#When I heard the news I felt heartbroken yes but mostly I just felt... betrayed?

[deepspaceclawstation]

I feel so stupid rn

[marvelouslytrekking]

The Escaped Bride {2/?}

Ch 2: The Escape

Pairing: Bucky/reader Summary: You’re family has decided that you have had plenty of time to move on, but you don’t want to move on, so they make the decision for you. One that you cannot live with so you have to hatch a plan to get out of another arranged marriage.  Word Count: 1153 Warnings: Arranged marriage, prob a swear word or two A/N: Okay, so here is chapter 2! I really love this story so far and I hope you all do as well! This will be slowish update most likely but I have a plan for the whole story basically so it might go faster! We will see! Feedback feeds my soul, so please tell me what you think!!

Series Masterlist | Marvel Masterlist

You were heartbroken, James had promised you many things, two of them being he would never leave you or break your heart, and yet he had ultimately done both. The worst part was you couldn’t be angry at him, you knew he hadn’t had a choice and you also knew that he had probably fought with everything he had to try to come back to you.

While you couldn’t find it in yourself to be mad at James, you were angry at everyone else. You hated the navy, the pirates, your parents, just anyone you were able to direct your anger at you would.

You spent most of your time grieving. You knew you should start to move on, it had been two years somehow, but you couldn’t find anything that interested you anymore. You would spend your days reading, or writing. You only socialized when your parents made you but you were always as short as you could be with people.

You could tell that you were losing your ability to use your grief as an excuse. Not just your parents, but others were getting tired of your behavior and everyone was telling you to move on, even his parents, but you couldn’t, he had been your everything.

“You called for me?”

“Yes, we need to discuss something.” Your father told you. You knew whatever it was going to be you weren’t going to like it but you followed him and sat down across from him. “It has been two years now since James passed away. Your mother and I are worried you are on a path of not moving on.”

You sighed, you were expecting this conversation sooner rather than later but you were hoping for a little more time before they asked you to start letting men court you. “I know, It’s just been hard to move on.”

“I know,” He nodded, “That’s why your mother and I have found someone else.”

“What?” You asked in disbelief.

“He is a lord, and very well off.” Your father mostly ignored your protest, “He has more status than James did so in many ways this marriage will be better.”

“More status?” You were shocked, “I loved James! I will not be marrying some lord who I do not know just because he has money.”

“It is already arranged.” Your father said with authority in his voice. “The wedding will be on the 18th.”

“That’s in two weeks!” You felt like your father had punched you in the gut. He might as well have but you weren’t able to even process what was happening.

“Yes. Your mother and I have gotten most everything planned.” He told you, “He will give you a good life.”

“Any man who agrees to marry someone before ever meeting them is not a man I want to be near.” You threw back.

“I will hear none of this!” He shouted. “You have no choice, you will marry him. That is the end of this discussion.”

You left without another word, waiting until you made it back to your room before you broke down into sobs. You couldn’t stand the thought of betraying James by marrying another man.

It only made it worse when one of your maids informed you it was Lord Pierce, a man who was nearly the same age as your father and had already had two wives before you. The idea that neither of your parents thought it was gross to marry you off to such an old man made you sick. Not only an old man, one as horrible as Pierce, you had never heard anything good about him and you were now promised to him with no way out.

The one good thing was that your father hadn’t lied about them having covered all the planning. While you had lots of say in your wedding with James, they were making all the decisions for this one. You spent most of the time alone in your room trying to devise a way out.

It came to you one night as you were staring out your window towards the sea. The ocean would be your escape. You started to work on your plan. While your mother and father were busy planning your wedding, you were busy planning a way out.

Two nights before the wedding you retired to your room early as you always did. Instead of going to bed though, you finished preparing your bag. You changed into a servant's clothing that you had stolen a few days ago. You had been sneaking food from the kitchen over the last few days and had a small bag of supplies that would hopefully last you long enough.

The hardest part was getting out of your house without anyone seeing you leave. You waited until you were sure your parents had gone to bed, before opening your window. Being on the ground floor had always been beneficial and you slipped out easily. This hadn’t been your first time sneaking out, you had met up with James many times after dark but this had the largest consequences if you were to be caught.

You made your way to the docks as quickly as possibly. You let out a small breath of relief when you saw the boats lined up, you weren’t in the clear yet, but you made it this far. You took a moment to scan the boats before finding one that you knew you’d be able to sail on your own.

James had spent some time teaching you how to sail. He loved being on the water and wanted to teach you that love as well. You always were happy to learn anything, and had taken in everything he had told you.

You board a boat that you’ll be able to manage and work quickly to leave the docks and make it onto the water. You wanted to get as far as you could as quickly as you could before anyone knew you were missing. Or a fisher found their boat missing, you didn’t need that complication.

You allowed yourself to finally breathe when you looked back and the lights on the docks were barely visible. By the time morning had arrived, you weren’t able to even see them, which meant they couldn’t see you.

You had a moment of sadness as you realized you would never get the chance to tell your parents goodbye, or the few friends you still had. But just thinking of the marriage that was now supposed to be tomorrow, made the sadness disappear quickly.

Your focus now, was keeping the boat you were one afloat and finding somewhere you would be able to start a new life. You hadn’t really thought about what you would do, but you knew that it didn’t matter. You would do anything to not be stuck as a wife of a loveless old man.

[theodorecanaryhood]

jason todd x reader where the reader breaks up with jason and he is just going through it

Breaking the habit

Thank you @yourcatcoffeeaddictfan for the suggestion! Hope you all like

Some sad bits and some swearing, but a nice ending.

Jason Todd x female reader

Jason was a recovering alcoholic when he met you 3 years ago, he made it quite clear from the start.

'Get all the judgment out the way' he said, he never sugar coated stuff with you. What you see is what you get.

Things were great at first but now was different, he seemed distant and angry. More angry than usual.

You lay in bed alone one night looking at the clock beside the bed, 2.30am. You sighed and sat up, realising sleep wasn't a thing tonight.

You stood in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea when the front door to your apartment pushed open, you heard a shuffle into the apartment and a mumbling Jason.

Jason fumbled with the lock as he swayed a little, you watched him in amusement as he must have had a rough night on patrol.

'Hey stud, need a hand with the lock?' You asked smiling, Jason just looked shocked at you. Like he wasn't expecting you.

'Shit doll, I didn't wake you did I?' Jason asked slurring a little. You shook your head, you walked over and locked the front door, sniffing at Jason a little. Looking him in the eyes.

'What is that smell?' You asked him serious, Jason just went red in the face and broke down in tears.

Jason walked off into the kitchen as you followed questioning what was wrong, Jason seemed to want to get away from you.

'Jason, have you been drinking?' You asked, deadpanned. Jason just looked at you, then to the floor.

'Yes, just one drink' Jason said, you folded your arms.

'One? You smell like the entire bar Jason' you scalded, Jason got mad at you now.

'I can handle one night of drinking y/n, I don't need your shit' he shouted, you chuckled.

'You can't handle one night Jason, you're an alcoholic. Recovering alcoholic at that, you've been sober for 4 years' you said, sadness and disappointment in your voice at the end.

'It's just once' he said, you looked mad now.

'Just tonight?' You asked, Jason had a tell when he was lying, and the tell was showing.

'Yeah'

'You're lying, I know you are. How long?' You asked, Jason turned away then turned back to you.

'A few months ok, 5 months' he replied, you looked heartbroken.

'You've been lying to me?' You asked shocked, Jason just looked guilt ridden.

'I'm sorry' he whispered, holding back the tears.

'You couldn't tell me? After everything, after all this time you lied' you shattered, you cried. Jason wanted to hold you but he knew the last thing he should do is touch you.

'Please let me explain' Jason tried to reason, but you were done.

'I want you to leave, I need you to go please' you said, tears in your eyes but you were stern.

'Babe please, y/n, I love you' Jason cried.

'I love you too, but I can't do this anymore. You have lied to me all this time, betrayed my trust and now I can't, I can't do this' you replied softly. Jason looked in shock, not knowing what to say. He went to to hug you, which to his surprise you accepted. But it hurt. Was this the last time he'd touch you?

...

Jason woke up with a pounding headache, a throb he had long forgotten until the first day after he drank again. This relapse was different, because he couldn't hide it for long. He looked over at the doorway to see Dick.

'How's your head?' Dick asked quietly, Jason just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

'I'm never drinking again, this is it' he replied. Dick smiled slightly.

'I've heard that before' Dick sat on the side of the bed.

'I mean it Dick, I've lost y/n because of this' Jason had sadness in his voice when he spoke. The events of last night still in his hazy brain. The look on your face made him tear up.

'She'll take you back, I'm sure' Dick reassured.

'She won't, not now, she was sincere in what she said' Jason replied, hint of anger in his voice. Anger at himself.

It had been a few days and you weren't taking any of Jason's calls, answering any of his texts. Jason wasn't sure how you were feeling.

'Hey, y/n texted me. She wanted me to tell you she needs some time, let her come to you' Dick said holding his phone up for Jason to see the screen. Jason was tearing up again.

'I miss her' Jason said, Dick nodded.

'I know bud, be patient' he said with a bright smile.

...

Few more weeks went by and Jason was depressed. Not moving off the couch unless to go to the bathroom or get food.

'Hey Dickie, how was work?' Jason called out to Dick who just walked in the front door.

'Was fine, have you got dressed today?' Dick asked Jason, Jason shook his head and pulled his hood up.

'Catch any criminals?' Jason asked trying to change the subject.

'Jason, B is worried and so am I. You're ot dealing with the breakup very well. Dad thinks maybe you should come out on patrol with us' Dick said softly. Jason just drew his attention back to the TV.

'I'll get back to you' Jason mumbled.

...

Patrol with a depressed and heartbroken Red Hood was a new experience, he seemed to be taking all his frustration out on the criminals.

'Take it easy' Red Robin called out to Red Hood as he punched a criminal over 10 times.

...

Bruce was making sure Jason was getting up and about, not just sitting round feeling sorry for himself.

Alfred was keeping Jason distracted with teaching him how to bake.

Dick was just Jason's shoulder to cry on if he was down.

Tim, to his own surprise, was willing to help Jason with anything he needed. But also mostly to keep and eye and make sure he didn't start killing.

Damian was the one who kept Jason from drinking mostly. Not because he was a kid, but because he was more innocent then Jason realised. He was impressionable at his age, even though he uses a sword, he still was a child.

...

Jason was doing really well now, 2 years sober and even dating new people. Nothing exclusive, just feeling around. He was walking down the street in a tailored suit when he bumped into a woman in a black skin tight dress and leather jacket.

'Y/n?' He said, you looked at him and smiled.

'Jason? Oh my' you smiled back and hugged him, he hugged you back. You kissed him on the cheek.

'How you been?' Jason asked,

'Great, just got the big promotion I was waiting for and the new apartment' you smiled brightly, 'how've you been?'.

'Awesome, 2 years sober and working hard. Dating here and there' Jason replied sincere.

'So proud, so proud you stayed on the good path' you smiled again, Jason smiled back. He was scared his feelings would flood back, but he only felt respect for you. You left him and now he knows you did it to save him.

'I better go, but it was great seeing you again Jason' you hugged him again, Jason hummed in response.

'Great to see you too, you look amazing by the way' Jason laughed, you blushed a little.

'You look really good Jason, take care of yourself. Give my love to the family'

'I will, keep in touch' Jason said. As you both parted ways, you both had a weight lifted. It was a sigh of relief. You were both doing well and didn't need each other anymore.

Jason was sure that you would've been sad like he was after, but he knew that you were genuinely happy to see him. As he was to see you.

Not all breakups are awkward!

[airi-p4]

Never have I ever - Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Well- The ending of chapter 1 felt mean, so wrote another chapter to give this fic a proper enclosure. There’s a little pinch of Adrien salt- you’ve been warned.

AO3 __________________________

Luka POV

The awkward silence of the shocking confessions breaks a minute later, when the doorbell rings. My mind comes back to earth as I see Marinette jump a little.

Adrien, it reminds me.

The buzzer makes me snap out of my short - too short- fantasy and I clumsily stand up to open the door.

“Hi, Adrien” I greet, trying to sound as natural as I can, even when, actually, I have a pit in my stomach.

“Hello, Luka. Sorry I’m late” he apologizes, moving his gaze over my shoulder to look inside.

“It’s ok- come in, we still have some food and drinks if you’re hungry” I nervously gesture to him to get inside. He shakes his head in negation.

“No, actually- I’m here just to pick Marinette up. We have to go now” At his words, Marinette stands up and meekly nods at her husband.

“Oh- Again?"

My tongue slips, dammit! but Adrien doesn’t seem to care much and just shows me a sad smile. "Yes… Family matters. You know my father…"

"Of course" I say, turning my head back to look at Marinette. She has a dark expression as she grabs her cardigan and bag to get ready to go. "It's a pity, though. I wish you could stay" My eyes are on Marinette while I say this.

“Yeah, me too…" Adrien sighs and I can tell he means it. The pit in my stomach worsens, guiltier. "Marinette, c’mon!” he rushes his wife.

When Marinette is almost ready to go, Adrien moves towards the elevator. "See you, Luka, everyone. Oh- and Happy Kitty Section debut Anniversary!"

“Bye Adrien” Kitty Section members wave at him from their chairs.

Marinette rushes to follow her husband, her high-heeled shoes doing its characteristic sound that must certainly be annoying the neighbors of the apartment below. She stops when she reaches the door where I'm standing and looks up at me.

“Thank you for inviting us- and for the dinner and- for everything. It was nice seeing you again. I had a great time”

I can clearly see in her expression how she really doesn't want to go. She sighs once and raises on her tip-toes to kiss my cheeks. Nothing special, just la bise- except it seems to last a little longer than usually should have (but that could be my imagination). We exchange a look and she shows me a sad smile before disappearing with Adrien through the elevator doors.

My heart beats faster and I sigh.

How am I supposed to recover from that now? I close the door and return to the table. The rest of the band members are also showing concern.

The fun is over.

“We’ll go too," Ivan says, one arm on his wife’s shoulder and the other holding the baby stroller. "Thank you for having us. It was great seeing you all again” Mylene adds with an honest smile.

“Sure. Take care of the baby” I open the door for them. “Of course. See you soon” Ivan says and they cross the door to the elevator. “Bye” I wave at them.

It's only Rose, Juleka and me now. An even deeper sigh leaves my mouth.

"You really had to do it, Juleka…" I mumble while I sit down and take another shot. I miserably rest my forehead on my hands.

“What are you going to do?” Rose asks.

“What can I do?” I laugh, ironically. “She could have meant anything. It doesn’t mean she feels like that right now, you know? Besides… she’s married. I can’t undo that"

“Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed what she meant. You must have noticed more than any of us”

I know that, dear sister but “Still-” I can’t seem to assimilate it.

“You could have said something- anything at the wedding and she would have turned to your side, you know?” Juleka mutters and it makes me snort.

“Oh, no, Juleka! You know that’s not true! She made her choice. I made mine. I have no claim on her- I never had it, and never will” I shrug, taking another shot to try to cope with my wretched feelings. “Nothing can be done”

“Maybe yes, maybe not...” Juleka teases under Rose’s encouraging humming.

“I don’t want to do this to Adrien. He’s my friend” I blurt out.

“That has nothing to do with him, Luka. It’s for Marinette to decide”

Maybe Juleka is right, “But that doesn’t change the fact I can’t do anything about it”, I tell them, and they can’t disagree or counterattack this time. They pat my back instead, supportive, and Juleka quietly apologizes for pushing it too far.

Tomorrow I’m going to feel horrible after drinking all that alcohol, but I certainly need it.

'What am I supposed to do? Why are you doing this to me, Marinette? I had already resigned a long time ago. Why now? So unfair...' I swallow another shot.

____________________________

The doorbell buzz awakes me. When did I fall asleep? When did I even arrive back at my apartment? My memories are blurry. The tour was so tiring, no wonder I'm exhausted. I stand up and, still numb, move to open the door.

Marinette.

I need to blink a few seconds to process what's happening. Am I dreaming? No, I don't think so. Why does she look even more surprised than me? Why are her eyes so red?

"Luka? Why are you here?" Her question confuses me.

"I live here? Shouldn't I be the one asking instead?"

Marinette squeaks at my answer band blushes in embarrassment. "Oh, right. Juleka said- you were coming back next week and-" she's rambling, just like old times…

"Wait- Juleka said what?" I sigh. My sister knows my schedule perfectly, why would she…? Oh, right. "She's gonna hear me"

"No, please!" Marinette begs me with sparkling eyes. "She only tried to help me! Don't get angry at her! Please…?"

Marinette really knows how to play her cards against me, huh. I guess I'll let it slip this time. Mostly, because there's something I'm more concerned about than that now.

"She helped you? What happened? Have you been crying?" She seems to be desperate. I haven't seen her like that since- she married Adrien maybe? The way she avoids my eyes indicates something serious may have happened. I'm more than worried now. More after her minute of silence.

"I- I ran away from home" she finally confesses, after a deep breath. "I have nowhere to go and Juleka told me I could stay here meanwhile since you were out on tour. She gave me her spare key. I'm sorry, I didn't know-"

"You escaped? Why? What happened?" I try to remain as calm as I can while I attempt to understand the situation.

Marinette avoids my eyes again and bits her lower lip.

"I- I asked Adrien for divorce" she responds in an automatic flat voice, after a hopeless sigh. "For the second time…"

I gasp. "What? Divorce…? Why…?" I can't hide my astonishment. She sighs again.

"I've fallen out of love, Luka. I don't love Adrien anymore. I'm not sure I ever did. That place- the Agreste's- it doesn't feel like home. It never did. "She explains. "You can imagine the fuss when I told them…" she says.

I know she's wrong- i can imagine Gabriel Agreste disowning her, doing the impossible to avoid a divorce- and yet still come short in imagination.

"I can't go back, Luka. They won't listen and I feel like a prisoner there. It’s suffocating. Please, can I- can I stay here tonight?" She asks, with a shy smile.

I don't need to think much to give her an answer. "No, you can't"

"What…?" She asks, as if for making sure she heard it correctly.

"You can't stay," I repeat.

She seems shocked. Well, I'm shocked too. What is she even thinking? Did she really think I would say yes?

"Please, Luka! I have nowhere else to go! Adrien is looking for me and I don't want to go back! I can't go back! Please!"

"No, Marinette. You can't stay here. You're a married woman- Adrien's wife, even if you really wanted to divorce. You can't stay here. Plus, I don't want to be involved. Imagine how worse the fuss would become if they find you here" I explain, and she seems to reflect.

My heart aches at her heartbroken and betrayed face. But, what else can I do? Marinette's happiness comes first, like always…*sigh*

"Besides" I continue after my inner thoughts, "fall out of love, you say? That could be a phase, Marinette. I've been a direct witness of the happiness in your eyes when you married Adrien. I'm sure you can make it work out in the end. Isn't that your speciality?" I try to smile, unsure of accomplishing it.

Marinette's eyes focus on mine in a determination that surprises me. "No, Luka. It's not a phase" she says. "I considered it too, for months. But it's not. Remember the drinking game at your place?"

'I knew I should have stopped that stupid game when I had the chance. I'm stupid'

I nod and she continues. "I meant every word of it"

It's my turn to open my mouth in a 'O'. I don't know how to respond.

"I regret choosing Adrien over you, Luka. There has always been that voice in my heart- that emptiness… and I think it was you. All this time- my missing piece to be 'happier'. I truly believe that is you" The more she talks the more my words get stuck in my throat.

"You don't know that, Marinette" I can finally manage to answer. "There's no guarantee it would have worked between us. You followed your heart, and there's no mistake in that. I think you shouldn't regret it. And I also think you should go back to Adrien and sort things out"

Why does she have to make it so hard for me? Can't she see how much it hurt me to let her go? And here I am repeating the same actions from the past...

"I see…" Marinette lowers her face. "So I'm too late, huh? You don't love me anymore… of course you wouldn't, after 10 years..."

How many times is she planning to surprise me today?

"Marinette, listen-"

"Marinette"

A new known voice interrupts me and Marinette jolts and trembles in fear.

Adrien.

"So here's where you hid every time you disappeared, huh?" His cold voice makes Marinette's face turn white he takes some steps closer and directs his speech to me next. "I didn't expect that from you, Luka. I thought we were friends!" He yells, and Marinette hides behind me. "You never stopped until you confused her! Forcing your feelings on her! I knew you had never stopped loving her. But she's my wife, dammit! Just accept your defeat and stay away from her!"

I almost forgot how jealousy has always been one of Adrien's biggest flaws. Somehow, I'm not surprised by his words. He's still the same he was ten years ago… This is so tiring to deal with...

"Adrien" I try to sound calm to counteract his wrath. "I think you're misunderstanding everything, as usual. Come in"

I open the door and Adrien and Marinette reluctantly follow me inside.

"Listen. First of all; Marinette has never spent any time with me recently, besides the last few minutes when she arrived. See? My suitcase and my flight ticket. I've just come back after months of touring. You can check it online if you don't believe me" 'but I think that, as my friend, you should already know that' I keep to myself.

Adrien's nose scrunches while examining my boarding pass. I continue.

"Secondly: I don't know where Marinette has been going, but I just suggested she should go back home. With you" he seems surprised at this. "I don't want to be mixed up with your problems, Adrien, no matter what my feelings are. It hurts me that you thought I would. Marriage is something that involves two people- only the two of you. Perhaps you should put more walls around it but" I know his father has been part of their problems, "but, in any case-  just don't drag me in your issues, please. It's for you two to resolve them, not me."

Marinette looks embarrassed at my words, in guilt for her childish actions. It wasn't my intention to make her feel bad, but I'm speaking my honest feelings.

And I'm also protecting myself. I don't want to be hurt again by false hope. And if there really is the tiny possibility… it would go down the drain with a bad start like this. I'm being selfish in my own way.

"And third: I'm disappointed. I thought we were friends, Adrien. I thought I always made it clear how I was a friend to you- of yours. When have my feelings gotten in your way? As far as I'm concerned, they only helped you realize your own feelings, after your 'just a friend' self lies" Adrien's anger seems to have been replaced by shock. "And you come here and accuse me out of nowhere? This is not what a friend does, Adrien. I'm just an easy excuse for you, aren't I?  You just don't want to face the problems, so you blame me instead for them. Stop using me to justify what you can't control. I know it's hard to be rejected- and to face some kind of problems, but you just have to, no matter how hard it is"

Adrien looks apologetic and Marinette seems to relax a little, looking at him in some sort of pity. I know they meant nothing bad, but they are acting like kids. I’m too tired for this.

"Just talk, listen to each other, come to an understanding- give in, if necessary- and accept each other's resolutions, even if they hurt. Like adults"

Once again, Adrien shoulders tense in embarrassment. But he soon calms down and composes himself.

"I'm so sorry, Luka. You're right. I have no right to get angry at you. I'm sorry for jumping in conclusions… I overreacted. I'm very sorry for what I said" I nod and Adrien understands I'm accepting his apology- even if there's also guilt in me because of my inner wishes. He moves to hold one of his wife's hands, but she rejects it. He insists holding her tighter next, and she finally gives in to listen. "Marinette. Let's sort this out, together. I promise I listen to what you have to say. I promise I won't let my father interfere with us anymore. Come back home, please?"

Adrien sounds sad and my heart can almost feel his pain. Marinette is not looking at him. Instead, she's partly hiding behind me, squeezing my shirt. She seems determined to stay and Adrien sighs.

"I'm sorry, Luka. Can I ask you to take care of her for now? She's so stubborn sometimes… I'll be back at home. I hope you come back soon. Bye, Luka, and thank you"

"Of course, Adrien. I'll send her home in a minute. See you later” I say, and Marinette gives me a betrayed painful look.

As if it wasn't painful for me…

Adrien crosses the door and leaves me alone with Marinette, who seems ready to confront me with a mix of anger and sadness.

"Why did you say that!? I told you I don't want to go back! I can't go back!" She yells in anger "I thought- I thought you meant it that evening, when you drank that shot! Why are you encouraging me to go to Adrien? I thought you still… I was ready to move on…with you"

If only she knew how long I wished for these words… And if she really means it- I can't let the chance go down the drain. I want to tell her I'm doing this for my own selfish reasons. Being Marinette, I'm sure she'll understand. I place my hands on her shoulders to catch her attention.

"Marinette" she jolts at her name being called. "Do you mean it? Because, it’s ok if you don’t but, if you really really do mean it- Is this how you plan to start something new? With rotten core and corrupted baggage from a previous relationship? A bad start would only lead to a worse ending. I haven't been in stand by just to ruin it before it even becomes real" Marinette keeps her eyes on mine, listening carefully. "You have to sort things out with Adrien, first. And" I continue "when you do, I'll be here for whatever you need me"

Her eyes get teary and a little sad, but she seems to start understanding. I keep explaining myself.

"Because- I don't want you to move to me just because it didn't work with Adrien and I'm the easiest choice for being in love with you. What I want never changed, Marinette. I want you to be happy. That's all"

Marinette remains quiet, reflecting and assimilating my words. I've never been good with them.

"But Luka…" she calls me "I've been thinking about this for months. I told you, remember? I want to be happier… with you" she says, staring at my eyes. I freeze, remembering how she drank that shot that evening. Her next words don't make it any better. "I've loved you before, years ago, and I still do. What if I'm too late when Adrien and his father finally allow me to divorce and go separate ways? There will probably be a trial, the press, the fuss- it could take so long…"

"Oh, Melody... I've loved you for more than 10 years, expecting nothing. Knowing I didn't stand a chance, accepting my place and respecting your boundaries. Always encouraging your happiness... Why do you think I never married or dated anyone for so long? Can't you see it? I can never stop loving you. So- what's another 10 years when there's a tiny bit of hope now?" I give her an honest reassuring smile and she blushes.

"Will you give me a chance, then?" She has hope in her eyes and her face comes closer. I fight the urge to kiss her, not wanting to ruin things before they even begin. Patience.

"Only if you still want so after you talk to Adrien and sort things out" I answer. She holds my shirt in her hands and I offer her a lovestruck smile I hadn't planned to show her. She grins back in hope and I melt. "I'll be here as long as you want me. In any way you need me. You owe me nothing. Just be honest to your heart and find your clarity"

Marinette nods happily and soon reaches to kiss me, but I turn my face just in time so she misses my lips and her kiss falls on the corner of them. She makes a disappointed grumpy sound, but I kiss her forehead instead, like in old times.

"Go back home, Marinette Agreste. I'll be here whenever you need me. Oh- and congratulations on your dress- I knew it would be a hit. I saw it in the onboard shopping catalog. You’re amazing"

"Thank you, Luka. I'll be going back" she says, taking a step behind and giving me my apartment's spare key she got from Juleka. "See you later" she smiles, before crossing the door.

"See you later" I answer. My love struck smile fixed in place as I see her disappear inside the elevator.

She does look happier and at peace with herself. I try to keep my feet on the ground, but I can't help it but hope: maybe I really do stand a chance this time.

Good thing I've always been patient.

________________

A pair of shot glasses and a half-empty bottle of gin and tonic rested on the table of Luka's apartment.

"Never have I ever wished to kiss you"

Two glasses get emptied and refilled.

"Never have I ever thought you would really wait another five years for me"

The previous action is repeated, between giggles.

"Never have I ever dreamed for you to love me back"

And again.

And suddenly, Marinette says:

"Never have I ever thought I could be happier than now"

Lips curl into wide smiles as the shot glasses remain untouched at the affirmation. Instead of drinking, the newlyweds kiss with sincere love.

They definitely couldn't be happier.

FIN

[damnsam]

I've been watching this anime called Kimi ni Todoke and it really left a mark on me. It made me reminisce on things I went through. Although it was such a long time ago, I feel like I've been hiding my feelings on that situation.

Regardless that this happened to me in gradeschool and I'm literally almost in my mid20s, I don't think I really processes what happened to me before.

I never really told anyone about this in a serious manner. I have told a few people but I always made it seem like it was nothing to me. Here it goes.

I was in gradeschool and one day, a boy suddenly said he liked me. Everyday, he would tease me and tell me he liked me. Even his friends would tease me. Of course, young me didn't know anything about this except from tv shows. I watched one where the the character were about the same age as me and him. The boy teased the girl the same he does to me and I just copied the girl and always said "no, I don't like him" or "ew, how could you say that?". Of course now that I'm old, saying "ew" wasn't really good for anyone. So in the show, the boy and the girl ended up together. So that's what I did. I mean, I didn't really like him that much but hearing him say he like me all the time changes your mind. I thought, maybe I do like him or maybe I should give it a try.

One day, I checked my school bag and it had a teddy bear inside. I was so confused as to where it came from. I didn't want to be accused of stealing so I asked my classmates. They all said it was from the boy. It was my first time receiving anything from someone who liked me and I felt butterflies in my stomach. Of course, I still kept denying that I liked him even though a part of me kinda did. I was actually planning on talking to him after class and thanking him for the gift. But that didn't happen. I learned from my classmates that he also gave a different teddy bear to my other classmate. He gave basically the same thing to 2 people and on the same day. At first I didn't believe it because I had not seen any indication that he was interested in other people, especially her. She was my classmate and my friend so fuck sake. But there it was. I saw it with my own eyes. The teddy bear he gave her. Someone als asked him if he did gave 2 people teddy bears and I heard him say yes. I was upset. But mostly heartbroken. That was such a hard day for me.

There I was thinking of giving him a chance but only to find out that I wasn't the only one he liked. I was devastated. Not because I liked him and he doesn't like me, but because I felt like I was lied to. All those time I thought he was only there for me but on the side he liked someone else.

Humiliating. It was humiliating. But you know what would be more humiliating? If I had told someone that I liked him. In that moment, I couldn't think straight. I felt a lot of things I've never felt before in one day. So I focused on what people might think of me. I didn't want to seen like such a loser so I tried really hard to recall if I ever told anyone about liking him. There was none, thank God.

I went home with the teddy bear. I didn't want my family seeing it because they'll tease me like what they did to me in kindergarten (that's a story for another time) and I didn't want to them to see me as a loser and I didn't want to feel like that at all too. So I hid in the house where no one would see it or even if they did, it would seem like it's new. I really felt betrayed and I never told anyone about it.

It's such a relief to share it even if it's just here. I feel like a weight has been lifted. That experience has been real eye opener for me. Why did I chose to share it now? That's because of the anime I'm watching. It made me feel things and reminse a lot. Then I thought about this song Reckless by Madison Beer and it's kind of similar to what happened to me. This song has been stuck on my head and everytime I think about it, I just feel the pain I felt when I was in gradeschool. The lyrics really hit me hard. He didn't really cheat on me because we were never even together but the fact that he tried to be with me and another girl at the same time does not feel good at all. Just like the song, he made me believe I was the only one, but apparently not. And same with Madison, singing this song helps me cope with the pain. If anyone's reading this, I urge you to listen to the song, it's really good but I do hope you don't relate, because just like what Madison said, I'm so sorry if you do.

If you're still here, thank you for hearing my story. It means a lot to me.

[jchb32273]

DAI (DAO) OC Tag

Tagged by @freethemages​! Thanks!! <3

I think I will tag @andrastini​, @captain-savvy​, @anjelica-grey​, @barbex​, and anyone else who might be interested!

Name: Kylara Auria Amell

Race and Class: Human Mage

Specialization: Primal Mage, Shapeshifter, and Arcane Warrior

Age: 19 (when she was recruited into the Grey Wardens), 30 at the time of the Conclave. Born 22 Drakonis 9:11 Dragon

Height: 5’9” (approx 180cm)

Family*: Unknown until she was able to do a bit of research after the Blight. Then she found out her family had once been Kirkwall nobility. She eventually met her two older brothers and two younger sisters – all of them mages (all of them sent to different Circles), although she only became close to her cousin, Garrett Hawke.

Great Aunt: Bethann Walker-Amell, Great Uncle: Astride Amell, Grandmother*: Lottie Smythe-Amell, Grandfather: Fausten Amell, Uncle: Damion Amell, Uncle: Gamlen Amell, Aunt: Leandra Amell-Hawke, Mother: Revka Amell, Father*: Roland Hawthorne, Brothers*: Leland & Augustin Hawthorne, Sisters*: Gisela & Allectia Amell, Cousins: Garrett, Carver, & Bethany Hawke

(* As there are some gaps in the Amell Family Tree – found on the Dragon Age Fandom wiki – I made up and filled in a few of my own names. Also, not really sure why Kylara and her siblings would have the last name of Amell… as that is their mother’s last name. Perhaps it was a nobility thing. So I just made up that the boys took their father’s last name and the girls took their mother’s.)

Love Interest: Alistair Theirin

Personality/Traits: Mostly calm and logical, but she can get hotheaded if someone argues against her core beliefs. She is a very smart, strong and powerful mage. Kylara is also highly passionate. Once she and Alistair had had their first time together, they were nearly inseparable. Heterosexual (possibly bi-curious, as she kissed Leliana one evening when she and Alistair were briefly apart. While Leli claimed that Kylara “wasn’t really into it”, it may have opened up new ideas in her head.) She had only ever been with Alistair until she met the sexy pirate captain, Isabela, at the Pearl… which led to a very steamy threesome between the three of them. After it, she swore to Alistair that it was just a one-time thing… until they met Isabela again a few years later. Now and then she and Ali will comment on finding other women attractive, and what it might be like… but they have not acted upon these thoughts. Both are fully content being with each other.

Background*: Until she found her family, Kylara only remembered coming to the Circle at Kinloch when she was eight years old. First Enchanter Irving had put a memory block on her at the request of her father. The reason for this she found out later, was because when her brother, Augustin, was sent away to a Circle in Nevarra at the age of ten (Kylara was unaware of her eldest brother, Leland – who was already in the Ostwick Circle – because she had only been three when he had been taken by the Templars), Kylara became very angry at her father for sending him away. As she screamed and cried, her own magic suddenly flared, wild and nearly unmanageable. Due to her immense power and her lack of control, her father was terrified of his daughter becoming an abomination. He immediately called for the Templars. They used Holy Smite to drain Kylara’s mana and then gave her some herbs that put her into a deep sleep. As they were in Crestwood at the time, the Templars quickly took her to Kinloch Hold.

Her father was worried that if Kylara remembered her past family life it could cause her to lose control before she was properly trained. He sent a letter with the Templars to the first enchanter of the Circle if there was something he could do to make Kylara forget her past, which Irving did.

As it turned out this was a good thing for Kylara because it allowed her to focus on her studies. She excelled and quickly became a favorite pupil of many of the mage instructors, Irving included. She also made many friends while she was there.

Anders was twelve years her senior, but he loved many of the younger mage students and mentored them as a “big brother”. Despite their age difference, Anders was easily one of her closest friends. She was crushed when he ran from the Circle when she was thirteen. Kylara also had many girlfriends. Her best friend was Sarita – a city elf from the Highever Alienage. When she was seventeen, she also became friends with a young Templar by the name of Cullen.

Sadly, not all friendships turned out to be true. Jowan was a young boy of ten when she first met him. Being close in age, they became friends… but as they grew older they drifted apart. Just after her Harrowing, Kylara not only found out that Jowan was in a forbidden relationship with a Chantry initiate, but that he was also practicing blood magic and had plans to destroy his phylactery so he could escape the Circle with Lily. She reported this to Irving, who then had her lead Jowan and Lily into a clever trap. Once Jowan found out that his friend had betrayed him, he swore that one day he would get revenge…

(* Again, lots of things in here that I made up to cover up any gaps and/or inconsistencies. I also call it a creative license as a FanFic writer… lol!)

Leadership Style and Preferences: Kylara would not want to call herself a leader, despite Alistair deferring to her once she had become a Grey Warden. While they were traveling together during the Blight, she spent the next several months helping Alistair to build up his own confidence and belief in himself. When she has had to step into a leadership role, she does try and listen carefully and have all of the facts before making a tough decision. Has she made mistakes? Sure even the best-informed individuals can still make the incorrect choices.

Favorite Companions (up to 3): DAO – Leliana, Alistair, and Zevran // DAI (Kylara will not be my quizzy… but someone you have heard of will be! Leaving it there to hopefully prevent any spoilers!) Dorian, Iron Bull, Cole

Least Favorite Companions (up to 3): DAO – Oghren, Sten // DAI – Sera, Vivienne, Solas (It isn’t that Kylara and my future quizzy hate these people, but rather that they just tend to disagree with them more often than agree…)

Mages or Templars?: Mages

Who Was Left In The Fade?: Warden Stroud

Who Rules Orlais?: Empress Celene and Briala

Favorite Advisor: Cullen and Leliana

Hobbies: (Back to Kylara now…) Reading, Cooking, Chess, Spending time with Alistair, and practicing her magic.

Familiar: Kylara doesn’t have a familiar, but she does have her beloved Mabari, Winston.

Scars/Tattoos?: Fighting during the Blight has given Kylara numerous scars. Arrow scars – one in her left shoulder and two in her lower abdomen. Desire Demon claw marks on her chest. A dagger scar across her stomach. Werewolf claw marks on her upper back… and many other scars from fighting numerous darkspawn and the Archdemon at the final battle of Denerim. Despite these scars, Alistair tells her every day how beautiful she is and how lucky he is that they are together.

Favorite Flower: Roses (for obvious reasons!)

Favorite Stone Or Gem: (Minor Spoiler if you haven’t read Kylara’s Story yet…) One evening, Alistair had told Kylara that the Joining had taken away her ability to have children. Devastated and heartbroken, she fled from the camp. Alistair found her by the shore of Lake Calenhad and began to comfort her. What then started off as sweet and tender soon turned wild and passionate. Kylara felt her magic flare up inside of her and not knowing what else to do with it, she directed it into a nearby boulder. Once things had calmed between her and Alistair, she touched the rock… and it split open! Inside were strange crystals that mirrored both their eye colors when they fought darkspawn – bluish/silver for Kylara and golden for Alistair.

The next morning, Alistair chipped off a few of the crystals and secretly had them made into necklaces for Kylara and himself. The next time they made love, they found that the crystals were able to hold excess magic (for Kylara) and excess energy (for Alistair). As their journey progressed and their bond deepened even further, the crystal’s magic began to grow and change… allowing Ali and Kylara to communicate telepathically and feel each other’s emotional states.

After the Blight, Kylara was able to finally talk with First Enchanter Irving about their crystals. He said they were called Aventurine (sorry, yes… borrowed from D&D… 😅) and that they were incredibly rare and special. When two people are meant to be with each other, despite numerous obstacles and odds against them, these crystals can form when that bond is born from their love.

Kylara and Alistair still wear these crystal necklaces to this day.

Weaknesses: As mentioned before, Kylara can be a bit hotheaded and sometimes her temper has gotten the better of her… more so when she was younger. The years have mellowed her quite a lot, but she can still get up in someone’s face if they say something that truly angers her.

[danceworshipper]

The Beginning

Gracie was sick of it. Sick of everything. Sick of no one trusting her, or thinking rationally at all. Ben was absolutely mental, her friends were avoiding her, and even Merula and Rowan were acting strangely distant. The worst part, though, was that Tessa was terrified to be near her. It did make sense. Gracie had a lot of people out to try and murder her, and it probably wasn't all that safe for anyone at Hogwarts anymore. It hurt though. It hurt so much. The only person that wasn't scared to be near her (that wasn't insane - looking at you Ben) was Jacob, but he never stayed long. Something needed to change, or Gracie was going to lose her mind.

Jacob had actually scheduled a meeting this time, which was out of the ordinary for him. He had told Gracie in a not-so-inconspicuous letter to meet him in the Forbidden Forest at one in the morning, because apparently sleep wasn't important. Gracie felt like shit, having not been able to sleep for even a couple of hours before the meeting. She was sitting up in her bed, huddled in her blanket, and staring into the pitch black nothingness that was the rest of the dorm room. She could just barely make out the shapes of the two beds on either side of her - Tessa on the right by the door, and Rowan on the left. Even though she couldn't see them, Gracie knew exactly where Clara, her toad, and Elaura, her new owl, were. They were both across the room, on her and Tessa's shared dresser. Clara was croaking softly, one of the only noises that could be heard, the other being the soft breathing of the sleeping girls throughout the room. Gracie checked her clock one more time, and decided that she could leave. It would take her a while to get out of the castle and into the forest, so she wouldn't be too early.

As she got dressed, Gracie felt her heart sinking even further. This might be the last time she would see Jacob for a while. His visits had already been getting rarer and rarer. She sighed and grabbed her wand as she headed to the door.

"Gracie?" Shit.

Gracie turned and saw Tessa out of bed, standing behind her with her arms wrapped around herself.

"Where are you going?" Tessa whispered.

"Out."

Tessa took a few steps closer. "You aren't running away, are you?"

"Why would you care if I did?" Gracie asked bitterly. "You don't want me near you."

"That's not true."

"Tessa, you'd be so much safer if I wasn't here."

"That doesn't mean I don't want you here."

"You have Liz and Barnaby. You don't need me."

"Gracie - "

"I'm not running away," Gracie said. "But if I do, it would be because I love you."

"Where are you going?" Tessa asked.

"The forest."

"Why?"

"To meet with someone."

"Who?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

It was true. Tessa had long believed Jacob was dead. She refused to accept that he was alive, and putting them all in danger. The brother she knew wouldn't do that.

The brother Gracie knew wouldn't do that either, but he wasn't the brother she knew anymore. She wasn't sure she would ever get him back, either. He was probably too far gone. So was she.

"Just tell me."

"It's Jacob."

Tessa's face darkened. "He's dead."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Tessa huffed. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not."

Tessa moved over to the dresser to get her clothes. "I'm coming with you. If I see Jacob for myself, I'll believe you."

Gracie tried to figure out a good reason why Tessa couldn't come. Jacob had told her to come alone, of course, but the letter had already been burned and Tessa obviously wouldn't take Gracie's word for it. The danger obviously wasn't going to stop Tessa this time. Apparently anger made her braver. Gracie was considering using Tessa's pregnancy as an excuse, but Tessa was already dressed and standing in front of the door.

"Well?" Tessa asked.

With a deep sigh, Gracie quietly opened the door and the twins snuck out into the common room.

"Hold on a minute."

"Why?"

"I'm getting Barnaby."

"No!" Gracie hissed. "I'm supposed to be alone! It's bad enough you're coming along."

Tessa scowled. "Why wouldn't my own brother want to see me?"

"It's too dangerous."

"So he thinks you're tougher than me?"

"I don't know!"

"I'm getting Barnaby."

Tessa hurried into the boys' dorm and Gracie groaned and grabbed her head. Jacob was going to be so mad. She was going to be late to the meeting and have two visitors... that, and Jacob had no idea that Tessa was married and pregnant. This really was not going to go well. Maybe she should just sneak off now.

Yeah, she was going to sneak off.

Gracie ran out of the common room and silently begged that no one would be in the halls at this time of night. She didn't need people asking questions and slowing her down. She was a Prefect, so she couldn't really get in trouble, but she could be stopped from leaving the castle. That couldn't happen.

The night air was surprisingly warm for February. Gracie finally let herself slow down and catch her breath as she made her way to the forest. Jacob might be in there already. She didn't know where he was coming from, or how he got onto the grounds undetected. She didn't know anything about him, which really pissed her off. She was already in this deep. Why couldn't she go deeper? It was too late for her to have a normal life. Peter Pettigrew made sure of that in her first year. Her appearance scared kids and adults alike. Her father was in Azkaban for murder. Her mother was closed off, her sister didn't understand, and her friends were all leaving her. It would be better for her leave with Jacob tonight to go do whatever the hell he was doing.

Gracie didn't actually know where in the forest they were supposed to meet. Jacob hadn't said in his letter. Hopefully nowhere near the goddamn acromantula. She had seen enough of that thing for twelve lifetimes. Maybe Jacob would be by the lake. The lake had a wonderful view of the night sky. She'd head there. He'd find her like he always did.

The lake was still. The stars reflected off the clear water so well that it was hard to tell where the horizon was. There was no moon tonight. Typical of Jacob, really. He was so scared of werewolves. Gracie wondered what would happen if he found out about Chiara. It wasn't hard to guess. Chiara would be found dead. Only because she was a danger, of course. No. Jacob couldn't know.

Hey. Telepathic communication instead of actually talking? Something must be seriously worrying him.

Gracie listened as Jacob's footsteps approached. He stood next to her, lifting his eyes up to the stars.

They're beautiful, aren't they?

Gracie didn't answer.

Are you upset?

Yes.

Why?

Take me with you.

You know I can't do that.

You can. You just won't.

It's not safe.

It's not safe here either.

You need to stay here and finish your studies.

I'd rather be alive.

Do you really think you're going to die here?

It seems likely.

Dumbledore wouldn't let that happen.

You know better than anyone that he would. I know you don't trust him.

I don't. I don't trust anyone anymore. Only you. You should know by now that trust ends up failing you.

I trust my friends.

You're putting them in danger.

You don't need to remind me.

Gracie put her head down and shut her eyes. Please take me with you, she begged.

This time, Jacob didn't answer.

Silent tears forced themselves out of her eyes no matter how tightly Gracie shut them. When she began shaking, she felt a warm hand grip her shoulder. Still, no words were exchanged.

It was becoming harder to breathe. It was her. She was the danger. No one was safe because of her. She didn't want her friends to die. None of them ever did anything wrong.

America.

Huh?

That's where I've been hiding. I've pretty much mastered international Apparation.

Why are you telling me this?

You wanted me to take you with me, didn't you?

Gracie opened her eyes and looked at Jacob. His face was mostly unreadable, but Gracie knew he was serious.

Thank you.

I still think this is a bad idea.

I can't let them die.

Something crashed in the woods behind them and they jumped apart, wands out instinctively.

Barnaby stumbled out from the trees and caught sight of Gracie. Tessa came out a moment later and her eyes found Jacob.

"You're not dead." Tessa's voice was uncomfortably loud after talking through Legilimency.

"You shouldn't be here." Jacob's voice was cold.

"You shouldn't be alive."

"That's no way to talk to your brother."

"You're not my brother."

"Who's your friend, Tessa?" Jacob asked. "Last time I saw you, you thought boys had cooties."

"He's my husband."

Gracie winced and glanced at Jacob.

"Husband?"

That was not a good tone of voice.

Jacob, it's fine.

"It is not fine!" Jacob hissed aloud. "Mother promised she would never arrange you!"

"It wasn't arranged," Tessa snapped. "I love him."

Barnaby was being wise for once in his life and not speaking. His eyes betrayed him though. He kept glancing down to Tessa's stomach. Jacob noticed, lowered his wand, and shut his eyes.

"He got you pregnant."

"What's it to you?"

"You're too young."

"We're all too young for the shit you've put us through, yet you don't seem to be doing anything to help."

"Why the fuck do you think I'm here?"

"To tell Gracie something vague as hell and make her even more worried, thus putting us in more danger."

"She's leaving with me. You'll be safe after tonight."

"Like hell she is."

"I am," Gracie spoke. Her voice hadn't been prepared to be used and cracked a bit.

"You can't abandon me too," Tessa snapped.

"I'm leaving to protect you," Gracie argued.

"What about Merula? She'll be heartbroken."

"That girl that Rakepick tortured in the vault?" Jacob asked. "Why would she be upset? She didn't seem to like you all very much."

"She and Gracie are in love," Tessa said mockingly.

Jacob turned to Gracie in shock. "I didn't realize you were so stupid."

"What?!"

"Rakepick must know about that. All of R does. She's a target now."

Gracie clenched her teeth. "Ben will protect her for me. He knows how much she matters."

"Ben is a fucking psychopath," Tessa snarled. "He'll leave to try and find you."

"He still has some common sense. He wouldn't leave you all in danger."

"Like you're going to?"

Get me out of here, Jacob.

Jacob glared at Gracie and shook his head.

"You have shit to sort out," he said.

Gracie grabbed his arm. "You are not leaving without me!"

"You aren't ready." He tore himself out of her grip and flicked his wand. Gracie fell to the ground limply.

"Come back and get her in the morning, Tessa."

Jacob! Don't leave me here you son of a bitch!

"Stay safe," Jacob taunted. He stalked off towards the edge of the forest, and Gracie watched as Tessa took Barnaby's hand and pulled him away as well.

Come back.

I always do.

Gracie lay there by the lake until the sun rose.

[ncaitpet]

The slave of a slave

Perhaps the strangest of my experiences are my dreams. At times they do not mirror the realities of what is possible, instead forming a landscape of rampant possibility unconstrained by real life. This dream was of this type.

As I sat in a dark room, a light appeared to reveal a figure in the distance. As it approached it became obvious this figure was female I tried to reach out to her but found my arms pinned to my sides. Helpless, I just watched her slow approach until she was right before me. Unable to look away, I watched as she stared at me seeming to see to my very soul. She whispered to me " do you wish for freedom?" I shook my head knowing that I truly did not want to be free. Slowly my memory filled in details. I knew I was a slave. I was trained to serve a master that I have not yet met. She looked at me and said, "shame, but I also do not think freedom would suit you. Look for me and you shall find what you desire most." I looked at her puzzled  and stammered "and what is it that I desire?" She just smiles and turns around. As she walks away, she simply says "find me and you will discover your answer." As soon as she says this, the light goes out leaving me in the darkness with the puzzle of her words. 

I awaken lying on the floor, the strangeness of the dream lingering with me. I try to adjust to being awake taking inventory of my surroundings. The floor I lay on is wood and cold. I sit up and instantly hear the jingle of a chain. I trace the sound to my neck and remember I have a thick leather collar around my neck attached to the floor by a delicate yet strong chain. As I awaken more, I realize this is the day I have awaited for, my auction day. I spent the last day being prepped for sale so that I might fetch the highest price. I slept in a slave's room to ensure I was in the proper mind to be sold. Laying without comfort would ensure that I perform my best, desperate to be sold so that I may know comfort again. 

I knew I would not fetch a very high price since I am not being sold by an owner, instead selling myself after being abandoned. This would considerably lower my price since, as a slave, I am not allowed to argue for a higher price. The unowned usually go last in the auction as well, seen as damaged goods for bargain prices. After all, who would throw away a slave that wasn't broken in some way? Since this was the case, I knew I would probably be sold to an owner looking for a slave to take duties that normally a slave wouldn't be subject to. Or even worse, an owner looking for a slave that they can use to perform tasks that would be considered to be damaging to a slave. I was already considered broken so what did it matter? I would happily take any owner though, I simply wanted to be owned no matter what I had to do to achieve my goal.

I suddenly heard the bells signaling that the auction time was near, shaking the last bit of sleep from my mind. I knelt on the floor and awaited the agent of the auction to come release my collar so that I might be taken to the room in which the auction  would actually take place. He entered my room, released my leash from the floor and used it to lead me to the area the other damaged slave were being gathered. 

The way these auctions work is that all slaves, no matter what grade, are lined up on a stage and secured with hands behind our backs and collars attached to rings in the wall making us stand straight. Our clothing is picked by the auction house to increase our desirability and each slave wears something different. When our number is called, we are released from the wall rings and lead on leash to a raised platform in the center of the stage. Once upon this block we stand still and wait as the auctioneer tells of our owner history and training background. He then says our starting price and at which point  interested buyers place bids and usually the highest bidder winning the slave. There are rare exceptions to this, but the general still holds true. Before the auction actually starts there is a time where the slaves are on the wall and all guests are free to walk around and look at the merchandise as sort of a cocktail hour. 

I am led to my ring and my spirits fall as I am secured to the ring closest to the door indicating I will be the last on the block. By time I am put up for sale, most of the buyers will have found someone and I will most likely not be sold today, further reducing my price in a future auction. Despite this, I stand properly in my place awaiting the nights festivities. 

As guests arrived, they walked around looking at the slaves and talking amongst themselves. Being last ring, I was mostly ignored since to be in such a position means that I am regarded as the bottom of all the slaves for sale. I try to not show my disappointment in being ignored and try my best to entice people to come look at me. From across the room, I see a group of people enter late. There was a man and a woman together, but I gasped when the came in more and I saw who was behind them. It was the woman from my dreams. What puzzled me was the fact that she wore the collar of a slave. Surely this slave could not be from my dreams, for how could a slave give me freedom she herself does not have. Now, it is not uncommon for a guest to bring some of their slaves along to the auction but mostly they are there to act as a status symbol and generally ignored. This group however actively talked with their slave as they looked at the various slaves on the wall. At times, it seemed they talked to her as a parent might a child. Puzzled, I subtly watched them curious about this dynamic as I had never seen it before. As they neared my position, I locked my eyes on the floor knowing they would turn away before they reached my ring. I heard a clear voice like a bell say "this one Daddy, I want this one." Figuring she was talking about one of the slaves beside me, I kept my eyes on the floor last I betray myself with my disappointment. A few seconds pass and I hear a powerful voice say, "slave, look up. We wish to examine you." Before I knew what I was doing, I looked up and said "yes sir." It was purely reflex for he couldn't be talking to me could he? as my gaze lifts, I see the pair with the strange slave standing right before me. The slave is smiling and says, "oh yes, this one is the one I want!" Shocked, I just stand there. I could not believe what I was hearing. The slave is picking the interests? The Male speaks to her and says "surely you don't want this one, it is obviously defective in some way. Perhaps one of the others would suit you better?" She just shakes her head and says " no Daddy! It must be her. I want her and none of the others, she looks sad and I bet she has a great smile." I am absolutely stunned by this exchange and when the Male asks my number, I can barely stammer out "190 sir, I don't know my price but I imagine it is low since I am last ring." "Well this is what we are looking for. Our slave wants a playmate. You will be her slave but you will still answer to us. That being said, your day to day will be at her command. Does this sound like something you can do?" 

I am shocked since this was unheard of. A slave for a slave? I could only stumble on my words as I tried to understand how this was possible. Finally gaining my composure again, I say "yes sir. I am ready to serve in any way asked of me. I just really want to be purchased today. I am willing to do anything my owner asks of me without hesitation." He seemed pleased with my answer and turned to his companion and exchanged words I couldn't hear over the noise in the room. She nodded as the bell indicating the auction was about to start rang. They vanished into the crowd to take their seats. Just before the auction started, the door beside me opened and out snuck a steward of the house. She quietly and quickly unhooked my collar from the wall and led me through the door closing it behind her. I was panicked and heartbroken. I had been removed from the auction. I did not know why, perhaps it was the lack of interest in me for none save that strange group even approached me. I struggled to hold back tears as I was led into the room I had spent the night in. My collar was removed and my hands freed. The steward left the room without a word and finally alone, I lost all control I had and wept. 

By taking the collar off me, it was indicated I was no longer an offering of the house and deemed unsellable. If I had made it to the block and been sold, the collar would have been removed then my new owner would place their collar on me after the auction. But in my case, this would be impossible since I never made it to the block. I fell to the floor and lost myself in my grief. I would be expected to leave the auction house after all the guests left and not be permitted to return. I waited for a steward to inform me it was time to leave. I have no idea how long passed but it felt like an eternity.  I heard movement outside my door and the knob turned just a bit. I quickly regained my composure so I could keep what little pride I had left, but I knew my eyes would be red from crying. As the door opened, I waited for the sentence that would devastate me but also mark me an outcast. 

From the open door, the strange slave bounded into the room. Of all the things I was ready for, that was not one of them. She took one look at me and skidded to a halt. She cocked her head sideways and asked " why have you been crying? Was someone mean to you?" I had no answer to that so I just shook my head. I had no idea what she was doing back here unattended. That was quickly solved as her two owners entered the room. Embarrassed that I was in such disarray in the presence of owners I tried to quickly wipe my face and smooth my hair. I was so confused and upset that all I could do was fall back on my training and protocol. "Can I help you find something sir? I think you might have the wrong room. I am sure your new slave is around here somewhere though." He looked confused and said "no we are in the right room." I decided I couldn't handle much more so I said, "forgive my boldness, but you are not in the right room. I was removed from the auction before it started, so I cannot be yours for I was never sold. I'm sure it isn't your fault since these hallways can be confusing to some. I am simply awaiting the steward to remove me from the premises. I will help you find your new slave in the meantime though." He stammered angrily and I feared I had insulted him by talking back. He stormed from the room followed closely by his female companion.  Their slave stayed in the room and put a hand on my shoulder. She just smiled and said "he's not angry at you, but I think someone is in alot of trouble." I just muttered a confirmation and sank back to my knees. Could this day get any worse? The slave just smiled and left the room in pursuit of her owners.

Some time later the three of them returned to my room with the owner of the house cowering behind them. I had no idea what was going on. The Male owner thrust the house owner into the front and demanded he apologize to me. Now I really had no idea what to do. As he stammered a fearful apology, I must have looked puzzled because suddenly the Male and female owners laughed. Sobering, the female owner says to me, " you were taken from the auction because we bought you outright. We didn't want to risk someone else buying you so we paid to have you taken from auction. This idiot was supposed to inform you of that. Obviously, from your confusion and the way you are obviously upset, that did not happen. So my husband corrected the issue." I didn't know what to say, but tears started flowing from my eyes. I couldn't believe this. I had been bought outside auction? That almost never happens since the price is always much higher. As I wept with joy, the owners laughed and nodded to their slave. She put her hands into a bag she was carrying and quickly hid whatever she grabbed behind her back. She walked behind me and just said, "kneel properly!" I straightened up and awaited further orders, simply overjoyed I was getting them, no matter who they were from. I felt tight cold steel around my neck and then heard the one sound that is heaven to any slave; the click as the lock shuts. The slave grabbed my shoulders and leaned to my ear. I got chills as she simply whispered in my ear "now, you are mine slave." 

I awoke with a start. Everything was just a dream. I struggled with my disappointment and tried desperately to return to the dream but I was unable. I held onto every detail as I now knew what perfection would look like. I write this in Hopes that one day, I shall return to that dream and continue to discover what was in store for me. I do know one thing, that strange slave was right, she did show me what it was I truly desired.

[thereluctantinquisitor]

"Great. Perfect. Nice. Fuck this." With Cyrus.

@carverly seems great minds think alike, right? lol

In which Cyrus isn’t sleeping and spends most nights anywhere but the barracks, and the Dawn Squad attempts an intervention. (1800 words)

For too many nights now, Cyrus had spent hours walkingSkyhold. Not openly or carelessly; the last thing he needed was to be writtenup as a recruit breaching curfew; but with a kind of half-formed consciousnessthat seemed to let him drift by others without turning heads. It made sense, hesupposed. Most people who noticed him made a conscious effort to look the other way. That wasn’t something he particularly minded; no, he’d worked hardfor that kind of reputation. But where it used to spark something almostprimal and satisfied in his chest, now he just felt… empty. Flat.

He had never wanted anyone to care about him. So why was itstarting to feel like such a burden?

Shaking his head, frustrated with himself, Cyrus finally madethe decision to loop back to the barracks. It was almost five in the morning.He would have to be up in less than an hour for training. It didn’t matter.It was all just the same thing, over and over. Stances and drills and spars. He could do it in his sleep.

Upon reaching the barracks he breathed out softly, checkingaround, not entirely sure why. Did he really give a shit if anyone saw him? They could talk all they want. Joke and make bets about where the Orlesian spends hisnights; which bed he crawls into. Some other squads had already started withthe rumours. In Cyrus’ humble opinion, they could all go fuck themselves. Hesure as hell wasn’t about to.

Pressing his hand to the door, he pushed gently, grittinghis teeth against the soft groan of the hinges as they relented. The cold airseemed to cling to the metal, making subtle entries near impossible. But mostof the squad were heavy sleepers, and if Ralon had ended up on his back, theAntivan’s snoring should mask the sound. Carefully, Cyrus let the door closewith a click.

When he turned around, four sets of eyes stared right back.

“We need to talk,” Ralon said. He had dark circles under hiseyes, hair mussed as though he had, indeed, been waiting for the door to giveaway Cyrus’ return.

“About what?” Cyrus’ fingers itched, wantingnothing more than to reach behind him for the handle of the door. Escape back intothe cold. “What is this?”

“Easy, Prickles,” Lyrene said, one leg swinging off the sideof her bed, the other tucked beneath her. Those eyes of her flashed like apredator in the dark. “Don’t look so spooked.”

Easy for her to say.Cyrus glared at the woman, jaw working angrily, chewing over all the words he wanted tosay but knew he wouldn’t. It was the exhaustion talking, mostly. He felt soclose to snapping that a single wrong word could send him toppling over the edge.

“We’re just… I’m worried about you.” Darren’s voice was alwaysthe softest, second only to Connors’ silence. He was the only one of themstanding, bare feet shuffling nervously on the wooden floor. “You’re always gone.”

“So what if I fucking am?” Cyrus hissed, gaze snapping between them.His own squad, ganging up on him. It shouldn’t have surprised him, but he felt betrayed. Stupid bastard. What didyou expect?

“Listen,” Ralon said, also getting to his feet. He movedinto a languid stretch, dark arms raised above his head, the hem of his shirt crawlingup to expose his hips for a moment. FuckingAntivan. “What you do in your spare time’s fine by us. Really.”

Confusion momentarily replaced Cyrus’ anger. Momentarily. “Thenwhat the fuck is this all—?”

—“So long as you’realso fine with it.”

Those were… not the words Cyrus had been expecting.Particularly not from Ralon, but it seemed he was speaking for the group becausethe rest of them nodded, Lyrene cocking her head, Darren looking at him withthose big, heartbroken eyes.

Fuck.

“Great. Perfect. Nice. Fuck this.” Cyrus turned and grabbedthe door, heaving it open roughly, ready to escape back into the cold.

He almost ran straight into Hanin’s broad chest.

Stumbling back, Cyrus felt his heart start to beatfaster. What was he doing here?

“… We told the Captain,” Darren said softly. When Cyruswhirled around, unable to keep the look of betrayal off his face, the boyimmediately dropped his gaze to the floor. “I-I’m sorry. It’s just… folks weresaying things, and you weren’t talking to us, so…”

“You. You had no right.” Cyrus’ hands curled into tight fists, eyes flicking accusinglybetween his squadmates. “None of you fuckers did.”

“Cyrus.” Hanin’s voice was stone. It had always been tooheavy to dismiss. It demanded Cyrus’ attention. “You are all a team. The Dawn Squad. What hurts one of you hurts you all.They were right to tell me.”

Turning, Cyrus directed his anger at a new source. One heknew could take it. He didn’t have to hold back. “Yeah? What about my right tofucking privacy? What about that? You want to tie a bell around my neck orsomething? Cuff me to a post?”

“We just want you to—” Darren began from behind him, butCyrus ignored the boy, surging onward. He was a storm. Lightning had finally cracked through the clouds.

“So you heard some fucking rumours and believed them instead of asking me?” Cyruslaughed, almost giddy with how angry he was. No, not angry. It wasn’t eventhat. He didn’t know what he was. “Whata fucking joke. What, you worried I’m screwing my nights away with someshit-for-brains from Reynolt’s squad? Well I’m not, but so what if I was? Our reputation can’t get any fuckinglower, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“No.” Hanin stepped forward, and Cyrus reflexively steppedback, cursing himself for it at the warrior hesitated. “Cyrus, we areasking you. Right now. That is what this is.”

Cyrus’ lip curled derisively. “It’s none of your fuckingbusiness what or who I do at night, got it?”

“I am your Captain,” Hanin continued, his voice turning stern. The rest of the squadhad wisely fallen silent. “Your well-being is my responsibility, Cyrus. You areas free to do what you please as any recruit, but you are suffering. We can all see that.”

“What, you going to stand there and force a confession?”Cyrus’ heart was racing. Run. Fight. Run.He didn’t know which was right – what to do. They were all staring at him, fivesets of eyes. Five knives in his back.

Hanin’s was the sharpest of them all. “If that is what ittakes.”

No. Not a chance. Cyrusfelt the fear melting into something else; blurring with it. Rage. Pure, bitterrage that filled his mouth; flooded his senses. “What, you don’t like the ideaof sharing? Is that it? Someone else taking a turn where you’ve been piss youoff, Captain?”

The look of shock on Hanin’s face would have registered as avictory on any other occasion. But not on this one. No, this time it was just that knife driving deeper into Cyrus’ chest. “What?” Hanin actually sounded hurt, but he didn’t lower hisvoice in shame like Cyrus had expected him to do. “Cyrus, you know it’s not that.”

Cyrus snorted derisively. “Do I?” He shifted, trapped between the silentjudgement of his squad and Hanin’s worried stare. He hated both equally. “Thenwhy the fuck are you here acting like—”

—“You’re not sleeping.” Hanin took a step forward, looming over Cyrus. “Doyou really think I can’t tell you’re dead on your feet during training? I’m not blind.”

Cyrus opened his mouth, but this time no words came out.Nothing. Just pathetic, trembling-hands silence. Coward.

“The rumours are what they are,” Hanin continued stiffly. “I don’tcare about them, and nor do your squad. We care about you. If you won’t talk to us, that is your choice. No one is goingto force you.”

It made no sense to be panicking, but Cyrus was. Quietly,deep down inside, there he was, sitting with his back to a heavy door,terrified as someone pounded on the other side.

“But speaking to someone… it can help.”Hanin moved closer, but it wasn’t like before. The warrior seemed to havebecome aware of his size; of his shape looming over Cyrus; and was trying with limited success to appear less of a threat. “It doesn’t have to be one of us, but at least let me find someone you willtalk to.”

Someone. To… talk to?Cyrus had never been good at talking things through. The fact that he wasgenuinely considering slamming his boot into Hanin’s groin and running for thedoor was testament to that. He’d had no friends before. And even if he had, theywould just judge him. Think him a fucking broken mess. They’d be right to.

But if it was someone else? Someone he didn’t know?Someone who he could just let all this anger out to? Maybe that…

Slowly, Cyrus felt the anger bleed away. He lowered hisgaze, trembling, suddenly exhausted by it all. “Yeah. Fine. Whatever.” He swallowed tightly.“If it’ll get you all off my back.”

Hanin nodded, expression concerned. Then, carefully, he reached out. Cyrus let himplace a hand on his shoulder. He was too tired to do anything else. “Thank you.”Why the fuck was Hanin thanking him? “Now, get some rest. That’s an order. You’re dismissed fromtraining today.”

Cyrus’ gaze snapped back up. “But I—”

—“It is not a punishment, Cyrus. You need to rest.” Haninsqueezed his shoulder slightly in reassurance, and for whatever reason, Cyrusactually believed him. Or maybe he was just thattired. Letting go, Hanin stepped back and turned his attention to the others. “As for therest of you, I will see you on the training ground in half an hour. Understood?”

The Dawn Squad groaned a miserable chorus of yes sir’s, Lyrene flopping back onto hermattress dramatically, Ralon yawning as he scooped his hair into a ponytail,Connors sliding on her boots. Hanin turned and left, and Cyrusawkwardly made his way over to his cot. It was right beside Darren’s, and the kid watchedhim like a person who had just accidentally kicked his dog.

“Stop with that fucking look,” Cyrus muttered, sliding offhis shirt and bending to unlace his boots. “It’s pathetic.”

Darren was silent for a moment. But only a moment. “I’m so sorry,”he whispered, likely not wanting to draw unwanted attention back to Cyrusagain. “It wasn’t meant togo like that. That… wasn’t right. I just didn’t know what else to do, and Ithought…”

“Whatever, Darren.” Cyrus wasn’t in the mood to comfortanyone. He was rarely in that mood at the best of times. “Just go. If anyonehere needs to train, it’s you.”

It was far from the cruelest thing Cyrus had ever said tothe kid, but when Darren hurried away, glassy-eyed, it might as well have been.Not wanting to make things worse – not wanting to sit there stewing and blamingeveryone for what had gone down – Cyrus just dragged over the blanketand wrapped himself in it, back facing the rest of his squadmates. No one bothered himagain, and one by one, they drifted out of the barracks until Cyrus was finally alone.Alone to replay what had happened over and over again. Alone to relive thewords he’d said to them all – to Hanin– and regret them.

But it was done. And even though it was usually easier forCyrus to just blame himself, this time, it felt like they’d all fucked upsomewhere along the line.

Maybe that was what made it easier to just close his eyesand sleep.

[petergrantkavinsky]

Calloween Party

Note: It’s Halloween and Cal’s birthday! Sorry for the title. To be fair, I wrote this yesterday when I was sick. Still am today.

Word count: 3,024 (I tried to make it shorter. I don’t know what happened.)

KILORN

I first heard of the word Halloween from Cal. It was one late night, and we were bonding over a bottle of plum wine.

“Come on, tell me more stories about your life as prince,” I said.

I don’t know when and why I started wanting to get to know Cal. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a guy friend. My one and only best friend in the world has always been Mare Barrow. And while I consider Mare’s brothers my friends too, they’re more like brothers to me, in the same way that Gisa feels more like a little sister than a friend. So maybe I just wanted a guy friend, for a change.

Or perhaps it’s because Cal and I are more alike than I’d like to admit.

I may not be a prince, I may not have been betrayed by my own brother, but like him, I have no one. No family, no home, no nothing. Like Cal, there’s not a single thing I can call ‘mine’ in this world. We’re two lonely souls looking for the place where we belong.

Cal sighed deeply. “If there’s one thing I miss the most, it’s my birthday party. It was a double celebration every year because my birthday and Halloween fall on the same day.”

“Halloween?”

“Oh. It’s a celebration every 31st of October. Though, the people no longer celebrate it today.”

“Halloween, huh. Then how come you celebrated it? Was that another perk of being royalty? Your Highness?” I added the last part with a smirk to let him know I was only teasing him.

The smile on his face faded, and I felt guilty, thinking I might have offended him. “It’s my mom,” he said. “Julian told me when Mom was still alive, she’d often read his books, and she found out about Halloween from those books. When she realized she was going to give birth to me in October, she asked my father to hold a Halloween ball, like a welcome party for me, you know. Of course, Father would do anything for her, so he said yes in a heartbeat and asked the palace staff to do the necessary preparations.”

I nodded, absorbing this new information and prodding him to continue. “She didn’t really plan to attend the Halloween ball since she was very much pregnant by then. According to Julian, she only wanted to hold that ball mainly for the children. She loved children, all of them. And because she couldn’t invite Red children to the palace, she asked Sara, her then lady-in-waiting, and some of her most trusted palace stuff to knock on as many doors as they could and deliver food to families and candies for the children.”

He proceeded to explain a Halloween custom called trick-or-treat, where the children wear costumes of their choice, travel from house-to-house, and ask for treats. If no treat is given, they would make fun of you.

I instantly realized that Cal got his soft spot for children from his mother. They were the same. “So Queen Coriane sort of did the trick-or-treat except that it was no trick, and she was the one giving treats.” I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I did.

Cal smiled, looking so proud of his mother. “Exactly.”

“Wow.” I was amazed by what I learned about Halloween, but mostly by the kindness that the late queen had shown.

“My mom was never present in any of my birthday parties. She’d died four months before I celebrated my first.” He said the last part so softly and quietly, as if he didn’t want me to hear. He cleared his throat and continued. “I guess that’s the reason I had Halloween-themed birthday parties all my life. Because Halloween was Mom’s thing, and Father wanted me to feel her presence on my birthday.”

“That… that’s thoughtful of your father,” I said because I didn’t really know what to say.

Cal just gave me a sad smile and looked away. Just like that, he got lost in his thoughts. He probably missed his mother. That much was clear by the look on his face.

At that moment, I felt his loss and yearning.

At that moment, I felt we became friends.

And at that moment, a wonderful idea struck me.

I have found the perfect birthday gift for my new friend.

If you told me weeks ago that I would be hosting a Halloween birthday party for a Silver prince—no less, I would laugh at your face and call your bluff because there was absolutely no way that would happen in this universe. Heck, weeks ago, I didn’t even have an idea what a freaking Halloween was.

But tonight, here I am, doing exactly just that.

The morning after Cal and I had that conversation over plum wine, I immediately shared my idea with Mare, Farley, Gisa, and Ada. I had to tell them of what I knew about Halloween, and Ada suggested we borrowed Julian’s books for more information.

“I didn’t know you two are close enough for you to do this,” Farley said.

I wasn’t sure either, so I chose to ignore her comment. “To be honest, I think we all need this. We need to take a break and have fun.” Then I turned to Mare. “Right, Mare? If you want, this could be our gift for him. What do you think?”

Before Mare could answer, Gisa giggled. “I think Mare has a more… special gift for Cal.”

Mare instantly turned beet red, while Farley and Ada just laughed. Meanwhile, I just stood there, completely awkward and uncomfortable. Even though it no longer hurt me, I still didn’t want to imagine my best friend’s sex life.

The five of us, plus five-month old Clara, spent the whole day in Julian’s quarters and read his books, researching Halloween and possible costumes each of us could wear. Ada was by my side, assisting me in my reading. As we did our research, Clara turned into a sweet angel, sleeping soundly in her bassinet that Farley had brought with them.

And tonight our little Halloween birthday party is being held here at Farley and Clara’s apartment, which is like twenty steps away from the Barrows’. The whole place has been turned into a little haunted house. Since the lights are off, the room is only illuminated by Christmas lights hanging on the walls, windows, and ceiling. Fake spider webs and bats are attached to the Christmas lights. Jack o’ lanterns of different sizes are found everywhere. There are also literally creepy looking masks courtesy of Bree and Tramy who decided to contribute and be artistic. Gisa and Ada have been very resourceful in looking for all the necessary materials.

Cal knows about the Halloween party tonight; what he doesn’t know is that it is his birthday party. We’ve agreed that nobody will greet Cal until tonight. We’re going to make him think as if nobody has remembered his birthday—Gisa’s idea.

“So, what do you think?” Gisa gives me a twirl to emphasize her strapless white dress and bare feet. “Do I look like Ariel from The Little Mermaid?”

I give her a quick once-over and shake my head. “Not really. For one, you have legs. Mermaids don’t have legs.” She frowns, and I chuckle. We were reading Julian’s old fairy tale books to look for character inspirations when I came across The Little Mermaid and suggested Ariel to Gisa just because they’re both redheads. But the thing is, it was too difficult to make a mermaid costume even for a talented seamstress like Gisa. Besides, we lacked some materials. So she just decided to dress up as human Ariel, instead of mermaid princess Ariel.

I actually considered The Little Mermaid genderbent for myself—The Little Merman.  I thought the mermaid in the story and I were somewhat the same. Not Walt Disney’s sugarcoated version, but the original The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, the story that Sara told the children one afternoon during her storytelling time with them. Like the mermaid in the story, I was heartbroken.

“What about you? You don’t look like Nemo either.” Gisa chides playfully. Then, as if realizing something, she suddenly laughs. “Why are you a fish, anyway?”

“It’s because I’m not yet wearing my headdress. Just wait and see. And besides, you’re a mermaid, so you should treat fish like me with love and respect. We’re both creatures of the sea.”

She stops laughing for a second only to start again.

The party is in full swing when Cal and Mare arrive. They are dressed as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, respectively, which is perfect considering their one-foot height difference, though Cal seems too big to be Peter Pan. In their hands are boxes of cupcakes and cookies. Their faces are slightly covered in flour, and there are stains of chocolate on Cal’s sleeves. They must have done the baking in their costumes.

Farley was the one who opened the door for them. She’s dressed as Diana Prince, which is absolutely perfect because she and the Amazon princess are the same in more ways than just their first name. Clara is in her arms looking adorable in her bumblebee costume that Gisa patiently sewed for her. “Where have the two of you been?”

Like the other day, before any of them could answer, Gisa appears and makes a point to place her hands on her hips. “Really, Mare?! On Mom’s kitchen counter?!”

“No!” Mare and Cal said at the same time. They’re both blushing, it looks comical.

“Will you please stop with your… sex jokes? They’re not funny.” Mare reprimands.

“Just kidding.” Gisa winks and begins to walk away back to her face painting booth where Cameron, Morrey, and Luther are waiting in the line.

Cal places the boxes on the coffee table and looks around the place. “Wow. This party looks great. You guys have outdone yourselves.”

Farley pointedly looks at me before placing Clara in Cal’s arms. “Will you take her to the children’s games? She’d love to win the plushy prizes. I would take her myself, but I have something to do.”

Cal carefully adjusts his hold on Clara who keeps babbling and giggling. “Yeah, sure.” He removes one arm from Clara for a moment to give Farley a mock salute which she just smirks at. “But General, you might also want to take a break and have fun tonight.”

“I’ll be back before you know it.” Farley says and discreetly looks at Mare and me, reminding us of our plan.

“I’ll take these boxes to the dining area.” Mare says.

“I’ll help you.”

MARE

Kilorn and I meet in Farley’s room where Farley and Ada have been waiting. Ada looks pretty cool and smart in her NASA costume.

“Looking lovely, Ada,” I tell her.

“Oh, thanks. You too, Mare.”

The plan is to disappear from the party and let Cal be with all the children. Gisa has to stay because she’s the one facilitating the children’s games.

After reviewing our plan to make sure everything goes smoothly, Kilorn, Farley, and Ada leave to do their respective tasks, leaving me alone in Farley’s room, the door ajar, from where I’m observing the party.

But mostly, I’m just looking at Cal.

I’m certain I’m having a tunnel vision where Cal is the focal point.

It’s a beautiful picture. He’s holding bumblebee Clara while playing games with the children and helping them win the prizes. The children adore him.

He’s smiling so brightly his eyes crinkle in the corner. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him smile like this before. Being with the children makes him happy and feel like he’s one of them, carefree and oblivious to the bad things in the real world. They make him forget about the grown-up problems that he’s facing.

And seeing him happy makes me happy too.

At some point, Clara begins to squirm in his arms and cry a little. Cal starts cooing at her and makes silly faces in an attempt to calm her down. The sight is perfect it makes me giggle. However, it has the opposite effect this time, and Clara starts crying a little louder. Cal knows what the crying means because the two of us are usually Clara’s babysitters whenever Farley has some work to do and can’t take her baby with her. Realizing that Clara wants to refill her little tummy, Cal looks around, obviously looking for Farley, and I quickly close the door before he can spot me.

I lean against the door and find myself smiling like an idiot over the sight of a tall guy dressed as Peter Pan holding a fat little bumblebee baby in his arms. I’m totally a goner.

God, Mare. Get it together!

When I reopen the door, Cal has found Clara’s bottles which are placed on the coffee table, and Clara is now heartily drinking from one of them. Cal keeps making silly faces at her, and I can tell from the way Clara is moving her hands and feet that she’s just as smitten as I am.

After that, Cal and Clara go back to join the other children and continue to win as many plushies as they can.

Before I know it, it’s already 23:45. It’s time to execute the surprise.

By this time, the children’s games have ended, and they are now dancing and playing with each other. Cal is sitting on the loveseat, Clara soundly sleeping in his arms. He’s chatting with Luther who’s dressed as Stitch and looking at the baby with wonders in his eyes. I don’t know how Cal has managed to do it, but all this time, he’s never put Clara down.

“It’s time, Mare. The lights will be off in three… two…” Indeed, the lights are turned off even before Kilorn finishes his countdown. “Come on, we’ve got to show up now.”

Before we leave Farley’s room, I get my gift for Cal. I wrapped it yesterday and kept it here in Farley’s room. I just hope he’ll like it.

The living area where the party is being held is now dark and silent. “Mare? Kilorn? Where are you?” It’s Cal, and based on where his voice is coming from, I can tell he’s stood up from the loveseat. “It’s late. I think Clara wants to sleep now.”

Kilorn and I nod at each other, and with a flick of my finger, all lights are turned on, and confetti and balloons of different shapes and colors are now flying everywhere.

“Happy birthday, Cal!” We all shout in unison. The children laugh and jump as they try to reach for the balloons.

For a moment, Cal does not say anything and just looks all over the place. And then, he shifts his gaze at us. He smiles and is about to open his mouth to say something when the silence is broken by Clara’s cries.

“Alright. I think it’s bedtime for my little dove,” Farley says. “But maybe you can blow this candle first, so I can take her from you?” She then moves the Halloween birthday cake that she’s holding closer to Cal.

“The General and I baked the cake. Our gift.” Ada says with a smile. “Before you blow the candle, make a wish.”

And that’s exactly what Cal does. Farley then places the cake on the coffee table and takes her daughter from Cal.

Finally, Cal speaks. “Wow. I thought… I thought you guys have forgotten.”

“How could we? Never.” I say as I walk closer to him. Then I stand on my tiptoes, throw my arms around his neck, and hug him. And he hugs me back. “Happy birthday, Cal.” After a few seconds, I step away from him and give him my gift. “For you.”

He tries to shake the box to guess what’s inside. “This… is a little heavy. Should I open it now?”

“No.” I look around, at everyone who’s watching us. “I think you should open it later.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Kilorn clears his throat. “So, I don’t have a material gift for you, but this party, this Halloween birthday party, this is my gift. Gisa actually helped a lot.” He turns to Gisa who smiles at Cal and mouths happy birthday. “I know this is nothing compared to the Halloween balls you had in the palace, but—”

To our surprise and delight, Cal envelopes Kilorn in a man hug. “Of course. Of course, it was you. This party was your idea. After I told you about Halloween and all…” He releases Kilorn and looks all over the place again. “You’re right. This party is not comparable to the ones I had in the palace because this is so much better.” And then he looks at all of us. “This is real. A real party.”

Kilorn blinks as if he can’t believe what he heard him say. I know we all have the same reaction because Cal almost never shows this real version of him to everyone. Kilorn then shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. “Damn right!” And to everyone, he says, “The night is young. Let’s party!”

“Just please don’t be too loud, okay? I’ll take Clara to bed now. And make sure to clean your mess before you leave my house.” Farley orders.

“Yes, General!” Kilorn replies with a mock salute before leading everyone to the dining area where the food and drinks are waiting.

I take Cal’s hand in mine. “Shall we to Neverland, Peter Pan?”

He laces our fingers together and brings them to his lips to give my knuckles a kiss. “We shall, Tinkerbell.”

I wanted this night to be perfect to make Cal realize that he can be happy in our company, that we as his friends are enough, that I am enough. That if ever the time comes where he has to pick a side, he’d always choose me.

And tonight, I feel that he would.

I can only hope I’m right.

[ithinkilikeit-reactions]

Karma (reader x Jaebum x Jinyoung/Angst)

Ask: Can I get a angst of got7 jb caught cheating on his gf when he was a trainee and they meet again at a cafe but now he’s got7 leader and he try to get back with her only to find out she was meeting Jinyoung her boyfriend. (Sorry I love angst)

Y/N’s POV

We were in a happy relationship... at least that was what I thought. When we were together he always smiled and so did I. We hardly fought and when we did it was resolved immediately. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw Jaebum screwing another girl in his dorm. I remember the look on his face when he saw me, filled with regret mostly. I haven’t spoken to him since. He left me heartbroken and it sucked. 

I never really kept contact with anyone around him, except for Jinyoung. He had heard what happened when they were in their JJ project days. Upon hearing the news he texted me, asking if I was okay. We spoke almost everyday since and that blossomed into more, secretively.

He treated me well, told me how it was. That was something Jaebum never had the guts to do.

Two years later and GOT7 was going strong. Jaebum was a good leader and Jinyoung was his right hand man who snuck away to see me. Did I feel bad? Yes. Was what Jaebum did to me worse? That depends on your point of view. But karma had a way of biting us all in the butt.

It was an average day, Jinyoung was at practice with the others. I had managed to score a day off and wanted to spend time with him. We had agreed to meet in a coffeeshop down the street from JYPE in Jinyoung’s break. 

There I sat, warm cup of coffee in my hand and waiting for him. Out of boredom, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling though my SNS and liking some of the new pictures GOT7 released. I was immensly proud of them. I might not have liked Jaebum anymore, but I still supported them as much as I could from my postition and it was difficult.

The sound of coemone clearing their throat distracted me from instagram. I looked up and my heart nearly dropped upon seeing their face.

It was jaebum and the image of him with the other girl flashed in my mind. I felt like slapping him. After two years the way he made me despise him was apparent.

“Y/N, I haven’t seen you in a while.” He said, his voice low and barely audible. All I wanted to do was yell and scream about how he bad he hurt me. But I wanted to take the highroad. “Yeah, there are reasons for that.” I said and he sat in the chair infront of mine. “I know and I understand you feel mad. I was an idiot.”He said and tried to hold my hand. Quickly, I pulled my hand away and looked at with disbelief. 

“I’m seeing someone, Jaebum.” I said, praying he would leave before Jinyoung showed up. “Who? Do I know him? He’s probably an ass.” Jaebum said with a halfhearted laugh. I scoffed, not believing the words from his mouth. 

“He’s not an ass. He picked me up after you cheated on me. Please leave.” I said and then a smiling Jinyoung walked into the coffeeshop. Before I could shoo him away he spotted me and rushed over. 

“Hi, jagi- oh.” He greeted and noticed Jaebum sitting across from me. Like fireworks, Jaebum’s jaw tightened and fists clenched. “This is the guy you’re seeing?” He paused and Jinyoung and I exchanged glances. “Jinyoung my best friend and my ex.” He said firmly and Jonyoung placed a calming hand on ym shoulder. 

“We couldn’t tell you. We knew you’d be upset.”I said and Jaebum’s eyes went wide. He looked furious, Like he was going to dive over the table and put Jinyoung in a choke hold.

“I’m more than upset. I feel betrayed.” He said and other people in the café looked at us. “Sucks doesn’t it? Imagine how she/he felt.” Jinyoung snapped and I looked away. I felt like sinking through the floor.

“You cheated and hurt her/him. I was their to help her. I couldn’t help that I fell in love. But I am damn sure treating him/her better.” Jinyoung helped me more than he could imagine.

Jaebum looked at us dumfounded, trying to rack his brain around the situation. A devilish smile formed on his face. 

“I see how it is. But I’m going to give you a choice. Y/N or GOT7?” 

A/N: I never wrote angst before omg. I kind of made Jaebum an ass in this, I DON’T THINK THAT HE IS AN ASS. just so you know.

[eienvine]

Because the world needs more Orville fanworks

So is anyone watching The Orville? And if so, can we talk about Kelly and Ed? I haven't even made up my mind whether I like the show yet, but I already ship those two SO HARD. (Is their ship name Mercson? Is that the plan?) Anyway this ficlet popped into my head and demanded to be written, and since I am feeling too lazy at the moment to get The Orville added as a category on AO3, I thought I’d put it on my old friend The Tumblr. Just a short and (bitter)sweet little moment between the captain and the XO.

Rating: K

Pairing: Kelly Grayson/Ed Mercer (Mercson, I believe?)

“So what’s the deal with Alara?”

Kelly looks up from her lunch as Ed walks into her office and drops into the seat in front of her desk. “What do you mean?” she asks, although deep down she suspects she knows.

“I don’t know,” he shrugs as he casually reaches out and steals one of the cherry tomatoes off her plate. The move takes her back a year and a half and more, to a thousand meals just like this: the pair of them together, chatting casually over the table, with Ed eating her tomatoes because he knows she doesn’t like them. The thought gives her a pang of nostalgia that she violently shoves back into its usual deep dark corner of her heart. “She’s been kind of weird,” he explains after a moment’s thought. “Sort of jumpy and on edge, almost . . . nervous, you know what I’m saying?”

Yes, Kelly knows exactly what he’s saying, and she wonders how to respond. Alara is her friend, and she doesn’t want to embarrass her. To answer truthfully would feel like betraying a confidence, even though Alara hasn’t actually told her anything; what Kelly knows is the result of observation, not confession.

But on the other hand, Ed is her captain, and if she has information about a personnel issue that could affect how the senior officers interact with each other, maybe she should say something. Imagine if it led to sloppy behavior on a mission, or in a landing party: the results could be disastrous.

(And on a third hand, he’s more than her captain. Alara might be a friend but Ed is . . . well, she has no idea what she and Ed are to each other, but she knows that whatever it is, it’s strong, stronger than her friendship with Alara. It has not escaped her wry, resigned notice that even now, sixteen months after the divorce, Ed is still the most significant relationship in her life.)

“I’m just worried, I guess,” Ed is continuing. “Those could be indicators of stress. Are we overworking her? I know she’s well trained, and she’s strong as an ox, but she’s still so green; twenty-three is pretty young to be a chief security officer. Should I lessen her hours until she’s feeling better?”

“Don’t do that,” Kelly says immediately. She doesn’t want to undermine the tenuous respect that Alara is starting to command among the crew, especially not when stress and overworking are not actually what’s ailing the young Xelayan. “It’s just . . .” How to put this in a way that won’t embarrass her young friend? “It’s being around you, to be honest. She’s kind of got a little hero-worship thing going on.” That’s essentially the truth, anyway.

Ed’s eyebrows raise in surprise.

“It’s actually really normal for young recruits to develop that kind of admiration for their commanding officers,” she says. “I mean, you remember the first captain I served under, Captain Cardaleer? I followed him around with stars in my eyes for the first six months. I actually used to take notes on all his crew-wide debriefings.”

“I see,” says Ed with understanding in his face. Too much understanding, actually; she can see at a glance that he heard all the things that she carefully didn’t say. So much for discretion. She never could hide much from Ed . . . except the affair, of course. “You mean she’s got a little bit of a–yeah, in retrospect, that actually explains a lot. So what should I do?”

“Don’t do anything,” she says immediately. “If you say anything you’ll just embarrass her. Give her a few months and it’ll wear off; she’ll find someone new to admire.” It occurs to her, not for the first time, how lucky she is to be serving under Ed; she can only imagine what her previous captain would have done with the fact that one of his young underlings was harboring a crush on him. An XO shouldn’t have to spend half her time comforting heartbroken crew members and trying to keep her captain from causing an HR nightmare.

But Ed wouldn’t do that–not with a subordinate, especially one who is so young and so new to the Union. He’s got his faults, but deep down, he’s a good guy. Always was, always will be.

Kelly goes on. “She’s smart, and a good officer; I don’t think you have to worry about getting any love letters or anything.”

He gives her that little smile of his, the one that just sort of beams at her like she’s done something wonderful, the one that used to be exclusively hers, the one that she’s never been able to resist. “If you say so, Kel. I trust you.” He grabs another of her tomatoes. “What’s the deal with that, though? I thought she’d been dating some guys on the ship. None of those worked out?”

She shrugs. “Apparently most of the guys she’s tried to date on the ship have been really put off by the fact that she’s stronger than them.” She hesitates, then adds, “I think that’s one thing Alara likes about you. You see her strength as something to be admired, not something she should be ashamed of.”

He chuckles and leans back in his chair. “I didn’t do it to get her to fall for me, but I do stand by that attitude. It’s one of the things that makes her awesome.”

Kelly laughs and rolls her eyes. “I wish more guys felt that way. And not just about strength. Some males can be really threatened by female competence.”

Ed snorts. “Which I’ve never understood What’s the appeal in being with someone who needs you to do everything for them? I always find competence sexy. I mean, that’s why I first asked you . . . out . . .” He trails off, wincing a little, and fixes his gaze on something on the wall behind her.

They’ve gotten better about not bringing up their past; some days she can pretend that they’ve never been anything except professional colleagues. It’s probably better that way. And in that spirit, she should drop this, she really should. But her mouth doesn’t listen to her brain. “Really? That was what you liked about me?”

He meets her eyes then, grinning a little shyly. “Well, yeah. You remember that hand-to-hand combat class we had? You kicked my butt; I was sore for days. And you were so good that I just thought, ‘I need to know that girl.’”

This is the most they’ve talked about their romantic history since they were trapped in that Calivon zoo. And maybe it has Ed feeling a little vulnerable too, because he clearly feels the need to break the silence with a joke. “You know, I just said something really nice about you. You should return the favor. My ego needs some stroking.”

She laughs aloud at that. “All right,” she says, and thinks back to those early days at Union Point, when she first started noticing her over-eager, over-optimistic, over-sincere classmate with the warm brown eyes. Then, ignoring the little pang in her chest: “The first thing I noticed about you . . . well, I mean, you were such a hard worker, and so smart; we all knew you’d do great things. But what I liked about you was how you wanted to believe the best of everything and everyone. You weren’t naive, you just preferred . . . to hope for the best. I’d always been so relentlessly practical, so to be around your optimism was, I don’t know. Nice.”

Optimism you took from him, says a voice in her head that she’s mostly managed to keep quiet the last few months. She hates herself for cheating because she lost Ed, but she also hates herself for cheating because she made Ed lose his way, as well as his hopeful outlook on life. And his ability to trust others, adds the voice, and she savagely tells it to shut up because if she starts down that path of self-flagellation, she’s going to be in a bad mood all day.

Ed is nodding thoughtfully. “It’s not as cool as beating people up, but I’ll take it.”

She chuckles, and he slaps his hands down on his knees in a final sort of way. “So, do nothing? That’s your advice?” She nods and he smiles. “You always have been better at solving my problems than I have,” he says–something that’s become a bit of a joke between them ever since the first time he said it, after their first mission together on the Orville.

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks,” she says–another joke between them, from long ago.

There’s that little smile again, the one that–yes, she admits it–has her heart rate subtly accelerating. “Thanks, Kel,” he says, and rises from his chair, and leaves the office.

And Kelly sits quietly at her desk, her eyes fixed on her office door, for a long time after he’s gone.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

All you need is someone to guide you; Legolas x teen reader

Here is yet another Legolas request I got from wattpad, this one was actually my first Legolas Greenleaf request that I got to do. Now be WARNED there are hints of suicide through starvation as well as extreme self-hate so if you are uncomfortable reading about this then just skip over it or don’t read it at all. Other than that I hope u all enjoy this ;)

________________________________________________________

I'm led through the halls of Rivendell by two guards towards the council room of Lord Elrond. The Guards and I stop and sitting on his high chair was the Lord of Imladris himself.

"What is this about this time?"

"My Lord Elrond, we caught (y/n) causing a havoc among the other soldiers which in turned up injuring Lady Arwen".  

"Is she alright?"

"She's fine my Lord, minor scrapes because her horse was startled in the chaos but Lady Arwen is fine". Another guard stated.

"Leave us now". The guards released me leaving me and Lord Elrond alone. "Care to explain what the ruckus was about this time?"  

"What do you usually think? The new soldiers getting on my back of me being half human. You know if I may say Lord Elrond you should really—" 

"SILENCE!" I stopped talking and lowered my head down hoping that I would get another warning for this by showing my submissive behavior.  

He took a deep heavy sigh before stating.  

"(Y/n), you know I took you in for your mother was a dear old friend of mine, but I will not tolerate anymore behavior like this, especially when it comes to the safety of my own children. Therefore you are hereby banished from the Valley of Imladris, you are to never set foot within it's borders, or ever try to contact any Elves here".  

I stared at him in shock.  

Banishment? No It—it can't be.  

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no My Lord please I—I promise I'll try to never cause havoc among your guards again! Please there—there has to be another way".

"There's not. I've protected you one to many times than I should have. Now that you've caused a threat to my own children this time it's made clear to me that you are too dangerous to keep around. I expect you out of here immediately and if you're still here by daybreak I'll have no choice but to sentence you to death". He stated with his back turned.  

I couldn't believe what I was hearing from Lord Elrond, the man who raised me ever since my mother died when I was just 6 years old.  

But I had no choice but to accept my fate.  

"Yes Lord Elrond". I left his council room but looked back to see if he'd turn and look at me.  

He didn't.  

I packed very light since I was given very little (mostly because I think the other Rivendell Elves wanted me dead in three days time). I wasn't given a horse so I had no choice but to walk wherever the wind took me.  

As I walked up the mountains edge I took one last look at my home with tears in my eyes but refused to shed them. I turned my back and continued to walk out of the Valley, over the Misty Mountains and beyond to wherever I was heading (which I still had no clue of).  

Months passed since I left Rivendell and I tried my best to survive in anyway I could. I fished in the river, set up camp wherever I could, and ever since my tenth village incident of causing chaos when I'm not meaning to, I've tried to avoid travelers or their villages but I would steal supplies to hopefully get me through at least a month's worth.  

But not one day goes by when I don't think of home.  

I felt betrayed, heartbroken, and angry beyond belief. Now there seemed like I could trust no one because of my parents. Truthfully my father only met my mother at a mortal's pub and had a one night stand with my mother, when she came to tell him she was pregnant with me he turned her away making me fatherless and a bastard's child, not only that but I'm a half breed.  

While I look very much like a mortal woman, I was only gifted with longer life thanks to my mother's Elvish bloodline. In times I'm sorta grateful for the longer life span but it's gotten me into so much trouble that I've become sensitive about my heritage thanks to my stubbornness human side from my bastard father (probably where I get my temper from). 

I feel like now maybe I'll never belong anywhere if I keep causing havoc. I don't mean too it's just— 

No! No! No tears! Don't you cry (y/n) crying is weakness! Don't show them you're weak!  I was so caught up in my depression that I didn't take notice that I had walked into the forest of the Woodland realm.  

Mirkwood.  

When I finally snapped out of my state it was already too late, I had trailed far off into the woods that I had no idea how to get back, nor could I now that I've entered into the belly of the beast.  

As I'm sure you know the Wood elves aren't like their kin, they are less wise, and more dangerous. And after the fall of his Queen some years ago, King Thranduil of the Woodland realm had become cold hearted, cruel and bitter to anyone who enters his domain without notice.  

So in a way I'm screwed.  

I took out my dagger for I had been told that this was not the Greenwood of Old like in the stories I've read, foul creatures lurk within these borders like Spiders, and a sickness lies upon the forest that can empty anyone's mind who enters it's borders but I guess because of my Elvish heritage I'm not being effected by it as I stuck to the Elvish path that would lead me to safety out of the forest and hopefully undetected by the Wood Elves.  

But of course I always jinx everything.  

Suddenly out of nowhere one of the spiders came hissing at me with it's fangs dripping out it's dreadful poison.  I fought as best I could against this foul creature but soon more started coming down from the trees outnumbering me like a pack of wargs against a stag. I twirled my sword from one spider to the next slaying them as best I could but my strength was weighing fast and I was starting to get tired. Just as one knocked me down and was about to sink it's fangs into my body, a dagger pierced through it's eyes as it roared and collapsed dead.  

I soon heard more spiders falling down then before I knew it I was surrounded by an even bigger threat.  

The Wood Elves.  

They all had their arrows hitched and ready to fire at me if I made any sudden movements.  

"Stand up!" Commanded a red haired She-Elf as she pulled her arrow back even further as her arrow stood right at my face. I slowly raised my arms up and stood up cautiously as to tell them I meant no harm. "Who are you? Why are you here?"  

"Just passing through. I didn't even know I was even walking towards the Woodland realm until my reasoning finally caught up with my thoughts". The red she-elf looked at me suspiciously with an arched eyebrow when another voice stated.  

"Tauriel, leave her!" The two of us turned and I was surprised to see who had defended me.  It was the Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas Greenleaf.  

"Hîr lim Legolas" she bowed her head and as did I because even thought I was being interrogated now, I should at least show some respect especially when a Prince saves my life. He came up to me and gently lifted my chin up and we locked eyes for a bit. 

"Enwenno he!" He commanded.  

Now I know I'm screwed.  

I was soon lead through the forest, across the bridge that stood over a rushing river and at the other side of the bridge was the gate to the Woodland realm, the Kingdom of Thranduil. I was lead inside as I was kept by the Prince's side at all times with the guards behind us and they guided me towards the throne room.  

And there sitting on his high throne with a crown of berries and Autumn leaves holding his staff was the King of the Woodland realm himself.  Thranduil.  

"Who do we have here?" Asked Thranduil.  

"We found her in the forest fighting against the spiders my Lord, she won't tell us of where she comes from or her name". The Elf king walked down from his throne and appeared in front of me and lifted my chin to look into my eyes.  

"The half breed of Rivendell, the exiled troublemaker of Lord Elrond's kingdom. Surprised that you're even still alive" I narrowed my eyes at him ready to punch to smug look off his face for naming who I am to all of his kin. "The half breed who only causes chaos and wreckage in her wake, destroys everything that she touches and turns kinsman against one another among the Elves of Imladris and in the villages of Man".  

Oh God did I want to punch this Elf King and not stop what so ever, I don't care if I end up being executed because no one wants me around since I've been labeled as an outcast now because of my reputation for causing trouble.  

But it's not my fault.  

I didn't ask to be born to father who abandoned me, I didn't ask to be born a half breed, I didn't ask to become sensitive about my heritage.  

I didn't even ask to be born!  

WHY DOES EVERYONE BLAME ME FOR EVERYTHING!? WHY!?!?  

"In order to not cause any trouble you'll spend the rest of your life in the deepest, isolated dungeon we have. So that you won't cause trouble for any other of our prisoners we bring in". It was then I was dragged away by two armored guards down to the depths of Mirkwood thrown into a tight cell that was indeed the only cell beneath the palace with hardly any light shining through from the lamps that hung a few floors above.  

As the guards left me locked in the cell, I huddled myself into a tight ball whimpering and wishing that I was dead instead of living like this for the rest of my life.  

I no longer want to live anymore, I think the world would be better off if I was dead.  

I don't know how long it's been since I've been sentenced down here, maybe a few days? Weeks? Months? It's hard to tell whether it's day or night in these dungeons. Even if I receive food, I refused to eat trying to starve myself hoping that if I didn't eat long enough I could die of starvation and dehydration. Sometimes for some unknown reason, the Prince himself would come down to the dungeons just to talk with me, to comfort me but I remained silent because I don't want his sympathy for what his father has done to me or for all the things that he's heard from his kinsmen or the rumors that have flied from village to village ever since my banishment. 

It wasn't until I heard my cell door being unlocked and I heard a soft voice say.  

"(Y/n), (y/n) wake up. Come with me". I slowly opened my weak eyes to see a figure kneeling over me. He gently helped me sit upwards as he asked me, "can you walk?"  

"Too weak" I panted weakly. The lack of food and water had seriously drained my energy and I haven't moved from my curled up position ever since I had been banished down here. I was soon carried in his arms like a baby as he left the dungeons and took a look around for any guards nearby and snuck me outside and placed me on the back of a horse. He leaped up gracefully behind me and wrapped an arm securely around my waist so I wouldn't fall off and urged the horse onward.  

Next thing I knew I passed out against the man's chest.  

When I woke up, I shielded my eyes from the sudden sunlight I was exposed to and I saw a stash of fruits and a bowl of water sitting right next to me.  

"You'll need your strength back, you've been down in the dungeons for almost a month; but luckily I called the guards away so I could get you out". I turned around to see Prince Legolas standing just a couple feet away looking outward to make sure no one was coming. "This spot here was once my mother's favorite grounds to walk across beyond the borders of Mirkwood, when I was an Elfling she would always bring me here to escape the pressures of the palace, I figured my father won't send any of the guards to come look for you here, you should be safe here" he stated.  

I was now beyond confused as I looked at him with pained eyes.  

"The food is freshly picked from the fruit trees I managed to find, so nothing is poisoned, not even the water, make sure you take little sips, don't want you choking". He stated again as he walked closer to me gesturing towards the fruit he had picked.  

He was acting so kind to me, even though his father said all of those things, and I'm sure he's already heard for himself and didn't need to be persuaded by his father to turn away from me.  

So why was he being so kind to me?  

I grabbed one of the apples and when I took a bite, it was like tasting heaven for the first time in almost a month since my last meal. I ate all the apples I could right down to the core, then I ate some of the bananas, grapes, and berries while taking small sips of the water inbetween the foods I kept eating.  

Finally I was content with my now full stomach.  

"Better?" I nodded but still kept looking at him confused as to why he was being so kind to me.  

"Are you going to kill me now? I'd be alright if you did, rather be better if you'd just end my life now so that I won't cause you any trouble".  

"Why do you speak like that? You are young you have a full life ahead of you. Why would you want me to take your life?" I took a deep sigh as Legolas sat down close by my side.  

"I thought—that you'd be exactly like everyone else. That you'd be just like your father and want me to rot in your dungeons. But you're just—this real person. And you're so freakin open and it kills me!" "Why does that kill you? I don't understand please tell me". Legolas urged me to continue as I began shuddering both physically and as I spoke. Tears formed in my eyes as I recalled everything.  "Because you want a relationship! A future! And anyone whose ever wanted that with me I just—It's never worked out. I've always let them down. I destroy everything that I touch! Because of who my parents were, they treat me like I'm a child of Mordor!" I choked out as I looked at him with tears dying to come out as all the memories came back to me.  

"Then those people are wrong about a child who had no control over what happened to her". He said.  

The Prince softly smiled and stroked a tear that slipped away from my eyes and brought me close to him. His arms wrapped around me and rubbed my back soothingly as he buried his other hand in my hair gently petting it.  

My first hug ever since my mother died.  

I shut my eyes tightly as I finally let go and sobbed into the Prince's shoulder. He didn't flinch, cringe or turn away from me but held me tighter and closer to him as he gently whispered soft coos in Elvish to comfort me.  

After what felt like forever, I finally managed to calm down and Legolas said to me.  

"Listen," we separated from our hug and continued, "why don't I stay here with you for a week? And I can keep away any Elf or man that tries to come here near you". I smiled softly and nodded.  

"Okay. One week, and—promise you'll stay with me?"  

"I won't leave your side for a minute, nîth". He wrapped an arm around me and gently kissed my forehead gingerly as I smiled and hearing him call me "sister" made my heart and stomach leap for joy knowing that someone had cared for me.  

And even after 60 years, Legolas still remained by my side and I even joined him on a special quest to destroy a certain ring because he was there for me, now it was my turn to be there for him.