#a king a thief and a pirate walk into a bar

[katerinaaqu]

Okay now I cannot stop myself imagining what if these three went on a crazy cruise together?!

Like who would rule the ship? Who would be captain? What would the others do? What crazy adventures would they encounter? Would they talk of their wives/lovers non-stop over drinks? Would they kill everyone one sarcastic comment at a time?!

Like this is the team BBUM (aka Big Brains Unorthodox Methods)

These guys are basically both geniuses and silly potatoes at the same time! You love to hate them and you hate to love them and you follow their every adventures! Incorregible bastards and sweet souls in one package!

Disney, Dreamorks and Greek Mythology, the monster giants of epicness and iconic characters in one hell of a crossover!

[akwolfgrl]

Lft 28

Zoro yawned as he walked down the street. The sex stuff from last night tucked into his haramaki. He had been disappointed that he had been unable to convince curly to slip back into bed this morning.

He wondered the streets until he came across a swordsmith. Zoro still had some belli leftover from Nami. As he stared at the expensive sword hanging in the window, he bemoaned the fact he had lost two of his swords to Mihawk.

“All the good swords are so fucking exspincvie,” He cursed. “I have to find a way to get some money,” he couldn't go to the grandline with just one sword.

“I'll loan you the money Zoro, with three hundred percent interest of course,” He could practically hear the witch cackle, see her wicked smug grin.

Zoro shook his head to dispell the images he had conjured of thire ships navigater. Asking Nami would be his last resort, or eles he would be in debt to her for the rest of his life. Maybe he could try and find a bounty or two, this was like Nami said, this was a place to stock up before heading to the Grandline. This might be his best bet at getting enough for new swords. After all, he didn't have bounty on his own head yet. He wasn't going to steal it. He wasn't a thief, unlike Nami. Zoro would be caught immediately.

<>

Luffy was lost again. He knew he'd find gallows eventually. He just needed to make it back to the bar from yesterday. The old guy with all the cool stories said today was he last day, so he had to visit anyway. Thire was something dude yelling somewhere nearby.

“I'm here at the docks, but where's the exusion platform,” Luffy spotted a large man with grey hair, two smoke trals above his head, that was twice as much as Sanji! “Hey can you help me?” He walked tworss them. “do you know where thire exucate people?”

“The platform,” the man in the big coat replied, his cigars stuck in his mouth, how he and sanji did it he would never know.

“Yah I know, but I can't seem to find it,” He told him, looking around in the hope of a big sign to lead his way.

“I haven't seen you around here before,”

“Yah it's my sconed day here. The town is so much bigger than Foosha village, I just can't seem to find my way around here,”

“Why are you going to the platform?” The man asked.

Luffy looked up from behind the brim of his hat. What a silly question. “A personal quest of mine,” He answered. “To see where the king of the pirates died,” Why eles would anyone go thire? “I guess you don't know,” Oh well, Luffy would find his way evetly he began to walk away.

“Hold it,” Luffy turned around to look back at the man. “just follow the smoke kid,” The cigar smoke was no long spiraling upwards but to the side. It was really cool. Maybe he could ask Sanji later if he could do that!

“Great! That way? I'll see you later!” With that, Luffy ran off.

[taleya15]

The pirate and the street rat

With Halloween rushing in, Aurdon was buzzing with glee. Far and wide were very excited for this event. Including the “core four” and the pirate crew. Mal, Evie and Jane already had their costumes. They were going as the girl chipmunks in Alvin the chipmunks, whatever they’re called. While Jay on the other hand… completely blanked. He had no idea what he was going to be he knew it’d be simple and nothing to exciting but still. No idea, so when the day came Jay had simply shrugged and grabbed his favorite clothes from the Isle.

He was a “street thief” he had decided, the only addition to this costume was Jay adding just a tiny bit of eyeliner. He “borrowed” from Carlos who had warned Jay in advance he wasn’t going to be in there dorm room that night. So it’s not like he’d notice right? Jay goes through the day mostly uneventful, just flirting with some chicks or some dudes here and there. Well until the Halloween party that is. Somehow Mal had convinced King Ben to throw a Halloween party. Which almost all of Arodon was attending, including the pirate crew.

Now the four and the pirates got along now, hell Gil and Jay even went on a gap year together. Which may or may not have led to them hooking up once, or ten times in that year. But there’s still one person on that crew that Jay couldn’t stand. Harry hook. He just always finds something, that one thing that can make Jay go from perfectly fine to punching a wall. So when Harry makes his attendance known at the party. Jay can’t help but groan out in annoyance. Harry is dressed in a very fitting pirate costume, with some clothes he had while others he “borrowed” from his dad.

Harry walked causally to the group with a way to sharp to be plastic sword on his hip. “El’lo maties!” All members except Jay acknowledged Harry with a small hello or other greeting. While Jay walked away claiming to need a drink. No one but Harry even batted an eye at him. But Harry wasn’t like the others, he didn’t know when to quit. Or shut up, all he knew was he got whatever he wanted. And he wanted Jay, after hearing all the stories from Gil about their year together, innocent and non innocent alike Harry had a new target in mind. Jay.

He wanted him, in any way he can get him. He didn’t care if all he’d receive was an eye roll, or a shove, he wouldn’t even mind a punch to the face. As long as it came from Jay, it was pathetic he knew of course. But he’s always been like that even on the isle. He’d beg in one way or another for anyone’s attention. His mother is as good as dead, while his father pretends Harry’s dead from time to time. So Harry was left to find any attention elsewhere, first with Uma, then Gil, until finally Jay. He’s the only one who doesn’t give him any kind of attention.

Good or bad. Which Harry hates even more than a punch in the gut. So when Jay walks away from the group, Harry can’t help but follow him. He follows him all the way to the bar area. Then he strikes. “Soooo, J.J. what are ye supposed to be?” Jay instantly rolls his eyes, and takes a chug from his drink. “Don’t call me that.” Harry smirks and repeats his question. “I ask ye again, what’re ye supposed to be?” Jay responds dryly already annoyed with the conversation. “Street thief.” Harry laughs out hard instantly and has to hold on to his stomach afterwards. “Ye do have some experience in that field.”

Jay rolls his eyes again and finishes off his drink, waiting until the happy buzz finally hits him. “Oh yeah? What are you supposed to be?” Harry smiles and shrugs before answering. “A pirate.” “How original Hook.” Jay’s voice is dripping with sarcasm and annoyance. While Harry is enjoying every single second of his undivided attention. “Yes, yes. I know you’re the all powerful street rat. We know.” Harry’s teasing now voice laced in amusement. Jay attacks instantly, he’s gripping on Harry’s to lose shirt, picking him up off his feet and glaring daggers into his soul. “What did you just call me?” Harry’s brain stopped completely, at the close contact between them barely able to answer Jay afterwards.

“Street rat. You know, like what ye’r old man called Aladdin before he became king. Then of course ye old man made you a street rat.” He shouldn’t have said that. Any of it he knew he should’ve just shut up. But when the fire suddenly flashes in Jays eyes, he suddenly doesn’t care about what he shouldn’t do. One thing about Jay, he’s always been strong. He was the strongest man on the isle then he only got bigger when he could work out in Aroradon. So shoving Harry down with his bare hands? That’s child’s play to him “never. And I mean never insult me, or my father ever again Hook. Ever.”

Jay stormed out instantly needing to second to breathe and calm himself down. Harry was in a very similar position, laying on the floor just trying to catch his breath. After what felt like the wind was knocked out of him. When he regained his composure, he realized he felt weird. He glanced down, and fuck! He somehow managed to get a boner. Harry basically ran back to his room, he knew what he wanted. What he was going to do, he needed a rush. And if Harry can’t get that rush from drugs and alcohol right now, this rush is perfect for him.

Harry quickly shed his shirt and jacket off. As long as his sword, leaving his pants on. Planning to go back to the party as soon as this issue has been resolved. He simply unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down as well as his underwear. He licked at his hand slightly to get it wet and stroked his cock. His brain filled with images and videos of Jay. How he looks after tourney practice, how his breath hit his cheek just now. How easily Jay was able to pick him up like he weighed nothing.

Then finally the flame in his eyes when he was angry. That image got Harry to go faster and whimper just a little louder. Unknown to Harry, Jay himself was listening just outside his door. He was originally just going to finish the job and beat his ass. But now? He was invested in a way he hates that he is. He wanted Harry to continue for an unknown reason. As Harry gets closer and closer to his high, he grows louder with every given minute. Until finally he’s chanting “Jay” over and over again like a prayer.

Leaving Jay conflicted by his own feelings. If he hates the guy so much, why couldn’t he walk away? Later when Harry rejoins the party, Jay can’t make eye contact with the pirate. But for some reason can’t let him leave his sight either. What’s happening to him?

[cracktopathconcepts]

Thieftopath traveler

TL;DR: everyone’s a thief but Therion

Ophilia isn’t adopted by Archbishop Josef: she steals to make a living after her parents death.

Her next target, the Lanthorn Aelfric uses to kindle his flame, is only available for a short period of time…

Cyrus runs away from his noble family, stealing on the streets to survive

He opens an orphanage with the spoils of his thieving occupation

He plans on stealing From The Far Reaches of Hell for those in his care, so they may be well educated and able to make a decent living for themselves

Tressa Colzione, a girl whose parents died from the plague. Their abandoned general store serves as her hideout between marks. One Leon Bastralle came into town, yet some annoying pirates are keeping him from staying much longer…

Olberic Eisenberg was once the Unbending Blade of Hornburg. He makes his living stealing from Riverford’s nobility. Gaston, a bandit leader, come into town with the king-killers sword…

Primrose Azelhart… how she longed to use that name. Once a young noble, now a burglar in the Sunlands, this young lady has sworn herself to revenge upon those who killed House Azelhart. A man with a crow tattoo walks into the bar…

Alfyn Greengrass. He’s a lousy thief, always alerting his marks in advance of his plans. He’s a jokester, though Nina of Clearbrook seems to be in a spot of trouble…

Therion Wherion Kerplerion works a lot of jobs. He guards the Royal Library of Atlasdam, selling meat he gains from hunting after work. Whenever no one’s interested in his wares or entering the library, he continues working on his next academic paper. He dances at the tavern on weekends, working as a Cleric of the Sacred Flame in the mornings. He’s been spending time learning to Concoct salves and balms from the local apothecary. He follows along with the travelers when they need him.

H’aanit works as a thief for the Obsidians, her next target being Z’aanta of the Darkwood. She learns from his apprentice Alaic that he’s been missing for a year, and thus she sets out on his trail…

[aelyos]

Devlog #1 - Some Developments

Hi Guys, I added some things. Okay, so I won't explain much of the lore I have already made cause it would take too long. So I'll just update you (no one) on the new stuff.

Basically the plot for my novel idea: A Prince, a Bard, and a Thief walk into a bar...

Ok, now to the lore

I added the Tri-Kingdom Alliance: (I was gonna name it the Tri-Force and then remembered that Nintendo might try to take all my *checks bank balance* $80 from me)

A Kingdom loosely based on Wales (Naming, Language, Food, and Mythology) called Draigyth. Its name is from the Welsh word "Draig" meaning dragon and a phonetic spelling of the "dd" pronounced "th" in Welsh. It's pronounced: Dry-g-th.

A Kingdom loosely based on France (Naming, Language, Food, and Mythology) called Royavine. Its name is from the French words "Royaume" meaning "Kingdom" and "Vin" meaning "Wine". It's pronounced: Roy - a - vin.

A Kingdom loosely based on Ireland (Both 0_0) (Naming, Language, Food, and Mythology) called Neriflinn. Its name comes from the Irish words "Neamhaí" meaning "heavenly", "Ri" meaning "King", and the Scottish Gaelic word "Flin" meaning "Sleet", each of these was combined to make Neriflinn. It's pronounced: Neh - ree - fl - in.

They are closely situated together and share a border. They used to fight all the time but they decided to sign a treaty and have been peaceful for several hundred years. Their languages have started to borrow words from the other languages in the trio. There is one ruler of the trio that inherited the throne, uniting the nation (flashbacks to King James of Scotland inheriting the English, Welsh, and Irish Thrones...oop).

(Yes, this world is very Eurocentric, and no, I don't care.)

A new map is coming, I have been busy playing games and not making the map like I wanted. Oops, I'll try to get it done soon, maybe even write a little.

Next time on My Crappy Devlog: Elven Pirates and Ice Ghost Vikings (Woo, are you excited? I'm Excited)

But for now, Cheerio

[adminbryantsaki]

I Sail To Sea, Yet, You Belong To Me.

Alpha!Pirate! Shouta Aizawa x Tavern Owner! Luna! Reader.

(I do not own Shouta Aizawa/ Eraserhead, Hizashi Yamada/Present Mic, Keigo Takami/ Hawks or Eri. Horikoshi Kohei does.  I’m back with the Bnharem collab. This month we finally rolled on Historical AU. I’m super excited and happy for this. I hope you enjoy my story. Again, if this isn’t your cup of tea, blend of spices, or brew of coffee, move on. Reader discretion is advised and remember, Piracy is a crime.)

(If y’all don’t know what a Luna is by now, here’s what a Luna is in a nutshell: It’s an Alpha with both sets of reproductive organs and is a variant of an Alpha that can get pregnant and impregnate others.)

Other stories/ art that people have done here My other works here.

TW: Omegaverse themes, bleeding, reference to abuse, bedroom scenes, scandal.

Wc: 9,940

The door to your tavern swung open, a rush of the coconut and salt water scented breeze of the Caribbean Island that was your home followed by the sound of the wooden tapping of a peg-leg on the hardwood floors. You looked over and saw a weathered but young sailor who had entered your establishment probably looking for a place to stay while he and his crew were in port. He wore a worn, black regal coat with frayed golden embroidery around the button holes. He also was wearing dirt-ridden ivory breeches with black leather pirate boots. There was a sword hanging from the scabbard at his left hip. Under his captain’s tri-fold hat was a mess of shoulder-length wavy black hair that was cascading down and framing his face, you noticed the black eyepatch over his right eye and the corners of a vertical scar peeking out from the edges of the eyepatch. You watched as he walked with a sort of limp due to his artificial limb, as he came closer, a faint scent of sea salt air and sailor’s coffee came from him and it made a faint red hue cross your cheeks. The pirate set a small bag on your counter that jingled when it made contact, indicating that there was a form of payment inside. You picked up the satchel and peered inside to inspect its contents. Inside was about a dozen gold coins. You covered your mouth and glanced up at the man before quickly dropping the bag back on the counter.

“I need a couple rooms for myself and my crew while we’re in port. This should cover it.” He speaks. Your eyes darted around the room before you gestured for the man to follow you to a less populated area of the tavern and away from the icy gaze of the Lieutenant who belonged Royal Navy sitting in the corner of your tavern. The sailor followed you and raised an eyebrow in suspicion. You knew this man was a pirate and wanted to wave over the soldier and turn this thief in. You pulled the sailor close and spoke in a hushed tone.

“Listen here, pirate. I am fully aware of your type and I have every right to call the Lieutenant in the other room and have you arrested and strung up!” You told him. The pirate raised his hands in defeat and stepped back. “No, you listen, kitty, I have my connections in this run down town, and if it wasn’t for me, your little shop would’ve been burnt down years ago by other pirates, you hear me? Also, who do you think gets this towns shipment of rum?” He said with a smirk. Your face grew to be a deep shade of red as the pirate was now hovering rather close to your face. “Now, will you give me and my crew board for the week? Or are you going to waste my time and yours by involving the scum that is the King’s Royal Navy?” He asked. You shook your head in denial and ducked out of the way of the pirate. You went back to your workplace and went to pick up the bag of coins to check it again. “This will be enough for the week. Is that what you planned for?” You asked as the Captain took a seat at your bar. The gaze of the Lieutenant had caught yours and a chill went down your spine as the bright blue orbs of the soldier told you that the two of you would be talking later. You closed your eyes and turned away as the burn scars on the Lieutentant always made you want to vomit. The pirate noticed and looked at where you had been looking and a scowl appeared on his face. He glared at the Lieutenant and then looked back at you with a calmer expression. “Yes, will it be enough? You can keep the change.” He spoke. “Of course. Your rooms will be ready by tonight.” You told him. “I need them sooner than that if you can handle it.” He said in a firm tone. “Alright. I’ll get my staff to get the rooms prepared…Mr.…What’s your name?” You spoke in a slightly annoyed tone. You pulled out a scrap of parchment and a feather quill to write with. “You may refer to me as Captain Aizawa. You got that, Miss?” The captain spoke before standing up and bowing to you. You rolled your eyes and kept writing. “How many rooms do you need?” You asked.

“Three should do it. My men don’t need much space to rest. Make sure one of the rooms are made up special. We were carrying a guest that we picked up on our travels. She would want space for herself.” He responded as his eyebrows knitted themselves together. You wrote down what he had said and looked back up at him, then over the Lieutenant who was now flirting with one of your staff.  You called the girl over and gave her the list of tasks to do before you shot a glare over to the guardsman who just smirked at you. You returned your attention to the pirate. His dark eyes flicked up to yours and he leaned against the counter and a slight smirk played across his lips.

“Before I go, I’d like to know your name, darling.” He asked you sweetly. This made your cheeks flushed a deep shade of red and you backed away from the counter. “My name? Um… my name is Y/N.” You spoke. The Captain gave a soft smile and tilted his hat to you before walking out of your establishment. “What the heck just happened back there? You have let a pirate and his CREW make board in your establishment. That guardsman is getting on my nerves with him always hanging about my place and flirting with my girls. I wish he would go away but someone has to police the area. Also, that pirate smelled good, So, inviting. I wanted to just fall into his arms and carry me away with him. But I can’t I have my responsibilities here in my tavrn…hmm.” You thoughy to yourself as you got the next order out as one of your staff went to go set up the rooms that the nefarious pirate needed before nightfall.

Back on the docks, Aizawa was walking back to his ship The Lone Wolf  to see how his crew was doing on tying up the ship and taking inventory.  Aizawa approached a blonde man who had a scroll of parchment and a scarlet quill in his hand as he was marking out the inventory of the ship and making a list of what they needed to stock up on. “How’s the list going, Yamada?” He asked. “We need more of salt, meat, bread, and fresh water too We need to replenish our stores of those candles you keep in your quarters. You used them all up during our last trip to sea.” He spoke. The Captain nodded and held his hand out for the grocery list. “I found a place we can stay for the week. I got rooms for all of us, including our ‘special guest’.” He informed his first mate. “Good. You are aware that we will have to transport her during the cover of night, correct?” “That’s right. I will trust you and the rest of my crew to do that while I am… incapacitated this evening. Be aware that it will be a downpour of rain tonight.” He spoke. His first mate nodded in agreement. “I’m going to go check on our guest. You go to the harbor master and pay our dues for the week. I do not wish to deal with him this time.” Aizawa spoke before boarding the ship. The members of his crew saluted him before going about their business. The Captain went to a private section of their hold which was reserved for his own private treasures. He looked around to make sure that no one was watching and unlocked the door. “Princess? We have arrived in the harbor. I have procured lodging for you along with myself and my crew while we are here. To not raise suspicion of the townsfolk, we will have to transport you under the cover of night.” He explained to the shadows of his private safe.  Something splashed and rose a bit out of the makeshift tank that had been fashioned to hold her. “Captain? Is that you? Can you open the window please? I’m scared of the dark.” A tiny voice spoke in the dark. “Of course, your highness.” He said and walked over to the porthole and opened it. He peered outside to make sure no one was around to see her. “Everything is safe, princess.” He spoke and turned to face the tank.

In the tank was a mermaid.

Not just any mermaid mind you, but a child mermaid. She had been injured by some other ruthless pirates and Aizawa had given her refuge on his ship. Some of her smaller fins had been damaged and it hindered her ability to swim correctly. Aizawa had heard of a healer in this port and wanted to take his little mermaid princess to this healer to see if they could help. This mermaid had a bright red tail and long silvery hair that flowed down her back and billowed around her when she was completely submerged.

“Thank you for all your help, Captain. Do you think the healer is going to help me?” She asked as she bobbed above the edge of the tank. “I believe so. Now, my men will help get you into the inn tonight. I will keep the window open during that time. My first mate, Hizashi will be around if you need anything. I am going into the town to find the healer. Don’t worry. You are safe with us.” He reassured the little mermaid. The girl nodded and hugged the captain. This made him smile softly and he hugged her back and left his safe, locking the door behind him. The captain left his ship and walked back into the town. Aizawa walked around the town, asking different merchants and shopkeepers about a healer. They all directed him back to the same innkeeper where he had paid for room and board earlier that day. He groaned and made his way back to your place of business and tiredly went through your door and walked up to the bar. “Well, hello again, Captain Aizawa. What brings you back into my establishment?” You asked as you set down a tin cup. Aizawa sat down at the bar and put down a couple coins on the counter. The Lieutenant had gone since that morning so you were a bit more relaxed. “I came to ask about your healing service and I’d like to have a pint of beer please.” He spoke. You froze up when he asked about your healing services and you told him to be quiet as you got him his pint of beer. You passed him the foaming drink and leaned in close. “Listen, the Royal Navy around here like to crack down on women like myself that can throw a few herbs together and distribute it as a medicine that actually works. Unlike men from the city who can make some coin on their watered-down alcohol that they sold as medicine. The Guardsmen have spread rumor that women doing this trade are witches and if they are caught in the act, they are to be arrested and burned at the stake after a trial. After you and your guest settled tonight, I can show you.” You explained. The pirate frowned. “Miss Y/n, I understand your predicament. If you keep my secret, I’ll keep yours. Also, I’d love to have you heal me but I have no ailment and I have a previous engagement this evening.” He spoke before taking a drink of his beer. You gave a huff of annoyance as you did not believe that a pirate who had just come into port had already engaged himself in an activity this evening mere hours after docking. “I do not believe that a pirate such as yourself has already filled their evening only a few hours after docking the port. Now, I will come to your room this evening to help your guest out with whatever they need help with.” You spoke. It was the smile on the pirate’s face that set you on edge. You remembered back to what his scent was and everything came together.

“You see here, little Luna, that’s what you are, right? I’m an Alpha and part of my ship’s code is that if myself or my first mate is nearing their rut, we go into port to ‘take care’ of our predicament. That is what my evening will be full of. If you wish to visit me, that is of your own risk and your own will. If you do show up at my door, it is your own choice to be fucked by me, you got that?” He spoke as he stood up and moved closer to you. “I got it, sir.” You spoke. He nodded and left your tavern again and went to the docks and to his ship to check on his crew. As he was approaching his vessel, a scarlet-winged avian swooped down on him and blocked his pathway.

“Hello, Captain! You haven’t given your payment to stay in my harbor yet. Don’t forget about the ‘special payment’ too so that I turn a blind eye to you being a Pirate.” He said warningly and held his hand out for the payment there and now. The sun shone in the sandy brown hair of the harbor master as he frowned up to the pirate. The Captain chuckled and looked down at him. “Follow me back to my ship, I can give you your payment there.” He said and mentally made a note to reprimand his first mate since he forgot to pay the rather annoying Harbor Master and get him off his back. Aizawa boarded his ship and went into his quarters to retrieve the correct payment. He arrived on the deck and went to the port side of the boat and tossed the bag of coins to the avian and walked off his boat, going again back into the village with the grocery list. “I don’t have time for you today. I have things I need to get done before tonight.” He spoke before unrolling the scroll and looking at what he needed to purchase. The Captain’s comment only drove the curiosity of the avian further. “Oooh, what does the infamous Captain Eraserhead have planned for this evening? Do your plans involve a lovely young lady that you’ve brought with you in your hold? Or is it someone you’ve met so quickly in this town? Could it even be your first mate? Some of the townsfolk have a bet that you fancy him. Is it true?” The avian asked as he followed after the Pirate. This only made the already flustered Captain beyond irritated. “Will you bug off? Why don’t you flit on over to that burnt piece of flesh you call a Royal Guardsman and go get fucked by him? It so pleases you , doesn’t it?” The Captain sounded off to the avian before storming off to a darker part of the town to acquire the special candles he needed along with some other medical supplies. Once he had gotten part of the supplies on the list and got them loaded on his boat, he grabbed his bed roll and went up to Your tavern just as the sun was going down. He ignored the dinner hall as the idea and the smell of food wanted to make him vomit. He went up the stairs but was stopped by you, just wanting to offer him some food.

“Don’t you want any dinner? You’ve had a long day and I bet you wish to have a hot meal after your long travels at sea.” You spoke. The Captain covered his mouth to hold back the urge to vomit. As much as the food looked wonderful, the Pirate didn’t have the stomach to eat. His crew though, had settled in and were enjoying the meal and drink. Hizashi caught his eye and nodded. “May I have my meal brought to my room? I am very tired and have had a rather long day and I’m quite exhausted and I require a lot of rest.” He spoke. “Of course. But why would you need rest? Don’t you have an event tonight?” You asked. The pirate looked at you with a rather intense and serious look in his eye. You gulped the lump in your throat and dropped the subject. “I will bring your dinner up in a while. I hope you get the rest you need, Captain.” You said. About an hour later, after the pirate crew had been fed and some were passed out from the amount of rum they had consumed, you made the journey up to the Captain’s room with a tray of food leftover from dinner. The faint scent of burning candles came from under the crack of his door and drifted into the hallway and filled your nostrils. Your hands gripped the tray as you didn’t want to drop it. Is the Captain an Alpha? You asked yourself. You shook your head and approached the door to knock on it. “Captain? It’s Y/N, I have your dinner.” You spoke. You heard something groan and from what you heard, emerge from the bed and stumble close to the door. You thought your mind was playing tricks on you as you could pick up the faint scent of sailor’s coffee and ocean water like you did earlier as he approached the door.

“Set it on the floor and leave. It’s better for you to just do what I say and come back in another hour.” He spoke. His voice seemed deeper and gravellier. Had he been crying? You cast away your thoughts and followed instructions from the guest. You set the tray on the floor and backed off to turn the corner only to peek back to see what would happen. The door opened and a stronger scent of coffee and salt water wafted down the hall and wrapped you up in his scent. Your heart pounded in your ears and your vision went a little blurry. You had to hold onto the wall to keep yourself from falling over. You took deep breaths as you watched him take the tray then close the door. Within a few minutes, the scent had gone away and you came to your senses and brushed yourself off and went back to your duties. With the intensity of his scent, he has to be an Alpha in rut.  You thought to yourself as you arrived into the kitchen. When you had passed the dining room, you had noticed that the crew of the ship had left your tavern and were sneaking around the back with some weird chest that you decided to investigate for yourself. You went to the back door of your establishment and peeked outside. The Captain’s crew were carrying a type of chest with glass panels on every side of the chest in the pelting down rain. Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning that illuminated the contents of the chest. You gasped when you saw a creature that was the size of a small child. Only their bottom half wasn’t a pair of legs, but that of a fish’s tail.

‘A mermaid?’ You thought as your hand flew to your mouth to keep yourself quiet and not to be found out as the first mate had turned his head in your direction. You ducked back into the kitchen and closed the door. You ran to the front of the store and went to your personal quarters and locked the door behind you. You were panicking and your scent had changed to a sour one as your stress was high. There was a hairy creature in a room above you and a mermaid had been brought into your tavern. You sat down on your bed and held your head in your hands.

Your clock chimed midnight. A chill ran down your spine as you remembered that you would go back to the captain’s room to give him a healing session. You grumbled under your breath as you gathered together your herbs and medicines. You made sure to grab some garlic, holy water, wolfsbane, and a special silver coin you always kept with you that your grandmother gave you a long time ago and ascended the stairs, unaware of what was in store for you. You knocked on the door to the Captain’s room where the same scent of sailor’s coffee and salt water wafted from the cracks in the door. You heard something shift inside. You tensed up and held your box of herbs close to your chest. “Captain? I’m here for the healing session.” You spoke. Something slumped against the door and panted. “Go to the other room. The session is meant for my guest.” He groaned. “Sir, you sound unwell.” You spoke with a note of concern in your voice.

“I am just FINE.” He growled.

Your face contorted into a frown. You took his word and walked to the next room where you were instructed to go and knocked on the door. A blonde man with vibrant green eyes stared back at you. “What do you want? It’s the middle of the night.” He spoke. You heaved your box and explained why you were there. “If the captain says so, come on in.” The first mate said. You went inside and you saw the same chest you saw in the back alley of your establishment. Your questionings had been confirmed as to the contents of the chest. A young mermaid lay floating in the sea water. Her bright red eyes were staring at you. You nearly dropped your box of medicine when you saw her as you were speechless. This was only the beginning of a long and rather shocking night.

Your eyes go to the first mate who was watching you. “Is that what I think it is?” You asked as you pointed to the mermaid sitting in the room. “Yes. It’s a mermaid. She’s been injured and the Captain took her on as his personal guest. I guess that you’re the healer that he said would be coming by tonight. You promise not to say anything? This poor girl has people hunting her as well.” He explained. “Of course. Like anyone would believe me that the existence of merfolk was true. Are there any other creatures I should know have been brought into my establishment this evening?” You asked. The first mate went silent. “I am sworn to secrecy as to the whereabouts of The Lone Wolf’s hold.” He said with a sly grin. You groaned and chose not to pursue the subject further. “If you don’t mind, I prefer to do my work in private.” You said to the first mate. The mermaid shrunk back into the water in her chest. “The lass doesn’t like to be alone. Also, the captain set me to be her personal guard while we’re in port.” He explained. You nodded and set your box of medicines on the nearby table and opened it. The little mermaid peeked out from her chest and her ruby red eyes looked at all the vials of herbs and liquids. “Are you going to hurt me?” Her tiny voice asked. You looked at her, you know that she was scared just by looking into her eyes. “No. I’m going to help you. Now, I’m just going to look at your wounds and see what I need to do, ok?” You explained to her. She nodded and shifted around in the rather murky water now that you had a chance to look closer at it. “We should get you into some fresh salt water. Hey, you, first mate? Get some fresh salt water from the ocean and put it into the tub in the bathroom. Now. Part of her sickness is the dirty water.” You instructed. The man got up from his seat and went outside with a couple other members of the crew and went outside with some buckets to get water.

This left you alone with the little mermaid. “Now, let’s see what wounds you have.” You spoke and looked over the mermaid’s arms and her tail. You saw where some of her fins to help her glid through the water had been cut off and scarred over. You noticed that she was trembling, she even seemed scared of you. “What’s your name, sweetie?” You asked to ease the tension between the two of you. She looked up at you with a little less fear in her eyes. “My name is Eri. What’s your name?” She asked. “My name is Y/N. You have a nice name.” You said and moved your hand closer and she shied away just as the crew came back with the many buckets of water, they all shuffled into the bathroom and filled the tub with the ocean water before all of the crew but the first mate went back to their room and slept. The blonde sailor stayed behind in the room and watched both you and the mermaid. “Why haven’t you done anything yet?” He asked. You frowned and turned around to look at him. “I couldn’t do anything because the water she’s in is dirty and part of what was making her sick. Didn’t you hear me earlier?” You asked. “No, I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t. Let’s get her in the bathtub.” He said and walked over to the chest. Eri raised her arms to the first mate and he raised her out of the filthy water and carried her to the bath tub.

The mermaid held onto him and looked around at the bathroom as he set her down into the clean water. When the wat hit her tail though, she winced in pain as the salt began to clean her wounds. She whimpered and didn’t let go of the sailor. “Eri, lass, you need to let go so the nice lady can help you.” He spoke. “You’re not gonna leave the room, right?” She sniffed. “Of course, I will be in the other room.” He told her. Eri nodded and slowly let go of the sailor until she was completely settled in the rather large bath tub.

“Good job, Princess.” He spoke before standing up and going into the other room where you were waiting on the end of the bed. “She’s all settled. If you don’t mind, I’ll be staying in here in the case of any problems come up.” He spoke. You agreed and took your box of supplies into the bathroom. You sat down and opened your box again and went to work wrapping up her wounds that had began to bleed from being in the fresh salt water. Eri looked scared a seeing her own blood and began to tense up. You saw this and you let your calming scent wash over her. “Don’t worry. It’s just the water cleaning out your wounds. Why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself as I clean them up, ok?” You suggested. Eri nodded and told her about how she was a princess and she had gotten lost from her kingdom and how she had met a mean man that had taken her fins that helped her swim and how she had met the Captain and how he took care of her. “That’s very sweet of him.” You said as you wrapped up the last of the bandages around her tail and fastened them. “You’re all set. I suggest you rest and make sure you get fresh salt water every day or so. If not, your wounds will get worse. That is all, if you don’t require any other assistance, I will leave you for the night and retire to my room.” You spoke. Eri shook her head, you packed up your things and left the room. You told the first mate what she needed and he agreed. “There’s one last thing that the Captain requested of you this evening. He required that you meet him in his quarters alone after you took care of the princess.” He said as he showed you out of the room. “Alright. I’ll meet him. Don’t expect anything too special. I’m not a whore. If he wanted one of them, the brothel is on the other side of town.” You spoke. “Understood.” The first mate responded. You left the room and he promptly shut the door.

You wandered down the hall to the room where you thought the Captain was in but you heard a growling creature come from inside. You took a deep breath and knocked on the door. You heard something panting and growling from the other side of the door. You approach the door cautiously, as you inched closer, the scent of coffee and salt water had become stronger and was now laced with a pheromone that made your head feel light and dizzy, made your vision swim, and the thought of being bred by the Alpha on the other side of the door entered your mind. You leaned against the wooden barrier and slid down it. You watched the shadows move closer to the door and the Captain stand before it. “I can smell you, kitten. Come inside and I can help you with your heat.” A deep, rumbling voice that seemed to call you to open the door and fall into his arms. The ability to think was getting harder and harder as you lingered by the door. You tried to pull yourself to your feet and get away from his room but the door opened and the scent of the ocean drew you back to the room even with much resistance. Once inside, you froze as you heard the door shut and lock behind you. “Finally, you came to visit me. The meal you left for me was quite lovely, yet it didn’t satiate my hunger completely.” The same deep, rumbling voice sounded but this time it came from behind you. You were scared out of your mind. You heard him walk across the room and stop as he was finally stop as he was right behind you. You could feel his warm breath on the back of your neck and ears, his arm sneaking its way around your waist. Your mind snapped out of its heat-ridden trance for a moment only to stop him and turn around to face him. “I am not just some whore. If that’s what you were seeking, there’s a brothel that I’m sure you and your men are quite aware of that is on the other side of town.” You spoke. Before you stood the Captain, still wearing his eyepatch and nothing else. Your face heated up and you adverted your eyes from looking at him. The Captain approached you, panting hard. This confirmed your suspicions of him being an Alpha and he was in rut. The man planted his arms on either side of your head, he smirked and tried to steal a kiss from you but he received a slap to the cheek instead. “I guess you’re not in your heat cycle then.” He said as he rubbed his cheek. “No I am not. Your scent is rather intoxicating but I have learned to resist it. And if you didn’t hear me before, I will have to repeat myself. I am not a whore nor is my establishment one to acquire

such a person. There is a brothel on the other side of down that I’m aware your crew and yourself are well aware of.” You said with a frown. “Now, I could’ve gone there, but the King’s Royal Navy has control of it and the whores in there. They also are on a drug that keeps them in heat most of the month. It is a pain to deal with and those girls are all Omegas and can get boring after a while, you on the other hand are quite interesting, and when I sensed the fact that you are a Luna, thought I’d give you a try~.” He said with a smirk played across his face. You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you when I thought you meant a healing session, you wanted me to actually heal you, not to share a bed with you.” You spoke and pushed him away. You folded your arms across your chest and looked at him. He sighed and looked back at you. “I am aware that you’re not just some whore. I also came here to pick a mate.” He told you. Your eyes widened. Why would he pick you out of all the single women in the town? You’re some poor, lowly commoner trying to make a living and have enough money to keep the rent up. He could’ve picked one of the other girls that would’ve been better for him. One of the higher-class girls that came from money and never had to worry about where their next

meal would come from. You searched his eyes and you saw that he was being truthful. He had come into town to procure himself a mate. What would you do? Would you give in and let him claim you as his own? Little did you know, you had actually grown feelings for the pirate. You didn’t want to leave your establishment and go sail the seven seas. The idea did seem tempting. You would have to think it over… Could you though? You were stuck in a room with an Alpha in rut. You couldn’t just leave. That would be rude, now, wouldn’t it?  Your gaze wandered back to the pirate who was watching you from the safety of his nest. You walked closer to his nest and he made a gesture for you to enter his safe place. You stepped inside and he pulled you into his lap. He put his hands on your hips and kissed you roughly. You kissed him back and let your hands wander up his chest and to his head where you tangled your fingers in his dark locks. You pulled away from the kiss and looked at his eye patch.

“Do you want to know what happened to it?” He asked you and stroked your cheek with the back of his hand. “The thought has crossed my mind…” You responded as your face turned a bright shade of red. The pirate smirked and went to remove his eyepatch. “Do you promise not to scream?” He asked. You nodded and watched him as he removed his eyepatch. You gasped and covered your mouth as you observed what was hidden behind the piece of cloth. What you saw was a crescent shaped scar running horizontally under his eye, with a vertical scar intersecting it. In his eye socket was a clouded over eye with red irritation around it. The pirate rolled his eyes and pushed you off his lap. “If it’s that disturbing, you may leave.” He spoke. You shook your head and looked at him. “I am not disturbed in any matter. I never have seen something like that. May I ask, how did it happen?” You asked him. He laid back kept eye contact with you. “It was a bad fight with some nasty sea creatures. I got the scars to prove it. I also lost sight in that eye. I wear the patch as to not scare the people when I’m in port.” “I see, now, why didn’t you say that you were a pirate when you entered my tavern earlier this morning?” “I didn’t want to cause any trouble. I hope you won’t turn us over to the King’s Royal Navy now, will you?” He asked. “You and your crew haven’t done anything wrong to me, my establishment or my town. Even though piracy is a crime and I should do the right thing and report you, I won’t, as I don’t want every pirate ship and her crew to come and raid my town, now do I?” You responded. The Captain smirked and pulled you closer to his chest. He looked you in the eyes and before you could say anything, he kissed you deeply, one of his hands sliding down to rest on your hip while the other supported and cradled your head as he made out with you.

He rolled over so you were laying under him. “There is one thing I’d like to make clear,” You spoke up. “I am only here to help you get through your rut. Nothing else. I am not going to give up my life that I have made here to be your personal cum slut on your vessel whenever you need to fuck something, you hear

me?” You added. The Captain kissed you and helped you out of your clothes. “I understand you, kitty. But who said you had to leave your tavern if you mated with me?” He spoke. You blushed even deeper than you had before. He kissed you again and hovered down to your exposed clavicle. He grazed your skin with his canines and peeled off a special type of bandage you had over your neck and shoulders. Your scent began to leak out from your neck and he took it in. “You smell so good, kitten… Wait. Are you in heat? You should’ve spoken sooner; I would’ve offered to help you. Or do you not want to have to deal with a heat?” He asked as he grazed his marking fangs over your sensitive skin. “I don’t like how my heat makes me feel. I feel disgusting and helpless. Weak. I’m not weak.” You confessed. the pirate chuckled. “I know you’re not weak, love. Let me help you. Let me claim you as my own. Please.” He asked. He seemed to almost be begging for you to let him mate you. You sighed. “Alright. Only if, I am allowed to stay here in the port and keep up my business. I require that you come back for one week out of the month during your rut and either my heat or my rut. It’s up to you.” You stated. “I agree to your terms. How about the week of the full moon? That happens to be when I have my rut each month.” He said as he kissed and nipped at your neck. “Agreed.” You responded. He hummed in approval and kissed your neck. He went down to your clavicle and bit down hard, drawing a little bit of blood. You moaned out loudly and clawed at his back. He growled in your ear and worked at the several layers of skirts that you wore and cursed under his breath about them. Once the pesky layers of fabric were out of the way, the Alpha lined up his cock to your slicked up hole. He slid into you and let out a groan of relief as he felt the soft, silky walls of your cunt clench and move around his shaft. A few seconds later he began to thrust into you. The feeling of having sex with the Alpha above you made you feel like you were flying higher than the clouds. Soon, the Captain released his seed into you with a loud, guttural groan and he pulled out to lay next to you and promptly pass out. You chuckled and grabbed a blanket to pull over the both of you and you too, let sleep take over you.

The next morning, you stirred and woke up. To your surprise, the pirate was still in the bed next to you, his arm around your waist. You rolled over to look at him and he woke up. “Good morning, Y/N. Did you sleep well?” He asked. “I did actually sleep better than I have in months.” You responded with a smile. The pirate kissed you before pulling away and looking at the mark which had turned into a symbol on your neck. “I see that my mark has scarred over into a symbol. That means it took.” He spoke. “What does it look like?” You asked. Aizawa gave the mark a closer look. The symbol was a single wave in a circle with a tiny crescent moon to the left of it. He explained what it looked like and you relaxed a little. You looked out the window and saw that the sun had already risen, “Dangit! I am late. I need to open my restaurant for breakfast!” You cursed. You scrambled out of bed and hastily dressed yourself. The pirate looked at you and chuckled. “Don’t stress yourself, love. I told your girls downstairs that you had gone into heat and that they would open the restaurant for you. You should rest for now. I have to get back to my crew and the ship though. I have certain duties to uphold. But I will return to you tonight.” He spoke and rose up from the bed. He found his breeches and shirt and put them on. “I love you. Be safe and get some good rest. Thank you for helping

my guest last night.” He spoke and kissed you. “You’re welcome. Her water should be changed daily. Or every other day. Because of how dirty her water was, it was causing infection to her scars. I cleaned them up and wrapped them. I’ll go check on her today. I’d like for her to stay the week if you don’t mind.” You told him. “Alright. But you have to keep her a secret. Only you, my first mate, and myself are allowed to see her, understand?” He requested. You nodded and kissed him before he left the room and went about his business.

You went about your day as normal, working your restaurant, the tavern, and checking on the little mermaid princess. At the end of the day, after you had closed up the restaurant below, you returned to your room where you found the Captain waiting by the door.

“Have a good day, love?” He asked. You nodded and kissed him. The two of you went into your room and had a rather eventful evening. This carried on for the rest of the week. On Friday, You were standing on the dock, watching the Captain direct his crew around The Lone Wolf as they were getting ready to cast off. You felt tears prick at your eyes as you knew you wouldn’t see your mate for three weeks. You almost didn’t want him to leave. You did want to go with him. But you didn’t want to leave your life behind. You wiped away your tears and began to walk back down the pier and back into the town. The Captain saw you leaving and ran down the gangplank of his ship and ducked and wove through the members of his crew to catch up with you. “Y/N! Wait!” He called out after you. You stopped and turned to him. He caught up with you and held your hands in his. “Don’t leave just yet. I love you.” He spoke. You smiled and he cupped your cheek with his hand. “I know you love me. But how will I know you’ll come back to me?” You asked. His hand went into his pocket and he pulled out a seashell and sea glass necklace. You smiled as he tied it around your neck. “ I got the shell from the little princess. Its magic.” He said as he pulled out a matching on from under the neckline of his shirt.

“Speak into the shell and I’ll hear you. You’ll hear me too. No matter how far apart we are, we can always hear each other.” He explained. You smiled and kissed him again. “I will be back by the next full moon. I promise. If something happens to me, I’ll send notice.” He spoke. You nodded and kissed him one last time before you watched him get on his ship.

“I love you to all the ends of the Earth and as far as the oceans are deep, no matter the distance, we will always be together, Y/n.” You heard his voice whisper from the shell. You let the tears ran down your cheeks as you waved at him and watched his ship leave the port. You stayed long after the ship had disappeared onto the horizon. You were sitting on the far edge of the pier, with your feet dangling over the waves below. You heard a flap of wings and someone land behind you. You turned and saw the avian harbor master.  You had known him to be somewhat of a regular at your tavern.

“What’s with the long face, Y/n? Don’t you usually cover the dinner rush about now?” He asked. “I do, normally. But my mate just left today. He’s a sailor and he has a duty to get his guest home.” You spoke. The avian nodded and he looked down at the lapping water below. “You know he’s a pirate, right?” The avian asked as he swung his legs back and forth gently. “I am fully aware of that and I don’t care. He’s one of the good ones.” You responded as a small smile play across your lips. Keigo smiled. “He was only allowed to be in port because I let him. I also … keep a certain Lieutenant of the Royal Navy at bay. I think you know who it is too, Dove.” He spoke. His arms propped himself up from behind him as he looked at the stars that were coming into view as the sun was going down. You looked at him with shock before laughing at how absurd the thought would be of the harbor master sharing a bed with the Lieutenant that held the control of every little detail of the town. Even down to who came in and who left the port. You stopped laughing and stared out at the waves then at the avian. “Its because of you. You’re the reason Aizawa and The Lone Wolf is allowed to be in port. But only during the week of his rut. Why? Why would you stoop so low to share a bed with him?” You asked. The avian smiled and looked back at you. “I was friends with your pirate mate. I owed him a favor. I also am childhood friends with the Lieutenant. We didn’t know it but we do love each other. Now, I keep the Lieutenant happy in bed and I donate part of my earnings to the Navy, so he doesn’t arrest and have your pretty little pirate mate strung up for all the town to see, and you, little dove, keep the pirate happy and satisfied whenever he’s in down and we can avoid a scuffle between the two, alright?” He said with a smile. You nodded. “You should also tell your Lieutenant to keep his hands off my girls when he’s having his lunch at my tavern.” You told him. “I’ll do just that. I’ll walk you home. I don’t want you to get in trouble now!” He said and stood up. Keigo walked you back to your tavern and wished you a good night. You went back inside and made your self some tea and settled down in your bed for the night. Right before you were going to sleep, you thought you heard his voice wish you a good night’s rest.

§§§§§

A month later, you are finishing up your rounds at the tavern before you take the rest of the day off. You had received many secret messages from your mate as he was away on the shores. At night, the both of you would talk about what your day was like. Aizawa would tell you about what he discovered that day and give you updates on the mermaid princess. She had been lost from her home, caught up in an evil fisherman’s net where he cut off her fins to sell them for money and be tossed back into the sea. He told you one evening that they had found the merpeople that had been looking for her and returned her to them. You were happy when her people were able to make some artificial fins for her so she may be able to swim normally. About a week prior, Aizawa gave you a message one evening that his ship was heading back to port and he gave you an approximate date as to when he would be docking into port You were excited and wanted to make the day special for both him and yourself. Today was the day and you were taking off your apron to go down to the market and purchase a few things to spruce up your private quarters for when your mate came back into town. You purchased some special candles, some imported chocolate, and a bottle of champagne that cost you a pretty penny.

“Are you expecting someone special tonight, dear?” One of the elderly shop keepers asked. “Yes. My mate is a sailor and is due to come into port today.” You spoke. “Young love. How sweet.” They said before tending to another customer. You returned to your room and began your preparations. It was late afternoon by the time you had finished. You left the room and hurriedly made your way to the piers. You looked at all of them and didn’t see any sign of The Lone Wolf at any of the docks. You were worried that his ship had gotten into trouble. You held the shell tightly as the idea of trying to communicate to him crossed your mind. You ducked into the nearby alley and spoke into the shell “Shouta? Where are you? I can’t see your ship in the port. Are you ok?” You said before leaning back and waiting desperately for a response. “Y/n? I am here in the port. We just had to weigh anchor at a private bay on the other side of the island this time. There were some complications with the Lieutenant. His commanding officer is in town for some kind of inspection of the troops. It wasn’t safe for me to weigh anchor at the pier. Don’t worry. I’ll still be with you tonight, my love.” His voice sounded through the shell. You let out a sigh of relief and decided to go for a walk on the piers. Take in the salt air and spend some time at the docks. You went down the same pier where you had seen The Lone Wolf sail off into the horizon a month ago. You sat on the end of the dock and watch the many different kinds of ships come and go throughout the afternoon. The sun had long past set over the horizon and the full moon had risen when you decided to return to your establishment and go to your room in defeat. You didn’t know if your mate had gotten captured by the Navy or not. Your heart was dropping deep into the pit of your stomach as you unlocked the door to your room. When you opened it, many of the candles had been lit and you heard the popping of a cork from the champagne you had bought earlier. You looked over to the bed and saw Aizawa laying there, shirtless, and waiting for you with two glasses of the bubbly drink in hand.

“What took you so long, Kitten? I’ve been waiting all afternoon and part of the evening for you.” He said as he offered you a drink. You about leapt into bed with him and smothered him in kisses. “I thought the Royal Navy had gotten you! I was worried out of my mind! Why didn’t you tell me that you were here with the shell!?” You asked between long awaited kisses that you had been aching to give him. “How did you get into my room without a key?” You said as you stopped to look at him. “I got in through the window.” He said with a smile and you looked at your window which was open and made your curtains flow in the breeze. You chuckled and kissed him again before getting up and looking down into the alleyway where you saw a few of the crew from The Lone Wolf hanging about. “Aright! He’s here and I’m here. Get back to the ship, there’s nothing to see.” You called down to them. They let out some protest before heading back to the ship. You pulled your head back into the room and shut the window. You turned back to him and put your hands on your hips. “Did you know that some of your crew were hanging about down there? That was quite rude of them.” You said as you went back to the bed.

“Oh really? I distinctively ordered them to stay on the ship with the Admiral in town. Ugh. I’ll talk to them in the morning. For now, though. I am all yours, my dear.” He said and handed you a glass of champagne. You accepted the glass and took a sip before placing the glass back on your nightstand and crawling onto the bed and between your mate’s legs. You laid on his chest and held him close. He set his glass down and held you close. He sat back up and kissed you deeply. “I missed you so much, your touch, your eyes, your laugh…your scent. You have no idea as to the many nights I spent restless because I craved your scent.” He said before kissing you roughly and laying you down on the bed. He moved down and checked your mark.

“I see it took and stayed. It is a little faded though. Shall I mark you again~?” He asked. There wasn’t a need for an answer. He bit over your mark again and reclaimed you as his. You kissed him deeply and helped him remove his pants as he worked at your bodice. He growled and tore the corset off. “Too many damn laces.” He said and kissed you again. He pushed up the skirt of your dress up and he slid into you. He let out a groan of relief before he began to thrust into you. “I missed how tight you are, kitty~.” He moaned out as he sped up his pace. You moaned from under him and accepted his kiss as he sped up for a few seconds then his thrusts became slower, and farther out as you could feel his knot swelling and pressing against your walls. You cried out in pleasure as you clamped down on his cock and released. He thrusted into you one last time and released his seed into you. He pulled out and cleaned himself up with a nearby cloth before cleaning you up as well and pulling you close in his arms. “I love you, Y/n.” “I love you too, Captain Aizawa.” You spoke. The both of you chuckled before sleeping in each other’s arms. The end.

[crimson-mage-02]

The Prince of Thieves

Chapter 2: All Set Sail

Summary: After the Orb has been broken into pieces, it was up to Damian and his crew along with his two childhood friends Princess Rachel and her handmaiden Traci to venture and collect them to restore order in the world from Chaos.

A/N: This is the second new chapter of The Prince of Thieves, my latest new Damirae fanfic! Hope you all will enjoy it! Please let me know what you all think! It is updated in Ao3 as well. 

Rachel watched Damian being dragged away down into the dungeon and all of the people were muttering among themselves. She hated how many people would just judge him before they even know the truth. She watched as his crew were trying to get to him and she looked at her mother who was being guarded by the soldiers and everyone ran out of the banquet as the shadows took over the kingdom of Azarath.

Down in the dungeon, Damian was in cuffs and tried to break free. He was pushed in the cell but flipped back up to stand up. “Hey! I didn’t do it! Honestly! You think suddenly I have magic! You people blind?!” The door was shut on him and he sighed heavily and banged his head against the metal bars.

In the common meeting room, Arella had commenced a meeting in order with the people of Azarath along with the other three Kingdom leaders. “Now, settle down, we still need to talk about this matter at hand.” Bruce Wayne announced, trying to calm the people in the meeting room.

“Please, there is no need to panic.” Arella reasoned with them as she used her powers to light up the lights as the electricity sparkled. “There is still hope for us to hopefully find the missing pieces of the Orbs.”

“But how?! It’s the bloody pirates who stole the Orb!”

“But we are not sure of that just yet. It is not confirmed that they were the ones who had stolen the Orb.” Diana Prince declared from her spot.

Clark Kent agreed. “And I do believe we still need to question them just to see if they aren’t lying or not. Please let us hear them out.” The people all grumbled and sat back down in their seats while Arella looked for her daughter and assumed she is with the thieves.

The thieves were all sitting in silence while their leader was walking back and forth. Processing what has happened and thought of Talia framing him. It has it be it! She could’ve frame him and destroyed the Orb. He heard footsteps and saw Rachel and Traci in front of the cell door. “Rachel! You have to believe us that we didn’t steal or destroy the Orb.”

Rachel remained unsure while her friend Traci was so sure they had done this. “How can we be sure of this? You were at the banquet this whole time.”

“Hey, look senorita, we did not steal it or destroyed it. Si?” Jaime glared at her until a blade was pointing at his neck. “Whoa.”

“You cunning lying thief, we’ll make sure of that you are really telling the truth. Before we proceed as planned for your trial.” Traci said.

“Whoa, wait, trial?!” Garfield exclaimed with fear, gripping on his hair.

“Yes, my mother and the other leaders of the Four Kingdoms are preparing themselves for the trial, to see if you are either telling the truth or lying.” Rachel said from where she stood.

Damian looked at her straight in the eye. “You know I would never do that. To steal the Orb while being in your presence. I’d never destroy it either.”

Both girls looked at all of them seeing they aren’t lying. They all aren’t guilty of the crime they thought the Pirates had committed. Traci lowered her blade and then looked at her princess who seemed to be thinking the very same thing.

“Swear to it that you are really telling us the truth.” Rachel said, looking up at Damian who frowned and then he held onto the metal, looked straight in her eyes.

“I do promise that we all are telling you the truth.” Damian confirmed for the last time before the guards opened the doors and had found them.

Announcing that the Princess should get ready for the pirate’s trial. Felt defeated, Rachel didn’t want to leave but was forced to do so. She walked up the stairs with the lights all turning off with Damian watched her helplessly and leaned on the metal bars again.

Then they were all escorted into the meeting room where Rachel stood beside her mother with a slight change in her outfit. She had worn her shawl over her shoulder while her hair was in a bun and locked eyes with her childhood friend.

The pirates all glared at the royal ambassadors while Damian’s eyes glanced at the King of Gotham. He gasped softly to see how they both are similar in appearance. He knew the man all too well, he was the King of the Gotham. It almost it felt like he was scolding him right on the spot with his glare on his face.

“Damian, we all do want to know whether or not you all are responsible for this. And we all want the truth.” Clark said where he stood with his wife Lois.

“For the hundredth time, we did not do this!” Garfield exclaimed, rolling his eyes as he rubbed his face tiredly.

“Doesn’t convince me enough, your majesties.” Said one of the ambassadors.

Rachel bit her lips nervously seeing this isn’t going anywhere and they still don’t believe that they didn’t do it. She hoped for a miracle to happen until she heard him speaking up. “I think…. I do know who did this.”

Everyone in the common room all stared at him with confusion as well as his own crew and Rachel along with Traci. The guard let him speak into the light. He looked at Rachel as soon as he stepped to talk. “Go on, you may speak, Damian.” Arella said politely as Hippolyta wrapped the Lasso of Truth around his wrists for him to tell the truth.

“I must admit that I was trying to steal from your daughter this morning. But I had saved her life from a monster summoned by…. Goddess Talia.” Damian explained himself while the people in the room all whispered, gasped in horror and shock.

He could feel all glares at his back and could sense his crew were staring at him like he was mad. “Damian, is this true?” Arella asked from her spot.

“It is true, and she had framed all of us in destroying the Orb. But we’d never destroy something so precious.” Damian replied with a nod.

“If this Talia truly framed you all and had destroyed the Orb, then I must say that is your responsibility to recollect all of the pieces of the Orb to restore all of the Four Kingdoms.” Bruce spoke up sternly while he stroked his chin.

“But what if they’ll never come back?” asked one of the ambassadors. “He is a thief! They all are thieves.

“I have hopes that he and his friends will retrieve the pieces to help restore our homes.” Clark said with everyone looking at the Leader of Krypton. “Damian is the only one who knew of this Talia. He’ll get them back here in Azarath.”

“And if he doesn’t succeed in getting the pieces?” Bruce asked.

Hippolyta looked at her friends with a heavy sigh. “Then we’ll continue on with his trial. Death. If he doesn’t return in by the end of this month, at sunset, death await for him at his doorstep.”

Arella glanced at her daughter who silently pleaded her through their eyes. She sighed softly and went on with her heavy heart and looked at Damian. “Damian, your task for us is to retrieve the pieces, bring them all back to Azarath and you all shall be pardoned and be paid with a reward. Failed to do so. You’ll be executed by the end of the month at sunset.”

The guards took off the cuffs, he rubbed his wrists and glanced at Rachel who frowned and walked away from his sight, making him groan softly and looked at his friends who all waited for his orders as they returned to their ship.

“Hey, where are my snacks?” Garfield mumbled and then looked back at the docks seeing one of the guards were eating them. “Hey!”

“Oh, come on, hermano. We need to fix the top sail.” Jaime grumbled, pulling him into the deck.

Damian looked back at the Castle, seeing all of the lights were turning off and the wind picked up the sails and then turned to his friend Connor who had his hands on the steering wheel. The captain crossed his arms and glared at him. “What?”

“Oh, nothing. Just how are we going to find those pieces?” Connor asked him.

Damian grinned. “That’s easy. Cause we are not going to get them. We are….” He got out a map and shown where the red dot was. “…..Going to Fiji.”

“Fiji?” Connor chuckled, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Yup.” Damian smirked.

“Damian, you have a girlfriend already.” Connor reminded him of the Princess.

“Rachel and I never said anything of our relationship being official. Think about the ladies to yourself, Connor. It’s paradise.” Damian winked at him and then leaned on the railings. “Think of the sun. It is really paradise. It’s stress free. And it’s retirement.”

Connor sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. “She’ll kill you if you had changed courses.”

“And we are not telling her.” Damian grinned at him and then turned to his friends. “My friends, we are going to Fiji.” Then a luggage hit his head and he growled looking back at the docks and droplets of sweat were falling down his temple, seeing Rachel standing behind him.

He chuckled nervously seeing his childhood sweetheart glaring at him with her arms crossed. “I can explain beloved.”

“Sure. I knew this would happen.” Rachel said as he helped her down onto the decking while Traci jumped down behind her and glared at Jaime.

“Okay, easy there, Senorita.” Jaime chuckled and then looked at her up and down of her figure, leaning on the railings. “Not here to steal anything but your heart.”

All of their friends including Damian rolled their eyes at his lame flirting. Jaime looked around to see no one was saying anything and then whistled as he walked away from Traci who giggled softly. Rachel raised an eyebrow and looked up at Damian. “Can we talk? Somewhere private?”

“Of course, sure. I’ll lead the way.” Damian said, walking towards his cabin downstairs. He opened the door for her as she looked at the collection he has stored in his room.

“Wow, you do certainly go out a lot.” Rachel commented dryly as she looked at the brothel from Azarath. Looked like a bikini. She looked at him with unamused expression as he smirked at her. She watched him going towards his bed and laid down on it. “You seriously aren’t thinking about going to Fiji as you hopefully planned.”

“Well, obviously I am not really good at playing hero. So, Fiji, here we come.” Damian grinned had his arms folded as a pillow for his head.

“Mmm, just as I thought.” Rachel hummed, leaned on the wall with a grin and fidget with her fingers. A gesture Damian all knew too well. She is going play with fire.

Damian shot her a confused glance. “What?”

“I’ve always thought you aren’t that determined to get the reward for doing my mother’s task to get the pieces of the Orb.” Rachel said to him as he made room for her to sit on his bed while he still crossed his arms.

“Oh, come on, you know I would never get anything from your mother, let alone the money.” Damian said softly.

Rachel raised an eyebrow. “You aren’t interested in the money?”

“No. I am just doing this for you, your precious little kingdom and for the sake of my friends. They need it for than I do. They need it more than I do care in finding out who I really am. Where I’ve come from.” Damian explained. “Talia had promised me, originally that I’d steal the Orb, she’d actually help me to find out where I came from.”

“So, you agreed to the terms so you can know of your origins. But you didn’t anyway.” Rachel said.

Damian nodded and then cleared his throat. “So, well, nice chat, we can take it from here and you may set your mind at ease when you return to the Castle.”

Rachel chuckled with amusement. “Do you really think that I am just here for a chat? You are cute. Do you know exactly how to get the pieces of the Orb?”

Damian growled in annoyance, seeing how she is still a smart-witted woman he knew all these years. But he said so himself that he is only doing this for his friends. He sighed heavily and then leaned on the table in front of him. “So, smarty princess pants, you know how to get the pieces?”

“Easy for me and not so easy for you. My mother had let me and Traci tag along in this voyage. Before we have left, she had given me this magic book.” Rachel shown him the book in her hands with him looking at the cover.

“No…..that cannot be. That is the Beyond Sight book.” Damian gasped softly. “This book allows you find the pieces.”

Rachel nodded. “Hmm, you definitely know of this book. You’ll need this book to complete the journey.”

Then gasped watching him snatching it from her hands. “Great, I knew you were so helpful, beloved. But you are in my ship, you have to do everything I say. Even though you are the Princess of Azarath.”

“Hey! At least I am going to be queen someday. To rule the kingdom alone. I also need to know these waters if I am going on this journey.” Rachel huffed, trying to get the book back from him but he held up above her head in he air. “Give it back!”

“You’ll learn more from me cause I am the only man you’ve ever got involved with.” Damian grinned while he had his arm around her waist. She growled and punched him in the face. She spun around with a kick to his face.

Making him more annoyed at her. He blocked every punch and kick he could around his cabin. He put the book on the table and carried her out of his cabin. Opened the doors with the crew watching them. “Now this…..this had gone to a great start, Princess Raven! Now, you’ll have the most beautiful sight from this suite I have especially made for you.”

Rachel screamed and pulled his face making him growling in frustration and carried her over his shoulder. “Stop squirming!”

“I’ll stop if you don’t call me Raven!” Rachel snarled at him as she hit him in the back of his head.

“Mmm, I think not.” Damian chuckled as he jumped down the stairs and opened the door to a room filled with old items and books. “This is the ship’s most comfortable suite room made for you. Hope your stay will be satisfied.”

He heard Titus coming over to them. “Oh, hey Titus, you know Raven do you? You were just a pup back. Titus, here will keep you company throughout this wonderful voyage.”

“If you truly think---!” The door shut on her before she could get to him.

Damian walked back up and then was stopped by Traci who glared at him. “I kindly ask you to open the door.”

“Hmm, not until she doesn’t attempt in trying to snap my neck in half. And besides, mark this as revenge when you both girls had locked me in a small cabinet during hide and seek.” Damian grinned.

“That was not intentional. The guards accidently locked it.” Traci huffed.

“Yeah, whatever, everyone, we are going after the pieces of the Orb.” Everyone groaned as they’ll never get to relax in the warm suns of Fiji. Damian walked up to where Connor and Donna were standing.

He sighed and stood by them with Donna smirking. “Well?”

Damian rolled his eyes. “Okay, we are only doing this for the money.”

“Okay, so where do we find the first piece?” Connor asked him while leaning on the wheel. Damian went to retrieve the book and opened it up with magical projections appeared in front of them. He saw their location in the open sea.

“This is us. So, this book will show us where the piece of the Orb.” Damian explained to his friends and then saw a blue line appeared from the book and then into the horizon. “And that leads us to the first piece of the Orb. Hold your heading.” Connor nodded and followed the blue light line with the rest of the crew fixing around the deck.

Few hours later, Damian was in command of the wheel and then heard the door being knocked down by Rachel who huffed and puffed. She tied up her hair into a low braid and tied her shawl around her waist. She ducked her head with some wood almost hitting her.

“Sorry about that.” Terra apologised to her. “I’m Terra. So sorry about the captain’s behaviour from earlier.”

Rachel nodded her head. “He is always like that when we were children. Now, where are---Oh my.” Both girls looked ahead seeing the mountains in front of them. “The Demon’s Fang.”

“Terra! Fix up the main sail!” Damian ordered as she huffed.

“See you around, Rachel. And try to be patient with him.” Terra smiled at her as the princess made her way to where Damian stood.

The princess marched up the small stair case to where Damian was standing. “Are you sure you know what….?”

Damian smirked. “Yes, we’ve done this kind of thing before.”

“Look….?”

“No, there is no other way.” Damian grinned, still cutting her off when she was speaking to him while he was sailing the ship. He loved annoying her to no end and find it amusing on how she can put up with him.

“But….” Rachel sighed tiredly while rubbing her temples.

“And yes, beloved you have my permission to stand there quietly and get a free lesson in sailing.” Damian grinned, facing her.

“You know…...I’ve forgotten how truly annoying you are.” Rachel gritted her teeth.

Damian chuckled. “Oh, come on. We’ve been annoying each other a lot ten years ago. And besides, you do look stunning, beloved.”

“Don’t you ever think you can calm me down with your flirtatious ways.” Rachel glared at him and crossed her arms.

“We shall see that, your majesty.” Damian laughed. “Garfield, easy on the main!”

“Aye!” Garfield saluted. Everyone all looked around the cliffs and their surroundings, they could hear the eerie sounds.

“Steady as she goes.” Damian said.

“Rocks off the starboard bow!” Garfield cried out to the captain. Traci looked down below and saw something amiss. She thought she had saw something…..moving. She looked around the area and saw some people’s skeletons hanging on ropes. She gasped, covered her mouth while Jaime stood closely to her.

“Steady.”

“Damian, do you hear that?” Rachel asked him. She saw he wasn’t answering her and then looked over the edge and gasped. “Sirens…..Traci, they’re Sirens!”

“Noted!” Traci cried out to her and looked beside her seeing Jaime was in a trance. Terra looked beside her seeing Garfield was being clingy to her. “Ugh…. men!”

“My thoughts exactly.” Terra chuckled nervously and gently pushed her boyfriend away. She glanced to the side seeing Connor was flirting with Donna who blinked in confusion and then moved out of the way.

Terra huffed and then turned to the other girls. “So what do we do?”

“I have heard these legendary Sirens are magical. They could have the piece.” Rachel said going towards the two girls.

Then Donna jumped next to her. “So, where is the piece?” She looked around the area to find it but then heard Connor was flirting with someone in his mind. She sighed and shook her head then she saw the Princess had the book and looked for the piece.

“There! It says that it is on the cliff’s cave.” Terra spotted the location on the map in the magical book.

“But it is guarded by demons.” Traci noted as she got out her spear while Rachel looked up at the cave up ahead. “Some of us has to look after these boys from ever getting into those Sirens’ fins.”

“Leave that to me.” Donna grinned at her.

Terra nodded. “I’ll go with the Princess to assist her. How about you Spear Girl?”

“I’m staying here with Donna. You two go and retrieve the pieces of the Orb.” Traci replied as she pulled Garfield down back on the deck before he jumped over the ship.

Rachel and Terra both ran up to the bow, leaving the other two girls handle everything. The princess lifted her hands up and levitated Terra up to the cliff above her while she flew up and landed beside her. They both looked deep in the cave as Terra groaned in disgust. “Ugh, stinks in here.”

Purple flames lit up and then saw the orb was shining brightly but the problem is that it is surrounded by many, many demons in the cave. “This is gonna tricky.”

Back on the ship, Traci had gathered the boys round the deck with Donna tied them up with her lasso and then looked up at the captain who was still on the wheel. Then he fell down with a dream like trance as the ship took a turn making the two girls fall down with Titus barking loudly. Looking up at Terra and Rachel who were in the cave. Then he helped the girls to get everyone in the deck in one place.

In the cave, Terra watched Rachel taking slow steps towards the piece. Then she saw they were going to wake up. “Uh, your majesty…..the demons!”

“I know. Just a few steps.” Rachel hissed as she reached for it and then saw the demon had moved its arm to cover the orb. She groaned in frustration and looked around to see another solution for her to see a way for her to get it.

Meanwhile in a shard of a broken mirror, Talia had watched carefully. She watched with amusement to see the Princess actually had gone with Damian and his crew on the quest to get the pieces of the Orb. “Hmm, it seems like I had underestimated Damian. He never gives up, but look, he had brought lady friend with him.” Talia chuckled dryly and then sighed contently. “Let’s have more screaming.”

Back in the cave, the girls both heard the ground shaking and heard snarling from all demons. “It’s time to go!” Rachel exclaimed grabbing the piece and then made a run for it with Terra as she made a shield with her powers.

Back on the ship, Donna was trying her hardest to prevent Damian from ever jumping out from the ship as she saw one siren was kissing him. “Ah, I cannot unsee that.” Traci gagged, closing her eyes.

Then they saw a bubble from up above seeing Rachel and Terra were escaping from the demons and rolled along the cliff. They both shouted and cried out in the bubble with a few bumps along the way until it was popped and both girls were falling down.

Rachel casted a spell for the wind to softened their landing. Terra landed on top of Garfield but she he was still under the trance and saw Rachel was in Damian’s arms. She groaned at the sight of him kissing her. Rachel rolled her eyes and pulled an arm back to punch him.

She wiped her lips and held onto the piece in her hands. “You got the Orb!” Traci exclaimed with a smile.

“But we still are surrounded by demons!” Terra exclaimed.

“Now what?” Donna asked them.

They all saw an opening as Terra and Donna got the blades out while Rachel reached out to the wheel and turned hard left to escape the demon’s lair. The boys were out of the sirens trance as they all screamed, being pushed by the ship. The wood from an abandoned ships all broke down and had hit Damian in the face.

Then they were safe in the open sea from the sirens and Traci held out the shiny piece of the Orb that was safe in her hands. “We’ve got it at last.” Donna nodded with satisfactory. “All we need is to get to the other piece.”

“What happened?” Jaime groaned looking at all of the girls.

“It was all the Princess. She had saved us all and retrieved the Orb.” Terra chuckled, gesturing to the Princess who was standing behind the wheel with the wind blowing in her face gently. Damian stood up, rubbing his chin, and looked up at Rachel who was petting Titus, heard from the boys that the girls had saved them from the sirens and the demons.

“Alright, snap out of it. Snap out it, boys. Let’s get back to work.” Connor said to the boys then faced Donna who had a grin on her face. “I didn’t do anything, did I?”

“Hmm, you flirted with me. And then after you, you were flirting with someone in your dreamlike trance.” Donna replied.

Connor chuckled and rubbed his neck. “At least, I was harmless.” He watched her walking away with an amused expression and got back to work.

Damian walked up to Rachel while rubbing his neck and about to speak up. “Uh….”

“So, still think I need a lesson?” Rachel smirked at him.

Damian blinked, clenched his fists and huffed. “Absolutely!” Titus groaned and whined shaking his head and looked up at the Princess. “I mean, look at my ship! This railing was hand carved mahogany! And here! These moldings came all the way from Damascus!” Rachel rolled her eyes and then crossed her arms and stepped away from the wheel while he ranted on how his ship was in ruins.

“Do you have any idea what I went through to steal these, beloved?” Damian asked her, facing her with a pout.

“Are you crazy? I saved your life, your welcome!” Rachel exclaimed.

“Oh, I would’ve been fine. I always am. I survived just fine after 10 years.” Damian scoffed taking the wheel while she muttered angrily.

Damian raised an eyebrow and looked to the side of his ship. “And you chipped the paint! Right here, look at it. That’s more than a little scratch.”

Rachel grunted angrily and closed the doors. Damian huffed and looked down at his crew and his other childhood friend Traci were sending him glares as well as Titus. He groaned with frustration. “The dog, my s-stupid childhood friend of mine, the crew and th-th-that woman!” He knocked the door and looked back at his crew and then knocked on the door again. Took a few steps back as they were slammed opened.

“What?!”

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome!”

“Don’t worry about it!”

“I won’t!”

“Good!”

“Goodbye!”

“Bye to you!” Rachel closed the doors behind her and then leaned the back of the door with a small smile.

Damian huffed with his hands on his hips but still can’t help but smile. Then he heard Titus was panting happily. “Happy now, Titus?”

Titus barked as response and then Damian saw Traci was giving her a glare. “And what do you want?”

“You really do have your way with your childhood sweetheart.” Traci smirked coyly at him, making him feel more irritated. “You are really a sly thief. You stole her heart away and then leave just like that. There must be a reason why you left all those years. May I ask why?”

“There is nothing you need to know. All you need to know is one fact only. I moved on because I have a different path.” Damian admitted and walked away from her. Traci’s frown turned upside down as she now know Rachel’s fears were realized and expected. He had moved on.

[op-sheepy]

ok so I'm particularly interested in

Bellamy Law

Law and Bible stuff

Law is a substitute kindergarten teacher

shichibukai applications

reverse hanahaki disease (?? do u spit out flowers when your nemesis walks by?)

if you feel like elaborating on any of these!

This is gonna get long and I actually contemplated posting them separately but would that have been more work? Yeah, that felt like more work so for anyone interested, check under the cut. :D

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Bellamy Law

Hm… This would be an attempt to explore the parallels and contrasts between Bellamy and Law. I've always found it fascinating that the former was a foil to the latter.

They both come from well-off  towns in the North Blue.

Bellamy left because of boredom. Law had no choice because Flevance.

Both ended up seeking Doflamingo  because of  his notoriety as a pirate. Both admired him initially

Doffy favored one over the other though. Bellamy always sought his approval but was never really part of the inner circle Doflamingo cared about.

Law got the dubious privilege of being part of the family despite being absent for so long. Even offered one of the highest seats by Doffy's side for seemingly nothing.

Law had no trouble turning his back on Doffy once he realized the man's nature. Bellamy tried to stick to his principles until the end despite admitting that he new he was wrong.

Bellamy can (and did) quit piracy after his ordeal with Doflamingo. Having the option to live peacefully, perhaps a return to his previous life (the one he considered boring). Law can't do that quite as easily what with his Devil fruit and his reputation.

I thought it would be interesting trying to explore what Bellamy was thinking. Did he hear the Donquixote Pirates talk about their missing 'family'? Did he get to see Doffy be amused at Law's rise as a Supernova while he kept being reminded of his own status? Did Law save Bellamy partially because he also saw what he could have been had Corazon not saved him?

On principle, Bellamy should have hated Trafalgar Law. Does. Bastard even saved him without him wanting it. But there was something about the shadows haunting those eyes and Bellamy started to wonder.

He had heard the family talk about Law before. The child personally taught by Doflamingo, chosen to be his right hand. Never was he compared to the man because Law was just obviously better. Smarter. Stronger. Bellamy was ever just an uncouth thug.

He was allowed to 'borrow' Doflamingo's symbol while Law had an empty seat waiting for his return–a seat Bellamy had wanted enough to risk everything for.

Maybe he had resented, Trafalgar Law for carelessly rejecting the things he had that Bellamy had always desired. In the end too, Trafalgar Law did prove to be better. He'd done as a child what Bellamy had trouble doing even as he was now.

But having been given the chance to observe the other man as they all recovered, he wondered, perhaps for the first time, whether despite Law being better than Bellamy, Bellamy had had it better–barring the poor life choices.

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Law and Bible stuff

This is just me wanting to know how many biblical parallels and themes I can draw from Law, the Donquixote brothers, the characters associated with them, and his backstory. Honestly not sure whether this would become a fic and in what style or I'm gonna give up and just make it a post.

Not gonna elaborate on them much but here are the ideas in more bullet points (yay):

Law gets familiar with all four horsemen of the apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death. He even survives them.

Law is like the son in the parable of the prodigal son to the Donquixote pirates. Except the themes are inverted.

Doflamingo and Rocinante -> Cain and Abel

Ope Ope no Mi -> Granting eternal life by sacrificing one's own life

Gods descending or living among humans. Also, Homing and his family being prosecuted for other people's sins.

That scene where they were hanged by their arms outstretched looks like a crucifixion. Also, Rocinante was on the right while Doflamingo was on the left. Similar to how the penitent thief was on the right and the unrepentant one to the left.

Flevance being considered a paradise with walls/fences/gates and somewhere Law cannot return to.

In the panel where the Donquixote pirates are seated at the table, there were thirteen of them with Doffy at the center. Same as The Last Supper

There are a lot more of these (David and Goliath, Solomon, Jonah, Job, etc.) but I kinda lost the notes and some are more visual so I can't really explain it too well. This would is a drabble series to emphasize or highlight the parallels so no proper snippet for this one.

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Law is a substitute kindergarten teacher

Originally an idea to get around most of the Heart Pirates being nameless but evolved to include other characters as kids. Chopper is a kindergarten teacher and he convinces Law to take over his class for a week because somehow Law has the qualifications to and free time. Naturally, he wasn't able to say no.

Unfortunately, despite not being terrible at handling children, Chopper's class is filled with menaces. Also, despite not being terrible, Law can still be awkward so...

"Mr. Trofao–fargar—"

"Trafalgar."

The kid—which one was this one again? Shit, he should really get them name plates or something—scrunched up his face and tried harder, "Tar-pal—"

"Law. Just call me Law."

"Mr. Low"—eh, close enough—"can I go to the bathroom?" Wide imploring eyes stared up at him.

"Sure, go ahead." Law gestured towards the exit of the classroom with his head.

The kid just stared expectantly at him and he tried to suppress the need to narrow his eyes.

"Is there… anything else?"

"Mr. Chopper always comes with me to hold my hand."

Really?

"Mr. Chopper isn't here. You should practice doing it on your own now." He said after a deep inhale.

"But the monsters might get me…"

"No, they won't."

"You don't know that."

"I do." Before the kid could open his mouth again to argue, he added, "Besides, children taste terrible so you're safe."

The kid looked stricken and took a step back from him. Uh oh. Glistening eyes, wobbling lower lip… "Alright! I'll go with you." The kid did not look reassured. In fact he looked like going alone with Law was the last thing he wanted to do. Guess, he kinda implied that he ate children didn't he? Oops.

Well, the kid needs to go and he's not going to be cleaning up after him if he wets himself.

Law glanced at the rest of the children. It was Arts and Craft time and they seemed preoccupied enough. Still, Law doubted Chopper ever left these kids alone–already he could see some of them glancing up at him, waiting for him to leave no doubt to cause trouble. That Monkey kid in particular looked extremely suspicious.

He stood up from his crouch and clapped twice to get everyone's attention.

"Alright. Fall in line. Single file."

There was some grumbling and questioning directed at him. "What's going on?"

Law shrugged. "You're all going to the bathroom."

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Shichibukai Application Forms

Crackfic where the World Government and relevant parties review various Shichbukai Applications. Most submitted by the pirates applying themselves, some produced by their own staff. They discuss and debate. As well as judge pirate resumes.

She scanned the document. Terrible format, really. If you fail to impress within the first page, you've failed entirely. There just wasn't anyone promising enough in this batch of applications or any of the other ones before. The last one had been that clown. "Apprentice to the Pirate King," was a pretty hefty credential.

"Oh, how about this one? Three years experience pillaging, and they even listed all the towns they looted." One of the newly transferred administrative staff said.

"None of these are worth considering at all. You know, when Mihawk was asked to submit his application, he hadn't bothered with all of this. He just sent us a card with his name on it and the title "World's Strongest Swordsman," underneath."

The staff perked up. "Oh, there was an application like that." There was scramble and some shuffling before a plain white card was produced. "Here."

"'From Trafalgar Law'. What does this even mean?"

"Well, it did come with a big box..."

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Reverse Hanahaki Disease

(?? do u spit out flowers when your nemesis walks by?)

Haha. At first it was going to be that way (because it is hilarious) but the inflicted would probably choke to death too soon. Or if both enemies had it, they'd end up just coughing flowers at each other until they stopped being enemies.

The version I ended up going with was that this variant of Hanahaki, instead of afflicting those with unrequited love, affected those in denial instead. The reverse part comes from the original idea that this would usually happen if you somehow fell in love with your nemesis (someone you originally hated). So it's not the thought that the other person can't love you, it's that you can't accept that you love that other person. You get cured by confessing to the person sincerely.

This is actually another KidLaw (surprise!). And the flower coughed up directly represents the person they're in love with (I went with Oda's flower representation for them because I found it funny for plot)

So the idea is that, you get sick but you don't automatically know (maybe) who it is because that's part of being in denial. Kid and Law have many enemies after all. In this story they both get it though not exactly at the same time and not known to the other.

He survived Amber Lead Syndrome only to be killed off by a stupid flower disease that apparently knows more about his own feelings than he does.

He glared at the petals. Tulips. Red.

An image of a cocky grin and a shock of red hair flashed through his mind and—nope. That's not right.

He coughed harder, tears stinging his eyes with the effort. More flowers. Now he has enough for a bouquet.

Alright, he was a doctor. He could do this. Differential time.

First, which variant does he have. He doesn't particularly feel unloved or hopeless. There wasn't anyone he wanted in particular to love him. Ok, nothing. It was maybe safe to say he had that other variant.

Which was stupid because Law had many enemies and he hated all of them.

And cue the racking coughs. More red. He was very familiar with that particular shade.

New theory. This was a new variant that somehow makes you sick when you think of the person you hated the most.

Yes, that had to be it. He thought as he all but collapsed on the floor from the sudden paroxysm.

I knew this was gonna get long. :) Oh well...

Thank you for playing. :D

[anachronisticcrab]

Fem Nico Headcanons for @heyimboredtalktome Hope you enjoy these mom!

He wears flowy skirts that twirl prettily and make Will cry of happiness

He uses dresses and makeup to enhance his Addams Family Vibes. His goal is for someone to mistake him for Mortitia or Wednesday

He has skeleton hand hair clips

And braids! He loves braids. Waterfall braids, dutch braids, french braids, braided braids, everything

He usually has a pencil or paintbrush stuck in his hair ngl

He has a makeup account where he does goth looks and SFX. he turned Will into Darth Maul on his birthday and omg it was amazing

When he wears shoes, high heels, high heeled thigh high boots, those cute clunky sneakers(see image below), or combat boots boots. Usually just barefoot with vintage goth dresses tho

Has 100% worn a Victorian era dress with heels and a sword as he walked through the Strawberry fields at camp because aesthetic

Pink and blue streaks in his hair! He lost a bet and Loved it so he sticks with it (literally the most colourful thing about him)

Will makes him both flower crowns so when he’s not wearing a tiara or crown he’s got a head full of flowers. They’re always aesthetic and gothish

Beautifully painted nails at all times. His hands are always different colours/patterns

He’s like a magpie and loves shiny things, so he always has different rings and earrings and necklaces and bracelets that Leo helped him make out of shiny rocks and stuff that he found on the sidewalk or at flea markets

He has ribbons tied into his hair all the time!

He has cute little belts to tie at his waist with a-line dresses! There are gold, silver, black, and olive green belts in his closet

He figure skates and has cute little outfits (see Tammie’s post here)

He has cute little bat bags and stuff

Y’know those skinny jeans that are ripped all the way down the legs? He wears those all the time

He shaves his legs and pits too, cause when he exfoliates afterwards his skin is s o f t

He has a number of oversized fluffy hoodies in the full colour spectrum of white to grey to black! They’re so fluffy and warm and Nico loves them

OVERALLS! He never wore them when he was little, but he loves them! Black and grey overalls over sheer shirts and fluffy hoodies are his favourite

About half of his clothes are splattered with paint ngl

(Not fem Nico but Artist Nico can be fem too, right? He usually has charcoal dust smeared across his face and ink stains on his fingers)

Lashes King! He naturally has long and voluminous lashes but with mascara and occasionally false lashes? Stunning

He’s usually got a smokey eye and tons of eyeliner (occasionally smudged for the aesthetic)

He’s very flexible and loves gymnastics. He loves the bars, and can do a reverse giant (really cool thing tho)

He has so many sheer shirts and fishnet shirts

He 100% has a cloak with red swirls at the bottom that he wears over Victorian dresses and skirts

Black lace gloves ALL THE TIME

And he’s got one of those 20’s lady cigarette holder things for the aesthetic of it

He’s got a 40’s movie star hat with the veil (like his mother wore) and he wears pearls cause he’s a classy bitch

Corsets? Hells yes mf. He wears corsets all the time over white flowy shirts cause he feels like a pirate—

Dyed half his hair white for a year because Melanie Martinez is amazing

Pentagram necklaces

He, Thalia, Piper and Reyna trade clothes cause they all have the same general style of ‘comfortable and ready to kick ass’

Has worn knee high socks and he will again

He definitely wears monochrome floral blouses and skirts and dresses

Capris! They are the shortest his pants will ever get. His skirts get to just below his knees and that’s as high up cause he’s a classy bitch and people don’t need to see his legs (not me projecting at all here... cough cough)

No matter what Nico you have (fem, androgynous, masc, whatever) he’s a clothing thief. He steals hoodies and jackets and t-shirts from EVERYONE and they’ve all learned to live with it. Hopdie thief, tshirt thief, boot thief, accessories thief

Eyeliner with cat eyes and the ones pointing down in the inner corner of his eyes

Constantly dripping in jewels to add to the rich cryptic goth vibe he’s got going for him

Basically he channels his inner Mortitia Addams and his inner Janice Ians

Literally hasn’t cut his hair since the military school. It’s down to his waist at this point (isn’t this canon?)

Victory Curls?? HELLS YES

HATS. Big hats, wide brims, cowboy hats, veiled 1930’s hats, beanies. ALL THE HATS

Lots of photos but I hope you enjoy this!

[fanaticfangirl001]

Like Real People Do Ch 5: An Assassin, A Terrorist, A thief, and A Bird Walk Into Madripoor

Taglist:

@p3nny4urth0ught5, @kissofvenom922

Ch 5:

Author’s note:

“I’m going to go in alone.” Bucky turns to Winnie and Sam.

“Why?” Sam asks.

“Bucky does have a better chance of getting answers.” Winnie adds.

“Also you’re an Avenger. You know how he feels about that.” Bucky says.

“It’s not like you two are known for frolicking in the sun together.”

“Zemo would be a good informant though, Sam.”

“He was obsessed with HYDRA. We have a history together. Trust me. I got it.” Bucky walks off to speak with Zemo.

Sam turns to Winnie “ Why aren’t you volunteering to go in with him?”

“I can’t, I doubt Zemo likes me much.” Winnie scoffs.

“Right, SHIELD.”

“Yeah.” Winnie nods hoping Sam drops it.

“So.” Sam changes the subject, “ You were kind of out of it when I mentioned Sharon.”

“I said then that I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“How about now?”

“Look, right before Shield fell I found some documents connecting the dots.I saved them to a flash drive and drove my ass home to the apartment Sharon and I shared. I tried to tell her, she got defensive, we got in a fight. She claimed I was a part of Hydra. I called her a bitch and left.” Winnie explains.

“That’s rough.”

“Yeah, I don’t see us working it out. “

“There’s always couple’s therapy.” Sam suggests with a laugh.

“Oh right, how’d that session go?”

“Got to stare into his baby blues.”

“Did that help?”

“No.”

“I could do better than that.”

“Oh I bet he’d like that.” Sam smirks.

“Not what I meant.” Winnie rolls her eyes.

“What are you talking about breaking Zemo out of jail? Where the hell are we Buck? Have you lost your mind?” Sam asks.

“That’s a fantastic idea, Buck.” Winnie says sarcastically.

“We have no leads, no moves, nothing.”

“What we have is one of the most dangerous men in the world behind bars.”

“That Bucky wants to let out of those bars.” Winnie sidesteps by Sam to avoid tripping.

“We also have eight super soldiers on the loose.”

“Shit, he’s gotta point, Sam.”

“Zemo is gonna mess with our minds. Especially yours.”

“He also probably doesn’t like me either.” Winnie adds rubbing the back of her neck.

“Offense, super soldiers go against everything he believes in. He is crazy but he still has a code.”

“How crazy?” Winnie asks.

“Bag of cats.” Sam answers.

“He blew up the UN, killed King T’chaka and framed you for it.” Sam continues.

“We don’t know how they’re getting the serum.”

Bucky says.

“We don’t even know how much serum is out there.” Winnie replies then adds “ Or who put it out there in the first place.”

“What did you do?” Sam asks.

“I didn’t do anything.” Bucky says calmly.

Winnie takes a deep breath and puts her hands on her guns. If Bucky did what she thinks he did, then it’s only a matter of time before shit gets real.

“The weakest point in any system is not the software, the hardware, it's the meatware.The human element…” Bucky continues.

Three seconds to draw, two seconds to fire, three seconds to draw two seconds to fire, Winnie thinks over and over.

“I don’t like how natural, you’re being about this, and where are we, man?”

More lights fill the area and a door opens.

“Woah Woah Woah, What are you doing here!”

“I didn’t want to tell you cause I knew you’d never let this happen.”

Winnie follows the two with a gun in hand.

“What did you do?”

“We need him, Sam.”

“You’re going back to prison.”

“If I may..” Zemo starts.

“No!” Both shout.

Winnie stands besides them with her gun pointed at Zemo.

“Apologies.”Zemo says softly then looks at Winnie.

“When Steve refused to sign the Sokovia Accords, you back him.” Bucky continues.

“I really think I’m invaluable.”

“Shut up.” Sam turns to Zemo.

“If we do this, you don’t make a move without our permission.” Sam says to Zemo.

“Fair.”

Zemo turns to Winnie and says “You’ve been very quiet. Penny for your thoughts.”

“Don’t let him mess with you.” Sam says as Winnie puts her gun back in the holster. “Okay, Zemo, where do we start.”

“So our first move is grand theft auto?”

“These are mine, collected by family over the generations.” Zemo starts collecting his things out of the cars.

“Nice wheels.” Winnie gestures to a vintage cadillac.

“So she speaks.”

“Leave her alone.” Bucky says.

“I ended the Winter Soldier program once before. I have no intention of leaving my work unfinished. To do this, we’ll have to scale a ladder of lowlifes.”

“Well, join the party. We’ve already started.”

“First stop is a woman named Selby.” Zemo says carrying his bags away. “Mid level fence I still have a line on. From there, we climb.”

Walking up to the private jet, “ So all this time you’ve been rich.” Sam asks.

“I’m a Baron, Sam.” Zemo says as the four climb on the jet, “ My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country.”

Zemo drinks the champagne his butler serves him.

“It seems like you have me at a disadvantage. I don’t know your name, and if I had known such a treasure would be with those two idiots, I’d escape sooner.” He says to Winnie.

“She’s Winnie, she’s a hacker. That’s your introduction.” Bucky says gruffly.

“ A hacker...interesting.” Zemo sips at his champagne.

“Not really.”

“Oh no, it is. You’re not with an agency, I guess.”

“No.”

“No health insurance or dental, no pay check.”

“None of that.”

“Do you live in a house?”

“Yes.”

“With no income?”

“Yes.”

“Must have a wealthy family?

“No, I’m an orphan.”

“Then pray tell how you get paid.”

“Easy, like Buck said, I’m a hacker, To make money I hack into bank accounts of the rich and take very little in the grand scheme of things. One percent of the richest men in the world’s wealth.”

“Winnie.” Sam nudges her.

“It’s the truth.” Winnie adds. “Besides not like he needed it in prison.”

The conversation lulls to a deafening silence.

“Why don’t you tell us where we’re going?” Sam asks.

“Sorry I was just fascinated by this. I don’t know what to call it, but this part seems to be important. Who is Nakajima?”

Bucky jerks across and grabs Zemo by the throat.

“If you touch that again, I’ll kill you.”

Zemo nods understanding and Bucky sits back down.

“You okay, Buck.” Winnie asks.

Bucky nods.

“I’m sorry. I understand the list of names.People you’ve wronged as the Winter Soldier.”

“Don’t push it.”

“I’ve seen that book.” Sam adds. “It was Steve’s when he came out of the ice. I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in that book. Did you hear it? What’d you think?”

“I like ‘40s music, so...” Bucky answers.

“You didn’t like it.”

“I liked it.”

“It is a masterpiece, James. Complete. Comprehensive. It captures the African-American experience”

“He’s out of line, but he’s right.”

“Extremely right.” Winnie adds.

“Everyone likes Marvin Gaye.”

“I like Marvin Gaye.”

“Steve adored Marvin Gaye.”

“You must have really looked up to Steve.But I realized something when I met him. The danger with people like him, America’s super soldiers is that we put them on pedestals.”

“Watch your step, Zemo.”

Winnie watches Bucky, and nudges his leg with her foot. He nudges her foot back with a small smile.

“They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought.”

“There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.” Winnie quotes Machiavelli.

“Clever.” Zemo says then adds “ Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull? That is why we go to Madripoor.”

“What’s up with Madripoor? You talk about it like it’s Skull Island.”

“It’s an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It was a pirate sanctuary in the 1800s.”

“It’s kept it’s lawless ways.”

“Well let’s get the show on the road.” Winnie picks up her bag.

“We can’t exactly walk in as ourselves. James you will have to become someone you claim is gone.”

“We have to fix this.” I’m the only one who looks like a pimp.”

“Only an American would assume a fashion forward Black man looks like a pimp. You look exactly like the man you’re supposed to be playing. The sophisticated, charming, African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger.”

“Who am I?” Winnie asks. She dressed in a glittering short golden dress with black thigh high boots.

“A sugar baby.”

“Why am I the sugar baby?”

“It’s a role I thought you would be the most comfortable with.”

“Is this payback for stealing money from you.”

“No.”

“Oh well then Sam and I will be constantly vigilant. I have extra guns strapped to my thighs just in case.”

“The Smiling Tiger doesn’t have a sugar baby.”

“Then who am I..” Winnie’s face falls as she realizes who she’s paired up with on this mission.

“That.” Zemo points to her face,” is payback enough.”

“I don’t like you at all, but good play.” Winnie admits holding out her hand.

Zemo takes her hand and kisses it.

“Oh you don’t have to do that.” Winnie adds.

“No matter what happens we have to stay in character.”

The four of them climb into the car headed for Low Town.

Winnie stays close to Zemo looking around.

Zemo wraps an arm around her and whispers “Relax and fake like you’re meant to be here.”

“Right.” Winnie straightens her postures and twirls her hair between her fingers.

“We’re here.” Zemo then speaks to Bucky in russian: Ready to comply, Winter Soldier.

Once at the bar the bartender welcomes them “ Hello Gentleman, and lady, Wasn’t expecting you, Smiling Tiger.”

“His plans changed, we have to do business with Selby.”

“The usual?” The bartender suggests.

“Ah, Smiling Tiger, your favorite.” Zemo says.

Winnie puts a hand on Zemo’s shoulder and lightly squeezes it.

“I love these.” Sam takes the glass

“Cheers, Conrad.”

Sam takes the drink and swallows the snake organ.

A man comes up to Zemo and Winnie lets go of his arm. Zemo wraps his arm around her.

“I got word from on high. You ain’t welcome here.”

“I have no business with the Power Broker, but if he insists, he can either come and talk to me…”

“New haircut.” The man nods towards Bucky.

“Or bring Selby for a chat.”

“Power broker, really.”

“Every kingdom needs its king. Let’s just stay under his radar.”

“Do you know him?”

“Only by reputation. In Madripoor he is judge, jury, and executioner.” Zemo begins walking to the middle of the room speaking Russian to Bucky.

‘ Oh no, Winnie thinks, it’s showtime.’

Bucky attacks the man standing beside Zemo. People begin recording. Multiple men are attacked until a gun is cocked.

“Didn’t take much for him to fall back into form.”

“You’re undoing so much therapy.” Winnie adds softly.

“Keep in character or the whole bar turns against us.” Zemo adds softly before ending Bucky’s commands.

“Selby will see you now.” The bartender says.

“You good?” Sam asks.

Bucky doesn’t answer, just walks off.

The four go up the stairs.

“You should know, Baron.” Selby says “ People don’t just come into my bar and make demands.”

“Not a demand, an offer.”

“A lot has changed since you were here last.By the way I thought you were rotting away in a German prison. How did you escape?”

“People like us always find a way, don’t we. I’m sure you’ve already figured out what I’m here for.”

“You’re taller than I’d heard, Smiling Tiger.”She purs, “ What’s the offer?”

“Tell us what you know about the super soldier serum. And I give you him.” Zemo touches Bucky’s face. “Along with the code words to control him, of course.He will do anything you want.”

“Now that’s the Zemo I remember.”

“I’m glad I decided not to kill you immediately. It’d be a bad date for the pretty thing on your arm. You were right to come to me. Arrogant but right. The super soldier serum is here in Madripoor. Dr. Wilfred Nagel is the man you want to thank. Or condemn, depending on what side of this you’re on. The Power Broker had him working on the serum but things didn’t go as planned.”

“Is Nagel still in Madripoor?”

“Oh the bread crumbs you can have for free, but the bakery is gonna cost you, Baron. And before you get all cute. Don’t think you can find Nagel without me.”

Sam’s cell phone buzzes.

“Answer it.”

Winnie stands with her hands by her side ready to grab her guns.

“On speaker.”

“Hello.”

“Hey, um we need to talk about this situation. It’s been driving me, nuts.”

“What situation exactly are you talkin’ about?”

“Are you high? You know what situation, it’s the only situation me and you have.”

“What situation, Sarah? Say it.”

“The damn boat. And watch your tone. Okay? I let you slide at the bank.”

“The bank, yeah.” Sam scoffs. “Laundered so much… Yeah they’ll come around.”

“If that was the case, then why’d they dog you out, Big time.”

“Yeah you damn right I’m Big Time. You’ll see when I have that banker killed.”

“Cass! What’d I tell you about the Cheerios! I don’t have time for this! Sam I’m sorry let me call you back.”

“Sam? Who’s Sam? Kill them.”

The window breaks and Selby falls shot in the chest.

Bucky and Sam fight the two guards with Bucky grabbing the gun. Winnie follows Zemo to the door.

“They’re going to pin this on us.”

“We have a real problem now, so leave your weapons and follow my lead.”

As they walk out, phone’s all over the island begin buzzing with a bounty on the four of them.

“This is not good.”

“Obviously not good.” Winnie says

A man with a large gun begins shooting at the four, Sam and Bucky go in one direction, Zemo and Winnie in the other.

Winnie begins to notice the pattern of the sniper killing all those who want us dead. It reminds her of the cover she had on missions with Sharon. Winnie and Zemo keep going until they meet up with Sam and Bucky.

“We seem to have a guardian angel.”

“Well this is too perfect.” A woman says walking out of the shadows. “ Drop it Zemo.” She has him at gunpoint.

“Sharon.” Bucky says

“You cost me everything.” Sharon takes a step towards Zemo.

“Sharon wait, someone recreated the super soldier serum and Zemo had a lead.” Sam explains.

“That explains why you guys are here. And Selby’s dead.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I stole Steve’s shield, remember? I also took the wings for your ass to save his ass, from his ass. I didn’t have the avengers to back me up. So I’m off the grid in Madripoor.”

Winnie clears her throat,” Sharon.”

“Winnie.”

“Don’t blow smoke, I was on the run too.”

“Was, is, big difference. I don’t speak to my family anymore. I can’t.”

“Listen Sharon we need your help.” Bucky asks.

“No we don’t.” Winnie argues.

Sharon laughs.

“Please.” Bucky tries again.

“Bucky.” Winnie interjects.

“Winnie, we need her help. You two can get over it.” Bucky turns to Winnie.

“I have a place in High Town, You’ll be safe there.”

“Looks like breaking all those laws is treating you well.”

“I thought if I had to hustle, I might as well enjoy the life of a real hustler. You know how much I can get for a real Monet.”

“You never liked art before.” Winnie mentions crossing her arms.

“Deactivate your hustle mode. You sell fake Monets.”

“No, she means real. This gallery specializes in stolen artwork. Monet. Van Gogh. Classics.”

Winnie stops by one painting, and Sharon stands beside her.

“The Beach in Pourville, it was your favorite, right.” Sharon points out.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you were listening, when I spoke about it while experimenting.”

“You said that if you could jump into any painting like Mary Poppins, you’d choose this one. So you could lay on the beach after jumping in the waves and watch the sun set.”

“I know what I said.”

“Have you?”

“Do I look like I’ve been to any beaches?”

“There’s a beach on High Town. You could stay.”

“I can’t leave Buck and Sam.”

“You call him Buck.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s nice,” Sharon turns to the group away from Winnie “ You guys need to change I’m hosting clients in an hour.”

Winnie changes into the gown that Sharon picked for her. Albeit not as sparkly as the one Zemo picked out. It was nice and understated. A short lilac halter dress with a black belt paired with her same thigh high black boots, Zemo had picked out.

Sharon opens the door.

“Sure, Sharon, you can come right in.” Winnie puts on the pearl earrings Sharon picked out.

“You look great.”

“Thanks.”

“You were right.”

“About.”

“Everything, shield, the government, being pessimistic. I didn’t believe you, and then I stole the shield and after being on the run I realized I was wrong the whole time. I shouldn’t have called you a hydra agent, especially after everything you did for Shield and the inventions.”

“The rocket boots work.”

“Course, they did, you made them.”

“You think apologizing after more than seven years is going to fix everything.”

“No, because I know you, and you hold grudges like no one else I know. But it’s a start to not hating me.”

Winnie sighs, “I don’t hate you, that’s too strong of a word but another start would be helping us a little more.”

“I thought you didn’t need my help.”

“Buck was right. Any other information you have is going to help us.”

“ Speaking of Bucky, what is your deal?”

“Deal?”

“Yeah are you two friends or more, because I…” Sharon starts but gets interrupted.

“Don’t.” Winnie says sharply.

“Oh.” Sharon smiles.

“Not like that. It’s just, you remember when we’d go out together, and I’d flirt with a guy and then they’d ask me for your number.”

“You don’t want that to happen to Bucky.”

“I plead the fifth.”

“Noted. Just uh he might have heart palpitations when he sees you in this dress.”

“Sharon, go check on the guys.”

Sharon walks in the room as Sam’s changing shirts.

“Much better.”

“What’s going on Sharon? You don’t ever wanna come back home?”

“They’ll lock me up if I step foot back in the States.”

“Madripoor doesn’t allow extradition.”

“Look I’m sorry I didn’t call. But after the blip and the chaos. I just..”

“Look you know the hero thing is a joke, right. The way you gave up that shield.deep down, you must know it's all hypocrisy.”

“He knows. And not so deep down.”

“By the way how is the new Cap?” Sharon asks.

“Don’t get me started.” Bucky answers.

“I punched him in the face.” Winnie enters the room in her new dress.

“You look nice.” Bucky looks away from Winnie.

“Thanks.” Winnie sits on the other couch by Zemo.

“Please you buy into all that stars and stripes bullshit. Before you were his pet psychopath, you were Mr.America! Cap’s best friend.” Sharon sits down by Bucky.

“Wow, she’s kind of awful now.”

“Karli Morgenthau and at least seven others have taken the serum.” Sam starts.

Winnie looks down at her phone tracking the shield and John just to see that they are still in Germany.

“You guys really should steer clear of all this for your own safety. Winnie, seriously, you can and should stay here with me. You know all about art and I can get you drawing again, or inventing. Plenty of people would pay big money for rocket boots, or taser whips, boomerang daggers.”

“I can’t.”

“We know it’s a risk, but we won’t leave until we find the person that cracked the code.”

“We got a name, Wilfred Nagel.”

“Nagel works for the Power Broker.”

“We need your help Sharon, I can get your name cleared.”

“You haggling with my life?”

“Not like that.”

“I don’t buy that.”

“You pretending like you can clear my name.”

“Okay maybe it is hypocrisy. Maybe you’re right. What happened to you. But I’m willing to try if you are. They cleared the bionic staring machine, and he killed almost everybody he’s met.”

Sharon looks at Bucky, he’s glaring at Zemo, who’s talking to Winnie about art.

“You draw and paint?” Zemo asks.

“I did, when I had the stuff or the time.” Winnie shrugs and pulls out her tattered sketchbook with pages falling out. She opens it flipping through a few landscapes and portraits of people she saw at coffee shops.

“You stole money from a billionaire and you didn’t steal enough for art supplies.” Zemo questions.

“I only stole money from you for rent, groceries and to sponsor a few Sokovian families.” Winnie explains. “ I make a tight budget and stick to it.”

“You.. what?” Zemo looks surprised.

“I sponsored a few Sokovian families to emigrate to the United States. It was anonymous so I don’t know where they ended up.”

“I heard that.” Bucky adds to Sharon.

“I don’t trust charity.”

“All right, a deal then.”

“You help us out, and I get your name cleared.”

Sharon shakes his hand.

“Well I sell to some well connected people. Lay low, blend in, enjoy the party. Try to stay out of trouble. I’ll see what I can find.”

“Trouble.”

Loud electronic music plays. People are everywhere, dancing with everyone. Winnie feels a little out of place.

“A part to play,again.” Zemo says from behind her. “Relax, your friend said to have fun.”

“Ex-friend, and secondly parties like this aren’t fun for me. I’d rather be..” She’s interrupted by Zemo.

“You’d rather be in some greasy spoon hole in the wall diner with James, sharing a milkshake.”

“Malts, and second why do you think this?”

“On the plane when after James choked me, you asked if he was okay.”

“Friends do that.”

“Again on the plane when I made James uncomfortable, you kicked his leg.”

“Yeah, checking up on him without asking if he’s okay. “

“ He stares at you when you aren’t looking.”

“He stares at everyone.”

“When he stares at you though, his features soften.”

“And.”

“Also when we were talking about art, he was glaring at me.”

“He doesn’t like you much anyway. He has reason to glare at you that doesn’t have to do with me.”

“I’m just saying if you two both feel the same way, why wait? No one is guaranteed time on this earth.”

“You’re ridiculous. Also you might want to change your pin code. Your dead wife’s birthday isn’t a secure code.” Winnie walks off from Zemo.

Winnie finds Bucky by himself on the outskirts of the dance floor.

“Need a breather.”

“Yeah.”

“Winnie, stay away from Zemo. He plays mind games”

“I can handle myself. We were talking about you.”

“That’s another reason why you should stay away from him.”

“He said you like me cause you stare at me, but..”

“I gotta find Sam.” Bucky walks off to find Sam.

The moment Bucky is out of sight Zemo walks back to her.

“Did you get the answer?” He asks.

“Yeah, I did. Not the one I wanted” Winnie nods then says “ Let’s dance, Zem.”

Bucky looks around and finds Sam.

“Winnie knows.” Bucky says nervously to Sam.

“She’s a genius and a hacker. What specifically does she know?”

“She knows that I..” Bucky trails off when Sharon arrives.

“Don’t let me interrupt this.” She says. “ Winnie knows that you..”

“I’m fond of her being around.” Bucky finishes.

“That was a secret?” Sam asks.

“Yes, did you know?”

“Of course I knew. The real question is does she like you?” Sam looks towards Sharon.

“I’m not violating Winnie’s trust. She just stopped hating me. I also found him.”

“Okay Bucky, let’s put in a pin in your love life problem for now, and let’s get this guy. Here we go.”

Sharon signals Winnie and Zemo and they follow the three out of the party.

“Madripoor can give New York a run for its money.”

“They know how to party.”

“You’re not a bad dancer, Zem.”

“Neither are you Win.”

“With that bounty on your head, the longer you’re in Madripoor, the less likely you’re ever leaving. All right. He’s in there. Container four-two-six-one. I’ll keep an eye out while you guys talk to Nagel.”

“Need help out here.” Winnie offers.

“No I got it.” Sharon insists.

Winnie follows the three guys inside putting in her ear piece.

“Completely empty.”

“I’m positive it has to be.”

Walking around on the inside with a flashlight Zemo pushes in the false wall. Music is playing softly.

“Mel Torme, good taste.” Winnie whispers.

“Agreed.” Zemo motions for Bucky and Sam to go forward with the guns.

Winnie pulls out her guns, ready for anything and follows walking through the makeshift lab.She listens out for any signs of struggle from Sharon outside.

Zemo stops the record.

“Dr.Nagel?”

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“We know you created the super soldier serum.”

“Get out of my lab.”

“Hey. You know who he is right.This is Baron Zemo.I know you've heard of him too. You seem like a pretty smart guy. So you better become conversational real quick.”

“How about a counter proposal? Make me a better offer and I’ll talk.”

Winnie looks around at the chemicals and the serum making process. It would take years to make sense of this.

“Guys we have company.” Sharon says from the ear pieces. “Every bounty hunter in the city is here we gotta go.”

Bucky grabs the doctor and puts him in a chair with a gun in his face. He fires the gun near him.

“Okay.I was brought into Hydra’s Winter Soldier program to pick up their work after the five failed test subjects in Siberia. When Hydra fell I was recruited by the CIA. They had blood samples from an American test subject, with semi-stable traces of serum in his system.After much labor, I was able to isolate the necessary components in his blood. I was a god. I did what no other scientist since Erskine was able to do. But mine was going to be different. No clunky machines or jacked up bodies. Mine was going to be subtle, optimized. Perfect.”

“How have we never heard about this?”

“Because before I was able to complete my work. I turned to dust.Then when I returned, it was five years later,the program had been abandoned, so I came here. THe Power Broker was more than happy to fund the recreation of my work.”

“How many vials did you make?”

“Twenty.”

“Karli Morgenthau stole those, so I can only imagine what the Power Broker has planned for that poor girl.”

“Where’s Karli now?”

“I don’t know where she is. But a couple of days ago she called and asked if I could help someone named Donya Madani. Poor woman has tuberculosis. Typical of overpopulation in displacement camps like that.”

“Well, what happened to her?”

“Not my pig, not my farm.”

“Is there any serum in this lab?”

“No.”

“Now what?”

“Guys we’re seriously outta time here.”

Zemo shots the doctor.

“No!”

A large explosion throws the five on the other side of the lab.

Bucky, Sam, Winnie, and Sharon on one side with Zemo on the other.

“Anybody see Zemo?” Sam asks.

“Let’s go.” Bucky pulls Winnie and Sharon up.

“Alright wait for my signal.”

Gunfire breaks out.

Sam goes early.

“Damnit.” Bucky says running after providing cover for Sam.

“You know the drill, right Winnie.” Sharon says.

“Yeah yeah, go.”

Sharon and Winnie run and fall into their old routine, as though it’s been no time since they were partners. The four find cover and keep shooting.

“And you like living here?”

“It’s not terrible.”

“It’s pretty terrible, Sharon.”

“I thought you were going left.”

“You went the wrong way.”

“I was clearing the way.”

“Do they always fight like this?” Sharon asks.

“Pretty much.” Winnie answers.

“I came out first. You had to follow me.”

“And where are we now!”

“Guys, Not the time!”

“I’m out.”

“This is a barricade.”

“It’s in every action movie.”

“Might have some more in my backpack.” Winnie tells Sharon.

“You carry ammunition in a Jansport.”

“I didn’t judge you in your home with the off season prada purse you were carrying.”

The four look up and see Zemo with a purple mask sniping the way clear.

“Go.” Bucky taps Winnie and Sharon

They grab each other and run.

Bucky and Sam follow into a shipping container.

A car screeches to halt with Zemo in it,

“Supercharged.”

“You’re going back to jail.”

“Do you want to find Karli or not?”

“He’s right, we need him.”

“There’s three of us and at least twenty of them.”

“Fine but if you try that shit again…”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Well that was one hell of a reunion.”

The four get in the car.

“Come back to the states with us.”

“I can’t. Just get me the pardon you promised me. And here.” Sharon gives Winnie back the flash drive with all the hydra information on it.

“Thanks.”

“You’re not gonna move your seat up, are you.”

“No.”

On board the private jet Sam calls Joaquin about Donya Madani.

“Oh ask him about the secret Winnie project.”

“Sure.”

“Do you have information on some secret Winnie project?”

“Yeah yeah it’s a bad name, she’ll work on it. Nothing, yet, okay more importantly is Donya Madani.”

Winnie looks down at her phone tracking John with earbuds in listening to his conversations.

“You okay?” Bucky asks seeing Sam flop down into a chair.

“Yeah. Just thinking about all the shit Sharon had to go through, and Nagel referring to the American test subject like Isaiah wasn’t even a real person. Just makes me wonder how many people have to get steamrolled to make way for this hunk of metal.”

“Well it depends on who you ask. That hunk of metal saved a lot of lives.”

“Yeah I get that. All right. Maybe I made a mistake.”

“You did.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have put it in a museum. I should have destroyed it. “

“Look that shield represents a lotta things to a lotta people, including me. The world is upside down, and we need a new Cap. and it aint gonna be Walker. So before you destroy it, I’ll take it from him myself.”

Joaquin calls Sam back and Zemo comes back with plates of food.

He gestures towards Winnie and says to Bucky“ Can she hear us?”

“No, she’s in survelliance mode. Put a tracker on the new Cap.”

“Smart.”

“Surprised she hasn’t put one on you.”

“Winnie is quite special, isn’t she?”

“Whatever you're thinking about saying or doing, don’t.”

“Oh I have no interest in her. Besides a financial one.”

“You want her to hack on your behalf, not gonna happen.”

“No, she’s an artist.”

“You want to pay her to draw and paint.”

“Yes, she’s very talented. She showed me her sketchbook, you’ve seen it haven’t you?”

“No.”

“Hm, interesting.”

“Stop.”

“They found Madani. Dead. She died in Riga, a city near the Baltic Sea.”

“I have a place we can go.” Zemo says. “I for one am looking forward to coming face to face with Karli. Oeznik we’re changing course.”

“Walker knows you two broke out Zemo.” Winnie says taking out her earbuds. “ He’s also not too concerned with his rules of engagement.”

Walking down the streets of Riga, Latvia, Zemo begins talking. Winnie looks at the small buildings lining the street, it looks like painting by the sea.

“I don’t suppose any of you bothered visiting the memorial, at least the thief donated.” Zemo gestures to Winnie.

Zemo stops at a large building, “We are here.”

“I’m gonna go on a walk.” Bucky says.

“You good?”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful.” Winnie adds.

“Always am.” Bucky nods.

Once Zemo and Sam are inside Winnie follows them.

Sam turns towards Winnie with a smile.

“What?”

“Be careful.” Sam mimics her.

“Not you too.”

“No it’s cute. It’s adorable actually. That you have no clue.” Sam says.

[marvel-ousnesss]

The pirate and the witch (part one)

Pairing: Harry Hook x daughter of Narissa!reader

Word count: 2477

Summary: Y/N, an orphan VK who was taken to Auradon at a young age, returns to her old home by request of the crown prince. However, things tend to go south at the Isle of the Lost. 

Warning: Mild cursing 

A:/N: Okayy, here goes nothing. This is my first fic and I'm really excited about it. Comments and feedback (and title suggestions 'cause I suck) are appreciated. I think the whole story might have five or six parts which I'll be posting ASAP. 

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE DISNEY DESCENDANTS CHARACTERS NOR THE SANDERSON SISTERS. All credit goes to the creators, writers, and producers. Same with the HP charms, credit goes to J.K Rowling. 

Part two       Part three         Part four       Masterlist

I can’t believe I agreed to do this. Of all places, it had to be the Isle of the Lost. I look at the empty sky as I waltz my way through the lonely, and dark alleys; desperately trying to forget that the clock is about to strike midnight. 

Even though I’m currently in one of the scariest places that I can actually think of, I pay attention to every detail as I walk. Particularly, I notice the poor construction of the buildings and the few people that I see asleep against walls or trash containers. Every minute that goes on here makes me wanna go back, yet I’m motivated to help make this a better place — or, at least that's what I tell myself. 

Last week, my friend Ben approached me after a meeting he had with his father. He wouldn’t stop talking about how terrible the conditions at the Isle are and insisting on doing something about it before the preparations for his coronation. So we talked to my parents, the king and queen of Maldonia, and concluded that we needed to see the situation first hand to come up with a good set of solutions. But, given that Ben’s parents would never let him go, I begged mine to allow me, arguing that I could blend in, being a VK myself. 

I grew up in Auradon, and not on the Isle, because my mother died years ago, in another realm. According to Fairy Godmother, she was one of the most dangerous villains ever seen, and one of the evilest. Yet, instead of abandoning my on the Isle, like most would have done, —and after some arguing between royals— the king and queen of Auradon allowed Queen Tiana and King Naveen to raise me as their daughter; but I never forgot the piece of The Isle that runs through my veins. 

By this, I mean my magic. According to my parents, my mother was a very powerful witch. So, when I turned twelve and officially celebrated eight years on Auradon, I asked the king and queen for permission to learn magic; which they granted, under very specific parameters. 

Since my powers have a dark nature, or so says Fairy Godmother, she asked the three forest fairies, Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather, to tutor me at their cottage —this being the only place where I’m allowed to use my powers. 

….. 

I arrive at the small loft —or should I say hideout— that the royal guard of Maldonia had prepared for me, and take off my black cloak, setting it on the bed, right next to the few notes I have taken. Finally, after the longest day that I’ve had in a while, I let myself fall on the firm bed and drift off to sleep. 

Woken up by the sound of my alarm, I get up and get ready, repeating the steps of my plan like my life depended on it —who knows, it may. 

Fairy Godmother warned me about the gang rivalry that has been going on for a while and told me about some VKs who have shown to be the most dangerous. 

The one she talked about the most is Mal, daughter of Maleficent. Apparently, she is the leader of the most feared squad of the Isle; which happens to be formed by none other than the children of Jafar, Cruella de Vil, the evil queen, and well, Maleficent. 

Aside from them, the headmistress mentioned the pirate crew that hangs near the docks, which is the biggest competition for the so-called ‘Core Four’. It’s most known members are Uma, Ursula’s daughter; Gil, son of Gaston; and Harry Hook, Captain Hook’s son (obviously). According to my notes, Uma is the captain and Hook is her loyal first mate. 

I should be fine, as long as I stay away from their little gang battle. But, being as stubborn as I am, I decide that being part of this will be the ultimate Isle experience. 

I do my best to blend in as I stroll down the market and grab a few things, earning a few glares and weird looks as I pay for them. I don’t like being the center of attention, so I put on my hood and avoid all eyes. Preparing to head back, I grab a small bread loaf from a stall to my right and, when the woman behind it is about to protest, I hand her a few gold coins. 

Then, I abandon the market, unaware of the two sets of eyes that I have on my back, those belonging to a certain Arabian young thief and the son of Cruella de Vil. 

I become aware of their steps lurking behind me when I’m a few blocks away from the market, so I walk faster and then I find myself running from them. I manage to keep them quite far until the two of them jump their ways to the ceilings above me. 

I curse Fairy Godmother for not telling me about Carlos’ talent with parkour. She said he was dangerous because of his way with technology, nothing more. Yet, here I am, running from a thief and a thirteen-year-old geek who happens to be a fucking ninja. 

I run and run, without looking up or behind me. I’ve always been pretty active, so I lose them after a few minutes. Nevertheless, I don’t stop running and continue in whatever direction my feet are taking me. 

…… 

I should’ve taken a right. That way, I would’ve arrived at my place ten minutes ago; but my dumb ass decided to take a wrong turn so I ended up in the Sanderson sisters’ hut. And, just before I turned on my heel to make an exit, I find the three awful witches standing right in front of me, displaying wicked and hungry grins.

—What have we here?— inquires the redhead, — seems like today’s our lucky day, sisters. They’re both a teeny tiny bit big, but that’s what you get here. Kids are running out these days. 

I try to run but my feet fail me, and I feel an electric shock running through me before blacking out. The last thing I hear is a chorus of excited voices singing ‘double food delivery, double food delivery,’ and a strong thunder of psychotic laughter. 

I wake up in a small, round cage that hangs from a bronze chain, next to a boy who I recognize as a member of Ursula’s daughter’s pirate crew. What’s his name? Henry, Howard, Helio? Harry, the first mate, that’s it! Anyway, I look around for a possible exit, but find nothing but the front door, which is right next to the cauldron and the three witches —who remain oblivious to me being awake. 

Minutes go by and they remain carried away by whatever they are brewing; at least until my cage mate decides to wake up all grumpy. 

—Hit my nappeer, them howling witches…— he grumbles, trailing off; but it seems enough to draw their attention. 

With wide eyes and wicked grins, they make their way to us with their arms intertwined. When they are close enough, the youngest takes a look at us and licks her lips and the raven-haired one pushes her nose against the bars and sniffs us, sighing in content when she’s had her fill.

— They’re so cute, Winnie, can we keep them, pretty please?— she asks, jumping in her place a couple times. 

—You can play with them until the potion is ready, but not a second more. Do remember, — she sing-songs. — Youth and beauty, beauty and youth. 

—Hear that? We’re gonna have a good time!— States the ebony-haired witch, as she pokes Harry, who’s still semi-conscious, with a wooden stick. That seems to fully wake him 

— Oi, watch it!— he hisses while trying to dodge the harmless, yet annoying tip. He doesn’t have much success due to the lack of space, which amuses me a bit.

—Ooh… a feisty one! — grins the blonde one. —Too bad we can’t keep you, handsome; it would’ve been delicious. 

The look on her face seems to be full of physical hunger, but I detect a not so faint tint of lust in her demeanor. The reason why, with those words and the witch’s obvious intentions, my face contours in disgust, which I immediately regret. 

—What’s your problem, dear one— she says, as she surrounds the cage, — don’t like me talking ‘bout your little boyfriend like that? Didn’t mommy teach you to share?—. When she’s right behind me, she sneaks a bony hand through my hair and grabs a fistful, to which I reply with a groan. 

As she is about to continue the teasing, Winnifred calls her sisters. 

—We can’t feed them the potion yet — she scowls.

—Well, duh… my playtime hasn’t finished— replies the blonde. 

—no, Sarah, were missing the knotgrass, the fluxweed, and the rat foot— clarifies the third sister, with her pointy nose buried in the cauldrons aroma, — it hasn’t turned green yet. 

—At least one of you isn’t completely dense. Come on, sisters, off to the market we go. 

As if on cue, they head to the door and close it behind them.

A faint ‘don’t go anywhere’ is heard from outside, followed by another chorus of wicked laughter. 

…….. 

—Gaunnie hook ‘em— spits the pirate, stretching his arm in a miserable attempt at grabbing the hook that lays on the floor beneath us. 

I shrug, and then proceed to peak my nails, — Might wanna get out of here first, Hooky. 

—Any ideas on how, lassie?— he asks between gritted teeth, growing impatient and tired of failing at hook fishing. 

— A few, actually, but the sight of you in front of me, struggling like that, is quite lovely and entertaining. 

With my comment, his demeanor changes completely, becoming cockier and self-assured. This, although he’s still desperately trying to recover his signature weapon. 

—Then come to the docks with me,— he smirks, as he changes positions to find himself sitting in front of the lock, and begins picking it with a rake that he had inside his left boot, — we’ll get hammered with me crew and, you know, keep the heid. 

As he works,  his nose wrinkles, his brows come together in concentration, and his lips tighten in a thin line. 

 —As tempting as that sounds, I do have things to do.

It would be convenient to go with him. Ben and King did me specific instructions for my little trip, and this would make it easier. However, it just wouldn’t be my type of scene. I feel like I’ve had enough ‘new experiences’ for a few years, maybe.

—Aww, lass, ya hurting my feelings,— he fake pouts and, to no avail, tries to use a different rake. 

 —Feelings? Didn’t see that one coming,— I mock, gently pushing him to the side, and claim my turn with the tricky lock. 

He’s about to complain, but I shush him and close my eyes. Due to the wards placed on the Isle, my magic is significantly weaker than it is on Auradon, but I can concentrate enough to channel it thanks to a locket that the king gave me for emergencies. 

I grin as the cage opens itself, and immediately jump down, followed by my slightly shocked companion. Before he can, I grab the hook by the handle, and point the tip at him, just to swiftly turn it around for him to grab. 

With his hook safely in his hand, he approaches the table and grabs a book, together with what seems to be a shell necklace. Then, he catches up with me outside the front door. We walk in silence for a few blocks, given that there is only one way out, and he breaks the silences that lingered between us. 

—So, you know me name, yet I don’t know yours— he glances at me with curiosity and caution, —ain’t fair, lassie. 

—What can I say, Hook, you are quite famous around here. I, on the other hand, am quite a lone wolf.

—Haven’t given me an answer yet, doll face,

— Name’s Y/N, daughter of queen Narissa.

—Y/N,— he tries it out, —and how come you have magic?

—Let’s say I found a loophole in the barrier. 

—Uma’s gonna love this, — he says, giving me a smirk. 

—Assuming I go with you, that is. I said I had things to do — I quirk a brow at him. 

Before he can reply, we hear three sets of boots approaching us in a rhythmic pattern. It can only be them. 

— Shit, — grumbles the pirate, then he grabs my arm and pulls me behind him and into a dark corner. 

We remain silent as the steps die down, and then continue walking. 

—Now that was close, thanks Harry,— I say, patting his left shoulder. 

—Ya know how to properly thank me, lass,— he shrugs. His cockiness is beginning to become annoying but, to be honest, I cannot say that I don’t enjoy flirting. So, I decided to follow his game. 

—Kind of sad, really,

— Away on, dollface, the hell ya mean by that? 

I give him a sigh and shrug, — I just thought your game was better. Can’t believe that you sway every girl off her feet with a thick accent and a smirk. 

— I did just save yer little witchy ass. You’re a buck eejit if that ain’t impressive. 

— Not a ‘buck eejit’, whatever that shit means. — I chuckle dryly, — I’m just not gonna fall for your oh so great pirate act. 

He shrugs, seemingly unbothered, — same here, doll, mysterious past ‘n shit gets boring real fast.

— Yet, here you are, still following some like a lost puppy. 

Between flirting, bickering, and some laughter in between, we arrive at the corner that connects the docks to the way to my place. 

— As much as I enjoy your gentlemanly antics, time to part ways. 

— You’ll come to the ship tonight, I know it. 

— You know, you’re not even my type, Harry— I claim. 

He is kind of my type, you know? Handsome, witty, cocky, and fun to be with. Not totally boyfriend material, but maybe just for a good time; a rest from Auradon’s Perfect Peachy Prince wannabes. 

Without a second glance, I start walking to the building I slept in but, before I’m out of view, I hear him say,—You do one me one, little witch,— and I grin. 

— See you ‘round, Hook, — I reply over my shoulder. 

[silverflintdaily]

ARTIST CLAIMS ARE NOW OPEN!

Please read all the summaries below the cut and fill out the form with your top 5 picks.  If you have questions about some of these fics before signing up and want us to follow up with the authors, please send us an ask or shoot Mel an email.  SUBMIT CLAIMS BY APRIL 25  - artist claim form here

1. running is a victory Skeleton Island holds the greatest and most ancient treasure the world’s ever known—not that anyone’s ever actually seen it before. Captain Flint and his crew sail through treacherous seas full of English ships, freak storms, and at least one large monster lurking in the deep, desperate to find the island and obtain the Urca gold. That all seems simple compared to dealing with the charming yet duplicitous John Silver and the alleged Urca curse. [Black Sails meets Pirates of the Caribbean!] 2. A Ship is a Republic Flint and Silver train relentlessly on the cliffs of Maroon Island. Silver begins to realise how much he enjoys obeying Flint's instructions. Swordplay gives way to foreplay. 3. Elijah's Violin "A mage, a sorcerer, and a warlock walk into my bar,” says a woman behind the counter. “Have you heard this one before?”

The city of Venice is in turmoil: someone has been turning people to stone. Years after the events that landed them both in hot water and separated them, Flint and Silver are thrown together to solve a dangerous magical mystery. They are joined on their mission by Thomas (who may or may not have a pet Hellhound). The three magicians must work together (and try not to kill each other) before the Carnival of Venice devours them as well. 4. title tbd Or, James Flint, state park employee and firebrand, discovers that someone who broke his heart is back in his life, and that someone is miserable. That this someone is miserable makes James Flint very happy! Except for how it really does not make him happy, whoops. Modern au, angst, slow burn, mutual pining, happy ending. 5.  Don't Say I Didn't Warn Ya John's a drag king, making friends with Thomas and his drag queen troupe. They all perform at the bar that Flint and Gates own and run together - The Frigate.

Trans!Silver, Poly!Flint. ships: silverflint, established flintgates & flinthamilton, possible eventual silverflinthamilton (if I have it in me to write that far) 6.  call to war When the Maroon Queen gets a letter from Woodes Rogers indicating that Madi is alive, she makes the executive decision to have Flint rescue her without telling Silver. When Flint does find Madi, she tells him not to tell Silver she is alive--so that he will want to continue to fight the war he so desperately hates, all so Madi's "death" wasn't for nothing. Against his own judgment, Flint agrees, leading to a series of events that spiral out of control, bringing Flint and Silver closer together, even as Flint is wracked with guilt over his deceit. A s4 canon divergence, heavily focused on Madi, Flint and Silver, as well as the Maroons.

7.  the life that we chose All of Silver's schemes and machinations screech to a halt when he locks eyes with Captain Flint across the deck of the Walrus and the world explodes into color. Flint's cold and indifferent behavior towards him in the weeks that follow makes no sense until he learns that the captain first saw colors ten years ago, in London.

(Flint's been able to see color since he first met Thomas, it's true, but - has Billy always had blue eyes? Was the spine on that book always such a deep green?)

note for artist claims: silverflint au where when you meet your soulmate you can see color. thomas and silver are both flint's soulmate: he saw most colors when he met thomas, but once he meets silver he can finally see the full spectrum. of course he doesn't realize this because ANGST 8. To Be Rid of Temptation “What would you suggest we do instead, then?”

Maybe it was the way he said it, the way Flint was sitting with his knees sprawled out, or the secrets he guarded so closely; Silver didn’t know what it was, but somebody’s Devil took ahold of his tongue then and he said, “I think we should fuck.”

Set around the start of season 3, *spoilers* they do fuck. 9. Chasing Sea Foam Once upon a time, there was a pirate Captain whose moods controlled the seas and whose grief over his missing Lord drove him to wreak havoc in the West Indies.

Once upon a time, there was a merperson who saved the pirate Captain from drowning and who longed to be a part of his world. One day he was faced with a terrible decision: to see his Captain bring death and destruction onto the world and himself, or to stop him and reunite him with his missing Lord. The merperson made his choice and disappeared into the sea.

Years after his Happily Ever After, Flint sets out to find answers about Silver guided only by tall tales and a longing in his heart.

supernatural AU (not a Supernatural the show AU, it just has supernatural elements), features Flint/Thomas and Silver/Flint/Thomas as secondary ships, and past Silver/Madi)

10.  the long waves crawl Nassau sang with magic in a way that Silver hadn’t felt since his childhood, not unlike the hazy memories of a tiny house crowded with herbs and all sorts of books that smelled of cedar smoke and sage.

Only here he was not hidden, nor was he safe. He darted through the streets, avoiding the hungry looks that other magic users gave him. Felt their eyes on his skin and knew they could smell the magic in his blood.

In which Silver is a witch, and in an already complicated world magic is a dangerous thing. 11. Fire Light Silver is a new University professor who starts his job by stealing research out from under Flint’s nose. To get access to the research, Flint steals Silver.

12. Birds Of A Feather A Black Sails/Pride and Prejudice crossover, featuring John Silver as a victim of Mrs Bennet's match making escapades and James McGraw as a lieutenant on sick leave who just wants some peace and quiet.

13. the whole estate of mortal man Silver has a limited memory, an unlimited lifespan, and a need for human souls. He spends four seasons trying to buy Flint's.

14. "On the Banks of the Lethe" Waking after a head injury with no memory of the past two years, Flint finds himself a stranger in a strange land. Faced with the politics of a war he doesn’t remember, and a Walrus crew he hardly recognizes, Flint must reconcile what he knows with what has transpired: Gates’ betrayal; the discovery of the Urca gold; the aftermath of Charles Town. All preceded by the rise of a quartermaster he doesn’t trust—a quartermaster he only knows to be a liar and a thief. Uncertain of his newfound loyalties, Flint suddenly finds himself standing in the shadow of a monster of his own inadvertent making: Long John Silver, Nassau’s newly christened Pirate King.

Amnesia!fic. Set right before Season 4. Angst. Confusion. Gross abuse of tropes. Stupid men in love (even if one doesn’t quite remember). AKA: What if Season 1 James Flint met Season 4 John Silver.

15. a beautiful, sinuous thing; a terrible, treacherous thing Driven by grief, James Flint leaves the city behind to become the caretaker of a lighthouse in a small coastal town. But despite his desire for solitude, he finds himself drawn to a man who seems to have simply strolled out of the sea one day. Silver expects the new lighthouse keeper on his shores to be easy prey - quiet, isolated, sad. But he may have more on his hands than he expected. Modern fantasy au influenced by works like Daisy Johnson's Fen and Victor LaValle's The Changeling 16. The Return of John Silver Seven months after leaving Savannah and the war behind, Flint and Thomas are doing their best to leave the past where it belongs. But the past is never quite past. When the arrival of a wounded pirate on their doorstep threatens to shake what little foundation they've managed to build together, Flint finds himself at a familiar crossroads. Does he allow himself to admit that John Silver belongs in his life, (and in Thomas's) or will he continue to deny the truth even to himself? 17. gonna need a bigger boat The not-quite-Jaws AU where Flint is a perpetually irritated sea captain, hired by a perpetually irritating quasi-con man Silver, both to hunt a shark that has supposedly killed seven people in the last few months. Only they stumble upon a crime in action, end up trapped on a small boat in the middle of an ocean, and they figure out that they're going to have to work together to stay alive and collect that shark bounty somehow. (Featuring the use of thinly veiled shark metaphors, shark fun facts, and two people who cannot believe that their relationship is hurtling towards - something). 18. Loose Lips Sink Ships Rewrite of Black Sails S4. Billy Bones tries to kill Silver, fails, and Silver starts his revenge quest. Woodes Rogers is dead, Nassau is in chaos, and Silver finds his whole world changed. Mostly silverflint and it does become silverflintham. Happy ending! Very, very violent beginning.

[neverwatchedonepiece]

630-631: "Explore! A Kingdom of Love and Passion - Dressrosa!" and "Full of Enthusiasm! The Corrida Colosseum!"

Zoro in therapy, thinking about all the times Sanji called him “Moss Head.”

Well, episodes 630 and 631 were a great start to the longest arc in OP history so far. 

Oda has done a good job at creating a sense of place and hinting at the unique culture of the island (toys, anyone?) A new, mysterious and intimidating character has appeared. There is an old, local legend about thieving fairies (I am sure there is more to this than meets the eye). Plus the Temptation of Luffy plot is up and running!

Brook Gently Suggests Assaulting Minors Maybe Isn’t the Best Idea

Sunny has laid anchor! The Strawhats have finally set foot on the island! Well, some of them have.

The first scene in episode 630 was where Oda took time to split up the group. He always does it but in the past it hasn’t been organised with such clinical precision. Usually, something awful happens, or a plot point needs investigated, and they are broken up into teams. This time, Law had a master plan.

Luffy wanted to head straight into town. Law was all for that but warned everyone to remain on guard. If they failed to destroy the SMILE factory, it would ruin their plans. Law tore his vivre card in half and handed a piece to Nami. He warned her if anything happened to them, she had to sail straight for Zou. The vivre card would point there.

He then unveiled a hilarious map that looked like it’d been drawn by a kid with some crayons. One of Law’s crewmates designed it. (I hope it’s not his navigator, lmao.) Courtesy of said map, we now have the lie of the land. Doflamingo’s palace is at the centre of Dressrosa. Law guessed the SMILE factory might be nearby. The Caesar Handover Team - consisting of Law, Robin and Usopp - will travel on foot through Dressrosa and cross the Very Long Bridge north to Green Bit. They cannot travel on foot because Law heard it’s impossible to reach Green Bit by water. (Maybe it’s a rocky cliff coastline all the way round?)

As I have watched other shounen anime before, I have a sneaking suspicion it might take them a Very Long Time to cross the Very Long Bridge. (I am also happy to be proven wrong.)

Staying behind on Sunny to ensure news of whatever happens arrives in Zou are: Nami, Brook, Chopper and Momonosuke. Chopper was not exactly happy about not having Sanji around to protect them. This is it, Chopper! It’s your time to shine. Plus, you have Brook there. You forget how badass he can be.

There was a weird little moment when Luffy got into a funny argument with Momonosuke because Momo wouldn’t fly Luffy into Dressrosa. Luffy (and everyone who watched Punk Hazard) recalled that Momo almost flew out of the garbage dump in a sort of trance. But Momo does not remember that happening at all. And even if he did, he would never do such a dreadful thing again!

Then there was a tiny flashback of a guy with a deep, booming voice reaching out to grab Momonosuke. His only words: “What’s your name?”

I wonder why Momo has a fear of flying? Did this happen to him at Punk Hazard? It can’t have happened in Wano because he wasn’t a dragon then. Who grabbed him? Or who hurt him? Hmmm...

Not sure if it’ll be resolved any time soon because the focus for the rest of 630 and 631 was on the Factory Destroying Team! AKA Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Franky and Kinemon.

BARCEROMA!

Before the plot marched on, the Narrator appeared to give us a handy-dandy summary of Dressrosa: the Kingdom of Love and Passion. 

@meheartonepiece You were right about the Spanish connections here. More specifically, Acacia Port Town gives me Barcelona vibes. The buildings are definitely Gaudi-inspired. There was a ton of seafood dishes on offer. Acoustic guitarists accompanied flamenco dancers in street performances. Even the warren of streets reminded me of the Gothic Quarter. It’s pretty cool. Oda has taken a bit of time to really build a strong sense of place.

And did I mention there is a sizable population of sentient puppets and toys living alongside humans?

Dressrosa: the Kingdom of Love, Passion and Toys.

I get the feeling Perona would love this place. Then again, the toys here can talk back, so maybe not.

Luffy and Franky Don’t Do Dress Codes

Meanwhile, the Factory Destruction Team had made it to Acacia Port Town. Kinemon had come good with extremely sophisticated disguises. Shades, suits and ‘staches. Classic.

They were initially weirded out by the toy population of Dressrosa (a serious-looking teddybear sat reading a newspaper at a pavement cafe, lmao). But Luffy recovered quickly and was like, “Let’s eat!”

As they dived into a nearby bar, Zoro sensed the approach of another. An old, blind dude with wicked facial scars who wore clacky, traditional wooden shoes (geta?) and walked with the aid of a stick. As soon as I saw this guy I thought, “Yup. Here comes a badass.”

Zoro almost drew his sword, but the guy slowly walked past Zoro, then turned and said, “Excuse me, I heard there is a gambling house around here. Do you know where it is?”

Zoro apologised, said this was his first time on the island but that the guy might try the bar across the street.

Inside, the Destruction Team were waiting for their food order. Foxfire was impatient. He did not like all this waiting around! Franky, who is sensible, reminded him they needed intel before making a move. Sanji noticed all the people were oddly calm for a state whose king just abdicated without warning.

“Maybe these people don’t know yet,” Zoro suggested.

Hmm... not sure about that. Maybe they all know he’s up to something. So far, his people are pretty confidence in Doflamingo’s competence as a ruler.

Then the food arrived, along with a strange little local legend. Since it was mentioned twice by Oda, I’m thinking it’ll be important to take note of it.

Sanji asked why one of the dishes was called “Fairy Pumpkin.” The toy waiter who brought it explained that it comes from the Dressrosa legend of the fairy guardians, who used to watch over Dressrosa for years. No one, however, has seen them in years. But that doesn’t stop them pilfering stuff.

Stealing stuff? That is definitely suspicious. Would not be surprised if a real, non-fairy thief is later unmasked in a Scooby Doo moment.

“Y U STEAL MY SWORD??”

“Would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for you meddlin’ Strawhats!”

Or, you know, there is a chance it *could* be fairies.

Might be an Underpants Gnomes type situation.

Step 1: Steal Stuff Step 2: ??? Step 3: Profit

But I had no time to dwell on the puzzle of the supposed fairy guardians, as the old guy Zoro encountered swanned back into the action and was the centre of a Really Cool Scene.

This. Guy.

While Luffy and co were tucking into their amazing food (seriously, I am hungry just thinking abouit the lovely food you can buy in Dressrosa), there was a commotion at another table.

The Old Dude had found the gambling table and was running an amazing streak of luck. At roulette, every time he placed a bet, his colour would come up. He had guessed right fourteen times in a row.

Of course, some dodgy characters entered the scene. I knew as soon as I saw them that they existed to have their asses kicked by this guy. A shambling bunch of hype fodders.

They challenged Old Dude to a game and basically cheated him out of the win every single time. If Old Dude guessed white, they’d lie and say it was black. Because Old Dude couldn’t see. So it was alright to cheat him, right?

As Old Dude placed all his chips on a final mega wager, the Fodders were about to cheat. Then a familiar voice piped up, “It’s white.”

Exposed as cheaters, the Fodders snapped, “It’s black, idiot!”

Luffy, monching away on his squid ink spaghetti, repeated himself. “It’s white. Old man, you win!”

Old Dude thanked Luffy for his kindness. Luffy was like, “No bother. I just said what I saw. But why are you even bother with these losers? You look strong.”

When the Fodders attacked, Old Dude tripped one easily. Then a fantastic beatdown commenced.

“It’s no good. Young man, could you stand aside for a moment? I’m going to send these people to hell.”

Ohhhhh, man. 

It was beautiful.

I’m still not entirely sure what actually happened, but Old Dude appeared to slash up the Fodders. Except he didn’t. There wasn’t a mark on them. But as he walked, a mysterious pressure forced them downwards, with such intensity it cracked the floor and they plummeted into a huge hole.

Zoro wondered if Old Dude was a Devil Fruit eater.

I’m wondering if that alone was the power of his haki.

At any rate, Old Dude made a swift exit, handed the maitre-d’ a card to where he could send the repair bills (nice guy). He seems to be Mega Famous, as the maitre-d’ recognised his name instantly. Sanji spotted it too. “Is this guy Extraordinarily Infamous, or something?”

Alas, his name was not revealed. But I have a suspicion Old Dude has seen through Luffy’s disguise, as he said it wouldn’t be a good idea to let slip his identity, “For the sake of both of us.”

Is he friends with Rayleigh, or something? Maybe a pirate? I actually have no idea. Maybe he’s just looking into events on Dressrosa and will be a temporary arc ally (like Vivi in Alabasta).

The Temptation of Luffy

Again, I did not have time to dwell on the mystery of Old Dude, as the Fairies had been hard at work during the chaos of the fight.

Everyone in the place had been robbed blind. Their reactions were quite strange. “Oh, well. If the Fairies did it, we’ll just have to forget about all your valuable stuff.” 

Are you serious? I’d be charging straight after them!

And Zoro agreed with me because Shusui had been taken. Luckily, he spotted it tied to a sack that was halfway out the window. Of course, Zoro took off. Kinemon ran after him, “RETURN THE PRECIOUS NATIONAL TREASURE OF WANO KINGDOM!” and Sanji tore after both of them because they DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO LET ZORO WANDER (lmao).

Within minutes, Kinemon lost Zoro and Sanji but was being watched from a dark alleyway by a guy with a gold, spiky helmet.

Luffy was inches away from joining the chaos, but Franky held him back. He had an idea. I’m not sure if it turned out to be the best one, or not, but it certainly moved the plot along (thanks, Franky!)

Luffy and Franky grabbed one of the Fodders and dragged him down another dark alleyway for an... informational interview.

“You’re working under Doflamingo, yeah?” Franky demanded.

“So what? You think you can mess with the Young Master on Dressrosa and get away with it?”

Franky punched the wall above him with just enough force for the guy’s life to flash before his eyes (probably).

He spilled what he knew. He remembered going after a few Samurai but had no knowledge of SMILE. He’d never even heard of it. Franky and Luffy guessed this guy was such a Fodder he wasn’t high-ranked enough to be in the know. So the next step was finding a few who did occupy such high office.

It turned out the Corrida Colosseum (where Diamante is the local hero) was having a special event. All the high-rankers, the great and the good would be there. Doflamingo had offered up a special prize. Everyone wanted it.

I knew even before the Colosseum commentator revealed it that the prize was Ace’s fruit.

This is cool.

Doflamingo is laying the bait, knowing Luffy won’t be able to resist.

And Law isn’t there to guard Luffy against temptation. 

He’s going straight for that apple in paradise, isn’t he?

We all know that look. That is not a good look.

[aion-rsa]

Best New Fantasy Books in September 2019

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Here are the best new fantasy books in September 2019.

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There's so much to look forward to in our speculative fiction future. Here are some of the fantasy books we're most excited about and/or are currently consuming...

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Best New Fantasy Books in July 2019

Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton

Type: First book in trilogy Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 7/2/19

In his magnificent, heroic, adventure fantasy, Dragonslayer, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.

Once a member of the King's personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais spends most days drinking and mourning his wife and child. He’s astonished—and wary—when the Prince Bishop orders him to find and destroy a dragon. He and the Prince Bishop have never exactly been friends and Gill left the capital in disgrace five years ago. So why him? And, more importantly, how is there a dragon to fight when the beasts were hunted to extinction centuries ago by the ancient Chevaliers of the Silver Circle?

On the way to the capitol city, Gill rescues Solène, a young barmaid, who is about to be burned as a witch. He believes her innocent…but she soon proves that she has plenty of raw, untrained power, a problem in this land, where magic is forbidden. Yet the Prince Bishop believes magic will be the key to both destroying the dragon and replacingthe young, untried King he pretends to serve with a more pliable figurehead. Between Gill’s rusty swordsmanship and Solene’s unstable magic, what could go wrong?

Read our interview with Dragonslayer author Duncan M. Hamilton.

An Evolution of Dragon Stories: Checking in With Dragonslayer.

Dragonslayer is now available to purchase.

Best New Fantasy Books in June 2019

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Type: Novel Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 6/4/19

Ivy Gamble was born without magic and never wanted it.

Ivy Gamble is perfectly happy with her life – or at least, she’s perfectly fine.

She doesn't in any way wish she was like Tabitha, her estranged, gifted twin sister.

Ivy Gamble is a liar.

When a gruesome murder is discovered at The Osthorne Academy of Young Mages, where her estranged twin sister teaches Theoretical Magic, reluctant detective Ivy Gamble is pulled into the world of untold power and dangerous secrets. She will have to find a murderer and reclaim her sister―without losing herself.

Read Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Read more about Magic for Liars here.

Unraveling by Karen Lord

Type: Standalone Novel Publisher: DAW Release date: 6/4/19

Dr. Miranda Ecouvo, forensic therapist of the City, just helped put a serial killer behind bars. But she soon discovers that her investigation into seven unusual murders is not yet complete. A near-death experience throws her out of time and into a realm of labyrinths and spirits. There, she encounters brothers Chance and the Trickster, who have an otherworldly interest in the seemingly mundane crimes from her files. 

It appears the true mastermind behind the murders is still on the loose, chasing a myth to achieve immortality. Together, Miranda, Chance, and the Trickster must travel through conjured mazes, following threads of memory to locate the shadowy killer. As they journey deeper, they discover even more questions that will take pain and patience to answer. What is the price of power? Where is the path to redemption? And how can they stop the man—or monster—who would kill the innocent to live forever?

Read Unraveling by Karen Lord

The Fire Opal Mechanism by Fran Wilde

Type: Second novella in the Jewel Series Publisher: Tor.com Release date: 6/4/19

Jewels and their lapidaries and have all but passed into myth.

Jorit, broke and branded a thief, just wants to escape the Far Reaches for something better. Ania, a rumpled librarian, is trying to protect her books from the Pressmen, who value knowledge but none of the humanity that generates it.

When they stumble upon a mysterious clock powered by an ancient jewel, they may discover secrets in the past that will change the future forever.

Read The Fire Opal Mechanism by Fran Wilde

Spine of the Dragon by Kevin J. Anderson

Type: First book in the Wake the Dragon series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 6/4/19

Two continents at war, the Three Kingdoms and Ishara, are divided by past bloodshed. When an outside threat arises―the reawakening of a powerful ancient race that wants to remake the world―the two warring nations must somehow set aside generational hatreds and form an alliance to fight their true enemy.

Read Spine of the Dragon by Kevin J. Anderson

The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Harper Voyager Release date: 6/11/19

From the bestselling author of the Sandman Slim series, a lush, dark, stand-alone fantasy built off the insurgent tradition of China Mieville and M. John Harrison—a subversive tale that immerses us in a world where the extremes of bleakness and beauty exist together in dangerous harmony in a city on the edge of civility and chaos.

The Great War is over. The city of Lower Proszawa celebrates the peace with a decadence and carefree spirit as intense as the war’s horrifying despair. But this newfound hedonism—drugs and sex and endless parties—distracts from strange realities of everyday life: Intelligent automata taking jobs. Genetically engineered creatures that serve as pets and beasts of war. A theater where gruesome murders happen twice a day. And a new plague that even the ceaseless euphoria can’t mask.

Unlike others who live strictly for fun, Largo is an addict with ambitions. A bike messenger who grew up in the slums, he knows the city’s streets and its secrets intimately. His life seems set. He has a beautiful girlfriend, drugs, a chance at a promotion—and maybe, an opportunity for complete transformation: a contact among the elite who will set him on the course to lift himself up out of the streets.

But dreams can be a dangerous thing in a city whose mood is turning dark and inward. Others have a vision of life very different from Largo’s, and they will use any methods to secure control. And in behind it all, beyond the frivolity and chaos, the threat of new war always looms.

Read The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

Type: Novella Publisher: Tor.com Release date: 6/18/19

There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.

When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past―both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.

Read Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall

Type: Novel Publisher: Ace Release date: 6/18/19

Upon returning to the city of Khelathra-Ven after five years fighting a war in another universe, Captain John Wyndham finds himself looking for somewhere to live, and expediency forces him to take lodgings at 221b Martyrs Walk. His new housemate is Ms. Shaharazad Haas, a consulting sorceress of mercurial temperament and dark reputation.

When Ms. Haas is enlisted to solve a case of blackmail against one of her former lovers, Miss Eirene Viola, Captain Wyndham is drawn into a mystery that leads him from the salons of the literary set to the drowned back-alleys of Ven and even to a prison cell in lost Carcosa. Along the way he is beset by criminals, menaced by pirates, molested by vampires, almost devoured by mad gods, and called upon to punch a shark. 

But the further the companions go in pursuit of the elusive blackmailer, the more impossible the case appears. Then again, in Khelathra-Ven reality is flexible, and the impossible is Ms. Haas' stock-in-trade.

Read The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall

Best New Fantasy Books in May 2019

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Tor.com Release date: 5/7/19

Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story.

Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math.

Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realise it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet.

Meet Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own.

Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.

Read Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Empire of Grass by Tad Williams

Type: Second book in the Last King of Osten Ard series Publisher: DAW Release date: 5/7/19

Set in Williams' New York Times bestselling fantasy world, the second book of The Last King of Osten Ard returns to the trials of King Simon and Queen Miriamele as threats to their kingdom loom...

The kingdoms of Osten Ard have been at peace for decades, but now, the threat of a new war grows to nightmarish proportions.

Simon and Miriamele, royal husband and wife, face danger from every side. Their allies in Hernystir have made a pact with the dreadful Queen of the Norns to allow her armies to cross into mortal lands. The ancient, powerful nation of Nabban is on the verge of bloody civil war, and the fierce nomads of the Thrithings grasslands have begun to mobilize, united by superstitious fervor and their age-old hatred of the city-dwellers. But as the countries and peoples of the High Ward bicker among themselves, battle, bloodshed, and dark magics threaten to pull civilizations to pieces. And over it all looms the mystery of the Witchwood Crown, the deadly puzzle that Simon, Miriamele, and their allies must solve if they wish to survive.

But as the kingdoms of Osten Ard are torn apart by fear and greed, a few individuals will fight for their own lives and destinies—not yet aware that the survival of everything depends on them.

Read Empire of Grass by Tad Williams

The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams Review

Mythic Journeys: Retold Myths and Legends, Edited by Paula Guran

Type: Short story collection Publisher: Night Shade Release date: 5/14/19

Award-winning editor Paula Guran presents a diverse reprint anthology collecting classic myths and legends, retold by today’s top fantasy writers.

The Native American trickster Coyote . . . the snake-haired Greek Gorgon Medusa, whose gaze turned men to stone . . . Kaggen, creator of the San peoples of Africa . . . the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend . . . Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and beauty . . . Ys, the mythical sunken city once built on the coast of France . . . Ragnarok, the myth of a world destroyed and reborn . . . Jason and the Argonauts, sailing in search of the Golden Fleece . . .   Myths and legends are the oldest of stories, part of our collective consciousness, and the source from which all fiction flows. Full of magic, supernatural powers, monsters, heroes, epic journeys, strange worlds, and vast imagination, they are fantasies so compelling we want to believe them true.

This new anthology compiles some of the best modern short mythic retellings and reinvention of legend from award-winning and bestselling authors, acclaimed storytellers, and exciting new talent, offering readers new ways to interpret and understand the world. Adventure with us on these Mythic Journeys . . .

Contributors include: Neil Gaiman, Ann Lecki, Yoon Ha Lee, and Ken Liu.

Read Mythic Journeys: Retold Myths and Legends

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Berkley Release date: 5/14/19

International bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay's latest work is set in a world evoking early Renaissance Italy and offers an extraordinary cast of characters whose lives come together through destiny, love, and ambition. 

In a chamber overlooking the nighttime waterways of a maritime city, a man looks back on his youth and the people who shaped his life. Danio Cerra's intelligence won him entry to a renowned school even though he was only the son of a tailor. He took service at the court of a ruling count—and soon learned why that man was known  as the Beast. 

Danio's fate changed the moment he saw and recognized Adria Ripoli as she entered the count's chambers one autumn night—intending to kill. Born to power, Adria had chosen, instead of a life of comfort, one of danger—and freedom. Which is how she encounters Danio in a perilous time and place.

Vivid figures share the unfolding story. Among them: a healer determined to defy her expected lot; a charming, frivolous son of immense wealth; a powerful religious leader more decadent than devout; and, affecting all these lives and many more, two larger-than-life mercenary commanders, lifelong adversaries, whose rivalry puts a world in the balance.

A Brightness Long Ago offers both compelling drama and deeply moving reflections on the nature of memory, the choices we make in life, and the role played by the turning of Fortune's wheel.

Read A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Type: Eleventh book in the Mercy Thompson series Publisher: Ace Release date: 5/14/19

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic. And a coyote shapeshifter. And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.   Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.   The reality is that nothing and no one is safe.  As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.   But we are pack, and we have given our word.    We will die to keep it.

Read Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Read more: Patricia Briggs Does Werewolf Romance Right

An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass

Type: Book one in the Chimera series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 5/21/19

A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass.

In Cantagna, being a sorcerer is a death sentence.

Romy escapes her hardscrabble upbringing when she becomes courtesan to the Shadow Lord, a revolutionary noble who brings laws and comforts once reserved for the wealthy to all. When her brother, Neri, is caught thieving with the aid of magic, Romy's aristocratic influence is the only thing that can spare his life―and the price is her banishment.

Now back in Beggar’s Ring, she has just her wits and her own long-hidden sorcery to help her and Neri survive. But when a plot to overthrow the Shadow Lord and incite civil war is uncovered, only Romy knows how to stop it. To do so, she’ll have to rely on newfound allies―a swordmaster, a silversmith, and her own thieving brother. And they'll need the very thing that could condemn them all: magic.

Read An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass

Lent by Jo Walton

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 5/28/19

From Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning Jo Walton comes Lent, a magical re-imagining of the man who remade fifteenth-century Florence―in all its astonishing strangeness

Young Girolamo’s life is a series of miracles.

It’s a miracle that he can see demons, plain as day, and that he can cast them out with the force of his will. It’s a miracle that he’s friends with Pico della Mirandola, the Count of Concordia. It’s a miracle that when Girolamo visits the deathbed of Lorenzo “the Magnificent,” the dying Medici is wreathed in celestial light, a surprise to everyone, Lorenzo included. It’s a miracle that when Charles VIII of France invades northern Italy, Girolamo meets him in the field, and convinces him to not only spare Florence but also protect it. It’s a miracle than whenever Girolamo preaches, crowds swoon. It’s a miracle that, despite the Pope’s determination to bring young Girolamo to heel, he’s still on the loose…and, now, running Florence in all but name.

That’s only the beginning. Because Girolamo Savanarola is not who―or what―he thinks he is. He will discover the truth about himself at the most startling possible time. And this will be only the beginning of his many lives.

Read Lent by Jo Walton

Best New Fantasy Books in April 2019

Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence

Type: Third and final book in the Book of the Ancestor series Publisher: Ace Release date: 4/9/19

The searing conclusion of the thrilling epic fantasy trilogy that saw a young girl trained by an arcane order of nuns grow into the fiercest of warriors...

They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman.

The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor’s armies are in retreat. 

Nona Grey faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that she and her friends will have time to earn a nun’s habit before war is on their doorstep. 

Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war.

The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it’s a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her. 

A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned.

Read Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence

Read our full review of Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence

Read our review of Red Queen by Mark Lawrence

Read our review of Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

No Country for Old Gnomes: The Tales of Pell by Delilah S. Dawson & Kevin Hearne

Type: Seconds book in the Tales of Pell Publisher: Del Rey Release date: 4/16/19

War is coming, and it’s gonna be Pell.

On one side stand the gnomes: smol, cheerful, possessing tidy cardigans and no taste for cruelty.

On the other side sit the halflings, proudly astride their war alpacas, carrying bags of grenades and hungry for a fight. And pretty much anything else.

It takes only one halfling bomb and Offi Numminen’s world is turned upside down—or downside up, really, since he lives in a hole in the ground. His goth cardigans and aggressive melancholy set him apart from the other gnomes, as does his decision to fight back against their halfling oppressors. Suddenly Offi is the leader of a band of lovable misfits and outcasts—from a gryphon who would literally kill for omelets to a young dwarf herbalist who is better with bees than with his cudgel to an assertive and cheerful teen witch with a beard as long as her book of curses—all on a journey to the Toot Towers to confront the dastardly villain intent on tearing Pell asunder. These adventurers never fit in anywhere else, but as they become friends, fight mermaids, and get really angry at this one raccoon, they learn that there’s nothing more heroic than being yourself.

In No Country for Old Gnomes, Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne lovingly tweak the tropes of fantasy and fairy tales. Here you’ll find goofy jokes and whimsical puns, but you’ll also find a diverse, feminist, and lighthearted approach to fantasy that will bring a smile to your face and many fine cheeses to your plate.

Read No Country for Old Gnomes by Delilah S. Dawson & Kevin Hearne

All My Colors by David Quantick

Type: Novel Publisher: Titan Books Release date: 4/16/19

It is March 1979 in DeKalb Illinois. Todd Milstead is a wannabe writer, a serial adulterer, and a jerk, only tolerated by his friends because he throws the best parties with the best booze. During one particular party, Todd is showing off his perfect recall, quoting poetry and literature word for word plucked from his eidetic memory. When he begins quoting from a book no one else seems to know, a novel called All My Colors, Todd is incredulous. He can quote it from cover to cover and yet it doesn't seem to exist.

With a looming divorce and mounting financial worries, Todd finally tries to write a novel, with the vague idea of making money from his talent. The only problem is he can't write. But the book - All My Colors - is there in his head. Todd makes a decision: he will "write" this book that nobody but him can remember. After all, if nobody's heard of it, how can he get into trouble?

As the dire consequences of his actions come home to both Todd and his long-suffering friends, it becomes clear that there is a high - and painful - price to pay for his crime.

Read All My Colors by David Quantick

The Unicorn Anthology by Peter S. Beagle & Jacob Weisman

Type: Anthology Publisher: Tachyon Publications Release date: 4/19/19

Unicorns: Not just for virgins anymore. Here are sixteen lovely, powerful, intricate, and unexpected unicorn tales from fantasy icons including Garth Nix, Peter S. Beagle, Patricia A. McKillip, Bruce Coville, Carrie Vaughn, and more. In this volume you will find two would-be hunters who enlist an innkeeper to find a priest hiding the secret of the last unicorn. A time traveler tries to corral an unruly mythological beast that might never have existed at all. The lover and ex-boyfriend of a dying woman join forces to find a miraculous remedy in New York City. And a small-town writer of historical romances discovers a sliver of a mysterious horn in a slice of apple pie.

Read The Unicorn Anthology by Peter S. Beagle & Jacob Weisman

Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse

Type: Second book in the Sixth World series Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press Release date: 4/23/19

Kai and Caleb Goodacre have been kidnapped just as rumors of a cult sweeping across the reservation leads Maggie and Hastiin to investigate an outpost, and what they find there will challenge everything they’ve come to know in this action-packed sequel to Trail of Lightning.

It’s been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she’s lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she’s somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.

Then the Goodacre twins show up at Maggie’s door with the news that Kai and the youngest Goodacre, Caleb, have fallen in with a mysterious cult, led by a figure out of Navajo legend called the White Locust. The Goodacres are convinced that Kai’s a true believer, but Maggie suspects there’s more to Kai’s new faith than meets the eye. She vows to track down the White Locust, then rescue Kai and make things right between them.

Her search leads her beyond the Walls of Dinétah and straight into the horrors of the Big Water world outside. With the aid of a motley collection of allies, Maggie must battle body harvesters, newborn casino gods and, ultimately, the White Locust himself. But the cult leader is nothing like she suspected, and Kai might not need rescuing after all. When the full scope of the White Locust’s plans are revealed, Maggie’s burgeoning trust in her friends, and herself, will be pushed to the breaking point, and not everyone will survive.

Read Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse

Read our inteview with author Rebecca Roanhorse.

Read our list of 2018's Best Fiction Books.

Best New Fantasy Books in March 2019

The Municipalists by Seth Fried

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Penguin Books Release date: 3/19/19

In Metropolis, the gleaming city of tomorrow, the dream of the great American city has been achieved. But all that is about to change, unless a neurotic, rule-following bureaucrat and an irreverent, freewheeling artificial intelligence can save the city from a mysterious terrorist plot that threatens its very existence. 

Henry Thompson has dedicated his life to improving America’s infrastructure as a proud employee of the United States Municipal Survey. So when the agency comes under attack, he dutifully accepts his unexpected mission to visit Metropolis looking for answers. But his plans to investigate quietly, quickly, and carefully are interrupted by his new partner: a day-drinking know-it-all named OWEN, who also turns out to be the projected embodiment of the agency’s supercomputer. Soon, Henry and OWEN are fighting to save not only their own lives and those of the city’s millions of inhabitants, but also the soul of Metropolis. The Municipalists is a thrilling, funny, and touching adventure story, a tour-de-force of imagination that trenchantly explores our relationships to the cities around us and the technologies guiding us into the future.

Read The Municipalists by Seth Fried

The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore

Type: First book in the Chronicles of Ghadid series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 3/19/19

A novice assassin is on the hunt for someone killing their own in K. A. Doore's The Perfect Assassin, a breakout high fantasy beginning the Chronicles of Ghadid series.

Divine justice is written in blood.

Or so Amastan has been taught. As a new assassin in the Basbowen family, he’s already having second thoughts about taking a life. A scarcity of contracts ends up being just what he needs.

Until, unexpectedly, Amastan finds the body of a very important drum chief. Until, impossibly, Basbowen’s finest start showing up dead, with their murderous jaan running wild in the dusty streets of Ghadid. Until, inevitably, Amastan is ordered to solve these murders, before the family gets blamed.

Every life has its price, but when the tables are turned, Amastan must find this perfect assassin or be their next target.

Read The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore

Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett

Type: Novel Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 3/26/19

With Miranda in Milan, debut author Katharine Duckett reimagines the consequences of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, casting Miranda into a Milanese pit of vipers and building a queer love story that lifts off the page in whirlwinds of feeling.

After the tempest, after the reunion, after her father drowned his books, Miranda was meant to enter a brave new world. Naples awaited her, and Ferdinand, and a throne. Instead she finds herself in Milan, in her father’s castle, surrounded by hostile servants who treat her like a ghost. Whispers cling to her like spiderwebs, whispers that carry her dead mother’s name. And though he promised to give away his power, Milan is once again contorting around Prospero’s dark arts.

With only Dorothea, her sole companion and confidant to aid her, Miranda must cut through the mystery and find the truth about her father, her mother, and herself.

Read Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett

Best New Fantasy Books in February 2019

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

Type: First in A Chorus of Dragons series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 2/5/19

Jenn Lyons channels The Kingkiller Chronicles in this epic fantasy debut that follows a boy thief called Kihrin as he goes from growing up in the slums of Quur to finding out he may be the long-lost son of a cruel prince to a slave to the potential key to a world-changing prophecy to a prisoner awaiting his death.

The Ruin of Kings is structured as a conversation between a prisoner, Kihrin, and his jailor, a shapeshifting demon named Talon. In their alternating chapters, they tell the story of how Kihrin came to be in prison, awaiting his potential death, and how the fictional world they are a part of includes gods, dragons, krakens, sorcerers, and more. Read our full review of this page-turning fantasy epic here.

Read The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Type: First in trilogy Publisher: Riverhead Books Release date: 2/5/19

It's becoming more common to see fantasy worlds and stories that use something other than the western world as inspiration for a new fictional universe. Black Leopard, Red Wolf is one such book. Written by Marlon James, the author of A Brief History of Seven Killings, the novel follows Tracker, a man tasked with finding a missing boy. Though Tracker usually works alone, he teams up with some other hired help in his pursuit, becoming part of a team that has its fair share of secrets, leading to the biggest mystery of all: who is the boy and why have they been tasked with tracking him?

The screen adaptation rights for Black Leopard, Red Wolf have already been snatched up by Michael B. Jordan and Warner Bros., so get a head start on reading this book before the adaptation.

Read Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

read more: Binti & The Wonders of Nnedi Okorafor

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark

Type: Novella Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 2/19/19

Set in an alternate Cairo in which humans live alongside otherworldly beings, The Haunting of Tram Car 015 follows Agent Hamed al-Nasr and his new partner Agent Onsi. They work for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, tasked with dealing with any problems that might arise between the magical and non-magical folks. When the two agents are tasked with subduing a possessed tram car, they find it a much more complicated task than it first appears. I mean.... you know how it is.

Read The Haunting of Tram Car 015

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

Type: Standalone novel Publisher: Orbit Release date: 2/26/19

Ann Leckie's debut, Ancillary Justice, remains one of the most talked about science fiction novels (not to mention science fiction author debuts!) of the last decade. Leckie is back, with The Raven Tower, a fantasy story set in a land known as Iraden. Iraden has been protected for centuries by the god Raven, who appoints a human ruler to carry out his command. When the land is overtaken by attack and the Raven's rule challenged, a warrior named Eolo works to restore the power of the throne to its rightful ruler. We will follow Leckie to any genre.

Read The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Type: First in trilogy Publisher: Bloomsbury Release date: 2/26/19

With whispers of "the Nameless One"—aka the scariest dragon of them all (OK, I'm in!)—returning after 1,000 years, Queen Sabran of the House of Berethnet is in danger of losing power. Things are further complicated by Sabran's current lack of an heir. Luckily, Sabran has lady-in-waiting Ead Duryan on her side. Ead Duryan uses her secret powers to protect the queen. This tale of female warriors working to save the world may be long, but, from all accounts, is more than worth the commitment.

Read The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samatha Shannon

Best New Fantasy Books in January 2019

In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

Type: Fourth in series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 1/8/19

Seanan McGuire's brilliant Wayward Children novella series, which began with the excellent Every Heart a Doorway, continues in In An Absent Dream. Here, we learn the story of Katherine Lundy, the group therapy leader at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. As a child, the academic Katherine wanfers into the Goblin Market and immediately falls in love with this land of logic and reason. When Katherine realizes she will soon be unable to return to the Goblin Market, she makes a desperate bargain to keep her place in this world. #bewaretheconsequences

Read In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

read more: 9 Fantasy Books Set at Magical Boarding School

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

Type: Third in trilogy Publisher: Del Rey Release date: 1/8/19

The Russian folklore-inspired Winternight trilogy comes to a close with The Winter of the Witch, which sees a medieval Russia in chaos, overrun by demons with Moscow working to recover from disaster. We continue to follow 17-year-old Vasya, a girl who can see and speak with spirits. As the country moves toward war under the rule of The Grand Prince, Vasya is guided into the midnight realm of Polunochnitsa, or Lady Midnight, where she meets her ancestors, the mythical firebird Pozhar, and a mushroom spirit called Ded Grib. While I have yet to read this trilogy, by all accounts this is a satisfying conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

Read The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

The Iron Codex by David Mack

Type: Second in Dark Arts series Publisher: Tor Books Release date: 1/15/19

While Midnight Front was set in the lead-up to and during World War II, The Iron Codex picks back up in the midst of Cold War paranoia in 1954, with Cade Martin chasing ghosts in Southeast Asia, Briet Segfrunsdóttir heading the Pentagon's top-secret magickal warfare program, and Anja Kernova (with the help of a magickal book known as The Iron Codex) hunting fugitive Nazi sorcerers in South America. It all leads to Bikini Atoll, where the Castle Bravo nuclear tests are scheduled to begin...

Read The Iron Codex by David Mack

Marked by S. Andrew Swann

Type: First in series Publisher: DAW Release date: 1/15/19

I love a good supernatu

rally-charged backstory mystery! This one centers on Detective Dana Rohan, a cop with a near-perfect arrest rate who can't remember how she got the mark on her back... the mark that allows her to travel through time and to alternate dimensions. The ability helps with her job investigating crimes, but when she is approached by a homeless man warning that the Shadows are coming, Dana is thrown into a much larger and even more dangerous multi-world adventure.

Read Marked by S. Andrew Swann

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

Type: Second in trilogy Publisher: Harper Voyager Release date: 1/22/19

We were very into The City of Brass, S.A. Chakraborty's 2017 fantasy novel about Nahri, a young woman living in 18th-century Cairo, and Ali, a prince living in the djinn city of Daevabad. In the first book, the two both struggle to stay alive, keep the ones they love safe, and use their power in moral ways—they are only partially successful. The Kingdom of Copper picks up five years later, and sees Nahri in a loveless and childless marriage with Ali's older brother, and Ali in exile and presumed dead in the desert. A return to a fantastical world that is just as satisfying and complex (if not moreso) as the trilogy's first installment.

read more: A Conversation with S.A. Chakraborty

Read The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

What new speculative fiction books are on your radar? Let us know in the comments below or over at the Den of Geek Book Club!

Kayti Burt is a staff editor covering books, TV, movies, and fan culture at Den of Geek. Read more of her work here or follow her on Twitter @kaytiburt.

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The Lists Kayti Burt

Sep 11, 2019

Fantasy Books

from Books https://ift.tt/2NTuTGS

[miraweapons]

// Finally got a chance to type up her entire story about how she got her hammer. Hope you guys like it!

“Stop thief!!” A pirate called out to a girl with short dark hair. That girls name was Mira. She just so happened to stroll past a pirate ship looking for food. Thinking she could just grab and go, the girl came face to face with one of the crew members.

“You know, you shouldn’t try to hurt a lady!” Mira called out making a turn around a corner. She thought she got away but was stopped by more members of the pirate crew. Sighing to herself, she dropped the heavy load putting her hands up. “Alright missy, hand back the food now and also yourself included.” The leader of the group said holding out a knife. A grin spread across her face looking at each member. “You really wanna go there huh?” She reached down taking out a small hammer from her pocket. One look of the weapon made everyone burst into laughter. “The hell you gonna do with that?! Hurt our toes?!” One of them said, holding his stomach.

Of course their laughter didn’t last long when she squeezed the middle of the handle, causing the weapon to grow bigger in size. “Hahaha...that’s what I thought.” She said swinging the weapon overhead to strike them.

It didn’t take long to knock them all out judging by how weak they were. Picking up the bag of food, Mira was about to leave when she heard someone behind her. Looking around the corner, she frowned seeing a small boy trying to sneak off. “Hey you, freeze!” The kid froze in place looking back at her. “L-look I-I won’t tell alright! Just don’t hurt me!” He pointed to the oversized hammer in her hand. Tilting her head some, Mira noticed what he was staring at before chuckling. “What this?” She said squeezing the middle again. The hammer shrunk back to normal making the boy gasped in amazement. “That’s freaking cool!!!! How did you do that? Where did you even find it?! Is it ancient?! Is it curs….” before he can finish his sentence, Mira shushed him. “Shhhhh I will tell you all about it alright?” She said sitting down on the ground.

[Flashback]

Laughter could be heard from inside the bar as a group of pirates were there after sailing for days. Among that crowd was Mira, who was enjoying herself a little too much. She ran into the group after being attacked by a sea king.

“Well well well, seems like your having a great time there deary~” The captain of the crew strolled next to Mira with a pitcher of beer in hand. “Why not we take this party outside, shall we~” She nodded following along with him as the crew began singing Binks Sake out loud.

The two were in a heated make out session in the alley way not caring who was watching. Of course, she was only there to take the man's money and make a run for it. Yes, they did save her from the sea king however she needed supplies. Breaking from the kiss, she smiled looking up at him. “Maybe we should take it up a little bit more~?” She chuckled aiming for his pants. He hummed in delight getting ready to remove her clothes when he turned his attention to something shiny in the dark. “Hold on for a sec, doll.” Mira groaned loudly looking in the direction he was heading to.

“Huh, well that’s strange? I never imagine something like this being here.” He said making Mira walk over. Right there was a large hammer with a phoenix branded on it. The shaft had a bar in the center of it with the phoenix’s tail wrapped around it. “How did a hammer end up in the alley way?” Mira said poking it lightly. “I don’t know but I’m claiming it as my own.” He chuckled getting ready to pick it up. She noticed his actions quickly grabbing his arm. “Now now, why would you want some scrap metal like this. I mean there’s no value so why would you take it?” She smiled innocently. If she were to take it, then she can get even more out of it including his money. “Honestly you should let me have the hammer instead.” Mira proceed to grab the mysterious weapon when the man suddenly slammed her against the wall. “Honestly~ your pretty face isn’t going to fool me. I had a feeling you were after my money in the first place.” He snickered, grabbing the hammer beside him. “Now then, your coming with me and my crew once the log pose resets. Any objections and I will smash you with this hammer.”

So much for pickpocketing. She was so close to getting away. Watching him raise the weapon over head, she feared that this might be the end of her journey here. Well that’s what she thought. Thinking he had control, he fell backgrounds onto the ground with the hammer still in hand. “What the hell!?” He shouted standing back up. Mira watched him in confusion as he tried to pick up the hammer only losing balance and falling again. “What kind of hammer is this!?”

Mira chuckled watching the poor man trying to take control. Of course it didn’t last long when he finally broke his wrist, screaming bloody murder. That wasn’t good. Thinking on her feet, she grabbed the hammer from him, running out the alley as the rest of the crew came running out to were their captain was holding his wrist.

Making her way down to her small boat, Mira stopped breathed a sigh of relief. “Geez what is this thing?” She studied the object lifting it up. To her surprise, she didn’t struggle like he did. Making some small movements, she handled the weapon with ease. Almost like it was made for her. She grinned gripping the handle to strike when suddenly, it shrunk down to a tiny hammer causing her to fall forward. “Ok….that wasn’t smart…” She groaned looking down at it. She chuckled lightly tossing the small object in the air. “Somehow, I don’t want to sell you for money after all.”

[End of Flashback]

“...and from that day forward, this hammer kept me safe throughout my journey.” Mira chuckled patting her side where the hammer was resting. “Ew gross!!! You were making out with a stranger!!” The boy groaned only to get his cheek pulled by the dark haired girl. “Yeah well he was a jerk anyways.” She said as her transponder snail went off.

“You coming back to the ship anytime soon - yoi?” Mira chuckled knowing that was bird boy calling her. She knew he was concerned when she said she was just going out for supplies. “Yeah yeah, I’m coming. I just got into some trouble.” She said as the snail made an eyeroll. “Just hurry back. Everyone is waiting.”

The boy looked at her in shock. “Hey wait a sec...your not with…” Mira looked back and chuckled. “It's a story for another time. I really need to go.” Right when she was about to leave, she felt him tug on her shorts. “I-I wanna be a pirate too!!! You gotta take me with you!! I’ve been dreaming of becoming one my whole life! Plus your story about your hammer was amazing!!” The boy exclaimed. Mira bent down patting him on the head. “Come on, your too young to travel the seas. It dangerous out there and I rather not see you hurt.” That only earned a small groan from the kid. Mira sighed lifting his head up. “I’m pretty sure Shanks said the same thing to a well known pirate that’s making it big, when you become a great pirate, meet up with me someday. I would love to see how strong you’ll get.”

Mira got up and ran knowing that he was probably flying around in search of her leaving the boy in amazement. “Y-yeah...someday I will become a great pirate!!!” He shouted making her chuckle. Her transponder snail went off making her groan. “Yeah yeah don’t your panties in a bunch!!”

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

My WIPs!

An Elf, a Human, and a Dwarf Walk Into a Bar...

After a series of curious events, three beings begin to travel together to a new land, unexplored by anyone before them. In this group are; 

- Pendra Thorn. Going merely by Thorn, she has discarded the more human name her father gave her and has adopted a more species-androgynous name. Humans are named after plants, as are elves, this should work... She is the one who starts with series of events.

- Artaro. The son of the ruler of Theamor. With his elder brother determined to ruin the land that they rule over, Artaro decides to leave his home to find a new place where he can take his people, to save them. He ends up joining a half elvish girl to travel.

- Mica. A dwarvish woman who’s family is grown and no longer needs her to take care of them. After deciding she’s ready to have an adventure of her own, she stumbles upon two young people and joins them, knowing they will need help along the way.

Characters: Pendra Thorn, Artaro, Mica

Broken Thrones

This is a three part series that documents some of what’s going on in the countries of Feria and Issera, as well as what certain people are doing about these events.

Part One: Lumi

- After her best friend, Eira, is crowned heir of the throne of Feria, things begin to get weird. The king is killed, odd things begin happening in the southern part of the country, near the border with Issera. Crop are being destroyed, people are feeling creatures breathe down their necks, and other people are going missing. With chaos rising and odd things happening within Lumi herself, she decides to investigate what exactly is going on.

Part Two: Culraes

- A woman comes to Issera and tells of an assassination plot against the king. Culraes is put in charge of her. He does his job diligently, refusing to let anything happen to his king under his watch. Soon, this woman’s sister and a strange man joins them. After these people join the group, weird things begin happening, things that are of legends, legends that Culraes doesn’t believe. While dealing with this, a war is coming, and it’s the war that Culraes has waited for his entire life.

Part Three: Rosar

- After joining her sister, Amary, in Issera, Rosar’s migraines get worse. Two new voices enter her head, taking the place of the friend she’s had since she was a little girl. Her visions become more intense. And there’s someone out there, trying to track her down, leaving her with nightmares and constant worry. When the war starts, her old friend comes back and she finds out what her true destiny is.

Characters: Lumi, Culraes, Rosar, Eira, Amary, Finlos, Athum, Jeris, Erihhn, Leaf, Avei, Jayah, Taedhe, more to come.

Descendants of Glory 

Raisha, the granddaughter of Jeris, who was a healer and retainer of the king for most of his life. She lives on her family’s farm, breeding, raising, training, and racing horses. It’s her life and she loves it-- for the most part that is. Part of her wants to run off, to be free like the wild horses she sees in her dreams. 

She’s out riding by herself one day when her horse gets spooked and throws her. With her ankle injured and mode of transportation gone, she goes limping through the land. She finds a herd of wild horses, including a stallion with fur the color of blood. She makes friends with this horse and before long, she’s allowed to ride him.

As Rai tries to work with this horse more, her two best friends Solor and Terran, who are twin sons of the king and queen of Issera, keep dragging her into situations involving kidnappers and other dangerous beings. 

Characters: Raisha, Solor, Terran, others...

Of Heroes and Forgotten Realms

Colt Moonblood has been arrested and given a sentence of death for her crimes. That is, until a mysterious woman comes along and makes a case for her that gives her the option to travel across the country and fight the Beast that has been terrorizing the land. With great reluctance, she accepts this mission. The one condition is that a knight has to accompany her, and that knight is Faran Sunhawke.

Thief and Warrior, they set out on their journey.

Along the way, they begin to understand each other, they begin to come to an agreement. However, just as they get into the groove of things, Colt begins to uncover things that shouldn’t be.

Memories that aren’t quite hers enter into her head. Events begin to seem like they don’t add up. There are things that shouldn’t be but are. Even the Beast that lingers on the edge of the country is part of something more. It sucks Colt and Faran into a world they never could have dreamed of.

Characters: Colt Moonblood, Faran Sunhawke, Quill Moonblood, Tallah Fawnstep, Grim, Tasiriti, Seirios

The Beast’s Rose

The Beast is alone in his house with only his staff for company, until there’s an incident with a traveler who tries to steal his rose, his most precious possession, the thing that is keeping him alive. 

That’s how Beauty comes to live in his palace. She doesn’t mind his seemingly harsh exterior or his appearance, as she can’t see what he looks like. Beauty can tell there’s something off about this Beast and his rose...will she be able to figure out what that is?

Characters: Aoide, Tinker, Beauty, Beast, palace staff, others...

The Stone and the Sea

Alana used to have a family and her whole life planned out, she was to be a blacksmith, following her mother’s footsteps. But all that came crashing down around her when her family was murdered by pirates.

Now, as a siren, Alana searches for those pirates, determined to get revenge for her parents and baby brother. On this journey, she crosses paths with a certain sailor several times. Caspian doesn’t act like other humans. He’s not afraid of her, no, he’s intrigued with her. Soon, he and his family agree to help her, but there’s a twist to it...

Characters: Alana, Caspian, Darya, Laiken, Calder, Naiya, Zhaleh, Brishon, others...

Untitled WIP

Amelia Crow, a mechanic who knows nothing how the world used to be. Jax Graves, an artist who knows too much about the world, both what it used to be and what is out there now.

They’re best friends, they have been for years, yet they still don’t know everything about each other. When Amy finds out that Jax has been hiding something big from her, how will she react? And will she continue to be his friend and help him when the government starts to search for him?

Characters: Amy, Jax, Finnick, Maeve, Lisha, others...

A Song for the Stolen 

[credit to @floralandrogyny for the title]

Jessie Taylor is an ensign on a starship, she has been for almost two years. She’s bright, bold, and not trusted by her crewmates. She’s done nothing to them personally, but her family is not a good one. When she is finally allowed on an away mission, she discovers the most interesting being she has ever seen...

Arilez is a science experiment, a living being turned into an android, and after years of suffering abuse at the hands of her creators, she rebels. She takes a small pod and flies away into the stars. When she’s found by the earth starship, she gets taken aboard and befriended by one of the ensigns. This ensign helps her discover who she is and what her feelings are as they travel through space.

Characters: Arilez, Jessie, others...