They have nen-restrainers on hand to subdue feisty ability users, and if not, there’s you, whose mysterious yet formidable presence is enough to elicit compliance. It is not uncommon to see off customers with missing limbs and near-fatal injuries, a warning punishment for breaking the establishment’s regulations. Furthermore, it is the iron-clad rule that the onsen is the one place where truce is enforced, upheld, respected. And you, the infamous proprietor, the black lotus of Kurohasu Onsen, are not someone to be crossed. Your customers are well aware of this.

You get up, ready to leave, when you turn to look at the mirror again. Your black onyx hairpin fits in and across your bun, easily reachable within seconds. Your eyes travel down to look at the black shimmering contours of your silk robe with its ornate floral embroidery, opening at two slits that end above the knee, the garment tied fittingly at the waist with a scarlet obi sash. Presentable, you hum in approval, before walking out the door.

Your secretary Esa is already waiting. “Give me updates,” You demand.

She follows you briskly down the corridor as you make your rounds to greet notable clients. Esa does this every three hours, reciting the list of new guests checked in since the last report, the rooms they booked, the meetings they have arrived for, and the fees paid. You remember everything, noting the ones who offer presents not entirely up to standard, or troublesome ones with a sketchy behavioural record.

“A while ago, a Hisoka Morow checked into the deluxe room. 50,000 Jenny a night for 2 nights, with a possible extension.”

The name catches you slightly off guard. You have never met the man, but from your intel he’s one of the most sought-after fighters at Heaven’s Arena. And a dangerous murderer too. But as far as you know, the man works alone and doesn’t get involved with politics. Why would someone like him be here?

“He has a meeting?” you turn to Esa.

“If he had, he did not say. Most likely for leisure, though. The onsen is famous for its baths too,” replied your attendant matter-of-factly.

You pause for a while to think, before calling over a male security staff with a wave of a finger. “Keep tabs on Hisoka. Let me know if he’s up to anything.” The staff bows and immediately embarks on fulfilling your order. You return to your duties for now, but the seed of suspicion and uneasiness does not go away.

---

“Ahh… now this is not bad,” Hisoka smiles to himself as he climbs into the water. He rests his head against the smooth stone edge of the outdoor bath, watching the steam lift gently from the softly rippling surface. When Chrollo told him about this place, he expected it to be dim and grimy, trawling with underworld scum. Instead, what greeted him was the pure luxury of mineral-rich baths, large clean rooms and 1000 thread-count sheets. He could get used to this. Not to mention…

His eyes wander over the bath, taking stock of the situation. Being quite late at night, most guests have retired to respective meeting rooms for drinks and negotiations, with only a smattering of visitors, mostly individuals or pairs, left lounging in the outdoor section. The only other people are the ever-present security staff, including one particularly persistent male staff standing at the private viewing balcony above. At least the nen users here are stronger than usual. A slight tremor of pleasure runs through his body, and he runs his fingers through his wet hair to shake the feeling before it builds into bloodlust. It’s been a while since he killed. He is still riled up from two days ago, thanks to the blond runt. And Chrollo, that damn bastard.

He observes the nen-users with half-closed eyes. 75… 80… 85… He evaluates. Not too shabby. Then he senses it. 97!! He feels the sudden presence, an impeccable zetsu with a tinge of icy smoothness and fiery calm toiling beneath its surface. It is enough for him to widen his eyes and sit up straight, a hot tingling sensation travelling down his spine, pleasure surging into his body for a split second, almost goading him into a fight right there and then. Well, what do we have here? He looks to the source of this pressure, golden eyes flashing and meeting yours, as you look down at him from the balcony above.

One look and you know he clearly lives up to his reputation. He is suppressing his power by default, but his presence leaves a slight prickling static in the air which only stronger nen users can detect. He also seems to have noticed you, judging by the slight shift his posture, the electrifying gaze beneath his damp red hair and the sudden tension in the air with his nen flaring, almost breaking its zetsu. Despite the distance, both of you lock eyes for a moment, each one feeling out the other, gauging abilities, locating motives. What the hell is his aim? You face the sheer intensity of his gaze with your own cold, calculating glare, both of you guarding your intentions yet attempting to penetrate through the other’s guise, staring each other down as if in a challenge. No one relents. But you can’t help but feel a rising irritation, that the man sitting naked in the outdoor bath three floors beneath you is getting under your skin, and a distracting kind of warmth creeps in... You look away. You nod to the staff to continue strict monitoring and return to your room.

Hisoka watches you leave, and instinctively his fingers run through his hair again, this time harder than the last. Oh, Chrollo… Don’t tell me that’s her? A smile tugs at the corner of his lips. Oh, you were right. This is going to be dangerous.

---

You don’t hear any more concerning updates on Hisoka until later the next day. Besides using the baths for extended periods of time, and mild complaints from other guests of his lengthy and uncomfortable stares, he hasn’t caused any trouble. He hasn’t physically contacted anyone either.

���Come again?” you stop abruptly, mid-way through scanning the paper records of this month’s taxes and bills, glancing up at your secretary.

Esa clears her throat and speaks again. “Madam, Hisoka Morow has requested for a meeting with you today.”

Hmph. You scoff a little, your eyes narrowing to ponder the next course of action. You had expected something like this. There is no way someone like him would travel all the way here just to use the baths, let alone without engaging anyone. If his aim is to negotiate matters with you, it must be something quite serious, given that neither of you have gone out of your way to meet with each other previously.

“Shall I cancel?” Esa asks, ready to deliver the order and reject the fool that had the nerve to request a meeting with you on such short notice.

“No. Make it tonight at eleven, after I complete my usual rounds.”

“Understood.”

---

It is night, and the onsen quietens for the day. Only the soft rushes of spring water from the outdoor baths and the muffled sounds of late-night negotiations drift by. You find yourself finally seated across from him in one of your private meeting rooms, both of you silent but never once taking your eyes off each other, quietly assessing one another.

Now up close and clothed in a blue yukata, accentuating the red hair that falls close to his shoulders, you can’t help but find him just a little more attractive than you imagined. His golden eyes are calm, steady, even confident, a rarity for anyone for finds them in a room alone with you. Most people would have bowed their head in submission long ago. You keep your own icy composure. But the force of his nen suppressed under zetsu, his incredibly toned body beneath his yukata and that arrogant way he looks at you make your body feel warmer than usual.

When he sees you for the first time that night, seated on the far end of the room, he feels it again. That powerful presence that keeps goading him, that sends electrifying jolts through his body. You’re seated comfortably on the floor, almost reclining, yet the hard, murderous edge of your gaze shows you are constantly on guard. Simply exquisite. He almost licks his lips but controls himself. A fine opponent… to kill? No, no, much too soon… that would be a waste. Chrollo comes first.

The meeting hall is much too large for two people, spanning over 24 tatami in size. On both sides, paper screen doors open out into an elegant view of the autumn trees in the estate, shedding its red delicately in the wind. A long, low black lacquer table in the center of the room separates you and him, each of you seated on either end. Silence continues to hang in the air. A staff gracefully pours a luxurious blend of sencha into the cups, before she places the tea pot and tray on the floor, bows, and takes her leave quickly. You notice Esa hovering by the doorway to the room.

“Esa, you may go.”

“But Madam-” your secretary protests but stops as you give her a glare. She of all people would understand you’re probably the last person in the establishment who needs any form of protection. As her footsteps recede down the hallway outside, you turn back to the man in front of you.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you today?”

“It has come to my knowledge,” Hisoka finally speaks, and the slow, sly curl of his tone lights another fire in you, “that you are in possession of one of the most sought-after items in the world of late. I have a pressing need for it and would like to negotiate a deal.”

“I’m a collector of the rarest treasures, so you’re going to have to be more specific,” you scoff, taking a sip of your tea.

“I’m talking about a certain game.”

“Ah, Greed Island,” you retort indifferently, although inwardly puzzled. Why would he go to such lengths just for a game? Didn’t seem like the type. “What makes you think I’ll agree to your request? What is in it for me?”

Hisoka pauses, contemplating something before pushing onwards with a slight smirk. “I’m not sure if you know of a certain man by the name of… Chrollo Lucilfer?”

He waits for the intended effect and sure enough, you react. Immediately, at the mention of the name you’re hit with an unpleasant sensation that makes you grit your teeth, and your eyes blaze with a hint of fury. Without realizing, a cracking sound fills the room as the cast iron tea pot on the floor dents with the force of your nen.

Hisoka looks at the pot quietly before he smiles, lifting the tea cup to his lips, his eyes only growing darker as he trains his gaze on you. Interesting. “May I know, if it’s not too much to ask, the reason for your disdain of the man?”

“I’ve known him for a long time. He tried to kill me twice, once on purpose and the second time by accident. Clearly, he did not succeed,” you say, finishing your tea.

Beautifully exquisite. Another thrill runs through his spine, almost making him tremble with excitement. Perhaps it would be safe to suggest…

“I’m looking for Chrollo. He’s been running from me for a while now, and last I heard he has been spotted hiding out in the game. I would very much like to settle our score soon. Of course, perhaps to your advantage I fully intend on killing him, with pleasure,” Hisoka continues, waving his hand in the air with dismissive complacency.

“If only it were so simple,” you retort, knowing the full potential of Chrollo’s abilities. “And how can I take you for your word?”

“You can’t.”

You look up in mild distaste at Hisoka. What a bastard. You could slit his throat right now, with that cocky expression of his. And yet, your body feels a little hot when he’s looking at you, his gaze ruthlessly penetrating and his nen just on the edge of flaring.

“Name your offer, Hisoka.” You say his name for the first time, aware of how his gaze hardens when you do so, and your body burns with a strange desire which you suppress under the guise of irritation.

“I’m not offering.”

“What?”

“Allow me to use the game, or I will go on to kill everyone in this establishment, including your precious secretary and all your guests. It’s been a while since I had fun and I won’t stop when I do.”

The audacity. You slam your cup on the table and glare at him, your nen bristling beneath the surface. It was a mistake to let him into the bathhouse. And the worst part is that he is right. He could take out everyone except you here with ease, and you’d lose your manpower, your reputation, your business. Everything you worked hard for since leaving meteor city years ago. Perhaps it’ll be wise to dispose of him right here, right now.

In a split second, you draw the long onyx pin from your hair, leaping across the length of the table with such grace and speed that the tea in Hisoka’s cup barely ripples, as you aim for this throat, slicing the air in front of you. He dodges at the last moment, his eyes wild with a feral look as you nick of a few strands of his hair and the sharp edge of your hairpin draws a faint red line along his throat. He grins. He’s clearly enjoying this. He moves to land a counter-attack but you jump away. You’ve put distance between the two of you again; you grip your hair pin, calm and poised for another strike, while he similarly crouches, one hand reaching to stroke the mark you made on his throat.

“Now you’re just getting me excited,” his voice drops to a low purr.

Here you are, seconds after nearly killing him, and you feel your body reacting to his voice and his unapologetic desire. You know you have the power to end him, yet a tingling sensation creeps over the lower half of your body. You can feel sweat starting to gather around your stomach, while another warm wetness pools further below, between your legs. It’s been so long since anyone made you feel this way. Not since… Your thoughts are interrupted as he appears behind you, aiming for your head.

“Pay attention, darling.”

There’s barely any sound in the meeting room as you and Hisoka continue to spar in near complete zetsu, restraining nen to avoid alerting the attention of other guests and the security staff. His eyes gleam more with your every strike, his moves maintain its strength but do not get more forceful, and neither do yours. You feel the exhilaration of the near-misses, of your bodies brushing against one another before pulling away, the light friction of fabric against fabric, as if locked in a graceful dance that neither of you want to end. Moonlight cascades through the open balcony, and there’s a glint in Hisoka’s eyes.

“Let’s stop pretending we’re serious about killing each other, shall we?” he quips with a smirk.

His words register, and you halt. You weren’t noticing it before, but he is right. You weren't trying. You falter for a moment too long. Then he rushes you, pinning your body down onto the floor with his own weight, brute force mixed with excitement to the point that his nails dig into the straw of the tatami below, ripping it slightly. He raises a hand, about to spill your blood, when your control slips. Before, your brief exchanges saw your body feeling hotter, winding tighter as it did more cautious. But now, with him pressing down onto you from above, not pulling away, gripping with a strength that few possess and with a wicked look in his eyes, you can’t keep it down anymore. You let out a throaty moan as his holds you hard, feeling your underwear getting more soaked with every passing second. His eyes widen in surprise, and he pauses. You and him remain quiet like this for a while, the wind from outside gently caressing both your bodies, teasing out an answer.

Then, as if on instinct, both your mouths crash together. Neither of you are ashamed at the pure lust that erupts between the two of you, bloodlust still not completely abating which spurs you and him on even more. His tongue slips into you mouth, determined on stealing your breath, your hand clasped around your hair pin still trapped within his, his ferocious strength barely just surpassing your own as you do not back down, struggling against the restraint. It is still a fight, after all. Yet his other free hand trails down your silk robe, slithering between the open slits to your thighs before raising one of your legs to wrap around his torso. You moan into his kiss and move against his clothed body, desperate for friction.

"Patience, my dear." He pauses, giving you a sadistic grin.

You’re not going to let him keep staying in control. In a surge of strength you topple and roll over him in a flash, slamming him to the floor and stabbing the pin right into the tatami next to his head, at which Hisoka lets out a loud groan. You press and rub yourself against him, leaving small bites along his neck, your hair starting to come loose and fall to the side of your face from the exertion. The warmth between your legs grows, and it’s not just you. Hisoka is only wearing underwear beneath the yukata, and you feel his erection, hot and hard beneath your rolling hips. You feel your own slick starting to run down your inner thigh, and you ache to be filled.

You pull away and gaze down at Hisoka, who’s just starting to get a little breathless with desire, his eyes clouded with lust. You pull the hairpin from the floor and aim it at his throat. You command, your voice cold and edged with arrogance.

“Stop wasting my time and just fuck me already.”

At this, Hisoka lets out a low growl, flipping you on your back, almost tearing the obi around your waist to shreds with his hands. His mouth latches onto your neck and you cry out, as his hands reach under your bra to free your breasts, rolling your nipples between his fingers, alternating between gentle strokes and forceful pinches. Your body shakes with pleasure and you grind against him, your hands fumbling to move his yukata out of the way. You cover your palm over his bulge, which is already straining hard against his underwear. He bites a little harder on your skin as you do, goading you on. You reach beneath the fabric, stroking his most sensitive spot, and you feel him shudder against you. Oh, to have such a powerful man like him at your mercy.

Before you have time to think, your pleasure increases ten-fold, white-hot and surging through your body as his fingers find their way to your slit, obscenely slick with your honey.

“Oh? This wet for me already?” he murmurs into your ear, sending shivers down your arms and making you moan.

He sits back a little, his piercing gaze boring into you as he lifts his fingers to his lips, licking it clean. “So sweet,” he whispers, his eyes never leaving you, almost taunting your state of helplessness before him, and you twitch with pleasure.

“Shut u-” you demand, stopping short with a intake of breath as his tongue circles your nipple and he thrusts two fingers into your aching slit, expertly thrusting, stroking, caressing, hitting all the right spots as you can’t help but moan and fist his soft, red locks. His thumb finds your bud and rubs, with increasing pressure, matching the circling motions of his tongue. Hisoka pulls away and looks down at you, panting and wriggling beneath his touch, your words incoherent but eyes still fierce with power and control, and he finds himself growing harder, unbearably hungry. You feel his desire through his nen, bristling with lust, fingers coaxing you to bliss and eyes ravishing you unabashedly for everything you are and you feel yourself pushed nearer to the edge.

“I’m close,” you gasp, and you see Hisoka smirk dangerously as he pulls his fingers out of you. The pleasure that builds now cuts short, tapering off.

“Kisama,” you mutter in annoyance as you ram his body against the side of the lacquer dining table, pushing him into an upright, sitting position. He chuckles at your urgency and vexation yet remains turned on as you clutch your hairpin over his throat as a warning. His golden eyes are glazed over and quivering, a sign he is properly riled up, his hair now a mess, and his breathing is slightly heavier than before. You pull his large erection free from his underwear.

“You bastard. I’m not going to give you any time.” You growl, and his eyes grow more piercing.

You lower your soaking, aching pussy onto him. The stretch makes both of you groan in unison, and you almost come immediately from his entrance. He is huge in both girth and length, and it takes a while before you’re accustomed to his size. It was so long since you had proper sex with anyone. After he is buried in you to the hilt, you pause, glaring at him with a look aggressive with lust and a need for control. He moans in pleasure and you feel his grip on you tighten considerably. Then you move, slowly first, then quickening your pace, rolling and rubbing against him so his cock enters you at the best angles. His hands reach up to grab your hips, steadying you while he snaps up into you, pounding with such speed it makes your mind go blank with pleasure.

“Ahh-h—h!” you moan, louder this time, shaking with the mounting pleasure as he enters you fast, viciously, more than you can keep up with. You get wetter with each of his thrusts, squelching and slapping sounds filling empty room as he pulls out and fills you completely again with each punishing stroke. You feel yourself nearing your climax, your body swaying and jiggling with the rhythm as your bounce on Hisoka's cock, pressing your fingers harder around his body.

He senses it too, and growls, refusing to take his eyes from yours. You feel his nails rake your hips, grabbing your ass, pain and pleasure intermingling as your near your end. Waves of white-hot pleasure wash over you as you moan into your orgasm, your eyes closed in bliss as you tremble violently, clenching tightly around Hisoka, muttering curses as you come completely undone.

Before you have time to come down from your high, Hisoka pulls out, his rock-hard cock dripping with your honey, before grabbing you and laying you down on the table, towering over you once more. Then he fully sheaths himself inside you in one go, making you cry out at the jolt of oversensitivity as he pushes towards his own end. Using the slick from your orgasm, he goes even faster now, relentless, his hands holding your legs wide apart so he can have unfettered access to you while he slams into you without restraint.

"You like this, don't you? You like being punished like this?" He purrs with forcefulness, a sign he is close, lustful gaze boring into yours while he pummels into you.

You can't help but shudder at his words, but you spit out through gritted teeth. "Don't get cocky. And don't you dare finish inside, or I'll kill you before you are even done."

His control snaps. You feel his cock twitch inside of you. Then he pulls out and comes, moaning with deep satisfaction in your ear, his warm load spilling onto your stomach. After he finishes, you both gaze as each other for a while, barely out of breath, sweat glistening against skin. Your clothes are both in a mess and disarray, his hands are still spreading you wide and bare torso pressed against you as you both bask in the afterglow, sharing a moment to take in the surreal pleasure of what was an extremely unplanned but steaming hot round of sex.

"So with this, do we have a deal?" He breaks the silence with a devious smile.

"I'm not that cheap if you think once is enough." You retort as you clean up, pulling your clothes back on. "At least three more times, with an additional fee of 300,000 Jenny."

"Aren't you a greedy one," Hisoka smirks, tying his yukata back in place. "Alright. It's a deal, not like I'm complaining. I might deliver more than you ask for." His golden eyes travel across your body once more before meeting yours, and you can still see a faint glimmer of lust, ready to be reignited.

"Enjoying yourself?" An icy voice comes from the darkened doorway.

You don't even need to look to know who it is, recognizing the voice immediately. Cold grey eyes gaze at you from a figure leaning against the entryway.

"Chrollo," you almost spit out.

"Ah," says Hisoka naturally, "you're finally here."

You turn to scowl at Hisoka, realizing his blatant lie from earlier. You wonder for a moment how Chrollo even got in to the onsen without your notice, given that him and the troupe remain high up on your guest blacklist. Then you sense his nen, or rather his lack of it, a blur void except for the vague tinge of someone else’s foreign nen around his chest. A contract, then. He's harmless now.

Chrollo steps into the room, dressed elegantly in a black yukata, his hair let down comfortably. "Seems like you taste in men hasn't changed. I took a gamble on that." His steely grey gaze, piercing, calculating and formidable in confidence, still make you tremble a little, despite knowing him for years.

You take a while to understand and chuckle, looking from Chrollo to Hisoka. "Seems like we both got played."

The latter narrows his eyes at Chrollo before running his hand through his hair, sighing. "Well, as expected of him. Again, not like I'm complaining."

"Hisoka, leave us for a moment," you order.

"As you wish." You feel him step out but loiter along the corridor, waiting to pick up on the following conversation. Now it's just you and Chrollo left in the room. He doesn't move closer to you.

"It's been long. Too... long." Chrollo speaks, his voice calm but you detect a tinge of nostalgia, affection, regret and caution all entangled in one.

You know what he means. You can even see it now, the times he drove you wild, nearly killing you with nen. You can see all the times his lips met yours, growing a steady fire with a kiss, his fingers grazing your skin and making you moan and whimper while you grasp his hair tight in your hands, your mind blanking and feeling the universe come apart and stitch right back together...

"You won't be able to handle me now, in your current state. I would break you. It wont be pleasurable for any of us," you reply coolly. You catch the sound of a stifled laugh from the hallway outside. "Once you get your nen back, I just might reconsider."

You stand up, letting your silk robes fall gracefully past your knees once more. You arrange your bun and slip the onyx pin back into your hair.

"You can use the game tomorrow. I'll have it prepared. Tonight, I'll be busy receiving my payment. In full." You pause a little next to him, giving him one last, long look, before walking out the room and towards your quarters, Hisoka trailing behind.

Alone, Chrollo's eyes are deep and unreadable. Unconsciously, his hands are balled into tight fists by his sides. Then he breathes deeply, chuckling to himself.

What a woman. "Hisoka, you'd better get the job done. Fast."

---

Notes: omg this took way longer than i expected to!!! I’m quite proud of this one ;) I got inspired by a mobage card of hisoka, chrollo and the phantom troupe at an onsen and decided to do this imagine piece! Hope you enjoyed my fellow hisoka simps, it was so fun to write ;)

[vintagebitchgifts]

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[bekkathyst]

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[hanniiesuckle17]

The Fae and The Seraphim

CHAPTER ONE

A/n: so this gif is not mine! credit to the owner and creator! look at his hair thoughhhh. So this series is going to be loosely based off of Amazon’s Carnival Row bc we all love Orlando Bloom especially Amber stans (you know what I’m talking about) yes definitely making this a series but no set post schedule (probably wont ever have a post schedule for this cause.....im me...)

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: cussing, 18+themes, mentions of violence (all of this eventually)

Tag List: @poeticallyspaghetti @hanstagrams @hoes4hoseok @yangomangos @geminirules @jisungsjheekies @cotccotc @ph0ebevix​ @mini-meanhoe​ @desertofdessert​ @distrikt9​ @multi-net(Tag List is Open)

Summary: Crea were never meant to interact with humans. They were mythical creatures that came from fairytales, but they had been around longer than humans had. The love between one Fae and one soldier seem to turn the world upside down. Their story is not one for the light of heart, but the light of heart would never turn away a love story such as theirs.

Genre: fantasy!au, victorian!au, steampunk-ish?!au, romance, angst, non-idol!jaeyoon, soldier!jaeyoon, faerie!reader

❧

A cool breeze blew across the gulch. It whispered through the branches weaving through the leaves bound to fall from their tight grasp on the thin boughs of the trees. A somber gray seemed to hang over the land as far as the eye could see. It had been that way for as long as I could remember. 

Despite this, Cothia still had a beauty to it unlike anywhere else I had read about. There was always a light snow in the air or on the mountain ground, the flakes dusted the trees and roofs of our monastery I could see in the distance. The Fae had inhabited Cothia since the beginning of time. We were tasked with keeping the records of the world’s history. We were a species of great mystery and wisdom. 

The thundering sound of the monastery's horn burst through the silence of the nature around me. My ears pricked up listening for a second blast. After that, another came. Three blasts. Three blasts meant newcomers up the mountainside. 

My wings fluttered behind my back blowing a cool breeze over my neck, pushing the hair aside as my feet lifted off the ground. The familiar hum of my beating wings filled my ears as I flew over the vast land below me. As I floated closer to the monastery which I called my home, my eyes looked for any sign of life along the steep mountain roads. 

A winding stream of dark battered navy coats and hats lined up outside the wooden abbey doors. Easily forty faeries flew above the open abbey walls, surveying two men on horses from the air. Our leader, a Mima of the highest order, addressed them from the ground, wings spread wide. 

The hum of beating wings turned into a roaring buzz filling the quiet mountain air. The wind stilled, sensing the tension between the two humans and the hundred or so faeries surrounding them, waiting to see what they would do.

“We come peacefully.” One of the men said, pushing up the brim of his cap. He had sloping features and a pronounced chin. Features that suited his soft downturned eyes. “My name is Kim Youngbin. I am Colonel of the Third Hallow Fusiliers. We have been sent to guard a telegraph line a few miles east of here.”

Mima Egeria showed no sign of acceptance, but she didn’t turn them away either. My stare fell to the second man. I watched as he removed his cap, long fingers holding onto the brim as he shook out his dark slightly curly hair, bangs falling in front of his eyes. He carried himself with power, but let the man beside him speak. By my observation, he must be a commanding officer. 

Unlike his captain, his features were sharp, except for some roundness in his cheeks, which were slightly pink from the cold. Puffs of air expelled from his plump lips with every breath in the mountain air. Had I not known he was human or seen the Hallows emblem on his coat shoulder, I would think his face almost impish; Pix like. The shaggy onyx snow dusted locks fell in front of his eyes as he stared up at the faeries watching him. 

“We ask for the use of this Abbey as a base for our soldiers. We wish to make an alliance with you in the name of The Hallows.” The voice of Colonel Kim was calm and steady, carrying through the walls of the monastery and up to our ears above him. I watched Mima Egeria carefully, awaiting her message.

“This is a holy place. Conduct yourselves accordingly.” Her sonorous voice echoed in the thin air. 

Her wings closed behind her back, and slowly I sunk down to the ground with the rest of the Fae and  Pix around me. The two watched with an interested gaze as we floated down to the surface feet gently falling on the gravel. A few went to welcome the soldiers, I followed Mima as she left the courtyard. 

“Mima!” My feet followed her deep purple robes, lifting off the ground occasionally to catch up with her. How a woman her age still moved with such speed was beyond my knowledge. 

“Yes, my child.” She sung, turning back. 

“Should we really trust them? It is hard enough defending ourselves against the Pact. What if-”

“Y/n...have faith, my child. You are strong willed. You have never been one to float with the current. They need us, little one. when asked we will give, when one pleads we give mercy. This is our way.” 

Her frail but steady hands rested on my shoulders. “Yes, Mima.” Egeria’s long slender fingers wrapped around one of the three long beaded braids in my hair. She glanced over it smiling at the clear glass bead at the end. 

“Your moon cycle is almost upon us, Y/n. I’m so happy to have watched you grow up in the Abbey.” I smiled at her mention of my age bead. When a Fae was born, a braid was started with a single glass bead signifying their birth. On their first birthday, another braid was added this time with two dark red beads. They were meant to be given away when the Fae gave their heart to someone. The third was a bead made of a type of crystal which was given when a Fae earned their assignment.

“It is, Mima Egeria. I’m happy to spend another year serving Fasora Abbey.” She nodded, looking towards the now open wooden doors. Following her gaze, I saw the man from before, white flurries clinging onto the curly black strands of his hair. He ushered in soldiers from atop his horse, a rifle slung across his back. His gaze flicked towards us, his eyes seemingly darker than his hair, yet holding a warmth to them. “Do you sense something about the soldier, Mima?” 

Her shoulders lifted and a smile tugged at her lips. “A Mima can only ask the spirits to guide her. The spirits tell me he is a special soul; known to our kind. Best to watch him, little one.” Through the light snow, he watched us with a focused gaze. The observant stare of a fighter. A stare that observed, but did not see. The stare of a human. “Y/n, I think it best if you return to your post. The Archives should not be abandoned.” 

“Yes, Mima.” My wings fluttered to life, lifting me into the sky. A pair of eyes watched me fly away from the Monastery towards the Archives hidden in the walls of the mountain. 

❧

The air smelled of parchment and wax. Soft flecks of dust hung around the shelves. The shelves. Thousands of them. Each holding books and manuscripts on every subject dating all the way back to the beginning of time. My legs hung off either side of one of the many cornices in the Archive. The shelves lifted so high that soon they turned into a vast black abyss. 

The pads of my fingers pressed against the yellowing page of a book resting between my legs. It was one of the many books I had yet to finish in the never ending library. The book told the story of a Pix explorer and his findings after sailing to the Hallows before they were formed. 

The click-clack of boots against stone sent me up into attention. Crouching on the cornice, I watched in the low dim torchlight as a navy coat walked into the room. Making myself one with the shadows, I watched as the soldier looked up into the infinite shelves of the Archives. The Archives that no one but a few faeries were subject to the knowledge of.

His black hair fell from his eyes revealing the rest of his face. Handsome- for a soldier.  Most of the soldiers in the abbey were dedicated to their line of work so much that what happened to their bodies was considered a small price to the pay for the safety of our kind. There were no use for pretty faces among protectors. 

With narrowed eyes, I watched his hands ghost over the pages of an open book on the table. A tome easily hundreds of thousands of years old. His slender fingers gripped the page, turning it over. 

Silently, I pulled the small dagger from my boot and floated down behind him. The man stood unsuspecting reading the ancient text, or what he could of it. He stood almost perfectly six feet tall a tower over the desk. My feet ghosted over the ground, wings beating softly.

My hands moved at lighting speed wrapping around him and pressing the blade against the skin of his neck. “Oh fuck!” He gasped backing into me in surprise. His hands moved up in surrender, but I kept my hold on him tight. 

“You aren’t supposed to be here, Hallow.” I spat. No human had ever set foot in the Archives. This was a sacred place. “Who are you?”

His hands remained steady, but from my grip on his neck I could feel his pulse rapidly beating. His tongue swiped over his lips. My firm grip kept him from turning and looking at me. “Lee Jaeyoon. I’m a Commander for the Hallows. Who are you?” He made a pathetic attempt at a smile, but I pressed the knife further into his skin threatening to draw blood. 

“Well, Jaeyoon,” I said twirling the blade in my fingers before rejoining it with his neck. “I suggest you turn around and leave this place or I may just have to kill you. I wouldn’t really like to mop your blood off this floor, but I will if I have to.” 

His adam’s apple bobbed with a strangled laugh that left his lips. “I didn’t know Pix were so violent.” Loosening my hold on him, my wings beat a little faster moving before him. His eyes widened seeing me as his attacker.

“It is obvious you know something about Crea, so says Mima. So, you should know ‘Pix’ is the term for male faeries.”

“You’re a Fae...”

Jaeyoon kept a wary eye on the blade in my hand, arms still raised and open. “And you, Commander, are still in my Archives.”

“I thought you were still deciding whether to kill me or not?” He asked with a cheeky smile, his brow quirking upwards. 

“How do I know that if I let you leave here you won’t tell any of the soldiers about this place?” 

He shrugged looking around the library before back to me. “Guess you’ll just have to trust me.” There was no way I could trust a human soldier to keep the secret of the Archives. How had he even found this place anyway? “Or...” He said putting his hands down by his sides. “You could kill me, and the rest of my regiment will find this place anyway looking for my body.”

I hated that he was right. “Fine.” Jaeyoon let out a sigh as I pulled the blade away. 

“What’s your name?” 

“I’m the Watcher of the Archives. That’s all you need to know.”

He nodded looking me up and down. His focus noticeably shifted towards my wings as they stopped beating and lowered me to the ground and my normal height. “I’ll be going then,” Jaeyoon said, his words echoing off the cavernous walls.

I watched the worn navy coat turn and exit the way it had come. The onyx hair of its owner blew as he passed through the open passage of the rock. Mima Egeria was right...Lee Jaeyoon was best to be watched. Why... I did not know yet. 

❧

Like every other magical day in Cothia, gentle snow floated down on the mountainside coating every tree, roof, and head it touched. My legs swung over the edge of the patched roof. The abbey was filled with busy bodies moving in little winding paths through the flurries. 

A chilling breeze blew through the abbey. A fae carrying straw struggled to keep stray pieces from flying away. Four days. Four days had past since the soldiers entered the safety of our walls.

The smooth skin of an apple rubbed against my palm. My lips tasted the sweet juices as my teeth sunk into the fruit. Falling back into new habit, my eyes found the tall head of dark hair. The curls blew gently in the wind, white frozen flakes sticking to the locks. 

His ears were turning pink from the cold joining the color on his cheeks. The officer stood next to his superior and another soldier. The three men spoke to Mima. Even from far away I could see the spark in her lilac eyes. Her silver hair hung in wild spirals around her face. The beads in her hair glinted in the sunlight, casting a partial colorful glow over her tan aged skin. 

Her wings were folded behind her, acting like an intricate delicate shield against the weather. She held her hands in front of her, fingers gently intertwined. They seemed to be speaking fervently. 

Listing my head, I peered down into the abbey watching them closely. The higher officer seemed to be posing Mima Egeria a question. She listened intensely, smiling kindly at the men. 

Jaeyoon spoke up and Mima’s brow rose as she looked the commander over. Taking another bite from the apple, my eyes focused in on the lips of the nearest soldier. Despite my efforts I could not decipher the movement. My curiosity was quenched when all four heads looked up to my spot on the roof. 

Mima gracefully motioned me down from my perch. Pushing off the roof I floated down and landed next to my mentor. A gentle hand rested on my shoulder. All three pairs of human eyes stared at me. “Little one, you have been requested personally to help these brave soldiers with a mission.” 

I scowled knowing exactly who asked for me. Despite not knowing my name he managed to drag me into this mess. “Should I call you little one, as well?” Jaeyoon asked, a smirk playing at his lips. 

“If you have an urgent desire to eat your own eyes.”

A quick jab to my side had me shutting my mouth before Mima decided to make me clean the commissary. “We just need someone of your talents to assist us.” The captain, Youngbin, stated. 

“My talents?” 

“Mainly your wings and your ability to keep a secret.”

❧

The snow had ceased its unrelently fall. A chilling wind blew across the mountain path as we ventured up to the check point. Several of the men rode on horses and split from our original group to move towards the other end of our mission. My eyes trailed the man with dark curly hair as he rode off with three other men. 

“Not so fond of Jaeyoon?” 

Turning, I saw the leading officer ride up next to me on his steed. After racking my brain, I recalled the soldier’s name. Youngbin. His dark hair blew in the wind slightly. The man had a kind face. His jaw was set and he held the features of a leader. 

“Well he did not make the best first impression.” 

Youngbin laughed and slowed down his horse to match my stride. “Jaeyoon means well. He’s a good man.” Rolling my eyes was completely involuntary. “I can see you think less of us.” Despite the connotation of his words, the Colonel looked down at me with a knowing smile. 

“It is not that I think less of you. Humans have not been in Cothia for tens of thousands of years. We are simply wary of your impact on not only our culture but the spiritual nature of our land.” We fell into silence, moving along the incline of the mountain. “How much father are we going?” 

The colonel looked back to see some of his men on foot struggling to adjust to the thin alpine air. “Not far. We should be reaching the line any moment now.” Sure enough the trees cleared and we came upon an open gorge. A large wooden pole was stake into the ground and a severed metal wire lay blowing and bouncing off the rock face.

“Commander Lee and his group should arrive at the opposite side soon. Rest then get ready to replace the wire once we receive the signal from the other team.” The soldiers collapsed on every surface they could find. Some watched with still wide eyes as my wings carried me to a nearby tree branch. The other side of the gorge was unseen through a heavy lingering fog.

A quarter of an hour had passed and the men had only just reattached the end of the new telegraph line. I watched them mill about from my vantage point in the trees. However the view of the forested mountaintops was far more enchanting in my eyes. The peaks towered through the mist. The sight reminded me of a painting form one of the many ancient texts I had read in the Archives. 

The sharp sticotto sound of a gun shot echoed across the ravine. Youngbin pushed himself up onto his feet and beckoned me down from my perch. “That’s the signal. They’re ready.”

“You really need my help?”

“Do you see any other being that can fly a mile over an open chasm?”

“Fair enough.” 

With cold trembling fingers the Colonel handed me the wire. It was heavier than I expected. It was a wound cable and the smooth thick metal felt foreign in my hands. “Remember, should something go wrong while you’re crossing-”

“Yes, I know. Call out.”

Not wasting a second more, I unfolded my wings and let them open. Several murmurs were heard behind me as the soldiers gazed at the delicate, intricate patterns and natural designs of my wings. The near transparent parts of the appendages glinted with shifting colors of blue, green, and lavender as the light bounced off of them. 

The soft familiar hum filled my ears and my feet lifted from the ground. The fog consumed me only moments after leaving the ledge. A chill ran down my spine. Light droplets of water from the mist gatherd on my cheeks. The wind howled and whistled. My grip tightened on the cable. By now I must be crossing over the midpoint of the gorge. 

It wasn’t what lay below that let the tiniest bit of fear creep into my chest. It was what I could not see behind the shadows of the fog. Not much scared me. I had learned that there was little to fear when fear was embraced. 

Breathing in the fresh clear mountain air I pushed forwards and flew through the dense mist. Just when it felt as if the fog was never ending, I broke through the veil. I was met with a vision of four soldiers waiting for me. The head of shaggy waved black hair that was slowly becoming familiar stood waiting with his arms crossed and navy coat blowing gently in the breeze. 

“Hallow,”

“Fae,” 

My feet descended to the ground and my reflexs kicked in feeling a hand on my arm. Looking down I saw long slender fingers wrapped around my sleeve keeping me steady. Suprisingly they were attached to the Commander. Seeing the cold look in my eyes, he quickly detached from my arm and scratched the back of his neck. 

“Is this all I’m needed for?”

The tall brunette nodded, looking around and taking the cable from my hands. “We may need you if something goes wrong while we are rewiring the line.” Shrugging, I pulled my coat tighter around me and sat against a rock returning, as before, to the breathtaking view of the mountains. 

“Do you like to read?” The deep voice asked about ten minutes later. Turning I found Jaeyoon standing above me, his cap covering his dark hair. To my displeasure he sat next to me. His dark almond eyes glanced back at his platoonmates. 

“Pardon?”

The charming man shrugged and pouted his lips looking out at the view. “Well I assumed guarding a library like that you must love to read.” 

I rolled my eyes and adjusted my position, my wings getting cramped behind me. “Well, Jaeyoon, if you must know, I do love to read. And it is not a library. It is an archive.” The soldier chuckled removing his hat and shaking out his shaggy hair. 

“It is not fair that you know my name yet I am still hopelessly lacking of yours.”

“The world is cruel and unfair, Commander.”

A silence fell between us. Though I was used to the chilling air, I felt a warmth radiating off the soldier beside me. Bothered by the awkward silence and the fact that he simply did not get up and leave, I looked over at the man. Something in his long fingers caught my eye. A book, one like I had never seen before lay in his grasp. It was just barely smaller than the size of his hand, the perfect size to put in a pocket. It wasn’t bound in leather like the volumes in the Archives. Its cover was made of some sort of paper or thick parchment. 

“I assume you read.” He nodded and only glanced at me before returning to the expanse of the mountains before us. The fog was beginning to clear and I could make out the lines of the opposing rockface. “What’s that?” 

Jaeyoon looked from me to the book in his hands. “This? It’s my favorite novel.” Without hesitation he handed me the book. There were drawings on the cover of the moon and some strange contraption. 

“Novel?”

“Yes, it’s called Journey to the Seraphim.” The familiar smell of worn parchment filled the air as I flipped through the pages. “Seraphim means angel. It’s about this inventor who travels to the moon.” 

I scoffed. “The moon?” I turned to fully face the soldier who wore a timid smile on his face. “That’s impossible. How would one even get there?” Jaeyoon reached over taking the book from my hands, brushing his fingers against my skin in the process.

“Well you see, the inventor, he makes this vessel and he propels himself into the atmosphere.” I rested my chin on my palm, listening intently as Jaeyoon vividly described the book, his hands moving as he spoke. The pages fluttered in his grip. “He gets to the moon and he falls in love with this princess. She rules this tribe of people who live there.”

Leaning against the rock, I listened to Jaeyoon tell me about his favorite novel. He talked about how the author was quite well known back in the Hallows and he had almost met him once. He described the characters in great detail, a spark igniting behind his eyes. 

All of a sudden he stopped speaking, looking at me with a fond gaze. With a smile he passed the book to me. “Here.” I found myself smiling as I gazed into his dark eyes. “You can have it.”

“You’re giving this to me?”

The man nodded, dark threads of hair falling in front of his eyes. “Keep it. I have another copy back in the Hallows.” He started to say something else but another soldier called out his name. 

With a sigh he got up dusting off his coat and turning towards the man in need of assistance. “Y/n,” I called, making him turn around at the sound of my voice. “My name is Y/n L/n.” Jaeyoon smiled, his eyes turning to crescents. The soldier once again called his name, but he looked back at me fondly before going towards the officer.

❧

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