#adan hyun

[nightrestrp]

Mwm?

We’d absolutely love to see Serkay Tütüncü, Casey Deidrick, Manny Jacinto, Tyler James Williams, Chris Evans, Da'Vinchi, Lee Dong-wook, Oscar Isaac, Hyun Bin, Rahul Kohli, Peter Gadiot, Jonathan Daviss, Ekin Koç, Ben Robson, Daniel Ezra, Raymond Ablack, Rudy Pankow, Zeeko Zaki, Alberto Rosende, Pedro Pascal, Trevante Rhodes, Adan Canto, Joe Keery, Tom Ellis, Cha Eun-Woo, Charles Michael Davis, Taylor Takahashi, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Scott Speedman, David Castañeda, Riz Ahmed, Wang Ziyi, Henry Golding, Michael Trevino, Archie Renaux, Gong Yoo, Serkan Çayoğlu, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Rafael Silva, Peyton Alex Smith, Alperen Duymaz, Steven Yeun, Kit Young, Sean Teale and İlhan Şen!

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 02

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 8. “Can you stay?”

His lips are parched from lack of water and his eyes are half-closed as he peers up at me. Despite everything that has happened between us, I feel a twinge of pity at the sight of him sprawled on the floor, his hair matted and falling over his eyes. I crouch down next to him and without meaning to, I brush some of the hair out of his eyes.

His eyes flicker fully open and he gives me a bitter smile. “Anys,” he murmurs, “I thought you were done with me.”

I pull a canteen out of my belt and offer it to him. He is weak but he manages to move his shackled hands up to take it from me and squirt some water into his mouth. He closes his eyes again and swallows before taking another long drink.

“Thanks.” I take the canteen of water back from him. His eyes stay closed as he slumps even further onto the floor. I watch the rise and fall of his chest, my heart pounding as I realize there is a hitch every few seconds, as if he can’t get enough breath.

When I linger for too long, Adan opens his eyes again, his dark brown eyes boring into me. There is a question in his eyes and I swallow as one of his hands reaches for mine. “Can you stay?” He whispers, “It’s lonely down here.”

My heart tugs at me and I give him a long sigh. “You shouldn’t have come back,” I told him, “you should have kept going.”

“Until what?” Adan shifts, his chains clinking with him, “Until I reach the end of the earth? I was tired, Anys, tired of running.” He had told me as much when he was first arrested but I don’t understand.

“You don’t have to suffer,” I plead with him, “this doesn’t have to be your life.”

Adan half-smiles and begins to close his eyes again. “I suffered being away from you. Do you think anything else matters, when I can’t be with you?” His hand slips from mine and falls onto the floor. He takes another ragged breath.

“And what is this?” I ask, almost angrily. “Your way of being with me? The Council is pushing for your death, Adan. You’re running out of miracles to save you.”

Amazingly enough, Adan rasps out a feeble laugh. “You’re here, aren’t you?” He opens his eyes to stare at me once more. “Just stay for a little longer. It’ll be like...those days before you knew who I was.” Adan shudders and I can see pain and tension in his body despite his words. “Then when it’s all over you can forget about me forever.”

Gods, if only that was what I wanted.

[darkesthourrpg]

DARKEST HOUR is looking for the COUNCIL MEMBER (FAE KING/QUEEN) connection. Please message THE MAIN for more information regarding this connection and make sure they approve your bio before applying. The connection is OPEN.

NAME OF REQUESTED CHARACTER:

UTP.

AGE RANGE:

UTP.

SPECIES:

Fae. They are welcome to be any subcategory of fae.

WANTED FACECLAIMS:

This character must be a poc, but the FC is UTP. Listed below are tons of suggestions.

Nafessa Williams, Ryan Destiny, Bruna Marquezine, Simone Ashley, Alex Newell, Quintessa Swindell, Nicky Endres, Keiynan Lonsdale, Sara Ramirez, Parisa Fitz Henley, Meaghan Rath, Sydney Park, Tamara Podemski, Ni Ni, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Aisha Dee, Lindsey Morgan, Laura Harrier, Han Ji-hyun, Gemma Chan, Wakeema Hollis, Heather Hemmens, Dilraba Dilmurat, Samantha Logan, Ruth Negga, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Taraji P. Henson, Sofia Carson, Francia Raisa, Coco Jones, Yara Shahidi, Mandip Gill, Zión Moreno, Imani Hakim, Aja Naomi King, Han So Hee, Levy Tran, Jennie Kim, Vanessa Morgan, Lulu Antariksa, Diane Guerrero, Melissa O’Neil, Karla Souza, Chloe Bridges, Parveen Kaur, Phillipa Soo, Janel Parrish, Jessica Henwick, Kylie Bunbury, Logan Browning, Aiysha Hart, Chloe Bridges, Alia Bhatt, Jeanine Mason, Elodie Yung, Tessa Thompson, Dichen Lachman, Jessica Lucas, Monica Raymund, Brenda Song, Deepika Padukone, Li Jun Li, Anna Diop, Meagan Tandy, Lupita Nyong’o, Chloe Bennet, Araki Yuko, Natacha Karam, Lucien Laviscount, Tanner Novlan, Blair Redford, Danny Pino, Daniel Henney, Charles Michael Davis, Riz Ahmed, Jesse Williams, Lewis Tan, Zeeko Zaki, Martin Sensmeier, Manny Jacinto, Brian Tyree Henry, Ryohei Otani, ldis Hodge,  Alex Landi, Idris Elba, Dev Patel, Tommy Martinez, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Ezra, Jordan Calloway, Sean Teale,  Adan Canto, Ricky Whittle, Chance Perdomo, Kendrick Sampson, Sendhil Ramamurthy,  Sinqua Walls, Keith Powers,  Remy Hii,  Nick Sagar, Harry Shum Jr., Brian Michael Smith,  John David Washington, Sidharth Malhotra, etc.

CONNECTION TYPE:

King/Queen of the Fae. Leader of Staten Island. Council Member.

BACKGROUND:

As far as the other supernaturals know, Staten Island is the home of the Lost. Random species known as Banshees, Succubi, Phoenixes, Sirens and Dryads. But, in reality, every member of the Lost are actually different types of fae. With fae blood being highly addictive to vampires, fae have been the most heavily hunted species for generations. 

After the previous fae leader was killed in May of 2021 the fae have had temp leaders in and out with nobody staying over a few months. You character would be a permanent solution and stop the revolving door of fae leaders.

As fae leader, your character is in charge of keeping the fae a secret, but to help the new members of fae who are not apart of the court become members. Which we have a number of fae not in the court and a changeling. 

Your character is also in charge of maintaining the mirage over Staten Island, with the help of the Fae Court, to make any non fae court members who visit, leave thinking that Staten Island it is a forgotten borough with no much to do there.

If they want the position or if it’s been thrusted upon them is completely up to you. 

Only one person outside of the court knows about fae currently and that is Devin Khan - it is up you rather your fae told her or one of the previous leaders did. 

Their past is completely up to you. 

[dear-indies]

could I please have some alt fc suggestions for sebastian stan but that could play as young as 30/31? thank you! and as much as I don't mind POC alts in other circumstances, this particular character is white so I would have to stick with that. thank you!

Men of colour and older fcs too for people wanting general alts!

Michael Ealy (1973) African-American.

Tom Ellis (1978)

Jay Hernandez (1978) Mexican.

Jesse Metcalfe (1978)

Charlie Weber (1978)

Luke Evans (1979) - gay.

Daniel Henney (1979) Korean / British.

David Giuntoli (1980)

Assaad Bouab (1980) Moroccan.

Adan Canto (1981) Mexican.

Fawad Khan (1981) Pakistani.

Rami Malek (1981) 87.5% Egyptian 12.5% Greek.

Ricky Whittle (1981) Afro-Jamaican / English.

Clive Standen (1981)

Taylor Kitsch (1981)

Tahar Rahim (1981) Algerian.

Hyun Bin (1982) Korean.

Matthew McNulty (1982)

Tom Payne (1982)

Daveed Diggs (1982) African-American / Ashkenazi Jewish.

Marwan Kenzari (1983) Tunisian.

Aidan Turner (1983)

Alfonso Herrera (1983) Mexican.

Michael Malarkey (1983) Palestinian, Italian / Irish, German.

Charles Michael Davis (1984) African-American / Filipino.

Brian Michael Smith (1984) African-American - trans.

Arjun Kapoor (1985) Punjabi Indian.

Brant Daugherty (1985)

Martin Sensmeier (1985) Tlingit, Koyukon, Eyak, German, Irish.

Luke Mitchell (1985)

Rahul Kohli (1985) Punjabi Indian - he/they.

François Arnaud (1985) - bisexual.

Alex Meraz (1985) Mexican of Purepecha Descent and Lakota Sioux.

Chace Crawford (1985)

Miguel Gomez (1985) Colombian.

Clayton Cardenas (1985) Mexican, Filipino.

Alex Blue Davis (1986) - trans.

Rüzgar Erkoçlar (1986) Turkish - trans.

Penn Badgley (1986)

Hale Appleman (1986) Ashkenazi Jewish / Irish, English - queer.

Colin Morgan (1986)

Ryan Cooper (1986)

Daniel Sharman (1986)

Casey Deidrick (1987)

Grey Damon (1987)

İlhan Şen (1987) Turkish.

Andrew M. Gray (1987) Miwok, Spanish.

Nicholas Hoult (1987)

Lewis Tan (1987) Chinese / British.

Çağlar Ertuğrul (1987) Turkish.

Cody Fern (1988) - unspecified sexually but is dating a man.

Kendrick Sampson (1988) African-American / English, other.

Shawn Youngchief (1988) Metis.

Marco Pigossi (1989) Brazilian [Italian, possibly other] - gay.

Jack Falahee (1989)

Zeeko Zaki (1990) Egyptian.

Alex Roe (1990)

Kiowa Gordon (1990) Hualapai, English, Scottish, Danish, Manx.

Trevante Rhodes (1990) African-American.

Craig Arnold (1990)

Elliot Knight (1990) Nigerian / English.

Himesh Patel (1990) Gujarati Indian.

Regé-Jean Page (1990) Zimbabwean / British.

Shamier Anderson (1991) Afro-Jamaican.

Non-binary suggestions!

Asia Kate Dillon (1984) Ashkenazi Jewish / Unspecified - non-binary and pansexual - they/them.

Nico Tortorella (1988) - non-binary, genderfluid, pansexual, and poly - they/them.

Eliot Sumner (1990) - non-binary - they/them.

[adhonoremrp]

DID YOU HEAR?

FIGHT NIGHT will begin on OCTOBER 10th at 10pm EST

the fighters have been confirmed, the entertainment has been arranged, and now you just have to pay the cover charge at the door. we are on the way! once the bouncer has confirmed that everyone is in for the night, all wands are confiscated, and the fighters are ready to go, the event will begin! a list will be posted then informing you of the matches and in what order they will take place. for now, there is listed below all FIGHTERS and their ALIAS which they will be using for ‘legal’ purposes. additionally, all STAFFED positions for the evening. if for any reason something has been missed, please send a message to the main so that it can be updated as soon as possible.

we can’t wait for you to join us!

FIGHTERS

their name: marlene mckinnon fighting alias: sparrow

their name: keanu flores fighting alias: king tut

their name: wren carver fighting alias: the carver

their name: cristine abbott fighting alias: black widow

their name: peter pettigrew fighting alias: wormtail

their name: alecto carrow fighting alias: july

their name: nimue mackenna fighting alias: honor

their name: estrella norwood  fighting alias: star

their name: petra ulvehud
  fighting alias: dare

their name: victoria moreau  fighting alias: rogue

their name: aeros  fighting alias: hatter

their name: mundungus fletcher   fighting alias: pan

their name: stanley fulmer    fighting alias: opaleye

their name: penny lane     fighting alias: blue

their name: savio reyes     fighting alias: mars

their name: walden macnair      fighting alias: huntsman 

their name: laure deschamps     fighting alias: des champ

their name: seraphina parkinson    fighting alias: baby

their name: dorcas meadowes     fighting alias: the coyote

their name: winnie montague    fighting alias: the dragon

their name: emma vanity fighting alias: the runt  

their name: frank longbottom fighting alias: moody

their name: adan savage fighting alias: cain

their name: thorfinn rowle fighting alias: odinson 

STAFFED

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: aeros rosier

ANNOUNCERS & COMMENTARY: wendy fletcher, rita skeeter, ezrael hyun

REFEREE: jackson flint

BARTENDERS: reggie cattermole, alexander zabini

SERVERS: charity burbage, charlie wood

BOOKMAKER: rosalyn greyback

MEDICS: benjy fenwick, declan whitlock, mason mcelreath

ROUND CARD BIMBOS: cordelia greengrass, hayden huxley

PERFORMERS: doris purkiss, olivia ollivander

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 04

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 5. “I might just kiss you.”

The amethyst glittered in between them and I stare at the glow coming from Adan’s palm. He is just as mesmerized and for a moment, the two of us stand there, entranced by the jewel’s pull. Behind us, I can still hear some shouting and fighting, but nobody can see us up here, hidden by the shelter of the trees and the rising darkness.

“I didn’t think this was possible,” Adan admits, “I didn’t know if we would make it.”

“You did it,” I say gently, “We’re almost done.”

The last step is to make it back to Attica and return the amethyst to my king. “I should go alone.” I prompt him. “You can stay hidden nearby and I’ll come back to you after the whole business settles down.”

Adan frowns at me. “That’s not what we agreed on. I’ll deliver the amethyst. Your king will realize you helped me escape if you go alone. You’re the one that should stay away while I do this and I’ll come back to you when I’m done.”

“You’re crazy.” I take a step closer. “I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

His dark brown eyes meet my light brown ones. For a moment, I feel like I am falling into the deep waters of the ocean and I let myself drown in his gaze. There is so much frustration and concern circulating in his eyes and I know that he is worried about my safety. But I am not the one in danger of arrest and execution.

Adan pockets the amethyst and draws even closer--so close I can feel his breath mingling with mine. I tip my head up to keep his stare and Adan closes his eyes briefly, a shudder running through him.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper. I want to reach out but I am afraid he will draw away if I touch him. I take in his appearance: his long eye-lashes, his dark, wind-swept hair, and the smooth lines of his face. I desperately want to run my fingers down his cheek and hold him close but I can’t bring myself to make the first move.

Adan opens his eyes again and his eyes are full of sorrow. “Anys…” He whispers. He cups one hand around my cheek and I feel my breath catch. My hands are still frozen at my sides, aware that he is shaking. “I might just kiss you.”

There is a long pause between us and I lean into his touch a little more. Adan wraps his other arm around me and I feel a shiver of warmth and pleasure pass through me. Our breaths mix together and then when I can’t bear the silence anymore, I ask, “So why don’t you?”

The last of his restraint crumbles and Adan pulls me impossibly closer and presses his lips to mine. His lips are soft and his touch is gentle, but I want more than that. I kiss him back harder and throw my arms around him.

We cling to each other as if we are the other’s lifeline. I can feel the desperation of his love and his worry in his kiss. We are two broken souls trying to come together and in this moment, it feels like we are whole.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 03

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 30. “I’m with you, you know that.”

Adan is breathing hard from the climb but he doesn’t slow down and I scramble after him, glancing behind me briefly to make sure no one is following us. He has been flagging since the fight with the soldiers and I am worried he’ll pass out if we don’t rest soon. But the urgency to flee burns in my blood and I know we need to keep as much distance between us and the capital as we can.

At the very top, Adan trips over a rock and stumbles, throwing his arms out as he sprawls on the floor. In a flash, I reach his side, my hand reaching for his arm but he shakes me off, panting with effort. “I’m fine,” he growls at me, pushing himself on shaking arms back onto his feet.

His face is pale from the exertion and I feel a twinge of pity for him. The Council had nearly succeeded with his execution and his treatment in prison certainly hadn’t left him nourished and healthy. He is weak from hunger and his wounds but still Adan keeps going.

“Hey,” I touch his arm lightly, prompting him to look at me. His dark brown eyes are filled with anger and pain. His anger is at himself, I know, his self-loathing for his everything that has led us to this moment. “I’m with you, you know that.” I remind him.

He relaxes slightly under my touch and some of the pain lightens in his eyes. “I know,” he murmurs, lifting a shaking hand to cup my cheek. I close my eyes to his gentle touch and tell myself that I am here because I want the best for my country. But I know from the way my heartbeat quickens and the way my knees weaken that it’s not true. I am here for this boy, someone who is both my country’s greatest hope and worst fear.

“You don’t have to do this.” Adan draws closer and I can feel the hot air from his breath on my neck. “They don’t know you were involved. You can still go home.”

“And do what?” I ask. “Track you down with them? Like I did all those weeks ago?”

Adan lets out a soft laugh. “I don’t know. Just stay safe I guess. I won’t be able to protect you when we get to Tressen.”

I open my eyes and stare into his concerned gaze. “You don’t have to worry about me. They won’t find us and we’ll retrieve the amethyst. Then we’ll come back to Attica and present it to the king. The war will finally be over and then…” My voice trails off. I don’t know what will happen when we return. Adan will be arrested and put on trial. He is Tressenian, the prince no less. I do not think my king will spare him any mercy.

“We’ll be okay,” Adan tells me, seeing the worry in my eyes. “Come on, we need to keep going.”

He turns, his steps light, and heads for the border again. I follow more slowly, my eyes fixed on his rigid posture, and I can’t help but feel like I am about to lose him forever.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. 11

excerpt from: flickering

prompt:14. “I can’t come back.”

“Are you sure about this?” Adan looks deep into my eyes. Behind us, Kaylee waits, holding the reins of the horses. “You don’t have to do this, Anys. You’ve done so much for me already, I can’t thank you enough.”

I think about how many times I thought I was going lose him. When I thought I had lost him forever. “This is for me,” I say, taking his hands in mine. “I can’t live without you, Adan, it would kill me.”

Adan pulls me close and rests his forehead against mine. “Gods,” he whispers, “I love you so much. I want you by my side forever.”

I close my eyes as he kisses me softly. I want a lifetime of this: of his soft touches, of his lips against mine, of his arms around me. Adan pulls away slightly and his eyes are so tender I can feel tears pool in my eyes. Once upon a time, his eyes would be filled with terror and anguish, but now they are bursting with love. 

“I can’t come back,” Adan says, “you know that right? If you want to stay here in Attica, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“I love you,” I shake my head, “More than I have loved anyone. Attica will go on, just like how Tressen will go on without you. Together, we can forge a new destiny elsewhere. That’s all I want.”

Adan closes his eyes, as if he still can’t believe I would choose him over my country. But hadn’t I proved that over and over? I am certain in my love for the Tressenian prince and I know that wherever he goes, I will go. “One day,” I murmur to him, “they will remain convinced that you are dead. When they are no longer looking for you, we can come back. Or we can keep travelling until we find the edge of the world; I don’t care.”

He kisses me again and I fall into it with urgency. I am leaving behind everything familiar, but I am keeping the one thing I know I will love forever.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 12

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 11. “It’s not always like this.”

I can see the dismay on Adan’s face as he stares around at his city. The grime and muck of the slums cake our shoes as we walk through the mud and trash littering the city. There are homeless squatting around, glaring at our moderately clean clothes as we walk by. People are fighting for meager amounts of food in front of stores.

Adan shakes his head in disbelief. “It’s not always like this,” he says, “I’ve only been gone for a year.”

The pain on his face breaks my heart. I can tell he loves this city, just like he must love his country, and the deterioration of it must come as a shock. I think about how Attica has been faring this year, how the war has been destroying towns, causing people to flee towards the inner cities. The more people there are, the worse the slums get.

His steps slow as he tries to take in everything, and even though my heart quickens at the thought of someone noticing us and recognizing him, I let Adan process it at his own pace. I owe it to him, after all, considering how I was turning his world upside down, forcing him to choose me instead of his country.

A moment of doubt flickers through me. What if Adan betrays me? What if he turns on me and lets his father take me prisoner? I find myself wanting to take a step away from him, as if he might grab me right now and force me to follow him.

Then I am horrified by my thoughts. Adan promised me he would come and retrieve the amethyst. He had originally allowed himself to be arrested because he didn’t want to return to Tressen. His hatred for his father trumps any love he might have towards his home country, and I had freed him to allow him a chance to disappear. I will owe him everything if he can pull this off.

As if he can sense my thoughts, Adan turns to me. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs, “I just didn’t think it would be like this. I--there must be something people can do to help them.”

“We can help them,” I tell him, “if the war stops, the countries can turn back to caring for their people, rather than throwing them to die in a war that does not need to be fought.”

Adan’s eyes are sad. “I thought I knew who I wanted to win, but now I don’t know.” He glances at me, “Are things better in Attica?”

I can tell what he’s really asking. Is my country the better country? Should we win the war? I think about what might happen after we return the amethyst to my king. He will wield the power and use it to strengthen our army. We will win the war and Tressen will have to pay for it, either through land or money. Wouldn’t these people just suffer more, with their country crumbling over the pressure of losing a war?

My head spins. Suddenly I am unsure what I want to happen. But before I can make up my mind, Adan shakes his head, suddenly resolute. “My father will do worse to Attica if he wins,” his voice is very quiet now, “This is the price I must pay.”

He cares so much about these people, I realize. Who am I to tear him away from all this? If he steals the amethyst, his father will never welcome him back. Adan will never have a chance to give these people what they deserve.

“I don’t want to be king,” Adan says, watching me carefully. He can read me too well, “It is better if Attica takes over part of Tressen; there’s still hope for them.”

I touch his arm lightly, wanting to comfort him, even if I have no good words to say. “We can only hope so.”

As we keep going, keeping our heads low, I find myself fervently praying that it is true: that there is still hope for them all.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 07

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 7. “No, and that’s final.”

“I’m going down with you,” I say for the fifth time as we crouch in the shadows of the trees and gaze down at the Tressenian palace. “You need someone to watch your back when you’re stealing the amethyst. Come on, tell me the layout of the palace again.”

Adan refuses to look at me. “You are going to stay here,” he say quietly, “I’ll be back by morning. I promise.”

I grab his arm and spin him around, my eyes flashing furiously in the dark. “I’m not letting you go alone, so you can get that idea out of your dense head.” He is just as angry, frustration boiling over along with his concern for me.

“No,” Adan replies flatly, “you can try to follow me but I won’t let you. I’ll tie you to this tree if I have to.”

“With what?” I spit out, “I’d like to see you try.”

Adan wrenches his arm out of my grasp and for a fleeting second, I think he is going to hurl himself down the hill and disappear. I tense, ready to run after him if I must. But Adan stays where he is, his body rigid as he glares at me. “Anys, I can’t afford to lose you. You won’t be safe in there and I can’t spend every moment worrying about you.”

“And you won’t worry about me here?” I hiss, “I’m in the middle of enemy territory and you think leaving me here will be safe? It’ll be better if I go with you. I’m good at keeping quiet and I can watch your back.”

“No,” Adan repeats.

“Adan--”

“No, and that’s final.” Adan snaps.

Anger rockets through me but I notice how there is an overwhelming amount of fear in Adan’s eyes. My fury melts and I reach out and brush my hand against his arm, unwilling to grab him in case I give him the wrong impression. “Adan,” I murmur, drawing closer, “I will be safe, I promise. But I can’t stand letting you go by yourself. I can’t risk you going there by yourself and letting something happen to you. Please, I need you.”

Adan closes his eyes. A shudder runs through him and I realize how afraid he has been this entire trip. “I will be okay.” I vow to him.

The boy leans into me and releases a long breath. “Okay,” he whispers, “Gods, Anys, I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.” I can barely stand how close he is. I want to hold him, and keep him here where he will be safe, but I know we have to go. And I won’t lose you.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. 09

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 29. “I’m doing this for you.”

I clutch the two lockpicks in my hands and hiss in the dark to where Adan is. He stirs slowly, still weak from hunger and dehydration and I wish I had brought more than the bit of bread and water. “Adan,” I whisper again, a little louder this time. “I need your help.”

He lifts his head, blinking at me. “Anys?” He murmurs, “What are you doing here?”

I hold up the lockpicks. “I don’t know how to use them so you need to help me. How do I open the lock?”

Adan’s eyes are alert now. “What? Why do you need to pick the lock? You got permission yesterday to visit me.”

I shake my head. “I can’t get you out of here when soldiers are standing guard behind me. Right now is the perfect time. There are only guards at the entrance of the prison but I slipped in when they had a rotation. We need to hurry.”

Adan pushes himself up slightly, looking suspicious. “Anys, why are you trying to break me out of prison?”

I stare at him, unable to form the right words to tell him. Why am I here? Don’t I care about justice? This boy before me stole my king’s most powerful weapon and handed it to his father, the enemy. When I realized how he had been using me, I hunted him down until we arrested him. It should please me to see him behind bars, awaiting execution.

Adan narrows his eyes. “What do you think I can do, Anys?” He crawls a little closer and goes as far as the chains let him. “This is more than just getting me out of prison, isn’t it? You want me to steal the amethyst again.”

I am startled by this. I hadn’t really thought about what I wanted Adan to do after I helped him escape his execution. All I knew was I didn’t want him to die. I hadn’t even considered how Adan could help me win the war.

Something flickers in Adan’s face and he turns away from me slightly. “If you insert the two lockpicks into the lock, you’ll feel tumblers and you need to push one of the lockpicks up and turn the other as if you are turning a key. This will get the lock to open.” I can’t read the expression on his face but I swear his shoulders hunch in resignation and hurt.

I do as he says and hurry inside into his cell and kneel to undo the chains on his hands and feet. Adan says nothing as I work and when I get his hands free, he takes the lockpicks from me and quickly removes the chains on his feet. “Okay,” he says quietly when we are done, “I’ll steal the amethyst from my father.”

“That’s not--” Shock pulses through me at how willing Adan is to betray his father. “That’s not why I’m doing this.”

Adan peers at me. “But you want the amethyst back, I know you do.”

Bewildered, I nod. “Of course I do. The amethyst would help Attica win the war, but Adan...I’m doing this for you.”

The boy falters, his hair falling over his eyes, shadowing them. “You shouldn’t be. I’ll help you, Anys, I know every inch of my father’s palace better than he does. I know I can steal the amethyst back without him knowing.”

He staggers to his feet and I dart after him, reaching to steady him. “You don’t have to,” I protest, “I just want you to be free.”

Adan pauses and he gives me such a tender look that I shudder. “I owe it to you, Anys, for everything I’ve done to you and Attica.”

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 08

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 25. “I could really eat something.”

The prisons are dark and I move my way cautiously through the tunnels, guided by the dim light of the torches before I find Adan. I am here this time without the permission of the king, so I crouch down in front of the bars and call out softly to him.

He is laying on his side, his eyes closed, and his hands tucked under his head to act as a pillow. Chains run from his wrists to a bolt in the floor, and his ankles are manacled together. It is like looking back in time and finding Adan wasting away only a few weeks before.

“Adan,” I hiss through the bars again when he doesn’t stir.

He jerks awake with a clank of his chains and I wince as the sound echoes off the stone walls. “Anys?” He whispers, groggy with sleep, “What are you doing down here?”

“Coming to see you of course.” I press myself up to the bars, wishing I knew how to pick locks so I could join him inside. I want to touch him, to hold him close to me. He doesn’t seem real otherwise.

Adan shifts, rising to his hands and knees and crawling as close as he can get to the front of his cell. The chains force him to stop just a few feet away, and I hate the distance left between us. “You shouldn’t be down here,” Adan frowns, “what if the king catches you?”

“I don’t care,” I say fervently, “I had to be sure you were all right.”

He looks no worse for wear. The last time he was arrested, the soldiers had starved and beaten him the entire journey home, but this time he is free of bruises and mistreatment. He does look a bit gaunt, I think, and my heart pulls towards him. “Do you need anything?” I ask, “I can try to get it for you.”

“I could really eat something,” Adan replies wryly, but he shrugs. “I’m fine. It’s not so bad down here, really. I knew it would happen and so did you.” He gives me a hard look. “This time, don’t do anything rash, okay?”

“Like what?” I am stung by his sudden anger. “Like rescuing you? Is this what you want, Adan? To die?” I shake my head, unable to find the words to explain my frustration, my need for him to stay.

Adan sighs, a quiet breath that escapes him. “Anys, I’d do anything to stay with you. But would it be worth it? To run away and keep running until the day we die? I don’t want that for you, even if it breaks my heart to be away from you.”

“I’d do it for you,” I tell him, “I’d do anything for you.”

Adan meets my gaze evenly. “Then stay here. Be happy, Anys. I know you love your country, more than I have ever loved mine. You deserve to live out your life here, where you will be safe.” His eyes soften. “I never deserved you anyway.”

Gods, he’s so wrong. He deserves more than me, more than this life, more than the way everyone has treated him. I wish I could change his fate, change his heritage so he isn’t the prince of Tressen, but just a commoner of Attica. I wish we could have met like normal girls and boys and fall in love with nothing between us.

I don’t say any of this. I reach out my hand between the bars and after a few seconds, Adan stretches his bound hands out and our fingers just barely touch. I ache for his arms around me, for his lips on mine, for his body pressed against me. But this is the closest we can get and for now, I relish the touch.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 06

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 4. “I know you didn’t ask for this.”

It’s starting to get really late but Adan refuses to slow the pace down. Even though I’m tired to my bones, I know we can’t afford to stop. Attican soldiers are tracking us from behind and Tressenian soldiers await us ahead. There is little room for rest or error.

Finally, we reach the top of the hill and Adan leans against a tree, his breath coming in gasps. Since breaking him out of prison yesterday, Adan has been flagging. He is weak from his time in prison and if this continues, Adan will faint before we can cross the border into Tressen.

“We need to rest for the night,” I tell him, panting a little myself, “we’ll kill ourselves if we keep going. Come on, I’ll keep first watch.”

Adan gives me a long look. “You rest first,” he grunts, easing himself to the floor, “I can keep watch.” He stares off into the trees, his eyes stormy and unreadable. I know he hates that he is slowing us down, but I refuse to let him kill himself being reckless.

I touch his arm lightly. “You’re going to pass out, Adan,” I say quietly, “let me take the first watch and I promise I’ll wake you up halfway through the night.” I’m not an idiot; I need to sleep as well.

Adan opens his mouth as if he is going to argue, but then looks away. He moves his hand so it touches mine, brushing his fingers lightly against the back of my hand. “I know you didn’t ask for this,” he whispers, “to be chased down by your own soldiers. To be travelling with someone like me.”

“You didn’t persuade me to do anything,” I frown at him, “I chose to rescue you. I didn’t do it for the amethyst or for my king or for justice. I did it for you.”

Adan closes his eyes. He looks so exhausted that I am tempted to just let him rest here for a few days so he can regain his strength. “Gods, Anys,” he sounds so tormented, “I don’t deserve you.” My heart breaks at how desolate he sounds.

I watch as his breathing slows and he falls asleep. I have never met someone so willing to sacrifice himself for something he believes in, without any concern for what the future might bring. Adan doesn’t have to be running back to Tressen to steal the amethyst from his father. He doesn’t have any allegiance towards Attica.

You’re wrong, I think, I don’t deserve you.

[herondalelucies]

fictober. day 05

excerpt from: flickering

prompt: 28. “Enough! I heard enough.”

“Prince Adan.” The Attican king stares at him with undisguised hatred. “You dare set foot in this country after everything you have done?” His eyes flicker to me briefly, but I meet his glare, refusing to back down.

Adan bows slightly. “Your Majesty, I have returned with a gift.” He reaches into his pocket and holds out the amethyst. There is a collective gasp around the room as everyone’s stare fixates on the glowing jewel in his palm. I can feel the magic pulsing from it and I watch Adan, who is expressionless as he holds his head high.

There is no fear in his eyes, in his stance. The king continues to look furious; he doesn’t see this as a peace offering. I didn’t expect him to, but I can feel a flash of worry for Adan as the king narrows his eyes.

“Why exactly have you come to return the amethyst you stole in the first place?”��

Adan closes his fist around the amethyst, cutting off the light. It almost feels like he broke a spell and I feel everyone take a collective breath. “I used to serve my father in fear, even when I did not believe in his cause. I would blindly obey his every order, the last of which ended with my arrest and capture.” This wasn’t necessarily true, considering the fact that Adan turned himself in when he could have easily evaded us.

“But then I met Anys,” Adan continues, “and she changed my perception of Attica and Tressan. I escaped from prison to right things and this amethyst is proof. I do not ask of anything in return, nor do I ask for amnesty. All I know is that with this amethyst, your power will return and the war with Tressan will be won.”

“How do I know that is the real one?” The king asks, suspicious.

Adan cocks his head. “Tell me, does this look fake?” He opens his hand again and lets the glow of the amethyst fill the room. There is no mistaking the magic pulsing from his hand, magic that gives our kings power. “Here,” he turns to the guards next to us, “bring this to your king.”

He holds out his hand and offers it to the closest guard, who flinches away from him.

“Enough! I heard enough.” The king stands up, his presence suddenly taking up an infinite amount of space. I resist the urge to take a step back. He sweeps down the stairs and stalks towards us. Adan doesn’t flinch; I can imagine hardly anyone would be intimidating to him after his father. The king stops in front of him and stare down at him. “Give me the jewel.”

Adan tips the jewel into his hand without a word. Everyone around us tenses, as if Adan could have tainted the jewel or planted poison in the king’s palm. But nothing happens except a pulse as the amethyst returned to its rightful owner. The king’s face barely changes, but I can see the undercurrent of satisfaction and relief.

He tucks the amethyst into his cloak and waves a hand. “Arrest him. I will decide what his punishment is in a few day’s time. Anys Song, stay here.”

Adan and I exchange a glance but he doesn’t resist as the guards grab his arm and drag him away. He just meets my gaze with clear, certain eyes and mouths, I love you. I bite my lip, trying to believe this isn’t the last time I will see him.