#WHY IS THE WARRIOR AREA SO EMPTY!!!

[lologoinsolo]

Hello :)

Just read your ‘unedited blurb’ about the fourth born princess married off to the illegitimate son Lord Riley… now I’m hungry for words. Please don’t let the starving children in Australia die.

It’s so cruel to taunt us with these tasty little snacks and no sustenance. Needs our meats and taters to fight off the drop bears.

x

Part 2 of this, slightly more edited drabble.

You’re a good wife. At least you believe so. You do your duties, you run the house well enough, you speak kindly to the servants and maids and butlers. You keep a smile on, a genuine smile towards everyone. You do tend to splurge on fresh flowers that you place in nearly every corner of the estate but that’s just to brighten up the old walls. You do your absolute best to be as prim and as proper as a wife of the Riley name should be.

But it’s… it’s just not enough.

“Good morning, husband,” you greet upon the top of your stairs, your hand on the rail as you make your way down. You have a hard time catching him long enough to speak to him. He really does live up to his nickname as The Ghost. “I’ve asked the maids to prepare… your…” the words you would’ve said dies when he turns from you. Didn’t even nod this time nor give you the dignity of a short conversation. You sigh, eyes closed before you roll your shoulders and head to the dining area.

Your breakfast sits for you waiting to be eaten and the servants stand at the ready to indulge any desire you might have. The chef here is exceptionally better than the one at the palace but at least that dining room had your sisters. The seats were always filled and the lighter was constant. Your eyes flicker to the doors, hoping against hope that today will be the day your husband eats with you. But alas, across the table sits an empty chair that’s hardly been sat on and food that is getting colder by the minute. Like always.

You eat in silence, striking conversations with the servants is a hard thing to do since they just nod away to what you’re saying. “My husband works too hard.” Speaking aloud but the servant that’s pours your drink merely winces, “please, send his food to his study.” Putting on a smile, this one genuine yet sadder. “Oh, and make sure to warm it for him before you send it.” Giving one last instruction as they go to take his food away.

After breakfast, you make your way to the garden’s greenhouse. It’s your little spot of sunshine that you’ve payed a keen eye to. You love your flowers, this place didn’t have much save for weeds. You’re hoping that once these bloom then you can put them in the house. The large greenhouse isn’t just for soon to be flowers but also where you’ll read. You’ve made a small library for yourself, just the books you took from your home at the palace. Even now, reading seems to be the only way for you to escape a loveless home.

“Mornin’, my lady!” The booming voice of your bodyguard jolts you from your seat and you almost throw your book. You still don’t know why you need one, you never leave the estate anyways. “I ken ye’d be ‘ere,” he smiles and it’s as warm as the sun, a hand settles on his hip as he leans closer to you. “Readin’ yer books again, my lady?”

“Johnny,” your hand over your chest, your heart might have jumped out. The book that was almost thrown sits on your lap now. “Yes,” catching your breath, “I am reading… again.” You’ve never seen a man dress like him when you were growing up. Sir— or just Johnny, as he had asked, is dressed in clothing that speaks of his proud heritage. The green and blue kilt, the leather, and the two sharp looking axes attached to his hips. The term, “Scottish warrior”, comes to mind. It’s something that you’ve heard your father speak about. Granted your father had nothing good to say about them. He never had anything good to say about anything in general actually.

“Yer makin’ me lazy, my lady.” He sighs like you’ve turned away a crying puppy.

“How am I doing that?” It’s refreshing in how he speaks to you. It should upset you that he’s so open with you but you’ll take what you can get. At least he tries to keep his manners, you’ve heard him curse only once but he promptly apologized for it. “If you are bored of your charge then perhaps you should ask Lord Riley to relieve you of me.” Turning your face a little, you go to pull your book out in front of you.

“Cannae do that,” puffing his chest out. Far too prideful to admit any sort of defeat, “ye ken there’s a library that yer husband puts donations to?” You quirk a brow at him, when did Lord Riley start doing that? He continues on, “it’s very big compared to yer lil greenhouse. It’s in town and there just happens to be a nice little bakery nearby.” Trying to sound as convincing as he can. He’s kept up with your routines and needless to say. He wants to get you out of the cage you’re squeezed in. Plus, a little birdie told him that you have a sweet tooth that’s almost as bad as Simon’s is.

Rubbing at your chin in thought, “okay…” placing your book down. No harm in getting out, you just hoped it would’ve been your husband that would’ve been the one to do so. A flitter of a fantasy that maybe he would’ve taken notice to you keeping to yourself here but… maybe he just has too many things to work on?

“Thank you, Princess,” smiling down at you once more. His hand outstretched for you to grab and you take it gladly. He pulls you out of your seat easily and takes a small step back so you can walk in front. His eyes have always been on you since you came in. Watching your graceful figure moves about the halls like a feather. He’d think you’re a swan with how you move, a pretty little thing that’s nestled in these cold walls. It cuts him deeper in the chest that any knife when he knows why your husband isn’t paying attention to you the way you deserve.

He’ll have to speak to Simon again, maybe get him to build you your own library in the estate. God knows it took some long and hard convincing to get the man to make donations to the towns library. It’s worth it to see how your eyes light up though. You flutter around and talk his ear off about all the books, talking more than he’s heard you speak since you’ve came about being Lady Riley. He swallows thickly when your back is turned once more to pile on another book to your growing collection.

He can’t keep doing this, not anymore. Not to you.

[crimsoncandy04]

Good day! Tomorrow or later I should say because it's already 10:41 pm, it's my birthday! Dec 29, can you please make Scaramouche is obsessed with us? Like OBSESSED OBSESSED, make this as my birthday gift please! 🥹

As you wish. (I can't say no. I'm now bound by birthday law. When the special boy or girl makes a birthday request, one simply MUST comply. This is what the ancient texts state. Otherwise the stars will declare thee an absolute asshole for at least a year.)

Happy birthday! I hope this is to your liking ;) and may you see many more yearly returns after this!

(I really tried. Usually I take a while to write because my inspiration is slow to come and quick to leave. But I really wanted to give you something. I hope this doesn't read as rushed.)

TW: Paimon abuse.

❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜

Recently a bunch of strange things had been happening to you and Traveler. First a bunch of your supplies had been discovered missing one morning (Traveler had blamed themselves and believed they had probably just neglected to notice some stuff falling out of their backpack while fighting), but a few hours later, both of you were swore you were being followed too (Traveler could recognize human footsteps but every time they tried to turn around and go scout the area for thieves, there was no one around), after that a few days later, you would discover that your favorite sweater had vanished from your tent, Traveler had their tent knocked over completely one night, and even woke up with their clothing sewn into the floor of it the next day.

If you didn't know any better, you'd have guessed a vengeful spirit was stalking you both. And that these cruel and disturbing pranks were its way of exacting revenge.

But that couldn't be possible right?

Thankfully the activity had ceased for a few days after the last misfortune had befallen Traveler, and both of you had hoped that you could rest easy before finally heading to explore the nation of geo for the first time ever!

It was an exciting idea. However, the night before you two were supposed to set off, something happened again and this time it was serious.

Paimon had been hurt.

It wasn't serious thankfully.

But someone had been cruel enough to think that chucking a rock at her head would be funny and after picking up a bleeding and weeping Paimon from the grass, Traveler had had enough and grabbed their sword and said they were going to catch this monster once and for all. They then left Paimon in your care as they left the campsite and headed into the trees. A look of pure unbridled hatred and silent fury in their golden eyes.

And so after that, you spent a little while sitting next to the tiny sleeping fairy inside Traveler's tent and watching over her.

You hadn't been expecting to suddenly hear footsteps outside of your own empty tent across the small clearing sometime later after nightfall.

You became eerily still.

Something didn't feel right.

It was too quiet.

Why was Traveler just hanging around outside?

You slowly got up and headed for the opening in the tent to see if your friend was okay, but just as you were about to pull back the fabric and look out, something in your very spirit made you stop dead.

Call it intuition.

Or a gut feeling.

But something in you was telling you to stay quiet and not let whoever was out there hear you.

So was this a thief?

You instinctively reached for your dagger in the pocket of your coat. You weren't the fighter here. This was true. You were the healer to Traveler's warrior but that's what kept you guys compatible on the battlefield and friends everywhere else.

However that didn't mean you didn't know how to stab someone in self defense if you needed to.

A strange soft yet sinister voice suddenly caught your attention from outside.

"Your friend has gone to play hero again. Leaving you to care for that...thing."

That voice was familiar. But where had you heard it before?

You clutched your weapon tighter.

"They're foolish. Leaving someone like you to care for the injured. Someone who... can't even manage to grasp their weapon properly."

You barely had time to scream before you realized that the voice was in the tent with you. Strong hands moving to cover your mouth and wrap around your waist as you feel someone's cool breath against your ear.

"Don't fight me. I'd hate to start off on the wrong foot by stunning you." The voice cooed in your ear. You had been trying to turn your head and kick. But your attacker sensed your intention and easily knocked you unconscious with one swift strike to your head.

You woke up later laying in a strange bedroom. The scent of incense and a strange perfume filling the air.

You try to sit up but something prevents you. You feel with your hands and discover that you are quite literally chained to the bedframe behind you. A thick metal collar and chain leash secure you in place. You can roll over but that's about it.

"Sleep well?" The same voice from earlier asks. You look around the dim candle-lit bedroom and see a barely illuminated figure standing at the foot of the bed.

"Why did you bring me here? Who even are you?" You ask cautiously. Afraid of accidentally angering your kidnapper in your defenseless state.

"You caught my interest. So I decided to keep you."

"Are you serious? You can't do that! What about my friend? He'll wonder if I'm dead!"

The figure was on you in the blink of an eye. It was then that you finally see him clearly.

A beautiful young man with thick indigo hair and eyes framed by elegant maroon colored eyeliner. He was breathtaking.

And suddenly you almost didn't care that he was sitting on your stomach and pinning your hands on either side of your head.

"Don't talk about those insignificant beings. Never again. from now on only talk about me okay?" You didn't know if this was jealousy or ego from the way he said it but you really didn't wanna push your luck. However, he seemed to misunderstand.

"I wasn't insinuating anything. Traveler is like my sibling-gah!" Suddenly the pale man's hand wrapped around your throat.

"of course it's them. That annoying pest is always ruining things for me. Listen closely starlight, because I'm only going to warn you once..." He leans down and whispers in your ear.

"I better not ever hear that name leave your mouth after today. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I need to. Don't push me." He then loosens his hold but doesn't pull away entirely.

Instead shifting in his position and laying on top of you before kissing you deeply. You moan a little as you feel him shove his tongue in your mouth and move to spread your legs so he can be between them. His hardness already catching your attention as you feel him grind against you almost roughly.

"relax. Don't be nervous. I promise I'll make this hurt in all the right ways only~" the man teased as he broke the kiss and began to leave small kisses on your chest and stomach.

Why did this feel good? This was a bad man. You didn't even know his name!

You feel him tugging your underwear aside and giving your clit a gentle lick.

It was enough to make you audibly gasp.

"look at you, making just the most disgustingly cute noises~" he gives your clit more attention. Holding your thighs apart as he sucked and licked at your precious nub even as you started shaking.

"ah~ suck harder ~ please mister!" You feel him hum against your cunt as he hears your wanton plea.

"it's Scaramouche sweetheart. Use it." He then continued to tease your pussy with his lips and tongue as you started to feel your insides flutter.

"Scaramouche~ don't stop! Fuck this is amazing...!" You try to squeeze your thighs but scara keeps them forced apart still. You're stuck as you feel him suddenly shove his tongue deep into your pussy. Tasting your soft and moist inner walls as you suddenly cry out. This sensation pushes you over the edge completely and you end up climaxing harder than you ever had in your entire life.

Scaramouche licks the side of his mouth and grins mischievously at you from between your legs. Mumbling something about how adorable you look when at his mercy.

He isn't finished though.

You watch as Scaramouche begins to remove a few layers of his clothes until he gets to his shorts. Easily tugging them down and freeing his cock afterwards. Your eyes widen.

There was definitely a reason he tried to get you excited first.

Scaramouche was huge.

It felt like a threat on your life actually.

Especially when he teased his tip at your entrance and then finally began to slide more of his enormous shaft into you.

You try to say something but he quickly covers your mouth with his hand.

"shh...you can handle it. Relax."

You wince a little as you feel your body struggling to accommodate Scara's dick. Yet once it's finally in, it doesn't feel as uncomfortable. He gives you a few seconds to adjust before pulling nearly all the way back out and then suddenly slamming into you.

It takes him kissing you again to keep you from screaming as both pleasure and pain overwhelmed every inch of your body.

Why? You were so confused right now. This shouldn't feel good yet...

"scara you're too big! Ah~" he doesn't let you finish before thrusting against your sweet spot. HARD.

He has a smug look on his face.

"I knew you could take it. Fuck. You feel better than I imagined~" he groaned as he wrapped his arms around you and began to pound deeper into your aching cunt. Making you practically mewl as you clung to him as well.

"I waited for so long, for just the right moment...and finally after making that bastard leave...I could have you ~" he grunted as he placed another messy kiss on your lips.

You felt both good and bad shivers run down your spine at his words.

It had been him?

Scaramouche had been the one tormenting you and Traveler for the past week? Why?

He seemed to read your mind.

"because you caught my attention. You... interested me. And I decided to keep you. You're not leaving. Don't ever try." He emphasized his words with an almost painful thrust against your cervix.

You moaned uncontrollably as he then did it again and again.

"This body is mine. I'll use it how I please. I'll breed this pretty cunt every day if I want~"

You feel yourself getting close again.

Why were his words turning you on so much?

Fuck you wanted him to ruin you.

He quickened his pace after a few minutes and you knew he was getting close as well.

His possessive gaze fell on your flushed face and bouncing tits and for a second you swore you saw something reminiscent of affection in his eyes. Yet it was quickly replaced by coldness again and lust.

So that was why...?

Scaramouche loved you...

Maybe that was why this was bearable to you.

Did you perhaps feel a little attracted to him as well? You looked at him through watery eyes and felt your heart race upon seeing his piercing gaze meet yours.

Yes. You did like him. At least a little.

Scaramouche finished inside you not long after this realization of yours. You ended up cumming together and after that he went to actually lay beside you for a bit. Pulling you against his chest as he played with your hair and just seemed to get lost in the feeling of you on his arm.

This wasn't so bad.

The bedroom you were locked in was rather spacious and extravagant looking. You were laying upon soft silken sheets and the perfume from earlier made you feel relaxed and comfortable where you lay.

He could have locked you in a basement.

Clearly it wasn't that bad here.

And Scaramouche wasn't bad either.

You hugged him tightly and fell asleep in his arms.

This psychotic stalker may have gone about his feelings the wrong way. But he seemed to not be a danger to you.

And so for now, you reasoned...

That you could love him too.

❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜🖤❤️💜

[kaynanarie]

Eyes of Gold (Part 6)

(A WukongxReader story inspired by Beauty and the Beast and Lutung Kasarung.) (First) (Prev) (Next)

            With your presence now known on Fruit and Flower Mountain, you found yourself the subject of intrigue. Gossip was whispered and theories were spun like a spider’s web. In less than a day, the whole mountain was in a tizzy over the King’s human guest.

            Servants gave polite bows while observing you from the corner of their eyes. The guards were less blatant with their stares but watchful gazes seemed to linger on the stranger in their midst. All the suspicion and confusion was understandable; even you could offer no explanation for your sudden patronage.

            Rumors had spread outside the palace walls, making your tour of the village interesting to say the least. Most of the demons seemed curious, a few friendly smiles and disgruntled frowns thrown in the mix. The children openly gawked, daring each other to get closer with shoves and giggles. You shyly nodded and waved as Shihou pointed out different areas and people of importance.

            It was all quite ordinary despite being at the foot of a demon stronghold. Cubs played games with their friends. The elderly relaxed and sipped tea. Warriors trained with fists and weapons. Food was prepared, clothes were washed, neighbors visited and shared each other’s company. It reminded you of your own village, a thought that tugged at your heart and prickled your eyes.

            The more you saw of the peaceful lives on Fruit and Flower Mountain, the more your homesickness grew. By the time you were brought back to the palace, your mind was burdened with worries of your own village. Especially in the harsh winter that existed outside the mountain’s spell.

            You were startled from your thoughts by a gentle hand grasping your shoulder. “What’s wrong?” Shihou asked softly. His bright eyes searched yours, brimming with concern under tightly knitted brows.

            “It’s nothing. Just…” You pondered your next words carefully before continuing. “Do you think I would be able to speak with the King?”

            The question seemed to catch him off guard. “I mean, sure, if you wanted to. Why?”

            “I need to ask him a favor.”                                                            

            Shihou tilted his head curiously. “Is it something I can help with?”

            “Maybe, but I would rather ask him myself,” you said decisively. “I don’t want to get you in trouble if he says no or gets angry.”

            “Whatever it is, I doubt he’ll get upset.” When you refused to elaborate, he sighed. “But if you insist. He might be in his throne room if you want to check.”

            You nodded, both relieved and nervous all at once. “Thank you, Shihou.”

            The palace was slowly becoming more familiar to you. Treasures and tapestries helped you keep track of the various halls and floors. You even recognized the stairway as Shihou detoured your path down towards Water Curtain Cave. When you reached the same antechamber from before, Shihou hung back.

            “You go ahead,” he said, leaning against the wall. “I’ll be out here.”

            “But…I wasn’t…” You trailed off, suddenly feeling guilt for excluding Shihou. “I’m sorry. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything from you. Please don’t be mad?”

            Shihou shook his head with a soft smile. “I’m not mad. The King just prefers his conversations in private so I’ll wait here while you ask your favor. Besides,” his attitude shifted to something teasing and mischievous. “My peach friend will tell me eventually, right?”

            “Yeah, sure,” you chuckled at his cheeky request. “I’ll tell you depending on what answer I get.”

            “Alright. Better not waste time, then.”

            Steeling your resolve, you gave Shihou a final nod and marched through the doorway before you could change your mind.

            The empty cave was almost more ominous than when it had been full of demons. Every step you took echoed over the melodic sound of rushing water. The fading rays of the sun shimmered through the flowing waterfall, dancing flickers of light along the stone walls. You could make out the looming shape of the throne but no one sitting in it. You sighed, though from relief or disappointment, you weren’t sure.

            As you turned to leave, the quiet clearing of someone’s throat froze you in place.

            “Were you looking for something?”

            A shadow broke away from the far wall, lingering just behind the empty throne. You immediately recognized the distinct silhouette of gleaming armor and arching feathers. It was too dark to see more than the shine of his eyes but the Monkey King’s presence was overwhelming even from across the cavern.

            “I…” You tried to speak but the words vanished as your mind scrambled in surprise. Dropping into a respectful bow, you hid your face and took a moment to collect your thoughts. “Forgive my intrusion.”

            “You’re not intruding,” he dismissed casually. The authority was still there but his voice sounded softer as it filled the space between you. “I wasn’t expecting your company but it isn’t unwelcome. What can I do for you?”

            You straightened up but kept your gaze lowered to the floor, not bold enough to meet his eye. “I wanted to thank you for letting me to stay as your guest. Without your generosity, I may not have survived.”

            “It was the least I could do given your circumstances.” While his words were sympathetic, his expectant stare was heavy in the darkness. “Though, I get the feeling that’s not the only reason you’re here.”

            Being so easily deduced sent a shiver of dread down your spine. “Well, no. You see…” Fidgeting under his scrutiny, you forced your request out as steadily as you could manage. “I humbly ask permission to visit my village.”

            Monkey King stilled, shock nearly vibrating from his rigid frame. “You wish to leave?” he asked, a bitter tinge rumbling in his voice.

            “No, just for a visit!” you quickly clarified. “I want to let everyone know I’m still alive and see how things are since I’ve been away. My father was the overseeing noble and with my sister acting in his absence, I worry the village may suffer from her negligence. Especially with food being so scarce in the winter.”

            The explanation calmed his bristling but the glowing eyes continued to study you. “Didn’t they cast you out and send you to the mountain as a sacrifice?”

            “My sister is the one responsible for my banishment. She sent me here when I had nowhere else to go; everyone was too fearful of her wrath to take me in. I may not be allowed to return home but I still have friends in the village. If I can see them and know they’re well, that will be enough.”

            A deafening silence followed your plea. You waited, anxiety building the longer you went unanswered. After what seemed like an eternity of contemplation, Monkey King sighed.

            “Very well, you may go; on one condition.” He held up a single finger, the stern tone leaving no room for dispute. “You must return to the mountain by sundown.”

            “I will,” you nodded in eager agreement.

            “One more thing.” Monkey King paused, seeming to struggle with what to say next. Thoughtful hums and quiet fidgeting whispered from his shrouded form. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot, his tail a lashing shadow behind him. With a sharp nod that shook his feather crown, he came to some sort of decision. “You may take some fruit with you to share with the village. If they are in need of anything else, I will do what I can.”

            Surprise, joy, and endless gratitude all swelled in your chest at the news. Beaming and nearly on the verge of tears, you bowed again. “Thank you to much, Monkey King.”

            “Sun Wukong is fine,” he said, almost in request. “My subjects call me by name, you may as well.”

            “Thank you…Sun Wukong.” The name felt strange but pleasantly informal on your tongue. It would take some getting used to. Nevertheless, you were glad for the friendly gesture.

            “Go now; your guard will escort you to the mountain’s border when you’re ready.” In the time it took you to blink, he had melted back into the shadows. Unsure if he was still lurking or not, you gave a final bow before hurrying out of the cave.

            Back in the hallway, you felt like you could breathe again. The antechamber was cozy and less imposing, warmed by the glow of a crackling torch hung on the wall. Under it, Shihou was still waiting, arms crossed and chin tucked as he dozed. You tiptoed over to him, poking at his cheek till he blearily blinked awake.

            “Hey, how’d it go?” he yawned, playfully swatting your hand away. “What did you ask?”            

            You couldn’t contain your excitement, nearly bouncing on the spot with an overjoyed smile. “Looks like I’m picking some fruit tomorrow!” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(It's finally here after a week of fighting dialogue! Huge thank you to everyone enjoying this so far! All of the wonderful feed back means so much to me and I appreciate it more than words can describe.)

[theothernads]

݁𝜗𝜚 ݁₊ ❛❛ ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ⁸: 𝐖����𝐲 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬 ❞

₊ ❛❛𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬❞

☰ SYNOPSIS: ₊˚⊹♡ : ᯓᡣ𐭩<a

With the third magical academic year starting, you and Jungwon plan to have a normal school year and complete many goals. Except, you have to earn Enchantix with your frequent burn-outs, and Jungwon wants to become a full-fledged warrior and push past his anxiety. With their own goals in mind, they feel like 2 idiots that keep meeting by chance. However, when mysterious events threaten the magical kingdoms and schools, the specialists and fairies have to figure out the culprit and save the magical universe. But fate has other plans for their adventures and for your ‘coincidental’ meeting with Jungwon.

☰ 𝖸𝖺𝗇𝗀 𝖩𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗐𝗈𝗇 𝗑 𝖿!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋 ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ ➤ft. NewJeans, Enha, TXT, BTS, esp, Jungkook, Itzy, Le Sserafim

╰┈➤𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝: 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 (comment or give an ask) ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

Wc: 5.26k

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JUNGWON WAS TOO BUSY MEDITATING TO REALISE THAT THE GRAND OPENING CEREMONY HAD ALREADY COMMENCED. Sure, he was supposed to be practising and perfecting his dragon techniques before the show — but how was one supposed to do with anxiety strangling his muscles so effortlessly.

So, here he was on the empty bleachers, legs crossed, hands on his knees with a straightened back, and with firmly shut eyes. Jungwon forced every gripping hands of apprehension off his body and kept it at a distance. He couldn't mess up. Which is why he made a mental checklist.

Even the navy bodysuit, or uniform, he wore was meticulous and neat since he had promptly ironed it before the others awoke. It didn't matter for Sunoo and Riki with their wizardry. They simply eradicated the creases with a few words.

Jungwon was snapped out of it when he heard the sprightly snarls of dragons in the adjoining area next to the bleachers in the stables.

The dragons weren't overly massive, but they were big enough that they could probably eat Jungwon in a single munch. He tried not to think of that other factor — that his own dragon would find him an edible snack.

The one he trained with was called 'Scales'. A little generic, but for the past few weeks, Jungwon and him had built a foundation of trust, stable, and enough for him to tread on.

Scales had minimalistic beauty; white, short fur, thin orange scales striped from the sides of the jaw to the nape, and black horns protruding from the top of his head. The wing interior was a flaming orange as well.

Despite the way Scales had his amber eyes tracking Jungwon's every move, the two had the fundamental belief needed for today's events and for the future.

It was nearly time. Jungwon absentmindedly grazed a hand over his right bicep, trying to feel the comfort of that tattoo hidden underneath his clothes. As if he could feel the radiating positivity through the hard material of his bodysuit.

The boys made fun of his far-fetched meditation tendencies, but without it, he genuinely wouldn't be able to keep his composure from crumbling.

It was going to be completely fine if he let's go of the lingering hands in his head that controlled what he was thinking of. Forcing his muscles to relax, he stood from the empty bleachers and sauntered to the busy stables.

The subtle growls and snarls of the creatures reverberated from all directions, but he was accustomed to all of the brusque sounds.

Scales sat idly in his stable, it's bridle intricately knotted around a the hook of the brown pillar.As Jungwon approached, Scales let out a recognising puff of air, making him cringe as his locks sweeped all over the place.

Jungwon fixed his hair and forced the flickering anxiety to dwindle away from his thoughts.

"I can do this," he mumbled under his breath, though he was sure Scales heard it from the way he tilted his head and blinked its orange eyes once. Jungwon felt a little stupid, but whatever.

He reached out to stroke Scales on the long nose, the hard scales and fur felt underneath his gloves. After all the weeks of training and the techniques memorised to the bone, he hoped no hurdles would suddenly appear. The desire to get through this first half of the morning was strong, bolted into his head stubbornly.

"Jungwon!" A voice cut through the air, startling him from Scales and to the approaching footsteps.

In his line of sight, Jungwon observed his classmate, Beomgyu, and two other girls whom he had never seen before. Even if he was tightened with awkwardness, not used to getting so comfortable, he forced a cordial smile.

One girl had platinum blonde hair in a bun, big eyes and round cheeks that lifted as she sweetly smiled. The other girl had jet-black locks and wavy loose hair with doe mischievous eyes.

Jungwon waved as Beomgyu approached, dabbing him up with a smile before flickering his gaze to the other girls.

"Are you ready?" Beomgyu asked with spirit in his tone, holding Jungwon by the shoulders.

"I guess so. I've been practising with you, so it should be good," Jungwon replied with a shrug and a tight smile. "Who are your guests?"

Beomgyu gave a look of realisation as he realised the two girls by his side and gave a dismissive wave of the hand. Pointing to the blonde, Beomgyu grinned.

"Her name is Onda. She came from my home kingdom — Karunda — by a scholarship." Beomgyu explained. Jungwon gave a subtle nod of the head of acknowledgement.

"And her name is Yuna," he pointed to the one with mischief. There was something puerile running in her mind, behind those charcoal eyes of her. It threaded caution into his own skin, wanting to keep his guard built.

"They're both witches," Jungwon heard, and that's when he felt the stones of realisation hit his theories and confirmed the suspicions.

Judging witches based on their powers was below Jungwon. He would never do that. But, no one could blame him for building some internal walls to block out any hexes or pranks that were always worse than Riki's ideas.

And his were bad enough. Even then, Jungwon didn't let those little thoughts shine through his expression.

"Nice to meet you, guys," Jungwon said finally with another nod of the head. Hopefully, they took him as the shy and introverted type. It's not totally a lie.

Yuna and Onda grinned and nodded back, strangely in sync, creeping Jungwon out internally.

"So nice to see a friend of Beomgyu's!" Exclaimed Onda.

"I know, right? And a dragon rider. We're so excited," said Yuna, the mischief sticking out like a thorn. Again, Jungwon shouldn't judge, and he won't.

"Yeah, Jungwon here is pretty impressive," Beomgyu said, patting him on the back encouragingly.

"Thanks, Beomgyu. I have been taking your tips and tricks," commented Jungwon in appreciation.

A snort escaped Beomgyu, as if whatever he was saying was just a silly comment. "Jungwon, you have plenty of skills yourself. Remember, just follow the routine and stuff. I'll be right behind you."

"Technically, you're coming after me," Jungwon said with an easy chuckle, earning another amused pat to the back and a roll of the eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. You'll do great," Beomgyu remarked with Jungwon's comment. He appreciated the royal's reassurance because, honestly, Jungwon needed all the scraps of validation.

He felt like charity.

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THIS WAS IT — THE MOMENT HE WAS WAITING FOR. Just before the tunnel leading to the very open arena, Jungwon was geared up proficiently. With the navy helmet and the visor protecting his face, he observed the slightly-tinted view.

Gloves were in place, the palm of them attached to the reins by some magnets to make sure that riders didn't fall to their deaths. Which he was deeply relieved about.

As Jungwon waited for the trumpet, he let himself pick off the negative thoughts pricking his sides. If he kept thinking about, he would squirm, meaning he would have a weak grip, and ultimately lead to an even worse consequence.

To clear himself of it, he mentally walked through the routine; off the ground, through the hoops in the air, to the centre of the arena, swiftly rise, wait, and dive back to the ground.

Easier said than done, but there was no point in actually thinking of how smooth it would be. He needs to make sure it is smooth, feckless.

The snarl from Scales broke Jungwon out of his little daydream just as the trumpet blew into the air. That's the signal.

Jungwon jerked the reins softly, making the crowds murmur reach him. From what he could hear, it was abundant with students, but it was expected because it consisted of 3 schools: Red Fountain, Alfea, and Cloud Tower.

The only thing he concluded from that was how he was clearly overwhelmed.

Through all of the bubbling malaise in his gut, Jungwon willed everything in him to breathe through it, as if oxygen was enough of an antidote for his severe case of apprehension. There was nothing else to do now — he had to digest the onslaught of uncomfortable thoughts.

Gradually, Scales treaded out of the tunnel, and the sunlight hit Jungwon, making him squint and observe the rounded crowd from all corners of his sight. The faces weren't clear — gladly; that would make his nausea rise again.

Instead, Jungwon directed his gaze to the clear blue skies with a few clouds scattered and frayed above. Not enough to conceal the blazing sunlight beaming down. It was a momentary distraction from the fact that he was seconds away from taking off.

When Scales sped up toward the centre of the courtyard, he snapped out of it, shifting his weight forward and firmly pulling the reins back. The motion caused Scales' wings to spring out and flap furiously until Jungwon felt the wind hit his body and for the gravity to tilt his figure.

The dragon lifted, climbing the air gracefully as if climbing some invisible stairs.

Jungwon couldn't tell if the crowd was cheering, but he couldn't care less when the ground was becoming the size of his palm. The breeze up here was unrestricted, away from the tormenting anxiety on the ground.

Nothing from down there could grow and grab at his feet, nor could it root him down. He was too elevated in the air for this, the magnets on his boots and gloves keeping him close to Scales.

Scales reached the pinnacle of the sky and then dived, shifting Jungwon's whole gravity forward. He grunted, hoping he didn't die now that he had done all the training weeks beforehand. It was silly to even let the thought fleet past him, but he was only a guy.

An anxious, apprehensive guy that rode dragons.

Jungwon's legs clenched by the sides of Scales as he dipped, nearing the shimmering hoops that stayed suspended in the air at different angles and levels.

The first shimmering hoop dissipated into a million sparkles once Scales zoomed through it, and Jungwon shifted his weight forward, veering the dragon to the next hoop that was a few feet lower. Scales chuffed, some smoke strangely leaving his mouth. The crowd cheered again.

Whatever. This was normal, and it was also normal for Scales to have smoke cascading out its nostrils. Jungwon's grip tightened on the reins, just how he tried to hang onto the tiny remnants of gratification.

After a few more hoops, Jungwon should be done with the routine and achieve the small goal of completing a dragon routine.

In about 44 seconds.

Aiming towards the next hoop, Jungwon went to shift his weight forward when Scales abruptly stopped. The whole movement made Jungwon jolt forward, his breath cutting short and the panic creeping up his throat.

The wings flapped erratically, out of rhythm, making the dragon jostle jaggedly as if there was some kind of invisible force hitting the creature. Jungwon tightened his grip on the reins if it wasn't tight enough before, trying to compose all of the nerves suffocating in his chest.

Forcing out a breath of air, Jungwon went to stroke the white nape of Scales. What on Magix..? Scales moved back and forth as if the disorientation blanketed the creature over his own eyes.

"Hey, Scales? It's okay, it's okay—" Jungwon tried to say loudly enough for the creature to hear through the helmet. His hand stayed on the nape, trying to ease in the composure by rubbing the fur.

The more the seconds went on, the more Scales erupted into discomfort, making Jungwon's panic flood his chest and nearly bolt all his muscles into place.

Then, Scales roared in anguish, the sound totally foreign to Jungwon that he couldn't help but feel a wave of shock and alarm. Throughout all the weeks that he trained with his dragon, that sound was not in his memory. Nor had he heard it.

Which means it cannot be good and that he may be in trouble since he is still suspended in the air, far from the safety of the ground.

He could die — no death. Nope. He wasn't even going to think about it.

Shaking his head out of the cloudy and dark scenario, he stroked Scales again only for the dragon to jerk to and fro, nearly sending Jungwon off the saddle. He grunted and held back a scream, trapping it in his chest.

"Scales—"

Jungwon was cut off when Scales lifted his torso, making his whole gravity shift, his body falling backwards.

Jungwon yelped, and he was only saved from falling to the ground when his one magnetised hand was still attached to the reins, leaving him hanging and swinging aggressively to and fro.

The magnets at his feet clearly didn't work. The lurch of alarm and bewilderment was enough to make his breath hitch, the inevitable thought of death or injury causing him to clutch onto the reins even tighter.

"Oh, fuck," Jungwon whispered under his breath. He couldn't even find his voice under all this.

Scales jostled again, swinging Jungwon abrasively into its body, and he hissed as pain tinged the base of his ribs. The creature was vigorously trembling and thrashing, snarling all at once, and here Jungwon was, stuck in a storm of panic and fear.

But there were bigger things to resolve: the part where he doesn't die.

Another thrash in the air, and Jungwon felt his grip on the reins loosen as Scales fought against an invisible force.

His eyes darted everywhere, throat tightening as he tried to build a plan from the dirt of his empty head. Another wave of panic caught his breath and forced a hit of dizziness at his mind.

He could hold on — but that may hurt Scales and deliver a few more bruises on himself. Or, he could dop and hope for the best.

Under the helmet, a bead of sweat forced on the crown of his head, breaths harshly escaping his lungs as the clutches on the reins were beginning to crumble and falter as Scales frantically thrashed.

Jungwon felt the world spin and shake, another yelp escaping him. As his vision trembled, he caught sight of the roof down below, the jagged and curved edges at each vertices, shaping into a short hook.

It was enough. And he didn't have a choice now since Scales was still in the storm of his unknown tantrum or fight. Jungwon's mind worked in overtime, trying his best to even scan the position and angle, forcing all the panic down.

Another shift of vision as Scales roared, the sharp echo making Jungwon flinch, his legs dangling and body bumping against Scales' upper torso. He was glad he wasn't getting slapped by the enormous wings.

Another look down towards the roof and Jungwon's head spiked with apprehension, the impulsive thoughts overriding every rational thing.

Jungwon let go.

The fall was quicker than he thought when he left a thrashing Scales. Except, he couldn't care to look back at the creature, nor even let out a scream. He couldn't.

Approaching the little hook-shaped edge, Jungwon's fist shot to it, and bright blue strings sprang out and curled around the corner, grappling onto it.

Jungwon let out another grunt as his body swung in the air, swooping forward and back, and he dangled, his breaths heavy. Jungwon ignored the ache up his shoulder and the cramp in his knuckles.

What just happened? He nearly fell to his death and depended all his life on a hook on a roof. He swore under his breath, the anxiety never settling and clouding his head and chest more.

When he looked down, he still saw the injurous distance below and firmly shut his eyes.

This day turned into an absolute piece of shi—

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" A voice snapped him out of the clouds lingering in his mind. When he pressed the button on the side of his helmet, his visor lifted, and he saw... you.

But you were suspended in the air with the most idyllic mint and pink-tinted wings, half half-up and half-down with orange flowers of caution sprouting in the sides of your head. You donned a pink outfit and boots.

"I... uh..."

Concern crossed your vision as you observed Jungwon, ignoring the shuffle of students below evacuating the open arena and getting to safety.

Jungwon glanced and winced at the ache in his muscles, only suspended by the sturdy strings of his gloves. But also, he was hanging like a monkey. Embarrassed, he gave a small and awkward lift of his lips.

You smiled back, albeit a little. "Hold on, I have a spell."

With a subtle lift of your arms, green sparkles floated from your hands and made a path around him, swarming about his waist until he felt his gravity shift.

Not a word came out his mouth as his breath hitched, not even arguing as the strings unravelled from around the crevice of the roof, and he stayed levitating like you.

There was total diligence and professionalism in your gaze, your hands staying in place as you lowered him slowly to the ground. Your eyes flickered to his, a wave of palpitations passing in his heart.

Once his feet touched the ground, you followed close after, both relieved. Jungwon never thought he would think of kissing the ground, but it definitely crossed his head.

Letting out a breath of restrained air, you approached timidly, refraining from touching his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Scales still snarled in the air, flying from one place to the next, and people were still running and evacuating out. Jungwon glanced up at the aggressively confused thing, then back at you with a small nod.

"I'm fine, thank you." Jungwon breathed, again glancing back at Scales, who soared sharply and screeched in more anguish. His shoulders sagged in bewilderment.

"Okay, what the fuck just happened?"

It was Riki running over with the other guys. Jay grimaced, crossing his arms. "Language!"

Shut the fuck up, Jay!" Jake sharply replied over the others running over to Jungwon.

Taking off his helmet, Jungwon ran a hand through his damp locks, not noticing when your eyes lingered and then snapped away. At this point, Scales dived for the bleachers, landing with a crunch as some benches broke, making everyone flinch.

"Yn! You're so crazy for running off like that!" Minji said, running over with the other girls, all transformed. Glancing over, you nearly stumbled when she held onto your shoulders and scanned your face.

"I'm fine. Really. But we have a new problem," you responded, looking over to the dragon stepping on the white bleachers and seats and increasing the costs of repair. His wings flapped violently, smoke and screeches escaping its lungs as if there was something chasing him.

Jungwon let out a huff of frustration and confusion. "We were fine! I don't even know what happened!"

Heeseung flinched slightly when Scales crushed another seat under the stiff claws. "Yeah, well, this isn't normal."

"Yeah, thanks, Hyung," Jungwon muttered.

Cortadorta and some other professors ran over quickly, exchanging ends of the same rope. People moved out the way, including you and Jungwon, as they sprinted to Scales diligently and tossed rope over it's back.

Safe to say, it didn't help because the next thing everyone saw, Scales' wings violently sprung and snapped the rope out of Cortadorta's grip.

"Well, how do we subdue it?" A new voice spoke up. Leerae approached beside you, her blonde and peach hair pulled back into a ponytail, donning an emerald outfit.

Jungwon looked back at Scales, seeing the increasingly cascading smoke into the arena. Sunoo cringed, worry flashing across his eyes.

"... smoke means fire... right?" Sunoo uttered, blinking profusely with concern. Sunghoon nodded with an apprehensive hum.

"Oh, totally."

As Sunghoon finished saying that, a flash of flame spurted out of Scales' jaw, burning the seats before him, the white bleachers now an ashy grey. Everyone stepped back, eyes now on the stomping dragon. The professors were clearly struggling.

"Okay, the teachers can't even help it. What can we do?" Hanni asked, flying a few feet above you with perturbed eyes analysing the scene.

Everyone turned to Jungwon as if he had answers piled on top of each other, but he was actually sinking into the deep anxiety. This was not what he was prepared for.

A sigh slipped past his lips, holding his helmet tighter. "Scales must be distressed. I just don't know what is causing that distress."

Leerae stepped forward with focus, her green and white wings fluttering slightly. The dragon stomped more, flames increasing by the minute and burning more seats.

"I can get near him, use my powers to calm him," she said to everyone, bringing up another idea. Jungwon breathed and nodded, the determination slowly rekindling.

"We need a plan," you chimed, and Jungwon gave a soft look to you.

"First, trap him, and then we can subdue. Us guys can stop him from destroying any more seats. And the girls..." He turned to you and your friends, a silent understanding passing by.

"And we'll do what we do best," you finished his sentence, causing an encouraging smile to lift his lips.

No more words were needed before everyone set off; the boys sprinted skillfully near the bottom of the dragon, Jungwon leading with strong strides.

You and the girls flew way above the dragon, finding the bird's eye view on how to repress any more damage to the school.

The girls gave you a nod, and you took a deep breath before curling your fists slowly, hauling every bit of energy you could draw from your powers.

As you did, vines curled out the ground of the bleachers, rushing up as the ground rumbled around the boys. It didn't disturb the boys from stopping their mission.

Multiple emerald vines climbed the air swiftly and curled over Scales to create a makeshift net and keep him from violently flapping his wings. Your other hand shot out, and more vines curled around his jaw, restraining him from breathing more hostile flames.

Scales growled, strident. Down below, Jungwon took the chance to climb the seats, hand darting out and causing the same blue, sturdy strings to wrap around one of the ankles and keep Scales from crushing anymore seats.

Jay and Heeseung did the same, sneaking around Scales and grappling more rope around the claws. The creature growled again, squirming under your emerald nets and the sturdy restrictions.

This time, Minji flew to the flames, taking the chance to absorb the flames. The flickering fire simmered into wispy, orange ribbons that dissipated once approaching her hands.

With the flames now gone, Haerin let her eyes sparkle and dart over the dragon critically until landing on the tail. She fluttered over the body before turning.

"I think I see something!" She yelled, pointing to the grey ring around the tail, the colour contrasting to the usual white fur. Leerae was already on it, zooming through the breeze to hover by the thrashing tail.

You shakily breathed, curling your fists tighter and forcing yourself to grip whatever connection of magic you had in your grasp.

"D-did you find anything?!" You exclaimed in growing alarm.

There was no reply for a few seconds, only the snarls of Scales reaching your ears before Leerae responded in an equally bewildered tone.

"I don't see anything!"

"What do you mean?!" Hanni yelled, joining Leerae in the air with confusion flooding her tone, examining the tail. Shaking her head, Leerae twisted in her place.

"What I mean is that I don't see anything! It's... gone!"

Haerin didn't believe her and joined the other two girls with her green and purple wings fluttering ferociously. "It couldn't have!"

Though, Haerin couldn't say anything because when she did float above the tail, she saw that the grey ring she had spotted had crumbled away into nothing but dust and sparkles. And Scales was still growling and violently seeking escape.

"G-guys!? I can't hold on much longer!" You yelped, losing the grip on the strings of your magic, feeling it flicker and dwindle. Forcing your fists tighter, you let another shaky breath and attempted to endure a little more.

Even Jungwon, Heeseung, and Jay struggled with the increasing movements of Scales, the claws tensing. Jungwon was worried the sturdy rope would snap if the creature dared to struggle harder.

Jungwon didn't even know how to pacify Scales. He didn't even know how to reach the solution. And if he didn't, who else would?

With you struggling to keep the emerald vines in place and the boys grounding the ankles, Leerae's eyes darted from each end of the dragon. From the tail to the trapped wings to the restrained mouth. In a second, Leerae swooped over to the front of the dragon, at eye level to Scales.

"Yn, let go!" She called out to you swiftly. Confusion hit you in the gut, nearly making you loosen your magic.

"What?!"

"Just do it!" She gazed back at the dragon, her forearms extending to let a green and golden glow emanate from her palms.

You didn't understand in the moment. The scenarios that weaved in your thoughts weren't thoughts of resolution or success. But, you had to preserve your trust for her. She's your friend.

With another quiver of a breath, your hands unfurled, losing the grip on your magic; the emerald vines broke and shrunk away with a snap, causing Scales' wings to extend instantly.

Hanni and Haerin yelped as they retreated from the dragon, and you felt yourself falter in the air.

Hastily flying to the dragon's nape, Leerae forced her fingers onto the white fur, the glow of her magic seeping into him its skin.

At first, Scales snarled in confusion, squirming and chuffing air in exasperation. Then, he huffed out a breath slower, as if everything Scales did was a distant dream that fogged his memory.

You and the girls watched in awe as Scales began to sit, the sturdy strings around the ankles retracting back to the boys.

Jungwon was visibly relieved. The boys almost fell to the random seats on the bleachers. Sunoo, though, almost did fall to the ground in exasperated happiness.

The professors got to action, working to handle the reins and lead Scales back to the stables to figure out what happened.

With a composed dragon, you and the girls lowered to the ground. Your boots touched the ground as you delivered another shaky breath, and your transformation disappeared with a brief glow to return you to your normal attire.

Leerae joined you as the boys sauntered over, all drained of energy, and slightly breathless. Dani touched Leerae on the shoulder, grinning.

"Leerae, that was amazing!" She squealed. Leerae sheepishly smiled.

"I learned it from my mother. Creatures always go crazy in Tir Na Nog," she replied

Jungwon stepped up, brushing the hair away from his eyes, approaching you and Leerae with appreciation glimmering in his eyes.

"Thank you. Really, I don't know what got into Scales," Jungwon uttered as he stared at the now calm dragon being handled by Cortadorta. He really didn't think this day could have gotten worse. He nearly fell to his death.

Sunoo scoffed slightly with crossed arms. "He's a dragon. What do you mean you weren't expecting fire?"

"Fo your information, I have trained with him for weeks. And he hasn't breathed fire once." Jungwon replied with the roll of his eyes. Sunoo had wobbled over as if he had fought the dragon himself. The younger one knew his older friend was a little dramatic.

Even then, whatever Jungwon said was true. Scales never breathed fire, but today, he did. The questions in his head were firm, ingrained in the layer of confusion that sat at the ground of his head.

"This is why I don't fuck with dragons—" Sunoo began to say when he yelped, an electric shock spelled at his side from the direction of a grumbling Riki.

The boys didn't bat an eye, but you and the girls couldn't help but stare in bewilderment.

Leerae shook her head and smiled as she stood beside you. She was still in her fairy form, and you felt the sting in your chest. It was humiliation. You wished you could endure things more, survive the need for more magic in situations like this. Though, you swallowed it down and let it dissolve in the pit of your stomach.

"Well, I hope everyone is okay," she repeated with clasped hands, as if all of it was no problem for her. The others all murmured in agreement, looking to each other with unclear communication.

You sighed and gazed back at Jungwon; the brown, hickory eyes, the ones that seemed to hold the stars in its globe, the navy bodysuit that hugged his shoulders well, and the gloved fingers.

That's when a note in your head went off, remembering something. Wordlessly, you ran off to find your bag that was left on the ground a few meters away, not minding that a thousand gazes followed your stumbling form.

You didn't care. There was favour to be returned. When you returned with your backpack, you hauled the white shirt out, still somewhat uncreased, folded, and neat.

Jungwon couldn't help but let the small smile promptly take over his confusion, observing the way you held it out.

The girls gave each other a knowing smile, except Leerae, and the boys did the same to each other as well.

"Your shirt...," you said as you handed it over. Jungwon let his fingers brush yours, the tingle passing by like lightning. Regardless, Jungwon ignored it and smiled at the smell of lavender.

It perfectly emanated you.

"You even washed it. Thanks," Jungwon commented softly, not able to hide his endearment behind his voice when he lifted the article of clothing to his nose.

No words came to your throat because there was a flurry of flutters that you didn't understand the meaning of. It was ridiculous. You shouldn't be welcoming any butterflies, actually.

If you heard closely, the others exchanged, knowing grins, nudging each other.

"Yeah, I wanted to. Um, yeah."

'Um, yeah'? What was going through your head? The awkwardness just poisoned all your common sense and words apparantly.

To Jungwon, he just chuckled, that signature smile as he folded his shirt more. You were adorable. And the flowers that sprouted in the sides of your head was another mystery he wanted to delve into.

Minji put an arm around your shoulder, startling you out of your embarrassment with her teasing smile.

"We should get out of here, right?" She said to you and the other girls waiting closely behind.

"I could use some refreshments," Leerae agreed with a firm clap of her hands. Well, after saving the arena from flaring into flames, everyone deserved something to satiate their hunger.

As you went to walk, you stumbled again, the fatigue eating away at you. Minji stabilised you by linking an arm with yours, concerned, but you dismissed her with a small wave of a hand.

She didn't say more before leading you away. Before you totally lost sight of the arena, you glanced over your shoulder to discover the pretty hickory eyes that caught yours in the moment.

Your body welcomed even more inane butterflies.

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<< M.LIST >>

[NOTES]: I took so damn long with this chapter that it's painful😭 im so sorry. But um, here's a Jungwon meme to make yall feel better! 💀

REBLOGS, LIKES + COMMENTS are appreciated <3

© 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗱𝘀

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˖ . ݁𝜗𝜚. ݁₊[TAGLIST]: @dreamiestay @melancholy-z @n1k1mura @wensurr @jiiyen @jwonistic @lo-la17 @sol3chu @firstclassjaylee @luumiinaa @xwonz

[alostlovergirl]

Marriage of Convenience

(Not my gif)

Loki Laufeyson x Reader

Summary: He really needs a wife.

Tags: arranged marriage, some of Loki questioning his feelings (?), reader questioning her feelings (?)

Note: This is going to have a few parts… so let’s see how much I can pump out of this story.

Part 2: The Marriage Pt3: The Sex

It started out as a simple suggestion. “If you want to be around her so much, why not marry her?”, more as an unfunny joke from his father rather than a suggestion and it earned an eyeroll from the teenage prince of mischief with a huff. He didn’t think about it, simply feeling seen and comfortable with his childhood best friend, spending all the time he was supposed to be training with her. She was a just a random villager that he met as a young child when she snuck into his room during a party his father threw. They have been inseparable since, building a nice friendship that would last for lifetimes as his mother would put it. This friendship also gained her family royal protection, keeping Loki’s friend safe from all harm that would be sent Asgard’s way. Now, since he was being forced into an arranged marriage to a woman he barely knew, he was starting to consider asking her to marry him.

He makes his way to the city, thinking about how he was about to ask her. Should he be direct about it? Or should he try to sugarcoat this as much as possible so that his friend wouldn’t think he was weird? It was a dire situation for him because he didn’t want to marry at all, he wanted to be free to do as he please, not have a wife or husband nagging him 24/7 about his kingly duties. He wanted a throne, but not like this. Thor gave up the throne, in pursuit of being a warrior that protects Asgard instead of a king, leaving the crown to the second and youngest son. This marriage came about for him to accept the crown, with a wife by his side or he could forget about even inheriting the throne. He walks past the townspeople, going towards a small stone house in the middle of the city, a smile gathering on his face. He was always excited, like a little puppy, to see his best friend cause its his little chance to be happy for a few hours a day. He made for his favorite woman no matter what he was doing, even if he was injured from a battle, he would limp his way to her to come lay on her couch, listening to her worry about his wellbeing.

He loved her… well being her friend. The two of them were perfect for each other, in more ways than Loki is ready to admit right now. He knocks on the door, standing back from her oak door, looking over the tidy little home she has made for herself. As soon as she opened the door, he is greeted by his smiling friend with a laundry basket being held into her hip by her forearm. “My prince.”

He snorts a reply. “You know I don’t like you calling me that...” That just made her laugh a bit, immediately letting the god into her home, closing the door and trapping in the warm air in her home. He liked being in her home. It was so much more comforting than his chaotic life of royalty. It was a nice place for him to relax, especially when she gives him an empty, golden mug and fills it with his favorite wine. “You owe me 90 coins for that expensive ass wine, mister.” She teases him, smiling before going back to her little area in the middle of her carpet, scrubbing at her clothes. Loki followed her into the laundry room and sits in a stool in the corner, resting the mug in between his leather cladded thighs, watching her wash her clothes vigorously.

“So, what brings you to my home, friend?” she asked, peering up at him as she scrubbed up and down with the soapy brush, hands already rough from the number of times she has scrapped herself.  Her question fogged his mind because he never really thought about how he should ask her to marry him. He has never shown no type of interest towards her, considering he never let himself feel those types of feelings, making this more difficult to imagine her having a positive reaction to his proposal, but unless he marries the spoiled brat of a princess that he is going to be promised to soon, he better just come out with it. He takes a deep breath, picking up his mug and chugging it before putting it down on the floor. The God kneels in front of his friend, grabbing her hands from the warm water and squeezing them tightly. “I need your help... and this is not like me to ask for help as you know, but I am about to be promised to a woman that I simply cannot marry...”

Her eyebrow raised, confusion filling her face as soon as he grabbed her hands with such a tenderness that she had never seen. Loki, being a trickster, every time he has seen her, he has scared the living shit out of her. Now, here he was, unexpectedly popping up at her door and looking at her with such desperation in his eyes. Just how bad was this woman that he was being betrothed too? She relaxes her shoulders and looks at him, a nervous smile appearing on her face as she wonders how much trouble she is going to be in for the idea he is about to suggest. She was already on Odin’s trouble list. Nothing could have possibly prepared her for what he was about to ask her to do.

“I am going to invite you to dinner tonight... and I am going to propose to you in front of my father, mother, brother and my betrothed. It will pull me out the engagement with her and it will put me in an engagement with you.” He said it so casually, as if he wasn’t asking her to accept a marriage proposal to him and possibly uproot her peaceful life to being in the public eye 24/7. She went quiet, not sure how to respond and not making eye contact with him as she thought about the suggestion. “You are basically asking me to enter a fake marriage with you? Would we get married, Loki?”

He sighs, looking down a bit, losing a bit of his confidence. This is not like him at all. “I could try to hold it off as much as possible, but we would have to get married. See, my father has told me that I would have to inherit his throne to retire him and my mother. Thor would have been the perfect choice. Already married and the first son... but he gave up the throne, leaving me with the burden of finding a wife.” Her stomach was swirling with nausea and butterflies, thinking about how the hell she was supposed to handle the responsibility of being the Queen of Asgard. She has seen Frigga’s workload, and it is not nothing that she doesn’t ever want to inherit. Seeing her hesitance, he started to plead. “Please. It is a selfish request I ask of you, my dear friend… but I cannot marry that woman.” He held her hands, tighter. “She is annoying...”

She laughed, snorting a bit and breaking the tension in the room. “She is that annoying that you ask your friend to marry you?” she jokes, pushing her hands upwards and holding his forearms, leaning a bit closer to him. “If I do this for you, promise that it won’t get weird?”

He nods immediately, pulling her into a tight hug, grateful for her acceptance. “I promise, friend.”

When the night came along, the nerves were starting to set in. She was friends with Loki, but she had never been inside his private room and here she was, sitting there in a silk gown that was cold against her skin. She played drums on her thighs as she waited for Loki to get dressed for tonight’s dinner. She was about to proposed to… for the sake of her friend. She didn’t know why she was so incredibly nervous, enough to feel like she was about to throw up. “How do you sleep in here?!” she called out to her friend, who was with a servant in his giant closet. She was trying to break the mood with a little joke. “It seems so uncomfortable in here... I don’t think I would get a wink of sleep in here.”

It made Loki chuckle from the closet, a rustle of leather against leather being heard. “It’s comfortable... warm and the bed helps. I sleep like a brick most nights...” She giggles, running a hand through her hair. Even his voice seemed to calm her, making her smile more times than she wanted to admit. He finally steps out, dressed in his normal outfit, without the cape and hair slicked back with gel. His heavy horned crown sat upon his hair, framing him out perfectly. He gives her a little spin, fishing for some compliments. “How’d I look?”

“Like my Loki...” she hums, standing up, still a bit wobbly in the heels he had chosen to wear. He said it would impress his father if she stood a bit taller, almost the same height as Loki. She walked over to him, adjusting his crown and making it crooked on his head, earning a signature grin from him. Loki, since he has grown from the young boy that she befriended, has grown into a handsome young man. It made her feel something in the pit of her stomach that she ignored completely. “Seriously, you do look good. How do I look?” She gave him a little smile before pulling back from him, letting him see her outfit. He just smiles, eyes raking over her body in a, what he hoped, friendly way.

“Amazing.” He simply says.

He takes her warm hand into his cold ones, leaving the room with her. He enjoyed the little jokes she could make even before meeting his father, making him feel like something that he couldn’t ignore. The feeling made him feel nauseated and excited at the same time, leading her down the hall to the dining room. She looked absolutely ravishing in her dress, not helping the feeling. He straightened his posture as he could hear his father and the father of his betrothed laughing, heartily. The smell of meat and sweets filled his senses as he opened the door, leading his friend to her seat before taking his seat next to her.

The dinner went as expected, introducing herself to the king and queen in a respectful way. Saying hello to Thor and greeting the lady, who was giving her some death glares from across the table. She keeps her demeanor poised, something that she and Loki would laugh about later. When the proposal comes along, it comes after dessert and a little nod of approval towards his son from Odin. She could hear an audible breath from Loki as he stood up from his chair and moved it. He takes her hand, gently and lifts her up from her seat, pulling her almost too close to him, feeling his breath encase her face, making her shiver a bit. “Just act surprised... afterwards... I am going to kiss you to really sell it.” He whispered, looking into her eyes and making sure she understood her assignment. She nods, slightly and backs away from the prince, watching in fake surprise as he drops to one knee, spewing out some fake sympathy words. Hell, he even earned some fake tears from her as he opened the ring box. The story he was really trying to sell here was that two of them had been in a relationship for quite awhile before now and gods, was she selling it especially. A little squeal and an excited nod when he asked for her hand in marriage really made his betrothed, who they had totally forgotten about, angry enough to leave the room. The relief she felt radiating off his body was enough to relax her as he slid the ring on her finger.

She had totally forgotten about the kiss… she almost bit his lip when he did kiss her, pulling her in closer by her hips and her hands on his board chest. The kiss felt electric, feeling a wetness gather between her legs that she never felt for her friend. He pulls back, saliva connecting their lips and a weird look on her face that she had never seen before from Loki. It was like a hungry look… like that kiss had awoken something in him and it would have only gotten weirder if he wasn’t snapped back to the reality that he was standing in front of his parents and brother by them clapping.

She was now engaged to her best friend... Oh god, where does she go from here?

[wukong-s-only-wife5000]

Let’s keep that Mac love going can I request “he asks you out” from the master list? Gotta love The Emo Monkie manss😂💜🖤

LMK!Macaque: He Asks You Out.

Content/Trigger Warnings: N/A.

Authors Notes: Gladly. :3 Hope you enjoy!

<---Previous | Masterlist | Next--->

“Hey, Macaque,” your voice startled him. 

“(Y/n), hey, you're here early,” he managed his charming smile at the sight of you. He wore casually appropriate clothes for movies, his hoodie was up, hiding his ears and the majority of his head.

“MK said it was important, but seeing that we’re in front of a movie theatre, I was obviously tricked into having friend time,” you rolled your eyes. “What are you doing here?” you smiled at him, his world felt like it had frozen solid even though his face felt like it was on fire. 

“Oh, well…” He lost his voice. He couldn't remember why he was there for a second, but collected himself and cleared his throat. “MK invited me too,”

“Oh, cool,” you smiled at him then turned your attention to your phone as it went off. 

It was MK texting you to let you know he was on his way, but running late. Luckily for him, you didn't have a busy day, so you didn't mind waiting a bit for him. Especially now that it meant having Macaque as your company for an extended period of time. You stole a glance at him to find he was already studying you with a somewhat content expression. 

“What?” you smiled awkwardly at him, to which made him clear his throat and look away. 

“Nothing,” he tried to play it off as nothing even though his heart was skipping beats in his chest. “You just, um… look nice,” was his lame excuse, even though he did think you looked pretty.

“Thanks,” you glanced away to hide your blush. “MK said he's a bit delayed, so there's that,”

“Hm,” he nodded as he took in this new information. Not really something he didn't already know, he was the reason they were delayed in the first place, after all.

“I know we should wait for the others, but we can get something light to munch on while we wait.”

“That's fine,” he gave a nod. 

You and Macaque walked into the theatre and got in the short line at the cafeteria section. You both had looked over the menu in the hope to get a light appetizer while you waited for MK and the others. It was silent between you both, but not an awkward silence. You both unnoticeably stole glances at each other till you caught each other’s gaze, to which you both looked away with blushes.

Once your appetizers were ordered and collected, you found an empty seat in the waiting area and sat down. Silence took over the two of you once more. You spent a good five minutes looking towards the entrance in hopes to see the group, but had no such luck.

“So, (Y/n),” Macaque’s voice snapped you out of whatever trance you were previously in.

“Yeah?” you looked up at him with a curious smile. 

“I was wondering if maybe…” his hesitance caught your interest. 

“Yeah…?” you encouraged him to continue, which he did.

“I was wondering if you'd wanna do this again sometime…?” he asked. “With me… alone.”

“Like…”

“Like a date,” he nodded slightly and looked away to hide his embarrassment, which you thought was cute. 

“Like… a date date?”

“Yeah, a date date,” he nodded sheepishly. 

He’s too cute! You internally squealed before collecting yourself. 

“As long as you promise it's gonna be a shadow play,” you teased. He looked at you with a dorky smile. “I'd like that a lot.”

“Really?”

“Of course,” you couldn't stop smiling at him. “I really liked the one with the Warrior, the one with the Goddess was nice too,”

“I bet,” he chuckled deeply and shook his head at your antics. It was no question about it, he was so smitten with you. “Tomorrow then?”

“I'm free,” you smiled at him. You were now, anyway. “You have my number, let me know when to get ready,” you added, then glanced around as people started crowding. “This place is starting to wake up, where are those idiots?”

“No clue,” he shrugged, but he smirked to himself at the thought of how ticked Monkey King must be at that moment. 

“I'm hungry, let's get something to eat before the lines start to get long. Then we should catch a movie,”

“I could eat,” Macaque said as he lazily followed behind you. “Wait, a movie?”

“Yeah, who knows how long till they get here, I'm not gonna just wait around,” you stated and looked at him with a mischievous smile. “We can call it a practice date.”

That made him laugh.

“You get the food, I'll get the tickets,”

“Sounds good!” you grinned and once you decided on what to watch, and he told you what he wanted to eat, you divided to conquer.

Let’s just say… the unexpected practice date was a lot better than you'd thought it would be.

[onskepa]

Hey there, i have a request for mother's day and i know you said wait for sequel we can say this is for amber on mother's day. Amber heard about mother's day and want to make something very special for her mother aka neytiri, and show her gratefulness for all the years her and jake sully did for her.

helloooooooooo~!! Alright, since it does count as mother's day request, I shall make it. Hope you enjoy!

Amber: Our little flame

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

Amber: Glass heart

Amber’s pov 

Mother’s day is coming up. Every year on a certain day, everyone celebrates their mother in different forms of appreciation. Every year it's something different, every year my family gives something special to my mom, neytiri. While not mother by blood, she is through love. I love her, and I know she loves me with her endless hugs, kisses, and the abundance of affection I get from her on a daily basis. 

However, every year its the same. 

When mother’s day arrives, all of my siblings give her something sweet or beautiful. Something that lasts a good long while. What do I give her? Simple, typical, useless things. I do give her something shiny from my collection but in reality it means nothing to anyone. A shiny rock has no meaning, a little bead is empty of purpose.  I do my best, honestly, but it is hard. My mother is a respectful tsahik and warrior in the clan. Anything I give to her seems beneath her standards. At least that's how I see it. 

Which is why this time, I have a goal. A goal that will have real, true meaning. Something that will last a long time and will be the best thing to give her. 

And maybe outshine my siblings.

Third pov 

“You’re smiling my daughter” mo’at teases, she herself growing a pleasing smile as well. Neytiri turns to her, showing a lovely grin, “is it wrong to smile?” she asks playfully. Together they clean the area inside of the healing hut. The day was coming to an end and there were no more na’vi to heal. 

“No, but it indicates your expectations of the coming celebration” mo’at says as she stacks her bowls and wipes away any mess. After checking all is set, together they make their way to the community dinner. Impossible to miss, the two mothers see their family, all huddling and chatting away. 

“Anothers day of work” Jake comments as he welcomes Neytiri in his arms. Humming in agreement, she looks at all of her children. Each doing something either individually or together. Among them, her eyes land on Amber who sits still while playing with a literal ball of fire.

Neytiri loves her daughter Amber very much, and would do anything for her. While refusing to say out loud, neytiri struggles at times to see eye to eye with her eldest. Amber’s fascination with fire was always there, thinking it was some curious phase that would be quickly increased into something more. 

However, fire is just one of many things that builds a wall between mother and daughter. Neytiri does her best, and she knows so does amber. Which is why, every year on mother’s day, neytiri lowers her expectations for amber. She shouldn't expect anything really, but it still lingers. She wonders what it will be this year. 

A new shiny rock? Perhaps a roughly carved bead. Gifts from amber are predictable but cherished nonetheless. 

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Jake asks, abrupting her internal thoughts. Blinking her concentrated look away, she looks up at her dorky husband and smiles. “Just thinking” she responds cooly. Jake lets out a small chuckle, “let me guess, looking forward to mothers day aren't you?” he teases, already knowing the answer. Neytiri couldn't help but widen her smile, answering in her own way. 

As the couple snuggle up against each other while enjoying their evening meal, neytiri still couldn't help but linger in her thoughts a bit more. Seeing amber eat in silence, observing her every movement with great silence, neytiri wanders what will await on that coming day. 

Amber’s pov 

The hunt for the perfect mother’s day has begun! I officially have exactly 8 days before the deadline. Every day mom and grandma have a smile that gets bigger every day. I see it as a timer. The wider the smile, the limited time I have. Though it is not just me who hunts for the ultimate gift, like I said, I am in competition with my siblings. But I must constantly remind myself, it is not about myself, it is about mom. 

I guess one of the down sides of being a dragon is the natural god damn pride that has to be checked all the time. Can't be selfish, I can handle it. I got this. 

5 days later 

The need to shove a hot burning coal down my siblings' cocky throats is tempting. Already they have perfect, beautiful gifts, where does that land me? Nothing, again. Even neteyam, my cute baby brother, is outshining me. Maybe it is the dragon pride or maybe it is something else, but deep down my anger is roaring. Yet I keep silent. 

I still have 3 more days. 3 days to give mom something special, something useful. Again, its tricky, mom has everything she needs. Medical herbs? Kiri got that covered, new arrows? Lo’ak made sure they are extra sharp, her favorite fruits? Tuk knows the ripe ones, fresh meat? Neteyam catches the biggest hunt, new bandage supplies? Spider can double it in an hour. 

To clear my thoughts I decided to read some of my mother's stories. My deceased biological mother, Clare, left me a data box full of our kinds histories, stories, traditions, everything. If there is anything I am curious about, I can easily look into the data box. 

Wild Breeze. 

A dragon who lived between the 13th and 15th century. I love her story, according to the book [hologram?] wild breeze was an albino fire dragon. Her scales and the base of her horns and eyes were red. While rare, her palness wasnt what made her stand out among the family back then. It was her fire. Her fire was white, so bright and hot, it can burn a person and they wouldn't feel it and be dead before they realize it. 

Fighting was not her passion, but glass art was. Living near the sea was her stable home, where she had an unlimited supply of sand. With her fire she made so many art pieces and would give them to anyone with a keen taste. 

Seeing some examples in the gallery, they were beautiful. Wild breeze definitely had a talent. Making beautiful glass flowers, animal replicas, and other dragons, she made everything. Hell, mother was thoughtful enough to even make a copy of wild breeze’s instructions on how to make certain things- 

Then I hit the data box in my head. 

Didn't hurt, but I know it's going to leave a bruise later. 

I have an idea!! 

Third pov 

Mother’s day has finally arrived. The day began so perfectly. The sun was shining, ripe fruit carefully picked, the soothing sounds of pandora was heard all over the village. Neytiri couldn't ask for a better way to awaken on such an important day. She rises to a view of her family all huddled up together. Surrounding her and holding each other.  She gives her thanks to Eywa everyday to witness this beautiful scene. However, her joy was cut short as she did not see amber among the tangled limbs and soft snores. 

Normally amber would huddle with tuk as she gets cold easily at night and amber would provide endless warmth. This time, the youngest was being huddled together between kiri and neteyam. 

Quietly she gets up to look for her eldest daughter, inside, outside, amber’s presence isn't anywhere. Where could she be? 

Going back, Neytiri shakes Jake in a panicked way. 

“W-what….?” Jake wakes up groggy, rubbing his eyes. 

“Ma’jake, amber is not with us. She is not in the pile” neytiri whispers hurriedly, trying not to awaken her other children. 

“Ssshhh…..it is alright, amber told me last night she was spending the night with norm and max” jake replied so casually. This only made neytiri more confused and worried. Why did Amber only tell jake? Why not her as well? 

“Im going to get her” she says, this made jake become more wide awake. Quickly he grabbed her hand, bringing her back down. 

“She will come back, there is just something she needs to do. We will see our daughter again soon” jake reassures. 

Neytiri scowls but accepts. Laying back down but this time with no comfort. This is the first time one of her children had spent the night out of their home. Even spider spend all his nights in their marui. 

This made neytiri wonder what is so important to amber that she stayed away for this long? 

Amber’s pov 

It took long, long, looooooooooong grueling hours, but it's finally done. My lungs, my mouth, my tongue, my nostrils, they all sting in a burning manner. Mother did give plenty of warnings in the videos, but its worth it. I can only hope mom likes it. 

I'm so tired, I didn't sleep a wink at all. 

I was awake for 20 hours straight. 

I had to fly to the Tayrangi clan since they were the closest clan that lived by the ocean. Ikenyi, bless her heart, allowed me to take some of their sands for my idea. Still wobbly in my flight but I made it back to the rusty hells gate and began my work. 

And what work it was. Wild breeze made it seem so easy. Though I guess it was since her fire was ultra hot. 

Now I just need to be awake a little longer to give it to mom. 

Third pov 

The day is close to its end. The celebration began early and its still going. Neytiri received wonderful gifts from her children and husband. She danced, ate to her fill, tried to enjoy mother’s day but the obvious absence of amber was bringing her mood down. She had not returned. Everyone said she will come back but clearly it's not gonna happen anytime soon. 

As the night came, the more worried neytiri had. 

“Im going” she announces to her family. They didn't need anymore explanations, her family knew instantly what she was talking about. 

“Mom, come and enjoy your day to the end. Don't worry about amber” lo’ak says. 

Neytiri hisses in annoyance. 

“No worry, no worry, all of you say that but she has not come back! I cant enjoy it any further knowing she is out there-” 

“LOOK” kiri was pointing. 

Neytiri was so quick to turn her neck, it was a bit creepy. 

Coming towards her was none other than amber. She was running while making sure she didn't step on anyone's tail. 

Seeing her daughter again, with a great sigh of relief, neytiri meets her halfway and holds her tightly. 

“You little…!! Words cannot describe how worried you have me! Not telling me where you were, only telling your father. Not seeing you all day only just now! You better choose your words wisely to excuse this foolish behavior!” neytiri scolds. 

Amber only nods, she takes out note book from her bag and flips it open. 

“I am sorry mom, but I had to do something really important” was written on it,.

This confused neytiri. 

“Why use that? Can you not speak?” she asks, her voice calms down from her anger. 

Amber shakes her head, flipping to another page, it reads “no, I was using my fire. I reached my limit, my throat, mouth and lungs all hurt. I am drinking water to cool off the heat. Though I won't be talking for a good while. Not until it heals” 

“Using your fire? For what?” neytiri asks further. 

Amber makes a guestiring sign for “one moment” 

Taking out from her bag while flipping the page to a colorful writing, “happy mothers day” 

Amber hands something to her mom, a bit heavy. 

Neytiri sees what is on her hand, “a glass ball?” 

Amber guided her mom, placing it in the path of the fire pit, did neytiri see something else entirely. 

With shimmering colors, the light from the fire illuminates the Sully family inside the glass ball. All smiling, holding each other as they do when spending family time. They looked small in the ball, but with the fire, they looks massive against the walls of the hometree. Each sully member had a color, in great detail as well. 

Jake was green, kiri was purple, spider was blue, lo’ak was green, neteyam was yellow, tuk was pink, and amber was orange, and neytiri was bright blue. All of them shinning and spreading colors around the surroundings. 

The sully family looks in awe, seeing themselves in the glass ball was like magic. 

“You made this?” Neytiri asks, her breath taken. 

Amber nods, flipping to another page, “I wanted to make something really special. Something meaningful. What is more perfect than our family? To preserve our precious moments together. Dad likes to take pictures, but this is my way of keeping a moment immortal. Think of it as my thanks to you. Even though I am not your real daughter, thank you for raising me and loving me as your own. So, happy mothers day. I love you so much” 

While Amber couldn't speak it, the words touched Neytiri's heart. Hugging her daughter close, fear tears escaped her golden eyes. 

“My amber, you don't have to do anything big for me. Just having you by my side is enough. But I am very grateful for your gift. You and your siblings bring me great joy every day. You are my child no matter what. My motherhood began with you. So I should also thank you for being in my life” 

To say, this has been the best mother’s day neytiri could ever have. 

Aaaaaaaaaaand this is it for this one! I hope you all enjoyed it! Until next time! See ya!

[writtenjewels]

Heart of Stone

[random AU idea time!]

Salim tried to hold back his excitement as he entered the temple. These old places were so full of history. Being here to see it for himself, to look at the artifacts with his own eyes, see the carvings and the architecture of long ago, was exactly why he was here. Though of course the others on the expedition would say he was here as a translator. He was there to read any of the Arabic script found in the temple. All the rest of it—the artifacts, learning about this lost culture—it was a bonus.

The Americans who hired him all brought something to the expedition. Rachel was familiar with the area and spoke the language, though she couldn't read it; her husband Eric was a scientist, more interested in the caves that now served as home to the temple; Nick was brought on to take stock of any artwork; Joey took photographs; Clarice was consulted on any flora or fauna they found; Merwin was in charge of all the equipment. Salim tried to be polite to all of them.

Eric led the way into a new passage of the temple. It looked like a large audience chamber. It was empty except for a statue standing just to the right of what might have once been a throne. Eric motioned for Merwin to set up lights so they could get a better look.

Salim had seen pictures of famous statues like Michelangelo's David and The Thinker, but never had the opportunity to see one in person before. Looking at this one, he could see it deserved to be among those masterpieces. This piece was carved in the shape of a man. If Salim were to guess the intended age, he would say perhaps early thirties. The armor suggested this was meant to be a soldier or a royal guard. A helmet covered the statue's head, but enough hair was showing for Salim to see that every strand had been painstakingly chiseled.

“Look at this,” he gestured to the others. “Isn't it beautiful?”

“It's incredible,” Rachel agreed. “It's so detailed, too. It must have been modeled after a real person. See?” She aimed her flashlight to sweep over the statue's face. Salim followed the light, nodding as he took in the jawline and shape of the statue's nose. “What do you think, Nick?”

“Amazing,” he awed. “It must have taken them years to carve this thing. I wonder why there's only one?”

“Maybe they saw how much effort it took, and stopped,” Joey suggested. He lifted his camera to take a picture. “Why isn't he holding a weapon?”

Salim noticed that, too. The statue was not wielding a sword or a spear. Instead, it held a shield out in front as if preparing to defend against a threat. Salim imagined that in the right hands, a shield could be a powerful weapon on its own. The others moved on to explore the rest of the chamber but he stayed by the statue. He was curious about it. Who was the warrior, and why go through so much trouble to carve him in such fine detail?

There was something strangely lifelike in the statue. Though the eyes were blank stone, they held a fierce determination. Salim imagined this warrior was a great defender. The armor left the statue's arms uncovered, showing firm muscle. It looked like there was something on the statue's left arm. Salim leaned in a little closer to take a look.

“Oh, that's a shame,” he said out loud. “Someone's been down here and drew graffiti all over this statue.” He lifted his eyes up to the statue's face. “If you lived in our time, my friend, that might make an interesting tattoo.” The statue stared back at him, ever vigilant in its silent guardianship. “We're lucky you're here,” Salim remarked. “Just between us, I don't think any of them know how to fight.”

That was when he noticed the carvings on the shield. Most of it was worn away, but he could make out a few of the words.

“ 'Awake protector',” he read out loud. “ 'Guard against all enemies.' All enemies, hm? By yourself? I'm impressed.” He smiled at the statue. Eric called to him. “I need to get back to work,” Salim said. He gave the statue a friendly pat and headed over to where Eric was waiting.

That night, Salim was having some trouble sleeping. The Americans had all settled by now. After tossing and turning, Salim got up and went for a walk. He went a few paces away from camp and caught something shifting in the darkness ahead. He looked back to make sure. Yes, all of the Americans were accounted for. Clarice said there were likely to be different creatures making their home in these caves, like bats. Salim wished he thought to bring something to fight with. The closest thing he had to a weapon was a crowbar Merwin brought along with the rest of the gear. Salim hurriedly snatched it up and carefully made his way forward.

There was movement again. Salim raised his crowbar prepared to strike. He didn't want to hurt any of the wildlife here, but he certainly wasn't going to allow a bat to fly into his face. More movement, and this time it was followed by a noise like shifting rock.

“Hello?” he called. “Is someone there?”

“Hehhhhh.” The noise sounded more like a groan. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. “Hehhhhlohhhh.”

“Who's there?” Salim demanded. “Come out where I can see you!”

The shifting rock noise happened again, louder this time. There was a shape approaching him. It was too big to be a bat. Salim's heart pounded hard against his chest. He gripped the crowbar in both hands. The shape drew close enough for him to make out that it was roughly human-sized.

The figure at last came into view. The crowbar slipped from Salim's fingers and clattered to the ground. He barely noticed, too stunned by what he was seeing.

The statue of the warrior was standing there, staring right back at him.

[luimagines]

Hi Pinky! So like, I had a thought. (Dangerous, I know.)

What if the Chain gets to a town and the townsfolk are just BEGGING this group of obviously well trained warriors to help them in their plight. They’re willing to pay upfront and they tell tales of a wicked beast that dwells in a cave nearby that torments them and has for several years! They beg the Chain to slay the beast and free them from its evil spirit.

Naturally, the Chain investigate.

After a journey, they arrive at the cave… which at first glance is full of treasure! Sweet! But as they continue to investigate, there’s no sign of this beast. But it seems an area of the cave has been made to resemble a home. A bunch of cloth has been piled up in the shape of a bed, a tree stump (looks like it was legit pulled out of the ground) was placed like a table nearby, and wooden boards against the wall were made to resemble cabinets. They were empty. More of the cave had the crude decor, it was like an imitation of sorts.

Anyway, as they’re investigating, they hear something approaching! So they hide and wait for whatever it is to show itself. Turns out, this ‘beast’ is nothing more than a girl (or boy. Or gn. Idk. I’m a girl so I project) maybe in her late teens or early twenties. However, it was clear she wasn’t quite… Hylian. Her skin was a pale gray. She had horns protruding from both sides of her head, and instead of hands and feet, she had claws/talons. And when she opened her mouth, she had rows of razor sharp teeth.

“I’m home~” She said in a singsong voice as she pulled a brand new gem from her bag and placed it with her other treasures. She then proceeds to throw a bloodied fish onto the table and dance around her home without a care in the world.

The details get fuzzy at this point because I’m unsure exactly how the Chain respond. But the gist is either they show themselves or the girl finds them. She then proceeds to get very scared and cowers. This eventually turns into the Chain questioning her and they find out the townsfolk weren’t truthful. Turns out, she has only ever set foot into the town once… and was chased out with torches and pitchforks. And they often come by when she’s away and trashes her home and takes her belongings.

She tried to mimic the Hylian homes she’s seen, so that’s why the decor of the cave was the way that it was. She wasn’t entirely sure what it was all for, but she wanted to be like them. She knew the people in the town slept in beds and put food on a table, so she adopted the habits.

She likes shiny things! So that’s why she has so much treasure. She goes out on treasure hunting trips and finds anything shiny. She has never stolen her shiny treasures. She actually finds ruins and similar places to dig and find what she wants.

This is also where details get fuzzy. Idk if the idea will ever continue in my mind because I’m honestly unsure of what happens. I kinda think some of the Chain (Time) is like “not our circus not our monkeys” because she’s not actually doing anyone any harm. But the other half of the Chain is like “We can’t just leave her and met the townsfolk continue to torment her!” Again though, details are fuzzy and I’m unsure of how to continue.

Hope you have enjoyed this little idea I had. Feel free to comment on it or add your own spin to it. This goes for you and everyone else who sees this.

For the longest time, I thought I already responded to this. Oof- my sickness was deep-

Poor Reader, they were just trying to fit in with the people and instead they were run out of town and attacked.

I think it would make more sense if Reader finds them first. they have no reason to show themselves to the "threat" especially if said threat doesn't know they're there yet. It's a learning opportunity to see what they do and what they've been doing in the comfort of their own home.

If Reader found them on their own, it cold lead to more angst and more opportunity to open up the dialogue for the viewer (I can't really call y'all Reader here, can I?) to learn more about the current world and circumstances. Use for exposition purposes.

I wonder why Reader was trying to copy the people so bad though? Where did Reader come from?

Furthermore, I think maybe the next point of what to do next would lend itself nicely to having Reader join them in their adventures. It's the perfect middle ground to the whole "not our circus, not our monkeys" thing you mentioned while also giving Reader an opportunity to escape the harrassment from the townsfolk.

Granted, I'm not entirely sure where to take it from this point as well. But maybe the community can come up with something. XD

[kurithedweeb]

Today we're talking about Irene! Well, her powers. Well, Anastasia's powers. Well, how weird I found Irene's powers set considering what we knew about the magick system and how I tore it into little pieces to play around with as my little heart desires.

I propose that Irene not have healing or purification or revival or dimension-making powers at all. I propose that she have a single power and that it involves time dilation.

Her immortality isn't immortality at all: her magick has simply slowed her body's aging down to such a crawl that it looks like immortality. When she heals someone, she's speeding up the healing process so much that it's like watching a timelapse, or if she's reviving someone she's turning time back to when the body was alive. When she heals farmland, she's either returning it to its previously healthy state or speeding up the soil until the nutrients have replenished. When she's supposedly making another dimension, what she's doing is speeding through an area's history for the opening of a naturally occurring divide, because come on there's gotta be some, and then just hopping through to an already existing place.

What are the side effects of this? Aside from the pretty shiny light effect.

As Irene she didn't have to eat or drink nearly as much, or sleep, but she slept regularly because her mind still got exhausted even if her body usually didn't. People she heals have shortened lifespans, the time they would have naturally taken to heal is chopped off their lifespan and for some reason they always get real hungry and thirsty after a healing. Some of them lose weight like they've been starving for months. Those brought back from the dead either remain in a death-like state when they're revived like their soul isn't there, fall into comas and vegetative states, or come back insane from whatever they saw on the other side. Farmland will quickly go back to being barren if farmers don't change their rotation often enough or fix the underlying cause. Sometimes the dimensional divides rupture and void spills into her home dimension, which she then has to rewind back into the space between dimensions or launch into hyperspeed so hard it crystalizes, and this also explains how the situation in VOID Paradox got started and the black and purple void-like stuff Zane covers Phoenix Drop with.

The Irene Dimension was already an existing realm adjacent to the MCD Overworld realm. It was an empty anti-void. Irene took up residence there and used the space to experiment more with her magick, which resulted in the time dilation issue between the Overworld and the Irene Dimension, which then accounts for her disappearance when the Divine Warriors regrouped after Shad.

OH!! It also accounts for why praying to Irene(?? that's what the wiki said) reverted Alexis back to a baby over time!! Irene/Anastasia accidentally dosing Alexis with a bit of her time magick when she visited her because it was reacting to her hope that Alexis could be returned to her natural self!! This probably didn't make her human again, but her Shadow Knight form gradually coaxing her back to the adult form she took would give the illusion of her growing up and she'd learn to handle the Calling the way she would any other violent urges (since that's all anyone thinks they are) as she grew and since she never goes to the Nether or gets influenced by Shad in person she'd probably end up the most stable Shadow Knight ever. Man, learning she's immortal for seemingly no reason by not aging while the rest of her friends start getting old would be trippy for her. Triggering her Shadow Knight form on complete accident when her body's old enough to handle the change would be traumatizing for the whole family.

Anyway, time magick!

[restingwithineywa]

Ashes In her Wake | C19

Leyapay didn’t get sober enough by the time Alma wanted to leave near dusk despite the promise. The Direhorse’s hoof remained unsteady and she swayed with every step. Through the bond, the Pa’li sense of the word was… muffled. Even with the tea, Leyapay didn’t like its sour taste, and it took some mental pressure to get her to even have a few more sips before she thought about lying on her and sleeping, so Alma backed off to avoid such a fate in front of multiple clans.

So Alma, with fresh water, opted to stay out of the way and with her Direhorse, getting them far enough from the other drunk mares to be unbothered. She doubted the camp just had fermented fruits around for the sake of it; they probably had gathered to make some fruit-based alcohol. Normally, the fruits would be snatched up within the hour if fallen from their stem, so the fermentation was purposeful.  

Leyapay lay on her side, the water close by and so, with a small lantern. She lazily ran her hand down her sail, in areas she knew Leyapay particularly enjoyed.

Everyone was wrapping up for the night. People’s voices quietened down and ventured into their tents. Guards, of course, stood out at their posts and she knew it’d be a long night. The Direhorses weren’t the worst company, and at least she was safe out here.

Once Leyapay was ready tomorrow, she’d definitely get them on the move. No time like the present.

Movement in the corner of her eye pulled her attention up, her eyes darting to see a figure coming her way before she recognised it as Mäzan.

He stopped short, though his eyes flickered about before his brow pulled in. “<Why are you out here? The Zeswa are looking after the intoxicated Pa’li. You should be inside resting.>”

Alma stared for a moment, then let out a mildly indecisive hum. “<I was originally meant to go back to my camp, but my mount is… this.>” She gestured to the Direhorse. “<Fermented fruits.>” she added for context as a pull of his brow.

That caused the sliver of a chuckle to escape him. “<Have you asked about a place to sleep?>”

“<… I haven’t asked. I think they believe I have left. I was assured Leyapay would be sober by the time I left, and that has not happened.>”

The man nodded slowly. “<May I invite you to perhaps our tent? There is space for you>”

Alma spared a look down, considering her options: out in a field with drunk horses or in a camp… with people. It wasn’t a hard choice, and if things got awkward, then back to the Pa’li she was. Simple.

“<Are you sure?>” She untangled herself quickly, pulling her waistcloth straight and huffed as Leyapay sluggishly touched her elbow with her kuru as she went. “<You, get sober.>” She patted her snout and grabbed her basket to keep track of it and followed.

Mäzan’s eyes followed her before he nodded and led the way from the Pa’li’s field and towards the new setup outside, the lanterns that helped indicate a path through the glowing grass field towards the tents.

“<Are you Kame’tire?>” Mäzan asked, “<It had been a while since we’ve last seen that clan.>”

“<No, but I was a guest for some time.>” She answered, “<They allowed me a change of clothing when I left those lands months back.>” more or less.

Mäzan nodded slowly, opening the flap of the tent.

Inside, it was mostly strung up hammocks to a few poles, mostly occupied but there were a few empty and the young warriors were busy sewing what looked like harnesses or Kuru guards for when they no doubt succeeded.

A few glanced up to her, but Mäzan moved ahead, and so she followed. “<Do you wish to rest immediately, or are you willing to be social?>”

“<I can stay up.>” Honestly, she was more curious about these newcomers. She could afford to stay up a little later.

Mäzan nodded and so she was directed to an opening close to a low-burning fire where Mäzan sat and offered her a cup of water, which she took with a nod of thanks, her basket close by.

“<I’m curious, how long have you been on these lands? You’ve travelled far from the Kame’tire.>” Mäzan started.

“<About a month now. I’ve been travelling for a little under two months since my… displacement.>” Alma spoke. “<I’m hoping to reach the Spires within the next couple of weeks.>” God, she hoped that they’d be willing to let her talk and explain the situation once she was there.

Mäzan hummed, a tad surprised. “<That is a long trip.>” he noted, “< Have you prepared for it?>”

“<The best I can.>”

“<But.. you will be limited on the back of a Pa’li. An Ikran will get you there in a matter of days.>”

“<True, but I don’t have an Ikran and I’m not exactly the person who’d be allowed to get an Ikran from a Zeswa Rookery. Nesim made her opinions very much known towards me.>”

Mäzan peered at her in soft confusion, “<Why not? If you need training, that can be provided. Our people are on our last venture with the Windtraders as our guide. Many here will claim their Ikran, strengthen their bonds and spend the next six months travelling before they return to the clan islands. Come may have mates, very few will leave to remain with their new mate’s clan.>”

Alma sighed deeply. “<I used to be a Dreamwalker>” She held out her hand to him, letting him see what he hadn’t noticed before. “<That alone does not allow me the rites that Na’vi have, even from outside clans.>”

Mäzan took her wrist, his gaze looking at her little fingers yet he looked oddly…curious rather than disgusted or uncomfortable as a few typically were.

“<I have heard rumours of Dreamwalkers and yet I’ve never seen one before.>” He prodded her pinkie for a moment. “<It’s… the extra finger looks odd, yet the width of your hand and height of the extra seemed to make it look well balanced. Does this extra finger aid you? Does it make your grip tighter upon a spear?>”

Alma gently pulled her hand back, chuckling softly. “<It can do, but I haven’t personally tested it out.>”

Mäzan nodded, his eyes staring at her intently for a moment. “<Used to be? What does that mean?>”

Alma glanced away from him, her hand coming to her side. “<The Kame’tire Tsahìk and my companions were able to… transfer my spirit from my sky person form to this one.>” She sighed shallowly. “<I do not wish to speak of that at the moment.>”

Mäzan nodded once. “<My apologies for drawing bad memories, Ul’ma.>”

Alma, unfazed at the slight mistake, didn’t think to correct him, but she assumed his mistake came from overhearing their earlier and brief contact before she had been pulled away by Koko. She simply sipped the tea she had.

“<Will you not take an Ikran?>”

Alma shook her head. “<As tempting as it is…. no, not yet. I’m set to leave soon, and I’ve got a bit too much to take with me that won’t fit on the back of an Ikran. Also, I’ve got a very close bond with my mount, I don’t yet like the idea of leaving her behind for the convenience of an Ikran. She is far from her forests and is now around unfamiliar food and things.>”

“<Of course, treasure your connections, but the offer is still there. The Spires are unforgiving and difficult to transfer on the back of a Pa’li. From my last visit, most of the Ke'awa Kame’tire in the region fly exclusively on Ikran and have forged new techniques of flight and fight among the spires.>” Mäzan explained.

Alma’s head tilted softly. “<They have a rookery there. Perhaps I could get an Ikran there when I’m ready. I’m in no rush.>” She finished her tea quickly. “<Where are you planning to go? I assume once your people have their Ikrans, you’ll go your own way.>”

Mäzan hummed softly, his gaze turning to the fire. “<I’m not sure, but I’ll wait to see. It will take a week before everyone has their bonded and their appropriate harness fully constructed. Most of it is ready, but the final adjustments must be made for when the Ikran is there to be sized.>”

“<I see.>” It sounded interesting and there seemed to be a lot of planning behind this. “<How come there are so many of you claiming an Ikran now?>”

“< Because there will be a time of two years where we will not be coming to the Heartlands to claim,>” Another voice said, a warrior female with her sewing needle. “<Our Rookery is nearly ready for reclamation of mounts, and the migration of the Lonataya and windways will be too far to our islands.>”

Alma’s head tilted curiously. “<Your Ikrans, do they join the rookery?>”

“<Only for mating season. The numbers after the war were so low, and so few eggs left intact, there was a risk of unsustainable breeding, so the introduction of fresh blood had to be done and in a manner that does not risk the females attacking or chasing off their suitors. We claim our Ikrans, but we must surrender them for their seasons to ensure the rookery can support itself. In two years, it can be with the bulk of our returning bonds.>” The woman looked thrilled, her lips pulled into a grin, tightening the tattoos on her skin.

“<Indeed.>” Mäzan nearly boomed, the look on his face matched with true joy. “<Our clan will finally become independent since the war. We can breathe easier.>”

Alma stared, though smiling, she felt a tinge of sadness just… thinking about it. Eighty years, if the Zeswa were correct, to rebuild their rookery. She knew how big rookeries typically were, and that was no easy feat to accomplish. To destroy it was one thing, a devastation that impacted the native fauna here… the Zeswa back then must have been vengeful to go against so much life like that. Must go against Eywa, even.

“<Why did your rookery suffer so much? It’s unthinkable that so much life was lost needlessly. Ikran do not choose their sides…>”

Mäzan’s face fell a bit. “<I wish I understood the depth of the Na’vi who gave their warriors the orders to target the Ikran. I suspect it was to force us back to the islands, or force a… surrender. The war stopped days after that attack. Two-thirds of our clan was lost in total. We lost too much to keep fighting.>”

Alma swallowed, “<I’m so sorry.>”

Mäzan’s breathe shook a little, looking far away now and his grip was tight on his cup.

“<We will take our place again.>” The Warrior woman spoke, “<We will no longer be looked down upon, and we will find evidence that the Zeswa attack was unprovoked.>” The woman’s jaw looked set.

Alma set her cup down, sensing this was not a topic that should remain afloat before bed. “<I’m sorry to open old wounds. I… I only heard gossip from the Zeswa’s side of it.>”

“<The Zeswa believe what they want to believe to justify their actions. They killed all but one of the group of scouts that mercifully euthanised the Zakru mother and baby, so we did not find out until that scout returned in the midst of the fighting. They did not believe us that the gentle beast was sick. It is a story all Meitayo are told when we are old enough to understand the tragedy and lingering battle scars.>” The woman continued. “<One day, we will tell them the truth.>”

Alma nodded slowly but she felt a dawning recognition on what they meant. “<Are those… Zakru bones close by the Kitemaker’s Perch Camp?>”

“< Yes, but we’re forbidden to go there. They’d sooner bury an arrow in our back than allow us to go near such a site.>” The woman scoffed, shaking her head. “<The truth is there…>”

“<Let’s not discuss it any more.>” Mäzan said, shaking his head. “<Ul’ma, why don’t I show you to your place of rest for the night?>”

Alma rose to her feet, picking up her basket again. “<Thank you, for the tea>” she said and followed the tall man away.

It wasn’t too far, the closest empty Meitayo hammock to the exit. Something that’d suit her well, given she could leave when dawn rose to get Leyapay and back to her cave without disrupting any of these people.

“<I’m sorry>” She mentioned again to Mäzan, who only nodded in acknowledgement and a tight smile and left out the exit, probably to think or brood. Alma sighed deeply, but clambered into the hammock.

-

Alma woke sharply, her heart hammering, before she noticed the shadow in the corner of her eye. Sluggishly, she turned before she realised what it was.

Leyapay’s head.

It took everything not to groan, but she slowly and quietly crawled out and pushed Leyapey’s snout out. Outside, it was still dark, although in the horizon it was lighter; so she suspected they were about an hour or so from dawn.

Still too early.

She glowered at Leyapay, stroking her long face before the Pa’li seemed to lick her fingers and swing her head about. “<How are you not hungover?>” She bonded with her, but could feel that while the Direhorse was a little tired, she had a lot of energy and was eager to move. Lucky.

She pulled her kuru free, then checked the saddle to see it was still on and comfortable before she stepped in to retrieve her basket, but she paused a little as she spared a look at the sleeping bodies of the Meitayo, her heart panging a little for them.

She had been where they had wanted to be. It… seemed too much to go without offering something for their hospitality. She looked through her charcoal drawings, setting the images of the Zakru bones into her hammock along with the sealed twig containing the scraping of fungus, but to not be irresponsible, she drew on one sheet to the clear signs of the mass on the bones, the Na’vi symbol that any could recognise as sickness. To avoid them opening the sealed twig, she drew the symbol for a sickness that could invite death. It was evidence that they could have; they could open it when they were safe to do so. Maybe their Tsahìk could make that choice? There was little reason to write it was dangerous when they had no other written language.

Still, she hoped what it was was enough.

She fixed the basket onto the saddle and soon, they were on their way back.

It was about dawn when the light was touching the sky properly when they reached the cave, but she took her time in preparing the sled and ate some food quickly before she did last-minute sweeps to consider herself ready.

So, after bonding with Leyapay, feeling her complaints about the weight of the sledge, they then continued on, and this time eastward out of the Heartlands.

-

Nasyì’s eyes lingered on the empty hammock with a dent to her eyebrows, uncertain if she was pleased or not that their guest was gone before food or not. She… had no strong feelings to like the woman, mostly since her questions about their history had brought down the mood of their visit, and she didn’t like how it clung to them even as the others woke.

Today, she didn’t wish to think about their past; their future was ahead, and now they had to get the Ikrans and start the process to see their clan resume. She itched to fly and to feel the wind; to bond and connect to a new being, to not only offer her the freedom of the skies, but new connections. A new mate, if she was lucky, on her visits to the clans in suitable range.

Wanders, traders and travellers were often first addressed; those more willing to leave and join them at their northern swamp islands since they had little roots to return to.  She planned to travel with Mäzan and Fayfa once the latter of the two claimed his bonded. Mäzan was well experienced with his Ikran, so she knew to stick with him for now.

She moved ahead, reaching to undo the bindings to secure the hammocks away for the day when she noticed something… odd inside the hammock. A leaf, wrapped around something given the shape and sealed with a yellow hard resin; enough force and it could be broken into but there was a familiar symbol on it’s outside; a warning of danger

She didn’t know what the thing was, a near white square of… something. Picking it up, it felt like fabric, but it was too thin and it’s texture was coarse but upon its surface, it was… drawn upon.

In greater detail than typical Na’vi style, showing a scene that was of bones, but again, there was a warning of sickness, but… the sheet did not look dangerous, so she had to assume it meant the real thing these pictures represented.

There was another sheet, but this showed more bones, laid and decorated with familiar Zeswa. But given their size… wait.

Nasyì paused, her head turning to the side as she looked at the edges; the background had been added to show the horizon.

Zakru bones.

She had never seen a Zakru up close before and the size alone in the landscape seemed to indicate these were massive creatures. This woman, Ul’ma, had been to the site they were forbidden to.

“<Mäzan.>” She hurried to him, taking it all with her.

Mäzan had slept on a pile of blankets since he had given away his hammock to the guest, but he had a tendency to sleep wherever.

“<Mäzan, wake up.>” She pinched his ear, startling him awake.

His eyes opened, confused and hazy, then he blinked at her expression and his brow pulled in. “<What’s wrong?>” He asked, his voice cracking before he cleared his throat.

“<Follow me.>” Nasyì didn’t wait but lead the way quickly from the tent; this was no play for ears to listen to until they could fully understand this gift.

“<What’s going on?>” Mäzan called, and thankfully following.

She weaved through the tents and campfires until they were clear of the tendrils of the Lonataya before she stopped and waited. “<Ul’ma was at the bones of the killed Zakru mother and baby>” She said, holding out the precious images, “<Her skill in art on this…surface shows what she was behind. Look how this darkness clings to the bones, the shadow is far lighter>”

On the back, she realised that were was a collection of… markings, shapes and curves that she could only assume were sky people writings, but she made no sense of that; only the image. The symbol of sickness had a line to the darker mass, indicating it.

Mäzan took the first sheet, his eyes running over it, and his brow pulled in. “<You are certain?>”

“<Look at the backgrounds; this is near the cliff to the shores, the edges of the Zeswa camp in the distance. The forbidden areas. It has to be.>” She held out the other two. “<She was there. She took something from the site and has wrapped it for us to secure it. Proof?>”

Mäzan took the other sheets as well, examining them closely. “<Possibly… where is Ul’ma?>”

“<The hammock is empty when I woke. I can ask the guards when she left. If it’s not too long, we can catch up to her and ask more about what she’d experienced there.>”

“<I’ll go check. You should prepare yourself and the others to the rookery. That is your priority.>”

“<Come back if you cannot find her. We can speak more of what this means later but let it not leave either of us. Keep this safe and do not break it, should the concern be warranted,>” She pressed the wrapped leaf into his hands. “<If the sickness is in there, do not get yourself sick either. I cannot risk an Ikran if it breaks during my Iknimaya>”

Mäzan took it. “<I will see to it.>”

The warrior paused a moment. “<What if this is proof? What then?>”

Mäzan inhaled deeply. “<If it is… we need to return it to the Tsahìk for her wisdom. If… we can get Ul’ma to join us, she can speak more about it and explain her understanding. How could she know these were bones of sick Zakru when the Zeswa deny it?>”

“<Sky people must has a… different understanding. It could be that?>” She offered. Someone uninvolved and no biases, it was a good idea for this woman to have found this unknowingly because she didn’t tamper with it.

“<We will have to see when we speak to her.>” Mäzan decided, “<Let’s not wait too long.>”

“<Okay>” Nasyì agreed.

Masterlist

[skyward-floored]

in downfall iau, you said warriors and wild sometimes cross paths? what's that like?

Link = Wild, Cryonis = Warriors. They cross paths now and then after this, but it’s usually only a brief nod in the halls, if anything. They don’t get much time to socialize.

...

The day Link met Cryonis wasn’t exactly one of his proudest moments.

It was at some point in the middle of his training, early in his high-level classes. He didn’t remember the exact date, but it had been a couple of years before he was assigned to guard Flora, he remembered that.

And while the date didn’t stick in his head, the rest of the day’s events certainly did.

Link had caught a cold somewhere, an awful one that made his nose run and body ache. His instructor always pushed him hard, but today had been awful, Link’s head pounding, his limbs shaky. The mere idea of food had been nauseating, and he’d done every back-breaking exercise that was demanded of him with a hollow stomach that twisted when he so much as moved the wrong way.

His instructor had been less than impressed by the end of it, and given him an extra fifty laps to run. Normally Link would barely break a sweat at something like that, but today he nearly threw up as he finished.

He knew if he did it would only increase his punishment though, so he swallowed back the bile, and tried not to shake as his instructor finally, finally dismissed him.

Link stumbled away from the training area, thoughts only on dragging himself to his bed and passing out.

He would have too, if he hadn’t accidentally turned the wrong way in his dizziness, and then been unable to ignore his stomach any longer.

There wasn’t a bathroom down this hallway, but as luck would have it there was a janitor’s closet. Link stumbled inside the tight area, closed the door, then threw up into the nearest empty bucket.

“Whoa, easy there, kid.”

The voice startled him, but Link was too busy heaving to reply. It wasn’t until he finally finished that he shakily raised his head, and saw that there was another person in the closet with him.

His hair was blond like Link’s, though considerably shorter and a little more pale. His eyes were a sharp blue, and he had a blue and white outfit on, one that looked somewhat familiar... but Link’s brain wasn’t up to puzzling out where he’d seen it before.

All he knew was that he’d been caught somewhere he technically shouldn’t be in.

“S-Sorry,” he rasped, then stumbled back to open the door and leave. He’d barely moved before the man scooted forward and gently caught him by the arm though, concern in his red-rimmed eyes.

Huh, that’s weird...

“Hey, wait a second,” the man insisted, pushing him to sit down on an overturned bucket. “You look pretty shaky. Plus you were just puking your guts up, why don’t you catch your breath and sit for a minute?”

Link would have argued, but sitting down felt so good that the words fled from his mouth. He bobbed his head in small agreement, and focused on breathing steadily so he wouldn’t throw up again.

“Panic attack, or sickness?” the man asked after a few moments of nothing but Link’s shaky breathing.

Link held up two fingers, and the man nodded, looking just a hair more worried than before.

“I was afraid of that. I heard something was going around,” he said sympathetically. “Do you need a hand getting back to your room? Or maybe the clinic, if you’re going to keep losing your lunch like that.”

Link firmly shook his head. He didn’t need an escort or anything, that would only draw attention to them both.

And of course, the action of shaking his head made him dizzy, which set his stomach off again, and he lunged for the bucket. He threw up into it again, though nothing much came up this time as he heaved.

He stopped before long though, and realized the man had scooted closer to him of all things, and was watching him intently.

“Yeah... you’re definitely sick. I think I should take you to the clinic,” he said worriedly.

Link shook his head again (much more slowly this time), and managed to raise his head and look the man in the eye.

“You don’t want to go there,” he guessed, and Link nodded. “...That’s fair. I’m not really a fan either.”

Especially if doctors freak you out, Link thought with a shiver. He’d been put through too many exams to count over the years, tests to see if his super-speed held up in certain conditions, all kind of invasive checks of his physiology. He’d probably have to sit through another checkup if he went there now, and considering how he already felt close to crying, that would not be a good thing.

“You need some kind of help though,” the man said, standing up from his own overturned bucket and holding out his hand. “I’ll settle for a compromise— if you let me help you back to your room, I won’t drag you to the clinic. Deal?”

Link hesitated.

Sure this man had been kind up until now, but Link didn’t know him. And yeah, he was obviously a super, but Link had met plenty of his own kind willing to stab others in the back if it meant making things easier for themselves.

“I can get some medicine for you too,” the man said more quietly, drawing Link from his thoughts. “I know of a way to get some, no questions asked. So long as you let me help you back to your bed?”

Link exhaled, and nodded.

Why not? What did he really have to lose here? He might as well give this guy the benefit of the doubt. His head hurt too much to think of a different plan anyway.

Plus if it came down to it... Link could still run. It wouldn’t be fun or easy, but he could do it.

The man gave him a small smile, then extended his hand again, letting Link take it. The man’s hand was cold, but soothingly so, the temperature nice against Link’s own too-warm hand. He helped him stand up, and as Link’s head spun from the change in altitude, he suddenly recognized where he’d seen the man before.

“Cryonis,” he realized, then shrank back when he realized he’d spoken aloud.

“Yes, that’s me,” Cryonis replied, a faint smile on his lips. “I’ll forgive you for not recognizing me sooner since you’re under the weather, though I’ll admit it’s kind of refreshing not to be recognized. And before you ask, no, it wasn’t my idea to be put on those posters.”

The last sentence was said in a teasing tone, and Link smiled in spite of himself, rolling stomach and aching limbs forgotten for a moment. Maybe he’d be okay.

After setting the messy bucket over by some others that obviously needed to be cleaned, Cryonis pulled the closet door open, and gestured him out. Link followed him, and they walked down the hallway, moving much slower than Link was used to going.

They progressed mostly in silence, Link focusing on keeping his legs from faltering. Ever step made his head pound, and his stomach was rolling again, the taste from the last time he’d thrown up still in his mouth.

He swallowed. Nope. He wasn’t going to be sick again. He needed a distraction.

Link snuck a look over at Cryonis, noticing again how red his eyes looked, and overall how he just seemed... sad. Grieved, maybe?

Come to think of it... why had he been in that closet?

“Where’s your room?” Cryonis asked as they turned towards where the supers’ quarters were, and Link pointed down the hallway.

“Second barracks,” he said quietly.

“Really? You’re pretty young to be there, were you in the accelerated program?” he asked softly, and Link nodded. “Huh. Well we’ve got that in common. Of course things weren’t as bad when I was your age, but still...”

He trailed off and cleared his throat, looking away from Link.

Link thought he’d heard his voice crack a little, and he frowned, thinking again of how red Cryonis’s eyes looked. Should he ask what was wrong? It seemed like there was something bothering him, but... talking wasn’t exactly Link’s forte.

Luckily (or not) for Link, his stomach took that moment to heave, and he stumbled, leaning against the wall and trying desperately not to throw up again.

“Easy kid, breath slowly. Here, sit down for a second.”

Link felt cool hands push him carefully down to the floor, and he shakily breathed in, fighting against the nausea.

“Why... you doing this?” he whispered once he got his stomach under control again.

It didn’t really make any sense to him. Link had stumbled into a closet and thrown up, and the random man inside of it not only offered to walk him to his room, but he was actively trying to help him feel better and even offered to get him medicine.

...Why?

“I have the ability to help you. Why would I withhold that?” Cryonis said softly. “And I... don’t often get an opportunity to do that. Help people. And when I can, I can’t do much. Especially for other supers.”

Cold air seemed to accompany the last few words, fragile with grief, and Link didn’t know what to say in response.

“But I can help you,” Cryonis continued, clearing his throat. “And before you ask, no, you don’t need to repay me. Only payment I need is you getting better.”

Link smiled a little wobbly at the sentiment, something in his stomach that wasn’t nausea flipping around. Cryonis offered him a hand up again and held him steady when he swayed.

“C’mon. Let’s get you back to your room,” Cryonis said with a faint smile, and Link let him lead him back to where he slept, somehow managing to keep his stomach steady the rest of the way there.

Cryonis escorted him as far as he could— he didn’t sleep where Link did, and didn’t have clearance to go inside, but he promised he’d swing by with some medicine later. And Link gave him a small smile in return when he told him he’d see him later.

And it wasn’t until later, when Link was wrapped in a blanket, his stomach finally calm as he drifted off to sleep, that he realized something.

He’d never found out why Cryonis was in that closet in the first place.

[xiiithhazard]

Immoveable - Chapter 9

Word Prompt 36 – Abandoned

@year-of-the-echidna

First Chapter

Prev. Chapter

(Warnings at the end)

…

Chapter 9: The Trail

Vector, Charmy and Espio all looked up from their conversation, when Knuckles placed the bag of rings on the table between them.

“What’s up?” Their youngest asked with a grin. Clearly thinking this was some kind of game.

“You’re detectives, right?” Knuckles asked and the other two perked up slightly.

“Yes.” Vector answered, obviously a little suspicious.

“I’d like to hire you.” He admitted, causing the croc to suddenly fall into professional mode. Though he seemed to require a little more incentive.

“Oh – well Big Red, you know we’d love to, but our schedule is pretty full.” He proclaimed, taking a little book from his bag and slapping his hand against one of the suspiciously empty pages.

“Vector, this was our first job in months.” Espio pointed out, causing his friend to freeze up and Charmy giggled, as he flew over to Knuckles’ shoulder.

“He does that so he can bribe more money from our clients.” He admitted, receiving a right angry glare from his leader, but the little bee didn’t even appear to notice.

“It’s not my fault I have a detective agency to run. That takes money, you know?” The croc complained, and Knuckles couldn’t help but smile at their antics.

He was starting to like these three.

“I understand.” He said, before placing another, much larger bag of rings on the table with the other and their eyes just about bugged out of their heads.

“Where – did you get that?” Espio asked, being the first to recover among the team.

“From my – match.” He explained, though even he wasn’t sure if being fed to a giant space carb could be considered a ‘match’. Of course, neither Charmy nor Vector appeared to care.

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Vector proclaimed, snatching the rings off the table and began counting them, with a little aid from Charmy, while Espio just facepalmed, before coughing insistently at his leader, who pulled his attention away from the money and remembered to actually do his job. “Oh – right. What is it you’d like us to do for you, Kind Sir?”

Knuckles raised an eyebrow at that, before taking the last seat. “Don’t call me that.” He insisted, before getting down to business. “I was recently on another planet that experienced – something. Like a surge of pure chaos energy passing through the area.”

“You mean The Blue Wave? Yeah, we’ve –” Charmy started to explain, but Vector clamped a hand over his mouth.

“It’s been travelling the length of the universe for some time now.” He stated. “I’m surprised this is the first you’ve heard of it.”

“Keeping in touch with society isn’t my – specialty.” Knuckles admitted and they all nodded in understanding. “What do you know about it?”

“Not much really.” Espio proclaimed. “The running theory is that it’s the result of a new chaos god or even a new emerald.”

“Emerald?” Knuckles repeated, latching onto the word. Leading the three to look at each other curiously.

“Forgive me – but I would have figured you of all people would be familiar with the legend.” Espio pointed out and the echidna sighed.

“I was very young when my people were – killed.” That earned him a sympathetic look. But thankfully, they didn’t pity him. He was grateful for that. “Please, tell me what you know.”

“Alright.” Vector spoke up, folding his hands onto the table and took a breath to begin the story. “According to the legend, a chao emerald is created when a god is born into the universe. There were seven of them and, for a time, they kept the universe in balance. However, when people found out they could be harnessed, they began to fight over them. Soon, entire sections of the galaxy were at war. Until a group of warriors banded together to collect them and forge them into a single unifying force, thus bringing the balance of the universe back – well, into balance.”

“The Master Emerald.” Knuckles spoke up and Vector nodded, before going on.

“After that, they hid it away on some kind of special island that no one could ever find. And guarded it, so it would never fall into the wrong hands. Where it is now, well –” He paused, looking at Knuckles again, but sighed and finished. “That secret died with them, I’m afraid.”

Knuckles looked up, as the table went quiet and he found all three of them looking at him, as if waiting to see if he would finish the story. Eventually he sighed and looked at his hands, deciding that he could trust them with the rest of it.

“According to my father. An invading force attacked the island, trying to take the emerald for themselves. My ancestors fought bravely, but there was no way for them to win. Until – their Guardian called on the power of the emerald itself and drove the invaders back. All on his own.”

“Wow – cool.” Charmy proclaimed his eyes the size of dinner plates, and Knuckles smiled slightly at his innocence.

“I imagine it was. However – the emerald was never meant to be a weapon. It was never meant to be used.” He insisted, causing the child to slowly lose his grin. “The power – drove the Guardian to madness. And, in that moment, the emerald was stollen from us.”

“What?” Charmy insisted, only to have Vector clamp his mouth shut again.

“By whom?” Espio asked and Knuckles felt his anger rise again, though he kept it in check this time.

“The owls. They had once guarded the emerald alongside my ancestors. They fought together as brothers. Until the time came to actually stand together – instead, they took what did not belong to them and – disappeared.” He took a breath and let it out, releasing the pent-up energy in his fists. “Without the emerald, the island was consumed by the chaos force itself and my tribe –” He paused for a second, before shaking his head. “Very few survived and those that did spent the rest of their days searching for the owls. Trying to restore the emerald to its rightful place.”

“Well, that’s depressing.” Charmy murmured and Vector facepalmed. However, the kid kept going, without really understanding that he should probably stop. “Those owl guys were jerks. If I was there, I’d have given them the Charmy Bee Special.” He proclaimed, suddenly falling into a fighting stance and boxed with the air for a moment, before Espio called him down.

“So – do you have any idea where the emerald is now?” Vector spoke up, clearly aware that the emerald could now be anywhere in the universe, just waiting for anyone with even a hint of malicious intent to find.

“I do not.” Knuckles admitted. “However, I do believe that this – Blue Wave, may help me to locate it.” They all raised an eyebrow at that, clearly not seeing the connection. However, Knuckles couldn’t really explain it either, seeing as the only proof he had of this was his strange visions.

“So, that’s why you need us them. To track down the source of the Blue Wave for you?” Vector guessed and the echidna nodded, leading the croc to massage his chin thoughtfully. “Well, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing we’ve ever been hired for.”

“And our field team is really good at this kind of stuff.” Charmy announced before Vector clamped a hand over his mouth again. Quietly raging about how he’d told the kid time and time again not to tell their clients when a job could potentially be easier than advertised.

Knuckles was starting to see why these guys had such a hard time finding work. But, if they were as good as they said they were, he wasn’t going to turn down the help.

“One other thing.” He spoke up, causing the two squabbling friends to freeze on the spot, before falling back to their chairs, completely professional, once again. “How much information did you gather about Conroy?”

“Oh – well, you see –” Vector muttered, rubbing his head nervously. “That’s actually a client confidentiality thing. We can’t really –”

“Then tell me what you know about them.” Knuckles interrupted, motioning toward the three scavengers at the other end of the room, who had been the ones to track him down.

“Oh – them.” Vector pished, waving the question away like it was an annoying bug. “Conroy hired them to track down his former slaves. Including you. I guess they have some kind of innate ability to track certain types of energy. Apparently its unique to their tribe.”

Knuckles took a moment to consider this information, as he studied the three mercenaries for another minute. “Why do you ask?” Espio spoke up but, again, the echidna wasn’t entirely sure how to explain it to them, so he didn’t.

“How long will it take you to track down the Blue Wave?” He asked instead, leaving Espio and Vector looking suspicious, but they eventually respected the need to keep his secrets.

“It honestly depends.” Vector explained. “As I said, it’s been on the move for several months now. Tracking it all the way to its source might take a while. Though, if we got another ping, that would speed up the process.”

“I see.” Knuckles said, considering this as he again looked back at the scavengers. Before finally standing up from his chair. “Then I will take this time to look for more clues.”

They looked a tad surprised by this, as it seemed that their clients didn’t usually put so much of their own effort into the job. But they didn’t complain, instead Espio pulled a little device from his belt and set it on the table.

“Take this then. It will allow us to stay in contract.” He insisted, as the echidna studied the little box, which didn’t really make a lot of sense to him. Thus, the three of them had to show him how it worked, before he finally agreed to take it and tucked it away in his bag.

With that, he looked back at the three of them, who were all trying to pretend like they weren’t counting their earnings in front of a client. “Then, we have alliance?”

Vector immediately jumped to his feet and smiled. “That we do.” He said before looking at his team and added. “By the way. The boys and I have been talking. And –”

Knuckles looked between the three of them, as they all suddenly went quiet and smiled about something. “What?” He asked, confused and maybe a little concerned. Were they about to betray him? Thankfully, all Vector did was hand him a little piece of paper, but the only thing on it was a logo that he didn’t recognize. “I don’t understand.” He admitted, looking up at the croc, as the guy’s smile grew even wider.

“Knuckles The Echidna.” He proclaimed with sudden overwhelming authority. “Consider yourself an honorary member of the Chaotix.”

…

They had to spend another hour explaining to Knuckles exactly what that meant. But in the end, he was happy to accept his new position, so long as it didn’t interrupt his own mission, which they allowed.

He found himself honestly sad to see them leave, when it came time to for them to return to base and start searching for the information they’d been hired to find. And caught himself still waving to the air, for a few seconds after the portal closed behind them and quickly shook the stupor away, before looking for the scavengers again. Thankfully, they were still around, and he calmly strolled over to their table, where he offered up another bag of rings.

At first, they looked like they were ready to bolt, however when they saw the money, they pulled up. “You seem to be quite skilled at finding things.” Knuckles informed them and, after a brief moment of the three looking at each other, their leader stepped forward and nodded. “Can you track chaos energy?” Another nod. “Then I’d like to hire you.” He said, finally setting the bag on the table between them, but made sure to show that he had another much larger one still with him. “You’ll get the rest, when I find what I’m looking for.”

They whispered among themselves for another moment, in that language he didn’t understand, before the leader took another step forward and bowed to him in a rather unusual way. But Knuckles didn’t think too much about it. Espio had made a point of telling him that they were a part of a tribe that had very different customs from the rest of the local galaxy.

“Excellent.” He said with a smile, before tossing a ring at the air behind him, and took a single step through, making sure that they were coming along. “Follow me.” With that, they all made their way to a rather familiar planet. The same place they had met actually, the world consumed by a raging worldwide sandstorm.

Taking a few steps into the storm, using his glove to shield his eyes, he turned back to the scavengers, who were looking around, curious as to why this seemingly random planet was now the focus point of their occupation.

“Do you sense any chaos energy here?” Knuckles asked over the winds. Leading the three to look at each other again, then they spilt up to face in three different directions, lifting a hand to the air, like they were pressed up against an invisible box. Then they waited.

It didn’t take long before one of them got something and the other two walked over to confirm it, before turning to Knuckles and motioned in that direction and he followed them into the storm.

…

They were hours into their search, when Knuckles started to feel like he was getting the hang of his new trick.

Sensing The Master Emerald and its pieces were one thing, that was an innate ability he had been born with, granted to him through his linage of Guardians. However, that ability had been further enhanced when Finitevus had forcibly opened the door that permitted him access to the chaos force itself. By doing so, he was, theoretically, able to sense other types of chaos energy.

His uncle had appeared enthusiastic about the idea. However, no one in his tribe had been able to teach him. So, like any skill, it had diminished, until he couldn’t utilize it at all. It was his hope that all he really needed was a little training to reignite that spark.

Of course, this could hardly be classified as ‘training’, instead he just watched the scavengers and copied their techniques, until he started to feel what they were feeling. But sensing the source was just the first part of the problem. Now he had to track it.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get that far, before the other three pulled up and he walked over to see what they had found. Only for it to be a large crack in the earth. Which their leader was insistently pointing at.

“Down there?” Knuckles asked, a little confused. As he could sense the source coming from further ahead, not below. “Are you certa– hey!” He immediately tried to fight when he realized one of the others had used his leader’s distraction to sneak up behind him and take his bag. But, before he could get it back, the other thrust his weapon into the ground, causing a section of the loosely packed sand to break away. And, before he could jump to safety, their leader rushed in to hit him with his staff.

Under normal circumstances, this would not have even been an issue for him. However, the weapon surged with electricity, leaving him momentarily stunned and, though he was able to quickly shake it off, it was only to realize that he had not been fast enough. As the delicate sand shelf that he stood on crumbled away under his feet and he plummeted into the crevasse.

Thankfully, they hadn’t taken into account that he could glide, which allowed him to quickly dig his hand into the wall, before he fell too far. Then, channeling his newfound anger into speed, he climbed the cliff back to the top, only to find that he was now alone in the desert, with his only companion being a swiftly closing ring portal.

“No!” He called out, rushing to jump inside, but he only felt the remnant particles of energy in the air, as he passed through the space where the portal had just been, leaving him behind, now with no rings – and no way to get back.

…

Please share some reviews and comments, I’d love to hear what people think of my work.

(Warnings: Betrayal, trauma)

[achaotichuman]

TELL ME ABOUT CEPTHIZ!!!

Also do u wanna hear me stupid joke??????? It’s a pun on the name

YES YES YES YES YES I GET TO RAMBLE ABOUT THIS

So, when I started the fic, I wanted to include my own OC monsters, because I love it when life is born from death, and creatures that blur the lines between this life and the next. And since my whole fanfiction (A Witch A Warrior And A Reckoning) revolves around this kind of dance on that line, I thought why not create a creature that plays around with that idea.

So, the Cephtiz are actually quite sad in how they exist, they are the bodies of people who were unfortunately caught in the battle of Hybern, and Koschei in the Spring Court. When Koschei died (he was killed in the Spring Court, but that's a whole story) the life in Spring began to turn rotten. It festered, and these Fae bodies still had the remnants of Spring Magic in them, and since Faery bodies are built to house life (souls etc.) they became the vessels for these creatures called the Cephtiz.

Now, the Cephtiz cannot be killed by physical force, and even as Spring began to heal, they still roamed the land, killing off breathing creatures and feeding on their Life force and magic to rejuvenate themselves. Its like a sick twist of the whole magic of the Spring Court itself, which is all about rejuvenation.

And the more magic they stored, the more their bodies began to heal. Some Cephtiz becoming so recognizable, they could walk into villages and be invited back into houses, fooling grieving families into believing they are their lost relatives. Then they will feed on the families lives.

As the Cephtiz cannot be killed, they have to be warded off. Things that can prevent the Cephtiz from targeting a town, village or household are things like basic warding spells, cleansing spells. They are fairly easy to ward off, since as people became more aware of them, they stopped falling for their tricks, and the Cephtiz began to starve, weakening their magic. But for the stronger Cephtiz, stronger rituals are needed to prevent them entering homes. So, rituals that involve communicating with the dead can prevent the Cephtiz from entering, since the Cephtiz are uncomfortable and sometimes (if the person who once housed their body was strong enough) fear the soul they stole their body from.

The Cephtiz can only be entirely killed if they are starved completely, and the only people who can go near them and come away relatively unharmed are Tamlin and Dahlia (his daughter) since their magical influence over the earth takes precedence over the Cephtiz. As the Cephtiz can manipulate the earth, causing foliage to rapidly rot and die off, can cause the magic in the air to feel drained, rotten or sour, and can manipulate the area around them to change paths or change the growth pattern of plants very quickly.

Tamlin and Dahlia are really the only ones strong enough to trap the Cephtiz, and then starve them over a period of weeks before finally having the empty rotten corpses burned, the ashes are then buried as a final send off to the person the Cephtiz had possessed.

Some other lore about the Cephtiz. They can replicate voices from their preys past and use it to lure them further into their grasp. They can behave in manners that is very akin to Suriels, speaking in riddles, rhymes or singing words that sound prophetic, leading some to believe the Cephtiz are harbingers of impending doom, or imminent death.

The Cephtiz are also likely to hunt in packs, and behave very similarly to each other. Often formulating plans, enacting strategies and changing their behaviors quickly without so much as giving any kind of signal to the others, leading to speculation that they may be a hivemind. Or in a similar way to fungi being able to communicate without noise or movement, they have some kind of system of communication through foliage.

Also fun fact, the name by itself 'The Cephtiz' is entirely made up, but I based it off of the Persian name Sephtis which means Eternal Death (feel free to pull me up on that if I am wrong, I checked across multiple sources to make sure I was correct, but sometimes even in depth research doesn't pay out entirely) but in any case, I also like the name Cephtiz because it just sounds like sepsis and this creature is extremely infection-like and it sounds icky and death-like and all the lovely disgusting things I want my readers to feel when they read about them.

Anyway, anyway, thank you for letting me ramble, and please tell me what the pun is!!!

[meowmeow-motherfucker]

Covenant- Chapter 8

Summary: With the five year anniversary of the attack on New York approaching, Odin and Fury come to the agreement that an arranged marriage between Asgard and Earth would show good faith toward all future interactions. When Odin refuses Jane’s candidacy, Agent Coulson is tasked with finding a suitable wife for the prince of Asgard.

Pairing: Loki x OFC

Chapter warnings: mutual pining, jealousy, flirting, Loki being a little shit, brief mentions of flashbacks and torture, cringy Thor shenanigans, light smut not between our lovers

Taglist: @lokisgoodgirl @gigglingtiggerv2 @icytrickster17 @mysteriouslyfriedjellyfish @lokislilkitten @justjoanne242 @amlocked @ddmariegirl @mags-04-blog @sharris8 @meepycheep @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @the-fantasy-loving-angel @jaidenhawke @smolvenger

Please let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist! I'm SO sorry this chapter took me so long, it's been a real pain in the keester. Hopefully it makes up for the long wait! Not much longer until the wedding!!

One day until the wedding

“Good morning, Your Majesty!” Ragna crowed as she ripped open the curtains, assaulting Claire’s eyes with obnoxiously bright sunlight. “Today the wedding games will take place!”

“You are far too happy for what time it is.” Claire groused, bundling a pillow over her head. Ragna laughed and ripped the blankets from the bed, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Up, up, up! The games are always exciting, and today promises to be extra special!” Ragna said excitedly.

“Why is that exactly?”

“Your Majesty,” Ragna gasped, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning in eagerly, as though sharing a secret. “This is a momentous occasion! You are the first princess Asgard has had since the Allmother came to marry the Allfather over 2,000 years ago! That would be many, many generations of your people, would it not?”

“Uh, yeah,” Claire said. “Yeah, it definitely would,” she chuckled. “Okay, now I see why everybody is so jazzed about it.”

“Jazzed?”

“It’s another way of saying someone is excited.”

“Oh!” Ragna smiled as she got to her feet. “Then I am jazzed to help you get ready!”

“Okay, okay, I’m up!” Claire laughed as she climbed out of bed. Ragna was already gathering clothes excitedly, practically coaching Claire and her other ladies through each task like a cheerleader.

Her ladies prepped her until she practically glowed, and then it was time for Claire to head downstairs to start the festivities with Loki.

~~~~

An air of excitement filled the palace as Claire and Loki welcomed their guests during breakfast. Everyone was eager for the games to begin- including the guests. Several of them had joined Thor and the warriors three in pre-gaming which, unbeknownst to them, would render them unable to participate. Claire and Loki shared a laugh as they watched the would-be competitor’s fall to the powerful mead one after another.

After a leisurely breakfast, the guests and competitors made their way out of the palace. They walked into the heart of the city, where stands were erected around empty fields. Equipment had already been set up for the archery competition and various other events. Claire gazed out at the field, trying to picture what everything was for- she’d been told there would be feats of strength and skill, but being unfamiliar with the games themselves, she wasn’t sure what each event needed.

Claire and Loki went their separate ways once they reached the field to prepare, Claire making her way toward the makeshift archery range, while Loki went with Thor and the warriors three to prepare for the games they would compete in.

Their guests filled the stands surrounding the field, all of them eager for the games to begin. Eager chatter filled Claire’s ears as she gazed around the field.

Tall beams had been erected at the far end of the field, with a smaller cross beam running between them at the top. Another area had been set up a few feet away from the beams, looking to Claire like a set up for shot put- markers had been set equidistant from each other to measure distance.

The area closest to Claire was set up for archery. Quivers had been placed in a neat line several paces from the row of targets, and a rack of bows had been brought over the training yard at the palace. Claire glanced back at the other areas on the field to see Loki helping Thor and several others carry...large boulders?

“Shall we prepare?” Sif appeared from nowhere, pulling Claire’s attention away from the way Loki’s tunic had already begun to cling to him. “You will have plenty of time to gawk at your intended once your events are over.”

“Haha, very funny,” Claire replied. “I suppose I could use more practice with the javelin.”

~~~~

“Do you think you will learn to shoot before the end of the century?” Claire startled when Loki appeared out of thin air. She released her grip on the string, her shot going wide as she turned to glare at him. The games were due to start any moment, and she was trying to get some last minute practice in.

“Unless you’re here to help, go away,” she said without ire. “I thought you couldn’t be alone with me anyway.”

“We’re hardly alone,” Loki mused as Claire notched her arrow again. “Half the palace and our guests are here.” He wasn’t wrong- several members of the staff and their assembled guests who’d signed up for the games were all milling about the field.

“Semantics.” Claire scoffed, releasing her hold on the string and letting the arrow fly. The arrow zipped through the air and struck the target- just not on the bullseye. Loki looked on, one judgmental brow raised at her poor performance.

“Who taught you to shoot?”

“I’m getting better,” Claire argued. “I’m not used to this kind of weapon.”

“Are you sure?” Loki asked leadingly, his lips curling inward as she missed again and he tried not to laugh.

“Yes,” Claire said stubbornly. “Ugh, no.” She readjusted her stance, even though she felt like it wouldn’t make a difference.

“May I?” Loki asked as he stepped up behind her. His lithe frame wrapped around hers, his large hand settling over hers gently on the bow. “Relax this hand,” he coached softly as his other hand found the crook of her arm. “Lower your elbow.” he gave the smallest amount of pressure as he corrected her stance.

Claire was in hell. Or maybe purgatory? Wherever she was, she was suffering. Loki’s hands on her skin was giving her all the good feelings and it was hard to focus on anything else. She could feel his chest pressed against her back, the heat coming off of him delightfully distracting. His breath teased the hair on her neck, spurring shivers of promise as he adjusted her grip on the bow. Those hands should be bronzed.

Claire couldn’t believe she was having a Princess Diaries moment.

“Breathe in,” Loki practically purred in her ear. Claire inhaled, feeling her back mold against Loki’s chest. She could faintly feel the steady beat of his heart. “Breathe out,” Claire released her tense shoulders as she exhaled. “Good. Now release,” Claire’s fingers released the string, eyes widening as the arrow FINALLY hit the bullseye. “Did that feel better?”

“What?” Claire asked dumbly, her mind focused on the feel of his skin on hers.

“It seems you can learn,” Loki said smugly. “Do it again.” he nodded to the full quiver by her feet with his chin, taking a step back to allow her space.

“Okay,” Claire’s fingers didn’t want to cooperate as she reached for another arrow, chasing it awkwardly around the quiver as Loki looked on. She finally grabbed it and strung it on the bow, taking her stance as she aimed at the target. She took a mental checklist of Loki’s instruction, correcting things as she went. Releasing her breath, Claire let the arrow go.

It sank into the wooden leg of the target with a hollow thunk.

“Somehow you have gotten worse,” Loki teased, a pleasant laugh escaping his dumb mouth. Claire scowled, tamping down her stupid butterflies. “Perhaps I should pretend to be you and participate in your stead.”

“Well if you wouldn’t distract me-”

“I distract you, do I?” Loki asked leadingly. “Why is that?”

“I’m not answering that,” Claire said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest and dropping the bow clumsily. “Shut up.” she added when Loki laughed at her.

“Very well, little wife, I shall leave you to practice without distraction,” Loki cackled, stooping to retrieve the bow from the ground for her. “Remember what I said.”

Moments later, Claire was still practicing when she felt another presence behind her.

“May I assist you with your form, Lady Claire?” a heavy hand touched her waist a fraction later, and Claire wrenched the offending hand around the newcomer’s back, bending his arm at a very uncomfortable angle. “Ah-ah!”

“I do not need your help,” Claire spat. “Touch me again and I will break your hand.Do you understand, Fandral?”

“Yes-I understand-ah!” the ‘warrior’ winced as she released him, pushing him away from her.

~~~~

Claire may have lost the archery competition, but she did well in the javelin throw and now she was taking a well deserved break to watch the rest of the morning events. Watching Loki toss boulders and giant trees that looked like telephone poles didn’t sound very exciting, but shit had she been wrong. Loki’s outfit, once pristine and appropriate, became damp with sweat as he hurled a massive boulder the length of a field, succeeding in defeating Volstagg and Hogun.

Claire learned that the telephone pole looking trees were called cabers, and the entire point of the game was to carry the pole down the pitch and then lift and flip it. None of those things sounded particularly interesting, but it did give her an excuse to ogle at Loki. To her surprise, it was actually a pretty interesting event, and all of the competitors were built. There were a number of competitors from Earth, like Steve and Bucky, as well as Asgardian competitors: Loki of course, as well as Thor, Volstagg, and Hogun. Soooo much eye candy to look at.

Hogun really had no business being so hot. As the heat of the morning rose, the stoic warrior had gathered his long hair in a top knot, and his beefy arms were on full display as he took his place at the end of the pitch. His biceps bulged as he cradled the end of the caber in his hands, jogging gracefully down the pitch before hefting the caber overhead. The caber did a graceful arc through the air, the other end striking the dirt and coming to a stop just before tipping over. The crowd groaned in disappointment but clapped politely as Hogun left the pitch.

Steve tried next, his caber almost flipping but just falling short. Anja cheered the loudest from Claire’s right. Sandwiched as she was between Sif and Anja, Claire heard every mutter of appreciation.

“You are a very fortunate woman.” Sif observed as Bucky threw his own caber, managing the first flip in the caber toss.

“Don’t I know it.” Anja preened, smiling when Bucky waved to her. Frigga offered no comments of her own, but giggled alongside them.

“I have so many questions about the metal arm.” Claire whispered to Anja.

“I also have questions.” Darcy muttered from beside Sif. Anja snickered, winked, and turned to wave back at Bucky. Volstagg took his turn next, failing to flip his caber. Thor managed to flip his as well, and finally, it was Loki’s turn.

Loki’s large hands cradled the caber delicately as he began his way down the pitch. Loose strands swayed as he moved, his biceps bulging with the strain of carrying the heavy weight. His handsome face was a mask of concentration, sharp jaw set firm as he prepared to launch his caber.

Loki planted his feet in the dirt, muscular thighs bulging as he lifted the caber over his head with a mighty roar. His tunic lifted with his arms, revealing a swath of toned muscle that Claire wanted to sink her teeth into.

The caber soared through the air, further than Bucky’s, planting in the ground with a solid thunk and creaked as it flipped, striking the ground with a loud crack. Thor bemoaned his loss as Steve and Bucky clapped Loki on the back.

“Woo! GO LOKI!” Claire cheered from the stands, setting off her airhorn multiple times to her neighbors shock and annoyance. The people from Earth in the audience laughed as the Asgardians looked around for the source of the loud noise in alarm.

“Where were you hiding that?!” Anja asked after her shock had passed. “Up your dress?”

“It has pockets!” Claire said gleefully, tooting the air horn a few more times. Somewhere in the crowd, Claire recognized the laughter of the former US president. She looked over her shoulder to see him and his wife cracking up, waving excitedly when they acknowledged her. “I made Michelle and Barack Obama laugh!” she giggled as she turned back toward the field, spying Loki as he and the others made their way to another area. Claire waved at him, feeling her cheeks grow warm when he waved back. He seemed surprised at her support, but it was clear he appreciated it.

“Look at how she blushes!” Sif teased.

“So cute!” Darcy chimed in.

“So precious!” Anja cackled.

“You guys are dicks,” Claire sulked, turning away from her so-called friends as her cheeks burned. Across the field, Loki and the other competitors were getting ready for the wrestling to begin. As the men were standing around talking as they awaited the judges, Claire took the time to inspect Loki. His tunic clung to him, wet with perspiration at the neck and back. His long dark hair had lost its beautiful bounce and had been tied back in a low bun, but several strands hung limp and loose around his collar. The tight pants he’d worn cupped his backside almost indecently, the fabric clinging to the meat of his thighs as if the material had been poured over his body. “God damn, I’m a lucky bitch.” she mumbled.

It was then that Loki noticed her staring, color rising in his cheeks as his companions ribbed him good-naturedly. Flashing her a smile, he made a swift gesture with his hand, and a flash of green on the railing in front of her drew Claire’s attention downward.

A cluster of delicate purple blooms sat atop a backdrop of fat rounded leaves, the stem just long enough to anchor in her hair.

Smiling, Claire tucked the small flower behind her ear.

“Ah, young love,” Frigga sighed wistfully from behind them. “His father and I were exactly the same way. We couldn’t keep our eyes, or our hands, off each other. We were caught in some very compromising situations in our early days.”

“Your Majesty!” Darcy gasped dramatically. Frigga merely chuckled.

“I imagine we’ll have quite a similar situation with these two.” she smiled at Claire knowingly. Claire averted her gaze as the women around her laughed like hyenas.

A cheer went up from the crowd as the start of the wrestling was announced.

~~~~

The wrestling was by far the best event of the morning. Loki and Fandral were locked in a vicious battle, and even though there were several yards between Claire’s seat and the match, she could still see the tantalizing strength of Loki’s muscles.

Sweat made his tunic cling to his back, fabric straining as his biceps bulged and flexed with the effort of defeating his opponent. Fandral pinned him, but Loki freed himself, shoving Fandral into the dirt with a feral snarl. Both men were dusty and filthy from rolling in the dirt, but somehow Loki was even more attractive, especially when mopping the floor with Fandral.

Thor and Volstagg had already had their bout (which Volstagg lost), and Hogun had bested Sif in theirs, but she’d been most excited to watch Loki in action.

“She is crazier than you are,” Fandral hissed, tightening his grip on Loki’s collar. He tried to shimmy free from Loki’s grip but found he couldn’t move an inch. “You two deserve each other.���

“Couldn’t agree more.” Loki gave Fandral a sneering smile before twisting his arm mercilessly and making him howl in pain.

“For Odin’s sake, I yield!” Fandral shouted, crawling away pathetically when Loki released his hold on him. “Odin’s beard. You’re both lunatics.” The referee called the match as Fandral stormed off, and Loki laughed aloud as Claire set off her air horn again. It was the most support he’d ever received at an event such as this, and it pleased him to no end.

~~~~

After the mornings events, lunch was served on the field. Blankets were spread on the grass and guests stuffed themselves with cured smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, and cheeses, along with fruit tarts and thick waffles with fresh butter and lingonberry jam.

Claire and Phil shared a blanket with Thor, Frigga and Odin, and Frigga kept them all occupied by sharing her thoughts on the morning’s events.

“Did you participate in the games for your wedding?” Phil asked.

“Oh yes,” Frigga chuckled. “When I was much younger, I was quite athletic.”

“Back in those days, war games were commonly played before weddings. Frigga was quite brilliant when we played; I’ll never forget how she bested me.” Odin looked over at Frigga fondly, who clucked her tongue and shoved at him playfully. Thor looked at the blanket uncomfortably at his parents display of affection. Claire also felt uncomfortable, but it was nice to see they still cared for each other.

Would she and Loki feel that way about each other in two thousand years?

“Ah, there is our victor!” Frigga said cheerfully as Loki dropped onto the blanket beside Claire. He was clean again, his hair still wet and beginning to curl at the ends.

“I see you’ve all started without me,” he said jovially as Thor passed him the salmon. “Hello, darling.” he added softly to Claire.

“Hey yourself,” Claire replied, offering him the platter of waffles. “I didn’t know your hair was curly.”

“Ah, yes,” Loki said sheepishly, eyes dropping as his cheeks turned the slightest pink. “It can be quite annoying at times.” a flash of green covered his hair, leaving it completely dry with nary a curl in sight.

“I think it’s cute.”

“Thank you.” Loki said sheepishly before taking a small bite of sausage.

“Are you both looking forward to the knattleikr?” Frigga asked, reminding them both there were other people around.

“I for one am very excited!” Thor said eagerly, taking a hearty bite of reindeer sausage. “I wager that Claire’s team will obliterate Loki’s.”

“They each get a team?” Phil asked.

“Oh yes, it is customary for the bride to lead her guests against the grooms,” Frigga replied. “It shall be most entertaining, I think.”

“I shall be gentlemanly and go easy on you.” Loki offered.

“Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m gonna destroy you.” Claire grinned.

“Never before have I heard such a charming threat! Well done,” Loki praised, popping a berry into his mouth. “This could do with eel.” he muttered as he tore a piece from his waffle.

“Ooh yes, that eel we had a few weeks ago was fantastic,” Claire agreed. “We should go back sometime, without Fandral.” she rolled her eyes, glaring over at the offender on his blanket across the field.

“Indeed.”

The rest of lunch passed easily, an excited buzz filling the early afternoon air. After everyone had eaten their fill, the spectators returned to the stands while the guests competing went to change. Claire, Anja and Sif chatted as they changed, joining the men on the field as they held a spirited conversation.

“I’m just saying, her records from S.H.I.E.L.D. are pretty impressive. Are we sure she’s not of super soldier origin? Hmmmm?” Tony asked, peering at Steve intently. Steve pulled a disgruntled face, backing away from the scientist.

“Um hi, hello. What are we talking about?” Claire asked. “You pulled my records?”

“Oh just speculating wildly on your hitherto unknown paternity,” Tony replied cheekily. “You know, locker room talk.”

“That’s messed up.” Anja muttered. Claire nodded, annoyed and slightly embarrassed. Trust Tony Stark to find exactly what would make here uncomfortable.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

“But I want to?” Tony shrugged.

“You do realize I carry knives on me all the time, right?” Claire asked. “Stop talking.”

“What are you gonna do; stab me with no warning?” Tony cackled.

“Stabbing is a warning.” Claire and Bucky said in unison. Both wore matching annoyed expressions.

“Shit, maybe she’s yours, Barnes.” Tony elbowed Bucky, who looked at Tony like he was insane.

“Dude, stop.”

“Enough, Stark,” Loki growled. “Your speculation is unwelcome.” Tony gave Loki a cheeky grin.

“I mean, I could continue to throw out theories-”

“By all means,” Loki returned the cheek. “I will gladly step aside and allow you to be stabbed.”

“Okay, that’s enough, no one is stabbing anyone,” Steve said as he stepped in the middle. He glanced at Claire meaningfully. “Right?” Claire shrugged.

“We’ll see.”

“Hey, my wife will be very upset if you stab me!”

“Will she, though?” Claire asked. Tony gasped in fake shock.

“I cannot believe I claimed you as my possible-daughter; you’re out of the will!”

“Oh no, not the will! How ever will I live?!” Claire asked sarcastically. “Can we hurry up and pick teams so I can beat you?” she asked Loki.

“So confident,” Loki graced her with a smile. “Very well. Shall we?”

~~~~

The teams were down to the final quarter of the game, and the score was tied. The eight competitors were damp with sweat and painted with mud, but spirits were high. Claire’s team of Tony, Clint, Bucky and Anja had done very well against Loki’s team of Steve, Hogun, Sif, and Thor. No one had scored a goal yet in the final round and Claire was determined to win.

“Come on, set it up!” she called to her teammates, dodging Thor’s attempt to block her. Even though the god of thunder was competitive, he was clearly afraid of hurting her as any contact between them had been feather light and easy to evade.

Loki on the other hand, was not going easy on her like he’d promised. Not that it mattered to Claire- in fact it would make beating him all the better. They were both competitive, and delighted in stealing the ball from each other.

The ball began to shimmer, darting off course from where Hogun had kicked it and heading toward Claire, poised to score a goal.

“I saw that!” Loki shouted, signaling for a pause just as Claire reached the ball. “Seidr is not allowed.”

“Are you cheatin’, doll?” Bucky gasped, glancing at Anja with a scandalized expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Anja said innocently. “This is clearly the work of nargles.” Claire snorted a laugh, curling her lips inward to smother her laughter as Loki glared at her.

“Of what, madam?”

“Nargles!” Anja insisted. “You know, mischievous creatures that like to steal things? They’ve clearly taken a shine to the ball.”

Loki had never heard such nonsense. He had studied creatures, both magical in nature and ordinary, and never once had he heard of anything called a nargle. Yet he detected no hint of falsehood.

Odd.

“Fine,” he conceded. “Since play was disrupted, we shall reset and start again. Claire, the ball, please.”

“But I was about to score a goal!”

“Give it to me.” Loki demanded, grabbing the ball with both hands.

“Make me.” Claire stepped back, pulling the ball tighter against her body. Loki pulled harder, equally determined to keep his hold. Claire elbowed him in the solar plexus as she tried to wedge her body between Loki and the ball. Loki huffed in amusement, shaking his head as he fought against her hold.

“You are such a brat.”

“I’m not hearing a complaint.” Claire made a noise of protest as the ball slipped free of her grasp.

“Merely an observation.” Loki grinned, tucking the ball beneath his arm. Claire growled, charmed against her will by his dashing smile. Stupid handsome jerk.

“Hey love birds!” Tony shouted. “Can we speed this up? I’m too old for this shit.”

“You can take a break if you need to, old man,” Claire teased. “Want someone to bring your walker?”

“Oh you are so out of the will. Nargles, my ass,” Tony groaned, bracing his hands on his lower back as he cracked his spine. “Throw the ball already!” he complained.

“I was waiting for you to finish complaining.” Loki murmured as he spun the ball between his fingertips.

“Yeah, that’ll never happen,” Bucky shook his head. “We’ll be here all day waiting.”

“Shove it Barnes!”

“You shove it!” Bucky shot back. “C’mon, let’s wrap this up before the ol’ fogey breaks a hip.”

“No more nargles?” Loki peered at Anja suspiciously, ignoring the vulgar hand gestures Tony aimed at Bucky. Claire smothered a laugh as Bucky aimed one back.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t have anything to do with it.” Anja said defensively. Loki grinned. Lie.

He tossed the ball into the middle of the field, his balance thrown off as Claire immediately shot past him to intercept it. She slid on her knees between Sif’s legs when the warrior tried to block her path, jumping back up to her knees to chase the ball. Thor reached it at the same time, heading her off. Perfectly at ease, the god of thunder posed no threat and simply wished to annoy his new sister by preventing her from advancing down the field. Claire was ready to win.

“Peace, sister, I do not wish to hurt you-ah!” Thor gasped as Claire moved him aside with a hip throw. Thor struck the dirt and Claire spun away, cackling as she kicked the ball back toward her teammates. The crowd laughed at the comical sight of the god of thunder sprawled in the dirt, as did Loki and everyone else on the field.

“You can’t do that!” Loki shouted in protest as Claire raced past him with the ball.

“Nobody told me that!” Claire shouted back gleefully. Bucky was waiting to block Hogun as Claire kicked the ball further up the field.

“What in Hel’s name are you doing?” Loki raced to Thor’s side, hoisting his oafish brother to his feet by his collar. “We are going to lose!”

“Did you see her throw me, brother?” Thor laughed in amazement. “She is fast as lightning!” he crowed.

“Gods, you are a fool. Come on!” Loki took off running, intent on stealing the ball back from Claire and Anja before they could score. He caught up to Claire easily, but she sensed him coming and darted to the side, evading his long reach. He followed closely, their arms tangling as they fought over the ball. Claire’s foot hooked around his and he was tugged off balance. Loki hit the dirt, rolling as Claire kicked the ball far ahead to Anja. He watched it sail through the air with sinking hope for victory. His teammates made no effort to foil their opponents and it reached the blonde with no interference. Loki watched in dismay as the captain allowed Anja to leisurely approach the goal and lightly tap the ball between the goal posts.

“Great job, sweetheart.” Steve praised as the crowd cheered from the stands. Anja smiled, squeaking with surprise when Bucky swooped in from behind and she found herself sandwiched between the pair.

“Gross.” Claire’s nose wrinkled as both men kissed Anja on the cheek.

“Victors are meant to celebrate,” Loki mused from the ground. “No kiss for me, I suppose.” he sighed theatrically.

“And risk scandal? Perish the thought.” Claire replied.

“It’s the least you could do after besting me.” Loki groused.

“Told you I’d wipe the floor with you,” Loki’s ire faded as Claire grinned down at him, arms crossed over her chest. Seeing her satisfied grin was worth being knocked to the ground. “Need a hand?” she helped him to his feet, helping him brush dirt and loose grass off his tunic.

“Well done.”

“Thanks. How’s Thor?”

“In awe of your skill, apparently,” Loki chuckled. “You shall have to teach me that move.”

“You know, I offer private lessons.”

“Do you?” Loki purred. “When could one partake in said lessons?” Claire wasn’t able to respond, as she and Loki were swept up in celebrating both her teams victory, and the end of the wedding games.

~~~~

“Say what you want,” Claire said around a mouthful of fire-roasted bird (she kept telling herself it was chicken). “They might be a little weird, but the Asgardians know how to party.” Despite the full day’s itinerary, people had flooded the beaches at sunset, setting massive mounds of wood ablaze along the coastline. People milled all around them- dancing, laughing, and eating and drinking as they celebrated the summer solstice. It seemed everyone with hair had braided beautiful blooms of flowers into their hairdos, even the men.

Claire sat beside a large bonfire with her uncle, taking a break from socializing with all the guests. She had to hand it to her new mother-in-law, combining her and Loki’s wedding with the celebration of the summer solstice had garnered a massive turnout. All around them people seemed to be having the time of their lives as they danced around the monumental fires.

“Do you think you could be happy here?” Phil asked somberly, breaking the happy spell cast on the evening. Claire stopped chewing, looking at him in surprise. She knew that as the wedding loomed closer, her uncle’s guilt for talking her into this grew. Now that it was less than 24 hours away, he was a mess. (Let’s be honest, so was she.)

“Honestly…” Claire looked around at all the frolicking people, adorned with flower crowns and henna tattoos of runes and sigils, and felt oddly at home. She’d always felt called to witchcraft so she was familiar with runes and divination, both of which seemed ingrained in the culture here. In Asgard, she wouldn’t be considered weird for her witchy proclivities. “I think I’m gonna love it.”

“Don’t lie just to appease me, Claire. I know you’re nervous.”

“I am, it’s true. All of this is definitely going to take some getting used to, but I can see myself being really happy here. This beach party makes me feel right at home.” Further along the beach, Claire spotted Thor and Loki among the crowd, both of them bedecked in braids and flowers. She had seen Loki sporadically through the crowd, nursing a mead. Thor was already drunk, hanging onto Loki for balance as they made their way to a blanket. Loki was in his signature green, although he’d forgone the leather for the beach party. Instead he wore soft-looking pants and a linen-type shirt, the fabric draping over him sensually as it shifted in the breeze. The v-neck of the top showed a triangle of his skin, and Claire wanted to see more. Bereft of his leathers, he looked practically naked. Slutty.

As if he knew she was gawking, Loki’s green eyes flicked in her direction, catching her in the crowd immediately. The heat of his gaze scorched her. He’d opted to line his eyes with kohl, making the green stand out even more than usual. Without taking his eyes off her, he said something to Thor and set off toward her.

“Even considering…” Phil’s question was lost on the wind as the intense eye contact with Loki continued unbroken as he made his way toward them.

“Hmm?” Claire offered helplessly, lost in the intensity of the gods gaze. Fuck, he’s hot. She suppressed a shiver as she remembered their passionate kiss under the willow tree. She wanted more of those kisses, and she wanted them bad.

“I said-”

“Gleðilegt Jónsmessa!” (Icelandic) Loki announced as he reached their blanket.

“Bless you?” Claire offered. Loki laughed heartily, shaking his head.

“Happy Midsummer to you both,” he translated. “May I?” he gestured to the open space between them on the blanket. Phil looked irritated, but Claire tucked the fan of her skirt beneath her to give him room to sit. “Are you enjoying the celebration?”

“I am, actually. It's not too different from the beach parties back home. Although we didn’t paint runes on our skin and people were usually crossfaded.”

“Crossfaded?” Loki asked.

“Right, sorry,” Claire smiled. “Remember the pot we smoked in the garden?” Loki nodded, ignoring Phil's confused look. “If we'd gotten drunk too, we would have been crossfaded.”

“I see. Is that something you enjoy?” Claire shrugged.

“It's alright, but I prefer weed to alcohol,” She explained. “Can I ask- why is everyone drunk? Is it part of the tradition or-”

“Did no one tell you?” Loki balked. “What a terrible slight,” He scooted closer to her, close enough that their knees pressed together. “Lore has long said that evil spirits walk amongst the living on the longest day of summer. The bonfires are to frighten them away, and ensure a good harvest later in the year. One tradition is that the more a man drinks, the more successful his crops will be come harvest time. Over time it's changed to anyone's endeavors and people imbibe in Freyja's name.”

“She's the goddess of midsummer? I thought it was love and fertility.”

“She is also associated with the sun and the warmth of summer,” Loki replied. “There is also a tradition for lovers to jump over a bonfire together- it is supposed to bring good luck.”

“Good luck as in lots of babies? The pagans considered midsummer a celebration of fertility.”

“That they did,” Loki chuckled. “And yes, that is the belief here as well.”

“Are people going to make us jump over a fire?” Loki laughed at her question.

“Possibly,” he said sheepishly. “My mother is all but frothing at the mouth at the idea of children.”

“My mom would be too.”

“What happened to her?” Loki asked gently. “You said she passed when you were young, but-”

“I don't like to talk about it,” Claire chewed her bottom lip, her fingers rubbing her wrist in agitation. “It was really traumatic.”

“My apologies.” Loki frowned. He knew mortals were fragile, but how bad could it have been for the usually composed woman to act that way? Phil looked back and forth between them in silent astonishment. It was like a night and day difference between their first meetings. Instead of shouting and insulting each other, they seemed to have found an equilibrium, or at the very least a modicum of intimacy. Seeing them sit in companionable silence, Phil felt a bit better about talking Claire into this.

“Gleðilegt Jónsmessa!” A young child crowed happily as she waved at the prince and future princess. Her mother looked on from the beach, offering a sheepish smile as her daughter spoke a mile a minute to the prince.

“She is asking if you would like flowers.” Loki translated, smiling at Claire.

“Oh! I thought I couldn't have them,” Claire had wanted flowers, but as an unmarried woman, she wasn't allowed the braids other women wore theirs in.

“The braids, no, but you may have as many flowers as you like.”

“Just one, please.” Loki accepted an orange blossom from the little girl with a smile, turning to offer it to Claire. Claire swept her long hair over her shoulder, and Loki took the opportunity to lean closer.

“Next year,” he murmured as he tucked the stem behind her ear. “You will have a flower crown to put the others to shame.”

“I'll hold you to that.” Claire laughed, glad she wasn't the only one of them thinking about the future. The little girl squealed with delight, throwing her arms around Claire's neck in a surprise hug. Her mother gasped and reached for the girl, but Claire laughed and hugged the little girl back. The girl said something quickly, her small finger toying with the flower petals.

“She says it is as pretty as you are,” Loki translated. “It’s true. The color suits you.”

“Even though it's not green?” Claire teased. “How do I thank her?”

“Tack själv,” Loki replied, charmed when Claire repeated it flawlessly to the young girl before sending her back to her mother with a wave. “You have no runes? No wishes for the coming year?” He asked in surprise when he spied her bare arms.

“I didn't know where to get them! Do you have them?”

“Of course,” Loki grinned, pulling up his sleeves to show off the artwork on his skin. Claire recognized the runes, the symbols for abundance, joy, power and transformation. “Do you know them?”

“Mmhmm,” Claire hummed, tapping each rune with a finger. “Uruz, wunjo, dagaz, fehu.”

“How is it that a Midgardian is wise to the ways of magic?”

“My mom was very religious, but it was never the right fit for me, and when she died...” Claire swallowed. “I rejected it completely. I had a hard time believing a just god could allow her to die the way she did. Still do. Eventually, I found my way to witchcraft.” Claire grinned.

“I see. Someday I will ask you about it. I'm curious how our magics compare.”

“I am too.”

“Loki!” Thor called from a ways down the beach. He had gathered all the Avengers around him, along with a few of the political guests and Asgardians. “LOKI!” he waved cheerfully.

“Norns, what does he want?” Loki sighed.

“You must jump the fire!” Thor cried, miming a jump as best he could in his inebriated state. “Bring your wife to be!”

“He’ll never leave us alone.” Loki groaned, looking over at Claire apologetically. Claire threw her head back and laughed as Thor continued his poor pantomime, spilling mead over himself and the unsuspecting sand beneath his feet.

“We should put him out of his misery,” she said as Thor’s inner lack of equilibrium caught up with him and he dropped his mead. “Just this once.”

“Just this once.” Loki echoed, offering her his hand once he’d gotten to his feet. The group of onlookers cheered as they approached, garnering more attention from the party goers. Before long, a large crowd had gathered around the bonfire. Excitement filled the air as space was made for them to approach the fire, welcoming them into the circle.

Loki was even more handsome in the firelight, the dancing flames casting shadows that danced along his sharp cheekbones like a lovers caress. If she stretched up on her tiptoes, she’d be able to kiss the smooth expanse of his cheek. She considered it, until she saw how worried he looked.

“Loki? You okay?” she asked. Loki’s eyes darted from the fire to hers, the wild edge receding when she grabbed his hand. Was she imagining it or was his hand shaking?

“...yes, I’m fine,” Loki replied absently, his throat fighting to close up as he tried to ignore the flashbacks of the last time he’d been this close to fire. Claire wasn’t convinced; he could tell by the way her lips twisted. Thankfully, she said nothing as the crowd parted began calling for them to jump. “Are you ready?” Tucking her concern aside for the time being, Claire looked back at what awaited them.

The fire beckoned like a glistening promise of what was to come, if they were brave enough to face it. Coming to Asgard was a challenge unlike any Claire had ever faced before, but Loki made the struggle worth it. Despite their rocky start, Claire felt they’d found their equilibrium at last, and formed a strong bond to see them through the challenges still yet to come. She just hoped he felt the same.

The fire crackled loudly, wispy fingers of smoke beckoning them closer. The only way out was through.

“Ready, Freddy,” Claire looked up at Loki, smiling when he laced their fingers together. “Let’s do this.”

There was a short run, a flicker of heat, a feeling of weightlessness, and then sand between her toes as they touched back down.

Loki's shirt collar rode low on his chest as they landed on the other side, allowing her to see the rune above his heart. It was the bindrune for love. For all their flirting and skirting the line of the rules, seeing the rune made Claire's heart flutter like nothing else. Physical connections were one thing, but to know he wanted something deeper made her happy enough to burst. He does feel the same.

An eruption of cheers met them as those gathered shouted their congratulations and showered them with blooms from their braids. Loki’s hand reached out to fix the flower in her hair, his thumb tracing the apple of her cheek. Claire was about to tackle him onto the sand when Thor lumbered his way over.

“Congratulations to you both,” he said warmly, massive hands clasping their shoulders. “My new sister!” he shook her excitedly, releasing her as he leaned in close. Loki’s hands steadied her when she staggered, warmth from his palms blooming over her hips. “I was able to procure the gift you asked for.”

“Are you shitting me?” Claire burst into laughter, rocking back into Loki’s broad frame. “You actually found a talking llama?”

“Of course! A prince of Asgard always keeps his word,” Thor puffed up with pride, his face breaking into a huge grin as he pulled her into a hug. “I am joking, sister. It is only a regular llama. Try not to be too disappointed, hmm?” he laughed as he released her again. “In the name of Odin All-father- I, Thor Odinson, do hereby bless this union!” he shouted in his booming voice, spurring another round of cheers from the crowded beach. “May you be fruitful, and happy.” he gave Loki a meaningful glance, embracing them both again before going off in search of more mead.

“Would you like some runes?” Loki asked over the roar of the crowd. “I can paint them for you.”

“Yes! I'd love some.” Claire was grateful for a reprieve from the mortification of strangers cheering for her to get pregnant.

“I will fetch the supplies,” Loki smiled. “Excuse me.” Claire made her way back to the blanket where Phil waited, waving at the people who greeted her.

“So you two are friendly now?” Phil asked as she sat down again. Claire's cheeks turned pink as he stared at her knowingly.

“We've been spending time together.” she replied defensively.

“Supervised time?” Phil pressed.

“Obviously,” Claire said. “You know the rules as well as I do.”

“Mmhmm.” Phil wasn't convinced, but he wasn't going to run to Odin about it. Even if Phil did not like or trust Loki, they were adults.

“Something to say?” Claire challenged as she picked at the hem of her skirt. She really wasn't one for dresses, but they were growing on her. The material was so soft it felt like butter.

“Just weird, that's all. You seem awfully close for people who haven't spent any time alone.”

“Mmhmm,” Claire said absently. “Look I know you're not fooled, so just don't say anything okay?”

“How did he do it?”

“How did who do what?” Claire asked innocently. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Mmhmm.” Phil grumped. Claire returned to picking at her skirt as Loki returned with henna ink and a brush.

“Which runes would you like?”

“Surprise me, but I have one request.”

“Of course.” Claire smiled shyly before looking directly at the spot above his heart. Loki grinned, and she thought she saw a faint blush on his cheeks as he took brush to ink and got to work. He worked methodically, creating straight, confident lines with a steady hand. She watched him work, completely relaxed under his hands. She took the opportunity to really study him, the sharp angle of his cheek bones, the arch of his eyebrows, the length of his eye lashes. A strand of his long black hair had escaped the braids and hung in his handsome face, curling softly against his cheek and looking sleek as an oil spill in the light from the fire. Claire studied the elegant shape of his hands, appreciating the soft sensation of their skin brushing as he worked. His forearms were slim and toned, and she could see the veins and cords of muscle flex beneath his skin. Though hidden from her gaze, Claire knew his biceps were just as luscious and the way the fabric of his shirt stretched over them was making her feel feral. He really was a beautiful man. Between them, their legs touched at the knee, the tops of their bare feet squished together. The hem of Claire's dress fluttered in the breeze, exposing her ankle, and Claire laughed suddenly at the thought of Loki fainting at the sight.

“Are you alright?” He asked, looking up from his work.

“Yeah, just had a funny thought,” she explained. “My ankle is showing.”

“How scandalous.” Loki teased.

“Not gonna faint?”

“Not after seeing your-” Loki stopped, glancing over at Phil. “Never mind,” Claire smiled wolfishly as she recalled how he'd reacted to seeing her in leggings. The poor bastard had no idea what was coming. “It's not funny.”

“I think it's hilarious. God of mischief, struck dumb by a pair of leggings.”

“It was not the leggings, but what they contained. Or rather, barely contained. I have half a mind to disallow you from wearing them in public.”

“Fat chance,” Claire replied. “And honey, if you think those were scandalous, you've got another thing coming.” Loki hung his head, exhaling through his nose.

“You're trying to distract me. Let me work, please, lest you end up rich in fish.” Claire giggled at his ludicrous threat.

“Considering my love for sushi, that sounds lovely.” Loki snickered along with her as he finished the last rune.

“I'm afraid I can't give you this one,” he tapped the end of the brush on his chest. “It wouldn't be appropriate.”

“Okay, I'll do it then. Lemme see?” She asked, taking the brush from him. Loki swallowed before tugging his shirt collar down to expose the rune. Claire tugged her own collar down to begin painting the rune when Phil finally seemed to wise up to what they were doing and flicked water at them from his glass.

“Behave please. You're in public.”

“For fucks sake, he's gonna see it tomorrow anyway!” Claire groaned in exasperation, rolling her eyes when Phil shook his head.

“Look I personally don't care. But there are very specific rules here.”

“Fuck the rules. We're getting married in less than 24 hours,” Claire huffed. “Ridiculous.”

“Perhaps it would be best-”

“It'll take two seconds, mischief,” Claire pleaded. “Unless you really don't want to risk it.”

“Do it.” Loki challenged, pulling his collar back down with a smirk. Claire grinned back, getting to work painting the rune above the swell of her left breast. Each time she glanced at the rune on Loki's chest, he was staring at her unrepentantly. She figured he was ogling her just as she'd done to him earlier, and pulled her collar lower just to give him something to stare at.

Loki couldn't help but stare as she lowered her collar further than necessary. He'd had reservations going into this farce, but now...he dared any to stop them from being wed tomorrow. His ever present desire for her bubbled in his veins and any man who dared try to take her from him would die slowly and painfully. He spied a speck of black in the valley between her breasts and straightened, trying to see it better.

“It's a tattoo,” Claire said knowingly, catching his eye as she finished painting the rune. “Similar to these, but this is permanent. Wanna see?” She grinned wolfishly, making him laugh as he nodded. She glanced around for any naysayers before exposing the tattoo. Loki found himself filled with a new appreciation for the moon cycles as he drank in the sight of her tattoo. Whimsical and delicate star bursts lay scattered around phases of the moon connected by a thin line of dashes. Dividing her chest in half, the tattoo graced the valley between her breasts like a hanging chain. The black ink contrasted her creamy skin beautifully, and he longed to trace it with his fingertips and tongue.

“It's lovely.”

“Any chance I'll see you later tonight?” Claire asked quietly. “I could show you up close.”

“I cannot tonight, darling. At least, not as I have been. I have wedding duties to attend to after this.”

“That's unfortunate,” Claire sighed. “Here I was hatching schemes.”

“You’ll have to hatch your schemes tomorrow night, menace,” Loki's eyes shone with mischief as they shared a smile. “Otherwise I will be unable to fulfill my duties tomorrow.”

“Well when you put it that way,” Claire dabbed the rune on her chest with her finger to test its dryness. When her finger came away clean, she released her collar and Loki mourned the loss. “It’s a date.”

~~~~

Halfway through the night, Claire was jostled awake by a woman asking her to follow her. At the woman’s insistence that it was important, Claire begrudgingly left her warm bed and followed the woman out of her chambers and down the darkened palace hallways. After what felt like an eternity of walking, the woman ushered Claire into a dimly lit large room and closed the door behind them. As Claire’s eyes adjusted the low lighting, she noticed the unusual number of couches as well as people that filled the room.

“What in the hell…?” Claire’s foggy brain was working overtime to try and process what was going on. Loki’s words from early echoed in her mind: Sleep well. You will need it. Turning back to the woman she asked, “What is this?”

“It is your kvángaðr vaka, my lady.” The girl replied.

“My what?” Claire asked, blanching as a man approached her with his arms outstretched. “Um…hi. Can I help y-hey!” Claire slapped the man’s hands away when he tried to remove her nightgown.

“Please don’t be alarmed, my lady. We only wish to please you.” The man said apologetically.

“I don’t understand. I am half asleep and confused and I want you to stop touching me.” Claire said, pushing the man’s hands away a second time. “Who are you? What is going on?!”

“This is a safe place, my lady; no harm will come to you here,” the woman replied gently. “We are masters in the sacred arts of pleasure. This is called a marriage awakening in your tongue. It is meant for you to discover what pleases you so that your marriage bed will be enjoyable.”

“Be that as it may…” Claire said hesitantly, trying to think of the most diplomatic answer. “I’m not sure Prince Loki would like the idea of-”

“But he is already here, my lady.” The woman answered, gesturing to a far corner of the room.

“What?” Claire balked, following the woman’s arm to where Loki stood…with his cock in a blonde woman’s mouth as she knelt in front of him. How charming. “Oh,” she added quietly, pointedly ignoring the lines of muscle she could see from here. Loki hid his physique behind all the metal and leather, and oh my was he hiding a feast for her eyes. Claire wasn’t sure where to look first- his large hands as they guided the woman’s head, the peppering of dark hairs that trailed enticingly down his chest, his thighs, his biceps…

Arousal pooled between her thighs as she gaped at him helplessly, her jaw slack as she burned in awe of his strength. She’d seen his muscles up close in the training arena, but she wanted to know what his hands felt like in her hair as he fucked her mouth.

“My lady?”

“I wasn’t drooling,” Claire blurted quickly, snapping her attention away from the smooth motion of Loki’s hips to the woman beside her, curling her lips inward as the woman gave her a respectful look that clearly meant ‘okay bitch, whatever you say’. “I still don’t understand.”

“That’s alright, my lady; we will guide you,” the woman said. “Our goal is to help you learn what your body likes. Tomorrow before the wedding ceremony, we will give our report to Prince Loki. Don’t worry, my lady, you shall receive a report as well,” she added, placating Claire before she could open her mouth. “This way, when your marriage is consummated, it will be more enjoyable for you both.”

“That…actually makes sense,” Claire found herself saying. “But what about the ‘no-sex-before-marriage’ thing?” she asked.

“Do not fret my lady, your maidenhead will remain intact,” the serving girl assured her. “We would never deny your husband his privilege.”

“Privilege,” Claire repeated numbly, glancing over at Loki again, who still had his cock in a woman’s mouth (not that she was surprised) and was face-fucking her rather roughly. Jesus dude. Definitely ignoring how hot that is. Wait, is that a different girl? “Riiiight.”

In the firelight, Claire could very clearly see the flex of Loki’s strong thighs and the dimples of his ass cheeks as he fucked into the pliant mouth of the woman on her knees. Her hands grasped at his thighs for balance, and Claire’s insides burned with fury and jealousy. How dare that cunt think she had a right to touch her Loki?

“You said arts? Multiple?” Claire asked. The woman smiled, offering her hand.

“Indeed I did, Your Highness.”

~~~~

“Enjoying yourself?” Loki’s silky smooth voice hissed in her ear, completely shattering her little world. She was laid out, naked, on a remarkably comfortable couch, with the man from before face-planted between her thighs. The woman who’d woken her sat behind her, cradling Claire against her chest as she caressed Claire’s goose-pimpled flesh with soft furs.

“I was,” Claire sighed irritably as she opened her eyes to glare at him, her jealousy from earlier coming back to the fore. “What do you want?”

“I’m simply curious what has you making so much noise.” Loki said teasingly, enjoying the annoyed look on Claire’s face.

“I’m surprised you could hear anything over your grunting.” Claire shot back. Loki grimaced for a brief second before flashing a joking smile.

“Yes well…dry spells will have that effect on anyone.”

“True.” Claire conceded as a shiver ran through her. She could feel her orgasm building but if she was honest, the man between her legs was prolonging it more than helping her reach it. She could easily give him instructions, but she was content to enjoy the prolonged pleasure at this point.

“Have you come yet?” Loki asked softly, his eyes rapt on the dark hair between her thighs.

“Working on a third,” Claire sighed. “Why, have you?” she asked nonchalantly, shivering as a fur trailed across her nipples.

“Of course I have. Twice.” Loki scoffed.

“That’s twice?!” Claire balked as her eyes dropped to his still-raging hard on. Loki shot her a wolfish smile.

“And I have several more left in me. Think of the fun we’ll have, little wife,” he smirked, dropping to his knees behind her head. “Shall I give him directions?” he said softly in her ear, sending a chill down her spine. Claire nodded helplessly, wanting so desperately to reach her peak. And maybe, just maybe, a small part of her wished Loki would touch her. Okay, a big part.

“Please.” She said airily, her face flushing when he grinned predatorily at her.

“You’re off center, boy. To the left,” Loki instructed the man, smirking satisfactorily when Claire’s body seized and she gave a loud squeal. “Hold her down, for goodness sake; you’ll never get any traction with her thrashing about,” he snapped, watching with delight as Claire’s face flamed, her breath coming in pants as her hips twitched. The man’s grip turned to iron, keeping Claire in place as the woman’s arms locked around her to keep her still. “Harder,” He commanded, growling appreciatively as one of Claire’s hands fisted in the hair at his nape. “Better?”

“Better!” Claire gasped, her body tensing and jerking as she imagined how nice it would be if Loki were to pinch her nipples. Her orgasm swelled and burst suddenly and she stopped caring that she was on display as she felt as it crashed through her.

“Oh, I can’t wait to do this to you myself,” Loki groaned in her ear as his hand snaked its way down her belly, leaving electric ripples of pleasure in its wake. “Tomorrow it will be me pleasuring you- my head between your thighs and my tongue on your clit,” Claire’s muscles clenched in anticipation as his long fingers neared the top of her sex. “What do you think of that, little wife?” he murmured heatedly.

“Prince Loki.” the woman holding Claire broke the spell, her eyes focused on his hand pointedly.

“My intended is more than capable of saying whether she minds my touching her,” Loki replied shortly as he stood up. “Aren’t you?” Claire was puzzled by his question. Did she mind? Two seconds ago she was aching for him to touch her between her thighs, but now she just wanted a nap. Well, if she didn’t know, he wouldn’t either. Or so she thought, until the smug bastard grinned at her. “Focus, darling, do you wish for me to stop?”

“Not really, but shouldn’t your dick be in someone else’s face right now?” she managed to ask in an exasperated tone. Good job Claire. Loki gave a soft laugh.

“Quite right,” he agreed. “But since I helped you…whom do you think I should solicit next? The brunette or the redhead?”

[angelesca]

𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠! 17/12/24

!hints for my hsr winter fic, come take a peek at my genshin drafts!

my winter celebration is in the works! ngl i have no faith that i will finifhs by cheriistmas btw why is my house in the sims burning down rn smh im busy here

here's a preview of my work! (stc) ☆⌒(ゝ。∂)

a melodic bell chimes as the door of serval’s workshop bursts open. “emergency! emergency!”  you look up from the counter, pausing your tidying of the toolbox. a blonde child is waving her arms at you enthusiastically. “what’s up, hook?”  “christmas! christmas!” perched on a stool, serval stops strumming her guitar, curious. “christmas? what’s wrong with christmas?” hook points an accusing finger at you. “it’s almost christmas but you’re~ still~ single~!” your mouth gapes open.

hook as your matchmaker ftw. basically it's going on wintry dates w/ belobog guys, so expect more shennanigans! all stc tho! given the timeframe i have, i think it'll be a shorter piece probably.

after this, i have ideas on what i wanna try next. these are for genshin since my childe fic is lonely huhu (个_个)

1. fantasy rpg au! :a guild of wonderful, and wacky, whimisical warriors (stc)

characters will have different rpg roles! e.g. warrior, mage, bard etc. and the reader recruits random characters. imagine healer qiqi who keeps forgetting who her allies are so she heals her enemies, or mage neuvillette and his apprentice furina and its giving mob psycho where furina is reigan and neuvillette is mob

2. private investigators au! :teyvat sleuth operatives (stc)

this is a rotting draft so i thought why not pick it up again. i have some stuff for alhaitham and wriothesley so here's some of what i wrote cuz tis' the season for joy☆⌒(ゝ。∂):

alhaitham - i was thinking estranged childhood friends. so. angst and arguing maybe. idk why alhaitham fits the childhood friend trope so good.

you turn towards the window overlooking the dark cityscape. endless cars swim along the slippery roads, dreaming of a warmer destination. shoals of blinking lights ferry up the current of the black night sea. the mechanical clicking of keyboards clogs your ears. the office is fairly empty, except for you and one other occupant. worse, it's the one person you never want to be alone with.  and, as luck would have it, it just so happens that that very same person is here.

wriothesley - why is wriothesley british coded anyways im thinking friendly coworker with lots of action pewpewpewp! spoilers: he rides a motorbike bc i say so

wriothesley crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. “it's a guy i’ve been tailing recently. turns out, he frequents this area.” “i see. what does he look like?” “if i recall: male, estimated to be in his 30’s, balding, green eyes, last seen in a grey hoodie, about 168cm.” you gaze at the desolate street behind wriothesley, concentrating. male, balding, green eyes, grey hoodie… about 168cm, and...? “uuh, wasnt that just him?” you point at the man slugging behind wriothesley, lazily jogging by the two of you. the bald crater makes his head look like a nest. wriothesley follows your gesture of direction and his mouth droops open. his eyes chase the suspect, leaning over, but forgets to move his body. wriothesley almost falls off his stool. no way.

the other characters i have are: childe as your rival(he works at a rival agency), and ayato(?) as your boss. totally not an excuse to imagine uniforms, harnesses, and rolled up sleeves hahacbhwfcuqwdjuia this is all stc ofc! maybe i'll sketch some art too reeehhehehe

3. or. i could just write more smut lol (will only be posted on my ao3) here are some short prompts from my ideas list:

☆ they are dying but they want you so bad (im insane) ☆ fairytale retellings where characters, or reader, are the villain. so like red riding hood and a big bad wolf (what am i yapping about) ☆ characters being your "star-crossed" lover so lots of angst (good for the soul and mind)

also if anyone want to suggests further ideas, or even requests, feel free! my inbox is open 24/7!!! (ILL BE WAITING(ʘ ͜ʖ ʘ))

hopefully these updates are a good way to communicate with everyone. i feel bad for disappearing bc a) im busy b) i have no motivation to write c) i simply forgot i also write fanfic lol

anw im gonna play infinity nikki now bc my sims died

(i can hear mariah carey's high note) (see you in another 100 years!)

𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞¬!