#a year after he passed my uncle (his son) killed himself in a very intense way

[doriansbutt]

Grief is also not always the same. You may react one way to this death and a completely different way to that death, no matter the person. Grief is a messy, tricky thing, and it’s okay for it to be weird. Treat yourself with kindness.

Don’t beat yourself up for reacting one way to an acquaintance’s passing, then not reacting as intensely to a family member’s. Or for feeling terrible about other kinds of griefs that some people may not understand, like having to give up a pet to another home, or your house burning down, but differently to the loss of life. You’re going to process everything differently. That’s okay.

Btw, if you have not had tragedy dropped on you before, grief does fuck you up in unexpected and physical ways. If you can’t sleep or sleep more than expected or have more or reduced appetite, or energy goes weird— your brain just had a bunch of emotions dropped on it and sometimes it reacts by hitting every button in your brain. It will pass. Just try to not get too frustrated with yourself.

It’s also fine if you feel normal. Grief literally hits everybody differently, and some people are made to be able to to keep the farm going the day after a death, and some of us turn into sleepless gargoyles and get really into trying to help, and some of us are just unspeakably sad. Grief is weird. Be kind to yourself.

[marvelfanfn2187a113]

Haha, I'm sorry for killing Lisa but it's the only way to make Ben become a hunter, I think that if Lisa remembered Dean, she would never tell Ben that Dean is his biological father and Lisa wouldn't let her son become a hunter

Ben and his half-sister would be so close and, being a year older than Ben, she would feel responsible for him (it's the first thing she found in common with Dean. Feeling responsible for your little brother)

When Dean, Cas and Sam found Ben and his sister, after passing the "we don't want anything to do with you" moment, Dean convinces Ben first, Ben loves Dean, he was like a father to him and despite being angry with him for so many years, he loves him.

Ben would be the one to convince his sister that Dean isn't a bad guy and that maybe they could give him a chance.

Dean's children would get along with Clarie and when they become friends, the three of them make jokes about how none of them have a mother (it would be the typical, my traumas, my jokes)

And every time Dean goes out to relax his kids are like "please don't get anyone pregnant" (Ben would be super sarcastic)

Literally loving these friendships—

Dean would have so much sass from his kids, he’d never get a break

-the old man jokes are never ending

-the “don’t make more kids” jokes are never ending

Dean’s kids HATE it whenever Uncle Sam cooks

Dean’s daughter is very 0-100…she hated Dean so much before she met him (she thought of him as some irresponsible hunter jerk who goes around having kids and abandoning them to demons—she didn’t know that he didn’t know), but once she’s convinced by Ben that he’s a good guy, she’s ride or die for him.

-her intensity freaks Dean out sometimes—it’s very Winchester, which scares him; he doesn’t want her sacrificing herself for him or anything.

-she’s so protective of Ben that Dean is instantly reminded of himself, which scares him even more.

-she’s wary around Cas for a while, even trying to keep Ben a safe distance at all time, but once she gets close to Claire and Claire reassured her about Cas, she’s once again ride or die.

-Dean is super proud of her intense loyalty.

[chickenroost]

Chapter 7 - Judgement

They soon landed not long after, hovering over a massive courtyard, that rest on a floating isle hidden, obscured by the clouds surrounding it from view below. There was a small group of elders waiting for them, dragons, and they seemed to be stern faced as they filled them in on what had happened once, they arrived. Nelzar, a man with an intense presence, who they learned was the king of the black dragons was among those who greeted them. He gave a small nod of acknowledgement, closing his eyes. "It is as we feared. So the hunters have attacked the earth kingdom already? They will fair fine with it as expected, though there may be a bit of trouble in the damages for them."

An elder of the dragons spoke up, this one being of pure grey hair and an disturbed gaze. "You knew of a possible attack but said nothing?"

Nelzar growled. "Frost was to be passing on the message himself, when I presume the attack happened before he could? You there, fire prat, how many of the attackers could you detect near your path? I know you have some sense for such things."

Creed gave him a stern look. "Ask someone who wasn't stuck with the luggage of trying to save the egg and the meat sack with it."

Keir growled. "Enough Creed. There were at least twenty in the skies. About eight came after us, my lord."

The elder frowned. "A distraction then. They were looking for something."

Xial shook his head. "Enough of your seriousness, Uncle. I believe this letter given for my father will explain more than enough of what Frost wished to tell you."

The wild haired dragon barked out a short round of laughter. "Me, eh? That old fart always was kind of unpredictable! Hand it over, son."

Xial pulled it out from his sleeve and handed it over to the man. He broke the seal and studied it as Nelzar focused on the group, speaking up, and seeming to be appraising them of a sort. "Now I understand...He had you guarding them, didn't he, Creed? How amusing... And I take it Keir is to stick near you like a weed to make sure you don't kill her off?"

The dark blue queen growled. "This is hardly amusing. He’s passed them off on us. As if we'd get involved in human affairs!"

Creed snarled. "If it wasn't for that, I'd have killed her before we left. Your amusement won't stay when they attack you next. I'd beware you won't heal as fast as me."

Keir looked to them. "My lords. I believe this woman is useful somehow. Lord Frost sensed her will from the start. She's different from most humans."

Nelzar shifted his gaze to her a moment and then looked to Keir. "Different in what way?"

Keir looked to her. "When she was found she was clinging onto the egg as if she were its own sibling. She even defended it from other humans and even against us. That's not anything a normal human would do for any dragon, much less a baby."

Creed huffed. "She may be using it for leverage. So, we spare her life in return. It's a typical human trait when their scared for their pathetic lives."

She looked down to the egg but walked right over to Creed and reached out to grab his hand. Lifting it up, she cradled the egg in the crook of his arm gently, forcing him to hold it. "Nc. I’m not. I felt responsible for the egg… Eiwyen was kind to me and led me all the way to safety, only to be attacked by the very villagers she felt would be able to watch over me....She lived near my home village of Mercias in Oarth for years, and I just want to protect this child of hers that is left behind... I want to repay that kindness somehow. I don't know what my fate will be among you...but I'm not going to use a child just to guard myself."

Creed blinked, taken off-guard, then looked to the egg. His gaze focused on it then he turned away and placed it back into her hands. "Eiwyen was a fool to stay close to humans... But she was a one-of-a-kind dragon. I suppose I'd give you a pardon human, just once for defending the child. But, don't think that I'm so easy as to be won over by words like she was." He walked over to the edge of the courtyard. "I still need to pass on the news to my father." He clasped his hands together and glowed red then focused his aura into his hands and opened them. A small bird made of fire flew out of his hands and into the sky heading away from the kingdom.

The queen frowned. "Her? Pardoned for something so trivial? You truly are being too generous prince."

Nelzar growled. "Enough."

The elder spoke up. "Easy now. What will be done with the human remains to be seen."

Nelzar snapped in irritation. "I said ENOUGH. I will decide for our people what is to be done. For now...I will confer with my council. Xial. Has returned the log books as ordered I sense, but we will need a bit of time. Tiamat, my dear, you are not helping. Why do you not see that our guardsmen ready themselves for checking the defenses, I want them doubled over." He turned towards the group, as she huffed but hurried off to do as he asked.

The wild haired male regarded the letter. "You’re going to want to see this for yourself, but I suggest they answer of their intentions first. What could the fire prince be thinking by aiding Frost so carefully, nor the water dragon, Keir, who follows the ice king like an mentor? As for the girl, she's come from the dragons' tamers village. She's significant and also, she needs to answer us too. What are the hunters after?"

Keir blinked and looked to Creed sensing his hostility and moved in front. "Creed? What are you up to?"

Creed growled. "That woman... She mocks my words... What do you think we do to those who mock us? We kill them."

Keir gasped and shook his head. "Stop! Don't forget your reason for being here!"

Creed glared to him. "My reason for being here is done. I am free now that Frost isn't here."

Keir shook his head. "We have to wait for Lord Nelzar's decision. Frost told us to..."

He shoved Keir a bit as his hand singed Keir’s skin. "Back off. Frost isn't here right now to stop me from burning you into nothing."

The girl shook her head but went in between them. "Stop it! You want to know why the hunters are after us so bad? This is why... " Her hand was surrounded with a warm green light as she turned towards Keir, and placed her hand where he'd been singed.

Keir blinked quickly moved in front of the girl as Creed reached to grab her. He then flared up as fire surrounded him. Keir moved and placed a water shield in front of them. "Creed, get ahold of yourself! The poison of the plant is doing this to you. Look at your wound!"

He snarled slowly transforming, as his arm seem to blacken. "That won't work! I'm taking the girl to the fire dragon kingdom and you're not going to stop me."

Keir shivered. "The Ghuln plant has aggressive effects on dragons, their driven insane by their own power. If he keeps using it, then he will lose himself in rage and die."

"What?" She blinked, looking to him in surprise. She jumped out of the water shield, shoving the egg into Keir's arms before doing so, as she hurried over to him. "I'll go... I'll go! But please... your arm is really turning black!" She ran over to Creed and tried to place her hands on his arm, as she let them glow again. The other dragons stay back, watching it with interest, but let them sort it out amongst themselves.

Keir gasped holding onto the egg as she moved forward. As she placed her hands on his arm, he gripped her around her waist with his arm and began to flap his wings. The wound started to fade though turning back to normal. He then stopped and let go transforming back to normal and fell over passed out. She sighed in relief, catching him as he fell. "Phew...looks like the wound is gone now, but he's so out! Did it really make him use that much energy?" She looked back at Keir. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

Keir nodded. "He's out but that's only because the energy was quickly sapped. He won't be up for a while. The Ghuln plant is toxic to dragons and very dangerous. The wound was concentrated with it. He didn't get a chance to use his full power because it had already began sapping him before. When he tore off his skin and accelerated his healing it also made the toxin increase in flow."

Nelzar shook his head. "It appears you all will be here for a while. Go and rest for now. We'll have rooms prepared for you all."

Two black dragons came and lifted up Creed to take him to his room, as she and Keir were forced to follow after down the hall, after a third one who beckoned them into the hallway. "Here are your rooms." They were beside each other, with Creed's beside Keir's. "I will leave you to rest." The black dragons bowed and left.

The girl peered in the room opening the knob. It was pure sleeping room with a water basin on a table for freshening up and a bed for resting on , along with a chair. She looked to Keir. "I guess we sleep for now? Rest well.." He nodded and quietly went into his room. She entered her room as well, shutting the door and lay down on the bed, as she curled up on it, quickly drifting off to sleep in exhaustion.

The soft creaking of floor boards outside the doors would cause any of them to stir a little in their resting state. For the girl, it was the sound of footsteps that finally drew her to semi-wakefulness as she slowly sat up and hazily took a look outside of her door. A figure slashed at her suddenly with a sword and she let out a small scream of surprise as she ducked beneath it and ran a little way away from her attacker. The sword jabbed in her door where she'd been only moments before. "AAAH!! What the hell!"

The figure smirked in the darkness of the early morning in the dimly lit hall. "Heh… As easily frightened as ever.. Figures. You always were..."

"Who...? Who are... are you!" She demanded of them, even as they pulled the sword out of the door.

From the other room, Keir walked out hearing the noise and looked to see them. "What?! Who are you?"

The figure split his sword into two pieces. Falling quiet, he dashed at Keir, slashing both swords in an X shape pattern at him. "You will not interfere, dragon!"

He blinked, pulling back but was slashed as the swords went through him. He blinked being unhurt as water reformed around him. "That won't work on a water dragon." He rose his hand and sent a ball of water out at the man.

The man leapt back and out of the way, hissing with the effort. However, he was now close to her. Realizing his, he pointed one of his swords at her. "You even try to attack me and this sword will go through her before she even run." He was keeping his eyes on them both. "So, she and I are going to have a small chat. You just stay where you are and try not to do anything stupid."

He blinked and nodded holding his hands up. "Wait, OK, I'll do as you say. I won't move."

The girl shivered, looking over at Keir and then towards the figure, but stood stock still. "He's lying...He attacked me when I opened the door... "

The figure tossed a dagger and it sank into the wall beside her head from a hidden hole on his sword. She trembled. "Still think I'm lying?"

She shook her head "No."

"Good." He kept his eyes on Keir. "Too easy...you fool...!" He dashed towards the girl, with his swords and the girl ducked back onto her back, holding her palms up as she shielded herself against his swords as the figured tried to break it by attempting to crush it with his sword, still aiming the other at Keir. "Clever...not bad, but how long can you maintain the shield?" He smirked. "I believe Era here as been rather rude...Do you even had any idea who her father is, Keir?"

Keir focused on the man while secretly dripping water underneath him. "Era? Ok. You seem to know a lot. Clever but you should be careful, if the dragons wake up, they will destroy you. Just what are you here for, anyhow?"

He smirked, laughing. "You really aren't wondering why they haven't woken besides you? A shame the mist doesn't work on water dragons, now, isn't it? No one is coming to aid you, I'm afraid. They will sleep for a while yet."

She blinked, as if suddenly realizing who he was. "Damien? You're Damien? But you're a mercenary...Why would you have that?"

Keir blinked seeing the water underneath his feet bubble. "Uh... You all should move... Now!"

Era blinked, but frowned. "I can't! He has me trapped here...! If I let down this shield, his sword's going to go straight through before I can move! What's wrong?"

The figure smirked, smashing at her shield again as it faltered slightly. "Hahaha… and she can't keep it up much longer as it is...Looks like the poor effect is only temporary.." He moved to try to smash at it again, raising his sword.

Keir nodded. "I wasn't talking about you, I meant.... gah!" Flames broke through the floor beneath the man as a loud roar was heard below.

Damien leapt out of the way, letting one of his swords clatters to the ground as he leapt away, one of his arms badly burned. The haze in the air cleared but he was gone in the darkness of the morning. "What... WHAT THE HECK!"

She let down her shield but scrambled back away from the flames. "Is that Creed?"

Red eyes glowed from below as the roar growled. Only the eyes could be seen as they faded in darkness. Keir shook his head. "That... Wasn’t... Creed. Such malice and hate... Another intruder?"

She shivered. "Who....Who was that then?"

Keir shook his head. "I don't know but I've heard of this. This is partly why Creed can't be with his family. Someone or something is killing everyone who comes close at night."

She blinked. "Wait...what? So if he goes near his family, they try to kill them?"

He nodded. "Not just them, everyone and everything nearby. At night that figure comes and kills anything nearby. It seemed like a beast, the dragons say, but looks like it's real."

She shook her head. "That's so.....wrong somehow...No wonder he seemed to push everyone away before. He must not want to get close if they could get killed..."

Keir nodded. "That might be why... But ,sometimes I'm not sure. His arrogance is so annoying I'm not sure if he cares or doesn't."

She shrugged. "I don't think he's as coldhearted as he tries to give off, or he would have killed me a long time ago."

Keir nodded. "True but what I want to know is who was that. You knew him, didn't you?"

She shivered but nodded slowly. "Damien. He was a mercenary who went missing from my home village. Their were rumors he had been killed off, but my father was the last one assigned to seek him out to make sure. Apparently, he hasn't...but what was he doing with Jujuri root? It's normally used for healing. That’s how he was able to put everyone else asleep. He must have been burning it."

He blinked. "So, this man is a mercenary... hmm, he could have been following us... But what did he want?"

She thought for a moment, but then looked to him. "Do you still have the egg?"

He nodded. "It's safe, probably in the safest place."

She sighed in relief. "Where?"

He smirked. "The most interesting thing about Creed's condition is he will never attack an egg. It's with him. His warmth will keep it safe."

A black dragon came rushing down the hallway towards them. "Your presences are requested in the throne room, immediately!" Era nodded, but picked up the sword. "I think we might want to bring this with us to show them..." The black dragon shrugged, but ushered them along quickly down the hall. "Another will be along to fetch your other companion, but come along now. The king is waiting."

Keir nodded and followed the dragon down the path. "So quickly, I suppose this is big news..."

She nodded. "Probably..."

The black dragon pushed them into the throne room and quickly shut the door behind them to go off to fetch others. Within the throne room, was a very brooding, intense looking Nelzar and his none too pleased queen at his side. "Any of you...care to explain. How a human mercenary....dare to enter our territory...and managed to knock out the entirety of this castle?!" He was growling deeply.

The queen snarled at them. "Also do you wish to explain why the human dares to enter this room bearing a weapon!"

Keir blinked and shook his head. "I don't know the entirety of the situation but the human was a mercenary, he used a special plant to put all of you to sleep. I only came out of my room as he cornered the girl and he also wielded this blade. It's proof of my words."

She nodded. "I recognized the man. He was a human from my home village, but he's been missing for quite some time..." She set down the blade on the floor in front of them, and backed up after. "…he’s telling the truth. I opened the door hearing footsteps when he tried to swing the sword at me. This is half of his sword. It's a Jujuri plant that he used. It's normally only lit and then used to place dragons to sleep for when healing a bad wound, not like this..."

It did little to curb their tempers. "As for you! We were told that the ones who attacked the earth kingdom were former tamers who've converted their partners to their cause...! Daedalus himself has confirmed this, thanks to Frost. Why have you been targeted by them and what are they after?"

The queen snarled at the continuing on. "And you Keir...you dare defend a very human who could very well be a part of this all? How do we know you are not among the dragons who helped sneak the mercenary here?"

He blinked and looked shocked, then shook his head. "How could you even... I would never betray my own people and you could sense me if I lied. I know what I saw and forgive me if I don't meet your standards, my queen, but I will not pass an accusation on this woman simply due to her being a human."

A figure gave a nod, stepping forward. "You're speaking the truth on that, Keir. But I had to allow her wish to make sure, for allowing you all for remaining here the previous day." An exhausted looking Frost stood off to the side. "Neither of them have any malice in them, nor were either of the two lying about what they saw, Nelzar, Tiamat. As for the human...She may be as target of the hunters, but she is innocent as of yet of being among them."

Keir smiled looking to him in relief and bowed. "L-Lord Frost! I am happy that you are alright but this was a test? I see."

He gave a small nod in acknowledgment. "Yes, I am unharmed. They have been filling me in on yesterday's details as well as of shortly ago. It appears I've missed a bit, and no doubt you have questions, but for now..."

Nelzar huffed. "For now, I do believe I ordered for all three of you to have come here. What is taking Creed so long?"

Keir shivered, feeling a strong heat as an aura started to radiate around the room. "My lord... Ah... This heat... Someone is here..."

Creed walked into the room, growling, then looked behind him. "Hey, they’re in here, hurry up!"

She blinked, looking to him in confusion. "Huh?"

A group of red robed men walked in behind Creed bowing as he stood aside. Behind him a man with long red hair and piercing gold eyes looked to the group ahead. He made his way to the middle of the room and kneeled to the king and queen then spoke. "My lord Nelzar and Lady Taimat, I am Pyro, representative of Lord Fyrus, on behalf of our nation we ask for an alliance."

Nelzar silenced the queen, who smiled in amusement, with his hand, but inclined his head in acknowledgment. "And what does Lord Fyrus hope to gain with such an arrangement with us? An alliance due to the news his son has sent to him, no doubt? Or is there some other reason for this sudden development?"

He looked to the girl with a cold glare as the heat seem to rise, then closed his eyes and recessed his power. "My lord Creed is no longer a part of our clan. An inner skirmish between the elders and Lord Fyrus has made him banished. He has not mentioned it to you?"

Creed glared to him. "Why would I bother? I guess father sent you here to tell them that personally. That old fossil..."

Frost narrowed his eyes at Pyro, but Nelzar regarded him calmly. "I do not much care for the inner workings of your clan, but do not consider me so foolhardy as to not realize such an alliance does not come at a cost. What are his conditions?"

He shook his head. "Lord Fyrus has no interest in this man, he desires an alliance so that he may conquer the earth and water clans. He says "their ineptitude to allow humans to attack their lands and foolish idiocies have made them a stain on all the other dragons. To allow them to stay would not only give human trash more opportunities to invade, but also show weakness in dragons as a whole. We must purge them in darkness and flame to grow strong and eliminate our common enemy: humans". He wishes this to be a solid alliance and offers the water and earth lands as gifts. His other condition was for you to kill the bastard son Creed for his failures."

Nelzar regarded him quietly. "And I take it he will consider anyone who does not go against them also an enemy?"

She blinked in shock. "He would have him kill his own son?!"

Pyro stayed quiet for a bit then spoke. "He regarded that with this statement 'any who refuse and allow the stain to grow will be considered an enemy.' "

Creed smirked. "Heh... He must have gotten ahold of something to be able to bark such flames... And, to order a death warrant on me... Hehe, ooh, I can't wait to see him again."

Keir shivered turning away then looked to the king. "My lord... Please decline! This would only cause more chaos. I beg of you!"

Nelzar looked to Pyro and Creed intently. "I do not care much for threats against my people. What could Fyrus hope to gain, if not taking either of the lands for himself."

Frost growled. "Are you seriously considering this!?"

Nelzar growled at Frost who glared back. "He has left me little choice but to consider his offer."

Pyro shook his head. "I only know what he has told me, but Lord Fyrus has said for his plan he needs darkness and fire to purge out roots of weakness. He sometimes mutters "two types are needed and a testing ground". I warn you; I am not a man who follows the king with full trust. I care for my kind. All dragons. The king may be using this for his own means."

Keir looked to Pyro; a bit saddened. "You speak your mind. Even if it belittles your king. I can sense the sadness and truth in his words."

She trembled. "I may be human...and I will not ask for a defense of the wrongs of my kind...but even I can tell there's something wrong with that offer...There's more to it than just one attack. Why did he only wait till now?"

Creed growled. "The old fool has gone to hell and he's trying to take you with him, king! He's probably only wanting to use you for something so he can get something more worth it. You should refuse."

Nelzar snarled at him, advancing on Creed. "And who's to say you don't have the most to gain by my refusal? You bring trouble on my lands, to my people, by bringing this very girl and one of the very dragons who your own father wishes to destroy! You who are a fire dragon himself and yet banished and ordered dead by the very father you remain loyal to! Who's to say it is not in the best interest of my people to destroy all of you before any further faults or mess can be made of your very presences here? Your presence alone has destroyed part of this castle as we slept, and without any explanation given for your own lateness to my court, aside from the appearance of this Pyro who was not granted any leave to come here by my kind in the first place! What say you to that?"

Creed blinked. "What? Oh, I see, so you want to follow him then? A dragon who wouldn't stop his goals until he gains all he wants at any cost? You think one water dragon, a human and a hole in your house is a problem try ruling a land that no people are in it, just endless corpses of dead dragons, that's what Fyrus will give you if you join him. What's more he will most likely betray you halfway into the war, the old man did the same to the thunder dragons in the last war with their enemies! No one even remembers the thunder dragons; do you know why? Because their barely any left to be called a kingdom. I have had it with you, kings and queens! I am glad to be a nationless dragon, because I don't have to die for causes I never believe in and fools who never cared! Now if you’ll excuse me, I will take my leave to cool off." He turned away, leaving Keir and Pyro stunned at his emotional outburst.

She bowed deeply to the other dragons but ran after Creed. "W- Wait up! Creed!" She ran up to the side of him hurriedly as he left, but talked quickly. "It's ...it's not right. It's not right for him to blame you...It's not your fault for bringing me here ...nor is your fault for bringing any of us here or for being you...! And... it’s not true is it.... are you really glad to be nationless...? Don't you ever.... don’t you ever feel alone? Even...even if he did betray you.... isn’t it true you care still...or you wouldn't be so angry when they use what happened to you, against you?"

Creed growled. "This is my life. I am the blame for everything. I only regret one thing about being nationless, it's not the fact that my nation has disowned me, it’s the fact I couldn't kill him, when I had the chance!" He closed his eyes. "You’re a human, I don't expect you to understand but know this, no matter what problem you have with the king, if you're still a part of their land, you have to obey them. Pyro is the perfect example... " He groaned. "Tsk, why am I telling you this?! I must be crazy... at any rate I will take my leave from this kingdom and head out. A marked dragon cannot protect a baby dragon. You will protect the egg. I will return eventually, but you will protect it. Got that, human?" He pulled out the egg from a pouch he had hidden in his shirt.

She looked to him but took the egg slowly, cupping it in her arms gently. "It...it may be your life...right now...but I hope one day you find a place for yourself, if only because I've learned what it's like to not have a home...I understand that even if you don't agree with what their doing...sometimes you have to go along with it , even if you don't want to, if you want to survive it....but....I don't think I can do that...I hope you don't stay marked for long, and that you survive...and I'll protect the egg, I promise..." She bit her lip, looking to him directly. "You’re not as cold as you try to be, or else you wouldn't have been protecting the egg...and even if you would kill me and did try, I don't think you’re a bad guy, dragon or not. And, my name is Era... You... You better stay safe too! Cause who else could help a baby dragon best besides another dragon!?" She smiled to him softly.

Creed blinked, then nodded. "Hmph, very outspoken for a human, Era." he gripped his hand and it began to glow, then let it form into a palm as he opened it, and revealed a crystallized bird statue. "This is for you. It's a crystal of pure flame. Use it when you are in a bad situation and I'll be there quickly." He handed it over to her and moved back transforming into his dragon form. He then began to fly upwards, looking to her as he did then start off east flying away.

She smiled, looking to him as he flew away, watching, She called out to him as he left. "Thank you! I'll remember!" Then looked to the statue in her hand. Placing it carefully in her robes, she waved him off, before turning around, preparing to walk back the way to the throne room.

Nelzar's voice could be heard from beyond the door, just as she opened it. "If Fyrus wishes to kill his son, or pursue the earth and water dragons for his choices, it is his own affairs and you may tell him as such. We want no part in the wars, and never have. The darkness dragons will deal with their own, and not anyone else's, problems. If he wants a war, let him fight his own battles. We are not his people to be used to his whims. As for the humans, they are no allies of ours. To that end, we will pursue any who come on our lands once this human of Frost's has left and destroy them."

Pyro smiled a bit then nodded seriously. "I will take your answer to my king and I wish you the best. Be warned the king has become corrupted and his power is half of the Sun Dragon Creed. He alone destroyed half a kingdom in the thunder dragon war. Recently he has had shady dealings with a mysterious Person. He hasn't even been seen in public lately for five hundred years. Be warned my lords." He stood up and bowed as the other dragons did the same and left the room disappearing outside.

Keir shivered a bit. "He must not like his king. Still, I'm glad for that."

Frost gave a stiff nod towards Nelzar. "We will be taking our leave, Nelzar. If you will but excuse us."

Nelzar smirked. "They may take their leave, as you wish, Frost, but not you. We have much to discuss over the letter, you and I."

Frost growled softly, but sighed. "Keir. Collect the girl and head to your homelands. Tell your king, I will be along later, he needs to know what he is up against."

Keir bowed. "I will do as you say my lord." He moved to her and nodded as they both left the room.

She followed after him, blinking. "Um...where...is your homeland...?" She asked nervously. "I thought. I mean. Don’t water dragons live near lots of water?"

Kier nodded. "They do but to get to the water kingdom you need to go through a portal of mirror water. It's kept by emissaries of the water kingdom."

She titled her head. "Mirror water...? Um… well, do you think it'll be a problem to go there?"

He shrugged. "I can’t say for sure, I've never really known much about it. Every water dragon has to go through an emissary to get there though. Its apparently deep under the ocean so deep the pressure would kill anyone who tried to dive. Not only that the sea is barren, a heavy force pulls anyone who tries to swim in it down to the bottom and crush them in an instant. To get through to anyone or to trade, water dragons created the mirror water. It instantly brings you into the water dragon kingdom."

She blinked. "Uh...if it's underwater.... How am I going to be able to breathe?"

He shook his head. "Humans can pass through, to trade dragons need to breathe and in the water kingdom they purify the air and made a sphere of air inside the water."

She nodded. "True, didn't think of that… Haha. Guess it would be kind of silly to invite to trade only to choke them."

He nodded and transformed readying himself. "I think the nearest Emissary is east in a town of earth dragons. We can make it; it shouldn't take long. "

She nodded but gently climbed up on his back when he was ready. "So, it's not that far away?"

He nodded and with her on began to fly upwards. "Still I wonder where Creed went... He may be targeted by any dragon... Still, he's strong and I've heard a lot about him.. Some of the things they say makes me wonder if he's immortal.."

She shook her head. "He didn't say where he was going, just that he needed to be away from here… But he did say he'd be back later… sort of. But why immortal?" She looked to Keir, curiously. "What do they even say?"

Keir smirked. "Creed has lived through impossible things. When he was a child, he destroyed the first lands of the fire kingdom. At the time, his power was uncontrollable. Some say the king of fire dragons was scared and driven insane by greed and envy because of this. He sent Creed away to many battlefields. Dragon after dragon fell from him, but none killed him. He's lived fighting all his life but there’s only one reason he didn't refuse, his mother was being held captive by the king."

She fell quiet a bit. "But that's awful.... So, really the king's been trying to kill him all his life...? But why? Isn't he, Creed's father? Why would he want to kill his own son, so much?"

Keir nodded. "Creed is a dragon with rare power. He is a sun dragon, immensely powerful and uncontrollable and he's not done growing stronger. His father fears him because he doesn't want his son to be stronger than him, that gives him the right to rule the kingdom by dragon laws."

She shook her head. "That's terrible. So just because he doesn't want to give up his power in the kingdom he'd kill his own son?"

Keir nodded. "He's spent most of his life trying to get more power all so he can destroy him. He's done many things to do it. This war will be one of them."

She tilted her head. "Then why has no one tried to stop the fire king?"

He nodded. "Many have tried but the king and his land is in a mountainous region filled with active volcanoes and the tallest volcano in the world. It’s where Fyrus sleeps. Because of how high it is many dragons can't even reach the top. Not even the black dragons can. He never leaves the top and he never grows hungry, it's said he eats lava to live."

She shivered. "How the...How is that even possible?"

He shook his head. "Fyrus is a strong dragon of rare kinds of dragons he is a corrupted type. He has used a strong toxin he gained trading with dragons to make himself strong. It sent him near death but he survived and became vastly powerful. Since Creed was born, he strived to become more and more powerful. Hate pushes a person worse than anything I've seen."

She looked to him in confusion. "But, how could he hate Creed just for being born...? Something seems off about that.. a little… It would make no sense for him to hate his own kid right off the bat, unless Creed caused him to lose something or did something to him.."

He shook his head. "I agree... It's strange but still, right now, I'm sure I can guess what Creed is thinking and what he will do. First, we must go to the village... " He picked up speed a bit more heading to the village.

[shtern-and-art]

In The Dark – a cryptid AU about Bad and Skeppy – part 1.

All text is captioned under the cut!

BACKGROUND

Story is set somewhere in the 90s – neon colors and the brink of major improvements in lgbtq+ status at least in US.

The place we’re in is a small nameless town near the forest, and let’s say it’s the US, but in my mind it has an old European country feel to it too. At least in the small old towns like this. With old buildings, and paved roads, and steep roofs, and everything.

The forest is very dense and not much light gets in the deeper parts of it, so it’s called The Dark Forest which may sound quite unoriginal. But no one really calls it that. With how many weird things happen in that forest, among the locals, it is mostly referred to as “bad forest”. To the point that it’s basically the common name for it now.

SKEPPY

Skeppy is a Thing. A supernatural thing. The sort of thing that, unlike most spn things, hangs out around humans a lot. Socialized thing. Because, due to his spn nature, he has a compulsion/tendency (and desire) to create small mayhem and chaos around himself, disrupt communities. And also because he’s a changeling and initially was brought up by people.

But the way he is, he can’t stay living in one place/town for too long, always having to bounce before people clock him, or stuff gets too intense.

He’s name is still Zak, it’s the one his human parents gave him. However, he officially changed it to something different in all records after leaving home at 18, cuz names are important for creatures, and having his real one out there might be dangerous.

Generally, he still goes by Skeppy.

Skeppy can consciously do minor mimicry and illusions (by light bending)/cause light dissociation/confusion in people and creatures around him/do other minor mind tricking fae stuff.

He is drawn to nature and shiny things, although nature can be just a potted plant, and a shiny thing – anything from a gemstone to pieces of broken glass. Skeppy doesn’t know this yet, but I’m pretty sure he can find more valuable gems and metals by pure instinct. But he never explored it properly, and he just thinks that he likes collecting pretty rocks. Skeppy has at least 3 of them on himself at any time.

Evidently, he is not fully aware of everything about himself, and he didn’t have much contact with other creatures like him.

He is just. Living his life. Going from city to city, trying to have a good time.

THE STORY

Skeppy comes to a new little town near the forest. Forests are good for him, even if he still prefers to be around people.

And he’s just chilling, trying to settle in and shake things up a bit, roaming the woods to kick up old local rumors about a werewolf.

Speaking of, the town has a LOT of old rumors with the fleur of a little-town-near-the-woods creepiness to them. Like a werewolf, yeah, and crazy cults, and people making sacrifices in the woods, all that jazz.

But it’s all alright, all quiet now. All those things are always told by an uncle of a cousin of a grandpa’s friend, and, you know. Older people. Not a lot of townsfolk believe in these stories nowadays.

So Skeppy freely roams for a while: both the town, and the woods.

BACKGROUND

Local tree logging business is starting up again – twice removed cousin of the old owners brother’s son inherited the company. He’s fresh out of college, and came to bring Industry and Movement back to the little town he visited couple summers as a kid.

Some decades ago the wood export was what kept the town moving and bustling. It chipped away at the forest for many decades, bringing jobs and new people and everything.

But something happened back then, some shady business: perhaps money laundering gone wrong, or some out-of-town mafia dealings that came with the trades. That’s what the papers said at least. For a while, there were complaints of not safe work environment, and lawsuits flying, and rabid animal attacks happening on the outskirts of town (that’s where the werewolf rumors started).

But it’s been quite some time since then. It’s all settled now, old news, and the new generation doesn’t care much, and the twice removed cousin of the old owners brother’s son can start everything anew.

There’s hope and change in the air and the factories are getting upgraded.

THE STORY

So yeah, Skeppy roams the woods, and townspeople nowadays are starting to roam deeper in the woods too! Both because the woods came closer to the town again, and because people tend to… forget. Some young people, at least, who have nothing to remember or fear in the first place. Having all their hormones to fly, and baseball bats to swing, and beer cans to shoot.

The deeper woods are dark, there are a lot of good old trees in their prime time for logging, that make a lot of dark shadows to lurk in. And those are very nice for Skeppy, who can easily fuck with packs of teenagers and with elderly berry pickers. He can make them see things, and believe things, and prop up some fake cultist memorabilia on clearings and wolf fur in the bushes near the pass. And then he’d chat up the middle-aged workers at evenings, and watch it all unfold slowly, rumors spreading across town, giving Skeppy that little, small glow of joy, which that freaky, but harmless trickery always brings him.

It’s all going well and good, even better than expected! Even with that weird forest spirit Skeppy always felt lurking deeper in the woods. That thing was alright. Just there, watching. And Skeppy didn’t do anything too bad or disrespectful, he was pretty sure.

So, when the watching becomes following, and following becomes stalking and threatening, it… doesn’t feel right. Deep in the woods, deers and rabbits keep watching Skeppy’s back, and the trees are so tall it feels like the forest floor is the bottom of the ocean.

When stags stroll through the dark to you, carrying dead animals’ bodies on their antlers, that’s a pretty bad sign, right? Almost as bad as when the shadowy figure, that kept clop-clopping around you for the last couple of weeks, starts chasing you through the trees. And Skeppy just started setting up another “pagan ritual” site near the old berry picking trail!

Turns out, the forest spirit is a dang forest demon or something! And is also an asshole, who doesn’t want Skeppy (with his little True Detective stick figures and mayhem) on his territory.

(This is pretty much where the comic happens! And, yes, Skeppy also being a creature doesn’t mean much. Because Skeppy is too annoying, and too human-like to take seriously.)

So yeah, the Asshole In The Woods chases Skeppy out of them, but Skeppy doesn’t skip towns after that, oh no. He is a stubborn bitch, and he’s already settled, and he even found a small job… and unsettling and leaving is incredibly easy, yeah, but he DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG. The Asshole In The Woods will see, he’ll understand. Skeppy is good at trick- well, talking himself out of trouble. Almost as good as he is at getting in it.

So, obviously, Skeppy keeps coming back to the woods whenever he can. And if the shadow demon asshole doesn’t come out to run him off immediately, he busts out his fake werewolf furs, props occult stick figures around, puts up tents like people were camping nearby, insults the trees, and duct tapes leaflets from local businesses on the them… Because irritating other creatures is just as fun as fucking shit up for people.

And this little turf-war settling is the most fun Skeppy had in a long, long while (possible death aside).

They meet up pretty regularly, getting various irritation and scare levels from each other. And the asshole shadow forest demon is creepy and all, but despite the big bad wolf attitude he never actually tries to kill or maim Skeppy. Or so it seems. So, it’s all going well. Yeah. Just better to lay off all the occult trolling, since it seems to make the forest asshole guy especially mad and uncomfortable.

(Basically this is the early trolling period, with Skeppy being annoying and pushing the boundaries, very close to how their videos of the time went).

And, again, Skeppy didn’t meet a lot of other cryptids, and the ones he found didn’t stick around for long. Because Skeppy is too much of a little shit, and “a low-tier human bootlicker”, anyway. So yeah, maybe Skeppy IS a little bit lonely. Been lonely for a while, now, hitchhiking around the country, never staying anywhere long enough to let people get that something is wrong in the air around him, or form any kind of lasting relationship. So what.

At least this asshole will not rat him out to anyone, or run away into the night with all Skeppy’s money. Probably.

So what’s the harm if sometimes they just argue instead of trying to one-up each other in magic trickery?.. Nothing bad will happen if, from time to time, they’ll just talk instead of shouting about who’s right and who should leave. It’s alright. It doesn’t even matter. No one in the town or spn world knows or cares about any of that. About both of them.

So they hang out more often. And if each time the forest asshole looks a little less scary, and more often takes his human-like shape, well. Maybe it’s just for convenience? Anyway, it’s easier to roll your eyes and turn your back on a fuming person, than a pissed off all-encompassing shadow, so Skeppy isn’t complaining. Especially if the person-shape is so nice to look at, too.

And Skeppy doesn’t know who exactly the forest asshole is, but in the town it’s always “bad forest this” and “bad forest that”. So, in Skeppy’s head, it becomes “Bad’s forest” – because he’s “the Bad in the Forest, heheh, get it, get it?”

Bad does get it. He isn’t as impressed as he should be by Skeppy’s genius puns and naming abilities though.

Speaking of Bad. He seems to be not really aware of what’s been going on in the town for the last couple decades. He tends to mostly hang out in the minds of forest animals, help them out a bit. Or nap. Nap a lot – days, weeks, years at a time, dissolved in the shadows. Unless someone (like can shooting teenagers, tree logging companies, or Skeppy) come around to bother his peaceful, dissociated, and at times even thoughtless existence.

Bad doesn’t mind though. Or so he says. The sleeping, that is. The people, them he really minds, people from the town especially. He really wants to be left alone by them. Discovering that Skeppy wasn’t from these parts of the country was one of the reasons Bad started to warm up to him.

The other major warm up was the first time Skeppy helped Bad scare off the messy annoying kids that were littering in the woods. But he convinced Bad to do it in a long winded, silly and fun (for them, not the kids :D) way. And after a while, teamed up like this, spooking and chasing people off, stopped being an irritating chore, and instead became something Bad looked forward to. Maybe even, put off his shadowy slumber for.

It’s been a long, long time since Bad actually wanted to stay awake like that. Wanted to do something, consciously, to talk to someone. That’s why he’s a “little rusty with all this communication thing”, he admits to Skeppy.

Bad never tells him how horribly bitter, and sad, and alone he was for years and years, huddled in the shadows. How he hid from that sadness, and from the people and their voices, and from the sound of their footsteps on the leaves. He ran away from them – in the soft, inhuman minds of the animals, and restless dreams, where his mind and sense of self stretched, and scattered across the forest, forgetting itself, and just living with all the living things. Of course, Bad doesn’t tell Skeppy about that. He always had his animals, and the secret springs, and little kids tying wishing charms on the branches of the old trees… Bad is fine. He just wants to be left alone.

Or at least wanted to. Because now, after staying awake for so long, it seems that he wants other things too. To troll snotty stuck up teens and kids. To learn more about new technology. To play with the shadows on the edges of clearings, and listen to the music player left behind by one of the kids he and Skeppy chased off.

And one day. One day sunbeams are dancing around the edge of the clearing deep in the woods, and Skeppy is lounging lazily in the grass, playing with his pretty glass shards, making light refract and reform through them, sending dozens of sun bunnies crawls and jump between the peaceful trees. That day Bad feels like his skin is warm, not cooled down by the shadows. And with that warmth – on his face, and in his chest – Bad finds that he can talk about it. That he can say it.

Bad tells Skeppy that back in the day, some decades ago (time is difficult for him to take note of)… that back then. He was a human. But he isn’t now, not anymore. Now he is part of the Forest. Kind of.

Because, see, something bad, really bad happened back then, and Bad got possessed by the, well. The spirit of the forest.

And he was living like this ever since.

Masterpost / first meeting /part 1 / part 2 / part 3

[obaewankenobis]

for forever — obi-wan kenobi

pairing(s)  :  obi-wan kenobi x reader ( mostly focused on obi-wan’s character, not the relationship because i am a hoe for this man )

summary  :  after the fall of the jedi order, you can finally be together. alternatively, obi-wan needs therapy/deserves happiness.

word count  :  2.1k

warning(s)  :  character death, a bit of angst i guess but it’s mostly fluff.

notes   :  roughly edited so i apologize if things don’t make sense, i honestly came up with this on a whim and have No Idea what was going through my head when i wrote this. the povs also switch a lot but enjoy </3.

       The sand bit at his fair skin, the grainy winds of Tatooine ruffled through his auburn locks, peppered with strands of grey, as Obi-Wan Kenobi stood, rigid and grief stricken. Kind wrinkles framed his eyes, eyes weighed down by exhaustion and desolation, the memory of a thousand wars flickering in the brilliant blue reflection. Without speaking, the woman looking at him from afar knew he had suffered a lifetime of hardship and grief, his aching heart not given a moment to mourn the loss of those closest to him. The mahogany cloak billowed around his body, covering the burnt, tattered tan robes he wore, as the wind picked up, signaling there would be little time before the twin suns set and it was much too dangerous to be outside. Snuggled between the lone man’s arms, swathed in soft cream blankets to shelter him from the cruel and unforgiving weather, was a baby. With sea blue eyes and the sparse tufts of pale blonde hair, the newborn was the mirror image of his father — that in itself was bittersweet.

       Fire. That was all Obi-Wan could remember, the smoldering lava confining him and his enemy — once his friend, his brother — inside a tight circle of flashing blue and blazing rage. Now, things were blissfully quiet, as if the universe was trying to give him peace of mind after what it had taken from him. With heavy shoulders and hollow eyes, Obi-Wan was a shell of who he used to be: a great warrior and an excellent negotiator, all gone. His last mission was here, on Tatooine, to deliver the baby to his aunt and uncle: Owen and Beru Lars. Then, he would spend the rest of his years wasting away in a sandy prison, languishing in his defeat.

       “Is it true?” The woman from afar, who had taken to staring at him from a distance, finally approached him, awaiting his answer with bated breath — Beru. Is it true? The words reverberated in his head, as the reality came crashing down upon him. The woman in front of him needed certainty, she needed answers, answers Obi-Wan could not give her.

       “Yes,” came the final reply. Who knew a single word could hold such heavy meaning? Yes. An entire government who’s history spanned hundreds of years prior collapsed within a single day? Yes, that had happened. His religion, who he had devoted his entire life to and poured his soul into, gone? Yes, decimated without a sliver of mercy. The baby’s father, the hero of the galaxy, the crown jewel of the Jedi Order, killed? Yes, murdered in cold blood.

       Beru finally brought her attention to the boy nestled within the robes of the man. “Is he . . . ” She seemed to only speak in half questions, as if finishing the sentence would make it a harsh reality, and leaving the query to hang heavy in the air would somehow leave her life in a fairytale.

       “Yes,” he replied again, nearly choking on his words as the boy let out a tiny coo, as if he sensed they were discussing him.

       “Oh.” There was a pause, a flicker of hesitation, before the woman decided to continue her pattern of half inquiries to form her own story. “May I?” With shaking arms, Beruu reached forward to take the boy from Obi-Wan’s grasp and welcome the baby into her own warm embrace. Part of him didn’t want to let the child go, for once he did he would have no real connection to his past life. Letting go of the boy meant letting go of everything, from his first steps in the Temple, to his meeting with his apprentice on Naboo, to the countless, sleepless nights in a war torn galaxy, it would all be gone. The woman’s tender smile and patient gaze was nearly patronizing, she was trying to sympathize with something she couldn’t possibly understand. No one could. A wave of fury washed over him, trapping him in a cage of his own emotions. Obi-Wan had never felt such an intensity roll over his body, preferring to keep his temperament a tranquil, emotionless pit. But this raw, uncontrollable fury was soon washed out with an even more overpowering bout of sorrow, shaking him with such force it made his knees wobble and threaten to give way. For over thirty years he was taught emotions were the enemy, by being detached and aloof he would survive, and look where that had gotten him.  

      Another soft cry from the baby jerked Obi-Wan back into the present moment, as his tiny arms reached for the woman, drawn to her sunny kindness and comforting aura; he realized a place to call home or a comforting shoulder to cry on was never something he could offer as the baby grew older. The woman made a small clicking sound with her tongue, looking up at Obi-Wan with an expectant gaze, and yet his grip on the baby remained the same. Although his mind seemed desperate to listen to logic, to reason, his body remained motionless, following the dull ache and painful longing in his heart. The battle between his mind and emotions lasted a fraction of a second, and at last, as it had time and time again, his mind won.

       Like he had done all his life, selflessly sacrificing himself for thee good of the galaxy, he let go.

     The woman took the baby in her arms, and began her journey back to her homestead, pausing just slightly to exchange one last parting smile and a word of comfort. “I think someone wants to see you, Master Kenobi.” With that, Beru began walking, a happy baby in her arms, to her husband, just as the sky merged from clear blue to salmon pink and hazy orange, the twin suns beginning to disappear over the horizon rapidly. As the light dimmed and dusk settled in, the man could make out the shadowy figures of Beru and Owen Lars, holding Luke Skywalker in unmoving content.

       Here to see me? Obi-Wan frowned, reflecting on the woman’s words. This was not his home, his very identity was supposed to remain a secret, who could possibly want to see him? Unless . . .

       No, that was impossible. He had mourned your death just as he had mourned every other Jedi’s death the moment their own clones turned against them, and he would not allow even a tiny sliver of hope to crawl its way back into his heart. Because in the end, he could only cling to the belief that things would get better, and false hope in such a desperate time would be his undoing.

—

       You wondered how long you could stand in the shadows before he noticed you, standing awkwardly by his dewback as he delivered Padmé and Anakin's son to his new family. Like Obi-Wan, you had suffered the loss of everything and everyone you knew, your entire life destroyed in the span of a second, and all you could do was stand there, watching everything burn. The Jedi robes you once wore with pride, robes that were once a symbol of humility and hope across the galaxy, now put a priceless bounty on the head of anyone who wore them.

       “Obi-Wan?” The name was dry in your throat, mouth parched and lips cracked due to the harsh Tatooine heat.

       Though he was always subtle, you could see his entire demeanor change, the way his shoulders became straighter, the way his hands, once balled up into fists of worry, were now relaxed and laying loosely at his side. In a moment, he had turned around and closed the distance between the two of you, caramel boots growing dull and scuffed as he stepped through the unforgiving desert surface beneath him. “You’re alive,” his voice came out in a hushed, cautious tone, disbelief still tainting the edges. “I thought — Yoda and I — the only ones left — ” his words grew more jumbled with each passing phrase that left his lips.

       “But I’m here. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” you cut him off, the calm gentleness of your tone making him stop in his tracks. Slowly, each movement pained and deliberate, you stepped closer, inching your way forward until he was right in front of you. Neither of you could look away; with the Jedi Order dead, there was no reason to hide in secrecy now.

—

       To realize he was not alone was comforting, but to know it was you he could seek company in was freeing. In that moment, with the distance so close between your bodies, Obi-Wan dared not breathe, his eyes fluttering shut as he let out the smallest of breaths — this was all he had ever wanted, and still, despite everything, it was something he believed he could never have.

       He wouldn’t allow himself to believe it. Not after he spent all those years repressing the desire that burned so deeply within him it began to rot within his heart, trapped with no release in sight. At one point, he had every reason to deny the yearning stirring within him, but now? Now there was no war, no Council, no code, no nothing to stop himself from unleashing decades of pent up turmoil within him.

       And stars, it was suffocating.

       He couldn’t do this.

       “You know you don’t have to push me away any more.” A suggestion more than a factual statement; voice thick and barely audible.

       Was this a dream, a fantasy meant to be chased after in his sleep? Or some sick, twisted premonition the Force was trying to convey to him? So many nights he had spent languishing in his loneliness, dazed in a delusion that remained but a figment of his imagination.

       “I know.”

       “What?”

       “The Jedi are no more. We . . . We don’t have to pretend we don’t have  — ” The words were bittersweet on his tongue; even with no one there to watch and scold him, he could not betray his way of life so easily. That everyone I have ever loved, I have watched die in my arms? And throughout all of that, I have never been tempted by the dark side, but if I lost you, I would be afraid of my own morality? Those were not easy thoughts to formulate into a coherent sentence — there were no words Obi-Wan could say that would even begin to describe how he felt.

       Instead, in a tender gesture of vulnerability, he reached out through the Force, and all at once it came crashing down on him.

       This feeling . . . it was all consuming, and he was drowning, struggling to keep his head above water and not surrender to its frosty depths. He was submerged in an endless stretch of icy ocean water so frigid and numbing, that he felt nothing and everything all at once. It was terrifying to think — and let you know — you held so much power over him, but in the same instance, he felt at peace, like a weight he had dragged around for decades was finally lifted off his shoulders. I love you, rang as bright as the city lights on Coruscant and as clear as a Nabooian waterfall. I love you.

       “I love you, too.” He heard your voice in a soft whisper, swelled up with emotion as you took in everything. Chills erupted down his spine; he couldn't quite tell if it was from the inky blanket being tugged across the sky as dusk descended into nightfall, or if it was the four word phrase that left your lips.

—

       “I cannot live without you,” Obi-Wan let out a shaky exhale, breath fanning across your face just slightly, your foreheads making contact in the lightest movements. You felt dizzy, in a dreamlike trance, for you had never been this close to him. You could see every horror he had survived in his glassy blue eyes, notice every perfect imperfection that blemished his skin and made him all the more real. In a moment, his face had become blurred as he closed the distance and finally, finally, his lips were on yours, and you connected in a long awaited, eternally sought after kiss. You could feel his hands, calloused but gentle, cupping your face, as your own fingers found their way to the nape of his neck, the kiss grew more fervent and needy, every rule you had ever lived by crumbling as you melted deeper into his touch.

       After a long moment, you broke away, breathless, your face still tantalizingly close to his.

       “I will never leave you, Obi-Wan,” your lips parted in a determined vow, a promise you would keep to your dying breath. The Jedi were dead, and yet you never felt more alive.

[imaginejamesandsirius]

James comes back as a vampire 12 years after the fact (so 3rd year for harry in like december) and the law says children can't live alone with vampires so James has to marry someone by the end of the school year or harry goes back to his aunt and uncle. James starts to panic until Remus informs him that gay marriage has since been legalized, after which he proposes to Sirius, and he says yes and they're very in love and it's so cute

Hogwarts had vampire wards. James hadn't known about that. His idea had been to march right up to Dumbledore and ask what the hell he was thinking, leaving his son with two muggles that hated magic, but he couldn't get through. It's not like he'd been planning on kidnapping Harry (well, he’d considered it but decided otherwise), but he wanted to see him. It had been over a decade. The last time he'd seen his boy, he'd been a baby; he could say a handful of babbled words and run around, and that had been it.

James gave a frustrated kick to the impenetrable wall that was keeping him from seeing his son, then whirled away to find Remus. He'd already seen in the paper that Sirius was an escaped convict, which wouldn't make him easy to find. Remus, however, was very likely still in Wales, staying in his parent's old house.

He needed somebody to help him plan. There were a dozen different things that needed to be done, and he no idea how to accomplish any of it. Which he wasn't used to. Becoming a vampire had changed more than just his diet.

For the first five years, sunlight had burned him, so he couldn't leave if he wanted to. And his sire hadn't wanted for him to leave, so he'd been unable to. It was only when his sire bit off more than he could chew-- centaur, you'd think he would've known better, even if their blood was supposedly ambrosia-- that James had been able to leave the grounds. And he wasn't too sure about whether or not immortality was a myth, but he did know that his body hadn't changed appearance since his transition. He wouldn't be surprised if, sixty years from now, he dropped dead from old age and that was the end of it.

Most importantly right now though, was the fact that he couldn't think. His mind was muddled. All he could think about was how angry he was with Dumbledore for having left Harry with Lily's horrid sister and her husband. A couple that James knew for a fact hated him, and he couldn't imagine that they would be any kinder to Harry now than they'd been when he was a baby. The need to protect Harry was burning him from the inside out.

He knew that Remus was the only person he trusted that was available to help him, so he went to his house. It was empty. James gave a frustrated snarl and left just as quickly as he'd arrived. Where the hell could he be?

He walked for a long time. Long enough that the sun set and he was walking in total darkness. Perk of being a vampire was that he could still see. He'd been hoping that he wouldn't need glasses anymore, but he did. He should find sunglasses though, for when the sun came back up. It didn't burn him anymore, but it was awfully bright; he'd spent all day squinting against it.

*

As it turned out, he hadn't been able to find Remus because Moony had been at Hogwarts, teaching Defense. James had been hanging around Hogsmeade when there was a weekend out for the students, and that's how he saw Harry again. He was a little ashamed to say that he'd scared him. He hadn't meant to, but he'd sort of grabbed him away from his friends, and then he'd seen Snape and his fangs came out and... yeah, it was better not to dwell on it.

All's well that ends well, because Sirius found him that afternoon because of the commotion, and Harry had actually looked happy to see him when he had to head back inside Hogwarts for the night.

"I can't believe you're here," Sirius whispered. He was looking at James like he was a miracle.

James knew the feeling. When he'd learned that Harry had been living with the Dursley's, he'd thought that Sirius was dead. It hadn't taken long before he was in Wizarding London and saw all the Wanted posters, but a part of him had still wondered. After all, if Sirius had been alive, there would've been no reason for him to be in Azkaban, and if he had been in Azkaban, there was no reason for him to have waited so long to bust out.

He didn't understand any of it. He didn't know how things had gotten so bad so quickly. He'd been Turned, and Lily had been killed, but Sirius had been Harry's godfather, and if he hadn't been around for whatever reason, Harry should've gone to Remus! There was a line of people that Harry should've been raised by, and the Dursley's were nowhere in that line.

"What happened?" James asked instead of replying to what Sirius said. "What the hell happened?"

Sirius shook his head. He threw his arms around James and started to cry. James held him while he sobbed, and then for a long time afterwards.

Dumbledore sent him a patronus requesting a meeting, and Sirius transformed into Padfoot and made himself scarce.

James would love nothing more than to meet with Dumbledore and ask just what the hell he had been thinking for the past twelve years, but there was a little snag of he couldn't get through the bloody wards. He sent a reply saying basically that, and a minute later, Dumbledore came out to him.

Before hello's could be exchanged, James said, "How could you send Harry to live with those people?"

"With you gone, Lily and Marlene dead, and Sirius in prison, they were the only legal option," Dumbledore replied calmly.

"What about Remus?"

"Werewolves can't raise children alone, and Remus was not married."

"That's bullshit." And it must've been made into a law after him and Lily went into hiding, because it sure as hell hadn't been one when they set everything up.

"Personal feelings aside, it is the law." Dumbledore hesitated, then said, "Vampires are also unable to raise children unless they are married to a non-creature."

James paled, a cold fear sweeping through him. "What? But- Harry's my son. No one could keep him from me."

They continued talking, and Dumbledore explained the law and when it had been passed. There was all sorts of anti-creature legislation now, and it was throwing a wrench in James's half put together plans. In the course of their conversation, James was able to convince Dumbledore that Sirius was innocent. He didn't even know what Sirius had supposedly done, but he was able to convince Dumbledore of it.

*

Potter Mansion wasn't in great condition, but it was empty, and both him and Sirius could stay there. When winter break came around, Remus stayed with them as well. He wished that Harry could, but his guardianship was up in the air, and having him stay would be more like kidnapping than him spending the break with his father.

Sirius was in the process of being cleared of all charges, but since it hadn't gone through yet, he didn't have the legal right to raise Harry. Remus and James were creatures, so it's not like they'd be spontaneously allowed to raise him.

"I hate this," James said. He was sipping on blood, and Remus was nursing a cup of tea. Sirius was upstairs, sleeping. He spent a lot of his time sleeping so that he could recover faster, but it was still a slow process. By the time his name was cleared, he probably wouldn't look like a walking skeleton anymore. Skeletal or not, James still thought he was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen.

He did wish that the Ministry would hurry up. They said that it would be at least a year before Sirius would have the restrictions lifted, but it would likely take longer than that. James wasn't sure there was a rhyme or reason to the different rules, and he hated it. For instance, he was able to live on his own if he wanted, but he couldn't be the sole guardian of a child. He could travel around Great Britain, but he wasn't supposed to fly or use a portkey. One toe out of line, and Sirius could be arrested until the verdict was reached.

"Being a vampire?" Remus guessed.

"No. This whole custody mess with Harry. I can't raise him unless I get married, but who the hell am I supposed to marry? If I had a friend who was willing, it would be easy, but everyone I knew is dead. Which means I have to find some bird and convince her to marry me even though I don't love her."

Remus looked at him for a long moment.

Misinterpreting what the look meant, James said, "See? It sucks. There's no way I'm going to pull it off. Harry's going to get sent back to that sodding house where they hate him."

"James, some things have changed since you were last here."

"Don't even try to tell me that they don't hate magic, because Harry told me, and-"

"No, not that," Remus said with a small smile. "I meant that two men can get married now. It's legal."

James jerked, sitting up straight and looking at Remus with an intense focus that he hadn't been able to manage before he was a vampire. "Say again?"

"Two men can get married." You and Sirius can get married.

"You’re a genius. Is Sirius allowed to get married right now?"

Remus nodded. "I checked. I thought it was weird that you didn't already do it, but." He shrugged, and James understood. He hadn't known that he could marry another man, and Remus had thought there was a legal boundary that he hadn't been aware of, so he'd checked for them.

"Huh." James looked down into his glass of blood like it had the answers he was looking for. "How should I propose? I want it to be great. Something he can look back on and know how much I love him."

"I'm not great at romance," Remus said, scratching at his ear uncomfortably. "So erm, all I'm going to say that Sirius always knows how much you love him."

It was a nice idea, but Remus didn't know how insecure Sirius could be. It had only gotten worse since all their time apart. James understood, and he didn't begrudge Sirius for it for a second, but he also wasn't going to talk to Remus about it. Some things were personal. "Yeah. I'm sure I'll think of something. I just want it to be perfect."

"I'm sure it will be," Remus said, giving him a comforting smile.

*

"I love you so much," James said softly, brushing Sirius's hair away from his face. Not that it had been in his face very much to begin with.

Sirius smiled. It wasn't wide and overtaking his entire face; it was a small, private thing. Like if there was anyone else in the room, he would still want for James to be the only one to see it.

"I hated having to live without you for so long. I kept wanting to get out. I dreamt about getting home to find you and Harry waiting for me."

"I'm sorry it wasn't like that," Sirius said, regret and sorrow making his voice weak.

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean that thinking about you got me through it. I couldn't see the sun for so long, but when I thought about you, I didn't feel as trapped. You were my warmth. My freedom. There were times that I worried I was putting you on a pedestal. That I'd get out and find that you weren't how I remembered, but you're not. Things have changed, but you're still the person I fell in love with. You're as amazing and perfect as I thought you were when we first started dating. I never want to live without you. I want us to be a family the way we should've been this entire time. You, me, Harry, and Moony in the other room, rolling his eyes at us."

"I want that too. It sounds perfect."

"You think so?"

Sirius gave a small nod.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, because I was thinking... well, Remus told me that we can get married now. It's legal."

Sirius froze, then pushed himself up so he could look James in the eye. "This isn't a joke, right? You can't be joking about this. I need you to mean it."

"I mean it. You're everything I want. I love you. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. I want to call you my husband. So, will you? Will you marry me?"

Sirius looked like he was about to cry, but they were happy tears this time. He opened his mouth to say something, but his breath hitched and he closed it again. He nodded.

"Yeah?" James said, a grin stealing across his face.

Sirius nodded again, and James pulled him into a tight hug.

"I love you so much." Things might've been shit when he first got here, but everything was falling into place, where it should've been from the start.

[secret-engima]

spideypoolalways

Does Regis ever ask how Titus has papers for the boys? Whats Cor or Clarus' PoV of this? What are some things (fluff or humor) that the boys get up to? Because I can see them getting adopted into the Ulric Clan because of shenanigans and Nyx going 'Yes, these are my people' since LCs just remind me of Ulrics with magic. And how do the Galatians take to the nephew of the Nif Chancellor and clone of the Crown Prince? Since I'm imagining that Titus told some of them and the

spideypoolalways

rest are guessing anyway. And does everyone assume that Noctis and Nox's magics resonated since they're kinda sorta close to each other/are the same person? How does Regis take the news that the only reason that Noctis got healed is because Nox pretty much felt everything Noctis did? /Both/ of his sons were basically attacked by a daemon and he only knew about one of them at the time and didn't do anything to calm or reassure Nox? (Clarus: Only because you didn't know

spideypoolalways

About him, Regis. Regis: Thats no excuse, Clarus.) Does Iris get to be a Shield or did Nox latch onto Axis or one of his kids? Does Acastus find Prompting and drop him off with Noct/Cor? Does Nox hang out with Noct, Ignis, Gladiolus and Prom all the time or does the memories act up enough to make him feel weird about it? How does Regis take his brother and son's Sick Days? What about Dissidia? The 3 youngest Royals getting snatched and the group watching on Crystal

spideypoolalways

Vision? Dad Titus/Regis freaking out over their kids having been summoned to a death match? And how exactly does Titus see the boys? Sons, brothers, cousins? Oooh, more Trauma. Noct, Nox and Acastus w/others playing and end up in the Crystal room. Cue the boys lighting up, maybe passing out because the magic hits their young system really hard (its why Royals aren't supposed to be Presented until 18) and everyone freaks out, and news makes it to Regis and Titus that they

spideypoolalways

Are in the infirmary and the gist of what happened via panicked guards and rush there immediately and are jumped by panicked kids talking and crying about what happened. I didn't realize I had so many questions. But now I need to know. 👀👀 Please!🙏

spideypoolalways

Oh! Just remembered a little more! Does anyone pick up on the people/places that he shouldn't know? Do they assume that Nox got some of it from Noct, like with the Marelith? Or are they assuming LC/ Oracle DNA mix?

Me: Yes, Regis asks about the papers and Titus doesn’t OUTRIGHT admit he did an illegal but he does grudgingly explain that he needed papers in case the NIfs came looking and he ... knows ... a few people who can help ... “recreate” papers for refugees who lost theirs in whatever fire or tragedy drove them from their homes.

Regis mulls over that for ten long seconds then blatantly pretends he never heard it in the first place. Those “people” likely saved the life of his son and half-brother, he can let it slide this once.

I need Nyx Ulric to adopt these two now JUST so Nyx can tease that he’s related to Captain (then later when he learns that they’re Lucis Caelums he can quietly die in a corner because OH NO HE’S RELATED TO THE KING). Not sure how or when Nyx adopts them, but he absolutely does.

It probably happens when he's just a wee bit sloshed. Not enough to be incoherent or insincere, but enough that he doesn’t feel any fear offering to adopt the pair while babysitting them because Captain had to work late and Nyx is off the combat roster until his ankle heals. Once he’s sober he is a Panic™, but Captain takes it surprisingly well and Nox loves his new braid. Acastus just looks Amused™.

Lib slaps Nyx over the head because IDIOT THINK THIS STUFF THROUGH then gives him another drink because TWO MORE ULRICS. It’s a good thing Nyx is an Ulric Keeper in this AU, because he can teach them most of the Ulric Clan stories and dances and make them proper Ulrics.

Acastus loves introducing himself as Acastus Ulric Drautos, both because it’s fancy like “Lucis Caelum” is and also because it made both Titus and Nyx spit their coffee the first time they hear it.

The Galahdians ... have mixed feelings at first. But the predominant one is that it doesn’t matter that this kid is clearly related to the Chancellor (at first they all think the Chancellor bedded Captain’s Aunt, since they don’t know about the LC blood, and that’s why he looks like Ardyn) because Captain has clearly staked a claim on him. Galahd (in my HCs) is a Very Adoption Heavy culture and big on judging people by their current family rather than any previous blood ties, so ... mostly the Chancellor thing gets intensely ignored. Acastus isn’t an Izunia, he’s a Drautos (and then later an Ulric). So they will treat him as such.

But in private there is some debate on exactly what happened, for the Chancellor to vanish around the time his ... relation (son? They mostly assume son), shows up in Drautos’s care.

No few number of them think Titus stumbled on Ardyn with the two kids and killed the Chancellor to save them.

For Nox ... the Lucis Caelum blood is basically impossible to hide. This boy LOOKS like a literal carbon copy of the Prince but younger and he’s young so his control over his magic is ... not. Not that good. Especially not when there’s so mUCH of it.

All of Galahd listened to the Glaive who was on babysitting duty when Nox had a rare tantrum and skewered the wall with ghostly blades and all privately, immediately agree to Never Tell Anyone. Ever.

Well. To be fair, they do debate whether they have a duty to tell Regis, but again the Adoption Culture comes into play and they decide it’s up to Titus to spill that secret. A few Glaives do ask Titus about it (Titus nearly has a heart attack because SINCE WHEN DID THEY KNOW) and when they ask if they know who the mother was, Titus looks very grim and very, very quiet for a long time, then admits:

There is no mother. There never was.

They stare at him in confusion until Acastus, lurking nearby with too-sharp eyes, gives a smile that could cut and says brittlely that “amazing things that can be done with science these days you know. Truly amazing. Why, get a blood sample and a tank of the right solutions and you could probably grow anything you wanted”.

The Glaives are Horrified™. So is the rest of Little Galahd when it gets around and then is made a Clan Secret by all the Clans unanimously. The secret never leaves the borders of their little slum.

Also yes, people assume that Noctis’s and Nox’s magic resonated because Nox is a clone and it freaks them out.

Regis is Such A Guilt when he finds out how Acastus knew about Noctis’s injury. No it doesn’t matter that he DIDN’T KNOW NOX EXISTED. One of his son’s (his FIVE YEAR OLD son) was suffering. Was screaming in agony and terror and Regis didn’t do a THING about it and no amount of logic can make that better.

Nox latches onto Axis’s triplets in this AU so while Iris will be best friends with him, his Shield, Hand, and Sword are actually all made up of Axis’s three kids. Axis is a BIT of an internal Scream when Nox is at the age people start making noises about him building a Retinue and taking Iris as his Shield and Nox goes, “NO. I have a Shield already! A Hand and Sword too!” And stuff spirals out to reveal Axis as Clarus’s kid (Clarus takes it much better than Axis thought he would, tho Axis didn’t expect to see Lord Amicitia go deathly pale and sit down hard in the nearest chair).

Honestly Iris might be the future love interest in this AU you never know. It would be hilarious if nothing else.

Bold of you to assume Acastus didn’t find Prompto early and bring him home to NOX because “Look Beloved Nibling I Found You A Friend!”. Prompto is a confusion because Nox is like- 4 at the time. But Prompto likes babysitting and playing with Nox and hearing Acastus’s stories and Titus just kinda- sighs his way through the playdates until he realizes that Prompto has been staying in his house for about two weeks with no sign of the parents.

Titus, after much snooping later, sitting at the kitchen table of Grandma Ostium quietly pulling his hair out: HOW DO YOU ADOPT A THIRD CHILD. DOES IT COUNT AS KIDNAPPING IF THEY COME OVER AND STAY WITH YOU FOREVER AND THE LEGAL PARENTS NEVER NOTICE. ACASTUS WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME.

Acastus: I regret nothing. Do you want me to fake Prompto’s death? I’m sure there’s enough Prompto’s out there that nobody will notice if you gain a nephew called Prompto Drautos.

Titus, holding his face in his hands while Grandma Ostium laughs at him in the corner: NO, ACASTUS. DO NOT FAKE THE DEATH OF THE CHILD. How do you even know how to do that? Nevermind I don’t want to know.

Roughly a year later when Everything Gets Revealed, Titus and Cor: *intense staring contest over Smol Blond Child*

Cor: You don’t know where he-

Titus, growling like a cranky Behemoth that might very well bite off someone’s head: He’s a Niflheim created clone. I know.

Cor: ....

Titus: He's been living in my house for a year. I’ve seen the barcode. It’s not like I wasn’t raising one already.

Cor: His legal parents-

Titus: Is me. The Argentums were emotionally neglectful and didn’t even notice when he hadn’t come home for a week and a half.

Cor: *guilty angry silence*

Titus: ...Kid could use an uncle. If you want to man up and be part of his life.

(hgfhg this is post is getting long Imma try to speed through the last questions a bit)

Yes, Nox hangs out with the Chocobros when he can because he adores them (especially Brother Prompto and Team Mom Iggy) but he also has his own friend group in the Little Galahd community so it doesn’t strike anyone as odd really. Nox is a naturally loving child for all he’s shy and Iggy and Gladio are Noctis’s friends and Prompto is his adopted brother (and later Noctis’s best friend).

Regis does Not take the Sick Days well. It makes him alarmed and angry because Lucis Caelums aren’t supposed to get sick days from their own magic and it speaks of BAD THINGS that both of the presumably experimented on and tortured LCs have them.

I’m going to have to come back to Dissidia another time (someone remind me) because this post is too long to ramble here but it would be- it would be Great. Honestly. It would either be the 3 littlest, just Acastus, or just Acastus and REGIS for some brotherly bonding and any of them would be Great and Chaotic. Crystal-o-vision absolutely happens.

The Crystal Room is under 24 hour guard so I don’t think the kids could wander in by accident, plus Acastus would actively avoid the area because of his Trauma.

Now Acastus being presented when he turns 18 on the other hand... >:))))))

Short Version: Much shouting, much alarm, much angst from Regis and Titus and everyone and also the first Sick Day Acastus has had since he turned 17 and by far one of the worst he’s ever had in his (second) life.

I might to a longer version later but not right now.

For Nox’s oddities and odd knowledge they kind of assume both? At first they think it’s just him resonating with Noctis so deeply that there’s a transfer (cue angst from Regis because what is going to happen to Nox when Noctis fulfills his destiny as Chosen King???) but then when Nox starts knowing stuff Noctis doesn’t/can’t know, they start to wonder if the scientists ... Tampered with his DNA. If they got their hands on Noctis’s, which should have been impossible, then it’s not all that out there they got their hands on Oracle DNA.

Sylva is ... very alarmed and very confused when Regis secretly contacts her on a secure encrypted line to ask if there were any ... symptoms to look for in an Oracle child. Because- yes there were but WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Regis: they wouldn’t happen to be *lists very specific things*

Sylva: ....Have you seen any Messengers nearby lately.

Regis: Carbuncle, a black puppy that disappears into thin air, and a bird woman who can summon wind storms. She calls herself Garuda.

Sylva, having a minor crisis behind her Queenly Facade: I am Very Sure I only have two children so please explain this. Right Now.

Regis: Well............. NiflheimclonedmysonandIthinkmixeditwiththednaofyouoryourdaughterandhehasseerpowersandImayormaynotbepanickingrightnowpleasehelpme.

Sylva, slowly running that over in her mind and figuring out what Regis just said:...

W H A T.

XD Honestly Niflheim might invade Tenebrae only to find the royal family gone because Sylva coincidentally packed her backs and took her and her children on a secret trip to Lucis to have a look at Nox, then since they’re there when Niflheim invades and a spy gets word on what just happened Sylva and Co just- stay there. Oracle Mom Death averted.

Also they absolutely think that it’s Luna’s DNA they used to make Nox because of how instantly Nox gloms onto Luna like a limpet- JUST like he did with Noctis and Regis, and how Luna gets this dazed look in her eyes as their magic tangles and she whispers, “I ... I know you. I know you, don’t I Little Prince? I met you in a dream.” Luna starts crying softly as she pets Nox’s hair and when Sylva asks in alarm why she’s crying, Luna blinks and whispers, “Because he was crying in the dream, and I couldn’t comfort him.”

Acastus lurks in the shadows, watching it all with ... very mixed feelings.

Oracles. He could have gone his entire second life without meeting anymore Oracles. Aera she looks so much like you is that what our daughter would have looked like and oh astrals I KILLED her. I killed the girl with your eyes and your smile and laughed about it later.

[nicketynic]

Prompt: Jon Snow falls in love with Sansa Rivers, Brynden's bastard.

Catelyn Tully Stark had never forgotten the strange, painful parallel of watching her uncle walking through Riverrun’s gates, her lord father’s bones in tow, cradling a babe bearing his look, imagining it eerily similar to Eddard’s return to Winterfell, the return that brought his bastard son inside the walls of his ancestral seat before his trueborn heir had ever graced them. 

Her feelings for Jon Snow aside, Sansa Rivers was her dear uncle’s only child, bastard-born or not, beloved enough to be brought with him to RIverrun as he took up regency for Edmure. Through letters, Catelyn watched her grow, transitioning from sweet, spirited girl to kind, dutiful young woman, thoughtful and grateful toward every bit of advice Catelyn offered. 

By twelve, Sansa had stepped so naturally into the role of Riverrun’s surrogate lady, just as Cately had before her, and remained so at sixteen when Robb’s march south saw armies and lords aplenty descend on the castle. Then Ned was gone, and sweet Sansa was a steady source of comfort and support in a sea of grief and loss. How could she not love this wonderful, giving girl, everything she would have wanted in another daughter if the Mother had seen fit, for all she never regretted helping Ned secure his bloodline, for all that Arya was a willful, spirited, irreplaceable gift?

Ned was lost to her, and a solemn specter of his likeness stood stalwart at their son’s side. While loss and his unwavering loyalty toward Robb had eaten away at the bitterness toward the bastard, nothing could stop her hackles from rising the first time she saw Snow’s eyes land on Sansa, widening with surprise and interest. So intent was she on diverting that attention, she nearly missed when Sansa began to return his gazes, until she was as moon-eyed as the boy. It was only the march into the Westerlands that relieved Catelyn’s vexation with the whole affair, and as the war raged on and months became a year, then two, she became certain the infatuation had long passed. 

Now, Jon Snow was a Stark-born bastard of a different variety, no longer a political unknown but the last scion of a dead dynasty, poised to have his pick between several noble seats. Some argued Dragonstone was his right so long as he let the name Targaryen die, Robb stood eager to see him landed and titled in the north, and Uncle Brynden himself had mused whether Harrenhal would be an acceptable compromise (granted to House Tully by way of Whent blood), if only to keep his daughter close by. 

Catelyn was wrong that time and distance would kill the attraction between Snow and Rivers, for all that Sansa had never spoken of or inquired about him within her hearing. Sansa herself had presented her desire for Jon Snow’s hand in marriage, and Brynden was showing no signs of refusing. Feeling the weight of his niece’s gaze upon him, Brynden raised his head, bushy silver brows over Tully blue arching expectantly. 

Catelyn hesitated for a moment, straightening subconsciously in her chair before she spoke. “Uncle, are you certain this is the decision you wish to make? The boy has prospects now, but the Targaryen legacy is liable to haunt him for the rest of his days. His children as well. Is it wise to subject Sansa to that?”

Brynden studied her for a long moment, deep wells of Tully blue full of something impossibly sad and wise. “Trust me when I say, little Cat, there can be no better judge of that girl’s happiness than Sansa herself. Her life’s already been hardship enough since the day I gave her the name ‘Rivers.’”

For the first time since his fateful decision, Brynden Tully was fully certain he had made the right choice when he plucked up a little red-haired waif from obscurity all those years ago, Tully auburn a beacon to draw his eye among a group of war orphans at Fairmarket’s motherhouse. All the evidence he needed was the soft, besotted look in Sansa’s eyes, the confidence in the way she spoke of Jon Snow’s love being true. That was all he could have possibly wished for the child who held his heart even if she wasn’t born of his body, much like the clever Cat sitting nearby. 

Let it never be said that the Blackfish of Riverrun didn’t look after his own. 

xx

Contrary to their elders’ assumptions, Sansa Rivers and Jon Snow hadn’t been blinded from the hardships of their world by infatuation or innocence, and had long since forged their own path ahead together. 

This day, Jon sat quietly in the shadow of several large old elms in Riverrun’s godswood. His eyes were closed, whether in prayer or sleep his audience was uncertain, only that he paid her approach no notice until he felt the light pressure of her hand on his shoulder, warm breath tickling against his skin with a whisper in his ear. 

“Perhaps it is improper to interrupt a man in such serious contemplation, but the solemnity on your face should be far removed from the beauty of this day.”

He jumped at the initial touch, glowering. Sansa allowed herself a few giggles at his disgruntled expression, leaning against his shoulder and letting her lips tease against the sensitive place below his ear. 

Jon looked at her sharply, and she responded with a soft reassurance and a firmer kiss to his neck. “I circled this clever spot you found from every direction I could conceive of, love. I only saw you since I knew where to look. We’re safe.”

Jon relaxed, turning in her arms to shift her closer, Sansa settling comfortably in his lap. She circled her arms around his neck, drawing his mouth to hers in a lingering, adoring kiss. She drew back at the need for air, giving him a cheeky smile. “Husband.”

“Wife.”

xx

For weeks, Sansa had felt the weight of eyes on her. Over the years of men coming and going from Riverrun, she had become accustomed to the hard, lustful stares thrown her way, unabashed in their audacity given she was bastard-born with no noble title to protect her modesty. The only thing that kept their stares as only stares, their hands from never daring to pinch or grope, rip or bruise, was the power of her father and cousin’s affection for her. Nothing more, certainly not through any virtue of her own, as barbed, gossiping tongues saw fit to remind her every season she was forced to play host to the ladies and daughters of Cousin Edmure’s bannermen. 

When she finally distracted herself enough for the chaos of preparing for war, she was shocked to discover the owner of these particular eyes. King Robb’s bastard half-brother, taciturn, solemn Jon Snow. A man who seemed too serious, too stoic, too devoted, for any woman to draw his eye away from his intense focus on duty. She puzzled over his interest, and several times she felt the burn of his gaze, she turned around to seek the source. More often than not, his expression was carefully composed into a sullen frown, and he was quick to turn away, but once or twice, she caught him unguarded. 

His expression naked and open, wistful yearning laid bare for her to see, unique to the entitled vulgarity she’d reluctantly grown used to over time. His was a quiet longing, appreciative and warm every time his eyes landed on her. Still he wouldn’t approach, not even as she began to return lingering looks of her own, not even when her smiles grew soft and inviting. He never came. 

So she went to him herself.

“I hope I’m not interrupting, my lord. Please tell me if my presence is unwelcome, and I’ll leave you be.”

“Your presence could never be unwelcome, my lady. And I know we’ve discussed that I’m no lord. Please, call me Jon.”

“Then you should remember I’m no lady, but I know from experience you’ll demure. So be it.” She smiled, slow and enigmatic. “Jon.” She drew his name out, testing out the sound, and Jon could have died from shame at the flash of heat it caused him. 

“Jon,” the sound of her voice, soft, husky, and alluring, was intoxicating, his name slipping from her tongue sweet as honey. “Jon, I’ve felt your eyes on me for weeks. Always watching me. Never approaching, Why? Am I wrong”

He couldn’t remember a time when his tongue had ever felt so thick and at a loss for words. “N-no, you’re not wrong.”

“Do you want me, Jon?”

She’d bewitched him, surely, how else could he justify actually giving voice to his next words? “Yes,” he choked out, voice hoarse. “Gods help me, do I ever.”

Her beautiful face hardened, something in her eyes growing cold. “So I’ve often seen, more through the years than I care to count. You’ve been kind, Jon. Courteous to a fault. Do you feel you have more a right to me because you haven’t resorted to slobbering and pawing?”

“No!” Jon went milk-pale, horrified at the very implication. “I would never dishonor you! I was never going to tell you, I swear it. Never belittle your worth with a delusion that I’d have any hope of your hand.”

“Hand?” In her confusion, something softened, peering at him with a puzzled, considering expression. “You mean to wed?”

Jon looked ill at the very idea of continuing to discuss his feelings, but he resolved to finish if only she could feel some measure of safety in his presence again. “A boy’s dream, my lady. I know that. I would never hurt you. Please believe me.”

“Oh, Jon.”  She drew closer, and closer still, panic rising in him as he saw faint tears glistening in her eyes. “I do. I so wished I was right, that what I saw in you was true. You just proved that.”

Hands on his shoulders, lips a breath away from his, Jon trembled, fists clenched at his sides to keep from touching her. “I won’t dishonor you,” he ground out. 

“Then wed me. But don’t leave me without knowing your love.”

“You can’t mean-”

“But i do. You return to war in a few days.”

“And you want to make yourself a landless bastard’s widow?”

“The hope is that I don’t become a widow at all. But where’s the stigma in being a bastard’s widow when I’m a bastard myself? I adore you for your honor, Jon Snow, but it’s not your honor I want to know before you ride into battle.”

“Gods help me. Gods help us both.”

It was the gods he prayed to save them that they wed themselves before later that night, kneeling before the sad-faced weirwood, then bedding down beneath its red-dripped branches. 

He kissed his love with the virility of youth, with the guilty passion and love he’d been harboring. They separated only before the need for breath became too great. He exhaled softly, not daring to open his eyes as deft fingers threaded through his dark hair to pull him into another kiss. His arms tightening around her, his hands grew restless, aching to explore further. Desire raged through him in a sudden storm of longing, tantalizing him to the point of desperation. 

He groaned, a low rumble resounding through his chest. At the sudden sound, they pulled away, each regarding the other with shy, darkened eyes. 

It was Jon who broke through the tentative silence. “I cannot leave you with child, Sansa,” he whispered softly, touching his hand to her cheek. 

She leaned into the touch, gently sighing at the contact. “There are ways around it, love, for all that I would love to have that piece of you with me.”

“I want that as well. Someday.”

“Then come back to me.”

Jon shifted closer, dipping his head to press his lips to her ear. “Always, so long as I am breathing.” He kissed her again, allowing his lips to linger for just a moment before descending in a trail of soft kisses down her jaw and neckline. Sansa responded with a breathless gasp, her hands working up into the folds of his tunic to meet bare skin. He groaned as she touched him, aiding her in allowing the garment to fall away from his shoulders. Drawing her into his embrace, her body molded into his as he pressed close. She gazed down at him, brushing heavy hair away from his eyes, tracing her fingers along the strong features of his face. The intensity of his dark gaze followed her every movement. “Love me, Jon. Please?”

He did not hesitate, his hands beginning to stroke and caress, his mouth seeking hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. Locked in a lover’s embrace, he pressed her back against the ground, the soft earth and the fragrant grasses of the garden floor cushioning their fall. Their world faded to the touch of mouth and skin, passion overwhelming every sense but that of each other. 

Jon sighed contently as he gave into the moment. “I’ve missed you so very much.”

“I missed you as well. Thank you for keeping your promise.”

He kissed her softly, his eyes so warm and full her heart swelled with feeling. “I promised you always, as long as I breathe. I wasn’t certain you would still want this, knowing I’m not who you thought.”

“Nonsense. Jon Snow, Jon Waters, Jon Blackfyre, it doesn’t matter, as long as you remain Jon at your core. And Jon loves me still.”

“As long as I breathe,” he repeated softly, this time catching her mouth in a deep, soulful kiss. Sansa’s arms twined around his neck as she opened beautifully to his passion, his ardor, his devotion, fingers burying in his hair to drag him impossibly closer. 

She pulled back just enough to speak, only a breath’s distance between their lips. “And if my kisses steal your breath away?”

“Then we’ll share it. We did promise to share this life together.”

“Then i can’t wait to share that journey with you.”

[snow-wind-and-all-we-will-find]

Hi! My names arthur and im working on improving my word and building my story, which currently has no name haha! I have a myriad of characters who ill try to list out and give brief descriptions of, aether is technically my main character and some of the characters who are up for question are dead in canon. But you can still ask them stuff, itll just be set before death.

When asking characters questions, rememeber to include the name, their age if theres diffrent ages, i dont mind repeated questions, but if you see the question try not to ask it again lol. If you cant find it with a quick scroll just ask it, although i dont know if this blog will even get that big.

Aether

He comes in three evolutions lol, technically, theres four but idk if i would count 7 year old aether.

Ages: 13 yo - colder, hasnt gotten used to emotions, there are two to this as well, pre-rev and then post-rev 13 yo aether, remember to specify lol.

16 yo- a bit more out there, still kinda disconnected and figuring things out, a bit more defensive

22 yo- lax, hes sorta figured shit out, hes not going to go grazy, hes just gonna be chill lol.

!The gaggle Ghosts!

Yurei

Her personality is very, ehhh, becuase i havnt done work with her, and i havnt completly figured out who she is fully yet, shes 18 yo when aether is 22 yo

18 yo- pretty oblivious, somehow still a bit cynical, very nice and sometimes motherly

Kakoku

Few thousand- mean, likes to bully yurei as he huants her, lowkey a simp for yurei but he wont admit that. Kinda cynical and likes to bring others down, generally a bully

Tamashi

19- emotionless, has to be a really strong emotion to make her emote, tends to stray away from other people, likes to be alone, blunt

Gunnar

A few thousand- sweet, warm and welcoming, tries to be very fatherly and a trusted figure, is very busy most of the tiime unfortunatly though.

!The greek gang!

Argus agapov

16- unstable, pretty baby, protective over friends and family

Mythos agapov

23- whore. He also loves his family, lowkey, hes a trad wife

Perceus

15/16- timid, intrested in posiosn and acids, generally quiet, likes to eat leaves, scaredy cat

Diogenes

14- germ of phobe, kind of a brat, more just a bitch, will yell at you if he sees your hands were dirty from gardening or something while you’re walking to the sink, other than that hes fine, picky eater

Herodotus

15- disorginized, trys his best, likes to write stuff down, helps plato with his writing and grammar in general, gullible, likes record data, has a nice typewriter with tha good clicky clack

Plato

8- sweet baby boi, loves his older brother (socrates), idolizes him even, not a good idea though. He writes down everything socrates does, sometimes he imitates his brother as well.

Socrates

17- dumb of ass, also just dumb, held back a grade, feral child, bites alot of people, soft aestechic but hed stab as a warning

Heracles

30- also dumb of ass, loves cars in that ‘mah babeh’ kinda way. Hates motorcycles, he thinks they’re ugly. Chaotic but he utilizes it to be the weird and cool uncle/cousin thing

Zeus

46- too tired for this shit, is a dad, went out to get milk, jk jk, dissapeared for a hot few years, probably got captured by some gang dunno, it happens. Very serious, would make the dumbest jokes with his brothers with a straight face

Hades

50- lowkey the neglected middle child, soft goth lookin ass, loves his kid, tries his best to raise his kid, sometimes gets help from esme

Poseidon

57- proud stay at home dad, buff but does the typically wifely duties, makes sure his children get enough love, nutrience and care

Lillith

54- very active, the money maker, kinda soft, both her and her husband poseidon are so just in love with their kids, dote on them constantly, very extroverted, always makes time for her kids

Esme

51- tired of zeus’ shit, does her best to make sure no one dies, still treats mythos as her ‘little baby boy, tired mom vibes.

!the Eden gang!

Eden is a fictional country that i slapped onto the globe. It is where aether is from, technically aether is apart of the eden gang as well. Everyone here, if they have an age option, the first age option is the age they are when aether is 13, and the second will be when aether is 16 unless stated otherwise

General kyelli

49- fatherly, thinks of most of the gang as his children, calls everyone ‘son’, as a general rule. If you ask for another nickname, he will do his best. Has a bad knee, and is kinda of bad at existing physically

52+- fatherly still, loves almonds, always has a bag of almonds, dont test him. Enjoys travel, might adopt people he meets along the way, still has pains but now he sees doctors, wants to stay active

Indigo

13- sweet, optimistic, always looks on the brightside and tries to see the good in others. Little heater, understands that sometimes fighting is the only option

Akrano

16- lively, very loose and relax, can get serious when needed though, always making jokes and trying to lighten up the mood

19- a bit more, mellow. Still quite lively and childish, but with two signifigant-others you have to settle down sometimes

Ekrano

16- lively, more stern than akrano and kinda worried, but ultimatly also very loose and bright

Lilliana

16- serious, seemingly colder towards everyone, gets along great with psycho-lops, makes him new eye-patches to pass time, actually just very monotone and blank most of the time, although she does care

19- she doesnt change much, she got a bit more expressive, likes babysitting howl

Psycho-lops

16 1/2- always looks determined, actually kinda scared of conflict, likes to help out with healing though, very proficient in it as well, sounds intimidating while talking about how cute puppies and kittens are

19/20- still the same, is considering studying medicine and medical practices to become a doctor.

Bark

17- bright, incredibly lively, loves to joke around and tease and sometimes bully the others, targets aether primarily, hangs out with his brother most of the time, he can fight for himself but he likes the backup, especcially since he is kinda glass-jawed, being that hes a twig

Bite

17- quiet, intense eyes, always sounds vaugly confused when he speaks, deep voice lol, likes to train, doesnt understand barks need to tease others, likes to read to the children

20- quiet, intense eyes still, more so nervous sounding, slightly paranoid, cluastrophobic and cant stand dusty places, usually in his house or at the docks, doesnt really go anywhere else

Hanelle

17- loud, headstrong, adamant about her opinions, gets along well with bark, she tries alot to be intimidating, not a twig, but not very big, pretty friendly and sociable

!the band of pirates!

Aklea

A few hundreds of years- kinda bored seeming, loves blood, technically cannibal, but not really since he isnt human, to an extent. Despite being fine on the ocean, he gets very car sick very easily. Actually quite nice, very easily triggerd into violence, especcially by something that could be used as a good murder weapon, blood makes him jittery and more lively

Nerone

21- calm, too calm, deals with akleas bullshit wonerfully, he just stands there, blank smile on his face as aklea beats the shit outta someone, unintrested in most anything, likes to draw, but hes a much better pastry chef.

!the shakespears!

Midem(pink boi)

33- lively, loves to work with kids, very creative, likes to make things, mainly art, mainly carvings. Often make little minitures of scenes from midens writing, loves his twin, does anything it takes to fund midens intrests. Very loving to those hes close to

Miden

33- calmer by alot lmao, pretty introverted but he can hold a long conversation without becoming too drained, enjoys writing and making stories, also makes plays for fun, runs off little sleep cuase he stays up so late to write, and gets up early to write.

!gods!

Gideon

9 billion- confused boomer, loves his ‘children’, hates to be hated, always tries to help in anyway he can, despite making them, always curious into what mortals are doing, loves the universe he created and does anything he can to protect it

Merik

7 million- sore loser, does get a little salty, ultimatly bounces back and becomes a very good sport, always will adopt tactics, whatever it takes to win within the rules, keeps most all of his trophies from random feats hes done

Ventus

5 billion - calm, straightforward, tends to disregard others and do things himself, likes to sit on cliffs and watch the ocean

Kyle

Hes been around since 776 bc- very loud, lively, bright, tries his best to educate people on proper form, workout regime i intesne, doesnt allow others to take it, makes custom workout regimes for free, owns a gym, dude bro but hes nice, baby

Horo-sha

Her age technicaly is not accurate, shes like, 2 billion? Since dima was made right after her death. But since her history still lives, ima count it

5 billion but older than ventus- bitter, violent, former god of justice, fucking dead haha, hates mortals, primarily humans

Dima

Also not super accurate, hed only be a few centuries of being an active god before being sealed, but since hes technically, concious and has cognitive function hes counted

3 billion- mean lol, likes blood and gets even more violent when it starts getting messy, ‘new’ god of justice, uh, pretty bad at it like the last one, but worse, will kill over slight misdeameanors, everythings a crime smh

!misc!

Ivan

24- softspoken, from imperial russia, died young, he no longer feels his face is his own, has a mask that he likes better, has the sickness, but since he was human it killed him, can control it post mortem, is strong enough to be seen, but weak enough he can go invisible and go through solid objects.

More ocs will be added when i remember them, or create new ones, characters i dont really have built at all are not included

[ibijau]

Worst engagement AU // on AO3

The war ends, the boys get married, life is good

final chapter of the story y’all!! I am... more than a little emotional TAT Thanks to everyone who followed this story, and reblogged it, and extra special thanks to those people who chatted in the tags because honestly that made my day each time TAT This fic has been a fucking adventure and I wouldn’t have managed without y’all reading it TAT

Nothing has changed. Nie Huaisang is engaged to Lan Xichen, as he already was. He’s in love with Lan Xichen, as he already was. Lan Xichen loves him which… he wasn’t sure of, but he had strong suspicions about that, so it’s not exactly new either.

Everything is still the same.

Everything is different, because Nie Huaisang wakes up to strong arms holding him, to his face pressed against warm skin, to tangled legs, to a dozen proofs that he didn’t dream, that Lan Xichen is still alive, that they are in love, that they’re going to marry not because they were ordered to, but because they want it. Nie Huaisang grins to himself, giddy with happiness after months of bleakness.

When Lan Xichen too wakes up, Nie Huaisang sees his joy mirrored on his fiancé’s face and he has to kiss him once, and twice, and enough times that he starts losing count, his mind empty of anything but the happiness of knowing Lan Xichen is there with him.

They were good last night, both of them too exhausted to do more than fall in bed and quickly drift to sleep as they clung to each other, but that was last night. This morning Nie Huaisang doesn’t see any reason to be so well behaved. It’s not unwelcome anyway. Lan Xichen doesn’t protest or stop him as his kisses grow more insistent, nor when his hands start wandering and caressing in a way they never got to before, exploring the warm skin hidden by Lan Xichen’s inner clothes. Nie Huaisang starts pressing biting kisses down his fiancé’s throat and playing with the hem of his pants, just as a suggestion for Lan Xichen to take or reject.

A knock on the door interrupts what otherwise promised to be the best morning Nie Huaisang ever spent in the Cloud Recesses. Even like this it’s tempting to ignore this unwanted visitor, until they hear Lan Qiren’s voice, threatening to enter if they don’t answer.

Lan Xichen throws an arm over his eyes and sighs deeply, as if this exact moment is the very worst thing he’s ever gone through.

“I’ll be here in a moment, uncle!” he announces as loud as he can without breaking even more rules, before dropping his arm to smile weakly at Nie Huaisang. “I’ll probably be leaving the Cloud Recesses after talking with uncle but… I’ll come back to you as soon as I can.”

Just like that, reality creeps back into Nie Huaisang’s perfect little bubble of happiness. There’s still a war out there. The people he loves are all alive for now, but that can change at any moment.

Nie Huaisang curls up on himself as he sits up, unable to so much as look at Lan Xichen now. All of this could end at any moment, the Wens could return to the Cloud Recesses this very instant and slaughter them like they did to Lotus Piers, or they might catch Lan Xichen alone later and kill him then, or he’ll disappear like Wei Wuxian and never be found, or fall in battle, or…

He feels movement on the mattress as Lan Xichen too sits up, his fiancé’s hands on his, trying to catch his attention, thumbs rubbing circles on his skin. Nie Huaisang refuses to look and wants to tear his hands away. Everything felt so good and perfect earlier, but now…

“Give me a second,” Lan Xichen asks, dropping a careful kiss on his forehead before getting off from the bed.

Instead of getting dressed as Nie Huaisang expects, Lan Xichen walks directly to the door, barefoot and in nothing but his inner clothes. Shocked out of his bout of misery, Nie Huaisang looks up as his fiancé exchanges a few words with Lan Qiren, demanding further delay before coming to talk about whatever he’s needed for. Although Lan Qiren is hidden from his eyes Nie Huaisang can tell he’s not happy about this whole situation, and yet Lan Xichen doesn’t back down. Nie Huaisang can’t quite catch what they’re saying, but he can tell when Lan Xichen wins the argument, closing the door again with a satisfied smile. A little puzzled over what happened, Nie Huaisang tries to leave the bed as well (there’s so much to do, there’s always so much to do) but Lan Xichen stops him with a gesture as he starts searching among the clothes he so carefully folded last night.

“Sit down,” Lan Xichen asks, pulling his xiao from its qiankun bag. “I’ll play for you.”

Nie Huaisang quickly obeys. He doesn’t even need to ask what Lan Xichen intends to play, though he feels embarrassed that his mood was so obvious. His only defence is that nobody has really paid attention to that since he arrived in the Cloud Recesses, and so he’s stopped trying to hide… but Lan Xichen isn’t just anybody, of course he noticed.

“Don’t you have important things to do?” Nie Huaisang mumbles as he gets in a meditative position on the bed.

“This is important too,” Lan Xichen replies without hesitation. “Uncle can wait. And when I talk to him, I’ll tell him that you might need that song played to you. I can’t solve everything that’s wrong in our lives at the moment, A-Sang, but this… this I can do, and I will.”

Even the song doesn’t solve everything, no more than it did the times before. But like before, Nie Huaisang at least finds that his terror and distress are a little less sharp after and when Lan Xichen has to go, Nie Huaisang can kiss him and say goodbye and truly hope that they’ll see each other again soon.

-

It surprises Nie Huaisang a little when Lan Qiren does, in fact, start playing that soothing song for him once a week. He doesn’t think his fiancé’s uncle likes him much, partly due to some of the mischief he got up to as a student, partly because his failure to pass at the end of his first year must be a stain on the teacher’s career. And yet Lan Qiren plays that music for him, simply because Lan Xichen asked him to, and slowly Nie Huaisang finds himself dealing with things a little better.

Away from the Cloud Recesses, the war continues. Nie Huaisang starts paying more attention to that. Most of what reaches him is nothing but gossip of course, but whenever Lan Xichen comes home to discuss the situation with his uncle, Nie Huaisang gets to be there and to find out what’s true. So far, it seems that the wildest rumours are usually the ones closest to the truth. 

Like when Wei Wuxian is found alive, refusing to say where he’s spent the last three months or how he’s suddenly a master in a brand new form of cultivation that he might have invented while he was gone. From what Lan Xichen says, and the letters from Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan he passes on to Nie Huaisang, Wei Wuxian’s new powers are nothing short of terrifying, and this alone should shorten the war. They’re all worried about him though. Jiang Cheng in particular, every time he writes, does that thing of his where he gets angry to avoid showing he’s sad. Something happened to Wei Wuxian, and it has changed him.

Another big rumour is about a new Qinghe Nie disciple named Meng Yao. Nie Huaisang never gets the whole story until after the war, but what he hears during it is this: this young man, this boy really since he’s roughly the same age as Nie Huaisang, somehow rose to become Nie Mingjue’s second-in-command for a few weeks, then was welcomed into Lanling Jin because apparently he’s actually one of Jin Guangshan’s many, many bastards, and Jin Zixuan has decided to help out his half-siblings if he can. Only that backfires when this Meng Yao fellow just murders a Jin commander, right in front of Nie Mingjue, and escapes to maybe join Qishan Wen. Only it later turns out that Meng Yao has gone there with Jin Zixuan’s blessing to be a double agent, one who saves Nie Mingjue’s life when he is captured (although the details of how, exactly, he saves his former employer’s life seem to have provoked some argument between them) and he’s the one who kills Wen Ruohan, ending the war, and…

And so, the war is over. 

The sons of a servant and of a prostitute shorten it by months, by years even perhaps. Wei Wuxian is acclaimed for the victories he’s won on the battlefield. Meng Yao, soon given the courtesy name Jin Ziyao by Jin Zixuan, earns his place in the family in which his father apparently never wanted him to join. From what Nie Huaisang hears, Madam Jin is not particularly happy about this development, but cannot object when Jin Zixuan, Lan Xichen and even Nie Mingjue points out all that Jin Ziyao has done for the Sunshot Campaign.

The war is over. 

It is over, and they won. 

-

Because mourning periods must be observed, it is still another few months before Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen can marry. In the meanwhile Nie Huaisang goes back to the Unclean Realm where there is much work to be done. 

It is odd to be back there, knowing when he leaves it again, it will be for good. Without anyone to play music for him Nie Huaisang falls into occasional bouts of melancolia again, but months of Lan Qiren playing for him seemed to have healed him enough that his mood never really got as bad as it used to, or at least never for long. It also helps that there is so much to do. New territories to be assessed, war prisoners to check on, debt to pay, the wounded to heal, the wedding to prepare…

Then suddenly, Lan Xichen’s mourning is over, and the wedding is there.

Nie Huaisang feels nearly dizzy on his last day in the Unclean Realm, as Nie Mingjue and Nie Zonghui help him pack the last of his possessions. His whole life now lies in a dozen wooden chests. His fans, his paintings, his best robes, all his brushes, his books. It feels so little, and it feels so much. It’s terrifying that everything is about to change, and it is just as scary the intensity with which Nie Huaisang craves that change. He has barely seen Lan Xichen since the end of the war but they’ve written to each other as often as they’ve been able to and it only strengthened Nie Huaisang’s conviction that this is what he wants for his future.

He wants this.

He still spends most of that last night cuddling his brother who is just as emotional about seeing him leave. There might be a few tears spilled, although Nie Mingjue firmly denies it. Nie Huaisang teases him about, because Nie Mingjue thinks he’s so tough now that he’s the oldest leader among the Great Sects and he has a title, but really he’s still as much of a brat as Nie Huaisang himself.

Even if things are good with Lan Xichen, it’s a relief of sorts when Nie Mingjue promises his brother that should things go wrong, he’ll always have his place in the Unclean Realm, that it will always be home, even if he’s making a new one in the Cloud Recesses.

“Even if things go bad because I’m the one messing up?” Nie Huaisang.

“Yes, you brat. It’s an unconditional promise. I don’t think you could mess up badly enough to make him give up on you at this point, though. He’s stupidly in love, which shows even the best education can’t give you taste.”

Nie Huaisang pinches his brother for that remark, which soon turns into a playfight like they haven’t done in years. Nie Huaisang is proud of himself for holding his own pretty well, though he still ends up having to yield.

-

It’s a little weird to walk around with that veil on his face, but the Lan elders insisted that it would be a break of tradition for Nie Huaisang not to have it. Lan Xichen negotiated for it to be a more translucent veil than usual so that they both get to enjoy the ceremony. Initially Nie Huaisang was somewhat indifferent on the matter, but now he’s glad both that he can see what’s around him, and that he doesn’t have to bother about hiding his emotions.

He almost cries when Lan Xichen helped him down the sedan. His fiancé looks amazing in red and gold, it accentuates his jade skin, his ink black hair. Lan Xichen is always handsome but like this he is breathtaking. Nie Huaisang is so distracted that he almost falls on the ground as he gets down from the sedan, only to be rescued in time by Lan Xichen.

“It’s becoming a habit,” Lan Xichen chuckles against his ear as he helps him on his feet.

“I guess I just can’t help falling for you,” Nie Huaisang retorts.

There’s no veil on Lan Xichen’s face to hide the way he blushes, how he looks at Nie Huaisang in wonder, as if even now he can’t quite believe this is real, and… Nie Huaisang’s heart speeds up because he loves him so much, they are getting married, and maybe he’s also having trouble realising it’s all real. He just wants all this stupid ceremonial to be over already so they can take those damn bows and just be together already.

Of course, that’s too much to ask. A sect leader’s marriage is too important an event to be rushed, and the Lans love their traditions too much. There’s a dozen steps to follow before they can go to the ancestral hall to take their bows before their guests, and even when they get there, Lan Qiren has to delay everything by starting a long winded lecture about their duties and what marriage means in Gusu Lan.

Nie Huaisang’s attention starts drifting away about ten words in, and hidden by his veil, he takes the chance to look around at the assembly.

The first face he spots, mostly because he’s so stupidly tall, is Nie Mingjue who looks like he’s trying hard not to cry. Of course to anyone who doesn’t know him that might pass as a scowl, but… Nie Huaisang knows better. His brother can act as stern as he likes, he’s a sap. Jin Ziyao, standing next to Nie Mingjue, has the smile of someone who also knows what his former employer’s expression really means, which makes Nie Huaisang grin. Things are a little tense still between those two, but everyone agrees that with a little more time, they might get back to the good relationship they briefly had during the war, when they worked together.

Not far from these two, Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan are standing together, whispering quietly under Wei Wuxian's suspicious gaze and Jiang Cheng's resigned one. Something happened during the war, which Nie Huaisang is still trying to get the full story for. Some business about soup that Jiang Yanli made for her former fiancé, only for an ambitious servant girl to take the credit. If Jiang Cheng hadn't happened to notice that soup during a visit to Jin Zixuan and explained the truth, things might have gone bad. Instead, Jin Zixuan ended up thanking Jiang Yanli for what he apparently called ‘the best part of his days’ (Jiang Cheng reported this to Nie Huaisang with a grimace) and they started chatting whenever they had time for it. It is now almost certain that these two will resume their engagement when their own mourning is over. 

Wei Wuxian is not happy about that. In fairness, he's not happy about much these days. Jiang Cheng is getting pretty anxious about what happened to his adopted brother while he was gone, as is Lan Wangji. Nie Huaisang hasn't been able to do much on that subject, all the way up in Qinghe, but he's determined to get the truth into the light now that he'll be closer. If nothing else, maybe that soothing song which helped Nie Huaisang will do Wei Wuxian some good as well. He'll start throwing the idea around next month, when he goes to Lotus Piers for that brotherhood oath that Jiang Cheng has demanded to take with Nie Huaisang. 

"A-Sang," Lan Xichen whispers, low enough others shouldn't hear. "Pay attention, it's almost time." 

Hunching his shoulders, Nie Huaisang feels grateful for the veil that hides how he blushes at being caught like this. Lan Xichen doesn't seem upset though, clearly knowing the effect his uncle's lecture can have on others. 

When finally Lan Qiren finishes his drawn out speech, Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen step forward. Lan Xichen undoes the white ribbon on his forehead, and together their tie it around their wrists before taking their three bows. When they stand up for the final time, it's done.

They are married. 

Nie Huaisang’s hands start trembling from the shock of that realisation. He has spent nearly half his life waiting for this moment, either with dread or anticipation, and it's over now. They are married. If he could, if it weren't a breach of tradition and decorum, Nie Huaisang would kiss his husband right now. Lan Xichen looks down at him with such wonder on his face that he knows it wouldn't be unwelcome.

There’s still more stupid ceremonies and traditions to go through before that. Nie Huaisang bears with it as patiently as he can until finally, finally it is time for them to retire from the ceremony and go to their new home. Nie Huaisang doesn’t pay attention to anything on the way there, except for the warm sensation of Lan Xichen’s hand in his and the way his husband can’t stop smiling, how gorgeous he is like that.

When the door closes behind them, when they are alone at last, Nie Huaisang feels so nervous and excited that he’s sure he must be vibrating from it. He wants to tear away that stupid veil and just kiss Lan Xichen already, but through an immense effort of self-control, he doesn’t. 

“Won’t my husband uncover me?” he asks, delighting in the way Lan Xichen blushes at the word, the slight gasp he can’t contain, the way he smiles as if this is the best day of his life, as if nothing in the world could be better than this exact moment.

“If my husband wishes,” Lan Xichen replies, which sends Nie Huaisang’s heart racing and his cheeks burn. 

He’ll have to tell Lan Xichen not to call him that too much, because the embarrassment might kill him. He’ll have to tell him to say the word husband over and over again, because he loves the way it sounds in Lan Xichen’s voice.

Before anything else, Lan Xichen undoes the knot on the ribbon that tie their wrists, gently tying it again on Nie Huaisang’s arm in a gesture that feels almost too intimate. Then, with great care, Lan Xichen takes the hem of Nie Huaisang’s veil and slowly lifts it, revealing his face. Nie Huaisang knows he probably doesn’t look like much at the moment, he’s blushing so much, and his eyes must be red as well from trying not to cry, and he’s grinning like a fool. But Lan Xichen must like what he sees because as soon as the veil is out of the way, he lowers his hands to Nie Huaisang’s cheeks and pulls him into a kiss, as if he cannot wait a second more, as if he too has been biding his time all day.

Nie Huaisang half laughs into the kiss, too giddy to contain himself, and throws his arms around his husband’s neck to keep him close, as close as they can be.

They are married, and Nie Huaisang never thought it was possible to feel so happy.

-

It’s still mostly dark when Nie Huaisang opens his eyes again and half panics because he can’t breathe right. He struggles and kicks until he can free himself, only to hear a discontent grunt and be pulled back into a tight embrace.

As his eyes get used to the meagre light and his brain continues waking up, Nie Huaisang realises where he is and relaxes. This unfamiliar room is his own now. That tight embrace is his husband's, who even in sleep can't seem to let him go. Nie Huaisang chuckles quietly at the idea, wondering if anyone else would ever guess how clingy Lan Xichen, the mighty Zewu-Jun, can be in private.

Clingy doesn't even begin to cut it. Last night was… well, Nie Huaisang has no complaints about that. He used to think that his married life would be a cold one, but that clearly won't be the case. Lan Xichen is, to put it mildly, very enthusiastic about marital activities, and Nie Huaisang can't wait to show him some of his more private books to give him a few ideas on how to use all that enthusiasm. Even just like this though, being together was better than Nie Huaisang expected. Of course his only basis for comparison is that afternoon with Jin Zixuan. It's funny how different last night felt. It was mostly the same acts, but with this much pent up emotion behind them, driven by desire rather than just curiosity… 

So far, married life is pretty good. 

If he could, Nie Huaisang would go back to sleep. It’s awfully early, they’ve had a long day yesterday, and today promises to be longer still, with more celebrations they’ll have to take part in. Sleep, however, eludes him. There’s too much to think about, too much novelty. After trying for a while to close his eyes and wait, Nie Huaisang gives up and decides to just leave the bed.

That’s easier said than done. Lan Xichen really is clingy, and he’s stronger than anyone has any reasonable excuse to be, so it’s a struggle to escape him and not be caught back. Nie Huaisang manages in the end, and makes a mental note to tease his husband about it later.

For now, he dresses up and takes a moment to wander a bit around the house. Their house. He hasn’t had a chance to see it before. It used to be Lan Xichen’s father’s house, and since it was left relatively untouched by the fire, it’s theirs now. 

In his letters, Lan Xichen has somewhat hinted that he isn’t too happy with this state of affairs and would have preferred to live nearly anywhere else in the Cloud Recesses. A sect leader must have a house worthy of his rank though, and the circumstances make it difficult to justify building a new one. Maybe in some years, when everything else has stabilised… until then, they’ll make do with this. Nie Huaisang is intent on decorating this place and leaving his mark everywhere. Lan Xichen, so far, hasn’t explained why it upsets him to have anything in common with his father, but it doesn’t matter. If Lan Xichen is upset, then Nie Huaisang will do his best to distract him from it.

As the night gets lighter, Nie Huaisang quickly explores a few rooms. This one will make a great office for Lan Xichen, that one needs to be tidied but could be used by Nie Huaisang to paint because the light in it must be perfect during the day. Here to see guests, there to welcome family and friends… there are even rooms that could be great for children, when they decide how to deal with that.

Dawn is fast approaching when Nie Huaisang gets to the house’s entrance. He’s tempted to go for a walk, even if technically that’s a break of curfew. Hopefully, being the sect leader’s husband gives him a few special rights.

He only makes it through the door of the Hanshi before he has to stop in his tracks. There, in front of the house, there’s an old tree to which he barely paid attention yesterday when he came in. Now, he can’t take his eyes off of it.

On the branch of that tree hangs a bird-feeder.

Not only that, but there’s a few sparrows enjoying breakfast in the first ray of the sun, chattering between themselves and fighting for the best seeds. It’s nothing much, it’s just sparrows, but Nie Huaisang feels himself grinning at the sight. It’s just sparrows, and wild ones at that, but they’re his birds, his husband’s way of making him feel at home and he could almost cry from how emotional that’s making him.

All thoughts of a walk gone, Nie Huaisang sits on the porch of his home, watching his birds.

Then, because life is good, before very long he hears some ruffling behind him. The sparrows freeze for a second at the noise, a few even flying away, but most quickly go back to their feast as Lan Xichen sits down right behind Nie Huaisang, covering both of them with a blanket before wrapping his arms around his husband’s waist.

“You were gone,” Lan Xichen sleepily mutters, just a hint of reproach as he buries his face in the crook of Nie Huaisang’s neck.

“But you found me. Is it okay to stay here a bit?”

In answer Lan Xichen shrugs and vaguely grumbles, already relaxing against Nie Huaisang’s back, as if he’s already falling asleep again. Nie Huaisang bites his lips not to laugh, not wanting to scare the birds or wake his poor tired husband again. He puts his hands on Lan Xichen’s and leans into the embrace, a wide smile on his lips.

Life is good, and he can’t wait to see what awaits the two of them.

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): First Migration, the Year of Sorrow, the Splitting of the Moon

Hazrat Umar- the Fortieth Muslim

(6th Year of the Prophethood, month of Dhulhijjah / 616)

The joining of Hazrat Hamzah, an incomparable hero, to the ranks of Muslims and the immigration of a group of Muslims to Abyssinia caused the polytheists of Quraysh to become lost in deep thought. A great worry and fear started to consume their lives.

They all had the same decision set in their minds: to solve the matter regarding Abu Talib’s orphan, Muhammad, once and for all.

The Quraysh organized their talks on this matter at Daru’n Nadwa. After their fiery and intense discussions, Abu Jahl’s proposal was accepted: “to annihilate Muhammad’s body.”

Who could dare to attempt such a fearsome murder? A possible vendetta administered by the Sons of Hashim was also a point of matter to be considered.

Some were even making bold promises. For example, Abu Jahl promised, “Whoever kills Muhammad will receive 100 red and black camels, this much gold, this much silver, etc from me.”

Nobody could find the courage to commit this appalling deed. However, there was someone from among them who did; he was tall, had an imposing build, and never bowed before anyone, He came forward and said, “I will do it.”

At one moment, all eyes turned towards this fearless man, who had come forth. They saw that he was Umar, the Son of Hattab. The Qurayshis were confident that Umar was more than capable; thus, they all said, “Yes, only you can do this. Let us see what you can do!” in unison.

Umar was fixed in his decision: he was going to go straight to Darul Arqam, find our Holy Prophet (PBUH), and execute his decision.

After Umar looked around in a furious manner with his eyes that had become bloodshot red, he went directly towards the Kaaba and circumambulated it. Afterwards, he walked towards Darul Arqam with deep feelings of animosity and aggression.

It was very obvious that he was on a mission to fulfill some goal. On his way, he encountered Hazrat Nuaym bin Abdullah, a relative who had become Muslim but concealed his faith. Hazrati Nuaym could not help asking questions when he noticed the apparent change seen in Hazrat Umar’s attitude: “Where are you going, O Umar?”

Hazrat Umar replied without showing any need to conceal his purpose, “I’m going to eliminate Muhammad, the one who has instilled disunity among the Quraysh!”

Hazrat Nuaym went cold all over upon hearing this dreadful decision and looked for ways to dissuade him from this idea. “By God, you are embarking on a very difficult affair. Muhammad’s companions never leave his side for the slightest moment. It is very difficult to find a way. Let us say that you were able to find a way and killed him. Do you think that the Sons of Abd al-Manaf would allow you to roam freely on the face of the Earth?”

Umar looked at his addressee sternly and asked “Or are you on his side as well?”

However, he received an unexpected answer: “O Umar, forget about me; return to your family and community. Your brother-in-law and uncle’s son, Said bin Zayd and his wife, your sister, Fatima, have submitted to Muhammad’s religion. Go and deal with them first!”

Hazrat Umar was bewildered and worried. He did not want to believe what he had heard. In fact, it looked as if he did not even find the need to investigate. However, he could not overcome the doubts that filled him; he changed his mind halfway down the road and went straight towards his sister’s home.

In the meantime, the altruistic Companion, Habbab bin Arat, was reciting the chapter Taha, which had just been revealed, to Hazrat Said and Hazrat Fatima.

Hazrart Umar heard this sounds when he neared his sister’s home. He furiously knocked on the door once or twice. When no one opened the door, he pushed against the door with his shoulder and rushed into the house with rage.

Hazrat Fatima had understood that the one furiously knocking on her door was her brother Umar; thus, she put away the pages of the Quran while Hazrat Habbab hid in a corner.

Hazrat Umar asked in a tone filled with much displeasure, “What was it that you were reading?”

When his brother-in-law replied with nervousness and worry, “It was nothing, we were just talking among ourselves”, Hazrat Umar’s anger and rage increased thoroughly. He held his brother-in-law, who innocently stood there, by his neck and said, “So that means what I have heard is true; you also converted to Muhammad’s religion, didn’t you?” as he hurled him to the ground. Hazrat Fatima attempted to save her husband. She also found herself on the ground after receiving a harsh punch. Hazrat Fatima understood that there was no point in concealing her faith any longer. She rose to her foot and shouted, “Do whatever you can, Umar! My husband and I are now Muslims. We have testified to Allah and His Messenger (PBUH).” She followed by reciting the Kalima  ash-Shahada, the affirmation of faith, and the room instantly rang with the magnificence of this oath.

It was an exemplary and heartbreaking sight. How could someone cruelly hit his sister and leave her drenched in blood for saying, “My Lord is Allah”? What hardened heart would not soften and what conscience would not come to reason in the sight of a person who continues shouting her cause despite being in a welter of blood?

Umar was suddenly taken aback. He felt as if his heart was fluctuating. He could not stand on his feet any longer; thus, he sat down. After thinking deeply for some time, he said, “Bring me what you were reading so that I can see what Muhammad says.”

At first, Hazrat Fatima was hesitant. She was afraid that her brother would attempt to defame the pages of the Holy Quran. However, Umar ceased her worries by saying, “Do not be afraid.”

Yet, she could only give the pages of the Quran to those who were purified and because Umar was still an adherent of polytheism, he was not considered to be spiritually clean.

Therefore, Hazrat Fatima said, “My Brother, you are not considered to be clean because you are an adherent of a faith that associates partners to Allah. Only those who are clean can touch it. Rise and wash yourself.”

Hazrat Umar rose and bathed himself by performing a full ablution (ghsul) over his body. Upon this, Hazrat Fatima took the pages of the Quran with the utmost respect and handed them to him.

Hazrat Umar was a scribe; therefore, he knew how to read and write (not many people during his time had these skills.) He began reading the page he held in his hands from the beginning to its end:

“Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Qur'ân unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress, But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allâh). A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the heavens on high.” 

Hazrat Umar both read and reflected upon these verses. He was baffled in the face of the timeless and literary eloquence of the Holy Quran. It was as if he was not the same Umar, who had firmly grasped the handle of his sword, intending to kill our Holy Prophet (PBUH). The insensitivity in his heart and the anger seen on his face had both disappeared. His eyes that had been bloodshot were now gleaming with light. His inner being was smiling along with his face. When he read the verse, ” "Verily I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve thou Me, (only) and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise” of the chapter, he shouted: “This is such a beautiful, honorable, and sublime remark! No remark can be sweeter and more beautiful than this!”

This expression was proof that his heart had attained both guidance and luminance.

Hazrat Habbab, who had heard Hazrat Umar’s words, came out from his hiding spot and said, “Glad tidings, O Umar. I hope the prayer that Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) made on your behalf will come true. Last night he prayed, “My Lord, strengthen Islam through either Abu’l-Hakam bin Hisham (Abu Jahl) or Umar bin Hattab.”

Umar bin Hattab and Abu’l-Hakem Amr bin Hisham (Abu Jahl): One of them (Abu Jahl) had proposed for the Master of the Universe (PBUH) to be murdered since that would have been the only way through which the Islamic cause could be hindered, whereas the other, Hazrat Umar, had accepted this proposal and rose to carry out this decision.

The negative perceptions that Hazrat Umar had previously held about Islam and our Holy Prophet (PBUH) had now completely shifted. He wanted to go to our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) presence and feel the warm embrace of his light as soon as possible. He asked, “Where is Allah’s Apostle?”

When he learned that our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was at Darul-Arqam, the outskirts of Mount Safa, he immediately set off on his way with Hazrat Habbab.

A watchman informed our Holy Prophet (PBUH) that Hazrat Umar had come with a sword on his waist. An air of worry and nervousness beset upon everyone with the exception of Hazrat Hamza. This great Islamic hero grasped his sword and said, “Let him come. What is there to be scared of? If he has come with good intentions, then we will welcome him with benevolence. If he has come with bad intentions, then we will dispose of him with his own sword.”

Smiles appeared on the Master of the Universe’s (PBUH) face as he watched the scene before him. He had received news that Umar’s heart had been embraced by the light of guidance. Without getting worried or nervous at all, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is nothing to be worried about, let him come. If Allah desires beneficence for him, then He will deliver him in the right direction.”

The door opened upon this command. Umar, who was waiting in front of that door, entered with his imposing appearance and weapon. There was not a trace of anger that could be seen on his face; instead, his face radiated with a glisten of love. His eyes were searching for the light of both truth and reality. At one moment, he came eye-to-eye with our Holy Prophet (PBUH). It was as if he was going to pass out in the face of our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) grandeur. He forgot about everything. Our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) light-filled glances had deeply grasped Hazrat Umar under their influence.

After they looked at one another for some time, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) disrupted Hazrat Umar’s air of nervousness, silence, and worry by asking, “Why did you come, O Hattab’s Son, Umar?” Afterwards, he extended his hand and held his sword by its handle and prayed, “O My Lord, this is Hattab’s Son, Umar. My Lord, strengthen the religion of Islam with Umar, Son of Hattab (Umar bin Hattab).

Hazrat Umar’s soul had given rein to the Sun of Guidance. He answered our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) question by saying, “I have come to testify to Allah and His Apostle and what he has brought.” Afterwards, he recited the Kalima  ash-Shahada, the oath of faith, and became a Muslim. 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions were immensely happy. In unison, they all recited the Takbir loudly: Allahu Akbar… Allahu Akbar! (Allah is Great, Allah is Great!)

These sounds of Takbir that were heard on the streets of Mecca rang in the horizon and from there, rose to the skies as waves filled with light.

Hazrat Umar had become a Muslim, in fact, he became the 40th Muslim. From thereon, his bravery, courage, and strength were no longer in the way of disbelief. He was going to exercise these qualities for the sake of Islam. Umar, who had run forth to kill our Holy Prophet (PBUH) upon the decision of the polytheists, was now like a fan circulating around him. Now that Hazrat Umar had a perpetual power, which resulted from having faith, added to his valor, he would challenge and intimidate the polytheists from thereon. By receiving light and illumination through our Holy Prophet (PBUH), he would be known by the title, “Umar, the Just” in the world history.

Entering Masjid-al-Haram in Ranks

Hazrat Umar, whose real source of courage resided in his faith, could no longer stay put in his place. He asked our Holy Prophet (PBUH), “O Allah’s Apostle, whether we die or live, are we not in the true religion? When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Yes, I swear by Allah in whose hand is my soul that you are”, Umar said, “In that case, why do we continue to conceal out faith? I swear by Allah Who has sent you with the religion of truth that I will bravely go to every assembly of polytheism and announce Islam without fear and hesitation.”

Upon this, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) set towards the Kaaba from Daru’l-Arqam, with Hazrat Umar on his right, Hazrat Hamza on his left, and the other companions (sahaba) following them from behind.  They entered the Masjid al-Haram with dignified steps.

The polytheists, who were expecting our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) head, were surprised when they saw this sight. They were looking at Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Hamza with scared and nervous glances. They were able to gather their courage and ask, “O Umar, what is behind you? What did you come with?”

Hazrat Umar replied, “I came with La ilaha illalah Muhammadur Rasullulah. Nobody should move from his place or else I will cut his neck.”

The polytheists became silent. It was as if their tongues were tied.

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) circumambulated the Kaaba and prayed freely. The Muslims were also able to pray openly.

Hazrat Umar said,

“It was then that Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) gave me the name, “Faruq” for separating truth and falsehood.” 

Hazrat Hamza’s conversion to Islam followed by Hazrat Umar’s ensured Islam’s development, enabled Muslims to worship freely, and saved Muslims from the constraints imposed by the polytheists. In this regard, Hazrat Umar’s joining of ranks with the Muslims held an important place in Islamic history.  One of the companions, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud made note of this importance, “When Umar became a Muslim, it was a conquest for Islam, an honor as well as a glory for the Muslims, His migration to Makkah was a victory, and his Caliphate was a mercy. Until Umar became a Muslim, we could not openly pray in the Kaaba’s courtyard.”

[erisfiles]

Chapter 5

IG - @kingsbtsffs / Tumblr - @prince13jimin-kingsbtsffs

The Emperor

characters : “The 7 Dragons” Emperors; Min Yoongi, Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Jeon Jungkook. Ahn Y/n. Bang Hyunsik. Soo Jaemin

cameos : Prince Park Jihyun (Emperor Jimin’s younger brother) , Jeon Junghyun (Emperor Jungkook’s older brother, the general of his military, Jung Jiwoo (Emperor Hoseok’s older sister, his advisor), and Cha Eunwoo (a soldier of the Kim’s empire)

word count : 4.2k

Warnings for this chapter : none

genre : fluff, angst, smut, action, emperor au

Author’s note: If the whole section is italicized, it is a flashback. FLASHBACK WILL BE INDICATED WHEN IT STARTS AND WHEN IT ENDS.

I know I mostly write in 3rd POV, and I am sorry for that. I feel I write in 3rd POV better compared to 1st and 2nd but I will try for you guys!

DO NOT PLAGIARIZE/STEAL OR YOU WILL BE REPORTED.

Disclaimer :

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

If the whole section is italicized, it is a flashback. FLASHBACK WILL BE INDICATED WHEN IT STARTS AND WHEN IT ENDS WHEN SECTRION IS SPLIT AND IN ITALICS

Chapter 5

3RD POV

“So Y/N, what is exactly your job again?” Taehyung noisily munched on his food, wide eyed, body turned to her as he waited for her answer. Within the past few hours, all of them had become friends with the quiet girl. Y/N was in her own world, not hearing Taehyung’s question. Her quiet self had worried Namjoon mostly as he knew she was never one to be quiet on any occasion. Namjoon looked at her, looking down while playing with her fingers, looking as if she was in deep thought. Namjoon nudged her lightly, catching her by surprise. She looked at him, his eyes saddening seeing her eyes look lifeless.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah!” Y/N noticed how she sounded too enthusiastic, her tone of voice and outburst had caught everyone’s attention, all pairs of eyes in the room staring right at her, even the one that had a cold expression on their face. Noticing, she quickly looked down on her bottom lip quivering, her eyes watering. “Yeah, I’m as good as I can be. Now, if you excuse me I will be going off to bed.” She stood up fast, the chair scraping against the wooden floor, the sound like that of nails on a chalkboard making everyone wince. Jimin looked at her in worry as she passed by him with her head hung low, ignoring his stare.

Namjoon noticed the pained expression Jimin had worn on his face when Y/N had ignored him, quickly masking his feelings. Namjoon looked at your retreating figure wondering what had happened between you and Jimin as he thought you and him have only met today. Tehyung looked at his best friend quietly eating, turning his attention to Namjoon who was still staring at him. Seokjin had noticed the quietness of the room making the atmosphere more awkward. Yoongi smirked, not going unnoticed by the others. Namjoon raised his eyebrows looking at the older, he leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. “What’s with the smirk, Yoongi hyung?”

Yoongi looked at him, smiling lightly, “Nothing, Namjoon. I believe that the plans I am thinking of for my empire does not concern you.” Namjoon stood up from his seat, slamming his hands on the table, looking at the man in front of him, veins popping out of his forehead and his neck. “It does concern me if it pertains to my sister.” Yoongi stood up, catching Seokjin’s attention, “Enough the two of you.” Yoongi looked at Seokjin with cold eyes, slightly invoking fear in him. “No, Seokjin hyung. It is not enough. However, I have had enough of this bastards attitude.”

Namjoon walked around the table towards the irritated man, “What the hell did you call me?” Yoongi was suddenly lifted up by his collar catching him by surprise, gripping Namjoon’s wrist but nonetheless wore a fce with no expression. “I said ENOUGH!” Seokin raised his voice, going to the two men looking at each other intensively. The rest of the men in the room are also standing up, ready to break up the two men from a fight that may end in chaos.

A sudden giggle left Namjoon’s lips confusing Hoseok. “Dude! You are totally going insane. Does being a general mess up your head?” He walked up to Namjoon who was still giggling, soon throwing his head back and laughing loudly. Taehyung looked at his older brother like he was crazy, turning to Yoongi as he heard him giggling as well, everyone in here is going crazy, he thought. Seokjin then started laughing as well, confusing Hoseok and Jimin even more. “Imagine ME actually being that mad?” Namjoon, Yoongi, and Seokjin laughed like crazy men, falling on the floor and clutching their stomachs.

“You guys are crazy…” Jungkook was the only one sitting on the dining table, munching on his food, not that bothered by the childish behavior his friends were showing. Yoongi caught his breath looking at Jimin, getting up from the floor after laughing, “Don’t worry we were kidding around. No need to get shaked up and afraid, Emperor Jimin. After all, I'm pretty sure you’re not afraid of doing anything, or should I say anyone?” Yoongi snickered, looking at the slightly shorter man getting irritated, rolling his eyes in the process. Taehyung looked around the dining room, noticing the guards inside. He snapped his fingers loud enough for them to turn their undivided attention to them, Taehyung signalling for them to go out, going unnoticed by the six other emperors.

“Namjoon hyung, why did you call Y/N our sister? Doesn’t she just work for us? Plus, mom has never mentioned a sister.”

Jimin looked at Namjoon, who happened to look nervous, biting his lip as a habit of lying. Yoongi looked at Seokjin, who was also very hesitant in answering for Namjoon. Namjoon took a deep breath, closing his eyes, attempting to calm down his beating heart. went out of the dining room, going towards his new lieutenant and advisor, Wang. “Make sure Y/N is in her chambers and that she will not go out. We will be discussing important matters that she is not allowed to know. “But Sir, Y/N-” Namjoon cut off Wang with a stern look, “That’s an order, Wang.” The latter had nodded his head in response to the order given, no longer wanting to anger him. Namjoon walked back in the dining room, preparing himself from the chaos that is about to occur. What he did not see was Wang looking at his every move, smirking, knowing this was the perfect opportunity to carry out his plan

---------------------------------------—————————————

“Yes.”

“So you’re saying I checked out my sister?! That’s practically incest! Oh my gosh! Jimin, I have commited a sin!” Jimin rolled his eyes, just finding out his best friend had been checking out his lover. Taehyung leaned on his best friend’s shoulder sobbing, rather dramatically. Namjoon smacked his forehead, not believing how stupid his younger brother can be. The rest of the members were listening to his explanation for the past 30 minutes. “Taehyung...Father had another consort. Y/N was not announced as one of the royals because her mother had failed to give our father a prince. Father had thought she was a boy before she was born, I remember him being ecstatic, at least that’s what the maids had told me before. Grandfather had told father to kill Y/N’s mother, his true lover. He didn’t do it, Grandfather did. Her parents now aren’t her real parents. Her “mom” and “dad” is actually her aunt and her uncle. But, yes, she is our half sister.”

“This…” Namjoon raised his right wrist up, showing the red bracelet that he had worn since he was a child. “...is our family emblem, Taehyung. We’ve never noticed. Father has been telling us the whole time that she was our sister. Don’t you remember?” Taehyung opened his mouth in shock, he felt his eyes build up tears at the sudden realization. “No, you’re lying. Father and Mother have never mentioned a sister. Both of you told me that it was just us three ever since I can remember. Only for you two, even father, to lie to me my whole life?!” Seokjin took a deep breath, looking at Taehyung with saddened eyes. “Taehyung…” Taehyung stood up, violently shaking his head left and right, refusing to believe that this was reality. “Both of you!” Taehyung’s booming voice made everyone in the room flinch. “Both of you knew how much I wanted a sister! And you go and hide that from me for 22 years!”

“Taehyung! That’s enough!”

------------------------------————————————————————-

FLASHBACK

“Namjoon, come over here, son. Let’s go and take a walk.” The 6 year old had gone to his father just like he was asked, his fast eyes immediately seeing the black box his father was carrying. “What is that, dad?” The elder looked down at his son, smiling in the process looking at his eyes that were written with curiosity. “This is a gift for you and...your siblings.” Namjoon smiled brightly, his eyes turning into crescents, making his father smile in adoration.

The young emperor guided his son to the pagoda, the cherry blossom petals falling from the trees and dancing in the wind. “Father, look! It is so beautiful.” He looked just like his son had told him to. He nodded his head, agreeing with Namjoon, eyes suddenly glistening, the first tear dropping from his left eye. The emperor flinched the slightest, feeling small hands wie away his tears, leaning into his son’s comforting touch.

“Father, they said if the first tear falls out of the left eyes, it is because of pain. Did something happen?”

“My dear son, why don’t you just become a philosopher? You are too intelligent to just become an emperor.”

Namjoon looked up at his father in confusion, “But father, in order to make you proud I have to follow in your footsteps. Seokjin hyung, Taehyung, and I will reign the empire. Just like you.” His dad chuckled, tears stinging his eyes, closing his eyes, “Son, no matter what you do, I will always be a proud father of yours.” Namjjom frowned at his father who still avoided his question.

“Father, what made you upset? Don’t avoid my question.”

The emperor chuckled at his intelligent son, butterfly smiling, “Just...I just thought of someone. Don’t worry too much.” He stood up from his crouching position and walked to the railings of the pagoda, overlooking the small lake. Namjoon walked to his father, making grabby sounds. His father complying and picking him up, sitting him on the railing. His dad took the box, opening it in front of his son, revealing 4 red bracelets. Namjoon took one of them, giggling happily, liking the red bracelet. “Father? Why is there 4 when there's only three of us? Is one for you?” The latter shook his head, his tears blurring his vision yet once again.

“Uh...no. I want you to give the extra one to your best friend, and no I don’t mean one of your brothers.” Namjoon looked at him smiling, suddenly hugging his dad tightly, even though he couldn’t wrap his short arms fully around him. “Thank you, dad!” The emperor hugged his son back, kissing the top of his prince’s head. “So you do know the girl from the forest!” He smiled nodding, “Yes, I do know her. Fairly well, actually, son.” Namjoon tilted his head in confusion again because of his father. “How?” He ignored his son’s question, distracting him by pulling him to his chest again. “Have you ever loved someone without meeting them?” The emperor shook his head, knowing his son wouldn’t understand. He couldn’t tell his son that he knew his best friend from the forest. He knew her because he loves that girl’s mother.

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

Emperor Joseon, the present emperor of the Kim empire, walked about half a mile behind his sons. One guard had told him that his son, Namjoon, had saved this girl from getting hurt by a grizzly bear but also saved the bear from getting harmed. He had wanted to see who this girl was considering his two sons had been “sneaking off” during their free time. His youngest son Taehyung had stayed at home with his mother, forbidden to go out until he turned a certain age. Joseon chuckled, remembering the grabby hands Taehyung was motioning to his dad, wanting to go with him as he has never been outside the palace.

Joseon was on his horse, the rest of his men also on horses on the way to the forest. “Emperor Joseon, we are almost in the forest. We have to go to a different entrance so the princes will not see us. The guards with them are aware that we are coming so they do not have to be aware of danger. Joseon nodded, moving his horses’ reins to make him gallop. In his satchel was the box he had shown Namjoon before, one red bracelet left...for his daughter.

Once making it in the forest, he hid behind the trees, a few feet behind his three children. He smiled seeing his two eldest sons bonding with their sister, later frowning realizing that they don’t know that she is their sister. He sat there for 3 hours, the usual hours of how long they hung out, the emperor sat there on the ground, not afraid to get his silk hanbok dirty.

Seeing the sunset, he got off the ground knowing that the time has come for them to separate, the time for him to finally meet his daughter. He signalled his men, stripping from his royal clothes to his “citizen” clothes. He took a deep breath, feeling his nervousness, his fingers tapped on his thighs, tapping his foot impatiently on the ground, bracelet in hand.

He saw his lieutenant give a signal that the kids were going to separate ways. Joseon saw Y/N making her way back in the woods, following along the path that leads back to her home. Since the sun was still setting, the forest was illuminated in oranges and yellows by the sun, the trees with red, yellow, and orange leaves looking heavenly. He did not want to scare his daughter so he knew he had to pretend as another citizen just taking a stroll in the woods who just so happened to bump into her.

Y/N started her journey on the way home, feeling happy as she saw her best friends today. She walked along the worn out path she had always taken since she could remember. She smiled, her pace getting faster remembering her mom had said that she was going to cook her favorite food today once she got home from the market. Y/N was in relief remembering her parents did not come back from the market about an hour after she arrived.

She saw a figure moving from her peripheral vision, she was confused as she does not remember anyone else knowing this side of the forest but herself. She looked at the man who happened to look about the same age as her father. “아저씨!” Y/N smiled when she caught the attention of the stranger, she remembered how her father had told her to help strangers if they looked like they had any help, the man didn’t look dangerous at all. If anything, she can just use self-defense.

The stranger looked at her with a gentle smile on his face. “Hey! I am not a middle-aged man though.”

Y/N POV

The old man walked closer to me, bending down to my height. “Do you need help?” I have never seen this stranger in the town before, I usually know everyone in town. Maybe he is new! “Hey,아저씨! Are you new in town? I don’t remember ever seeing you, I know everyone in town.” The man in front of me smiled, nodding his head. “What is your name?” I shook my head, letting the stranger know I was not going to let him know my name, only help him. He nodded his head in return, his lips in a thin line. “My name is Jo-...Seonjoon. You can call me Seonjoon.” I nodded my head, putting my hand in front of me for him to shake it. “It is nice to meet you…,아저씨.” He chuckled, shaking my hand, “I understand if you won’t tell me your name, after all, I am a stranger.”

“Hey, I have a deal for you, since I do need help.” I nodded my head without really thinking for any possible consequences, he reminded me of my dad. “I will give you this bracelet,” He held up a red bracelet with a gold cylinder in front of my face, “If you get me out of this forest...I kind of got lost after wandering around. You seem like you know your way around here.” I giggled at him “You do not know a lot of things. That makes you an 아저씨.” He scratched his chin, acting as if he had a beard made me giggle. “Hmm, I guess you’re right...You remind me of your mum.” I widened my eyes, “You know my mum!” Joseon nodded, feeling slightly nervous as he blurted out a secret. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go! Mum should be ecstatic to see you!”

3RD POV

Joseon looked down at his daughter, his hand engulfing her small ones, dragging him out of the forest and to the direction of her house. He smiled as he remembered walking in these woods with Y/N’s mother when they were kids. Sooyoung, the love of his life. They had met each other even though they lived in two different worlds. Her as a town citizen and him as the young prince of the Kim Empire. He remembers her shocked face when he had told her who he was as it is rare for royals to visit the towns of the Empire, their citizens often not knowing how they look until the day they bow down to their portraits when they pass away.

They tread along the worn out path, the moon soon appearing in the clear night sky. Many townspeople had looked at Joseon with interest and confusion as they had never seen him before. “Young man, you are very handsome. You can be a king with your good look.s.” Y/N giggled as an old woman randomly approached her new friend just to compliment him. “He is! He reminds me of my dad. Doesn’t he?” The fairly old woman smiled at her and stroked her head.

Joseon and Y/N walked to her house, noticing the light from the burning candles illuminating the interior of the house, she ran into her house, tugging along Joseon. “Wait, don’t you think you should tell your parents-” Y/N let go of his hand running to her “father” hugging his feet. “Y/N! Where have you been?” Hansol crouched down to Y/N’s height, grabbing her shoulders, pulling her in towards his chest, hugging her tightly. He kissed her head, in relief that she was in fact safe. He pulled away from her, “Your mother and I-” His eyes had diverted to the man standing before him.

“형…”

Joseon looked at his younger brother, his mouth hung open, shocked at the sight in front of him.

“Hansol...you’re alive, but, how? Grandpa...Grandpa killed you. You died in front of my eyes.”

Hansol engulfed his older brother in a hug, squeezing him tight. They pat each other in the back, crying, not afraid to show their tears to one another. “I-it’s been so long. It’s been 6 years.” Hansol was smiling at Joseon, his smile slowly disappearing from his face. “You need to tell Y/N. You already met her. You should tell her that you-”

“No.” Hansol’s enthusiasm completely disappeared. He looked at Y/N who was at the kitchen, busy eating the food her mom had made her, too busy to notice the conversation between Hansol and Joseon. He turned to look back at his brother, confused as to what he meant. “I can’t, Hansol. You raised her for 6 years. She...she will not believe me if I told her that I am her real father. I just wanted to see if she was actually alive.” Hansolo signaled him to sit down on the floor, in front of him, their voices low in order for Y/N to not hear. “Namjoon had told me he met a girl named Y/N in the forest. Y/N...Y/N was the name Chaeyoung chose for our daughter. I...I was desperate to know if she was alive. So, I went to see myself a month after she met Namjoon.” Joseon looked at Hansol, nervous under his brother’s stare, not knowing why he was feeling this way. Perhaps it was guilt. “Why did you seek out to look for her if you weren’t even going to tell her that you’re her father.” Hansol looked at his brother, seething in anger, feeling betrayed, feeling upset, he loves Y/N with his whole heart, but he doesn’t think he can keep on living a lie.

“Hansol, please. She already loves you as her own Father. I’m just glad I know she’s alive. She knows who I am, even if she doesn’t know me as her father. That’s all that matters.”

Hansol looked at his brother, guilt in his eyes that he had hid his daughter from him for so long, he is surprised that Joseon is not angered by his actions. “형, I am so sorry. I should’ve let you know that Y/N was alive. I should’ve gone to the palace to inform you.” The latter shook his head, smiling at him. “You would’ve gotten killed...again. You protected her and raised her. Even if I am your brother, you did not have to raise her on your own, yet you chose to. You raised your niece like your own daughter, I can’t thank you enough.”

Silence fell upon the two brothers, the cracking of the firewood and the wind outside were the only things to be heard. “I know..” Joseon looked up at Hansol in confusion as to what he meant by his statement.

“I know that’s not the only reason why you won’t tell her the truth...because you didn’t know the truth.”

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

“Here. I won’t be back for a while. Since it was a deal, here is your prize.” Joseon looked at Y/N in awe. He looked up at the night sky to prevent his tears from falling. “You’re going to visit more often right, uncle!” He felt a pang in his heart as he heard her call him uncle, she had thought that Josoen was her father’s brother. He closed his eyes, feeling his eyebrows furrow as he knows this will be the last time he sees his beautiful daughter. He hugged her, catching the little girl by surprise but nonetheless she hugged him back, grateful for the new friend she had made today. She was for sure going to tell Joon. “Do you promise to remember me?”

“But why do I need to remember you when you’ll visit me everyday?” Y/N pouted looking up at her “uncle.”

“I want you to think of me, by this bracelet. Do you know what the color red means?”

The little girl shook her head, not knowing that colors had their own meanings, she thought that the color itself defined beauty and boldness.

“This will ward off any evil spirits and bad luck. This capsule is in the color, gold, it has hues of yellow. Yellow or gold signifies nobility, dignity, and holiness.”

“But...only the royals get to wear gold.”

Joseon cupped Y/N’s face lovingly, “You are a royal to me. But don’t ever forget about me, okay? Uncle Seonjoon, will always be here. I will always come back.” Joseon pointed at his little daughter’s heart, smiling as he tried to prevent tears from coming down his eyes. He took a deep breath knowing very well that this was the last time he would see her, seeing his daughter’s face reminded him of Chaeyoung. He couldn’t bear the heartbreak anymore and the danger he will put Y/N into again, and that's why he has to stay away. Forever.

“Don’t worry uncle, I won't ever forget you.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise, but you have to take me to the moon when i come back, okay?”

“I promise.”

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

Joseon arrived at the palace, the sun rising early in the morning. He remembered his daughter’s peaceful, tiny sleeping figure, kissing her head. He remembers hugging her sleeping figure before he left, wishing he was In Hansol’s shoes. He remembered being careful not to wake her up, whispering to her, “See you later.”

Joseon sighed as he knew he was back to reality.

“Where have you been?! You never went home. Your son has been looking for you all night!” Joseon sighed once again upon entering the palace hearing his consort yell, carrying his youngest son, Taehyung, making grabby hands at him. Taking him away from the woman he hated the most, he glared at her. “Don’t you ever think you can act like the mother of my children. You didn’t give birth to them. I know your dirty fucking secret. Considering you were so desperate to get rid of them when they were born because you wanted the throne all to yourself, it all made sense in the end on what my grandmother had told me. Don’t even think that I won’t hesitate to have you beheaded if you try anything suspicious...because I’m always watching.”

Taehyung looked at his father then at his mother. “Choose, baby. Your loving mother? Or your self-centered dad. Pick who you would want to stay with forever.” The little boy did not fully understand the question but did not hesitate to answer. “I want daddy. You hurt me, you’re not my mommy. You hurt me badly along with Namjoon 형, and Seokjin 형. You’re nothing like mommy Chaeyoung.” Joseon pursed his lips, grabbing his son and pulling him behind him.

“Why you little-mommy Chaeyoung doesn’t exist! She’s dead! That makes me your mother!”

“You put your hands on my son?!” Joseon signalled General Cha and his palace guards to come forward and take Taehyung away to his chambers. “Make sure this woman goes to the dungeon and nobody better treat her like royalty. If I catch you doing the opposite of what I am saying, you can find yourself being beheaded in the early mornings or live your life in a cell forever.She is no longer a part of this royal family. I want her portraits out of the palace. I want every family portrait in this whole palace to be taken down and redrawn without her in it.”

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

“Do not reveal it. Do not tell anyone...even her. Do it when the time is right.” Joseon layed down on his bed, he held Namjoon’s hand, Namjoon’s hands gripping his father’s son back. Namjoon looked at his father’s weakened state, tears welling up in his eyes. His two brothers were outside having had their last time with their dad already. Namjoon was last as was requested by the Emperor.

“But dad, when will the time be right?” Namjoon sighed not knowing what to do without his father once he leaves the world. This situation was something he could not fathom, nor his brothers. Everyone in the palace was in despair as the young emperor of the Kim Empire was on his deathbed. The “7 Dragons” were there too paying their respects to not only a good ally of thiers but also a good friend. All of them, including their consorts, in tears in the hallway.

“Either she finds out herself, or you decide when the time is right. Make me proud, son. Follow your heart. You always make great decisions in life. But you have to understand that this is inevitable.” Namjoon nodded his head in understanding his father’s words because what he said was true, it was something inevitable.

“Y/N is your only sister Namjoon...you have to take care of her for me.”

“Sister?” Both Joseon and Namjoon turned his head towards the door. There stood Seokjin, his mouth hung open and eyes wide as he peeks his head through the door. “Yes, Seokjin. It is not your brother’s fault that you don’t know, I had made him promise to me that he won’t tell you.” Seokjin went in the room, closing the door behind him just nodding in response, not even mad towards his younger brother with the secret that has been revealed, still in shock with his father’s current situation.

“Don’t forget that the only people who can wear those bracelets are the Kim siblings...Namjoon, do me a favor.”

“Yes, dad. Anything.”

“Take her to the moon for me.”

FLASHBACK END

-------------------------———————————————————-

“You knew, Seokjin 형. Didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry-”

“I never knew why father hated me, but you two knew! And you never told me! I suffered, I suffered so much! And you two knew the reason why! I always asked myself why I was so unworthy of being loved by my own dad. And now I know why father hated me his whole life. Now I know why...I was the reason why Y/N’s mom got killed. I killed Y/N’s mother. I killed my sister’s mother.”

“Dad never hated you, Taehyung. He had his reasons but I can’t tell you I’m sorry. But trust me, dad had always loved you and was always proud of you. Mom was the tyrant, Taehyung, she was willing to kill us to have the throne to herself.”

“Y/N will understand once we explain. You are still her brother, Taehyung. We will be there for the both of you. Like how siblings should be.”

“What?”

Everyone in the dining room turned towards the door, Y/N stood before them in disbelief, in confusion, in pain, tears threatening to fall from her eyes, with her balled fist to her sides.

Staring at her supposed “siblings.”

-------—————————————————

Namjoon walked closer to his destination, soaked by the rain. He crouched down looking at the grave stone in front of him, caressing it, feeling his tears well up he shuts his eyes, putting his head down. Feeling ashamed upon faking his father.

“I told them mom’s real intentions at the wrong time.

I have failed you, dad.

But what did you mean back then?”

———————————————————————————

FLASHBACK

Joseon look at him, barely being able to keep his eyes open, feeling extremely weak.

“She’s not your half sister, Namjoon. She’s your...” Namjoon who kept his head down furrowed his eyebrows, confused as to why he stopped talking. He looked up only to see his dad with his eyes closed still holding his hand but no long breathing

“She’s my what, dad...”

Namjoon cried, screamed, kicked around in the room, Seokjin trying to calm him down

“I never got to promise to him to take her to the moon.”

[bunchofbooks]

It’s Time for Kyrsten’s Opinion: Flowers in the Attic Review Edition

Flowers in the Attic is the first book in the Dollanganger series but VC Andrews. It follows the Dollanganger family; the four children, Chris, Cathy, Carrie, Cory and their mother, Corrine. They were a perfect family, until their father is suddenly killed in a car accident on the way home from work one evening. The four children must stay hidden in the attic of their estranged grandparent’s estate for the sake of inheritance. Their mother assures them this is only temporary - one night at most; but the days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. And the months turned into years with no glimmer of escape. 

While this book was a really enjoyable read it was also a really heavy read. Under the cut I have posted a spoiler free review of the book, with my thoughts and opinions including content warnings.

Before I even start getting into the review I wanted to jump right into the content warning. A quick sidebar, I first heard about VC Andrews through the podcast, My Favorite Murder. The women who host it were talking about reading this book in middle school and high school, I thought that it can’t be too bad if they read it when they were that young. The woman who was ringing me up at the store when I bought it also said she read it when she was in middle school and said it was intense, but that she was a baby so it probably wasn’t that bad. I just want to know WHERE WERE THEIR PARENTS?!?! This book needs a lot of content warnings and I’m hoping that I cover all of them here even if I don’t get into all of them in the review. Content warning for: death of a parent, abuse / neglect, self - mutilation, incest (holy incest Batman), suicidal thoughts, victim blaming, and death of a child. 

The estranged grandmother is a vile woman who is abusive and neglectful of her grandchildren. She dangles the threat over the children and Corrine that all she has to do is tell one of their maids that Corrine has 4 children from her marriage and they can kiss that inheritance goodbye. The neglect seems obvious, these kids are locked in an attic 24/7, in the dead of summer and on the coldest nights during the winter, but she also at points is angry with the children and refuses to bring them food because they broke one of her many rules. One part in particular that sticks out to me is when she tells Cathy she can either cut all of her hair off or they can go one week without food. When Cathy does not agree and the kids are able to ration what little food they have left for the entire week, she drugs Cathy and dumps tar in her hair so she must shave it off; and even after she cuts off her hair, the grandmother still does not bring the children food.The children become so hungry that Chris cuts his arm and forces his younger sisters and brother to drink his blood (insert my screaming here). The grandmother whips her adult daughter and then makes her show the marks left to her young children so they see what she is capable of. The grandmother attacks Chris and Cathy, whipping them both and then beating Cathy until she is unconscious with a hair brush. 

 However, the grandmother is not the only culprit here. Corrine, while she starts out as being loyal to her children, starts coming up to the attic less and less once she starts getting some money from her father, leaving them to fend for themselves. At one point she leaves for days, not telling her children where she is going or when she will be back. When she does come back she does not understand why her children are not excited she had been on a trip nor do they want to hear about it or see what she has brought back for them. Corrine gaslights her children, saying that they chose to come with her. They chose to make these sacrifices of staying in an attic all this time. They chose this life for themselves. As if they had a choice in the matter at all. Corrine then leaves them in the attic. . . again. 

The children are told by Corrine that they must only stay in the attic for one night, until she can get back into the good graces of her estranged father so they can get the inheritance. The children ask what she did to make her family disowned her out the way they did and for a little bit, all Corrine will tell her kids is that she did something that her family did not approve of. Instantly I’m thinking, oh she stole money, she ran off and got married, she got pregnant before she was married. It takes place in the 1950’s so while that isn’t the end of the world today, I can see how an affluent family would want to keep that out of the public to save face. NOPE I WAS VERY WRONG! I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! The mother was disowned by her family because she was in a relationship with her father’s step brother - or her half uncle - but don’t worry no one else thinks it’s wrong (except for the grandmother and grandfather who are painted to be the villains in all of this)  because he was so much younger than Corrine’s father and they were only half siblings. Have no fear though, because this is not the only instance of incest that we get to read about in Flowers in the Attic! Cathy - who narrates the story - and her older brother, Chris, begin a relationship. Which somehow goes from creepy to creepier. Cathy catches Chris spying on her when she is naked. Even more concerning was during the same scene, Cathy tells Chris to go away and he ignores her to keep staring at his sister. When Chris and Cathy are kissing in bed, Cathy tells Chris to stop and he says that what they are doing is not wrong, because they are only kissing and not having sex. . . However Chris your thinking is flawed because they do have sex, which will be brought up at my next therapy appointment and every therapy appointment from now until my dying day. While it is not a long scene, it is certainly graphic and more brother / sister sex scenes than I ever wanted to read. After they have sex, Chris is saying how he feels awful for what they did and Cathy says that she is to blame because she wears short clothes that don’t fit. If this were a youtube video this is the point I would insert the clip of someone screaming bitch what the fuck. 

Flowers in the Attic,  while definitely one of the most intense books I have ever read was enjoyable. There were aspects of it that I thought were amazing. VC Andrews was able to make it feel like I was in Foxworth Hall with the Dollanganger children in the attic and could make me feel claustrophobic even if I was reading outside or on a train. You really felt like time was ticking by and you were also waiting for the grandmother to catch you doing something wrong (not quite having sex with your brother, maybe something a little less. . . weird, like looking at your hair in the mirror, which is in fact a rule that the grandmother has because we don’t promote vanity. No sir, not at Foxworth Hall). VC Andrews would drop it on you like a bomb that all of this time had passed, the seasons bled into one another flawlessly. She would have one of the children say something, for instance, “sometimes eight months can feel like eight years”, and it hits you like a ton of bricks that it has been eight months since they first entered that attic, while also dropping that they should have been there only for one night. 

Another thing that I loved was how much VC Andrews made me hate Corrine. Corrine Dollanganger is truly one of the most awful fictional parents I have read, but she isn’t instantly an awful person. At the beginning she is a wonderful mother who I genuinely believe would have done anything for her children. However, slowly VC Andrews would peel back these layers and show how having this money corrupted Corrine. Some of her finer moments include asking her 14 and 12 year old to provide a quality kindergarten education to her five year old twins so when they went back to school they wouldn’t be too far behind. Ma’am your children are literally  living in an attic they’re going to have much bigger issues other than being behind in school. When the youngest son, Cory accidentally locks himself in a trunk, she is nowhere to be seen nor does she want to hear it, but she acts like mother of the year because she brings toys to the kids. However, the most infuriating thing about Corrine is how she causes so many fights among the children. Cathy tries to point out how messed up their situation is, but Chris does not want to hear about it and jumps to defend the mother who couldn't care less about him. Cathy at the age of twelve was left taking care of herself, including going through puberty, and her five year old brother and sister and Corrine would get all of the praise from the children when she came in to do the bare minimum! I would get so angry with this fictional woman! 

The last fifty pages were absolutely wild. There were so many surprises twists that I did not see coming! Sometimes when books have all of these twists at the end I’m like, yeah okay let’s speed this along, but with Flowers in the Attic I could not get enough. I was caught off guard but it didn’t feel like it was phony in any way. I was sitting in the living room reading and I gasped and was freaking out about the ending. 

My biggest complaint about the book would be the dialogue, specifically Chris. It was completely unrealistic for anyone to speak like that, even more so a seventeen year old boy. The children would talk in these elaborate metaphors and seem so worldly when Cathy says before that they lived a pretty sheltered life prior to the attic. Chris would say things to the twins like we shouldn’t quibble, as if they would know what that means?! Just say fight Christopher! At another part he is in a fight with his mother who had left them in an attic and says, “when you look and register do you see how healthy they have grown”. This is a direct quote that comes out of a child’s mouth. I understand that he was smart and read all of these books about medicine, but his dialogue specifically is what stuck out to me as unrealistic. Had VC Andrews ever met a 17 year old boy? Overall he just seemed like an unrealistic character. He kind of felt like he was there to be this convenient character that could fix almost every problem they came across. Cory and Carrie wanted a playground? Oh wow Chris comes in and saves the day because he knows exactly how to build one. . . in an attic. . . where they are living. Cathy is sick? Oh well Chris just read this book about childhood illnesses, they just have to make sure he gets plenty of fluids. Cory wants to keep this mouse that he found with its leg caught in a trap? That’s awesome because Chris can conveniently make a mouse sized splint for a little mouse leg. 

Overall, I really did enjoy my time reading this book. I have some theories about the rest of the series and am interested to see how the rest plays out. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but I would be sure to let someone know the content warnings. I would not recommend this book to someone in middle school or early high school. It was a lot. 

Will I keep reading the series? Definitely! 

[lorei-writes]

Dragon’s Treasure

Masamune x MC Some Fluff, Some Angst Family AU Post Canon (~10 years)

Summary: Nobunaga invites his allies to come to the Azuchi castle. As the invitation is impossible to reject, Masamune travels there with his wife and children. However, nobody could have foreseen what happened during the banquet. 

Some fluff, some angst. @nyashalynn wanted some, so I delivered. For further notes, read under the cut.

Word estimate: 2.5k

Content Warnings: poisoning, harm to children, food mention

 Masamune’s children are called Iroha and Torakikumaru (the boy changes his name to Tadamune later in life, after the coming of age ceremony). Nobunaga’s son name is Kanpachi.  Hideyoshi’s daughter is named Sadako.  Ieyasu’s son - Takechiyo.  ( I tried to use the historical childhood names). The story takes place roughly 10 years after the events of the game. 

I refer to MC as either the wife, the princess or the mother, as I didn’t really want to give her a name nor call her MC.

I’ll probably die out of embarrassment for posting it, but I’ll do that tomorrow. 

As the sun began to set, the Azuchi castle flickered on the horizon, bringing relief upon Masamune Date and his wife, the beloved princess adopted by the Oda clan. The journey seemed to have exhausted them more than they could have expected, with their daughter, Iroha, taking after her father more and more each day. The children, both wild and lively, appeared to be ready to conquer the entire world, despite their parents’ efforts to keep them safe. From Torakikumaru hijacking Masamune’s horse during a break, to Iroha running off into the woods at night, just to lead the maid assigned to her astray and be later found hiding by her mother, the days on the road were full of  minor and major adventures, provided exclusively by the little troublemakers. Being the only ones able to tame the little cubs, the lord of Oshu and his beloved found themselves craving sleep more than anything else. However, they reckoned Nobunaga’s calls couldn’t be ignored any longer and as such, considered his invitation unrejectable.

As they neared the castle gates, the children awoke in the carriage and peaked out of it curiously. “Papa, are we there yet?” Torakikumaru inquired, as Iroha rubbed her eyes eagerly, trying to shake away any remaining sleepiness. “  Yes. And it seems uncle Hideyoshi and uncle Mitsuhide are waiting for us at the gate,” Masamune answered. Soon, they halted their horses and descended, handing the reins over to the servants ready to take care of the animals. “Had you not sent that messenger a couple of days ago, Nobunaga would be scheming to take over Oshu now,” Hideyoshi complained, his lips turning into otherwise rather warm smile. “Oh, did he miss us that much? The last time I’ve heard from him, he had his hands full with certain konpeito thief,” Masamune joked, warding off the tiredness. “ Little lord Kanpachi did learn his lesson, I presume, as I’ve woken up to him still being scolded by a certain someone,” scoffed Mitsuhide. He looked down, as something tugged on his robe, only to find Iroha. He lifted the girl into the air. “ Remind me, little mouse, how old are you? Five already? You grew so much since our last visit to Aoba.” “I’m four, silly uncle.” Mitsuhide handed the girl to her mother, shaking his head in theatrical disbelief.  “ To think, the tiger’s cub would start to bite so soon,” he added, causing Iroha to giggle.

With help from Hideyoshi, the servants managed to escort the children to the Date manor, while their parents went to greet Nobunaga. “You look rather…” Oda started, just to be cut off by the princess: “ Sleep deprived? Can’t say we slept much in past two weeks.” “ This better be worth it, Nobunaga. Iroha may fancy taking over your land if she explores by herself any more forests at night. What’s the exact reason behind that invitation?” Masamune chuckled. “The unification’s almost complete. I’ll be hosting a banquet to celebrate our recently formed alliances. We may be heading into our final battles soon, so I presume you’d want to see your friends this time.” “ You do realise you’ve called for a child rebellion by demanding everybody to come with their family, do you?” princess inquired jokingly. “ I do and I plan to benefit from it greatly, Fireball.” With that, they parted their ways and came to rest at their quarters.

The servants at Azuchi castle couldn’t have been prepared for a sudden influx of not only adult guests, but also rowdy little humans. However, the temperature was only about to rise on the very day of the banquet, as somebody stole konpeito Hideyoshi had hidden. Little did the warlord realise, the culprit wasn’t his daughter, Sadako, nor Kanpachi, but Ieyasu’s son – Takechiyo. With the girl acting as a diversion, he successfully sneaked past his father and delivered the sweets to Torakikumaru. The boy orchestrated the plan and as such, wanted to be the one to bring them to his uncle. “ My lord, I completed the mission you’ve tasked me with,” he said, upon entering Nobunaga’s chamber. “ As expected, you did splendidly. I presume the friendship between our clans will flourish. However, I must ask you, is Hideyoshi still unaware of our plan?” “ He is and shall be for much longer, as he had underestimated his enemy gravely,” claimed the future lord. Yet, he broke the act just as soon, as he asked, his eyes shining brightly with hope: “ Uncle, can I have some too? You do reward your vassals, don’t you?” To that, Nobunaga could only laugh, inviting the boy to feast on the sweets as well.

A few hours later the children were gathered in one wing of the Azuchi castle, where servants could watch them closely. Allies flooded the main hall, their eager voices filling the air. Many new faces appeared – some belonged to the warlords’ spouses, some to recently sworn vassals and some to the heads of the few clans remaining out of any coalition. However, the initially foreign atmosphere changed quickly, becoming reminiscent more of what the feasts looked like all those years ago. Mitsuhide still tried to switch Masamune’s water for alcohol, Ieyasu bickered with Mitsunari, Hideyoshi kept attempting to kill anybody who appeared to be even mildly unfavorable towards Nobunaga with his gaze alone. The lord of Oshu caught himself wondering, whether the wormhole would come in three months, only to remind himself this conversation was long over – his princess had chosen to stay by his side, to become the lady of his entire domain and to share his sorrows with him. Seven years had passed since she bore him a heir, but more importantly – a son. Glad to be alive and to have met his lass, he joked with his friends and teased his wife, stealing a couple of short kisses from her lips here and there.

The heads turned towards the sliding door, as a maid opened them frantically and ran towards her lord. She bowed on the floor and spoke, gasping for breath: “ Toraki…kumaru… He… He collapsed. Suddenly… He is escorted… Manor..”. Masamune and princess rose instantly, soon leaving the jovial atmosphere behind them. As they rushed through the corridors, his wife said: “ You go. I’ll fetch Iroha.” He didn’t have time to argue, as they both picked up their pace.

He arrived just as the guards stepped outside Torakikumaru’s room. Without a word, he went inside. His son was shaking violently. His face was twisted into a mask of terror, as he could neither speak nor take any control of his body. The pupils of his eyes were dilated enough to consume almost the entirety of his irises, making the boy seem almost inhuman. Masamune moved instinctively, sitting on the floor to hold the child firmly against himself. “ Call for Ieyasu!” the lord of the manor yelled, then turning all of his attention to his son. “ It’s going to be all right. Hang in there,” he claimed reassuringly, trying to drive away at least some of the fear. “ I know it’s scary, but it will be okay. I am here. Mama went for Iroha. She’ll be here in no time. You just have to endure it a bit longer.”

Ieyasu was the first to come, as he rushed to the Date manor right after hearing the details of the event from the maid. He stormed into the chamber, just to witness as the child stopped shaking and went limp in his father’s arms. Masamune’s eye widened in fear. He lowered Torakikumaru onto a futon. Before he could look for any signs of life, Ieyasu was onto it. In less than a minute, he said: “He’s alive.” The head of the Date felt the waves of such an intense relief wash over him for the first time in years. “ Masamune. What symptoms has he shown up until now?” “ Convulsions. Wide pupils. Couldn’t speak,” he replied, his throat surprisingly dry. “Does it ring a bell for you?” Ieyasu remained silent for a while, attempting to match the gathered information to any kind of poisoning he knew of. He kept his gaze low and shook his head, just as the princess entered the room. She was carrying crying Iroha in her arms, trying to soothe the girl’s confusion and fear with rubbing her back and soft kisses pressed to her temple. The princess kept the tears from escaping her eyes. “His alive,” claimed Masamune. As his wife sat on the other side of Torakikumaru’s futon, they eyes met. She nodded and spoke: “ Iroha, listen. I know it is really scary. I know you feel lost and it seems dangerous. We love you and will protect you. But now we need you to stay for a couple of days with one of your uncles.” “ But mama, I don’t wanna go. They didn’t let me be with Tora. I don’t wanna go!” she screamed, her little hands grasping at her mother’s kimono tightly “I know, my little kitty, but we really need to keep you safe. I promise, you’ll see Tora soon and I’ll make you your favorite mochi to eat together. We need you to stay with one of your uncles for a couple of days,” Masamune added, gently patting her hair.

By the time Mitsuhide arrived with Hideyoshi and Mitsunari, Iroha was only sobbing quietly, exhausted from all the tears she had shed. Mitsunari could hardly bear seeing such a young child in so much pain, so as soon as he learnt of her parents’ intentions, he crouched next to her and said softly: “Little lady Iroha, I’ll take you to lord Hideyoshi’s manor, okay? I’ll see to it you share the room with Sadako and I’ll tell you both as many bedtime stories as you want today.” She looked up for a second, without saying a word. “Okay,” Iroha mustered, standing up. She left, holding Mitsunari’s hand. Without the girl in the earshot, Hideyoshi spoke: “ Who could have poisoned him?” “ I can’t recall the Date having a strife with any of the present clans,” Masamune answered, clenching his fists. “I presume it’s best I seek the insight of my spies then. At least until Nobunaga is still hosting his dear guests,” Mitsuhide added, before turning around and leaving the manor. Ieyasu rose to his feet. “ I’ll have the medicine delivered. Assign somebody to be with him at all times. Make him drink once he wakes up.” Lord Tokugawa and lord Toyotomi left.

The following days were filled with fearful anticipation. The convulsions returned once, yet  he didn’t regain consciousness a single time. Torakikumaru’s form seemed to shrink, as his body struggled to fight the poison. None of the treatments proposed by Ieyasu gave any signs of success, leaving the family helpless. The warlord usually came to visit afer the princess had already fallen asleep, Masamune watching over their son for the night. “Any new ideas?” one-eyed dragon asked, knowing the answer all to well. “ Yes, but nothing for Torakikumaru. Mitsuhide has came across some clues,” he started dryly, averting his eyes from the people in the room. “ The poison doesn’t come from here. It’s uncertain whether there’s even any antidote for it. We won’t find it in time.” Masamune looked at his friend, not daring to say anything. It was unusual for Ieyasu to be this sincere. “ Unless he wakes up on his own in the next couple of days, he won’t make it,” the Tokugawa added. He stormed out of the room, without waiting for the answer. In a way – he was right, as there was none to begin with.

For the next two days, Masamune couldn’t sleep during the day, even despite staying up all night. With princess, he kept being by Torakikumaru’s side, desperately awaiting his awakening. Yet it didn’t happen. “ If he doesn’t wake up, how will we explain it to Iroha?” the princess asked, her eyes red from tears. Masamune’s chest tightened, as he saw just how exhausted she was, her eyes dull and full of inexpressible sorrow. “ I don’t think anything we can say will make it any easier,” he confessed. “ Why would anybody do that to a child?” his wife’s voice threatened to break. “ Usually, I’d say it’s either for revenge or to invite us to war. Maybe somebody wants to start an internal dispute within the Date… But this time, I don’t know either, kitten. It’s cruel and it hurts,” he admitted.

Masamune never thought he’d perceive the political matters through the lenses of his personal afflictions. He remembered the times before he came to understand his beloved – how easy it was for him to rationalise the cruel, war-spoiled and merciless world they lived in. He could brush off his mother trying to poison him, yet seeing the very same thing happen to Torakikumaru enraged him. He felt weak, for ever allowing that to happen, for not being able to stop the person who threatened to harm his family in their tracks. Another subject that reappeared in Masamune’s thoughts whenever he was awake was Iroha. Neither of them had seen her since Mitsunari left with her. Giving anybody any clue about her whereabouts was too dangerous… Though, there was another reason just as well. How could they face their cub, all too well knowing they’d had to lie to her? He certainly didn’t want to bring any more hope into those young, curious eyes – as he might very well be the one to shatter it and replace it with sorrow and fear.

Masamune, lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice when the day turned into night. His eyes stung, so he moved his hand to rub at them. His wife had already fallen asleep from the exhaustion, still in her kimono. “Papa?” a weak voice came from the darkness. “I’m right here,” the lord of Oshu answered, frantically lighting the lantern. Torakikumaru was awake, his eyes wide open. “ What happened? I don’t remember much.” Masamune felt his eyes watering, as he took his son and positioned him in his lap, only to hug him tightly . “ Somebody dared to hurt you. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. They’ve called the wrath of the dragon upon themselves and will soon regret it with the entirety of their beings.”

Lord Date didn’t realise  when his wife wake up or when she found her way to them. He could only feel the warmth of her embrace and see her eyes shed yet another tears, this time tainted with the shades of joy.

The messengers were sent out.

[allthebooksandcrannies]

Bora Bora: Chapter 1

This is the second installment of my fanfic of a fanfic Bora Bora. This will probably be confusing if you haven’t read murkybluematter’s story The Pureblood Pretense or its follow up stories on Fanfic.net

Prologue

Read on AO3

Chapter 1: A Difference of Opinion

It really all started on Halloween, because of course it did. It involved Rigel Black, after all.

“Did you hear anything about the attack on Diagon last weekend?”  

Draco looked up from where he was finalizing his Transfiguration essay to make sure whoever had asked such a stupid question understood just how sick and tired he was of talking about the Diagon attack. It was all anyone had been talking about since it happened. Unfortunately, it was Millicent who had asked, and, after seven years of schooling together, she was quite immune to the Malfoy glare by now.

“What I meant,” she corrected with an exasperated eye-roll, “was whether anyone had heard anything new about it. From your parents, I mean.”

Blaise didn’t raise his head from the sheaf of parchment he had been sifting through and taking notes from, but he did that little head tilt he used when he wanted to show he was listening without actually expressing an interest in the subject. Rigel, however, was the one to actually answer.

“Dad says Uncle James thinks they were after someone specific, but he won’t say who the target was, just that I should take care. And when he won’t tell Sirius something, you know it’s bad.”

Millicent gave a knowing nod, as if this were the confirmation she had been waiting for. Lowering her voice as much as she could without it being suspicious, she replied that “My father thinks the rebels were using the attack on the shops as cover for an assassination attempt against Dumbledore.”

Draco scoffed. “Please, they’d have to be mad to go after Dumbledore in the open like that.” And they would. Dumbledore may have been old (and potentially senile, depending on who you asked), but everyone knew he was one of the most powerful wizards alive. “If someone like Dumbledore has time to even draw his wand before you kill him, you’ve already lost!” It was the same reason the 1981 Halloween Accords had been passed in secret. The man was too brilliant to be allowed time to plan, time to fight back.

“And you think the same people who attacked two Ministers of Magic at the World Cup are especially sane?” Draco had to give Millicent that one. Sane was not exactly the first adjective that came to mind.

Blaise hmmd, openly paying attention now. “Not to mention that no one publicly contradicts their message more effectively than Dumbledore. There’s a reason he’s still the Supreme Mugwhump despite Riddle’s best efforts.

“People listen to Dumbledore. As long as he’s alive, he’s a threat. So, if they thought there was even the possibility of taking him out of the equation, while causing some panic in the process…” Blaise let his voice trail off, his meaning clear. Draco knew his own face was as grim as the rest of the group.

“Does anyone want to explain to me what in Merlin’s name would be so bad about that?” Well, almost the whole group.  

Theo was, well Theo was Theo.  He had always been rather vocal about his beliefs, but lately he had become less and less willing to hide it when his views on a subject were less than polite. It made it easy to know where you stood with him at any point in time, but it was honestly an embarrassing lack of subtlety.  Though, Draco thought ruefully, having one less politician in his generation could really only be an advantage to his own pursuits.

There were several eye-rolls around the circle at Theo’s naivete and a rising tension that was literally palpable to Draco’s empathy, but Draco nearly groaned to see Rigel slowly straighten up with a simultaneously shut down on every emotion he had been allowing himself to project.  

But, instead of coming back with the scathing retort Draco expected, Rigel raised a single eyebrow, face expressionless and snobbish enough to fit right in among the ancient Black heads of house. “You do realize, Theo, that, at the very least, it might by dangerous to us if people are really trying to kill our headmaster?” Then, clearly leaning in to the snotty pureblood impression with a comically raised voice and nose, he continued, “I for one, would rather not get my robes singed if I’m standing next to the headmaster when some hooligan starts throwing curses around!”

Draco recognized the game his friend was playing and hurriedly shot in with a drawled, “You might mind the destruction of those monstrosities” he said, with a significant glance at the potions robes, “but the rest of us would have to thank the brigands for sparing our eyes the horror.”

And just like that the tension dissolved just as suddenly as it had risen as the group devolved into a round of childlike giggling that they really should have been too old for. Things were good, Draco reminded himself as he fervently ignored the niggling voice in the back of his head that noticed that Rigel still hadn’t relaxed his shields back to their default. Because things were good, and it was normal for Rigel to be weird about sharing.

Draco was saved from anymore introspection as the laughing tapered off by Theo announcing that he was absolutely done trying to study for the night and was going to go start to get ready for the Halloween feast in a few hours.  

Blaise said something about how it was probably best that he did stop studying, so that he didn’t end up hurting himself.

Millicent made a quip about Theo needing all the time to get ready as he could get, just as their coarser friend was about to make it out of earshot. And as soon as he was gone…

“Whatever are we going to do about that boy?” Pansy asked, and Draco jumped.

It wasn’t that he had forgotten that Pansy was there of course. After all, it would be completely remiss of a pureblooded gentleman to forget the presence of a lady, particularly when she also happened to be one of his best friends. Draco had just… not been expecting her to speak.

And you could hardly blame him. The past fortnight she had been quieter than she had ever been in her life. No matter how many times Rigel or Draco or even Millicent tried to press her on what was wrong, what had their sharp friend passively gliding along like a ghost, she continued to demur and insist that she was fine, just a had a bit of disappointing news. And that might have been that if the behavior had passed after a few days. Instead, it had continued with Pansy alternating between projecting an eerie sort of blankness, like he was seeing her emotions from behind a pane of glass, to crashing waves of bitterness and grief  that were so intense they put his teeth on edge. It hurt him to feel, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it and he had finally resolved to give her some space. But now she was speaking, and he had been too caught up in his own internal monologue to pay attention. He hurried to tune back in without making it obvious that he had missed anything at all.

If the muted pang of amusement he felt Rigel send his way was any indication, he may not have entirely succeeded.

“-not happy with Nott Sr at all. You saw what Nott said to that Prophet reporter, right?” Millicent pressed.

“The one coming out against last season’s round of marriage announcements?” Pansy clarified.

Millicent went to nod, and opened her mouth to elaborate, but Rigel beat her too it.

“Theo’s dad is against the marriage law?”

And Draco’s stomach dropped, because he didn’t need an empathy gift to detect the hopeful tone Rigel had asked that in, and he definitely did not want to start this conversation again.  

Millicent, apparently, agreed because she was hesitant to reply. “Yes,” she said carefully, “but not quite the way your hoping… Lord Nott’s point of view on the matter has always been rather similar to his son’s…”

“What, that marrying a halfblood would be disgusting?” And Rigel clearly knew the answer to his own question if the new tightness around his eyes was any indication.

Blaise, however, was electing to appear oblivious to the significant change the subject messages Millicent and Draco were giving off, and he actually responded to the obviously loaded question.  

“From what Mother says, its not so much the marriage law itself that Lord Nott has decided he’s opposed to, but rather Riddle’s self-assigned role in determining what those pairings will be. Supposedly, he’s already made up his mind about the entire seventh year already, and Lord Nott is not pleased with whom he has chosen for Theo, though I doubt anyone has mentioned this to Theo, of course.”

Everyone in their little corner of the common room was paying attention now.  It was one thing to know that Riddle would probably have a say in whom you married, but to know that he was dictating that decision personally was a completely different animal. Pansy, in particular, seemed especially stiff as she leaned in as if to wordlessly prompt Blaise to continue.

Rigel’s eyes, meanwhile, squinted in suspicion, as if he already had an idea of where this was going and didn’t like it but couldn’t bring himself to look away. “And who, exactly, is it that Lord Nott is so opposed to marrying his heir?”

Blaise’s expression was one of total innocence, though Draco could have sworn he could still see his usual knowing smirk in the other boy’s eyes.

“Well Theo seems to think he’s marrying Miss Greengrass. Though Mother says that Riddle’s choice was someone who instead was far too independent, and more offensively, far too Light for Nott’s tastes. I, of course, have no idea who that might be, though one could imagine that it must be someone Riddle is quite adamant on controlling if he’s insisting strongly enough that Nott felt that The Prophet was his only recourse.”

Now, if there was one thing Draco would usually cite as among Rigel’s best qualities it was that he was no fool, regardless of how he might like to play the role when it suited him. Rigel understood Blaise’s implications, as could be clearly seen by the grim set off his mouth and the creeping, sick feeling Draco could feel seeping through his friend’s shields.

Later, he could talk to his friend, help him understand that this wasn’t the disaster he clearly thought it was. But that time was not now. Because Rigel was not exactly known for being rational where Riddle or his cousin came in. Now, that they were both potentially involved, there was no telling what stupid stunt he might pull in the heat of the moment.

Draco reached out, both with his empathy and his arm, trying to pull Rigel out of where he was retreating behind walls, instead of asking for help. “Rye… whatever you’re thinking I promise its not as big of an issue as you’re worried it is. Let’s just ta-”

“Not as big of a deal, Dray?” Rigel asked, slipping back into that dangerously unaffected tone he was so fond of. That was the moment Draco realized he had chosen his words poorly. “Not as big of a deal? Since when is family not a big deal to a Slytherin, Dray?”

Draco spluttered “That’s not what- I mean, she’s not- I mean-” But Rigel was already shoving books into his bag and rising to go.

“I know exactly what you meant, Draco.” He paused, took a deep breath in. “You guys can head on to the feast without me. I’m going to go brew until I no longer want to set Riddle on fire.” And then he was swooping out of the room in a flurry of black fabric that made it very clear just who his mentor was.  

There group was quiet for a while, just staring at the closed common room door, until Draco suddenly remembered what day it was with a mumbled curse.

“I can’t believe I just let him go off on his own, today of all days! I better-” And then, because today was apparently “Interrupt Draco Day,” Pansy stopped him.

“I think you better let me handle this one. I’ll keep him out of trouble.” Draco believed her. If anyone was going to be able to get Rigel to see reason, it would be Pansy, he was sure.

 Later, looking back on that night, Draco would wryly remind himself that there had always been a limit to even Pansy’s sensibleness if she had been willing to put up with the two of them for so long.

[dragonkeeper19600]

Fallen Star AU: Stella

This is a character profile for Mario and Peach’s daughter Stella, the main character of the Fallen Star AU.

I’ve posted a picture of her before, but I’ve decided I like my original concept sketch of her a little better.

General History: Stella was born in Sarasaland less than a year following the collapse of the Mushroom Kingdom. As Peach’s only daughter, and thus the rightful heir to the Mushroom throne, Stella was raised in absolute secrecy in Sarasaland, lest Bowser’s forces should discover her existence. Peach knew that the child of Mario and herself would give hope to the Toad population now living in oppression under Bowser’s rule. However, this reasoning has led Luigi to accuse Peach of using Stella.

Let it be said that Peach never pressured Stella to follow in Mario’s footsteps. Stella chose that path on her own. At a young age, she chafed at her confined existence and longed to liberate the conquered kingdom and take her rightful place as princess. 

As a teenager, she became aware of the toll such a quest would take on Luigi, who had always worried over her and might never recover if she died the same way her father did. But, at 18, her hand was forced, and she officially made her existence known to Bowser and his forces. She understands she’s risking more than her own life by fighting, but she believes the war with Bowser is bigger than herself and Luigi. 

Personality: Stella has always been a tomboy and being confined in her childhood has given her an intense wanderlust. Despite the tragic circumstances of her birth, she is a very idealistic individual, believing in a clear distinction between right and wrong and the sacred duty to fight for justice. These ideals will be challenged as she fights new foes, learns more of her family’s legacy, and sees that things are not as black and white as she believed. 

Stella exudes confidence in everything she does and has inherited her father’s impulsiveness. She’s also inherited his appetite. She can finish a slice of her mother’s cake with shocking speed. She tries to emulate Mario in many ways. She spent years training to gain his skills in acrobatics, and deliberately chooses to dress like him to order to evoke his image.

However, there’s a little bit more to her emulation of Mario than simple hero worship. Ever since she was very small, she’s been aware of a gap in her family’s life, the gap left by her missing father who would never come home. Stella remembers an occasion in her childhood where she walked in on Peach, hoping to give her a bouquet of flowering weeds she’d picked outside. Peach didn’t see her come in, and Stella saw the tears rolling silently down her cheek. Her mother, she’d come to understand, had lost everything, her home, her country, her people, and her knight. Stella’s attempt to follow in Mario’s footsteps is, in some way, an attempt to fill the gap. 

Abilities: Stella boasts the usual Mario Bros. agility and strength. She also possesses traces of her mother’s Wish Power. She can slow her descent from a long fall, and she inherited the ability to seal the Dark Star, which comes in very handy at a critical moment. 

Relationships:

Peach: Stella has spent most of her life in the company of her mother. Peach opted to use a frank and non-judgmental approach when raising her daughter. Whenever Stella had a question or was uncertain about something, Peach answered her as though she were an adult. When Stella expressed a desire to journey to the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach chose not to try and dissuade Stella and instead told her very clearly of the risks. As she grew up, Stella grew to admire Peach’s fortitude, managing to raise her lovingly even though her entire life had been destroyed and she is now living in exile. A huge motivator for Stella’s need to defeat Bowser once and for all is her desire to finally bring her mother home. 

Luigi: Luigi came to visit Stella often, and Stella found herself both flattered and intimidated by Luigi’s almost reverential love for her. Luigi taught her Italian and begrudgingly trained her how to fight the plumber way, though he would prefer for her to never use the skills he taught her. Luigi no longer fears for his own safety the way he did when he was younger but is instead plagued with fears of losing Stella. It was the guilt of worrying him that kept Stella in Sarasaland until she was eighteen. Mario died before she was born, and Toadsworth passed away when Stella was too young to really remember him, so Luigi has been her main father figure throughout her life. She’s called him “Zio” since she was little and continues to do so as a adult.

Mario: Stella’s entire life has been defined by her secondhand knowledge of Mario. She grew up hearing stories of his exploits and her family’s tender memories of him, and she quickly grew to idolize him. However, she has often longed for him to have a real, physical presence in her life. What would it be like to have a father say goodnight to you every night? And, wouldn’t her mother and uncle be so much happier if her father were still around? Stella, in many ways, sees Mario as the ideal of what a person should be, and she’s tried in every way she can think of to live up to his legacy. It’s put her under a lot of stress.

Daisy: Daisy is Stella’s Cool Aunt. Stella has known sorrow before she really knew her own name, and Daisy is a much-needed source of levity in her life. Daisy has matured since her younger days. Since the fall of the Mushroom Kingdom, she’s taken a more active role in the politics of Sarasaland, and so Stella sees her less often than Luigi. But, whenever she comes by, she’s always ready with a joke, a laugh, and presents for Stella and Peach. As a parent, Daisy has taken a more hands-off, let-them-learn-by-doing approach, which her own kids and Stella have benefitted from and which is the source of many headaches for Luigi. 

Cousins: Stella has three cousins: Tony, the eldest, Marigold, the middle one, and Viola, the baby of the family. Of the three, Stella is closest to Tony. Growing up as sheltered as she was, Tony was the only child her age available to play with. Even in their teens, Stella still considers Tony to be her best friend. Lanky and accident prone, Tony is more cautious than Stella but usually ends up going along with whatever she’s doing anyway. Stella influences him to journey into the Mushroom Kingdom to fight alongside her. Tony and Stella’s closeness is all the more impressive considering that Tony has often been envious of Stella. As a child, it often seemed to Tony that Luigi cared more for Stella than him. Stella and Luigi were united over their grief for Mario, and Tony felt his own exclusion from that connection. Tony covers up these negative feelings with a jokester personality. Whenever he’s feeling nervous about a leap into danger, he’s always ready with a self-deprecating joke. 

Bowser: Stella was warned her whole life that Bowser would try to kill her if he ever learned of her existence. When they finally encountered each other, Bowser did not disappoint. He’d spent eighteen years looking for Peach after she escaped the Kingdom, and when he learned Mario had had a daughter with her, he saw red. Whereas he’d never meant to actually kill Mario and felt something resembling remorse afterwards, he wanted Stella on a platter from day one. In his warped mind, Stella is the last thing tying Peach to Mario, and if he kills her, Peach will have no choice but to accept him. That Peach would never forgive him for killing Stella seems to never occur to him. Stella, however, is mostly unfazed by Bowser’s white hot rage. She’s always thought of him as a monster, a two-dimensional tyrant, and there was something morbidly satisfying in his immediate hatred of her. Neither she nor Bowser really see each other as thinking beings, just living symbols of what they oppose. 

Bowser Jr.: In the years following Mario’s death, Bowser Jr. has grown up to heavily resemble his adult father. Whereas age, stress, and, yes, grief, has caused Bowser to begin to decline, Bowser Jr. is in the peak of his adulthood. It’s often Junior, not Bowser himself, that Stella faces in combat, and at first, it seemed as though their relationship would be a copy of the enmity between Mario and Bowser during Mario’s lifetime. Bowser Jr. was pressured by his father early on to “torch that girl” that had stolen his mother from him, and Stella made her own disdain for Bowser Jr. clear from their first meeting when she told him, “You are standing in between me and my throne.” Despite their rivalry and volatile beginning, Stella and Junior eventually formed a mutual respect for each other. Junior came to feel disillusioned with his father’s drive for conquest, but he didn’t see an alternative to his current strength and war-centered way of living. Stella, an emphatic person herself, began to see and understand the burden Junior bore as the only son of the Koopa King, forced to comply with the wishes of his father and his people against his own better instincts. This understanding eventually bloomed into a sort of mutual attraction, and a lot of their fights became romantically charged. It progressed to the point where Junior at one point proposed to Stella, reasoning that a union between them would end the conflict. But, Stella turned him down. She’d already fought against him for so long under the narrative that he was an illegitimate prince with no claim to the Mushroom throne. If she married him now, thus acknowledging him as the heir, she would be betraying her people. She couldn’t accept a kingship that had been based on so much sacrifice. None of the reasons for her refusal had to do with Junior himself but what their union would mean for her people. They couldn’t be together. 

The Havoc Star: The weapon that allowed Bowser to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom, the thing that had killed Mario. For the longest time, the Havoc Star was a source of awe-inspiring horror for Stella. If Mario represented an idealized good, then the Havoc Star was pure, voidal evil. Bowser’s hated of Stella occasionally drove him to try to use the Havoc Star on her, and while these attempts were unsuccessful, Stella always escaped just by the skin of her teeth, and the destruction was always terrible. Other stars speak soothingly with wisdom or kindness, but Stella never heard anything from the Havoc Star but nerve-scraping screaming that filled the entire cavity of her skull. Stella’s top priority in the early days of her conflict with Bowser was to find a way to destroy the Havoc Star. If she could do that, then Bowser’s main ace in the hole would be gone, and taking back her kingdom would be easy.