#Thena: I will not discuss it

[softquietsteadylove]

oh nooooo you've done it again and now heracles au is my new favorite au (what a shame!!!!). seriously that was PRECIOUS and i'd love to see more, maybe he gets himself into trouble and gil and thena have to get him out of it?? cue worry wart gil and thena being annoyed that she was worried sick about him too

"Have you seen the boy?"

Phastos barely looked up from his current project. "The boy--come on, T, you gotta be more specific."

But Sersi had no coyness, looking away from their irrigation plans with a worried expression, "Heracles? No, I haven't-"

Thena continued, becoming increasingly more off put with every person she had to ask. First the young pup won't leave her be and now he's nowhere to be found?

But Gilgamesh was worried. He had been expecting young Heracles to show up at the bake house to sample some pastries, if not get some bread ends for himself. But when the child hadn't shown up, of course sweet hearted Gil became anxious.

She had found him already out searching for the child. That was the only reason she was joining in the effort. If anything, she was increasingly incensed that he would put Gilgamesh through such torment.

Thena walked swiftly, even leaning forward in her stride, walking like a hunter. People not even remotely close to her stepped aside, not wanting to incur any wrath from the Goddess of War. She looked at the edges of the streets, trying to spot any small head of blonde barely a metre off the ground.

"You!"

The guards startled but turned and stood at attention. Their eyes did exchange a look of terror or two.

She walked straight to them, palms already sparkling. "Where is the boy?"

They looked between themselves. Their captain - still without a replacement for the helmet she had defaced last they met - stuttered, "uh, a-a boy, Goddess?"

She gripped the edge of his armour, lifting him off the ground. "The boy--the orphan whose only possession you broke! When did you last see him?!"

Any crowd that was gathered to see the goddess Athena walking the streets was turning and running by now. She shook the man the way she would rattle a jar stubborn to give up the last of its sweets.

"W-W have not seen him, Goddess, we swear upon-"

"Upon what--me?" she snarled at them. She dropped the man to the ground. "If you do see him you will report to me immediately. If I find him first, you will swear upon your own lives not to cause me such bother again!"

The guards scurried off. Perhaps they would take heed and give her a wider berth from now on (she could only hope as much).

"Heracles!" she resorted to shouting his name as she walked. This was the reason she referred to him as a stray. He was loyal, gentle in nature, and - usually - he came running when called.

Poor Gilgamesh would be worried sick.

"You haven't found him either?"

The two streets joined in a point. She frowned at the look on Gil's face, twisted in worry. He was walking around with a pastry in hand, as if to lure the boy out of hiding with it. She shook her head.

Gilgamesh sighed heavily, walking with her as they headed in the same direction. "I know he's probably fine. But you know how that kid likes to get into trouble.

"Indeed," she grumbled. She did know just how much the boy liked to seek out mischief under the guise of being brave. But her anger had to compete with the occupation of her mind Gilgamesh commanded. She took his free hand in hers, "we will find him."

He smiled at her at least, pulling the hand up to his lips.

"Let me go!"

Thena took off like a shot. Gilgamesh wasn't far behind her but she leapt through the streets, propelling herself the way a goddess should. "Heracles!"

"Lemme go!" the small voice repeated, little legs kicking in the air. "I said lemme go or the Champion is gonna show you!"

The shop owner was unmoved, holding Heracles by the back of his tunic like a stray kitten. "Ooh, the great Champion is gonna come save you?"

She would scold him for using Gilgamesh as an excuse for his mischief later. She slid on the cobblestones and stormed over to the man. "Unhand him!"

"Goddess Athena!" the man startled, letting go of the boy.

Heracles landed on his back but recovered quickly, scurrying behind her legs. "He said he was gonna throw me in the fire!"

"That's not true," the baker drawled, but Thena was unmoved. He sighed, "I caught him rooting around in my barrels out back. The young can't just take whatever they want because they're parentless."

If they were barrels containing his waste and day old breads then what did it matter if a child looted them for food? But Thena just glared at him. She had half a mind to string him up like the guards.

Gilgamesh put his hand on her shoulder though. "Sorry for the confusion."

"Champion," the gruff old man nodded to them before turning to return to his work.

"Lay a hand on the child again and I'll slice the building in half like the ends of your bread!"

"Thena," Gil scolded her, waving the alarmed man inside. "She didn't mean that!"

"You cannot speak for me," she grumbled as he nudged her shoulders around and in the opposite direction. If the baker refrained from handling her orphan like a mutt again, then he had no reason to fear.

"And you," Gilgamesh kneeled down to the boy playing with the bottom of his tunic. "I was worried, y'know. Where were you?"

The boy became shy in the face of explaining himself. But Gilgamesh stood in the way of the comfort of hiding behind the dress of the Goddess of War. "The others said you only let me into the great hall because I'm always hungry."

So, if he came already fed, he could prove that his company was welcome and not just out of charity or pity.

Thena also leaned down to better see the child's perspective. "That is why you went rooting for scraps? To prove our company is genuine?"

His cheeks went ruddy and tears collected in his wide green eyes. "I'm sorry, Thena."

She sighed; how anyone had the heart to be mad at such a small and fragile life was beyond her. She was trying with all her thousands of years and she simply did not have the mettle for it.

Gilgamesh moved aside as she stretched her arms out. Heracles, being used to it with his small body, reached out to be picked up automatically. Gil chuckled.

"What?" she eyed him around Heracles' face nuzzling into her shoulder. She was always letting this child get his tears and snot all over her white linens.

"You're a natural at that," he nodded, indicating the way she cradled Heracles' small body against hers, letting the boy sob into her shoulder.

"I disagree," she rolled her eyes, which was quite a strong declaration from her in regards to Gilgamesh.

He just smiled though, pulling her - and by extension, Heracles - close and folding himself around her. His arms closed around her waist, under hers holding the young one. "Come on, you two, let's get some real food."

Heracles only cried harder. Children were such baffling creatures. But Thena rubbed his small back, letting him let it all out.

Gil pressed his lips to her temple. "You were really worried about him, huh?"

She sighed as his lips helped release at least a little of the tension that had built up within her. "No, I was concerned that you were worried over a boy who enjoys trouble too much."

Heracles nuzzled her shoulder, burying himself away in her toga strap.

She rubbed and patted his back some more. "I know that a brave, young champion doesn't worry those around him for selfish reasons."

The boy understood her scolding, nodding with his head still determined to push its way into her shoulder bone. But his small body gave off great warmth, and she found herself leaning her cheek against his mess of blonde hair. "Then let us be home. Gilgamesh was making quite a feast before he discovered you were missing."

"I'm sorry."

On some whim of the moment, she turned her head, pressing her lips to the child's hair. "Do not repeat this."

"I won't."

"And don't eat from people's spares," she ordered. But the boy rested his head on her, his forehead pressing to her cheek. She adjusted him on her hip, "come to us. I will not have you living on scraps."

She felt Gilgamesh give her far shoulder a gentle squeeze, "softie."

She did not think this made her soft. If Heracles was indeed intent on becoming a champion of Athens one day then he needed proper food, not just some old, burnt bread from the gutter.

And if anyone thought she would tolerate him being fed a stray's reject's then they would be meeting the full wrath of the Goddess of War. He was a stray, but he was a ward of the gods, as far as she was concerned. He was an orphan, but he was their orphan.

[attorneys-against-court-violence]

Waiting for the trial where Athena's Mood Matrix gimmick gets called out, like how Kristoph called Apollo out for his Perceive trick. I can 100% picture a prosecutor throwing out her psych analysis in favour of actual evidence if she bungs it up (and maybe accidentally traumatises the witness for a lead).

It would be a fun excuse to pace the player's use of MM without needing to make the prosecution abusive (again), since they and Athena would be more reluctant to do so if it ever bombed this bad. Or hell, give them the option but make it clear early on they have to be real careful about when and how its used. It is a pretty invasive tool to use this way mid-trial after all!

And it's not as clear-cut or mundane as the other powers either. The Magantama is just a lie-detector and requires factual evidence to use properly. Perceive is just tell-spotting and also needs corresponding evidence. Mood Matrix encourages you to dig in to someone's psyche and drudge up some potentially harmful things to prove your point.

Though if ever I am talking out of my arse, let me know.

[fanficapologist]

Of Dragons and Maelstroms

Themes and Warnings: slow burn, enemies to lovers, blood, violence, explicit language, sexual violence, period-typical misogyny, sexual themes, smut, tension, marriage, jealousy, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, attempted sexual assault, breastfeeding, major character death, divergent timelines

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood/Game of Thrones characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Chapter Forty-Two

The weeks of Aemond's absence seemed to fly by, and the wedding day drew nearer with each passing day. Maera found herself in the constant company of dowager Queen Alicent and Queen Helaena, their days filled with wedding plans and discussions. In the midst of the bustling preparations, final fittings were taken for Maera's wedding dress. She couldn't hide her excitement as she saw an almost finished version of the gown, its intricate details impressing her. Additionally, replies from noble houses had poured in, confirming their attendance at the upcoming wedding.

During this time, Maera's trusted maid, Thena, had been hard at work as well. She had carefully selected three individuals deemed suitable to serve as spies for Maera, and she presented them to her mistress in the privacy of her chambers.

The first was a boy, the son of the stablehand, who had regular exposure to the lords and even the King as he tended to their horses. Maera couldn't help but feel a pang of unease at the thought of using a child for espionage, but Thena assured her that it was a common practice in the Keep. The money the boy would earn from his services would greatly assist his family, providing a practical justification for their decision.

The second spy was an older woman who worked diligently in the laundries. Her position granted her access to nearly every room in the Keep as she collected linens, making her an ideal candidate for discreet observation. The third was a squire in the service of Ser Criston, a young man of short stature and dark hair. It then dawned on Maera that she recognized him from the very first day she sparred with Aemond in the courtyard.

“I seem to recall disarming you some time ago,” Maera stated, a slight mischievous smile on her face.

The squire nodded shyly and responded with humility, “Yes, m’Lady, and what a fine skill you have with the sword.”

Maera turned her attention to all three servants, addressing them with purpose, her tone a mix of gratitude and gravity. "I want to thank you all for coming to see me," she said, her voice carrying a note of regret. "I wish these circumstances were different, but our world is not always as it appears." She paused briefly, collecting her thoughts.

"As I step into my role as the new Princess of the realm," Maera continued, "I've come to realize that having a network of spies is integral to ensuring my safety and staying informed." The servants nodded in understanding, their expressions serious.

She then approached her writing desk and picked up three small purses, each containing two groats and eight copper pennies that would serve as their reward.

"You have a choice," she said, her gaze unwavering. "If you believe that this path is not one you wish to tread, take this money and leave today. There will be no consequences for your decision." She waited for a moment, allowing the weight of the decision to settle in.

Maera then shifted her focus to the possibility of their cooperation. "If, however, you decide to swear your loyalty," she continued, "you will receive regular payments for valuable information concerning the King, the Small Council, and the plans that shape the realm." The room held a palpable tension as the servants weighed their choices, each purse representing a decision that could have far-reaching consequences.

The young boy was the first to speak, his voice filled with determination. "I will serve you, m’lady," he declared, followed by the resolute agreement of the laundry maid and the squire. Maera nodded in response, acknowledging their choice with a warm but cautious smile. It was a solemn moment, as they were now bound to serve her and gather information in the shadows, a network of spies to help protect her in the treacherous environment of the Red Keep.

With a sense of purpose, Maera continued, her words carrying the weight of her promise. "In addition to payment," she said, "I will ensure your protection, as well as that of your families." She handing each of them a bag of coins and their faces lit up with smiles, appreciation written across their expressions.

But as the moment of bonding concluded, Maera's demeanor shifted. Her gaze bore into each of them, a warning she felt compelled to deliver. "But I want you to understand," she began, her voice firm and unwavering. "Betrayal will not be taken lightly. If you were to break your oaths to me, it will not be the One-Eyed Prince you need to worry about—it will be me. Am I heard?"

The servants, their expressions now tinged with nervousness, nodded in understanding. They recognized the gravity of their new roles and the consequences of betrayal.

With the warning issued, Maera dismissed the servants, allowing them to leave her chambers. As they departed, Thena offered a gentle observation.

"That may have come across as a bit harsh, my Lady," she mentioned.

Maera turned to Thena, her gaze unwavering, and responded, "I know, but I had to establish myself as authoritative figure and make it clear that I'm not to be trifled with. Or else they will think it is acceptable and that there will be no consequences." The path she had chosen was not an easy one, and she needed to ensure she was in control. As Aemond’s wife, she hoped to navigate the complex web of politics and intrigue that surrounded her new life as a Princess of the Realm.

The network of spies slowly begun to bare fruit, mere gossip but the information could become useful as time went on. The interest Aegon currently had in a particular chamber maid, the brothels each nobleman frequented and discussions that took place in the Small Council chamber regarding minor updates in the war with Princess Rhaenyra.

It turned out that her betrothed was not the only one who had been sent away with a mission; young Prince Daeron had been instructed to patrol the Riverlands on his dragon Tessarion, as Ser Elmo Tully’s factions continued to grow, and there was concern that this would cause the other noble Houses to turn cloak for Rhaenyra’s cause. However, there was no reliable information as of yet regarding the outcome of this, which gave Maera the space to think about her wedding.

Yet despite the excitement of the approaching union with Aemond, Maera found herself somewhat distracted by Queen Helaena’s health, which seemed to worsen each passing day. Her appetite continued to decrease meaning her clothes hung loosely on her form. The Queen’s trances became more frequent and she continued to repeat the same phrase, “The rat catcher drops a silver coin on the floor,” sometimes in a desperate tone.

One night, Maera entered the Queen’s chambers to prepare Helaena for the evening, only to find her friend in a state of distress. Helaena was hunched over a metal bowl, retching, while a maid stood nearby trying to offer comfort, but her efforts were futile as Helaena batted her away. Concerned, Maera rushed to Helaena's side, her expression filled with worry.

She turned to the maid and instructed her urgently, "Fetch a cloth with cold water, quickly."

Helaena, breathing heavily and clearly in discomfort, lifted her head from the bowl as the maid hurried away. Maera knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on the Queen's shoulder. She asked with genuine concern, "My Queen, when did this start?"

With ragged breaths, Helaena replied, "A few hours ago."

As the maid returned with a cold, damp cloth, Maera wasted no time. She pressed the soothing cloth against Helaena's forehead, hoping to alleviate her discomfort. The Queen let out a sigh of relief as the coolness began to ease her feverish state.

Maera, deeply concerned for her friend's well-being, turned her gaze to the chamber maid, who shared her worry. With a furrowed brow, Maera faced Helaena and asked, "Do you believe it's time for a thorough examination by the Maester, sister?"

Helaena's frown deepened, and she vehemently refused, her discomfort evident as she retched once more. Maera, both compassionate and frustrated, held the bowl beneath her friend, stroking Helaena's hair in an attempt to provide comfort.

While Maera peered into the bowl, her heart sank as she noticed streaks of blood within the vomit. Frustration welled up inside her, but she kept her voice calm. She turned to the maid and requested, "Fetch Maester Orwyle, please."

Helaena, in the midst of her suffering, screamed in protest, her refusal punctuated by another bout of vomiting. Maera, standing now, had reached a breaking point. She declared with a tone of authority, "I have had enough of this, Helaena. Your condition is deteriorating, and your denial is only making it worse."

Maera gazed at Helaena, her eyes filled with concern and fear, as she questioned her, "How much longer can you endure this?" She implored Helaena, "What if this is the beginning of consumption or burst belly?"

Helaena, her eyes brimming with tears and frustration, snapped back defiantly, "It is not, Maera."

Maera knelt before her friend, gripping Helaena's hands tightly, and begged, "Please, for your own sake, for the sake of your children, for my peace of mind, allow Maester Orwyle to examine you."

Helaena's gaze fell to the ground, her face a tumultuous mix of anger and worry. After a tense pause and some stubborn silence, she eventually nodded, giving in to Maera's plea, allowing the maid to hurry off to fetch the Maester.

Maester Orwyle stepped into the room, and Maera made sure Helaena was as comfortable as possible in her bed. She handed the Queen a glass of water, placing it within her reach on the bedside table, and gently wiped her brow with the damp cloth. While Helaena rested, Maera picked up the metal bowl, emptied it out of the window, and returned to her friend's side.

The Maester prepared his tools and ointments, but Helaena, with politeness laced with firmness, turned to Maera and said, "You should retire to your quarters."

Confused and concerned, Maera insisted, "I should stay with you, your Grace, to ease your discomfort while the Maester looks after you."

Helaena's tone grew gruff as she replied, "You have done enough." Her words took Maera by surprise. Helaena continued, "I will see you on the morrow. Please, I wish to be left alone with Maester Orwyle."

With a heavy heart, Maera stood up and performed a graceful curtsy of respect to Helaena. She couldn't bear to offend or disobey her Queen any further. Reluctantly, she made her way back to her own chambers.

Within Maera’s chambers, the cool moonlight filtered through the open windows, casting a silvery glow upon the room's elegant furnishings. The canopy bed, swathed in rich turquoise and gold fabrics, seemed larger than life in the dim light, its pillows and draperies a testament to opulence. The hearth, though unlit, exuded a subtle warmth that hinted at its potential. The room bore the faint scent of burning logs from earlier in the evening, a memory of shared moments by the fire.

Lady Maera, dressed in a long-sleeved white nightgown whilst laying beneath the canopy of her luxurious bed, found herself tossing and turning, the elusive embrace of sleep escaping her entirely. Her long, dark brown curls, with their distinctive silver streak, flowed freely around her, a striking contrast against the pale linens of her pillow. On her left hand, she wore the new ring Aemond had given her, her fingertips delicately brushing against the sapphires as she tried to find solace in its presence.

In the midst of this serene yet restless night, guilt welled up within Maera. She had pushed Helaena to seek help from Maester Orwyle, not wanting to see her friend suffer. Her intentions had been born of care and concern, but she couldn't shake the feeling of causing any discomfort to the Queen. Maera hoped that in time, Helaena would realize the necessity of the Maester's assistance. Nevertheless, she still worried about the state of their friendship and whether her actions had affected it in any way.

In an attempt to distract herself, Maera’s thoughts filled with the man who had come to occupy a significant space in her heart, despite the complex emotions that surrounded him. During their stroll, she had promised Aemond that she would repay his kind gesture, but she was uncertain how to do so. The Prince had been gone for three weeks, meaning time was running out for Maera to devise a plan to have him crumbling before her, as he had done to her.

Aemond, as a man, enjoyed the freedom to explore his wants and desires without judgment from the court or the Realm. To discover what he liked, what he didn’t like, or what had brought him the most pleasure. Maera, on the other hand, was bound by the expectations and constraints placed upon her as a woman, to remain oblivious to the world of pleasure, and to be simply be used as a tool by her future husband.

Frustration and determination swirled within her. Eager to find answers and a sense of agency, Maera couldn't bear to stay idle any longer. She reached under her bed and retrieved the books and scrolls she had hidden there from the library, a treasure trove of knowledge that might hold the key to her desires and ambitions. With the candle's flickering light casting shadows that danced upon her face, she delved into the books' contents with rapt attention.

The scroll she unfurled was written by Grand Maester Gawen, who had practiced during the reigns of three separate Targaryen Kings. He wrote what plagued the men of the Keep, be they Kings or Lords, experienced when it came to rousing stiffness in their cocks, and therefore producing heirs. The Maester wrote that it could be due to a ‘lack of spirit from the Warrior’ causing a man to become impotent, detailed many other factors could contribute to a man’s sexual prowess; temperature, diet, the type of ale he drank, and the attractiveness of his wife. She could not help but roll her eyes at the last point. Grand Maester Gawen continued that virgin noblewomen were not aware of ‘more advanced ways’ to please their husbands, therefore the man should enlist the help of local whores to rouse his spirit, and ‘picture what the whore had given him when he laid with his wife in order to father heirs.’

Disbelief welled up within Maera as she promptly rolled the scroll closed and shoved it back under her bed with an exasperated groan. It could not be helped that wives who were sold to their husbands were not skilled in the ways of ‘rousing a man’s spirit’. They did not have the freedom to explore such ‘skills’ and would only learn what their husband was willing to teach them.

Her gaze shifted to the book written by Maera’s distant relative, Coryanne Wylde, resting beside her. Hoping for more practical information, she retrieved the book and placed it on her lap, her fingers carefully turning its pages in search of knowledge that could provide insights into her complex world.

Coryanne's story mirrored Maera's own in many ways. She too had been summoned to by the Targaryens as a young girl, and had been instructed to serve in the household of Princess Alysanne Targaryen, a noble task that carried great responsibility. As she read on, Maera discovered the complexities of Coryanne's situation. Her mother had urged her to serve Princess Alysanne with unwavering loyalty, as Coryanne had recently given birth to a bastard son and needed her honor restored. The weight of societal expectations and the need for redemption hung heavily in the air.

However, the narrative took a dramatic turn when Coryanne arrived at the Red Keep. Queen Alyssa and Ser Borys Baratheon, figures of power and influence, had other plans for her. They tasked her with a mission both deceitful and perilous: to seduce and bed King Jaehaerys, hoping to undo his unconsummated marriage to Princess Alysanne.

Maera couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for all the women entangled in this complex web of courtly intrigue. Their stories served as stark reminders of the manipulative nature of the court, where personal desires often collided with the greater ambitions of those in power.

As Maera continued to read Coryanne's tale, she found herself drawn into the audacious gambit the young woman had embarked upon. Coryanne had been tasked with a daunting mission, and she approached it with unwavering determination. One fateful night, she mustered her courage and made her way to King Jaehaerys' chambers, fully intent on seducing him to fulfill her orders. However, fate had other plans.

At the door to the king's chambers, she encountered a vigilant Kingsguard, a man whose loyalty to his duty surpassed any allure of courtly intrigue. Coryanne's vivid description painted a picture of the knight: tall, lean, with blonde hair and piercing brown eyes. His stubborn nature and unwavering commitment to his role made him an insurmountable obstacle for Coryanne. Despite her attempts to persuade the knight, he remained steadfast, refusing to grant her entry or compromise his duty to protect the king’s marriage.

Undeterred and driven by her mission, Coryanne devised a daring plan. She lured the vigilant Kingsguard away from his post, leading him down a narrow and secluded corridor, far from the prying eyes of onlookers. In the darkness, Coryanne bestowed seductive whisper and lingering touches on the Kingsguard. The knight had remained celibate in his vows but clearly experienced urges, obvious by the stiffness displayed in his trousers. The touch of her hand trailed down until she reached the waistband his trousers, dipping under the fabric to take his cock in her hand, causing the knight to gasp.

The author then detailed how she kneeled before the knights, the position giving the man the illusion that he held the power in that moment. She pulled his member out of his trousers, wrapping her her hand around the base before gently taking it in her mouth. Maera’s own mouth fell open at the revelation, a blush tingeing her face with embarrassment and excitement, unconsciously rubbing her thighs together as she pictured herself on her knees before the One-Eyed Prince.

The tale continued with the knight reaching his peak through the stimulation from Coryanne, spilling his seed on her chest, a look of pure ecstasy over his face. The author stated she then grabbed a piece of the Kingsguard’s cloak and wiping the hot white liquid from her chest, before returning to stand and simply walking away. Lady Coryanne then returned the following night to see the same knight guarding the room and once again asked him to grant her entry to King Jaehaerys’ chambers, with the promise of performing the same act on him as she did the knight before. The knight eagerly agreed and secretly opened the doors for her.

And even though Coryanne had grown close with Princess Alysanne and could not complete her mission of seducing the King, she detailed the importance of how she had gained power over the Kingsguard to achieve her desired outcome, leaving Maera captivated by her relative’s resourcefulness.

Coryanne ended the tale with a final paragraph. ‘The men of this world think they are in control, that they maintain power over the realm and the women that dwell within. Let them think that. Women cannot only sway their men with their tears, but by allowing their men to crave their hands, mouths and cunt. It is a skill that requires practice but can come easily. Only then can a woman assert herself over a man and finally take control.’

Maera closed the book, a smug smile of disbelief on her face. She felt better, reassured even, by the author’s words. She now knew that she could gain power and control using her feminine prowess against Aemond. And as she placed the books and scrolls underneath her bed, blowing out her remaining candles and laying back on her pillows, she finally concluded how she would repay the Prince upon his return.

Notes: I am uploading like nobody’s business this week 🤣

Tags: @watercolorskyy @blue-serendipity @manipulatixe @marvelescvpe @shesjustanothergeek @grungegrrrl

Thank you so much for reading! Comments, feedback, likes, and reblogs are greatly appreciated 🖤

[monstersohmy]

God Complex

A therapist specializing in god complexes has a group session with the Greek pantheon. It goes about as well as expected.

“And then the little shit picked Aphrodite,” Hera huffed. “Or, rather, her bribe.” 

“He would have picked me anyway,” Aphie snipped. “The lazy twit was obviously motivated by beauty, and I am the fairest. Right, Thena?” 

Athena rolled her eyes. “Leave me out of it. I have a lot of wars to focus on right now, so. . .” 

“Zeus,” Dr. Pike turned her attention to the heavily muscled man with the elegantly curled beard who was cleaning under his fingernails with that lightning bolt. She’d told him several times to leave it at home, but it was a battle the doctor chose to lose. It was a comfort item these days, anyway. A binky. “How do you feel about this?” 

He glared at Hera, Aphie, and Thena, all glaring back at him expectantly. Again. This business with that golden apple. . . all because Thetis was too snooty to invite Eris to the wedding. 

“Look,” he began. “You’re all being ridiculous. You all have untold amounts of statues and art and literature dedicated to you. You’re all gorgeous.” Zeus leaned back in his chair, pleased with himself. 

The goddesses stared at him, nostrils flaring. 

“You could have just said that before it led to war,” Hera accused. Aphie nodded. Thena muttered something about war being the only thing she likes doing anymore. Zeus leaned forward and hung his head. 

“You’re right, wife of mine,” he recited. “I acknowledge that my actions caused negative feelings.” 

“Excellent!” Dr. Pike piped in. “This is real progress. Now, Zeus. You had something you wanted to discuss?” 

His eyes brightened. “Yes! I’d like to talk about Danae.” 

The other deities in the room groaned and rained down a storm of valid complaints and criticism. 

“Come on!” 

“Enough with the golden shower story.” 

“Seriously?” 

“You just want to brag that you peed on her and it made a baby.” 

The doctor shut it down. “Alright. ALRIGHT,” she said firmly. She didn’t want to hear this story again either. It contributed nothing to the group dynamic and, frankly, she was sick of hearing about it as well. “We’re almost of out of time for today’s session. So, take a silent moment, think about your choices and how they affected others.” 

The group breathed in and out deeply, rhythmically, as they complied. 

“Let’s circle back. Now,” Dr. Pike said. “What do we do when someone says how they’ve been hurt by your actions?”

“SMITE THEM!” they shouted in unison.  Dr. Pike sighed. At least they paid well. 

[idkjustletmescroll]

My thoughts on the Eternals SPOILERS

Two years late, I finally got around to watching Marvels “Eternals.” And I obviously have to write a ridiculously long tumblr post on what I thought about it.

I think something that made me appreciate it a lot more on a rewatch was realizing that this was never supposed to be a standard Marvel movie. My first watch had me complaining that more than half the film was spent getting the gang back together, instead of on cool action scenes. But “Eternals” isn’t an action movie at all, though its actions scenes are great. It’s a film about family.

Second: let’s discuss the characters, who are at the heart of this story.

I don’t agree that every character was completely underdeveloped. They all have very distinct personalities, for starters: Ajak, the mom of the group; Ikaris, the little bitch--sorry, I mean PERFECT SOLDIER--Sersi, the goody-two-shoes; Phastos, the smart one; Druig, the hangry one; Makkari, our fave speedster/hoarder; Sprite, the sarcastic one; Gilgamesh, the lovable giant; Thena, the badass-who-still-struggles-with-mental-health, the quiet but strong type; and Kingo, the funny one who loves his family and is SUPER extra, as befits a Bollywood star. HOWEVER, they definitely needed more than a 3-hour movie to develop them.

For example: Why was Ajak the Prime Eternal? Her power is healing, not fighting. While I liked that deviation from traditional superhero roles, why did Arishem choose HER instead of, say, Ikaris to remember their past lifetimes and lead the team? I love Ajak a lot more than Ikaris and she seemed to actually be a great leader. I just want to figure out Arishem’s motivation.

And speaking of Ikaris, WHY was he so devoted? The others got the whole “duty, no interfering with humans” spiel from Ajak, but they still have critical thinking skills. Why was Ikaris so ready to turn against the people he considered family and kill a leader he seemed to genuinely respect and love as a mother figure? Why did he leave Sersi? Why was everyone so happy to fight him at the end? Like, Ikaris is annoying as shit (this post is not Ikaris-stan-friendly, I’m sorry), but the movie’s whole thing is family??? But...they all wanted to kill the one guy who turns out to be a villain at the end? Thena already seemed a little annoyed with him in Babylon at the beginning of the movie, but how about a few glimpses of the others getting annoyed with his know-it-all-ism?

Sersi. Sersi, Sersi, Sersi. I wanted to love you so bad. My main problem with Sersi, after careful consideration of why i found her character annoying, really isn’t that she’s softer than say, Thena, or cries more than Makkari; it’s that it feels like she doesn’t really have...more than three emotions? Happy, confused, and sad. For example, when Ikarkis reveals that he’s killed Ajak, she kind of just cries until he goes away. She looks at him kind of sadly when he’s defeated and flies into the sun. How about some anger through those tears? Let her cry and stuff for her ex-husband of 500 years. But show me that she can have “uglier” moments, too. I did love that they showed her moving on with Dane, though. We love a gal who knows her worth. I also would’ve loved to see her standoffish from Ikaris when he comes back. The guy abandoned her with seemingly no explanation 500 years ago. Keep him several arms’ lengths away, girl.

No notes on Druig. I love him so much. I’ve been converted into a Barry Keoghan stan and I have no regrets.

Makkari I felt like was also pretty cool. We know she’s a speedster, a hoarder, the only person Druig can tolerate for more than thirty seconds at a time, is generally the cheery one, but also has her dark side, like (rightfully) trying AND ALMOST SUCCEEDING to kill Ikaris after he almost kills Druig. My only criticism is that the deleted scene of her talking to Sprite was cut! Like, that was so good! More on that in the Sprite section, but we get a bit of Makkari’s motivations for wanting to stop the Emergence.

Phastos was also cool. I feel like we got what we needed to know about him--the dangers of technology and how it’s used, how he regained his faith in humanity, etc.--but not really his relationship with the other Eternals. That’s actually something that could’ve been improved on in general. They all really feel like a family, but there’s not much in the way of their individual relationships (Makkari and Sprite, Phastos and Druig, Ikaris and Gilgamesh...)

Sprite’s thing about being in love with Ikaris was stupid and cringey. Her conflict about not being able to grow up and experience what she wants is a lot more interesting, but for some reason, they decided not to explore that! It should’ve been her ultimate motivation and set up from the start of the movie. Her deleted scene with Makkari has her talking about how Babylon was their only real home on this planet, again setting up how Sprite’s never really fit in here.

Gilgamesh didn’t last long (*Sob*), but we get a pretty good feel for who he is. But why didn’t they mention his death again apart from Thena? Like...Makkari and Phastos never reunited with him! Why didn’t we also get their reactions to his death as well as Ajak’s?

I LOVE THENA. No notes.

I also love Kingo. I love how they kind of went in a grey area with him, with him being devoted to Arishem and not agreeing with stopping the Emergence, but refusing to hurt his family the way Ikaris did. I thought that was an unusual and much-appreciated angle to take.

Ikaris and Sersi, obviously, had no chemistry, and while I agree that in present-day, they’re probably SUPPOSED to feel like an awkward, divorced couple, even in their Babylon love story they feel like...two actors who are being forced to pretend to be in love for a paycheck. Like, I’m sure Gemma and Richard are great actors individually but together it doesn’t work. Was I supposed to feel sad that they broke up and wonder why the hell Ikaris left? Nah. I cringed. I skipped over their dry sex scene. I looked for Druig eating fruit during their wedding.

Druig and Makkari though? THEY HAVE MY FUCKING HEART AND SOUL AND MIND AND BODY. I love them, I love them, I love them. I will always love them till the day I die.

I also loved how Thena and Gilgamesh’s relationship can be interpreted as ride-or-die besties or old-married-couple or a mix of both, rather than a romance being forced down your throat. Refreshing angle to take, once again.

This movie was refreshing for phase 4 because, unlike CERTAIN FILMS (*cough* thorloveandthunder *cough*), there’s dialogue outside of cheap comedy. A visually stunning movie. I didn’t think it was as bad as a lot of people said, but I also think it would’ve been soooo much better as a miniseries, with more time to explore each eternal.

[taran-chan]

hi, I just wanted to say you're one of my fav people to follow so I hope you're doing okay!!! love the ghostie roommates story btw 💖

hello hello i came back with a snippet for the new chapter of my Housemates AU

By and by, i’ll miss you

It was one of the mornings when rain pattered on the window glasses before the sun came up, bringing mist from the sea and the cool air pressing you deeper into your sheet. The haunted house looked like it was dreaming as well, overgrown floral hanging low on the front gate, so still as if frozen in time if not for raindrops flowing along their stem like a chasing game and then flinging themselves off the edge to ricochet on the muddy ground. Three pairs of shoes decorate the entrance and whispers can be heard when you come close enough, but it was impossible to say whether they were from the living ones in the house, or the dead ones. 

In the beach-view bedroom on the first floor, Gilgamesh grumbled awake. His room is right above the kitchen, a space usually filled with activities, and it was twice as noisy in a deeply haunted house. In the first few days he moved in, the ghosts didn’t stop making strange noises until past midnight. Thena had gotten used to it, and she slept much, much later than him so it didn’t bother her that much. She once said if they found him overly demanding, they would ruin the food, even when it was stored in the fridge; some of the previous tenants couldn’t keep their food fresh for over a meal. So Gil talked to the ghosts in the kitchen whenever he cooks, politely telling them to please quiet down at night, because he knew they were there although he couldn’t see them. It had felt a bit stupid, talking to the air, but after a week the noises were reduced to faint footsteps instead of chairs rattling and cabinets swinging open. 

But now he once again heard rustling coming from beneath. Not again, he thought with some annoyance, turning to his side and putting a pillow over his ear. He almost dozed off again, tethering on the verge of a new dream while still wondering if his alarm was about to go off and how many hours or minutes he got left in his very comfortable bed on this gloomy day. Did his mind create those voices in part of the dream he was about to have, or was it Druig lurking around again? However, the voices sounded real enough and were getting louder by the second. Gil slowly sat up with a sigh, then a loud yawn escaped him.      

Halfway going downstairs, he recognized both discussing voices. One belongs to an ethereal writer, and the other is her flamboyant editor. A few sheets of paper tickled his feet as he reached the small hallway leading to the kitchen. He gathered them on his way like following a bread trail, bringing himself closer to the two creatures who stole his sleep.

Thena sat on the dining table in her nightgown and usual robe, the very center of a white circle formed by drafts and notes and testing samples. The unused sheets were carelessly thrown on the floor or pushed to the edges where they can slide off at any given moment. Kingo leaned backward on one of the chairs, letting it stand on its two back legs - the sight gave Gil the impression of a bored teenager. They surely wore the expression of exhausted students on the due day of their group project. 

“Where are pages 325 and 326?” Thena asked without looking away from the stack of papers in her hand, reading what Gil assumed was the final draft of her new book. Kingo immediately dug into the mess and came up with the required pages. Thena pulled the cap of her red pen with her teeth and started making notes directly on her draft. 

“Again? You’re such a perfectionist,” Kingo sighed, “And we still need to choose an artist who’s going to design the cover! May I remind you today is the last day to decide that?”  

She looked up, probably to tell him to shut up, but her eyes caught Gil’s, who was lingering at the doorway. His lips automatically stretched into a smile, “Good morning.” 

“Good morning,” she said, her frown fading, “Did we wake you?” 

“It’s alright, I usually get up at this hour,” he said, bending down to pick up more papers in order to move further inside.

“Sorry for the mess, Gil,” Kingo got up to help him, stifling a yawn, “We’re kinda in a hurry now.”  

“No problems, pal. Breakfast?” 

“I would kill for some scrambled egg right now.”

“Thena?” 

“Sounds good,” she hopped off the table with her completed draft tucked safely under her arm. She handed it to Kingo and they cleaned up while Gil spread their breakfast ingredients by the sink. After a few minutes, the worn wooden surface reappeared from under the papers and runny eggs began to sizzle in the pan. As Thena laid out the dishes, Kingo fished for her comments on the few chosen artists with newfound energy. 

“How about this guy?” He held up a photo and several artworks. Thena glanced at it, then shook her head wearily, “I’d rather ask a Spirit to do it than him, they would take the hearing of my left ear but at least their work would be decent.”

Kingo heard Gil’s snort but ignored him, “He’s very famous on TikTok!” 

“Gil, what do you think about this artwork?” Thena plugged a sheet from his hand and turned it toward the other man. He neared the table, to get a closer look at it but also to scrape scrambled eggs into two plates.

“At first sight, it looks good. But I can’t feel its spirit, its soul. This looks like the artist just threw a bunch of colours on his canvas and called it a day.”

“See?”

“Yeah, because that Wood Spirit sculpture wasn’t lively enough for you and you need to ask for more.”

“Too soon, man,” Gil shakes his head sadly. He and his employees had settled into their new workshop, and even though his grandfather’s essence resided within his blood - both the purifying power and the sculpting skills - he still mourned his old shop a little, maybe he would save up to restore it someday. Meanwhile, Kingo shrank under Thena’s deathly glare.  

“Forgive me, it’s the sleep deprivation talking. Well, you two are the experts here,” He groans, sagging against his chair, “Fine, I’ll pick someone else. But if I ran out of options, we would have to pull the “debut book” move again and you would have to send me another photo you took that has a similar vibe to this book.”

“Deal.” 

“Why don’t you just…do that in the first place with all your books?” Gil asked, cutting up fruit for a salad. Kiwis, mangoes and summer berries teamed up with bright yellow eggs, brightening up their day. 

“I like looking at illustrations for my books,” Thena shrugs. He couldn’t help but grin at the simplicity of her reason. Thena was adorable.

[lovelyfanatical]

I Get a Sugar Rush Whenever I'm With You - Chapter 6.3

Good evening fellow Drukkari stans, or whatever time it is for you! I come bearing the next mini-chapter! If you missed any previous installments and need to catch up, you can find them on my handy dandy Table of Contents here. The competition is heating up as everyone grows closer. How will the others fit into the group dynamic? Find out now in the next mini-chapter of Drukkari in the Great British Bake Off!

By the time dinner rolled around, Druig was pretty beat. Technicals were never fun, but this one had been particularly distressing: gluten free bread. Both he and Makkari were in the bottom half, which wouldn’t have been too terrible a few weeks ago, but now, it could spell disaster. Poor Phastos had come in last, leading him to retire early as usual rather than joining the rest of the group. Results had varied widely for the rest of them, leading to their current discussion.

“People think being vegan is hard, but going gluten free is the real challenge,” Sprite remarked.

“I concur,” Sersi added.

Says the one who came in first, Makkari interjected, a playful smirk on her lips.

“And it was very difficult!” she responded.

“Congrats, by the way!” Gil said, raising his bottle of water in a toast. The rest of them joined in, raising their assorted drinks to Sersi, which made her smile.

“Awww, thanks everyone,” she said as she clinked glasses with the group. While she seemed genuinely happy, Druig thought he spotted a hint of sadness in her eyes. It seemed Makkari had noticed, too.

Hey, you okay? she signed subtly, so as not to alert everyone, though most of them still noticed.

“Yeah, just thinking about our friends who’ve been sent home. Dane actually predicted I’d do well this week. I just wish he was still here to see it,” Sersi explained wistfully.

“You could just call him, right?” Sprite interrupted, sounding more like a statement than a question.

“I think she could, but it might be against the rules to give him too many details about the competition,” Ajak explained.

“And if I call him, I don’t know if I’d be able to hide it for long,” Sersi added.

“Ugh, couples are so gross,” Sprite lamented.

“Oh, we’re not together. Dane and I are just friends,” Sersi said a little too quickly, a blush starting to settle on her cheeks.

You mean he still hasn’t asked you out!? Makkari asked, eyes widening in shock and disbelief.

“What? He’s done no such thing!”

“Really? I asked Thena out the day she got eliminated,” Gil piped up.

Everyone seemed to turn in unison toward Gilgamesh, not exactly surprised at the idea but surprised to hear it confirmed out loud. After a split second of silence, their reactions came all at once.

I KNEW IT! Makkari exploded, nearly shaking with excitement, which made Druig chuckle.

“Well, at least I don’t have to watch you pining after each other anymore,” Sprite said, her voice sounding annoyed, but a small smile on her face.

“That’s great, Gil!” Ajak added.

“She said yes, right?” Druig asked teasingly.

“She did,” Gil confirmed with a grin.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so happy for you two!” Sersi said.

“Thanks, everybody,” Gil replied, a bit surprised but still appreciative of the warm response. “To get back to the point, though, I didn’t wait long. So what’s holding Dane up?”

“I told you already. We’re just friends,” Sersi insisted, her face getting redder by the minute.

“Sersi, he spent most of his time talking to you and the rest of it staring at you when you weren’t looking. I think he might want more than friendship,” Sprite declared.

“That’s not even counting your interactions during dinner,” Druig chimed in, prompting Sersi to shoot him a look.

Maybe he just needs a push in the right direction, Makkari suggested, like advice from someone who knows you both.

“Hey now, we shouldn’t get too involved,” Ajak interjected. “I’m sure Dane is quite capable of asking Sersi out on his own, if that’s what she wants.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Gilgamesh said pensively. “Asking someone out is a lot of pressure. It’s easy to just keep making up excuses for why you shouldn’t do it.”

What was your excuse with Thena? Makkari asked.

“I don’t know how much she’s told you, but we sort of knew each other a long time ago,” he began. “In fact, we were supposed to get coffee together, but she ended up moving away before we got the chance. When we ran into each other again all these years later, I wasn’t sure she’d still want to go out with me.”

“But she did,” Sersi said, smiling gently.

“She did,” Gil confirmed, smiling back. “But I didn’t realize that until the day she got eliminated, and she asked me how much longer I was going to make her wait for that coffee.”

“It was pretty obvious to the rest of us,” Sprite muttered.

“It never seems obvious when it’s happening to you!” he asserted. “You’re still young, Sprite. You’ll see what I mean when it happens to you. Anyway, Makkari might be onto something. If you want Dane to ask you out, Sersi, he might need a push in the right direction.”

“I still think it’s better not to interfere,” Ajak interrupted. She gave a pointed look at Makkari, who feigned innocence at the gesture. Ajak then turned her stern gaze toward Druig, who didn’t need to pretend to be surprised.

“Why are you looking at me?” he asked.

“You know why.”

“I don’t think he does,” Gil said, chuckling.

“For fully grown adults, you’re all pretty clueless, huh?” Sprite teased, sparking a chorus of “Heys” from everyone else. After a moment, she added, “Except for Ajak.”

“Thank you, Sprite,” she replied smugly.

-

As they left Ajak’s room, Druig hung back from the group a bit. Right on cue, Makkari turned to look at him, noticed his growing distance from the rest of them, and accepted his silent invitation to talk. She let the group get a bit further away before asking him, What’s up?

What was Ajak trying to get at earlier?

I think she just knows you’re my usual partner in crime, she replied, a sly smile playing at her lips. And she doesn’t even know the half of it.

Druig couldn’t help but smile, remembering their clandestine baking session earlier that week.

Do you think she’s right, though? Makkari continued.

About what?

About not interfering.

Druig thought about it for a moment, then he turned to her and said, No. I think I’m with Gil on this one. Sometimes guys need a push. Makkari’s small smile turned into a full-blown grin. I’d ask Sersi first, though. Just in case.

I will, but I think she’ll accept my help, she said. You saw her at dinner. She really misses Dane!

Yeah, I don’t envy their situation, he added. Although, if I can’t turn things around tomorrow, that might be us next week.

Hey, she said, as she stopped and turned him to face her. Stay strong. We’re both going to get through this week. You know why?

Why?

Because I won’t allow you to give up, she insisted. There was a soft smile on her face, but a steadiness in her gaze that told Druig that she meant it. It stirred something in his chest.

Thank you. I needed that, he said.

Anytime. With that, she wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back and noted, not for the first time, that they seemed to fit together perfectly.

-

Honestly, so many cute ships came out of this movie. Hope you enjoyed this installment!

Part 21

[hercssy]

꒰ ৎ୭ ꒱ . . BELOW ! ‹𝟹

you will find everything you will need to know about roleplaying with me! such as my writing style, my fandoms, main love interests, portrayals, my ocs and blacklisted characters!

˚ 　 ♡ 🌱 ⁺ 　 ⟡

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

. . my roleplay style is always roleplaying in third person, i’m heavily detailed as i love to bring a story to life ( which means i also use gifs for this too *wink* ). i only roleplay on discord, as i prefer to make servers and sections to talk ooc, post oc/character shit and have fun while roleplaying! i love to use a lot of media to bring a roleplay + the characters involved come to life. i only roleplay on discord so please add me there and we can discuss plotting, etc. be sure to also read my rules before interacting with me!

˚ 　 ♡ 🌱 ⁺ 　 ⟡

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

. . my muse for fandoms comes and goes, i think everyone does that anyways — but i’m only just a pm away from asking what my major muses are!

the walking dead

game of thrones

house of the dragon

marvel cinematic universe ( includes xmen )

trueblood

magic mike

jojo’s bizarre adventure

star wars

avatar

stranger things

harry potter

fantastic beasts and where to find them

buffy the vampire slayer

god of war

devil may cry

red dead redemption

baldur’s gate 3

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﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

. . these are my portrayals for each fandom i’m in. those that i will be most confident writing for will be marked blue, the least confident ones will be marked pink. neutral ones will remain black.

┈─𖨂 THE WALKING DEAD :

maggie greene, daryl dixon, carol peletier, carl grimes,dwight, rick grimes, michonne, abraham, glenn rhee, rosita espinosa, gabriel, eugene, princess.

┈─𖨂 GAME OF THRONES :

jon snow, robb stark, tywin lannister, tyrion lannister, cersei lannister, jaime lannister, ned stark, sansa stark, arya stark, daenerys targaryen, khal drogo, the hound, jorah mormont, brienne of tarth, tormund giantsbane, daario naharis, greyworm, oberyn martell, podrick payne, yara greyjoy, theon greyjoy, brandon stark.

┈─𖨂 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON :

rhaenyra targaryen, ser harwin strong, viserys targaryen, jacaerys velaryon, alicent hightower.

┈─𖨂 MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE : 

marc spector, steve rogers, bucky barnes, stephen strange, wade wilson, thor odinson, loki laufeyson, quentin beck, t.h peter parker, a.g peter parker, tony stark, natasha romanoff, kate bishop, wanda maximoff, pietro maximoff, scott lang, t’challa udaku, erik killmonger, druig, thena, sersi, dane whitman, blade, johnny blaze, arthur harrow.

┈─𖨂 TRUEBLOOD :

bill compton, eric northman, sam merlotte, jason stackhouse, sookie stackhouse, tara thornton, jessica hamby, alcide herveaux, hoyt fortenberry, pamela, terry bellefleur.

┈─𖨂 MAGIC MIKE :

magic mike, big dick richie, ken, dallas, adam, tito, tarzan.

┈─𖨂 JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE :

dio brando, joseph joestar, jotaro kujo, josuke higashikata, rohan kishibe, noriaki kakyoin, kars, eisidsi, wamuu, jolyne kujo.

┈─𖨂 STAR WARS :

anakin skywalker, obi wan kenobi, qui gon jinn, padme amidala, han solo, ashoka tano, luke skywalker, princess leia skywalker, kylo ren, darth maul, rey skywalker, cassian andor, poe dameron, finn, jyn erso, lando calrissian.

┈─𖨂 AVATAR :

neytiri, miles quaritch, spider, neteyam sully, lo’ak sully, kiri augustine, grace augustine, trudy, norman spellman.

┈─𖨂 STRANGER THINGS :

eddie munson, steve harrington, robin buckley, nancy wheeler, jonathan byers, eleven, max mayfield, will byers, mike wheeler, dustin henderson, jim hopper, dimitri antonov, joyce byers, vecna.

┈─𖨂 HARRY POTTER :

harry potter, draco malfoy, remus lupin, hermione granger, bill weasley, sirius black, ginny weasley, luna lovegood, george weasley, fred weasley, ron weasley…+ more if asked.

┈─𖨂 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM :

gellert grindlewald, albus dumbledore, queenie goldstein, credence barebone, jacob kowalski, theseus scamander.

┈─𖨂 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER :

buffy summers, dawn summers, spike, willow rosenberg, xander harris, cordelia chase, oz, faith, tara maclay, riley finn, giles.

┈─𖨂 GOD OF WAR :

freya, loki/artreus, tyr, thor, freyr.

┈─𖨂 DEVIL MAY CRY :

dante sparda, nero, vergil sparda, v.

┈─𖨂 RED DEAD REDEMPTION :

dutch van der linde, john marston, jack marston, saddie adler, bill williamson, micah bell.

┈─𖨂 BALDUR’S GATE 3 :

astarion ancunín, gortash, orin, mizora, gale dekarios, karlach, shadowheart, lae’zel, wyll ravengard, halsin, dame aylin, isabel thorm, dammon, jaheira, minthara, ketheric thorm.

˚ 　 ♡ 🌱 ⁺ 　 ⟡

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

. . these are characters i have blacklisted from portrayals, this means i will refuse to roleplay/write them as love interests. don’t take it to heart though, i just have my reasons :’) more will be added along the way.

┈─𖨂 THE WALKING DEAD :

negan smith, the governor.

┈─𖨂 GAME OF THRONES :

viserys ii targaryen, the night king.

┈─𖨂 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON :

daemon targaryen.

┈─𖨂 MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE :

red skull, thanos.

┈─𖨂 TRUEBLOOD :

sarah newlin, steve newlin, macklyn warlow.

┈─𖨂 MAGIC MIKE :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 STAR WARS :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 AVATAR :

tuktirey sully.

┈─𖨂 STRANGER THINGS :

billy hargrove.

┈─𖨂 HARRY POTTER :

lord voldemort.

┈─𖨂 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER :

darla.

┈─𖨂 GOD OF WAR :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 DEVIL MAY CRY :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 RED DEAD REDEMPTION :

none tba.

┈─𖨂 BALDUR’S GATE 3 :

cazador, mystra.

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﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

. . this section is for you to know my go-to love interest and my ocs for them!

┈─���� THE WALKING DEAD :

pamela lennox x negan smith.

character board

rebecca king x daryl dixon.

character board

“with you, it’s different.” (mb)

┈─𖨂 GAME OF THRONES :

rebekah skywalker x jon snow.

character board

“you’re a little tragedy, aren’t you?” (mb)

dawn the wolf-snake x robb stark.

character board

azura menodora x jaime lannister.

character board

rhiannon baratheon x the hound.

character board

“let’s live like flowers” (mb)

┈─𖨂 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON :

jae skywalker x aemond targaryen.

┈─𖨂 MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE :

xena blanc x dane whitman.

character board

beatrix takahashi x ikaris.

character board

“effort over words” (mb)

alexis drakos x clint barton.

character board

katya romanoff x steve rogers.

character board

vergil volkov x natasha romanoff.

character board

florance hawley x bucky barnes

character board

“some mistakes take us to the right place.” (mb)

┈─𖨂 TRUEBLOOD :

freya falkenberg x bill compton.

willow magnolia x sam merlotte.

abigail rivers x alcide herveaux.

┈─𖨂 MAGIC MIKE :

mara larsen x magic mike.

tanya cruz x dallas.

sophie henderson x big dick richie.

┈─𖨂 JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE :

keres masako x jotaro kujo.

liliana romanova x kars.



┈─𖨂 STAR WARS : 

neytiri te khan x anakin skywalker.

character board

“we lived a life of ‘almost’” (mb)

“she lives the poetry she cannot write.” (mb)

ciri creed x han solo.

character board

“meant to happen but not to last.” (mb)

nebula zraa x luke skywalker.

character board

“souls don’t meet by accident.” (mb)

┈─𖨂 AVATAR :

akila te sekra’at petani’ite x jake sully.

character board

“the trees told me about you.” (mb)

┈─𖨂 STRANGER THINGS :

dahlia moone x jim hopper.

character board

“have you ever met someone that is sunshine in human form?” (mb)

veronika antonov x dimitri antonov.

character board

“all i see is you.” (mb)

reagan cunningham x eddie munson.

character board

┈─𖨂 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM :

jupiter ‘juno’ seagrave x newt scammander.

┈─𖨂 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER :

unnamed oc x angel.

┈─𖨂 DEVIL MAY CRY :

sersi endo x nero.

character board

unnamed oc x dante sparda.

unnamed oc x vergil sparda.

┈─𖨂 RED DEAD REDEMPTION :

chenoa abraham x arthur morgan.

┈─𖨂 BALDUR’S GATE 3 :

rhaenyra targaryen x astarion ancunín.

character board

“fight for your fairytale.” (mb)

adenora rose x gale dekarios.

ninat ani’kiirr x karlach.

┈─𖨂 GREY’S ANTANTOMY :

silvana rossi x derek shepherd

character board

“his eyes were blue.” (mb)

┈─𖨂 SCREAM/HORROR :

kenna lloyd x billy loomis

character board

“plot twist: he likes you” (mb)

˚ 　 ♡ 🌱 ⁺ 　 ⟡

[healingagoddess]

Is this forever? (Run part 3)

Request(?: @the-camiluchaa​ said “Great writing! Do you think is gonna be part 3? I would love that, full of action😍“ and I miss Ajak, so of course I did!

Note: I had written this and had more action in it! I was so inspired and then it got deleted!! I don't know how it happened, but it just didn't save after I saved it! So, here's a quick chapter i came up with just right now. I felt really bad after it did not save, that i just wanted to post something tonight since I had planned to do so. T-T

Warnings: English is not my first language.

Pairing: Ajak/F!Reader

Tags: @fivemillioneyes <3

Part 1 Part 2

The ambiance upon arriving to the Peruvian Amazonia in your search for Druig was heavy. You kept close to Ajak, avoiding Ikaris as much as you could. Sersi tried to keep her distance and remain composed around him. She was doing amazing and you were so proud of her. On the other side, Kingo and Sprite had been at it for hours. You had forgotten how much Kingo liked to tease everybody, and it was getting to Sprite leaving her in a moody state. It was better to keep close to Ajak, who was looking after Thena along with Gilgamesh.

It was strange to see a village stuck in time, clearly under the influence of Druig. It didn’t take long to find him. And the awkward silence of the first two minutes in that chapel felt like an eternity. Until he spoke, and then Ajak revealed everything. He took it far better than you did, but it was going to take some time to convince him to join you.

“I’m not going to say anything other than I knew you were wrong.” Druig states directly to Ajak.

Ikaris gets up and gets on Druig’s face

“You have no idea what you are talking about.”

“You always wanted to be mother’s  favorite. Yet, it seems she has chosen someone else.” Druig nods towards you.

You close your eyes in annoyance, but say nothing to avoid upsetting Ajak some more. If only Druig knew the whole truth, if only everyone else did like Sprite and Sersi do. Ajak was still protecting Ikaris.

You disperse to cool off after Druig, Kingo, Ikaris and Ajak got into a heavy discussion that had nothing to do with Tiamut.

“Do you think he can do it?” you ask.

Both you and Ajak were sitting against a tree not far from Gil and Thena.

“I believe his power is strong enough to put Tiamut to sleep.”

“What happens if he can’t do it?”

“He will. I think he-”

A distant screech cuts her off, and you both immediately stand to your feet. You look at each other for a moment focusing all your senses on the distant sounds. Suddenly, you watch Ikaris being dragged by a deviant and your fighting mode activates as you begin to duplicate.

“Go with Thena!”

You shout before both you and Gilgamesh go to Ikaris aid.

You slam against the deviant and send it a few meters far away from all of you. You try to go again with a kick,  but the deviant senses your cosmic energy and charges back to Gilgamesh and Ikaris. You and your replicas end up colliding into thin air. You are quick to respond and charge back to help them both, but Gilgamesh intends  to take the deviant himself in a one on one match. You try to help, but soon are distracted by Ajak’s voice.

“Thena… remember who you are.”

You hear her soothing voice and turn to find her with her hands up in the air channeling cosmic energy. Similar to the lights forming on Thena’s face. You worry as you send your replicas after the deviant, and making your way back to Ajak. It is difficult to control both your main power and your focus on helping Ajak. You can feel it wavering as you get closer to her, slowly as to not scare Thena.

“Ikaris…” you say never looking away from both Ajak and Thena. “Help Gilgamesh.”

You see him debating for a moment and you start to lose patience.

“Go with Gilgamesh.”

You repeat yourself noting how Thena is struggling against her illness.

“I follow no orders from you.”

He says before getting in the middle of Ajak and Thena, finally getting her to act out and lose herself. They start fighting each other as Ikaris tries to stop Thena, and she tries to murder him. You feel your cosmic energy expand out your body as your replicas disperse into two directions: to help Gil and to help Ajak as you try to keep both Ikaris and Thena to stay alive as well. And it is chaos.

Your head feels like breaking into three different sections, and you are everywhere at once trying to make sense of every situation. You notice that at least five replicas are helping Gil, and three are taking Ajak further into the forest hiding from the spot that has now turned into a battle camp. You mediate between Ikaris and Thena. Suddenly, he hears something and takes off. Leaving you now with the death stare from Thena. And she comes at you at full speed with sword in hand. You have no time to think and your replicas come back to you as you try to keep Thena from hurting you and hurting herself. You barely make it the first time, but the second time she gets you with her sword piercing your stomach. And you feel the air leaving your body as the thrill sends a shiver all over your body. Pain and panic take over as you try to stay focused everywhere.

You prepare to die as Thena dematerializes her sword, expecting her to summon something bigger to end you. It never comes, instead she stands there blinking several times trying to remember something as she stares at something behind you. And in a matter of seconds she turns around with tears in her eyes, lights still forming in her eyes. Then, you see Gilgamesh being held by the deviant as it drains his cosmic energy. You try to rush to his aid, but stumble on your feet before a single replica takes after him. But it’s too late, and you watch as Thena kneels in front of Gil. In a matter of seconds, everything turns black.

_ ✽ _

The first thing you notice upon waking up is how humid your surroundings feel. Your senses spread to the rest of your body as cosmic energy still lingers there. Ajak is holding you, her face is stained with tears, and you can feel them on your face as well. She is not looking at you, instead, her broken gaze lies elsewhere. Sitting up the first thing you notice is a platinum shape; it is Thena. You get up immediately, as you remember the final encounter with the deviant. Thena sobs on the ground with her forehead pressed against Gil’s, and you confirm that he has in fact passed. No. He was murdered. Looking around you take notice of everyone else's presence with the exception of Druig. Your eyes search for that one eternal in the crowd, and when you find him a fire is set ablaze within your core. A new found rage fills your soul, and you march towards Ikaris before slamming him into a tree. This catches Thena’s attention.

“Y/N! Don’t!” Ajak rushes in your direction with pleading eyes.

“This is all your fault!” You yell out as you place your hands on his shoulder with a tight grip keeping him from escaping.

“I was just trying to help everyone else.” The words slide out his mouth with bitterness.

“No. You know what you did. It is your fault that that deviant got what it wanted.” Your furious eyes look into his icy cold ones. “Why don’t you tell them the truth?” You whisper the last part.

Ajak looks away as Sersi steps closer with tears forming in her eyes. Nobody else knows the truth other than Sersi and Sprite.

“Tell them… tell them how you tried to kill her!” The sound of your voice pierces through the forest like a thunder. “Tell them how you took Ajak to that lake with your big lies only to try to get her killed by the same deviants. How you planned for us… for ME to find her body there. All because she changed her mind about this mission.” You press him harder against the tree.

Nobody talks for a moment, but you notice everyone has gathered around keeping some distance from the both of you.

“Is this true?” Kingo asks.

Ikaris remains in silence giving the confirmation that Kingo needs.

“You don’t do that.” He says in all seriousness. “You don’t do that to family. Even if we don’t agree with their newfound plans or beliefs, we don’t harm our family.”

“He plans to get rid of everyone that comes between Arishem and his mission. He is just waiting for the right moment. And Gilgamesh was the first to pay for this.”

As you say the last part Thena gets up summoning her weapon. Ikaris pushes you away with force before taking flight. And you swear that for a moment you saw his beams forming in his eyes.  

“Coward!” Thena yells out after him.

“Wait! Take me with you!” Sprite says before materializing into an illusion of hundreds of bees as they both escape.

“They’ll come back.” Thena states.

“And when they do.” You reply.

“We’ll be waiting.” She finishes.

You go towards Ajak, who in the middle of the argument left to kneel beside Gilgamesh. Thena returns as well, and they both weep for him. The others remain talking about Sprite’s sudden betrayal. Your arms come to wrap around Ajak from behind as you place your head on her back offering support. She turns in your embrace and cries into your arms as you rock her gently in soothing and consoling motions. The sight is heartbreaking and as soon as Druig shows up a funeral is prepared.

_ ✽ _

Nobody sleeps that night as thousands of questions and thoughts from the events of the day swirl in their minds. Somewhere during the night, you find Ajak staring at the ceiling wide awake, unable to sleep just like you.

“Have you spoken to Arishem?” You ask softly.

Ajak turns to look at you slightly taken aback. “No.”

You keep staring at her waiting for an explanation.

“Every time he just informs me when the emergence will occur… and there is nothing else he needs from me. My deed is done… and that’s it.” She says lost in thought.

“Have we ever been like this?” You finally ask. “In our past lives?”

She looks at you for a moment choosing her words carefully. “No. This is the first time I experience this.”

For some reason you don’t feel sad about your past life knowing you didn’t have to suffer for Ajak at the end of times.

“But,” she continues “You are new to my missions.” She manages a gentle smile.

And you can see how she tries to smile through her tired eyes as well before you fully digest the new information.

“Wait… do you mean what I think you mean?”

Ajak nods. “This is the first time we met… so, it’s really nice to meet you.”

Tears cloud your eyes at the realization of how much Ajak has changed thanks to you.

“What was it like for you?”

“It was different… from all the times I had done this. Some come and go, and that’s alright. But you have a passion that is so unlike everyone else’s.”  She makes sure to stare deep into your eyes. “I told you this before; you make your own rules. And also,” she pauses to give you a flirty look. “You are the first one to look at me like this.”

You chuckle before getting closer to kiss her lips.

“Do you think this is our last night like this?” You ask her.

“No, I know it’s not. I have faith in Druig.”

“And then what will happen?”

“And then… we wait.”

“For what?”

“Arishem.”

“Do you have any idea-”

“We’ll sort this out. And we’ll warn everyone else in this whole universe.”

And you take her word seriously putting all your trust in her, so you nod once and kiss her sweetly before trying to rest.

_ ✽ _

As promised, during the emergence Ikaris and Sprite show up. You duplicate as soon as you see him, you launch at him with your replicas surrounding him and taking turns in puching him around. The look in his face when he corned Ajak in that cliff, her face at the realization of what was happening, Sersi's tears for him, Druig's and Gilgamesh's death, all of that is coming back to you. The pain he has caused you and your family is all coming out at this moment in the form of revenge.

After he takes down the domo, and Thena joins in the fight. You are sure that you will get him this time, at least the satisfaction of seeing him in this position is almost enough. You want more, and so does Thena as she goes for the last deviant. You have no idea how many times all of you have taken Ikaris down only for him to get back up and attack you. Ajak has been holding on her own very well, with Phasto's techonology you've been able to fight beside her. But the fear you feel as Ikaris goes after Sersi is huge, some part of you knows that he is incapable of hurting her. And it is confirmed when she completes the final puzzle and is able to continue with your plan; killing Tiamut with her bare hands and your power convined.

The glorious victory against them only makes the promise of being with Ajak forever more real and emotional. You embrace her as soon as Tiamut remains frozen in time. Your lips reach for each other and seal your forever with a passionate kiss in the presence of the celestial as you still feel its power connected to you. It feels like nothing but pure bliss, you have not just gained your ever after with Ajak, but you have saved this world and all its wonders. You celebrate your victory with the love of your life and your family. And soon you find yourself in another adventure with Ajak as both of you leave to explore the universe in search of others.

“Will you miss this world?” You ask before you leave the planet Earth’s atmosphere.

“No, I have everything I need here with me.” She smiles as she pulls you close.

“I feel the same way.” You grin with your eyes. “I’d follow you ‘til the end. Whenever that is.”

[softquietsteadylove]

Hiii!!

Can I request another part for the human Thena/eternal Gil Au but this time Thena sees Gil’s in action? You described his powers briefly yet so beautifully in the last part!

Thank you so much and please keep going I love to read your work!

The walk was quiet.

They had gathered at Sersi's flat to discuss what would have to happen from this point forward. Sersi and Gil - the Eternals - had whispered between themselves in the kitchen. Occasionally, they would glance out at their humans--herself and Mister Whitman.

Dane was still there, talking with Sersi. He lived close, and would also return when the rest of their plan was in motion. For now, all they could do was wait for the rest of the Eternals to arrive, and aside from one, that would take very real time to make happen.

Apparently, the only one who could fly was Ikaris.

Thena looked beside her. Gil had insisted that if she wasn't going to stay safely inside at Sersi's for an indeterminate amount of time, then he had to walk her home personally. And probably escort her back, now that she thought of it.

Gil's hand was warm around hers.

The first time he'd held her hand was after he had helped her out of a taxi she had taken to get to their second dinner date after work. In all her eagerness not to be late she had opted not to walk instead of just letting Gil know she would have to be ten minutes late at most. Because those ten minutes had seemed irrevocably important, at the time.

He had stood outside the restaurant, waiting for her like a gentleman. He paid her fare before she could protest and by the time she had the door open he was grasping her hand and helping her out. She had worn somewhat less comfortable shoes to work to have ones for their date. Gil had kissed her hand and complimented her.

He'd held her hand the rest of the way to their table, too. They talked all through dinner, then through the multiple desserts Gil had ordered so as to try as many as possible. They talked through coffee and then it eventually became clear that the restaurant was attempting to close, and they were the last patrons taking up their space. He'd held her hand when they walked home, too.

Gil felt her staring at him and turned his head. "You okay?"

It was a loaded question. She had survived her first real Deviant attack. It was possibly the first of many, if she intended on sticking around. Even if she didn't, that thing had known her name. It was doubtful she could be rid of the experience even if she did decide to abandon ship and try to forget she ever knew Gilgamesh.

And how could she do that? It would be simply impossible for her to forget the whirlwind love she had met not even a few months ago.

"Thena?"

She managed a smile for him, although it didn't seem to comfort him any. It was an unconvincing as she thought it was. She gave his hand a squeeze though, "I should be asking you that."

He scoffed, waving his other hand in front of him dismissively. "We've been fighting these things for ages."

She looked towards the river on the other side of the street. She might never look at it the same way again, she realised. "Not that one, though."

She heard Gil sigh through his nose before looking at him again. "No, I guess not."

Thena slowed their pace until they were stopped. It was late enough, plus all the chaos downtown left them the street to themselves. She faced Gil head on, taking both his hands in hers. "I realise you can't get nearly as hurt as I can. But I don't think anyone would be unaffected by facing a monster like that."

Gil's face turned somber. Melancholy didn't suit his cheerful features, but he stroked her hand with his thumb again. "I really am sorry, Thena."

"It's not your fault."

"But-" he argued and nearly tripped over his words to do so. "That-that...thing!--it knew you because of me. If I had known-"

"Gil-"

"I never would have let it live." His tone grew dark, and she really believed the anger behind it. She hadn't seen him mad much either, but his words were fierce as he grasped her hands. "I would have hunted it down and made sure it was dead."

"Gil," she attempted to soothe him. The concern was for her, but all she could think was that it didn't suit him to seem so unhappy. She liked seeing him smile and hearing him laugh more. She raised her hand to his cheek, "you may not get that luxury, you realise."

He put his hand over hers, turning his head so he could kiss her palm. "I've got nothing but time, Thena."

Her stomach twisted as the massive - truly infinite - gap between them was brought to the forefront of her mind again. It felt almost trivial; she had no business fretting over the status of her relationship while that beast still walked the earth. But she leaned closer. "Well, I don't."

Gil looked startled by what she said, but he leaned down to accept her kiss. She had seen his strength earlier tonight, but he was so incredibly gentle with her.

She tilted her head at him, his fingertips in her hair from holding her cheeks. "I want more time with you, Gil. So, we'll figure out a way to make that happen."

His eyes flickered for a moment, and she could almost swear she could see those little glowing specs of gold within his eyes. He leaned in and kissed her again. "I want eternity with you, Thena."

It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her, and on probably the worst night of her life, too. But she grasped the edges of his brown leather jacket as they parted. If golden energy lived in his eyes then surely a painfully obvious love lived in hers. "Gil-"

"Thena!"

Gil pulled her behind him instantly. The spray from the river didn't quite reach them, but that thing landed heavily. Gil raised his fist. That funny compression of air happened, her ears felt the change and a sound like the air caving in on itself fell over them.

Gil didn't wait for that creature to come over to them. He didn't leave it room to escape, either. He held the vines emerging from its neck and landed his hit. It was like canon fire--if not by sound, then by impact.

Thena looked away, wind rushing purely from the force being exerted and traded through kinetic energy. Those gold flecks that looked like sparks floated by her again. She forced herself to look as Gil landed another two hits. "Gil!"

"You're not getting away this time!" he roared at his enemy, holding it with one hand. He didn't need both to do the damage he could. Sometimes his fist would raise and hold for just a second before coming down again, heavier than before.

Thena watched, seeing lines of gold tracing through the air as Gil moved. It was like a constellation moving, it was mesmerising, in a terrifying way. His fist would fly, sometimes double and triple layered with that energy. Then it would come down and that vacuum of sound would pop again.

The creature wrestled itself free from him, holding its disgusting claw hand over its own injuries.

Gil held his ground, not pursuing too far away from her but not retreating either. "I see what you are."

"Ay...jack...A-Jax...Ajak..." it was haunting to hear the thing speak. It sounded out words like it was learning them in real time. The maw of teeth it had shuffled around as it adapted to speech instead of primitive growls. "Ajak...pow...er...Ajak's...power!"

"Move!"

Gil could move quickly if he propelled himself with his own powers. He destroyed the cobblestones under his feet again as he launched himself at her. He scooped her up, narrowly avoiding the thing launching itself at them.

Thena shuddered, although it was Gil's body that made impact with the side of the building. She heard a crack, and she hoped it was the concrete and plaster instead of anything in Gil's body.

Gil held up his arm, keeping the thing at bay like a dog that was latching onto his forearm. He held it out as far as he could, but the thing's teeth were right there, its breath rustling her hair while she was tucked between Gil's defending arm and the safety of burying herself in his chest.

There wasn't much that he could do in this position. He was doing his best to protect her, but he couldn't make any advancement either.

Thena forced herself to look. That nightmare was right there, gnashing its teeth around the illusion of Gil's arm. His powers were absorbing the blow, but she had to wonder if there was a limit to his stamina.

"Thena?" Gil blinked as her hands moved.

She didn't know what she was doing. Maybe she was just making things harder for him. But she pushed Gil's arm with everything she had in her. Gil was the strong one, but maybe even he could use what little support her human arms could offer.

It was fascinating. It really felt like Gil's arm, but she could see the outline of his powers layered around him. It was humbling to witness something so powerful - so ageless - so close.

Gil wrapped his other arm around her waist. He leaned his shoulders forward and dug his feet in. "Hold onto me, sweetheart."

She squeezed her eyes shut as Gil spun them all. He had the strength, and it didn't take much to build momentum. They all moved as one, and on the second turn he threw the thing away.

Its massive, wiry body demolished the car it hit, sounding the alarm.

"Shit," he cursed, although his hold on her remained. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, although already upstairs lights in flats were being turned on. People would be out here and on their phones any second. "Gil, we should go."

"But that thing is-"

"You can kill it later," she hissed at him, already trying to usher him away from the street and down a darker alley. "You'll get another chance. But not if people see you and plaster your face everywhere!"

"I'm not letting that thing live," he growled through his teeth. But ultimately, he let her lead him away and into the shadows. "I can't let it find you again."

"Gil-"

Maybe all Eternals' powers had a sound to them. A high pitched rumbling sounded as a beam of light fired directly into the thing. Whichever Eternal that was, they certainly had no problems being found out by the modern age.

"Gil," Thena attempted to urge him away again, tugging at his jacket. But she also looked as the laser cut straight through the thing's neck. She moved closer to Gil as a figure floated down directly in view of their alley. It turned towards them.

"I'm surprised Gil," the man chuckled, "thought that thing would be easy pickin's for you."

"I was distracted," Gil scowled in his direction, keeping his hold on her all the while. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help."

"I doubt that."

Thena looked between the two of them. She could only guess, but by context clues alone, she already knew the man was an Eternal, could fly, had laser eyes like some sort of comic book hero, and the accent was more anecdotal than anything. But still, she felt reasonably confident when she asked, "Ikaris?"

[attorneys-against-court-violence]

In light of recent Thena discussion (because I am in a very good mood) I'd like to point out a common thread I've heard and admittedly participated in because it sounded funny at the time.

People saying that she only has two (2) and a half cases. That thing. Now, I do understand wanting to play as her more - I do too! Her first-person perspective is wonderful!

But friends. Fuckos. All in between.

She is EVERYWHERE in Dual Destinies.

"But she's only the defense for Acad-" Maya Fey was never the defense but nobody seems to complain about that. Everyone seems to want her to come back dispite not being a lawyer. Why the turnabout with Athena? Why ignore the copious amount of fantastic screentime she gets outside of being the lead defense? Perhaps it's expectation opening the gateway to dissapointment; Cykes was marketed as a new protragonist on the same level as Phoenix and Apollo, as part of a trio of lawyers, which makes her lacking case numbers feel. Well. Lackluster. That's more a mistake on the part of the people marketing the character than the character themselves, though.

I think that ties into why people seem dissapointed that she needs all that help & doesn't lead a case very often, more than denial of her issues. As with all things about Dual Destinies that bug me, the problem was miscommunication. Funny how often that happens in a game about the discord in people's hearts.

Point is, please pay attention to her. Capcom sure as hell won't.

[fanficapologist]

Of Dragons and Maelstroms

Themes and Warnings: slow burn, enemies to lovers, blood, violence, explicit language, sexual violence, period-typical misogyny, sexual themes, smut, tension, marriage, jealousy, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, attempted sexual assault, breastfeeding, major character death, divergent timelines

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood/Game of Thrones characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Red Keep bustled with activity, as if it had come to life overnight. Staff and nobles hurried through its corridors, the impending royal wedding demanding swift preparations in the short span of six weeks.

The morning after the shocking announcement, Thena efficiently assisted Maera in preparing for the day, by twisting and braiding her hair so it was out of her face, and lacing her into a scoop neck turquoise dress, a slim gold chain sitting across her waist as a belt. As the maid served Maera breakfast, her tone held an air of importance as she conveyed the day's agenda.

"My Lady, you'll be spending the day with Queen Alicent and Queen Helaena," she informed Maera. "They wish to discuss gowns, invitations, and decor, matters that need swift decisions so the necessary resources can be secured."

“Thank you, Thena. I think the next few weeks will be busy indeed,” Maera replied with a defeated sigh.

Before Maera departed for her royal duties, Thena cleared her throat and placed the stack of correspondence her lady had previously entrusted her with, along with the silk purse filled with coins, on the dining table. She hesitated for a moment, then declared, "I believe it's time to return these letters, my lady. And your purse, of course," her gaze unwavering.

Maera was grateful that the letters had not fallen into the wrong hands, shuffling through them and saw all seven were accounted for.

"Thank you for ensuring their safety," she said sincerely. However, she insisted, "But you should keep the money, Thena, as a token of my appreciation and trust."

Thena's response was tinged with humor. "I couldn't very well refuse a gift from the future Princess, could I?" she quipped, using the title that Maera found uncomfortable. Despite this, Maera managed a strained smile, appreciating the loyalty and understanding of her maid.

Walking into the Queen's chambers, Maera was engulfed in a warm and tight hug by Helaena, their friendship radiating in that embrace before she had even fully crossed the threshold. Maera reciprocated the hug, feeling a sense of relief seeing Helaena's face on the mend. While there were still remnants of green and yellow from the bruising, her eyes shone as brilliantly as ever.

Seated at the table behind Helaena was Queen Alicent, and Maera acknowledged her presence with a respectful curtsy. The last time Maera had spoken with the Queen mother properly was the day they had discovered Helaena in her terrible state.

Wanting to ensure there was no animosity, Maera began with an apology. "Your Grace, I must apologize for my… past behavior. My actions were unbecoming of a lady." Of course, she was not sorry for beating Alicent’s son, who had hurt her friend, but for the sake of a peaceful future, Maera hoped her words would mend any lingering discomfort from their last meeting.

Alicent waved away her apology with a gracious smile. "No need for apologies, Lady Maera. There is much to look forward to now. Come," she responded warmly, gesturing for them to take a seat. Such indifference was puzzling to Maera. Did the Queen Mother even know it was her who harmed her son? Or did she think it was another result of Aegon drunken escapades in Flea Bottom? No, Alicent was no fool. The Kingsguard would have told her if he had returned in that state. Perhaps she thought it was Aemond? Oh Gods, Aemond…

Despite her own mixed emotions about the impending wedding, Maera couldn't help but be delighted to witness Helaena's enthusiasm for planning the intricate details of the upcoming event. Seeing Helaena engage with Alicent and herself over floral arrangements and menu choices, after being previously so subdued, brought a genuine smile to Maera's face.

With the chiming of a bell, Queen Alicent summoned numerous potential vendors for the royal event, assuring Maera that these were the finest in King's Landing. The assembly included florists, caterers, musicians, dress designers, and seamstresses. Although the occasion was bittersweet for Maera, she threw herself into the planning with the Queen and Queen Mother, as she would for any other event, using the preparations as a welcomed distraction from her own uncertain future.

Maera sat contentedly as Helaena and Alicent took charge of selecting vendors. It seemed right that Helaena should choose the flowers that would adorn the great hall. With enthusiasm, she selected a variety of blossoms of yellow, white, black and deep red, that would bring a vibrant burst of color to the event. In addition, she picked three skilled musicians who specialized in stringed instruments to provide enchanting melodies on the special day.

Meanwhile, Queen Alicent focused her attention on the crucial matter of catering and food options for the banquet, selecting various meats, fruits, pies, breads, wines and ales. Knowing that not all of the realm's nobles could attend in just six weeks, she then began compiling a concise guest list. House Wylde, of course, would be sent an invite first as they were the family of the bride. More strategic invites were also made priority, such as the Baratheons and the Lannisters. And to ease the transition of the seat of Morne to Targaryen rule, House Tarth would also be extended an invitation.

In letters, Maera’s late aunt Viserra had mentioned about the Lords of Tarth, cousins of her husband Lord Byron, and feelings were conveyed as mixed. Currently, Lord Pearse was the overlord of Evenfall Hall and his son, Lord Endrew, was heir. Both would need to be won over to ensure Maera’s family’s safety, and what better way to do that than at a royal wedding

In the midst of the wedding preparations, there came a moment that made the impending reality of her wedding day sink in for Maera – the dress. Prompted by a group of three skilled dressmakers, she rose from the table and stood still by the window as two of the seamstresses took measurements of height, bust, hips, waist and shoulders. The head of the group, the dress designer, a tall golden-haired woman who employed the seamstresses, arranged various fabrics on the table, presenting a palette of shades: black, gold, green, red, white, and turquoise, each with intricate patterns of embroidery.

Beside the fabric samples, the dress designer laid pieces of parchment that held sketches of recent royal wedding dresses, offering Maera a wellspring of inspiration. The dresses looked stunning, and the designer had drew them in such detail Maera felt she could almost see the actual dresses in front of her. Such a variety of designs on different body types, each dress conveying the true beauty of House Targaryen.

It was an immense pressure to pick and create such a masterpiece to be worn on an important event. An occasion that would not only bind her to Aemond for as long as they lived, but would be used as an excuse to form advantageous political alliances, over wine, food and dancing.

Overwhelmed by the array of choices, Maera felt a reassuring squeeze on her hand from Helaena. "I can't wait to see you in a wedding gown, Maera," Helaena exclaimed, a warm smile on her lips that prompted Maera to respond with a shy but genuine smile of her own.

The three women meticulously analyzed the designs, weighing the pros and cons of each. However, for every appealing aspect, there seemed to be ten more drawbacks – the designs were either too dated, impractical, or simply unflattering for Maera's figure. She couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Maera turned to address one of Alicent’s trusted servants, Talya, who stood diligently with the other maids in the corner of the room. “Can you please fetch me a piece of parchment and a quill? I wish to try something.”

The woman nodded, quickly procuring the requested items and handed them to Maera, who was ready to take matters into her own hands.

As Maera's quill danced across the parchment, her vision for the wedding dress slowly came to life as Helaena and Alicent watched with bated breath. She began by lightly sketching the outline of her form, the lines of her drawing emphasizing the curvature of her fuller bust and rounded hips. These were the features that would have the most significant impact on how the dress would flatter her figure.

With precision and a touch of creativity, Maera borrowed elements from various gowns she had admired in the sketches. The shoulders, reminiscent of the dragon wings, came from Queen Alicent's own wedding gown, flaring outward to create a regal and dramatic effect. Maera added a subtle touch—an attachment for a chiffon cape that would flow gracefully behind her.

Her gaze shifted to another sketch, inspired by the bodice of the late Lady Laena Velaryon's gown. Maera borrowed the idea of an accentuated bodice that would emphasize her natural curves, giving the dress a more defined shape and elegance.

She then turned her attention to Helaena's own wedding dress, a masterpiece that featured a layering of different fabrics around the hips. Maera skillfully sketched this layering, envisioning a central underskirt in pristine white, flanked on either side by golden shimmering fabric adorned with intricate black swirls.

Lastly, Maera drew inspiration from Queen Alysanne's dress. Though some might consider it dated, the voluminous skirt of Alysanne's gown held a timeless beauty. It flowed dramatically, drawing attention to the narrow waist of the bodice, a feature Maera was eager to replicate in her own design.

With the design complete, Maera presented her vision to Helaena, Alicent, and the dress designer, who couldn't help but marvel at her talent.

The designer, awestruck by Maera's talent, couldn't help but comment, "Perhaps in a previous life, Lady Maera, you were a seamstress." Maera chuckled at the notion, humbly dismissing the idea.

Turning her attention to her future sister-in-law and Queen Mother, Maera asked eagerly, "What do you both think?" Helaena's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she examined the sketch.

"Remarkable design! What colors do you think would be most suitable?" she inquired.

Maera rose from her seat to get a better look at the array of fabrics laid out before her. She carefully examined each one, lifting them to catch the light and see how they interacted. After a moment of contemplation, she made her selections. With a discerning eye, she chose a luxurious turquoise satin for the bodice, adorned with deeper blue embroidered swirls. For the accent color, she settled on a dark gold, almost bronze, fabric that would complement the turquoise perfectly.

Her gaze then shifted to the creamy-gold fabric meant for the layered skirts around the hips. After careful consideration, she made her choice for more intricate patterns on the dress—a scale-patterned, shimmering black that would contrast beautifully with the bright white she had selected for the underskirts.

Gathering the fabric samples, she brought them back to her seat, her quill at the ready. With precision and care, she began to mark her design, drawing annotations to indicate where each piece of fabric would go. The dress was taking shape not only in her mind but on the parchment before her, a testament to her creativity and attention to detail.

Maera, with a discerning eye, noticed Queen Alicent's silence and couldn't help but ask, "Your Grace, do you approve of the design?"

Queen Alicent took a moment to appreciate the creation before her and replied, "It's beautiful, very befitting of a Targaryen princess." However, her concern showed as she added, "I worry, though, that the neckline might be considered… a touch immodest for the Sept."

The dressmaker, eager to address the Queen's concerns, chimed in, "Your Grace, with the utmost respect, Lady Maera has a larger chest area than most noblewomen. No amount of fabric would truly hide that fact."

Maera, trying to lighten the moment, quipped, "It is a blessing and a curse, Your Grace."

Queen Alicent chuckled, responding, "You'll be thankful for it when it comes to feeding your future babies, sweet girl." Maera, feeling a mix of emotions at the thought, nodded in response.

Turning her attention back to the dressmaker, Queen Alicent inquired, "Can the design be executed?"

The blonde-haired dressmaker, with determination in her eyes, replied, "Absolutely, Your Grace. My seamstresses and I will work tirelessly, day and night, to ensure Lady Maera's gown is perfect. We can make any needed alterations here at the Red Keep a few days before the ceremony."

With the reassurance of the dressmaker, the women expressed their gratitude to the vendors and left the room, ready to continue their preparations for the grand wedding that awaited.

That night, Maera, with the assistance of two chambermaids, helped her Queen prepare for bed, her hands deftly unfastening the intricate laces of Helaena’s gown, allowing it to cascade like a waterfall of rich fabric. With the queen's attire removed, her undergarments were exchanged for a more comfortable nightshift, crafted from soft linens that cradled her form. As Maera began to undo the many braids in Helaena’s regal updo, the Queen's enthusiasm from the day's events was still palpable. She exclaimed, "I've always wanted a sister," before correcting herself, "I mean, I know I have Rhaenyra, but we were always worlds apart. Having a sister who is also my best friend is truly a blessing from the Gods."

Maera smiled warmly at the Queen, her heart touched by Helaena's words. While Maera did have sisters of her own, her bond with Helaena was unique and held a special place in her heart. “We have always been sisters, Helaena, the wedding will not change that. But it will be nice to be apart of the same House as you,” Maera replied as she ran a brush through Helaena’s silver locks.

As the maids guided the Queen toward the bed, moving in harmony, they ensured that every need was met. They fluffed the pillows, plumped the duvet, and arranged the linens with precision. Helaena, with a graceful ease, reclined on the bed, her expression one of tranquil repose. The maids then withdrew to begin dimming the candles around the chambers, leaving Maera to pull up the blankets to cover Helaena’s lap, her legs still showing bruising from the incident with Aegon.

Catching Maera staring, Helaena quickly pulled the fabric towards her in order to cover her lower limbs, almost as if she was ashamed of the markings she bore from the attack. To ease the tension brewing, Maera then tucked the duvet around the Queen with practiced expertise, as she brought up the topic that had been on her mind.

"You know, I haven't seen Aemond since yesterday. Nor have we spoken properly in over two weeks," she mentioned, "I hope things won't be awkward."

Helaena, relaxing against her pillows with a reassuring smile, replied, "My brother, despite his flaws, will make a good husband to you, Maera. I know this to be true. Perhaps clearing the air and spending some time with one another would ease your transition into marriage."

What Maera didn't reveal to Helaena was that she and Aemond had not properly spoken since the incident in his chambers—the kiss that had left things between them unresolved. They had encountered each other when Maera had confronted Aegon, but the kiss remained unaddressed.

After bidding Helaena good night, Maera made her way back to her chambers, where Thena awaited her. The faithful maid undressed her and gently unraveled Maera's brown hair, the striking silver streak glinting in the soft light of the hearth. Thena dressed Maera in her nightclothes and assured her she would see her in the morning before closing the chamber doors.

Restless from a day of wedding planning, she attempted to read a book, ‘The Loves of Queen Nymeria’, but the tale only made her more unsettled, as the thrilling freedom of the life of princess caused Maera to long for a much different future. The Dornish woman’s three husbands served her only as counselors and consorts, never seeking to rule over her or take her power, enamoured by her beauty and cunning. A stark contrast to Westerosi custom, where men absorbed the power their wives were made to give them the minute they were bound before the Seven.

The rain outside gently tapped on her window, creating a soothing rhythm. Beyond the glass, the world was veiled in a soft, silver curtain of water. Maera's gaze wandered to the window and below it she locked eyes on her writing desk, where the stack of old correspondence lay. Thinking it was unnecessary to hold onto the letters that would have been delivered after her supposed execution, she decided to dispose of them.

Rising from her bed and making her way over to her writing desk, Maera picked up the sealed parchments, each addressed for different recipients. There were two for Rain House, one for Hornhill meant for Wynni, another for Sabine in the Westerlands, one destined for the Citadel, intended for her brothers pursuing the maester's path, and finally one for Essos, meant for Dermot, who continued his travels. One by one, she fed them to the fire, watching as the flames consumed the words until they were reduced to ash.

Maera double-checked the count. Six. Not seven. She had originally written seven. One letter was missing. Her heart sank as she realized it was the one addressed to Prince Aemond. Panic set in as she frantically searched the area near the hearth and under her desk, desperately looking for the missing letter. Perhaps she had just dropped it as she had picked up the stack from the desk? No, not on the floor. Her hands trembled as she rummaged through parchment and finery, heart racing as each passing moment intensified the dread that gnawed within her. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she muttered, beginning to turn her chamber upside down in an attempt to find it.

The soft candlelight, which usually bathed the chamber in a warm glow, now cast eerie shadows that danced menacingly along the walls. Lady Maera's breaths came in rapid gasps, her mind racing with thoughts of the consequences should the letter remain missing. She had narrowly avoided death once, surely the Gods would not allow her to avoid it twice.

Then, a voice broke the silence, asking, "Looking for this?"

Tags: @blue-serendipity @marvelescvpe @shesjustanothergeek @grungegrrrl

Thank you so much for reading! Comments, feedback, likes, and reblogs are greatly appreciated 🖤

[athenawasamerf]

You're not 30 you keep using tween/teen slang here "Thena"

You get the Merf part kills you right? What actual serious feminist would do that even if she was gender critical. You're a child pretending to be a feminist with others just like you. Playing house almost online with it.

I literally said I’m 23, not 30. And being a male exclusionary radfem isn’t some kind of childish joke, I stand behind that 100%. Feminism isn’t about men and never will be, it’s about liberating women from the patriarchy. I really don’t care if you think I’m a child.

Posting my thoughts online isn’t the grand sum of my feminist work. This is just a platform for information and discussion.

[taran-chan]

Okay I know its after Christmas but I have to ask for this for science… Number 9 but it’s Thena pegging Gil. I would DIE FOR THIS thank u very much lmaoo

Alright, okay! Finally! Here we go! VERY NSFW, please process it carefully. Just a warning, this is the first time I write something like this and it looked better and sexier in my head but here goes nothing.

9. “You take me so well.”

[Cafe AU]

It starts with a late-night discussion. Gil has closed his shop for the day and they sit down for a nightcap on his sofa. Somehow, the subject falls into sexual fantasies. Thena, a bit tipsy and feeling rather wild, snuggles into his chest and says - half joking and half serious - that she thought about them doing it in the movie theater.

“We were there just last week,” he muses.

“We were,” she agrees, booping his nose.

“Did you think about it then?”

“Of course,” she says, matter-of-factly.

“How?” Now he’s curious.

She taps her forefinger to her lips, “We’d make out, then you’d slip a hand under my dress, telling me to keep looking at the screen. And you– Gil!”

“Hmm?” He looks up from kissing along her neck.

“You’re not listening,” she chides, pinching his love handle. That’s just her excuse to slip her hand under his sweater to feel his skin, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“I am listening,” he has the nerve to pout, “I tell you to keep looking at the screen, and?”

“Uh-uh, I’m done for now,” she shakes her head, “It’s your turn.”

If she’s honest with herself, she’s been curious about this for a while. What does a sweet, wholesome man like Gil have for his sexual fantasies? She’s excited, if not a little nervous, to find out.

Gil swallows and gnaws at his lower lip. She can tell that he’s shy by the red of his ears and the way he constantly rubs at his nose, but he also doesn’t want to lie or brush her off. Thena smiles, taking his hand to stop his fidgeting.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” she gives him an assuring smile. She’s never known to be patient, but she’s learning it from him.

“No, I-I want to,” he admits.

“You can trust me,” she says, reaching up to kiss his cheek, “And you know, maybe I would be down for it.”

“Y-Yeah?” Even his neck is growing a deep shade of red.

She waits.

“Well, this just occurred to me recently, but I think I want to try…anal sex.”

Thena has to strain her ears to hear him. The room suddenly feels hot and she squirms in his arms. She has never tried it with anyone, but she certainly could entertain that fantasy for Gil. The few times that he touched her there, it felt amazing.

“Gil, many people want to try that,” she begins, “You don’t have to feel insecure…”

“No, but…” He cuts in before she gets to finish, “You’re the one who…do it to me.”

Oh.

“You want to be pegged?” She asks.

He buries his face into her neck and nods. She can almost see the steam coming off the top of his head. So adorable. She has heard about it, and from what she knows, it gives great pleasure. And if there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s her Gilgamesh. Just that thought makes her want to groan.

She hugs him back, dropping kisses to his hair, “Okay.”

“What?” He lifts his head up from her shoulder, his eyes look like two flying saucers.

“We can perform your fantasy.”

“N-Now?” He stammered. Thena has to bite her lips to stop herself from chuckling at the hint of somewhat excitement in his voice.

“No, baby,” she says, moving to straddle his lap, “When I peg you, you’ll be stone-cold sober.”

His moan is cut short by her tongue sticking down his throat.

★

The next couple of days, she starts researching it, looking up step by step on how to peg a man as good as possible. And like the serious researcher she is, she does it thoroughly as if it was a case file. After telling him about douching and lubrication, she pulls him to sit down with her and look through the strap-on choices. He said he wanted that specifically and not a dildo when she pressed him. Kingo and Phastos choose the wrong moment to step into Gil’s apartment without knocking. Kingo stares at the way his boss slams her laptop shut while the Eternal’s chef pushes the papers they’ve been reading off the coffee table, he doesn’t have to see what it is about to guess the concept of what they were discussing.

“Not a word,” he says on the way out. Phastos is already left, “We didn’t see anything. We do not need to know what is going on. We’ll be back later and we’ll all agree that this didn’t happen.”

The door clicks shut before Thena and Gil sigh.

“We’ll continue at my place,” she says as they gather their documents.

And it’s her bedroom where they are going to try out Gil’s fantasy for the first time. She takes his hand and leads him inside. They’re eager to take off each other’s clothes, but when she tries to push him down on her bed, he maneuvers them and instead she finds herself sitting on the mattress with her legs thrown over his shoulder, him kneeling at the foot of the bed.

“Gil, tonight is about you,” she protests half-heartedly, already panting as he nibbles up her inner thigh.

“Oh, you have no idea how much pleasure I get from doing this,” he grins before pressing his tongue against her pussy and making her see stars. She gasps for air, throwing her head back as she comes into his mouth, one of her hands claws at his back and the other grips the sheet so tightly her nails nearly rip through it.

He puts his chin on her lap, looking at her with a satisfied expression even when she hasn’t even touched him. His mouth is still slick with her arousal. Thena reaches out and cups his cheek.

“Get on the bed and wait here,” she demands.

“Yes, my lady.”

He doesn’t bother to hide his lustful moan when she reappears at the bathroom door, wearing her new strap. He pulls her closer, peppering kisses to her belly as she runs her hands through his hair.

“Lie back,” she says.

Gil moves upward and lies on the pillows, basking in the scent of her shampoo. She smears the lube on her hand, then gets in between his legs. She swoops down to kiss him deeply, coaxing him to relax. His muscles ripple under her fingers and he jolts slightly when he feels the cool fluid she rubs on his rectum. She uses her other hand to pinch his nipples and he moans, pressing his head deeper into the pillows.

“So beautiful.”

“Thena, please.”

She slips one finger inside, slowly and evenly moving in and out.

“I need you to tell me if I’m hurting you.”

“No, it feels good,” he croaks, then after a pause, “More.”

Her second and then third fingers go in, loosening him up easily with a lot of lubrication and soon enough she’s pumping him with a steady speed. Gil is pressing the back of his hand against his mouth, trying desperately and unsuccessfully to stifle his obscene sounds. His rock-hard cock points upward deliciously, his pleasure lies solely in her hands. She’s never felt so powerful.

She withdraws her hand and he looks like he’s about to cry from the sudden emptiness. The reaction almost makes her lose her mind, she chases away the urge of entering him all at once and just presses the head of the cock at his asshole.

“Ready?”

He looks up at her predator smile and just spreads his legs wider. Thena tosses her hair out of her face and leans forward, grabbing at his hips. She watches in rapture as the cock disappears into him. Just as it reaches his prostate, he comes with a shout, shooting all over his belly. She keeps still, waiting for him to catch his breath. She can feel her arousal leaking out of the strap as he reaches for her blindly, and they both moan the moment he realizes the cock is still inside him.

“You take me so well,” she grins as she kisses him indulgently, letting his hands roam over her.

“You feel so good,” he manages, finding it harder and harder to form coherent words. He’s getting hard again and he knows she can feel it too, because she begins to thrust, growling back at every sound he makes.

He starts meeting her thrust by thrust, the length of the dildo messaging his prostate over and over. His chest is flushed red, it’s his turn to gasp for air. Tears are falling freely from the corner of his eyes, not because he’s in pain but because it’s just too overwhelming. He isn’t aware of what he’s saying anymore, the only thing in his mind is Thena’s cock slamming into him.

“I like you saying my name,” she drapes over him, sneaking her hand down to wrap around his cock and stroking it firmly.

“Thena, Thena,...” he whimpers, “I’m coming, I’m—”

“Come for me.”

And he falls again, writhing and thrashing in what must be the biggest orgasm he’s ever had in his life. His vision blurs and some conscious part of his mind just understands why they call this “the little death”. His entire body feels like liquid and he sinks deeper into the mattress. It’s her touch that brings him back, petting his hair gently and purring. She’s lying on top of him, her strap has been taken off. She rubs her nose against his when he opens his eyes, and her smile is radiant.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” he rasps, his throat is dry from all the screaming. He hopes they won’t get noise complaints from her neighbours.

“You okay?”

“Never better.”

“So,” she traces the laugh lines on his face, “How did your fantasy play out?”

“Well, because it was you, it’s even better than I imagined,” he lifts his head to kiss her, “But I wished I could make you come at least once more, you really blew my mind.”

Thena giggles, settling for a more comfortable position in his arms, “Later, Gil. I’m satisfied now.”

“Later then,” he promises.

“And look, darling, you made a mess on my bed,” she teases before throwing her blanket over them.

“No, you and your cock did that.”

[violetnatelley]

Changing of the Song - I'm back baby!!!

Guess who is back and ready to get through the next half of this story? After getting through probably the busiest part of the year (which is mostly because of university), I'm back and pretty much settled on writing this.

And you know what, I'm pretty much ahead and if you haven't been on Ao3 checking up on the updates, we are pretty much several chapters ahead. If you're new and haven't heard what the heck this is? Well, you better start back with the series as I know it will be very confusing if you start here.

As for everyone else: here are the short summaries for each chapter since I last posted on here.

Chapter 3: Let's Recap, Shall We?

Back on Earth, Maedhros is going on his life-changing trip with Zuko Thena. Whilst Arwen goes on a little rescue with Pippin and Tazhin.

Chapter 4: The Trust Test

Celebrian reunites with her parents, Andrea Barnard escapes with the journal and Halle Warden discovers her company's been infiltrated.

Chapter 5: The Choices We Make

Obara gets an unexpected proposal. Maeglin has a heart-to-heart with Turgon (debatable). And Aragorn is handed the sword that will seal the darkness (wait, that's wrong).

Chapter 6: When a good woman goes to war

Eowyn and Eomer discuss about war. And Arwen fights with the people of Minas Tirith to get their city back.

Chapter 7: Silent Night

Nerdanel remembers her time with her former sister from another universe whilst Tauriel meets with the mysterious group of half-elves from the far South.

Chapter 8: The Trials of Illyria Strange

Illyria meets the former princess of Doriath before venturing down the path of enlightenment. She meets faces she once saw in her past life and the current one, offering what is best to pass the tests.

Chapter 9: To Face your Greatest fears

Arwen and Sauron meet. Illyria continues down the path of her trials which is getting much harder to pass through.

Chapter 10: Laissez-la brûler

Boromir talks to his brother and Pippin before having the courage to confess to a certain healer. Mereneth joins the battle of the North. Elrond finds himself in the midst of what's occurring in the Grey Havens.

Chapter 11: TBC

Note: I'll probably continue updating the chapter from here, only because it's so much easier.

[squidbrain]

All I've Ever Wanted

A Captain Rex x Oc fan creation!

The Clone Wars changed everything. Danger was seeping into even the safest of places. A peaceful planet finds itself wrapped up in a political uproar that endangers the royal family. The Jedi Council assigns the 501st to assist establishing a Clone presence on Ziphus. Their Captain takes on the task of protecting Ziphus’ Archduchess, a young diplomat named Sarela, but she proves to be quite a handful for the stoic soldier!

18+ only! Later chapters will have mature themes and explicit writing!

The Prologue

Worried for their daughter's future, the rulers of a grand planet called Ziphus take her before a mysterious figure that resides on their moon.

Fate is a funny, fickle thing.

It’s unpredictable and often leads people in wild directions.

Some people know their destiny and follow their predetermined path expecting every turn in the road.

Some let fate lead them and their lives twist and turn with new surprises around every corner.

Some are right in the middle. Expecting one outcome and yet are handed another with no anticipation of the wild change and are expected to handle it with grace and dignity.

Young Sarela Obarel was sure she knew what was in her future. A noble husband, heirs, a long reign on a throne inherited from her father. She had been groomed from day one to take the throne of a grand planet called Ziphus. 

Nestled in the interior, Ziphus was a large planet of moderate climates and two moons. One inhabited, the other barren. The planet supplied the Galactic Republic with quite a bit of tax revenue and was generally treated with much respect because of it.

The people of the planet commanded much more respect. Their haughty attitudes and stiff traditions were often the subject of scrutiny and commentary from many, but they hardly seemed to care. Their way of life was best, or so they thought.

Sarela knew nothing except the Ziphan way of life. At the tender age of twelve, she’d never been offworld. She’d been raised on firm beliefs and traditions and never saw anything wrong with them.

Ziphan tradition is what summoned her to her father’s office one afternoon. He’d interrupted one of her speech lessons, much to the annoyance of her instructor. Sarela was happy to skip off through the halls and take the much needed break. Sharpening her accent was a pain in her royal bottom, but necessary, so says her mother.

Ziphans typically spoke with a rough burr, but the highest of nobles, and the royal family, often employed speech therapists to sharpen and smooth their accents. Sarela had only mastered the basic language a few short years ago and hadn’t been allowed to converse with anyone outside the palace.

She was excited for her upcoming enrollment in finishing school. It was the first time she’d be allowed beyond the palace walls on her own. She was sure her schooling is what called her away from her lessons.

Sarela entered the grand office and approached her father’s desk. She dipped into a low curtsy and bowed her head before straightening up.

“Your Majesty,” she said softly. Father or not, an Emperor is always greeted thusly.

Her father, seated behind his desk, offered her a small smile. Her mother stood at his right.

Tam and Thena Obarel, Emperor and Empress of Ziphus, were kind rulers and even kinder parents. Sarela shared her mother’s pale skin and blonde hair. Her brown eyes were a gift from her father, along with her stubbornness and tenacity. Her kindness was a gift from both of them.

“Dearest,” Tam began, “Your mother and I have something to discuss with you.”

“Have I done something wrong?” she asked.

“No, darling!” her mother said quickly, coming around the desk. She took Sarela’s hands in hers. “Your father and I have been talking and we want you to visit the Seer.”

Sarela’s brow knit. “The Seer? Why?”

“We believe your fate may be uncertain,” her father said.

For the first time in her short twelve years of life, Sarela questioned her future. Could it be in danger? But it couldn’t be! She shook her head and took her hands back gently. She waved one dismissively.

“Nonsense!” she snapped. “I know what my fate is. Marry, produce an heir, take the throne. To believe anything but is foolish.”

Tam stood and came around to the front of his desk. He sat down on the edge and crossed his arms. “We want to be sure.”

“Please, darling,” her mother said.

Sarela twisted her small hands together. She wasn’t sure about this. Looking up at her mother she felt a little twist of guilt. She let slip a small sigh.

“Very well,” she replied. “When will I see her?”

Tam looked at his wife, then back to Sarela. “Tomorrow. I can arrange everything this afternoon.”

Sarela nodded. “Yes, father.”

He smiled and brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “Don’t look so glum, cherub. It’s for the best.”

“We must be sure, darling,” her mother said.

Sarela nodded again. “I know. For the good of the crown.”

“That’s my girl!” he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

Her mother kissed her forehead. “Back to your lessons, little darling.”

Sarela curtsied to them both, then turned and left the room.

Certainly unexpected. A visit to the Seer. She couldn’t imagine what they would tell her.

And yet she could hardly wait to find out.

Waiting a day felt like an eternity and she barely slept a wink. She rose the next morning, took breakfast in her room, and was quickly dressed for the day. Her ladies in waiting, all teenaged young women of high nobles, were especially quiet that morning.

Sarela was taken from her rooms to the front grand stone staircase where her father waited with her mother. Her siblings were not present. She was disappointed. Her younger brother and sister were a comfort to her.

“Good morning, cherub,” her father said. She curtsied to him. “Come. We’ll be leaving for the colony straight away.”

Sarela walked with her parents to a waiting transport. Surrounded by armed guards on all sides, the royal family was escorted from the palace grounds to the hangar where their grand starship was waiting for them.

Sarela had never been inside the ship before. She’d never needed to. She marveled at the large ship with ornate detailing. Many starships were sleek and plain, but Ziphans had a love for details. Twisting filigree and flowers, their royal symbol, all in shiny platinum along the walls. Some may say a bit much, but Sarela was used to gaudy details.

She sat with her parents and their advisors and strapped in. She was a bit nervous. She’d never left the planet so she wasn’t sure what it would feel like leaving the atmosphere. Though apart from some mild turbulence, leaving the planet wasn’t much different from speeding along the surface.

They arrived at their destination in what felt like no time at all. Ziphus’ moon, Apra.

The moon was lush and beautiful. Sarela was at the windows in a heartbeat. She had only ever seen pictures and none of them did it justice.

The trees were not green here, like her home. The leaves were many different colors. Deep turquoise, rich pinks, and deep golds. It was a gorgeous place! The plants were large and covered the ground. There wasn’t much clear space. It was all covered with rich flora, thick and overgrown.

The ship touched down among a gorgeous clearing and her parents rose behind her.

“Come, cherub. Time to go,” her father said.

She turned to him and offered a small smile. She was suddenly very nervous. What would the Seer say?

They left the ship and crossed the cobblestones, approaching the palace where the royal family of Apra lived. The palace was a sight to behold. Made of gorgeous white stone that shimmered in the sunlight and covered with blooming vines that twisted around every wall and spire. Her own palace was a marvel, but this? This was a fantasy come true.

The Obarels were led, guards and advisors close by, through the palace by a pair of Apran guards.

The Aprans were a beautiful people. They were vaguely humanoid in some ways, but so different from them. Each of them had a pair of large, feathered wings on their backs and clawed feet similar to a bird’s. The males’ hands bore short claws and were much closer to a human’s. The females had long fingers and claws. A shared feature was the eyes, black scleras and a sharply colored iris of varying hues. Their ears were pointed and their hair thick and wild. Their teeth were sharp and intimidating. Truly beautiful people.

The palace was covered in twisting architecture and it seemed every surface was covered with flowers and vines. The palace was as overgrown as the planet. They were brought to the throne room where a gorgeous grand throne sat at the back, solid gold with a rising sun carved into the back.

Seated on the throne was an Apran female. Robed in deep reds and golds. Her golden wings framed her body. She was flanked on either side by many males. Young and old.

The Obarels approached the throne and all three bowed deeply to the Apran queen. The Aprans bowed their heads in return.

“Dearest Majesty,” her father said. “How are you on this beautiful day?”

She rose from her throne and came forward. Her clawed feet clicked on the stone floor. “I am well, Emperor! And how are you on this fine day? I can sense your nerves.”

Her father held his three pointed hat in his hands, twisting the brim some. “I am well, but nervous. I fear what she may say.”

The queen nodded and approached Sarela. She was quite a bit taller than the tiny Duchess. She cupped Sarela’s chin and smiled. “Worry not, little princess. The Seer will see good. I am sure of it.”

Sarela smiled, too, but her stomach was still twisted. “Thank you, your Majesty.”

“Come, little princess,” she said, offering her a clawed hand.

Sarela took her hand and walked with her toward a door at the side of the throne room. She heard her father’s footsteps behind her.

The Queen turned sharply. “Ah! You know the rules, great king.”

“Please,” her father started, “She’s so young. I don’t want her to be afraid.”

“You know the rules,” she pressed. “Only one. Otherwise you will confuse the magic.”

“Darling, please,” her mother said. “She’s in good hands. She’ll be alright.”

Sarela began to shake. What was it truly like going before the Seer? Would it hurt? Was she a great beast? No one ever talked about what she looked like. Only what she said.

The queen placed a hand on her back and guided her toward the door.

She chuckled. “Fear rises in you. You need not worry. You are in good hands. I assure you.”

Just before they went through the door, she turned to the flock of males on the dias. “My sons, be good hosts in my absence. And impress upon our tiny princess your good fortune.”

Each of them bowed their heads and spoke two words in unison. “Our mother.”

She seemed pleased and took Sarela through the door.

As they wound through the white stone windowless halls, the queen swung their arms and walked jauntily. Sarela felt a comfort come over her. She smiled and gave the queen’s hand a gentle squeeze. She was reminded of the walks with her mother. She liked this woman very much.

“Tell me, tiny princess,” she said. “What do you hope to learn?”

Sarela thought while they walked. She shrugged. “I hope my future is just what I expect it to be.”

“And what is that?”

“I will marry, produce heirs for the throne, and take the throne when my father passes it to me.”

She looked down at her. “Is that all you want?”

She considered for a while. Was that all she was to be? A wife. A mother. A queen. Was that all?

She let her hand trail along the stone of the wall as they walked. “I want to help people. My mother was a council member before she married my father. She still works with congress. I want to be like her.”

The queen hummed quietly. “I sense goodness in you. I am no Seer, but I know you will help a great many people.”

They finally came to a large door. It was the whole width of the hallway and the height of the ceiling. Twisting metal vines decorated the door. There was no handle, but when the queen laid a clawed hand on it, it opened with ease. It split in the middle and opened inward with a metal groan. Sarela stepped through behind the queen and looked around the room beyond.

The room was dark, lit only by low flame sconces on the walls and a single light in the center of the room. Red silk fabric was hung from the ceiling around a large round pillow in the center of the room, creating a sort of tent. She could just make out the figure of the Apran beyond the curtains. The single light in the ceiling lit the inside of her tent. Incense smoke swirled around them. The queen bowed deeply, sinking to her knees and folding her body forward. Her clawed hands pressed against the stone floor.

“Great Seer,” she addressed the Apran lounging on the many pillows piled up on the large cushion on the floor. “I bring you Sarela Deas Obarel, Archduchess of Ziphus, first born of Emperor Tam Obarel and his noble wife Thena.”

The Apran shifted and the curtains parted. Her markings were entirely black, save for her pale face. Black wings, black hair, black claws. No color in her eyes. She was robed in deep red. She extended a hand to Sarela.

“I wondered when Tam would bring you to me,” she purred. Her voice was soothing and soft.

“I humbly thank you for seeing me,” Sarela said, not sure what else to say.

The Seer chuckled. “See you. How funny a remark. Or did they not tell you I was blind?”

Sarela gasped softly. She dipped into a low curtsy. “Please accept my apologies!”

The Seer laughed softly. She swore she could hear bells in her laughter. She waved her hand to her. “No apology needed, child. Come come!”

The queen rose slowly and offered a smile to Sarela as she stepped forward. She wasn’t sure if she should crawl onto the cushion, but the queen’s gentle insistence urged her on. She quickly took her heeled shoes off and gathered up her skirts. She crawled onto the cushion and came close to the Seer.

The Seer’s eyes swept over her. She had the distinct feeling that while she couldn’t see her, she was being perceived by the Apran just fine. Some old magic, she thought. It must aid her sight.

The Seer waved her hand. “Leave us, my child.”

The queen bowed again. “My mother.”

With no other words, she hurried from the room. Sarela watched her go, then looked back to the Seer.

“Your father had a glimpse of your future in his. It’s why you are here,” she said. She picked up the pipe of a hookah sitting just behind her and took a long drag from it. She held the smoke for a moment before exhaling toward the ceiling.

“What did he see?” she asked.

“The Oracle cannot show the true future,” she explained, “but he saw a great trouble for you.”

“Trouble?”

She nodded. “A shadow loomed over you.”

“An omen, then?” she frowned. “The Great Mother has never shown me such an omen.”

The Seer chuckled. “The Oracle sees beyond your Great Mother.”

Sarela hummed thoughtfully. “If the Oracle cannot show the true future, can these visions be wrong?”

The Seer hummed and nodded. “Yes. They can be. The future changes. Every tiny action can enact great change to your future. Insignificant things cause ripples that grow and change things. Always be mindful of your actions, Duchess.”

Sarela nodded and took a deep breath. “I am ready to face your Oracle.”

The Seer shifted and moved onto her knees. “You will see a great many things. Don’t fight them. Let the visions come to you without thought or desire to decipher. They will be scrutinized later.”

Sarela nodded and shifted forward. She laid her hands on her thighs and took another breath.

The Seer took a long drag on the hookah, then replaced the pipe behind her. She held the smoke for a long time before exhaling. Her clawed hands came to Sarela’s cheeks. They cupped her cherby cheeks, then slid back to hold either side of her head. She looked upward and spoke in an odd language. Sarela’s hands balled up her skirts and she shivered.

The sconces around them dimmed and then exploded with high flames, burning brightly. A light in the ceiling above them shown as brightly as the sun, but somehow did not burn Sarela’s eyes.

The smoke swirled around them until she could no longer make out the walls or the sconces. In the smoke she saw visions. Running through the gardens. Addressing Congress. Arguing with someone. A man. A soldier? Many soldiers! All alike. A Mandalorian. Cups of tea. What did this all mean?

It felt like an eternity before the Seer collapsed and released Sarela. The smoke thinned and the room became dim again. The Seer’s chest heaved. Behind them the door opened and in rushed the Apran queen.

“Mother?” she said softly. “What did you see?”

The Seer got slowly to her knees. Her head stayed bowed and she touched her forehead.

“In Sarela’s future, I saw death.”

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