#Swallow Grotto

[nikonstudio]

Please do not document your shots here with a phone camera. It will simply do no justice to your trip here.

[mothmiso]

France '24 (2) (3) by W Biggs

Via Flickr:

(1) Villecroze Grottes (2) Barn Swallow outside Aups     

[upsidedownwithsteve]

DAY ONE: Steve Harrington x fem!reader Steve was sure this was worse than his Scoops Ahoy uniform. It had to be. It had bells.  

Robin had simply rolled her eyes and told him to be grateful she’d managed to get them both something that paid this time of year, so Steve muttered something under his breath and jammed the hat on his head. 

He jingled when he walked. 

The green and red outfit was a kind of velvet, shorts above his thighs and striped tights that made his leg look like candy canes. The hat had a bell on the end of it and so did his fucking shoes, two gold balls  on the tips of toes and he sounded like a christmas carol as he called the next kid in line. 

“Santa’s ready to see you, buddy, just go through the curtain.”

Being one of the mall’s Christmas elves was definitely rock bottom. Steve was sure of it. But then you appeared above the crowd of kids crying and yelling for Santa Claus, shouldering past the tired looking parents. You had a few bags in one hand, filled with presents and wrapping paper, a takeaway cup of something hot and sweet in the other. 

“Please tell me that’s for me,” Steve mumbled appreciatively, groaning when you handed him the coffee. He took a sip, cheeks flushed pink, eyes rolling back in theatrical pleasure. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

You grinned, nose still scrunching at his flirting, even years later. “You have, but I’m not opposed to hearing it again.”

Steve beamed, eyes brighter than they had been before you approached and he took you by the crook of your elbow, pulling you behind the ramshackle frame that ached as Santa’s grotto. He mouthed a quick plea to Robin, who merely sighed and took up the boy’s position at the front of the queue, doing her best to wrangle the kids. 

Now hidden, Steve ducked down to kiss at your cheek, feeling brave enough to catch the corner of your mouth. He tasted like coffee and vanilla and you hummed, accepting his thanks with the upturn of your face. 

“Bad day?” You pouted. 

“Kids are insane,” Steve huffed back. “And their moms are worse. Y’know one tried to pinch my butt?” 

You snorted, unable to take the boy seriously, not when his hat jingled as he shook his head. “My poor guy,” you soothed, biting back a grin. “It’s ’cause you’re such a hot elf.”

Steve made a face. “I don’t think that’s possible, it’s the hat, y’know? It’s ruining my hair, it’s so—”

You moved closer, tugging at one of the gold buttons that ran down the centre of Steve’s chest, your fingers slipping between. “Well, I like it. You look adorable.”

You watched Steve swallow, cheeks going pink, eyes darkening as his gaze slipped to your lips, to your hands and the way your fingers were trying to seek out the warm skin under his uniform. “You do?”

You nodded, grinning. 

“I mean, adorable wasn’t really what I was aiming for…”

“No?” You pressed yourself onto your toes, shopping bags crinkling between your knees and Steve’s. You found his lips for a kiss, a sweet one - soft and gentle, the slightest peck that Steve tried to chase. “I could just spend all day on your lap, telling you what I wanted for Christmas.”

Lips parting, Steve almost dropped his coffee. He coughed, cleared his throat once, twice and blinked away the spell you’d cast on him. He nodded vigorously, the little bell of the end of his hat tinkling rapidly. He was red in the cheeks, flushed to his fake, pointed ears and he looked like he was struggling to remember where he was. 

“You can- you can totally do that, yeah.”

“Yeah?” You asked through a laugh, brows raised. “Come see me after work?” You were already backing away, returning to the throng of kids that were pushing at Robin’s knees. 

Steve was still nodding, pushing a palm to his crotch, cheeks on fire. “Yeah, yeah, fuck— I’ll come round.”

You grinned, pleased with yourself. “Good. Bring the hat.”

[doormatty3]

Ocean Eyes: Chapter 8 (Orm Marius x Reader)

Masterlist Ao3

Ocean Eyes Masterlink

Summary:

[Orm Marius x Female Reader] [Orm Marius x You]

The ocean has always fascinated you - the ebb and flow of its water, the marine life in the sea and the wild and untamed beauty it exudes. Your attempts to explain this fascination have always fallen short. But when you meet Orm at the seaside one rainy day you find, that he just understands.  You offer to show him around since he is not from the city. And you are intrigued by his rather strange quirks and his regal demeanour.  After all, how could you not? When his eyes mirror the ocean itself, deep and incredibly blue. OR: You impress Orm with the surface world and he impresses you with his Atlantean cock

Wordcount: 4753

A/N: This chapter is just smut. Pure filth. - it's also the last one so : thank you for reading everyone and I hope you enjoy the climax of this story (hehe)

Almost tentatively, Orm reaches over and lightly cups your breasts in his hands. He squeezes them gently, his thumbs brushing over your nipples, making you moan softly as the sensation races through your whole body.

He repeats this motion, carefully weighing each tit and giving it a firm squeeze before starting to nip on your neck. You shudder against him when his teeth gaze over your skin, and you buck against him when he starts to plant soft, teasing kisses all around your breasts, moving towards your nipples.

With his fingers tracing patterns over your sensitive skin, you can’t help but feel the heat building between your legs. His touch is electric, sending waves of pleasure coursing through your body. 

He begins to lick and suck on them, paying attention to each one individually, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger, watching as they harden under his touch.

You feel his heated gaze on you as he continues to tease and torment your boobs and nipples, pinching and pulling them, making you squirm and moan softly. Each tuck and touch edging you on and upping the fire in your veins.

When his other hand reaches down to stroke his hardening cock over the fabric of his trousers, you feel like your arousal skyrockets. And almost automatically, and drawn by the mesmerising sight of Orm, you find yourself sinking to your knees in front of him.

As you lower yourself, your eyes remain locked with Orm’s, and you see him swallow heavily, his Adam’s apple bobbing and his hands falling from your breasts.

Your fingers deftly work to tug at the wet fabric of Orm’s pants, pulling them down with a deliberate yet teasing slowness. As the fabric clings to his form, it accentuates the contours of his muscular thighs and strong calves - and the growing bulge of his cock. 

When the pants finally yield, revealing more of his bare form, you find yourself pressing your tights together, feeling arousal pooling low in your belly more prominently now. 

With a final tuck, the pants fall around his ankles, and Orm stands before you with a raw and unguarded allure framed by the mystical glow of the grotto. His dick, half hard, is your current focal point, and you reach out to close your hand around him, eliciting a deep groan from him.

One hand at the base of him, you start to jerk him off slowly, looking into his deep blue eyes that burn with desire. You feel him getting harder with each stroke, and you savour the little grunts he lets out.

Almost teasingly, you lick over the head of his dick with one short motion, tasting the salty flavour of his precum on your tongue. Orm’s hips jerk involuntarily when you do it again, wanting you to do more. 

But you’re not ready to give in just yet; the thrill of teasing him, of stoking the fire, is too enticing. So, with a deliberate slowness, you repeat the motion, maintaining eye contact. As you see his fingers twitch, a silent acknowledgement of his escalating desire, you decide to push him further and whisper, “Make me yours, King Orm.”

The effect is immediate. 

Orm’s gaze intensifies, and you can almost feel the surge of desire coursing through him. In a sudden, decisive move, he places his hands on either side of your head.

“Open wide,” he commands, his voice taking on a husky tone that resonates in the grotto, his words leaving no room for hesitation.

With a sense of surrender, you comply, parting your lips in readiness as his cock hovers above your mouth. God, you love, how you can rile him up with that. 

He pushes the head of his thick cock in, and you feel your lips stretch around it. 

When he moans softly at the sensation, his hands gripping tightly onto your head, forcing you down further, you rub your thighs together - you have him where you want him. 

Your throat moves up and down as you try your best to take him all in, every inch of him filling you. 

As you’re not fast enough for him, he begins to thrust into your mouth, his hips moving back and forth as he takes control. He groans deeply with each stroke, his cock hitting the back of your throat, making you gag slightly.

His hands move from the side of your face to grip onto your hair, guiding him deeper into your mouth, and you moan around him, feeling spit collect around your lips and seeing shadows dance at the edges of your vision. 

Orm grows more impassioned as he feels your moans vibrate around his cock, and encouraged by your liking of this treatment, his grip on your hair tightens, pulling your head back to meet his thrusts.

You are trying your best to keep up with his thrusts, but you start to feel light-headed already from the lack of proper breathing. Not that it really bothers you - you feel your cunt getting wetter and wetter as desire clashes through you like an unstoppable current. 

He doesn’t let up and keeps thrusting into your mouth, filling it with his cock, making you take in every inch of him as you gag around him, spit dripping down onto the floor of the grotto.

Throughout every stroke of his dick, he keeps his eyes locked onto yours, making sure that you are alright with everything he does and that you won’t black out. 

“You belong to me,“ he growls, his blue eyes feral and blown wide by desire as he holds you in place, making sure not to stray from the rhythm of his thrusts.

You moan around him, his statement something so hot that you can’t help yourself. 

As his cock starts to throb inside of your mouth and his strokes grow more desperate, you know that he’s close and eager to cum. 

“So good,” he praises you, his voice low and husky. “You’re driving me wild.”

You start to swirl your tongue around his dick as he fucks your mouth, encouraging him to cum, and soon enough, you feel his cock pulsing and his hot cum filling your mouth and throat as he continues to thrust.

“That’s it,” he pants as his hips buck wildly, and he holds you in place, his grip on your hair tightening slightly. “Swallow every drop, honey.”

You moan at the taste and greedily swallow - the way he took charge and manhandled you just makes you want to please him.

With a sigh of satisfaction, Orm allows you to release his cock from your mouth. Thick strands of spit connect his dick to your lips as you catch your breath. 

As you glance up to meet Orm’s gaze, you’re once again captivated by his appearance. His hair, now dishevelled and wet, frames his face in a way that adds an enticing allure. The dark blue of his eyes, intensified by desire, holds a magnetic pull that draws you in.

Orm’s chest heaves with the weight of deep breaths, a result of the escalating passion between you. The combination of sweat and water on his skin glistens in the soft light of the grotto, creating a mesmerising sheen. Each droplet seems to trace a path along the contours of his well-defined chest, accentuating the physicality that makes him a formidable presence.

He gracefully kneels down, aligning himself with you in a tender gesture. With a gentle touch, he wipes away the mingled traces of spit and tears from your face. His movements are careful, a testament to the intimacy of the moment.

Once the physical traces are erased, Orm’s lips seek yours in a deep, passionate kiss. 

Orm breaks the kiss, his fingers gently smoothing back your hair as he whispers with a husky intensity, “I’ll open you up for me, honey. Before I take you.” The weight of his words, laden with desire and promise, hangs in the air, “Before I make you my Queen.”

You can only respond with a soft mewl, an instinctive reaction to the anticipation and arousal coursing through you. Pressing against him, you convey a silent surrender to the passion that binds you together in the secluded grotto. 

Orm’s movements are deliberate and tender as he reaches for his discarded shirt, the damp fabric clutched in his strong hands. The ambient glow of the grotto highlights the contours of his features, casting a mesmerising play of light and shadow across his face.

With a graceful motion, he lays the shirt on the hard floor, creating a makeshift cushion. 

Gently, Orm guides you down, lowering you onto the improvised surface. You feel the contrast between the hardness of the grotto floor and the softer touch provided by his shirt.

The wet fabric of your pants clings to your skin, but Orm’s movements are deliberate and unhurried, his hands deftly navigating the contours of your body as he begins to peel away the damp clothing.

Each inch of exposed skin, revealed as the fabric retreats, catches the soft glow of the grotto’s magical light. The sensation is both intimate and exhilarating, a celebration of vulnerability in the embrace of the underwater sanctuary. Orm’s focus remains steadfast, his eyes fixed on the unveiling canvas before him.

As the wet pants descend, the cool rush of air on your now-bared skin is a tantalizing contrast. The glistening droplets of water that cling to your legs catch the ambient light, creating a shimmering effect that mirrors the enchantment of the underwater world.

Orm’s movements pause momentarily, allowing the weight of the moment to linger. His gaze locks with yours, and in the ambient glow of the underwater light, his eyes take on an intense, almost otherworldly quality as he pulls your legs apart. 

With a hand on your thighs to spread them further and his eyes focus on your wet cunt that glistens in the soft light, and his tongue darts out, wetting his lips. You can’t help but let out a quiet whimper as you clench your pussy - this man will kill you with his handsomeness at some point.  

Wordlessly he trails his fingers down your sides before gently parting your cunt. A low moan escapes him when he feels how wet you are and looks up at you, arousal evident in his blue eyes before he slides the first knuckle of his index finger inside you.

You whimper and buck your hips. The sensation of his fingers at your pussy is something you’ll never get used to. But you’re also already so worked up so there is no need for him to take it that slow. 

As if Orm can read it in your eyes he quickly slides two of his thick fingers inside you, curling them upwards to graze the spot that makes you see stars. 

“Orm, please,” your voice is pleading and breathy as you prompt him to hurry up. The prospect of finally having his cock inside you makes you even more needy than normally. 

His lips form a smirk as he slowly keeps thrusting his fingers into your wet cunt, savouring your soft moans. Your hips meet every stroke of his hand as the long digits stretch you deliciously. 

An electric sensation courses through you when he leans down and takes one of your nipples into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it while keeping a steady pace with his fingers, his other hand caressing your thigh,

Much to your dismay, he lets go of your nipple again, making you whine. You feel yourself getting closer to the edge, every stroke inside your cunt like sparking a flint - and you know that you’re close to burning. 

“You’re so tight and warm around my fingers,” Orm’s voice is low and husky with desire as he drives his fingers into you, a soft squelching sound audible whenever he pushes in.

Finally, he puts his thumb to your clit, tracing small circles to stimulate you as he picks up the pace of fucking your wet pussy, making you whimper and moan softly. 

Orm leans down, his lips brushing against yours as he continues to finger you. His tongue darts out, tracing the outline of your lips before slipping into your mouth, capturing you in a wet kiss while his fingers move in tandem with his tongue, stretching and filling you up completely.

He breaks the kiss to look at you and whispers, “That’s it. Give in to me.”

With that, he adds a third finger, stretching you even further, making you gasp loudly. It’s almost too much as he stuffs his thick digits into your cunt, but it also feels just perfect.

His fingers move in and out of you, finding that perfect spot that drives you wild. Orm’s other hand grips your thigh tightly, his fingers digging into your skin, and he whispers sweet nothings to you, coaxing you to cum.

When you do, it feels like hot and pulsing fire racing through your veins as you buck your hips and loudly moan. 

Orm continues to fuck you with short, deep thrusts that prolong your orgasm as you clench your cunt around him, whimpering.

After one final hard stroke, he gently pulls his fingers from your cunt, and they glisten in the grotto light. The subtle play of light creates an ethereal sheen, turning his digits into mesmerising reflections of the underwater radiance.

With deliberate grace, Orm lifts his fingers to his mouth. The movement is purposeful as his tongue darts out, tracing the contours of his fingers as he licks off the remnants of your juices before leaning down to kiss you. His tongue invades your mouth once more, mingling with the taste of your arousal.

Orm breaks the kiss, one hand tenderly cradling your cheek for a short time as he gazes into your eyes. Despite the feral undertones that linger in his overall demeanour, there’s an undeniable sweetness reflected in the depths of his blue eyes. 

To you, it feels as though time stands still for a fleeting moment before the sensation of his hard cock at your wet cunt registers.

A soft moan escapes you as Orm pulls back to fist his dick against your pussy, coating himself in your juices. He drags the head of his cock over your slit, parting your cunt and nudging your clit every so often, making you buck your hips. 

You can’t help but stare at Orm, captivated by the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, accentuated by the heavy puffs of breath, revealing the moment’s intensity.  You also notice the subtle blush that has crept onto his chest and neck.

The underwater setting accentuates the fluidity of his motions, as the play of light on his damp skin highlights the defined contours of his form, drawing your focus to the flexing biceps that ripple with each stroke of his dick against you. 

You buck your hips again, desperate for more - you’re sure that your pussy is dripping by now, and you are desperate for Orm’s cock. 

Every little movement, every little visual testament only serves to heighten your arousal that seems to crash through your veins like the rough waves in the water. Currently, you’re only waiting for Orm to pull you under and make you break. 

You’re so far gone that you don’t even notice the little whines you let out or the constant stream of words, mostly consisting of please and Orm.

With his gaze set between your legs, he lets some spit fall onto your cunt and his dick that’s still rubbing against it. The gesture, so lewd and unexpected, makes you moan loudly again. 

Finally, God finally, he pushes into you, his thick head nudging your cunt open.

Orm’s mouth falls open as his eyes fall closed, his dark lashes resting against his cheekbones. He fills you with short, shallow, slow thrusts. Each and every stroke takes the breath from your lungs, making you moan and whimper as he stretches your pussy.

When he reaches the hilt, he pauses for a second as you adjust to his size. Orm’s hand guides yours, pressing it flat against the warmth of your stomach, and the unexpected pressure makes you clench around him, causing Orm to groan.

“Do you feel me, honey?” he murmurs, and his hips gently buck, allowing you to feel his dick through your skin.

“Please, Orm, move,” you choke out, already drunk on the sensation of him inside you. 

Orm starts to thrust slowly and deliberately, giving you time to adjust to the feeling of him filling you up. The sensation of the unhurried drag of his cock makes you moan.

Feeling you relax around him, Orm begins to thrust deeper into your body. His hips slam against yours with each stroke, driving his cock further inside of you. He grunts and groans with pleasure as he takes you.

“You feel so good,” you pant as nothing exists in your mind except Orm. The grotto’s ambient glow casts a luminous aura on his features, enhancing the allure of his presence.

His eyes, already deep pools of desire, darken further at your praise. The intense hue of his gaze reflects the passion swirling within him. The compliment, uttered in the hushed space of the grotto, stirs something primal in Orm. His pupils dilate, consuming the vibrant blue of his irises, mirroring the depths of the ocean.

You can sense the effect of your words, the way they ignite a fiery response within him. The feral edge to his gaze intensifies as a half-smile plays on Orm’s lips, and he picks up the pace, slamming into you harder and faster as he loses himself in the sensation of owning you completely.

His hips slap against yours as he continues to pound into you, his cock hitting every inch of your tight cunt. It feels like he is everywhere, and you arch your back to meet his thrusts, moaning as the head of his dick scrapes against the spot that makes you see stars.

Feeling how much you’re enjoying this, Orm starts to grind his hips against your slick pussy with a satisfying squelch. He leans down and kisses you fiercely, his tongue darting into your mouth as he feels you begin to clench around him. 

“That’s it, honey,” he groans as he repeats the motion again, making you whimper. His cock feels huge inside you, stretching you to the limit as he takes what he wants. 

His hands grip your hips tightly as he thrusts into you harder, his cock throbbing in sync with your pulses.

When his hand comes down to rub fast, hard circles around your clit, you cry out his name. 

“Please, Orm,” you are half sobbing, driven mad by the pleasure he is providing, “Please, I’m gonna cum.”

It feels like he’s picking up the pace again, hitting the perfect spot deep inside you as he flicks your clit, lifting you higher and higher until you fall.

You feel your orgasm burning through you as you crash; it’s searing you from deep within. 

Digging your fingers into the hard muscles of his shoulders, you scream loudly and incoherently while your body gives over every sense of control to the pleasure Orm provides. Your body jerks against him as he continues to fuck hard into your fluttering cunt. 

“You’re so beautiful,” Orm grunts above you, his rhythm starting to falter slightly as he starts to chase his own peak,

Orm’s voice is nothing more than a husky whisper as he murmurs honey, perfect and beautiful, while thrusting deep and hard inside your cunt, causing you to whine and whimper beneath him.

“I’m gonna cum, honey.” he rasps out with a dark tone, his hips slapping against yours loudly, “Gonna fill you up, fuck, gonna make you drip of my Atlantean cum.” 

You can’t do much but stare up at Orm as he takes you as if he is possessed and feral. He moves with a primal intensity that leaves you whimpering and moaning, not able to think clearly. 

The furrow of his brows speaks of concentration, his entire being focused on cumming deep inside you.  The play of his muscles, each flex and ripple, becomes a mesmerising spectacle in the soft grotto light. 

With one final deep thrust, his eyes roll back in pleasure as he moans loudly and throaty. 

His cock pulses inside you as he fills you up, his hips jerking involuntarily, grinding against you as if to make sure every drop is where it belongs.

You feel every spurt of his cum, coating your walls, splashing hot against your insides, and you moan in tandem with him, bucking your hips and clenching around him. Orm grunts in satisfaction as he feels your cunt constricting around him, milking every last drop of his cum. 

“Yes, honey, take it all,” he grunts before biting into your shoulder and thrusting into you a few more times, fucking his cum deeper inside you with short stabs.

As he slows his pace and looks down at you, the flickering radiance of the grotto light plays upon his features, highlighting the sculpted lines of his forehead and the defined arch of his brows. His eyes, like sapphires set ablaze, seem to pierce through the dimness with an unwavering focus solely on you. The subtle dance of shadows enhances the intensity of his gaze, making it impossible for you to look away.

Orm’s hair, wet and tousled from the passionate sex you just had, frames his face in dark, glistening strands. The sweat droplets catch the ambient light, creating a delicate play of reflections that only adds to the allure of his appearance. The faint sheen on his bare chest gives his skin a bronzed glow, further emphasising the primal energy that radiates from him.

His big hands stroke your cheeks gently, his fingers tracing your jawline softly. 

With each caress of his hands on your cheeks, you feel the contrasting sensations of strength and gentleness. His touch, like the dance of the grotto light on his features, is a delicate balance of passion and tenderness. As he leans in, the contours of his face become more pronounced, his lips nearing yours with an almost magnetic pull.

As Orm’s lips meet yours, it’s an electrifying convergence of passion and desire. The softness of his kiss contrasts with the underlying intensity, creating a sensation that sends shivers down your spine. 

His hands, strong yet tender, cup your face as the kiss deepens. The grotto light, with its gentle illumination, accentuates the contours of his features, creating an artful interplay of light and shadow.

When the kiss finally breaks, Orm looks at you with eyes that hold a myriad of emotions—love, desire, and an unspoken connection. 

Orm’s breath comes in heavy pants, and he can’t help but express his awe in a husky whisper. “So fucking beautiful.“ His fingers, still tingling with the remnants of shared passion, trail through your hair, a tender caress against your skin. 

The gentle touch transforms into a possessive declaration as he rasps, “You’re mine.” His voice, heavy with a mixture of lust and possession, reverberates in the space. 

“Yes, yours,” you answer him, breathless, your fingers threading through his sweaty hair, the damp strands clinging to your fingers. 

He gifts you one of those radiant smiles, a dazzling expression that illuminates his whole face, causing the skin around his eyes to crinkle with genuine warmth. His fingers, tender and gentle, weave through your hair as he gradually pulls out of you, his cock withdrawing with a soft pop.

You almost whimper at the loss of contact as you feel his cum leaking from your cunt, but instead of retreating completely, he starts to trace intricate patterns on your skin with his big fingers. The gentle caress elicits a shiver down your spine, and you revel in the sensation as his touch weaves a delicate tapestry of intimacy.

As you lie on the grotto floor, the ambient glow of the underwater light casts a gentle luminosity around you.

The silence that follows is punctuated by the sounds of the underwater world—the distant murmur of marine life, the gentle sway of seaweed, and the occasional ripple of water. Orm’s breath, still heavy from the intensity of the moment, mingles with yours in the confined space.

Orm’s eyes, now softer than before, reflect the tenderness that lingers in the wake of your intimate connection. The feral intensity has given way to a quiet satisfaction, and his gaze remains locked onto yours.

As the minutes pass, there’s a gradual return to a sense of calm. 

Orm, still lying beside you, shifts slightly to create a more comfortable space. The bronze and gold hues of his wet hair catch the ambient light, creating a mesmerising contrast against the darker backdrop of the grotto. 

“I have something for you,” he whispers into the silence as he leans over to retrieve something from his pants. 

Your curiosity is piqued, and you watch intently as he pulls out a small, delicate object from his pocket. The soft glow of the grotto illuminates the item, revealing a beautifully crafted necklace.

The pendant dangles from a fine, intricately designed Atlantean chain. The metal is a blend of bronze and silver, with subtle engravings that depict underwater scenes  -  swirling currents, schools of fish, and the elegant dance of aquatic life. The craftsmanship is exquisite, a testament to Atlantean artistry that seamlessly combines elegance and functionality.

In the centre of the pendant, nestled within a delicate setting, shimmers a cerulean blue ornament. The vibrant hues of the glass capture the play of light in the grotto, casting a mesmerising kaleidoscope of colours around the surroundings. 

As Orm presents the necklace to you, there’s a softness in his gaze, an unspoken sentiment that transcends words.

You take the necklace in your hands, marvelling at its intricate details and the way the ornament catches the ambient light.“Orm, it’s truly incredible,” you express, genuine admiration lacing your voice. “Is this made from the sea glass we found?”

The centrepiece of the pendant seems to be the sea glass you thought you lost, its vibrant blue hue that reminds you so much of Orm’s eyes unmistakable.

Orm smiles, a hint of sheepishness gracing his expression, and the affectionate gleam in his eyes intensifies, “Yes, it is. I wanted you to have something to remember our time here. This necklace carries a piece of Atlantis and the sea  -  just like you now do.”

Your voice softens as you touch his cheek, gazing into his eyes. “It’s not just a part of Atlantis, Orm. It’s also a part of you. Whenever I miss you, I can look at this necklace and feel like I’m looking into your eyes.”

With a gentle and caring touch, Orm helps you put on the necklace, the cool metal resting against your skin.  

Orm’s hand gently rests on your bare shoulder, his touch conveying a tender warmth as he gazes at you with affection. 

In the soft murmur of the underwater world, he whispers, “I love you.”

Meeting his gaze, you take in the depth of his blue eyes, now softened with sincerity and affection. 

“I love you too, Orm,” your voice, though gentle, resonates in the watery stillness. 

Orm’s radiant smile illuminates the underwater space, a testament to the genuine joy and affection he feels in this shared moment. As he leans in to kiss you, the play of light from the grotto accentuates the contours of his features, creating an ethereal glow around him.

The kiss, an intimate exchange in the submerged haven, is both tender and passionate. Orm’s lips meet yours with a fervour that mirrors the depth of his emotions. The gentle current seems to sway in harmony with this underwater dance as if nature itself acknowledges the beauty of your relationship.

You revel in the sensation of his kiss, feeling the warmth and tenderness that accompanies it. His closeness, the press of his lips against yours, becomes a tangible affirmation of the love you share. 

As the kiss deepens, you find yourself losing track of time, immersed in the embrace of love and desire. The underwater current seems to echo the rhythm of your heartbeat, creating a serene melody that accompanies this shared moment with Orm. In the midst of the aquatic serenity, his kiss becomes a poignant reminder of the profound connection you’ve discovered beneath the waves.

[awkward-tension-art]

Bacta and Bandages Chp.9 (Rex x Reader)

Chapter 8. Epilogue

Crystals

CW: Slow burn, Two fools trying to ignore their crushes, underground caves, non-canon planet and species, talk of unfair treatment of clones, being lost, kisses, Anakin is a little shit, Reader is gender neutral, no use of (Y/N), reader is a doctor, if I miss a tag LMK!

Tag list (Thank you everyone!): @heavenseed76 @arctrooper69 @ghostlyembassy @notgonnaedit @tentakelspektakel

You couldn’t breathe. 

Your mouth filled with cold water, flooding your taste buds with salt and dirt. Shouting wasn’t possible as you tumbled under the harsh current. It threw you, disorienting your senses. At some point, you dropped again into another running body of water. A smaller waterfall, you guessed. 

Your back slammed into what you assumed was the bottom of the river. 

An iron grip on your arm yanked you upward, letting your head breach the surface to take in a lungful of air. Despite getting your face above water, it still tried to ragdoll your body under the current. 

That same grip continued to pull you, and once you got your bearings, you started kicking your legs. You opened your eyes, barely making out Rex’s blue and white armor treading the same dark, cold water. His presence grounded you, and it was like everything snapped together all at once. You moved your hand, holding his tightly as you both fought against the heavy current to get to the edge of the river. 

Your feet hit smooth stones and allowed you to stabilize. With your boots on the ground, you and your Captain stumbled out of the freezing rapids. 

Once you were out of the dangerous clutches of the current, you fell to your knees, breathing heavily. 

Rex did the same, pulling off his helmet to cough up water. As he tried to get his breath back, he hit his com, “G-General Skywalker…” He croaked, only to be met with static. After getting no response, he pressed it again, “Commander Tano…?” 

Static. 

You lowered your head, swallowing. Coms didn’t work…

Of course they didn’t work.

After a stretch of silence, you spoke, “Are you hurt?” Looking around the two of you, you took in your surroundings. You both had surfaced in another cavern. This one had large silver shards protruding from the walls, ceiling and floor. Glowing moss and mushrooms lit up the area, so you weren’t entirely blind.

Rex perked up, moving to stand and offering a hand to you, “No, I’m not….Are you?”

You took it and stood, giving him a small smile, “I’m good. Let's…find a way back.”

He nodded, putting his helmet back on, “Stay close. We don’t know what might be hiding in the damn walls.”

You nodded and followed, brushing a hand over one of the massive metal fragments. Unsurprisingly, they were cold. Almost icy to the touch. If you had to guess, the water you and Rex tumbled in had come from the surface. 

As the two of you walked through the underground paths, the Captain would periodically check his com, hoping to get a connection to the General or Commander. 

As you navigated the tunnels, the metal shards began to be replaced with more of the coral like stone, moss and glowing mushroom plants. Crystal embedded in the ceiling gave a soft light, looking more like stars than gems. 

It was…rather pretty. 

You reached up, hand brushing over a white, glowing lily speckled with black. However, once you touched it, the flower closed suddenly and shrank into the rock it was growing out of. There were more up ahead and they grew in number, the further you and Rex walked. 

The underground tunnel opened up into a chamber that was more grotto than cavern. The air echoed with the running water of a stream. Moss, patches of grass and flowers replaced the cold rock of the ground. Vines, with small glowing berries, hung from branching stalagmites and protruding crystals on the wall. Small bugs, which lit up with a soft golden white light, danced around both you and the clone beside you. 

“Woah…” Your eyes were wide, taking in the rather beautiful area. You stepped forward, raising a finger to one of the glowing bugs. It landed gently on your nail, flexed its wings and hovered off to continue its flying, “It’s…beautiful…”

Rex was looking at you as you spoke, however, you didn’t notice, “Yes…I agree.” He continued onward, trying not to stare too long, “let’s…let’s continue.” clearing his throat, he tried his com again. 

Among the static, you swear you heard Anakin’s voice, “Rex…Collapse…Where….” Rex tried to respond, but was met with more broken distortion.

“The General must be close, if we have a connection.” You perked up, walking over to him. 

“We should still try and find…” The Captain's voice faded off, watching a butterfly with large, bioluminescent wings hover close. He raised a hand to try and swat it but you grabbed his fingers, halting him. it approached, landing softly on his visor. The beautiful bug fluttered its wings a couple of times before going still.  

You couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped your lips.

He cleared his throat, “Now, uhh…little bug, that’s…I can’t see.” Slowly, he raised his free hand again, letting the glowing butterfly walk along his palm, “There we go, buddy.” After a few more moments, it beat its massive wings again and got into the air. 

For a second, you forgot you were holding his hand. You didn’t want to let go, even after you began walking again. 

He was the one who pulled away. 

You tried not to let it bother you. Though, it did. 

You’ve realized that your ‘passing crush’ was more than that. There were true, deep feelings for the captain in your heart. Something you couldn’t shake, no matter how hard you tried. 

You wondered when these feelings began.

Was it the time he helped you with your aim?

When he was the one who got the others to sign a card after Ferrum’s death?

One of the many times he thanked you after you bandaged his wounds on the battlefield? 

Or maybe it was when you first saw him smile. When you saw how warm and lovely he looked when he did so. When he smiled, a true, happy smile, he wasn’t the 501st captain. He was Rex. 

You loved Rex. 

And it ruined you. Clones weren’t permitted romantic partners. Even if he had the same feelings, neither of you could pursue them. Not only was it against the rules, he was your Captain, and you were his legions doctor.

You walked behind him, watching his armored back. He was a soldier. A good soldier. He’d never break the rules to be with you. 

So you swallowed your feelings and followed his steps.

The grotto was bigger than you originally thought. It took more than 20 minutes to get to the other side to look for a way forward. You brushed aside some vines, revealing another tunnel. It was pure darkness save for those glowing star-like crystals that dotted the walls and ceilings. The small amount of illumination reflected off multicolored stone. 

When you and Rex stepped forward, it was like you were walking inside the galaxy.

“I can see why the Drosari like living in the tunnels.” the clone beside you spoke quietly, “Though, as pretty as all of this is, I’d like to no longer be underground.”

You let out a small chuckle, “If there wasn’t the threat of a cave-in, I might like it here.” Your hand ghosted over the crystals in the wall, “These caves are beautiful.” 

“I agree, but I think I prefer to have a solid, metal ship around me rather than rock.” Rex responded, shrugging slightly. 

“You prefer a Venator ceiling over an open sky?”

“Well,” He grazed his palm over a cluster of gems that reflected soft purple light, “Other than Kamino, It’s all I’ve ever known as a home.”

Your heart twisted in your chest and you turned to look at him. You couldn’t see his expression through his helmet when you asked your question, “What would your ideal home be?” 

“What?” He seemed surprised by your question. After a few beats the Captain answered, “Truthfully, I haven’t thought about it.”

“Not even a little?” you asked, walking beside him, “When the war is over, where would you like to go?”

“We’re not made to think like that.” Rex took off his helmet, and turned to look at it in his hands, “We’re soldiers. We were made to fight. It’s why we age twice as fast, so when the fighting is done, we…don’t stay for too long.” 

You swallowed, throat tightening.

“And…what if you didn’t age twice as fast?” Your voice shook slightly before you cleared your throat to speak, “You could choose anywhere to live. Where would it be?” Without thinking, you rested a hand against his arm.

“I don’t know.” he sighed, “Why does it matter?”

Your words were stubborn, “Because what you think matters to me.” You don’t know why his answer mattered so much to you. Even in the low crystal light you could tell he was confused by your pressing. 

Rex blinked, “I’m a clone, doc. You don’t need to-”

“You're more than a clone to me.” you stepped forward, getting closer to him, “And you're more than a soldier…”

There was a flick of emotion in his gaze. His eyes reflected the small illuminating crystals, making them look like amber with stars trapped inside.

By the galaxy, his eyes were beautiful. 

He swallowed, looking back at his helmet before meeting your eyes, “I suppose I’d want to…have my home wherever you are.” The nervousness was clear in his tone. And you could feel ever so slight shaking from his arm.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you got closer. With a trembling hand, you raised it to his cheek. 

Rex was tense and frozen in place, looking at you. His gorgeous eyes were a storm of anxiety and uncertainty. His small confession was honest but most likely terrifying for him. He was created and raised to be a soldier, and he was in unknown territory now. 

He wasn’t taught anything more than warfare. 

You held power over him, intentional or not. He was a clone. In the eyes of many he was property with no thoughts or feelings. A droid to take orders, nothing more. He wasn’t allowed rights or liberties.

So you gave him the power to choose what he wanted.

“Rex?” You whispered his name, breath ghosting his skin, “Can I kiss you?” 

The Captain nodded slowly, “Yes…Please…” 

You’d most likely be his first. His first kiss. His first romantic partner. His first…everything.

Gently and slowly, you leaned forward, connecting his lips with yours. It was tender, soft and chaste. But it held so much emotion. The only reason you pulled back was to breathe, but he chased you slightly, following your lips. 

The Captain blinked his eyes open, meeting your gaze. His helmet dropped to the ground, and his palms were on your cheeks. This time, he initiated by leaning forward and kissing you. It was an uncertain kiss, but one that still spoke with so much feeling.

“Gar cuyir ner kar'ta.” He whispered, once you both broke away to breathe properly.

You smiled, leaning against him, “Gar cuyir ner cyar'ika.”

Rex laughed softly, pulling you to kiss you again. 

…Until you heard the clearing of a throat. 

You and the Captain jerked away, eyes wide, coming face-to-face with General Skywalker.

Anakin was standing at the other end of the cave, one eyebrow raised and a satisfied grin on his face. His arms were crossed, and he seemed way too pleased. Like a Loth-cat in a sunbeam. 

Fives was next to him. You could tell by his posture that his jaw was dropped in his helmet.

“G-general!” Rex saluted, “I-we…”

“I knew it,” the Jedi’s grin didn’t falter as he spoke, “Like I said a long time ago, Rex. All of my men are free to pursue whatever relationships they want. I won’t tell a soul. Neither will Fives, right trooper?”

After a second, he nodded, “r-right. Yes sir! I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

The 501st captain let out a relieved sigh, “Thank you, General…But…may I ask, how did you find us? Our coms have been cut off.” 

“I had to use the Force,” He responded, turning to face the exit of the tunnel, “I wasn’t going to leave my most loyal captain or talented doctor to wander around some caves. Now come on, we still have a mining operation to stop.”

You shared a look with your cyar’ika before he put his helmet on to follow. You kept close to him, feeling pure happiness in your chest.

Cyar’ika….

You liked calling Rex that.

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

So how about some angst romance stuff

Goat!Reader was dating and perhaps married to Sozo when Sozo switched back to Dr. Sozonius and they aren't in love anymore, just. Sozonius doesn't remember anything from when he was Sozo, and reader loves Sozo, not Sozonius

"What did you do to him?"

Lamb jumped a little upon hearing the sound of a follower slamming the doors to their temple wide open, as they were in the midst of preparing for the next ritual.

They would have earned the harshest scolding if not for the fact it was you, the goat who decided to join their cult out of your own volition.

You were also the one who was wedded to Sozo--Anura's mushroom researcher who was driven to madness, died due to shroom overdose, and revived within the cult grounds..before finally being restored back to his old self.

All it took was simply depriving him (or rather the parasite on his head) of those same shrooms that once killed him. The fungus simply shriveled up and died, turning into nothing more than dust.

It ended up revealing his true age: as an elderly soul with little time left, but Lamb figured out a "fountain of youth" of sorts...and soon they and their followers got to know Dr. Sozonius.

One of the most intelligent scientists in all of the Old Faith.

Knowing how much he meant to you, Lamb would have thought you, of all people, would've been elated and thanking them endlessly for the "miracles" they somehow made happen, and brought your spouse back to you. Free of the parasite that took him away.

But for some reason..you were doing the exact opposite: condemning them in their own temple.

Why, though?

"I kept my promise. I told you I'd cure him, and I did..didn't I?" They hummed, closing their book as they stared down at you from behind the podium, wondering why you still looked so resentful.

"Lies. You killed the ant I loved."

Now it was their turn to be crossed. "[Y/n], you shouldn't be calling your divine leader a li-"

"He doesn't remember me at all!"

"....what?" Their eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "I mean..the fungi may have messed with his mind, and his memories aren't what they-"

"No..he..h-he doesn't know who I am anymore." Tears filled your eyes, gripping the sleeves of your robe. "He knows nothing of our vows..our wedding bands..the Mushroomos...not even how we met. He looks at me like a stranger. Like I'm the one eating shrooms!"

Their eyes widened a little, initially shocked by this revelation, but they were quick to double down with a scowl. "Listen, I'm terribly sorry to hear that. Truly, I am. But there's no way I could have known that was going to happen. You were wedded to an intelligent doctor, and I did my best to restore him. Just like you asked-"

"No...no, no, no...I never loved "Dr. Sozonius", Lamb. I loved Sozo."

A pause.

"You...never knew him as...?"

"No. When I got lost in Anura, his followers took me in..to the Spore Grotto. And Sozo..he showed that he cared, even if the fungi made him say some..questionable things. At times, I didn't know if he loved me for me or for the shrooms I've found across Heket's domain. But what we had...was real." You swallowed back more tears, your voice thick with emotion. "At our wedding, he..e-equated my love to being as addicting as those shrooms. And that day...I knew it wasn't the fungi talking, but his heart. He loved me, and now..he doesn't even know my name..."

As Lamb listened to your grief-striken ramblings, they felt their ears droop slightly more and more with each passing second. Yet their gaze remained firm as they stepped down from the podium, eyes full of sympathy.

"[Y/n], the Sozo you knew..it..it wasn't the real him. He was miserable, addicted. It was the fungi that convinced you-"

"Enough with the lies, damned Lamb.."

They stopped, noticing how you stared back at them with such hatred in your eyes...and he could see red starting to glow within them.

Indeed, they were eyes of a dissenter.

"Excuse me?"

"You killed my beloved, and replaced him with an impostor." You spat angrily, stomping your hoof as you sneered down at the sheep. "You think I'll accept him as that? The others will know my story...how you destroyed our love. You wouldn't hesitate to do the same to other couples, would you?!"

"You've got this all wrong, [y/n]. Sozonius is his real identity-"

"LIES!! ALL LIES!! I ONLY LOVED SOZO!!"

In blind rage, you raised your hand up--but before you could take any sort of action, their Red Crown manifested a giant shadowy claw that grabbed ahold of your ankle, tripping you.

As you grunted from the initial pain of your horns hitting the hardwood floors, you saw Lamb now sneering down at you this time.

"You were in love with a parasite. The monster that killed him in the first place. I cured him, set his mind free, restored his happiness and youth....and you repay me like this? With a threat to strike me?!" Sharp teeth began appearing in their mouth, and you could only stare back at them, shuddering a bit. "You'd rather see him suffer over and over again..than accept this is the real him?"

"I-I..refuse to accept this impostor you created."

"You will soon enough. But for now..I believe reeducation is an order. To show you that he's better off this way. Perhaps better off without you and your obsession." Lamb huffed, dragging you outside as you thrashed and clawed at the grass, all while the bewildered followers watched you being taken to the pillories.

Among them was Sozonius, who looked confused and a bit saddened when you called out his name.

"Sozo".

He didn't think you two were well-acquainted enough to warrant the nickname you've given him, and he didn't understand why you kept calling him that since the day he gained clarity and found himself chained up in the same pillory you were in now.

Except...you had no clarity, but rather started babbling nonsense about "love" and how Lamb lied to you.

He did pity you, yet at the same time was a little scared that you've mentioned a "wedding" like you both were already married.

But you weren't...right? He was a mushroom researcher, always on the go until he decided to settle down in Lamb's cult. He wouldn't have time for marriage.

How he wishes he could help you sort out these thoughts and let go of this "fantasy" you're living out. Maybe then, he'd be more willing to get to know more about you.

Until that happens, though, hopefully Lamb's methods of reeducation could help you.

[littlest-w01f]

Siren song

Tarquin x Euphonia

TARQUIN MASTERLIST

MAIN MASTERLIST

Summary: When Tarquin hears a soft voice singing to him from the ocean, he follows, someone saves him.

Cw: None

part one - part two - part three

It was nearly sunrise when Euphonia returned to the depths of the water where she lived, not that it mattered since the sun couldn't reach there, she had set the heir on the waterside, on the wet sand, not wanting him to get a good look at her.

She felt horrible, no amount of wiping away at her lips would rid her of the feeling of kissing him while he was under her sister's spell, doing something she'd hated her own species of doing.

Gently paddling back towards her underwater grotto, Euphonia let out a sigh as she slipped beneath the waves. The cool, clear water washed over her skin, cleansing away the remnants of her recent encounter with the surface world.

As she swam, she couldn't help but dwell on the events that had transpired. She felt a pang of guilt for having kissed the prince, even if it had been under compulsion. But she consoled herself with the thought that her actions had ultimately served a greater purpose - saving his life and breaking her sister's spell. Despite this, a part of her wondered if there might be more to their connection than just the fulfilment of a love spell.

Reaching her grotto, Euphonia emerged from the water in the underwater cave, her skin glowing in the dim light. As she is outside of her water, her Siren self going back to Fae.

When she opened her eyes, wiping away the droplets of water, finding Kryqa, her Kraken friend, "Hello, aren't you early?"

Kryqa, the massive Kraken, loomed large in the grotto, he was one of the least high fae-like lesser faes, he was what one would consider a true monster, his many tentacles brushing against the walls and sending ripples through the water, some curled around the gold Euphonia had collected from many centuries and ships that had crashed, the treasure from all around Prythian. His enormous eyes glowed in the darkness as he regarded Euphonia. "I could say the same about you," he rumbled, his voice echoing throughout the cave.

"Where were you, Euphonia?" Kryqa growled, tentacles wrapping around her scaled hips almost so she wouldn't escape, but they both knew it wasn't to scare her, anger in his eyes, there was no denying where she had been.

Euphonia swallowed, expression solemn. "I... I was at the shore" She sank onto a rock, his tentacles letting him go, the weight of her actions heavy upon her shoulders as her tail wrapped around the rock, not looking at Kryqa to avoid his disappointment.

"I had to kiss the heir to break the spell of my sister. And then I swam him to the shore..." Her voice trailed off.

Kryqa studied her closely, his gaze intense. "you know you can't do that right?" He hissed, then his tone turned softer than before, "If someone had seen you..."

"I was careful." Euphonia said in an instant, "Besides, dawn was a few hours away, no one saw me."

His tone softened, clearly concerned for his dear friend, even though she was being reckless. "What are you doing? Do you remember what happened last time you interfered with affairs of land Fae?"

"Yes, I do," Euphonia sighed heavily, her slender fingers combing through her long, colourful hair. Her gaze drifted toward the shimmering treasure piled high near the ceiling of the cavern. "Our people had died..."

Kryqa nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to the pile of treasure. "That we did. And yet here we are, still living, still breathing. Still making the same mistakes." He turned his attention back to her. "So tell me, what happens now? Are you visit him again?"

"No... It's over with." Euphonia shook her head, "I just wanted to free him from my sister, nothing else."

Kryqa watched her intently, studying every nuance of her expression. "Your eyes betray you." he finally said.

With those words hanging in the air between them, Kryqa unfurled one of his immense tentacles and used one to gently caress Euphonia's Fae cheek. "Promise me you won't go near him again," he murmured softly, concern evident in his voice.

"I swear..." Euphonia nodded, not wanting to put her friends in danger

"Good." With that, Kryqa left her grotto, leaving her alone in the rather dark place.

Darkness clouded his eyes, he was being shaken awake, and Tarquin opened his eyes with a gasp, eyes locking with a worried fishermale, his eyes cringed at the sharp summer sun as he was pulled up, the male fussing over him, cleaning his royal clothing of sand. he was surprised to feel himself dry, not remembering most of the night.

The last thing he remembered was diving off the shore and then drowning in a dark pit in the Summer oceans, his eyes were wide, his ears ringing as he was unfocused, he'd seen Sirens, they were real.

He placed a hand over his lips, almost remembering the kiss when the memory slipped away from him.

"My lord, are you alright?"

The words rang in his ears as he simply nodded at the male who held him stable, he simply nodded.

The fishermale helped the dazed prince to his feet, supporting him until he seemed steady enough to stand alone. The sun shone brightly now, casting long shadows across the sand and turning everything a golden hue.

"My mate has gone to altert the High Lord that we found you," the fishermale spoke. "We should get you back to the palace. The High Lord would be worried for your saftey."

Tarquin blinked slowly, nodding again. "Thank you," he murmured quietly, his gaze distant as he looked out to sea, trying to see any signs of the Siren he'd seen. "May I have a moment alone?"

The fisherman nodded, understanding the prince's need to take a moment to collect his thoughts. There was little they could do except wait, so he remained silent, merely a distance away by the prince's side in solidarity.

Tarquin stood at the edge of the shore, the water lapping gently at his feet. His mind was filled with images of the beautiful siren who'd saved him from certain death. He couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again someday.

Tarquin spent a long time standing by the shore, his bare feet sinking into the warm sand as he stared out at the ocean. He couldn't shake the memory of those beautiful sirens from his mind, nor the strange sense of familiarity he'd felt when they sang.

Eventually, however, he was forced to turn away as the sound of approaching horses echoed across the beach. With a sigh, he made his way back to the waiting figures, climbing clumsily onto the horse provided without another word.

After what felt like ages but was likely only minutes later, the sound of hooves echoed in the distance. A carriage soon came into view, drawn by two white horses adorned with the crest of the High Lord. The fisherman waved at it frantically to catch its attention.

Soon, the carriage stopped beside them. Inside was none other than the High Lord himself, who gave Tarquin a stern look once he climbed out.

Tarquin had a guilt-filled look in his eyes as his mother stepped out after his father, his mother rushed to him, worry clear on her face as she cupped his cheeks, looking for injuries, "Oh, dear! I was so worried about you, you weren't in your bed, I couldn't find you anywhere..." She rambled on. His father came to yell at him for sneaking away but she shushed him.

Tarquin let his mother fuss over him, allowing her to check him for injuries despite the fact that he didn't have any. He was more focused on the guilt gnawing at him than anything else. Feeling as if he shouldn't have gone outside, kept in his bed like his parents had told him. As his mother finished speaking, he cleared his throat awkwardly. "I-I'm fine, Mother," he lied, forcing a smile onto his face. "I must have fallen asleep down by the shore."

As they rode back towards the palace, Tarquin found himself thinking once more about those sirens and their song. How he longed to hear that song again. He remembered the voice of the one who had gotten him to the shore, the gentle voice of her, hoping he wouldn't remember everything he did.

{General Taglist- @nox-ceur @lilah-asteria @paleidiot}

{Siren song Taglist - @slut4acotar}

[tsunael]

(Count)down to Dawntrail. 6/26

Weigh anchor now, the tide is high, And dawn of new adventure nigh. Row forth to break horizon's bond, And tread the gilded path beyond!

context:

She returns to where it all began-- to Vylbrand.

The stone within the Seasong Grotto reads as thus:

I am the waves that bear, I am the winds that guide, I am the evening stars, I am the morning sky. I am born of the sea, and there I shall die.

There, she makes a pilgrimage to Nymeia's effigy, leaving Her lily as tribute-- either as an act of reverence or defiance of the cards Sister Fate had dealt, as if to say, 'Here is my thanks to the monster who did not succeed in swallowing me alive.'

She takes her dagger in hand and cuts her hair. It's a new start. There, she renounces her old life.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

All good things must pass...

This is a treat fic for @samayla for the 2023 @whiteoliphaunt.

Pairing: Thorin x Bilbo

Words: 1 335

Warnings: None

Prompts: Snowed in, gift giving, sharing traditions

“Maybe, we could…” Thorin II, generally called “Oakenshield”, scratched his beard pensively as he looked out on the endless blanket of snow that made it patently impossible to discern the single path leading down from the hidden cave.

“Dear,” Bilbo sighed, his nose twitching in dismay. He opened his mouth to remind his friend and lover of the fact that, despite being an esteemed king and a fierce warrior, Thorin had a pesky tendency to lose his way even at the best of times.

Indeed, the brave Hobbit was far from eager to tumble off a rocky ledge or fall down a ravine that was treacherously obscured by the snow in a ludicrous but eminently tragic accident.

Nevertheless, Thorin seemed so tense and unhappy already that his heart misgave him, and he swallowed his confession of doubt and fear in favour of a more selfless argument.

“I do not doubt that you, your dwarven instincts, and your sturdy boots could find a way down, but I beg you to remember that I am at a distinct disadvantage,” he commented in a soft, pleading voice, motioning at his furry, bare toes.

Of course, this was at least partially disingenuous; Bilbo’s feet were inured to both icy sludge and searing heat, but he could not feel all too guilty for fibbing when he saw Thorin’s eyes light up with relief and tenderness.

“It was such a nice idea to come here,” the Hobbit went on, willing his jaw to relax and suppressing the full-body shivers threatening to ruin his nonchalant delivery of those much-needed, reassuring words of love and support. “I do not mind staying a little longer. Surely, there are more things you can show me in your favourite grotto?”

The smile pulling at the corners of his mouth now was as sunny and genuine as it would have been had they comfortably stood in front of the Great Hall’s roaring fires.

Growing up, Bilbo—as was the wont of his kind—had himself favoured certain flowers, fruits, and trees, and he had never doubted the legitimacy of those instinctive preferences.

Thus, it made perfect sense to him that Thorin—who had only recently returned to his ancestral home—would have treasured places he had not seen for many decades.

It filled Bilbo’s heart with tingling warmth to know that his beloved did not only yearn to spend his future with so unlikely a consort, but that he was also recovered enough from the ordeal of the quest and his almost fatal bout of Dragonsickness to grant Bilbo a glimpse into a long-lost past.

“Did you come here often?” he prompted, threading his stiff fingers into the warm fur of Thorin’s collar and tugging gently to distract the King from his morose musings.

“Not as often as I would have liked,” Thorin admitted. “I was the heir, and my duties lay elsewhere.”

“Shame, it’s so pretty.”

Despite the howling wind and the blistering cold, the small cavern, nestled into the flank of a forlorn part of the Lonely Mountain’s foothills, held a singular, enchanting charm. Even in the chiaroscuro caused by the thick veil of heavily falling snow that was blocking out the daylight, age-old crystals glimmered faintly from the vaulted roof, and Bilbo couldn’t help being reminded of the intricate chandelier he had once seen in the Thain’s house as a fauntling.

“What would you do when you came here then?” His teeth were clacking miserably by now, but he was unwilling to let the conversation die.

With a jolt, Thorin seemed to abruptly snap out of his self-recriminatory reverie and firmly slung his arms around the smaller frame of the one he had chosen to be his partner in all things.

“I am so sorry,” he mumbled under his breath. “I have failed you again! Come here, let me warm you up!”

Opening his heavy coat, he wrapped Bilbo into a cocoon of warmth before settling his bearded chin atop the mop of messy, honey-golden curls with another deep, tremulous sigh.

“I am still waiting for an answer. Did you do frivolous, unprincely things?” Bilbo teased, feeling perfectly at ease now that he was sheltered from the biting cold by the fragrant, comforting bubble Thorin had created for him.

He knew not what expectations the overly serious King entertained within that stubborn, laughably haughty mind of his, but Bilbo himself could not imagine a better place to be during a snowstorm than in Thorin’s arms.

Having lived a solitary life before embarking on his Great Adventure, he was not fazed by the idea of being cut off and isolated—he even sometimes preferred being left alone, and, after the bustling activity of Erebor’s reconstruction and repair, he was profoundly grateful to get a moment of intimacy to simply talk to his husband.

“I…I could show you,” Thorin finally replied haltingly. “Sit over there.”

Shrugging out of his coat, the dwarven king draped it around his cherished consort’s shoulders and padded cautiously to the mouth of the cave.

“It is silly,” he admitted when he returned to where Bilbo sat, huddled against the far wall, and set down a heap of powdery, pristine snow.

Again, the Hobbit pressed his lips together to keep himself from saying something imprudent that would upset or discourage Thorin.

The gleam of pure hope and fond reminiscence in those bright blue eyes was so rare and precious a sight that it didn’t even truly matter if the puerile pastime Thorin was about to share turned out to be truly anodyne or vapid indeed.

Wordless, Bilbo watched as Thorin busied himself around the cave, collecting pieces of fallen crystal and small, iridescent stones to build a miniature of the throne room such as it had been before Smaug had laid waste to his beloved kingdom.

“It’s so beautiful,” Bilbo breathed, as ever fascinated and humbled by the craftiness and skill of the many-layered miracle that was Thorin.

Once upon a time, he had met a disgruntled, distrustful king in exile, and it never failed to awe him when he unearthed pieces of the young dwarf Thorin had necessarily been before everything had been taken from him and his family.

“Funny that you’d escape your princely duties only to recreate the very room you’ve fled,” he added in a light voice.

“Wait…” Thorin cautioned him. “May I ask for one of your cherished handkerchiefs as a sacrifice?”

Without hesitation, Bilbo handed over the worn cloth square, too curious to discover what the other had in mind.

“It’s a poor gift,” Thorin whispered as he extricated a piece of flint from his pocket and set the fabric alight, “because it doesn’t last, but…”

“Hush,” Bilbo interrupted, mesmerised by the dancing shadows and the kaleidoscope of colours the small flame cast upon the domed walls of their little sanctuary. “This is absolutely stunning. I understand why you loved coming here!”

Blushing furiously, Thorin looked up at him from where he knelt on the floor.

“Thank you,” Bilbo croaked, tears of emotion and depthless adoration turning his voice raspier than usual. “We Hobbits love ephemeral beauty; after all, even the most gorgeous flowers die and the most glorious of summers must end.”

Sliding to the floor beside Thorin to hug him to his clenching chest, Bilbo allowed his starry eyes to overflow, trusting that even his tears would be well-guarded and safe in Thorin’s mighty hands.

“You’ve graciously gifted me a fleeting flash of colour and heat to counterbalance the deadly white of this storm,” he breathed into a reddened ear, framed elegantly by silver beads and dark hair, “and you’ve granted me a glimpse of your precious soul’s eternity.”

“The storm has finally abated,” Thorin mumbled sheepishly. “Should we dare the descent?”

“Not yet,” Bilbo replied softly, spreading out the coat he’d been cowering under on the floor. “Let’s stay a while yet and watch the lights dance as if we were alone in the world. We are safe, Thorin. Let’s savour that! Together!”

I hope you'll enjoy this <3

Lots of love from me!

[esteemed-excellency]

ohh I'm very curious, i *think* i know what a folly tower is, but I'm not certain! would you mind explaining please? (and maybe how this thies in witb hiram specifically?)

Of course! A folly in architecture is a building constructed for decorative purposes, there's not a precise definition in terms of scale or design, even if by modern standards the buildings are usually small, they can be gloriettes, fake ruins, artificial grottos, towers, etc. They became a trend in english and french landscape gardens during the 18th century and the term began as "a popular name for any costly structure considered to have shown folly in the builder" (quoting the Oxford English Dictionary's definition from wikipedia).

Overall they're very fun and interesting ornaments but towers in particular have their own value as landmarks, viewpoints, or historical constructions (like the irish "famine follies"). I personally like the liminal aesthetic they convey, given that they were often placed in the middle of nowhere, and the convoluted effect of some bigger constructions.

[Hadlow Tower (Kent) / Broadway Tower (Worcestershire) / Pontypool Folly Tower (Wales) / Scrabo Tower (Northern Ireland) / La Scarzuola (Italy) / The Swallow's Nest Castle (Crimea)]

In Fallen London, the Edict of Towers is an abandoned location between Hell and Parabola (reachable via Marigold Station), described as a maze of mirrors, walls, towers, turrets, and parapets. It was an ancient defence of Hell but it's empty now, and people risk getting lost between the Is and the Is-Not trying to navigate it. So, because i'm a huge sucker for cursed escherian labyrinths, i decided that it would be the perfect place for Hiram's parabolan base.

The halls of mirrors tie in with some descriptions of Is Someone There?, and the battlements fit the theme of A Game of Chess, which are Hiram's main dreams and nightmares. They're also perfectly on brand with the pseudo-medieval aesthetic of the Red Court.

Also, the vibe reminds me of a mix between surrealist/metaphysical paintings and the XII century italian tower craze:

[Almayer's Folly - René Magritte / The Red Tower - Giorgio De Chirico / reconstruction of Bologna during the 1200s / a depiction of San Giminiano during the 1200s/1300s by Taddeo di Bartolo]

[janetkwallace]

On the consequences of the Burmecian Genocide

You don't have to agree with what I'm about to say.

As a matter of fact, you can disagree as much as you want, I'm not saying that what I say is the right thing or that my view is better than yours. Everyone hold different views on the things they like and they don't, and today I'm writing about something I both like and dislike about one of my favorite games. The thing is, I don't like to do this sort of analysis where I comment on the negatives of my favorite stuff, even if I were to do it with a bit of humor.

Well, do not expect any humor.

I was kinda hesitant to write about it, but then I found myself writing it on a whim, so here we go... There is no turning back.

I've written about my thoughts on Final Fantasy IX before, its goods and its flaws. I've said what I had to say about the second visit to Alexandria during Disc 2, aka the point in the game where my enjoyment for the story has significantly decreased, it did not ran out as the game is still good after that point, but for me things were no longer the same as they did during the first hours of gameplay.

If you read the title, you know what I'll be commenting on today. So, genocide... It happens across most of the Final Fantasy games, it's shown to be very graphic when it happens, and IX was no different. Disc 1 ends with the party visiting Gizamaluke's Grotto, and later Burmecia, places filled with dead soldiers and NPCs lying down on the streets. The bleak atmosphere combined with haunting music adds a lot to these scenes. When the party fights against the Black Mages at Cleyra, each fight doesn't end with a victory pose... Because there's no victory when lots of innocents are annihilated by a powerful attack all at once. Later, when you revisit Lindblum, a giant monster is swallowing everything in its dark void, from knights to people to Black Mages themselves, it doesn't matter who gets sucked in or whose corpses fall in midair.

Pretty graphic, don't you think? The scenes do not include any blood or gore, it's just these little gruesome details that the player clearly sees with their eyes, this nightmarish stuff that happens and you can't do jack about it. One of my praises for Final Fantasy IX is for doing these sorts of things and not being afraid of doing it so. Sometimes it's whimsical fantasy, and other times a bleak, chaotic mess that belongs to dark fantasy, all of it happens in one game that most people – and I still can't believe it – think it's for children or that because it's geared towards children it has to dumb down a lot of themes they can’t grasp by themselves.

It doesn't. From the beginning, it’s clear that people do die, and it doesn't matter if your party members are well-trained or skilled, people in the world still die. I believe this is one of the core themes present in the games Sakaguchi worked with, that death is inevitable and out of the player's control. The original Final Fantasy VII had a lot of scenes revolved around said theme, such as when Barret meets his old friend Dyne or the main antagonist revealed to be a walking corpse who and whose mother – also a corpse – refuses to die in contrast with a party member whose sacrifices gives everyone else a chance to live.

I'm not here to talk about VII, maybe someday, but returning to the main point... The Burmecian genocide that occurs in Final Fantasy IX is shocking due everything I've said before, but the consequences of it are not fully explored. It's something that not only happens in this game, but a problem with the Final Fantasy series as a whole where the act of genocide is shown to be a horrifying event that leads to many casualties, and yet, very little is told or shown in the aftermath. Sure, there is an attempt to show the Burmecians leading their lives after the invasion, a few NPCs in Lindblum and some Cleyrans who managed to flee their settlement that are spread across the entire world, but it's not enough.

Genocide not only kills people, but their culture. How does the Burmecian culture look like after the genocide? Do people want to go home or do they want to build a new home elsewhere? The destruction of symbols can be demoralizing, so do any of the Burmecians feel sad or guilty or depressed after witnessing the collapse of their birthplace? Do other NPCs consider Burmecians as victims or do they see the mass murder as a justified act, given the few times conflicts between Burmecia and Alexandria were mentioned? What about the Cleyrans, what do they have to say about the giant crater that lies where Cleyra used to be? Are there any attempts from the citizens of Burmecia to restore their homeland to its full glory or is that something impossible to be achieved?

We see Lindblum in ruins and during its reconstruction, but nothing happens in Burmecia, it's abandoned the way it is since Disc 1. You could say that's a result of disc limitation at the time, and yes, while the limits of what can fit inside a 700mb disc plays a factor, it isn't the sole reason why a lot of things about Final Fantasy IX and other games from the series feel rushed or underdeveloped.

I'd say it's not only a lack of digital space, or budget constraints , but I do see it as a lack of care too, which's weird to think about since a lot of effort was put on the game, its story, characters, graphics, the backgrounds that we see for just a second and then never again, all of that done with such intricate and pure detail, and then you have stuff that isn't very well executed or explored. Disc 4 is there to show this dissonance of "let's put lots of details in these background elements" combined with "the story goes crazy and we will offer cryptic explanations as to why this happens and the characters in the party barely react to the information".

In the end, nothing that I wish for will be true. This game is called "Final Fantasy IX", not "Burmecian Fantasy IX", after all. They were never meant to be given any focus, but that doesn't mean they're irrelevant or any less important than anything else that takes place in the game.

[nikonstudio]

And yes, the Swallow Grotto if you do go deeper into the national park...

[zoeisabelladaily]

Terravale Hall

Hey Diary,

Today was a whirlwind of mysteries and revelations. Let me spill the beans.

Mr. Servius escorted me to Terravale Hall with the golden key card, and the stone door greeted us with a loud creak, as if awakening from a deep slumber. Terravale Hall, a sanctuary embracing the essence of the earth, unfolded before me. The colossal stone fountain in Earthheart Plaza flowed with earth-infused water, and ancient trees whispered tales of magic. At the heart of the hall, an intricately engraved earth rune marked the gathering place for ceremonies. Rockhaven Grotto and Verdant Canopy Grove showcased magical creatures, while the Geomancer’s Archive, a magical library, invited quiet study. Dormitories carved into earthen walls provided cozy havens. Everything, in brown and green, radiated a connection with earth’s energy.

Everything there was the same as I saw earlier around my room, like the corner room, scratch on my door but the wall that swallow people wasn’t there. In my room my luggage waited for me. I arranged everything, feeling reassured that this couldn’t be mere imagination. It was as real as the air I breathed.

Morning brought a surprise — a box on my doorstep containing the school uniform and a wand, a gift from Mrs. Morgana Revancraft. The wooden wand symbolized my connection with Terravale, chosen by the “Foresight Fire.” However, this wand was different from the one the old lady gave me in Ebonhaven Village. A strange feeling urged me to keep quiet about the old lady and her wand, so I hid it. Trust needed to be earned before I could spill any secrets.

Lilith knocked on my door, and we headed to the great hall, though it seemed we were fashionably late. Albert Pendleton, a shy, bookish boy from Aetherion Spire, kindly found us seats. Headmistress Morgana Revancraft and the professors took their places, and she addressed the students. The main agenda for the day was the policy regarding relationships with “mundane am.” The rule was clear: no relationships with mundane am for the safety of everyone. Breaking this rule meant facing consequences, and it felt more like a warning than a piece of advice.

After the peculiar announcement from Headmistress Morgana Ravenscroft about the restrictions on relationships, I couldn’t help but notice Albert’s discontent. The policy seemed to weigh heavily on him, sparking my curiosity about his feelings towards these rules. Following the assembly, we headed to the food court for a delightful feast.

During our meal, Lilith inquired about my encounters with magical powers. She found it hard to believe that a witch or wizard could go through life without experiencing magic. I hesitated and confessed that I had never felt anything to indicate that I possessed magical abilities.

Now, alone in my room, reflections flood my mind. Recollections surface, like the time a dead plant revived at my touch or when I sensed influencing the positions of stars. Was I unconsciously using magic all along? And when I shared these oddities with Adam, why did he dismiss them as normal? Does he possess magical knowledge or, perhaps, love me despite being a witch? Questions swirl in my head, and answers remain elusive.

On another note, I planted the seeds Professor Xorki gave me by the riverside. The bag also contained a note with instructions to plant them discreetly. It adds another layer to the mysteries surrounding this school and my role in it.

Oh, and guess who I found under my bed? Misty! The same cat I encountered before. I called her by name, and she came to me as if she recognized my voice. Animals are incredible, aren’t they? They have a way of making us feel a connection that transcends words.

As I navigate through these magical twists, the uncertainties deepen. What other surprises await me in this mystical realm? Only time will tell.

Yours truly, Zoe

[howlingday]

au where jaune finds a magic sword when he's younger. it becomes his best friend and agrees to help him become a legendary hero since that's what it was made for in the first place. thing is no one else can hear it speak so everyone thinks jaune's insane. he's also extremely powerful and can use his aura in really interesting ways... he's just terrible at actually using the sword. might need some remedial training in that good thing he's going to beacon TLDR: jaune's a level 15 warlock, whos just now starting to pick up his first levels in paladin how does the story change? (just wanted to see how you think jaune's build would be different if he started off with a warlock instead of being pure paladin like we see in the show)

Hero of Dark Hope

Jaune's family trip to Vacuo had gone a strange direction. Though he was told to stay close to his sisters, his sense of adventure got the better of him... Well, his sister, too, but it's not like he tried to stop her. But the sands of Vacuo are not for those weak of heart. This lesson would be learned when he fell into a sinkhole that swallowed him faster than he could scream. He fell into the freezing cold water, thrashing about the grotto waters until he floundered his way to the cold comfort of dry land.

Jaune was alone, separate from his family. He called out to them, tears building in his eyes. He wanted to be a hero like his ancestors before him, but the cruel reality that he could die alone and so far away from his family was a very heartrending thought. He sobbed and wailed for every family member he could, hoping his voice would be carried up to them.

"ENOUGH!" Jaune whirled around to the center of the pool he was soaked from. "Your cowardice sickens me! Are you not a Maiden?!"

"N-No!" Jaune called back. "I'm a boy!"

"A boy? Where is the Maiden?"

"I'm..." Jaune gulped, sensing decreasing hostility, "I'm the only one here."

"Is that so? How did you enter my chambers?"

"I... I fell through the sands up there." Jaune pointed to the dark ceiling. Light began to glow bright from the pool until the beacon revealed itself to be a large, ornately crystalline sword floating in the air. "Who... Who are you?"

"I..." A small blue child decorated with golden strands of jewelry began, sitting atop the handle on his toes. His foxlike ears flicked as he grinned a toothy smile, "...am Yoki. The spirit who resides within the Sword of Destruction."

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

"Whoa! What is that?!"

"C-Crap!" Jaune quickly tucked the hilt into his back pocket. "You saw that?!"

"Heck yeah!" Ruby said with eyes shining. "What is that weapon? I've never seen a sword like that! Can I hold it?!"

'Jaune, she's annoying me.' Yoki groaned into Jaune's ears. 'Can we blow her up?'

"No!" Jaune shouted.

"Oh! Right!" Ruby cleared her throat. "May I hold it?"

"Er, n-no. I, uh..." Jaune gulped. He made a deal with Professor Ozpin about Yoki. He doesn't tell anyone about it, and nobody has to know he has it. Well, now somebody does know. The biggest weapon's nut in Beacon, if not the whole world. Well, here he was now, so now he had to deal with it.

'Now?'

"No." Jaune said with a sharp tone, making Ruby flinch. "Oh, er, s-sorry. I was... Nevermind. I'm still saying no. See, I'm kind of not supposed to tell anyone about this weapon."

"Why not?"

"Um... It's a secret?" Jaune said with a sheepish grin.

'Wow, that was a really bad lie.'

"Wow, that was a really bad lie." Ruby echoed. "But I can respect your decision. And you can trust me! I won't tell anyone about your secret Grimm-killing weapon!"

"Thanks, Ruby." Jaune let out a huge sigh. "But, uh, since we're already keeping secrets, how about I at least bring you up to speed on me and Yoki."

"Yoki?" Ruby asked. "Why's your sword named Yoki?"

'I'm not HIS sword!' Yoki screeched, making Jaune cringe. 'I'm my own sword!'

"They're, uh, really sensitive about saying they're my sword. It's more like I'm borrowing it."

"Oh, you mean like Crocea Mors?"

"...Kinda?"

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

Jaune clashed hard with Cinder in the realm between Kingdoms. He was so close to getting people safely out of Atlas, but then SHE had to show up of all times! With Crocea Mors destroyed, he had no choice but to bring out the big guns. Or big sword in this case.

"Finally!" Cinder said with glee. "I'll have three relics in one go!"

"You'll have to kill me, first!" Jaune charged at her, blade at the ready.

"That's the idea!"

Cinder swooped low, swinging her glass sword in with an intense heat behind it. Jaune could feel it, but it would still shatter into, well, glass once Jaune and Yoki struck against her. Seeing him easily best her sword, she expanded the distance, shifting her tactics to more ranged options. Arrows sliced through the air as Jaune backed away, his aura already catching a few. He was smart enough to swat them off once he felt the heat.

'Yoki, do you trust me?'

'Not a good time to ask, but yes.'

'Good, because I have a dumb plan.'

'As if that ever changed anything.'

Jaune decided to close the distance, charging towards Cinder, who continued to fire makeshift arrows. He dove, his hair receiving a small shave of a few strands. As he rolled forward, the exploding arrow launched him like a missile along the ground. As his shield skidded against the ground, he activated the gravity dust, the shock racking his body as he suddenly launched backwards, into the air. As he soared high into the air, Cinder chased after him with manic glee on her face. He readied Yoki, roaring as he came crashing towards her.

"CINDEEEEEER!"

[ashrillvenheim]

Awakening Past

Chapter 24

pairing: Ashley Graham x Leon S Kennedy.

Content: (+18) romance, angst, gore, erotic/suggestive themes at some point, slow burn, violence, action, self-harm, death talk,

If you're a MINOR DON'T keep reading, thank you.

Archive of our own / WORK LIST / Awakening Past Masterlist

prev/next

“ Okay, be careful, we'll meet you there.” replied the brunet before cutting the transmission.

Leon let out a sigh as Jill approached him at a brisk pace.

“ Did you hear that? “ she asked, brushing dust and gravel off her clothes.

“ Yeah, I guess we'll just have to figure it out. Do you have the radar? “ the agent checked to make sure his weapons were in good condition and had not been affected by the fall.

“ Yeah.”

“ Good, then let's get going.”

The two began to walk through the strange grottoes carved into the stone. Leon listened carefully to the echo of their footsteps, sensing where there was a path to follow or just a dead-end hole. He looked like a bat. 

Jill was walking beside him, looking at her surroundings with cold sweat trickling down her spine, so he decided to bring up some conversation.

“ Well, can you start explaining what happened to you and Ashley?”

Leon's neck gave a subtle tug.

“ It's not the time or the place, Jill.”

“Oh, it's the perfect time and place, Leon. There's no Ashley or Chris, there's no one to hear us, bother us or judge you, just me.”

“ That's enough for me not to want to tell you.” growled the man climbing a rock. Jill rolled her eyes.

“ You're jealous of Einar.”

“ I'm not jealous of that idio-” he shut up suddenly when he was aware of how unconvincing he was sounding. He sighed heavily and knew that with Jill he had no escape in this conversation.

“ I'm not jealous, I'm worried and...I was an asshole.”

Jill was silent as she heard him finally give in, even surprised, as stubborn as he was, that he gave in so quickly.

“ Why?”

He sighed, slipping through the cracks.

“ Because I said something barbaric to her, and it's all getting mixed up in my head.” He paused. “After seeing how she came back from her date with that guy at the Springfield museum, I can't help but wonder if Einar will do the same to her. If he'll be using her or if what he's showing is real from the start, I don't know if Ashley sees it, or doesn't want to see it, or it's just me being paranoid.”

Jill was silent for a few seconds before asking.

“ What did you tell her at the bar, Leon?”

The man swallowed for a second.

“ That her choices of men hadn't been the best.”

Jill stood in place and threw her head back, covering her face with her hands.

“ Oh my God...Do you realize what an outrageous thing you said to her? Just be glad she didn't smash the bottle over your head, how much of an asshole can you be?”

Leon grunted and turned to her.

“ She gets lots and lots of nasty guys Jill, she may not see it sometimes, but-”

“ Doesn't see it? Ashley's been around snooty, phony people since she was a kid, way more than we have, and you say she doesn't see it?”

“ She's been out of touch for a long time.”

“ How long?”

“ More than four years,” the agent whispered and Jill threw her arms up in the air.

“ And isn't that proof enough for you? Doesn't the fact that she's gone more than 4 years without dating prove to you that she's capable of discerning the ones that suit her from the ones that don't?”

“ There are times when desperation clouds your judgment, Jill.”

The woman frowned.

“Like you?”

Leon's eyes widened wildly and his heart shrank as if he'd been punched. His blue eyes met the woman's and Kennedy's lower lip vibrated for an instant.

“ I-”

“Guys! We've been attacked outside, I don't know who, but someone has broken in!

Jill and Leon tensed at the sound of Gunnar's voice, could it be Wesker's men, how had they found them?”

The earth began to rumble again and Leon looked around, listening and feeling the vibration in the bowels of the place. He watched his feet, ready for any cracks that might appear as everything began to rumble.

But nothing moved.

The two stood still as the tremors and reverberations subsided again. They looked at each other and tried to contact Chris, but he was unresponsive.

“ Crap.” Jill said with a grunt. “Let's go ahead and try again to contact Chris or Ashley.”

Leon nodded with his heart pounding.

For the next few minutes, the man could only hear his and Jill's hearts pounding. They were both terribly worried, when suddenly Leon's radio beeped. The officer picked it up at full speed.

“ Ashley? Chris?”

“ It's me. - Redfield's voice echoed through the machine and Jill sighed in relief.”

“ What happened?” asked Valentine.

“ It's Ada, she followed us and in the earthquake she fell with Ashley.”

Leon went white and for a few seconds everything around him disappeared.

Ada was there. And Ashley was with her.

A violent hurricane of emotions began to tear him up inside and Jill had to slap him on the cheek to bring him back from that deep well. He blinked and looked at the woman, who was watching him with seriousness and concern.

“ She's fine and has found the "Mother Plague". She told me she will collect samples and look for the way back. Do you see with the radar my location?”

The two agents looked at the small screen on their machines.

“ The signal is weak, but I think we're in a nearby area. We'll go look for you and then meet up with Ashley.”

Leon was still worried, but the words wouldn't come out of his throat.

“ What about Wong?” Jill asked.

“ 'I don't know, but I hope she fell somewhere other than Ashley's, it looks like she knows Graham's olfactory ability and used something so he couldn't smell her, so she caught us by surprise.”

“That was something Ada would do” Leon thought unconsciously, but didn't say it out loud.

“ Keep us posted, we'll meet soon.” was all he was able to say.

Chris nodded and ended the call. Jill watched the screen for a few seconds before turning to her partner, whose expression had darkened drastically and who seemed to be in an inner struggle. He didn't seem to be doing very well, so she raised her hand and rested it on his shoulder. Leon blinked and turned to her with a look of concern. 

“ Ashley will be fine, you know she can take care of herself.” Valentine whispered in an attempt to calm him. Leon knew this, but a part of him needed someone to remind him.

“ Yes.” he said in a whisper, trying not to think about Ada. “Let's move on.”

Jill nodded and they set off again.

*

Her head was spinning. The smell of blood filled her nostrils like a hammer blow and it took a few seconds for her eyesight to focus.

She grunted in pain and gently sat up to a sitting position. Slowly the memories came to her and filled in the gaps in her memory.

Ada. She knew she should have left her down there.

Ashley hissed, raising her hand to the wound on her head that seemed to have stopped bleeding, but had stained half her face. She reached for the flashlight and saw that it was still there, but, right next to it, was her shattered radio.

She cursed the woman in every possible language.

She stumbled to her feet and needed a moment to recover. She noticed that her backpack was not there, nor was her gun, and deduced that Ada had taken them with the samples.

How nice of her not to have shot her already.

She sighed heavily and retrieved what little she had left. She inhaled deeply and stood still.

But she hadn't taken her scent with her.

She smiled inwardly. Whatever she had used to camouflage her scent, it was losing its effect.

She adjusted her harness and picked up the ropes. Her eyes were riveted on the creature petrified in the stone. She thought for a second and decided to place her locator beacon on it before heading deeper into the grotto and climbing.

*

Leon presses the button on the talkie to try to contact Ashley, but only noise could be heard. He sighed again and turned his eyes back to the front. His thoughts couldn't help but go to Ada, why, why did she have to be there to ruin what little progress they were making? She had followed them from who knew where and now Ashley was stuck with her. With a mercenary who years ago had not hesitated to tell him to leave her behind in Spain and go with her.

The venom spewing from her lips was unrivaled. Even he wasn't.

The words he had shared with Jill a few hours earlier echoed in his head like drums. He should have apologized, should have gone to Ashley so she wouldn't have to face Ada alone. Wong was ruthless and would not hesitate to play dirty to take what she wanted.

He knew that all too well. He just hoped Ashley was safe.

Leon picked up a tiny echo in the depths just before the radar beeped softly, alerting them to someone's approach. They followed the signal and both raised their guns as they approached an uneven intersection. Leon heard the footsteps and shone the gun on the figure emerging from a steep grotto.

“ Chris!” Jill exclaimed, unable to contain a big smile. Leon lowered his gun and the Captain lowered his with an exhalation of relief.

“ At last!” he sighed, receiving a hug from his partner. He looked at Leon and his expression darkened. - Have you been able to contact Ashley?

Leon frowned and denied.

“ Shit.” Chris cursed. “this area is full of pathways, those creatures look like they came out of the very bowels of this place.”

“ If the “Mother Plague” is as deep as Ashley says it's gone down, then it's no wonder they had caverns all over the place. The exits may be blocked, but I'm sure the walls aren't as thick in those places.” Leon analyzed by touching the porous walls. “Although Ashley is better at detecting the paths leading outside. Do you have any of those explosives left, Chris?”

The three of them sighed.

“ Yes, but we should find her first, do you have her location?” asked Chris to his partner, who looked at the screen.

“ It seems to be below our level, but she's not moving.” Jill's expression became anxious. “Do you think something might have happened to her?”

Leon clenched his fists.

“ Maybe she's climbing vertically and that's why we see her in the same place. Let's try to get to that area and see what we find there.” Leon's voice was neutral and controlled. As much as he could to contain the trembling in his voice and the anxiety that was eating him up inside. It was okay, he had to trust her.

After hearing Leon's words, both Chris and Jill knew how nervous he was, but he was right. They couldn't be fatalistic. So, following the radar's lead, they set off to regroup all together again.

As they walked through the steep grottoes, the earth shook several times. The rumbling from the bowels of the mountain ranges was like the internal roar of a volcano. Chris told them about what they found before Ada appeared and they were separated in the earthquake. He told them about the size and how they seemed to devour each other when they were buried there. Jill and Leon looked disgusted, as did Chris when he saw them.

They climbed up steep slopes and crevasses that they barely squeezed through. They didn't know how much time had passed, that place seemed frozen in time like the ship graveyard in Norway. 

Leon listened intently to every movement of the place, concentrating on picking up any sign that might give him a clue as to where Ashley was.

But then he heard footsteps and...an all too familiar voice.

He raised his fist to stop the group. The voice didn't seem to be in the same grotto as them, it would have to be on the other side of the wall.

“ What is it, Leon?” whispered Jill, her muscles tense.

The agent's face darkened and his brow furrowed deeply.

“ Ada.”

The two ex-STARS tensed and tightened their grip on their weapons.

“ If she's here, Ashley shouldn't be far behind.” Chris whispered with a growl. The three of them walked through the grotto as Leon came to understand the woman's words more and more.

“ I think she's above us.” Leon pointed.

“ I'm close to the outside, send me a helicopter, they're right on my heels.”

Leon's eyes widened.

“She's going to get away!” He hurried to make a run for it to find a path that would lead them to her so he could stop her. “She must have gotten something, otherwise she'd still be searching!” The anguish he had managed to calm came back to him.

Jill and Chris ran alongside him, but stopped when they reached a closed road.

“ Fuck!” Chris exclaimed, holding his hands to his head, and Leon nervously looked around every corner, but found nothing.

He heard a whistle.

He stood still and pressed his ear to the wall. It was no ordinary whistling, it sounded...like the sound of the wind.

“ Chris! Blow this wall down!” he called to his companion, his heart pounding. The brunet looked confused for a moment, but didn't question his partner's words. Without hesitation, he pulled out another small explosive which he placed in a hole in the porous wall and the three backed away before detonating it. 

The icy wind came at them with almost painful force. The change in temperature left them disoriented for a moment, but Leon soon broke into a run outside. They were a long way from the original entrance, but he couldn't hear the helicopter.

They still had time.

Another explosion was heard several meters above them and the man turned to see that figure emerge from the dust.

The figure that had caused him so many headaches since they had known each other.

Ada waved her hand to push the cloud of dust away from her face and looked down to where she had heard a rumble earlier.

Her eyes widened, subtly surprised as they met Leon's familiar figure.

It was only an instant that they shared glances, only to then turn and start running up the mountain. When she turned around, Leon saw the backpack hanging from her back and his blood froze.

Ashley's backpack.

He broke into a sprint up the steep, volcanic, half-flopped rock faces. His legs sank into the rubble, making his ascent excruciatingly tedious. He had to get to her, he couldn't let her get away. He drew his gun and saw Ada reach out with her hook gun.

No, he couldn't let her.

He raised the gun and took aim. Ada's hook stuck in a distant rock above her.

Leon's finger rested on the trigger.

He had to stop her. He had to shoot...Like he had to do in Raccoon City...when that time he couldn't.....

Ada's legs shot out from between the rocks, propelled.

But he couldn't pull the trigger.

An explosion burst the wall above Ada, who was ascending the hook, and suddenly a body charged at her. The violent impact and weight released the hook and the two bodies tumbled down the loose stone of the hill.

Leon blinked and heard Ada roar as she struck her assailant. He saw a blonde mane roll and rise from the ground. Leon's heart felt an indescribable relief when he saw Ashley safe and sound.

But Ada didn't think so.

Wong pulled out her hook and fired at her rival without a glance. Ashley managed to dodge it and charged at the woman with all her might. Ada was superior in technique and experience, but Ashley was stronger now.

Ada exclaimed as Ashley's fist impacted her side and threw her to the ground. She coughed and her hand shook, where the hell did she get that strength? What had happened to the girl hiding behind Leon in Spain?

She stood up and pulled out the gun. It was a threat, it was clear now. Ashley grabbed a handful of gravel and threw it at her as she went to fire. The echo of the gun detonating echoed, but missed her. She tried to take the backpack from her, but Ada pulled the knife with her other hand and Ashley pulled hers to engage in hand-to-hand combat. 

“ Well, the pretty girl has learned how to fight.”

Ada's vicious voice whispered between metallic blows. Ashley gritted her teeth as the woman's elbow struck her in the waist.

“ Do you want Leon's attention that badly?”

Her venomous words took her by surprise and the knife caught her in the thigh. Ashley roared and grabbed the wrist of the gun to avoid a shot that rang in her ears.

“ What the fuck do you know about me or Leon?” the blonde snarled and kicked her in the knee. Ada roared as she fell to her knees and felt Ahsley yank the backpack forcibly off her. Wong lost the pistol which slid away from the two and kicked Ahsley away with a kick to the chest.

The two fell to the ground and sat up in gasps.

“ More than you know. Leon has no secrets for me. You think I don't know how you called him in Spain? Come on, Ashley, admit it, you're only doing this to be with him.”

Ashley clenched her fist around the hilt of her knife.

“ Do you think I'm that simple?” she growled through her teeth like a dog.

“ And Leon is just like you, unable to change his Hero complex, he's even passed it on to you, who was unable to leave me lying there when I was unconscious.”

Graham tensed her muscles and charged at her again.

“ That's not true, don't talk about Leon like that, he saved you from Saddler.”

Ada narrowly dodged the blade, which caught her glancingly in the shoulder, making her hiss in pain.

“ He saved me because he is incapable of hurting me or leaving me to my fate. Leon is a poor rookie cop who fell in love with a mercenary.”

Ashley felt rage pumping her blood like fire and managed to reach across Ada's throat to deliver a headbutt. Wong staggered back.

“ Don't you dare insult him! He deserves it all and I'm not going to stop fighting for the second chance he gave me to live!”

Ada snarled and like lightning fired the hook. Ashley couldn't dodge it this time and the metal dug into her shoulder. She screamed in pain, but grabbed the metal cable to pull it and drag Ada to her. Wong blocked the blonde's knife, grabbing her.

“ You're inept and living in a fairy tale! The world is cruel and merciless and Leon is up to his head in that shit, you think you're going to pull him out? He can't let go of his past, he can't let go of me.”

Blood trickled down Ada's arm and down Ashley's. Graham looked at her with the eyes of an enraged jaguar and grabbed her with all her might to lunge again with her head. Ada withstood the onslaught.

“ I don't care if he has demons! We all have them! I chose this path because I want to help! Because he taught me not to lose hope!” she struck her head again, blood splattering on the floor. “ I don't care that he won't forget you! I will fight and fight so that he won't have to stand alone against the world you feed!” And once again. “Even if he can't see it, I'll be there!”

The last headbutt knocked Ada to the ground and Ashey stumbled backward with the backpack clutched in her other hand. With blurred vision she reached for the gun and pointed it at her, her hands shaking from the effort and strain.

Ada was still seeing in spirals, but when she sensed Ashley's figure aiming at her, she managed to pull the trigger on her hook. The rope recoiled, snapping violently out of Ashley's flesh and driving her knee into the ground, off balance.

A whirring sound echoed through the clouds and snow. Ada shot the hook skyward with difficulty, her body dejected and blood staining her face. 

The helicopter caught the hook, and Ashley's shot missed against the rocks as Ada was lifted into the air.

Leon watched the figure disappear behind the curtain of thin snow as he finally reached the bottom of the hill down which Ada and Ashley had fallen. He looked at the figure of his companion and his heart shrank. 

She was covered in dirt and blood. She held the prized backpack with an iron grip in one hand, while in the other was the pistol. The hand that carried the gun was shaking, but her knuckles were white from how hard she was squeezing it, as if she was holding back a terrible inner rage.

And she was. Ashley felt like she was going to burst at any moment. She wanted to scream, curse and cry at the same time, from the fury she felt.

She should have left her down there, it would have been the logical thing to do.

But maybe Leon wouldn't forgive her. “ He can't let me go.” Ada's words echoed like daggers inside her. Part of her knew it wasn't that simple, but then...she remembered how furious he'd seemed when he'd first told her about Ada. And he didn't seem angry because of the woman, but because he seemed incapable of hating her to some extent.

Or so she thought at least.

She smelled Leon approaching and gritted her teeth to push the woman's horrible words out of her head.

Leon had seen the violent fight. He would never have thought Ada would attack her like that, but Ashley...she had fought almost...to death. The two seemed to have wanted to finish each other off at that moment, though Leon had sensed that they wouldn't have.

But that didn't make him feel any better when he finally got to her.

“ Ash... ley?” he whispered her name, somewhat fearful of upsetting her current delicate state. He saw the woman's shoulders shake for a second before she turned to him and made him swallow saliva.

Her face was covered in blood. The wounds on her body had stained all of her clothes and now seemed to have stopped bleeding, when they shouldn't have.

Her expression was grim and angry. Her golden eyes glowed menacingly and Leon had to approach very cautiously.

“She's escaped.” she whispered hoarsely from the effort.

“ Yes, but she won't be back soon, you've hurt her badly.” he answered her softly.

He didn't want to talk about what he had heard. Because he had heard it ALL. He watched Ashley simply nod and let Leon take over the gun and the backpack.

Shortly thereafter Chris and Jill arrived, who had been left behind in the chase. They went to ask when they saw Ashley's condition and hesitated.

“ I left my locator in the Mother Plaga” said the blonde in a whisper."

Her three companions looked at each other for a moment.

“ Let's go back to Gunnar.” was all Chris said, aware that they needed to regroup and heal their wounds before thinking about how to proceed at this point.

Ashley simply let out a slight sound in affirmation and let them help her walk back.

*

Gunnar soon found them with the ponies. He had followed the source of the sound of the explosions and the helicopter and the group could see how far they had ended up from the main entrance. The mayor was horrified when he saw the condition of the group and rushed them to the old woman's hut.

There they tended to everyone's injuries, none being extremely serious, being mainly cuts, abrasions and bruises from the falls and fights. Ashley's shoulder hook wound was the only one that needed more attention and it was Jill who stitched up the injury.

“ Gunnar, do you have any cell phones I can use?” Ashley then asked as Jill finished bandaging his shoulder.

“ Yes, but who are you going to call?” he held out his cell phone in confusion.

“ Someone I sent for help.” she said, dialing the number she had memorized.

The other three understood who he meant.

“ Do you think he's arrived?” Leon asked softly, looking away to give her privacy while she was being bandaged.

“We'll find out now.”

She pressed the call button and the sound echoed in the room heavily, like a bell breaking a dense silence with its rumbling.

Someone picked up.

“ Rag-”

“ I'm gonna tie you up and gag you. I'm going to stick your feet in a pool of ants and pull out all your hairs one by one with a pair of pliers. I plan to kill you, revive you and kill you again by giving me non-stop heart attacks.”

The anguished voice echoed in the room and the team's eyes widened at the familiar tone.

“ Hunnigan?” Ashley's voice was shaky.

“ Don't ever, ever, ever, EVER give me these death scares again.”

Ashley felt her eyes become watery at the sound of that voice.

Ragna had arrived and had managed to give them her message. Ahsley clutched the Vegrisir around her neck and thanked whatever entity would listen for crossing her path with Ragna.

“ I'm sorry Ingrid, but we're fine, we are and we've found it.” said the blonde, unable to contain a smile of excitement, relief and nerves, which spread to the rest of the group.

They were no longer alone.

“ Have you found a sample?” The agent's voice was unbelievable and they needed a while to bring her up to date with everything that had happened in the last few weeks.

The feeling of absolute relief ran through everyone's body when they heard that call and many of the worries that had been eating away at them since they were left alone, gradually disappeared.

“ Well, now that we have your location, we will send a plane to pick you up and extract the specimen, good job.”

When they said their goodbyes and the call ended, the agents dropped into the first place they found with a long grunt of pent-up emotions.

Now they just had to wait to go home.

*

Narsson's expression when she saw them get off the horses was one of absolute horror. Her face went pale and she approached Ashley with trembling hands.

“ My God, Ashley...” she whispered, taking the young woman's face in her hands. Graham sighed heavily and closed her eyes, feeling all the tension snatching at her remaining energy. She received her teacher's embrace like a warm blanket and was grateful that she didn't decide to lecture them. Enma could see in her former student's golden eyes that she had enough on her mind.

She greeted the rest just as worried, seeing how dirty and tired they came. Night had already fallen, and the orange lights of the town felt warm before the soft snow that was still falling, although the storm had already seemed to pass altogether.

They were taken care of at Gunnar's house. They had already told him what they had seen down there. It was decided that after they extracted the Mother Plague fossil, they would proceed to reseal all the exits that had formed in the altercation with Ada.

During the talk, Leon was quite absent, as was Ashley. He had heard the words they had shared in their confrontation and felt a terrible knot ever since. The way Ashley defended him from Wong's hurtful words...they were eating him up inside. So much so that he didn't even know how to apologize anymore.

That night they spoke very little. Over dinner with Narsson they updated her on the eggs they had found and the dinosaurs they had seen, but because of the dangerous terrain, they didn't think it was safe to go back into those caves.

They did not tell her about the Plagas they had found or Ada.

Ashley and Chris were the first to go to sleep, being the worst off when they met the mercenary. They slept through the night, and Ashley didn't wake up until noon the next day.

It was the shuffling she heard from the haystack in the stables that woke her. Ashley grunted, pained, and got out of bed to see what was going on outside. Children and animals could be heard everywhere, as if it were a carnival. She dressed and went down to the stables and then out into the street. 

The snow was an insistent thin curtain, it didn't seem to want to leave. A jumble of smells came to her, a mixture of food, bread, aromatic plants, mint and alcohol.

As she walked down the street she saw the facades of houses decorated with dried herbs and braids made of animal hair.

“ Ashley!” a voice called out to her from a distance. She turned and saw Helga walking towards her with a basket of loaves. “ You're awake at last.” she smiled happily at her.

“Yes, but what is all this?” she asked confused, but unable to take her eyes off the bread in the baskets. Helga saw her mouth water and laughed before breaking off a piece and giving it to her.

“ It's a meslin flour bread with walnuts and raisins. Remember when you arrived I told you that we were thinking of making a Blót? We have been preparing it for several days, and tonight the songs and the feast for the gods will take place, maybe this way they will get rid of their bad mood and decide to give us back the sunlight.” she laughed looking at the sky. Ashley still found it magical the way they still worshipped the ancient Norse pantheon there.

“ Tonight?” Ashley asked with a mouthful of delicious bread.

“ Yes, we will sing in the town square and drink. You are all invited, feasts are for sharing.”

Ashley was grateful for the detail and all the kindness that woman had shown them since they came.

“ Have you seen my partners?”

“ They are with my children in the market making wheat braids.” laughed the woman softly. - They've ended up adopting your friends.

Ashley laughed with her, feeling, for the first time in weeks, at ease.

“No problem, I'll go with them, I'll see you at sunset.”

They both said goodbye and Ashley walked through the old streets full of joy as she munched on the delicious bread.

She greeted familiar faces she had met the previous days and finally arrived at the small town market. It was somewhat difficult to discern the smells, but she managed to pick up the scent of Leon and Chris. She followed it and passing through the crowd saw the figures of her companions sitting in a circle. She called out to them, but they did not hear her in the din.

Until blue eyes were the only ones that lifted in her direction.

Ashley's heart skipped a beat when she saw him rise from his seat. Their gazes were locked on each other, and there was...something. Like a string that made them unable to blink and urged them to go to each other. Ashley slipped through the crowd and saw Leon take a step toward her.

They needed to talk. There was too much going on in Ashley's head that would drive her crazy if they didn't fix their misunderstanding.

They took another step toward each other.

“ Hey, Ashley!” a broad hand gently wrapped around her shoulder, causing her to lose focus of the sapphire-eyed man and turn to one with emerald irises.

“ Einar?” before she could react, the Norwegian embraced her tightly, lifting her off the ground for a second.

Leon was pinned in place when he saw Einar's figure reach Ashley earlier and embrace her. He saw Einar smile and the two walked towards the group.

“ The marmot has woken up.” announced the Norwegian with a laugh and Ashley couldn't help but search for Leon's gaze, only to find him with a neutral expression, devoid of the eagerness she had thought she had seen only seconds before.

“ It's about time, come on, relieve me before my hands fall off.” Jill grunted, getting up from the stool and holding out the wheat braid she had been making with Helga's daughter. Her brother was with Chris and Sven.

Ashley looked a little confused, but on impulse she nodded and took Jill's place, feeling both Einar and Leon's eyes on her.

“ How are you doing?” asked Narsson next to her with a somewhat worried expression.

The blonde resumed braiding the plant under the girl's directions.

“ Well, now that I've slept better.” she smiled at her, trying to calm the anguish she knew it caused her to see her hurt.

Leon watched Ashley as he worked on his own decorations that Helga had asked for. None of the group mentioned anything about the expedition or the condition of Ashley or Chris. One or two things Einar asked, but he realized it was a subject he would not get anything more out of than he already knew. 

They just followed the kids' directions to carry out all the tasks they had to have ready by nightfall. During that time, Ashley felt a strange discomfort toward Leon. Ever since her encounter with Ada, the way he looked at her seemed... different.

Hours passed until finally dusk came. With the midnight sun it would be a very different experience from what Ashley had experienced on other holidays.

The sky was not filled with stars, but the hue it took on as midnight approached almost seemed... oneiric.

They were led to the town square, the largest area of the small village. Everything seemed to have been set back centuries. Torches lit the place along with Viking motifs carved from horns, wood and adorned with skins and braids of animal hair and wheat.

There was food on large solid wood tables that had been set up around the perimeter of the square, and in the center, they carried a pile of instruments. Those who would sing and intone the melodies dedicated to the gods carried their large cow horns, along with Viking harps, horsehair Tagelharpas and skin drums of different sizes.

The inhabitants had dressed in braids, metal bracelets, leather tiaras and drawings on their faces or bodies.

The visitors were led to one side of the stage and sat on the furs they had provided for the audience under tents that protected them from the soft snow.

Helga's children painted their faces with blue pigments, laughing as they decorated them with lines on their foreheads and chins, although they decided to give Chris and Sven more of a raccoon shape.

People were talking loudly and shouting happily with their mugs of alcohol and bread. Gradually they took their places on the huge fur rugs and wooden benches they had pulled out of the houses around the square. The town itself seemed to have taken on the essence of a giant living room, with the torches as fireplaces and the musicians as the center table.

Ashley was elated to hear them. Narsson had long ago taught her about fascinating Nordic folk music and she had longed to attend one of these festivities ever since.

So her heart was pounding.

The crowd gradually quieted down and the voices soon turned to distant whispers until silence reigned in the square.

The characteristic sound of the Tagelharpa resounded in the place, echoing among the houses. The melody was soon accompanied by the first drums, reverberating in the chests of those present and rumbling against the facades next to the stringed instrument, immersing them in an ethereal aura.

With the deep sound of the horns, the ground seemed to tremble and spirits to emerge from the depths of the earth. As various instruments added to the melody, Ashley felt them stir something within her, as if the music was the voice of her deepest, most visceral instincts.

The first voices joined the instruments and it was as if they were putting voice to the most primal instincts and emotions of those present. Almost as if they vibrated with their souls.

Narsson closed her eyes, feeling the essence of her ancestors, but when she opened them, she saw the amber irises of her student, glowing in the light of the torches. 

Even if she had not been born there, nor raised with that culture, Nordic music was something that captivated her since she had been taught it when they went to Amherst. It was as if those tunes brought out something in her that she had been unaware of until then, and he was glad to see her enjoying herself in that way. So much so, that it caught the attention of the other agents and the guides. The group smiled as they watched her humming the repeating verses, moving her foot to the rhythm of the drums and her body to the beats of the wooden sticks between them.

It was as if everything around them disappeared. The problems, worries and anxieties vanished with each beat of the drums. The tension in their muscles evaporated with the booming of the horns to the winds and their bodies felt lighter with the sound of the strings.

They didn't know how long it took before the song began to soften, slowly ending in little whispers before fading away.

The audience screamed loudly and applauded the musicians energetically. The songs that followed later were accompanied by the audience, and some people were even encouraged to get up on the small stage with the musicians.

Then Helga's daughter ran, after finishing one of the melodies, to the musicians. The ones who looked younger spoke to her and the girl turned to point out Ashley in the group of strangers. The blonde froze as the little girl ran up to her and took her by the hands.

“ Come sing!” she exclaimed happily. Ashley stiffened as she tugged at her.

“ Me? Oh no, no, no, I couldn't....”

“Your teacher told me you sing very well! The gods will like it, I'm sure!”

Ashley turned to Narsson, who was smiling broadly at her along with the rest of the group. Einar and Sven seemed particularly curious having never heard her before, so they were gesturing for her to come up on stage.

The woman sighed defeatedly.

“ One song.”

“ Two!” the little girl rebutted and lifted her off the carpet to drag her over to the musicians.

The crowd applauded and Ashley greeted the performers shyly, but they were very welcoming. They offered her to first do a song accompanying the backing vocals and held out the paper containing the lyrics. She stood next to a couple of girls as young as herself and let the melody sweep her back into a dream world, where her voice blended into a chorus of whispers and melodic shouts in the wind in their local language.

The guides were very surprised, while the rest of the group smiled at how happy Ashley seemed among the musicians and singers. She got right into the rhythm of the drums and when the song stopped with her soft voice intoning the last choruses, she went to get up to return to her seat, but one of the girls grabbed her arm.

“ Sing your song, sing one that is special to you, you have a beautiful voice.”

Ashley turned red at the mere thought of singing in front of so many people and...let alone a song that was important to her.

“ I don't know, it's not even an original song of mine, it's an artist who sings with more classical and Celtic tones.” she tried to turn down the offer, but that information only seemed to encourage the two girls who were encouraging her to sing.

“ Much better! New songs always come with different emotions, we would love to have you sing it for us and the gods.”

Ashley didn't know what to say. She wanted to refuse, but felt that if she did she would be insulting them in a terrible way.

She had never been able to sing that song in front of anyone, not even Sergio and Jonh, who begged her to be able to record it over and over again and she just refused.

She looked aside for a moment, the emotions that had been distracted until then returning to her. She sighed.

“Okay.” 

The girls exclaimed, happy, and pulled her and the other musicians closer together to agree on the new song. Ashley was terrified when she mentioned Eurielle's “By a thread” song to them. The girls knew the tune and soon got the rest up to speed on how to adapt it to their instruments. They did a little test on the bass and when they all understood where the notes and theme were going, they got down to business.

Ashley sat down with the two girls who would be doing backing vocals for her and they announced to the audience the new song Graham would be singing. She was terribly nervous and couldn't look at her group. Or rather, she couldn't look at one man in particular.

The first, harp-like notes echoed softly, soothing the audience to listen. Ashley clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking and closed her eyes to calm her emotions and let the notes gently rock those feelings that so confused her.

She took a deep breath and her lips parted.

“By the light of the moon....

Not a second to lose...

Two star-crossed lovers entwine....

Her voice predominated in the square. A soft tone that contrasted with the previous songs or even...the one she sang that drunken night.

This one wasn't erotic, it seemed...a song of love and longing.

“They were carried away 

By a powerful wave

Which swept their fears aside...”

Those verses made Leon arch an eyebrow and shift his posture on his mat. For some reason, those words brought him back to that dark village. 

“As they laid side by side

On that cold starry night

And they held each other tight”

He didn't understand why he felt that those words partly narrated his past. Maybe it was his imagination? His blue eyes were fixed on Ashley's figure and he saw that she was not smiling. Her expression was...distressed? As if that song was bringing out a part of her that she had never shown.

As if it was baring her feelings.

“He whispered her name

Over and over again...”

He remained static. It was not his imagination.

The voice was taking on strength as the music became more intense. He could see how Ashley's tense hands showed how intimate the song was and how deep it reached, ascending and ascending until the last chorus burned with her voice.

“All the storms we have faced!

That tried to break our embrace!”

It was their song. Of the two of them.

“Didn't win 'cause you're still mine...

By a thread...”

Leon noticed how Ashley clutched the bracelet on her wrist, the one he gave her and suddenly, the metal he always wore around his, felt heavier.

He realized he was holding his breath and was only able to catch his breath when he saw her drag out the last note and inhale deeply. As if they had both felt the same thing in that song. 

The thread the song spoke of. Their bracelets.

Ashley stood up with flushed cheeks and trembling hands. She did her best to smile and take a small bow before stepping off the stage to applause.

I needed to breathe. She was struggling to fill her lungs. She couldn't look at the group, she couldn't after singing that song. She had felt a jumble of conflicting emotions. Her own from when she had been in the village, the farewell, the rescue, her new path, the reunion and all the memories they had shared until then, and now Ada too.

She had created a horrible hole in his chest.

She walked through the people until a hand took her arm gently and as she turned she met Einar.

“ You've been great, do you want to go for a walk?”

She didn't say it, or show it, maybe because she didn't want to admit it, but a part of her had wished that instead of those emerald eyes, it had been an ocean looking back at her.

“ Yeah, my head hurts.”

Leon watched in the distance as Ashley marched off with Einar, and something in him shrank. Terribly.

His whole body had tensed to go after her, but Einar had beaten him to it and now he didn't know what to do. He didn't want to sit down again, he was too upset to do that, so he decided to leave the square for a while.

*

Einar and Ashley walked through the somewhat quieter streets. The Norwegian gently slid his arm around her shoulders, but he could sense that her head was not with him. He stopped and took her by the chin.

“ Should I kiss you again to get you to stop spinning things around?” he said in a soft but teasing tone, leaning towards her. Ashley didn't respond on the spot, thinking maybe it would be a good idea, but when the man's lips brushed hers, something shrank inside her.

She rested her hands against his chest and Einar stopped.

“ Is something wrong?” he asked, confused by her strange attitude.

Ashley looked down at the floor, her expression nostalgic and vulnerable.

“ What do you want, Einar?” her voice was somewhat muffled.

The Norwegian blinked and stood upright again.

“ Me? To have a good time with you. You're strong, I'm attracted to you and you're interesting.”

The man's honesty surprised her, but to some extent she appreciated it.

“ I...I like you, but...I don't think we're on the same page.” she finished.

Einar watched her in silence, aware now that there was much more inside her than he had believed. He hadn't been looking for anything serious, after all they barely knew each other and had come from far away, he never expected anything from her but to have a good time, but if that was in Ashley's plans. And from what he could see, it wasn't.

The Norwegian sighed and gave a lopsided smile.

“ Is this about your partner?” he asked bluntly, to which Ashley didn't know what to answer at first.

“ No, it's about me. I'm not in a situation where I'm just looking for the same thing as you, I'm sorry.”

Einar understood perfectly well what she was referring to and sighed loudly, but with a comical air.

“ Wow, and I was looking forward to find out if you were that fierce in bed too, it's a shame, I envy the one who will be able to have that experience.”

Ashley turned red up to her ears, but she saw that he really meant it. That he respected her.

“ Thank you Einar.”

“ Don't get sentimental, you know I'm not into that complicated stuff.” He smiled at her and shook her hair. “ But I'm going to steal you a goodbye kiss.”

She went to reply, but before she could pull away, he gave her a soft kiss, almost as a tease, as she felt him smile against her lips.

When he broke away Ashley smacked him on the chest and smiled as she heard him laugh.

“ A revenge.” he said slyly and then added. “By the way, the hot springs in town are open, if you want to be alone for a while.

Ashley thought for a second and seemed convinced by the idea. She needed some calm.

“Yes, I'll go.” She watched him walk away from her back towards the square. - See you tomorrow! - said the young woman to which Einar responded by raising his hand and waving goodbye to her.

She stood there for a moment and then decided to go up to the hot springs.

*

When he saw her return to the square he was only surprised. Leon was resting on one of the tavern benches he had set up when he saw Einar return. His body rose unconsciously as their eyes met and the Norwegian passed him.

“ She went to the hot springs, you guys are too complicated for me.”

The agent blinked and turned to see the guide wander back into the crowd. 

He stood there for a moment. Should he go? He thought he had gone with Einar to be together, but...she seemed to have turned him down.

The logical part of him told him that maybe it wasn't the best time, but after hearing the song and seeing Ashley's expression as he did it, he felt he should at least apologize for everything they'd been through those last few days.

He took a deep breath and walked towards the hot springs.

*

Ashley sighed as the warm water surrounded her and relaxed her muscles. Her clothes rested on a small bench at the edge of the natural pool. She should have asked Helga for a swimsuit, but she would have to make do with her underwear.

The water was up to her chest and she took the opportunity to remove the bandages from her shoulder. The wound looked like nothing more than a nasty cut that would be fully healed by tomorrow. She took a breath and sank into the water. Silence enveloped her like a blanket underwater. After all the hubbub she had been in for hours, she was grateful for the calm. But at the same time, she was beginning to hear her thoughts more loudly.

Although the small worry that Einar was giving her had already subsided. Yes, she had to think positive, that's it.

A few slivers of water came to her and she opened her eyes quickly to surface. She took a breath and looked around. She still seemed to be alone.

She glanced toward the entrance and noticed another small pile of clothes next to hers. She arched her eyebrows.

“ Hello? Einar?” she turned around in the therma, looking for the owner of those clothes. “ Enma?”

Suddenly a hand closed around her ankle, dragging her underwater. She threw a kick that reached no one and propelled herself to get out and breathe.

Only to hear a laugh.

She wiped her eyes tensely and found Leon looking down at her with a smile.

“ You should see your face.” He told her in his usual teasing tone.

Ashley blinked in confusion and stared at him not knowing how to react for a second to the sudden change in attitude.

It took her a second to realize that it had been him who had grabbed her ankle.

“ You're an asshole.” she splashed in his face angrily, but not angrily. She couldn't hold back a smile when she heard him laugh again. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Leon shook his head like a dog to get the water off his face. A gesture that had been characteristic for as long as she had known him.

The man tossed his hair back, now disheveled and with locks falling everywhere.

“ It was the idea, princess.”

Ashley fell silent. When was the last time he had called her by her nickname? Since the incident in Norway? It seemed like an eternity ago and it made her heart beat faster for a moment.

“Are you tired of the festival already? Or have you had too much to drink? You smell of alcohol.” she joked, not knowing quite what to do. The two of them were bathing in their underwear in that bathtub. Alone.

Leon stood upright in the water, which reached below his chest, just like Ashley. He couldn't help but glance for a moment at her bare shoulder, where the wound marked her smooth skin. He turned his eyes back to her.

“ I just got a shot and it was noisy, yeah, but…” he paused to scratch the back of his neck and sigh. His voice deepened subtly. “I came to talk to you.”

Ashley stood static, feeling the nerves start to course through her.

“ Talk? About what?” For some reason she thought playing dumb was the best idea.

Leon fixed his eyes on her earnestly.

“ About our discussions.”

Instinctively Ashley cringed and sighed, wanting to turn away. If she wanted him to apologize it was a no-brainer.

“ Leon, I don't know if this is the time-”

“ I want to apologize.”

Those words took the woman by surprise and she felt Leon's hand around her wrist to prevent her from leaving.

“ Forgive me, Ash. I was an idiot to say those things to you, I...” she fell silent, not knowing how to express herself. Ashley turned to him, moving closer to listen to him carefully, and he saw it. He looked aside and swallowed his pride and habit of keeping it all in.”He was worried and...I think...jealous.”

Ashley stood still with her heart in her throat. What had he just said?

“ Worried and jealous?” she asked, not quite understanding what was going on.

Leon grunted to himself and raised his head uncomfortably.

“I don't know, I...I didn't want you to get hurt again like Dylan did. You're important to me, Ash, what we went through in Spain...it was just you and me, and I know I shouldn't care, and you've grown and evolved, but it's...like an impulse for me to want to defend you. I'm sorry.”

The man gave her a glancing glance, too embarrassed to stare at her, and Ashley knew. The blonde was silent for long seconds and was about to respond when Ada's words came back to her.

“You don't always have to defend me, Leon.” she whispered looking down at the water between them, but rough fingers grabbed her chin to make her look up. Her heart stopped as their eyes sank into each other.

“ I know, but…” he paused, looking at the small wounds on his forehead from the headbutts she gave Ada and then at the ones she suffered on her shoulder in the confrontation, then added, “What Ada told you about me is true.”

Ashley's eyes widened.

“ Did you...hear us?”

Leon nodded.

Ashley's face went scarlet by the second, to the point where she was unable to look at him and had to avert her eyes. Leon could hear his partner's racing heartbeat and his fingers trailed down from her chin to her neck, where a small scar rested, but with a horrible reminder.

“ What Ada said is true. I have demons that sometimes consume me Ash, and I don't want that to drag you down, I don't-”

“ What Ada said is bullshit.” Ahley's violence took him by surprise. “I know those demons and I know you fight them, but you've never dragged me in. You've never wanted to involve me in anything more than you had to, even if it meant risking your life. - Ashley's hand came to rest on the knife scar he wore on his shoulder, a wound that shared a moment with the one on her neck. “Like you did that day.”

They both remembered that day. The horror and fear they went through at that moment. When they thought they were about to escape the island. In how they met Saddler after his miraculous impact with the truck Ashley was driving and...in how he took control of her body.

Leon stroked his thumb over the mark at the level of her jugular vein. 

The pain he felt, when that psychopath tried to stop him while Ashley was unable to control her body, was still vivid. The words the leader of that cult spoke to her, “Kill him” he said handing her a knife. And how she walked to him, controlled by the plaga and raising the blade to finish him off.

Still in pain, he stopped her, but the plaga was strong and Saddler walked away, ordering her to finish him off. By this time Leon was weak and called out to her again and again and again, aware that he may have lost her forever.

Ashley brushed the scar at the end of her collarbone and remembered how Leon's call made her wake up. At that moment she was aware of what he might do to him and her only thought at the moment, was to aim the weapon at her.

At that moment, Ashley pressed the blade against his neck, ready to end his life rather than hurt Leon, but he stopped her as the knife sank into the flesh. He screamed and begged her not to do it as Ashley cried that she didn't want to kill him, that she would rather kill herself than let Saddler control her to kill him.

It was horrible. Those seconds when they both withstood the pain of the pests and Leon promised her that he would save her, that they would both get out of there, only for Ashely to lose control of her body again and the knife to sink into Leon's shoulder.

They both felt a shiver run down their spines as they touched each other's scars.

“ I'm sorry.” was all Leon could whisper, moving closer to her without realizing it.

Ashley raised her eyes to him.

“ You're always apologizing to me when it's not your fault, when it was others who made us do all this.” she whispered, the song that represented all those feelings still echoing in her head.

“ It was nobody's fault when I was an asshole and told you you had bad taste in men.”

Ashley frowned, pained, and took his jaw in her hands.

“ Stop, please. Yes, you were an asshole, but I know you would never hurt me, not on purpose and you may have overdone it this time in your eagerness to defend me to the point of sounding like an angry jealous man, but I forgive you.”

Leon dropped his shoulders at her touch and he himself raised his hands to place them on her cheeks.

“ You shouldn't forgive me so easily.” he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers.

“ You may have been somewhat right, my taste is terrible with men.” she smiled, having missed that closeness and brushing her nose against his.

“ That's not true.”

“ I have you as a friend.”

Leon was silent.

“ You're so silly.”

They both laughed softly and approached each other without thinking, hopelessly attracted. All that pent-up tension they had been feeling for the past week gradually disappeared. They were glad to have resolved that situation, although...they hadn't talked about that...jealousy Leon had mentioned. But she didn't want to ruin the moment of reconciliation, so they just felt for each other.

Ashley had missed Leon's scent, having him so close and soothing her like he had always done. Leon thought the same of her and couldn't help but move one of his hands up to entwine his fingers in her damp hair.

Neither wanted to move and they both felt the same strength that made them cling together in Norway. 

Leon gently moved his nose from side to side, the gesture that was already like a little ritual just between them and Ashley reciprocated. But they both felt something different inside them.

Einar's kiss, Leon's jealousy, Ada's words about them...that whole trip had been testing them and now that they thought they were back to normal, it didn't quite feel that way.

Their breaths became slightly more labored without realizing it and they felt their hearts pounding against each other's chests.

For a moment they were back in the room. To when they clung like two desperate souls.

Leon encircled the nape of her neck gently and Ashley his neck. Their caresses produced sighs that were lost in the mist of the hot springs.

They didn't quite know what was happening to them, or maybe they did, but they didn't want to think about it. They just let themselves go, pressing their bodies together as if they were afraid someone would break their embrace.

Just like the song. Their song.

Ashley caressed the man's cheekbone lovingly, responding to the sway of his nose, but gradually their faces drew closer together. Their breaths reached each other's lips and both felt their skin tingle.

The voices of their consciences faded away and little by little the goblins, which they had always had in the back of their minds, began to emerge. They whispered to them to come closer. They told Leon to sink his hand deeper into her hair and Ashley to wrap his hand around her neck. 

Their bodies had no room and the burning of their skins was the only thing on their minds.

They moved closer and this time, a light touch was the last thing they needed for their minds to finish clouding over.

Their lips brushed and met in a shy kiss. A kiss that led to another less embarrassing kiss, and this one to the next. Their lips becoming heavier and heavier and their kisses deeper and deeper. Soft sighs came from them and, not knowing who asked permission first, their tongues met and moaned hopelessly.

Leon's broad hands gripped her waist tightly, almost as if he wanted to melt into her, panting between each kiss, but unable to pull away. Ashley sank her fingers into his hair, clutching him with gentle tugs that made him growl into her mouth, which she devoured like nectar.

They surrendered to each other in long, slow kisses. So deep they seemed to want to devour each other. The moans and grunts that came from their lips between each bite were invitations to follow the next.

The two lost the reins of their thoughts and simply let themselves be carried away by their instincts. The taste of the other's forbidden lips was poison and, as such, seemed to be consuming them deeper and deeper into the well of desire.

That kiss seemed to be the beginning of their undoing.

[askslenderverseau]

Tim sighed as he laid Jay down on one of the beds upstairs in the cabin, being careful not to wake him. He sat down beside the bed, making sure to keep a close eye on him. He honestly was still thinking about where he had ended up the night before. He had no idea how he ended up in that weird grotto or how he got back. And that weird music still lingered in his head as well, the whole thing was just so bizarre. Brian soon walked over as well, and set a glass of water down on the small table beside Jay’s bed before starting to cough harshly into his elbow, a harsh metallic taste lingering in his mouth. Tim noticed this and quickly grabbed the bottle of pills that had shown up in his pocket and gave them to Brian. “Here, take one of these. They help with that.” He says and Brian did as instructed, taking the orange bottle and popping one of the pills into his mouth before swallowing it. “Thanks Tim.” He says before sitting down on one of the other beds with a heavy sigh. “We should come up with some kind of plan, for sleep and you know, staying alive?” He suggested bluntly and Tim nodded. “Yeah, I know. But why don’t we let Jay rest first? That way we can all sit together and figure out what to do next…” He looked down at Jay and couldnt help but smile a little bit. He had missed him so much and being able to see him alive again was a miracle. Brian noticed this and chuckled. “Someone’s a little smitten over there~” He says jokingly and Tim jumped and frowned at Brian, his face now bright pink. “Wha- I am not! You’re insane, what the hell is wrong with you Brian?” He says as Brian laughed at his friend’s embarrassment. “Relax i’m just messing with you. Look why don’t we just chill for a bit? We could all use it.”