#aislin o’conner

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

“We seen you…” the oldest boy whispers setting wide eyes on my brother. “You were in the dungeon. They killed you.”

“They tried. A friend got me out. By the time I realized what was happening it was too late to go back for you. I’m sorry….” Castor appears genuinely guilty but also relieved to find them all safe and sound. “Did you happen to find another?” He directs his next question to me. “A girl around your age? Aislin?”

I shake my head. “There was no one else.”

“She’s dead then…”

[aisliarmacclyde]

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

I love it!!

@childrenoflight-darkness-nothing my sister made us fan art!!

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Aislin O’Conner - Hufflepuff

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Just gonna make a short thread of these cuz it’s late and I have a short attention span, first up. The twins! Ash and Adi

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Only A Matter Of Time...

An update! Finally! I’m so glad to finally have some material for this, ngl. I’ve hated not updating, but I think I just got burned out a little. Has been quite the productive time with writing this last month or so. Anyways, sorry for the wait! And the shortness of the update. 1490 words. Wanted to add more (especially in the middle) but I honestly didn’t know what else to do with it. The words aren’t fully back from the war yet. But anyways, enjoy!

[[MORE]]

Aislin fought a smile as she caught sight of Adair through the window trying to wrangle the dogs outside. She wasn’t really mad, well maybe a little about the comforter… But she couldn’t really stay it as she watched the labrador give Adair a hard time. A small and golden ball of mischief and energy that one. The German Shepherd, Jack he had called him, was lounging in the sun as Adair’s attention was split between cleaning up the mess and keeping the lab out of trouble.

Aislin shook her head as she set about cleaning up inside and starting on dinner. Just something simple that could be left alone long enough for a quick trip to the store. Two growing, and by the looks of them underfed, pups were going to need to eat.

“I’m heading to the store,” Aislin called outside, pulling the door closed behind her.

Adair, somewhat hesitantly popped into view, coming around the side of the house. “What for?”

She tilted her head to the side and nodded to the two dogs trotting behind him. “Our sons are going to need food. And something to chew on that’s not the furniture, or the garden.”

Adair grinned. “I can go,” he offered, taking the few steps needed to reach her.

“Nuh-uh, you are going to stay here and keep those two out of trouble if that’s at all possible.” Aislin placed her bandaged wrist on his chest as she kissed him.

“You still never told me what you did to your wrist,” he said.

“I sprained it when I fell for you,” she teased, causing Adair to roll his eyes a little. “Fell off a ladder at work, it’s fine,” she finally admitted when he gave her a look. Aislin shrugged her shoulders. “One of the first things I told you, remember? I’m accident prone. It happens. Not a big deal.”

“Did you get it looked at? It could—“

“I may not be a fancy doctor, but I am capable of differentiating between a break, fracture, and a sprain—“

“You’re also capable,” Adair cut in, “of downplaying a problem to convince everyone that you’re fine.”

She grinned a little, giving him another quick kiss. “You can look it over yourself when I get back, if it’ll set your mind at ease, love.”

——

“Shouldn’t you be in your own room?” Aislin questioned her best friend as she came into Ferrets room, surprised to find the smuggler in the middle of a board game with Claire.

“I got bored,” Clarissa shrugged as she completed her turn. “Don’t tell, Av.” She faked a shudder, pretending to be scared of the doctor.

“She’s not here anyways, finally took a day off. Perfect time for a jailbreak,” Ferret added in.

“Oh no, both of you are good right where you are. Avanda might not be here, but I am.”

“Eh, you couldn’t stop both of us if you tried, Ash. You know that.” Clarissa grinned, leaning back in her seat so she could see her friend. “If we wanted we could be in another country before anyone even realized we were gone.”

Aislin sighed, coming further into the room so she could check over Ferret. He let her check his temperature, and she frowned at the result. He still had a persistent low-grade fever that everyone was a little worried about. “I’m aware, unfortunately. How’re you feeling, Fer?”

“Tired of that question,” he said, though the usual hostility was gone.

“Well get used to hearing it,” Aislin said. “People care about you, you know.”

——

Aislin’s phone rang as she looked out over the river, standing in the exact same spot she had when Adair had found her that night and confessed his feelings. The exact same spot she’d been when she’d confessed her own. “I’m okay,” Aislin said as soon as she brought the speaker up to her ear; answering right on the second ring. Not a hello. Or a greeting.

She was aware of the hour, and that Adair had likely just gotten home to find all of the signs that she should be home. But had not found her. And she knew where his mind had jumped, where her own mind would have jumped should the situation had been reversed.

“Are you sure? You’re alright? Did something happen—?” Adair shot her a rapid succession of questions, unable to bite back on the worry that had clawed its way into his heart.

“I’m okay, grá. Geall. Tá gach rud breá. Just couldn’t be alone at home,” she admitted, her voice sounding small even to herself. Truthfully she would’ve been less alone than she was now, with the pups being there. But she hadn’t been able to stand looking at the same four walls. Even gardening hadn’t been a relief to how trapped she felt. Even if she knew it wasn’t home that was giving her that feeling. Or that the feeling was one she could escape from. But she could try. Or at least keep her thoughts busy while she wandered the city streets. Her feet quickly falling into a familiar path, and leading her to the bridge. “You should sleep,” she said, “You had a long shift, and not much rest before that. There’s no need to worry. I’m fine—“

“If you’re saying that, you’re not. You’re never fine when you say you are. Where are you, love?” There wasn’t a shred of tiredness in his voice as he spoke, even if he could feel the exhaustion from his work at the hospital and his shift at the base before… He was completely alert.

Aislin didn’t even try to argue further as she told him exactly where to find her. “The bridge… our bridge,” she said, knowing he’d know exactly where she meant. She thought of telling him not to come. Not to bother. That she was fine. But she could already hear his keys jangling on the other side of the line, and a disappointed yip from one of the pups as Adair made to leave the house again. And she knew there wasn’t much point in trying.

She disconnected the call without another word as soon as she heard the truck start, he needed to be focused on the road and not her. With a sigh Aislin slipped her phone back into her pocket and tried to focus her attention back on the water below her. Not that she could really see it. Her vision unfocused and her mind trapped somewhere else.

She’d spent the day with Avanda, Adelin, and Deirdre. With the wedding fast approaching she needed to pick out a dress, and the three of them had been doing their best to offer input and suggestions as their duties as bridesmaids. Clarissa had been supposed to be there, with two weeks out of the hospital under her belt she was well on the way to recovery. But Deirdre said she’d disappeared that morning, without a word and leaving her cell behind. A usual occurrence if they were being honest, but it couldn’t help the worry that both Deirdre and Ash were trying to bite back on. Not that the worry was really what was plaguing her now.

Aislin looked up at the stars as she sat atop the bridge’s safety railing. Her feet dangling as the wind whipped around her. No it wasn’t the worry that was plaguing her now. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped. Couldn’t dispel the weight on her chest that was trying it’s best to convince her that she was sinking. Couldn’t untangle the imaginary ropes knotted around her wrists. Or the lace at her throat.

None of it, real. But the memory. The feeling. Inescapable.

Aislin could hear footsteps behind her; could recognize the stride and the weight of them. Though she gave no indication that she heard them at all. Didn’t flinch as a hand snaked around her waist. Or when another came to still her own hand clawing at her wrist.

“You’re safe, ghaol,” Adair said, pressing his forehead against her back. “And you’re not alone either, you don’t have to face the dark alone. Never again.”

Aislin nodded, gripping his hand between hers. “I know.”

They stayed together in silence for a while, just listening to the river below them and the faint sounds of a city asleep until Adair helped her off of the ledge. Worried hands ensuring she wouldn’t fall as she stepped down and right back into his arms.

“I’m sorry,” Aislin finally said.

“Whatever for?”

“For worrying you so often, for not being okay. For—“

And Adair took a page out of Aislin’s own book and placed a kiss to her lips before she could continue on with what was sure to be a very long list of things that didn’t really need to be apologized for. “Hush, love. I’ll take the worry, and your pain. And everything else.”

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Aislin

Yeah we could go the easy route and say district four because Aisliar. But uh.

District 9

Castor as her mentor who won two years before.

Has seemingly zero chance. But she listens to his advice, studies the other tributes. Focuses on how she knows to survive already, and he trains her in hand to hand.

Gives her much the same advice Haymitch gave Katniss. Stay away from the cornucopia. Find water.

A darling of the capital, though not one any thinks has any chance of winning. Bright, and friendly, and soft.

Too soft.

It should get her killed.

But it doesn’t.

Once in the arena it’s stay away from as many of the other tributes as possible. Blend in. Stay quiet. Avoid confrontation at all costs.

This works... for a while.

Until the game makers decide she’s not giving them enough of a show. Traps and stunts and she’s forced closer to the others.

First kill is an accident. Self defense and she’s only been trying to disarm and down them enough to get away. But the canon after she felled them was unmistakable.

Backing away with shaking hands and a sob, only barely thinking to pick up the small bag they had carried. Knowing it was irrational for her to hope their face wasn’t in the sky that night as a fallen tribute. They were.

After that... more intentional maybe. But still always self defense. And it’s this... survival instincts that get her to the final three.

A bit of poison and she’s in the final two. A fight and she’s the victor.

And she’s fine. Bright and cheerful. Charming. Not at all haunted by nightmares and faces... or so she’ll claim. Keeps to herself once back home in nine.

A sprawling field of flowers around her house in the Victors Village. Hands only shaking when no one else can see. Nightmares only making themselves known in the dark alone. Hours spent scrubbing at skin, at blood that isn’t really there.

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Aislin Miranda O’Conner // Child of Nothing

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Name: Aislin (Ash-lyn) Miranda O’Conner

Nicknames/Aliases: Ash, Elidi, Lightbringer

Age: 22

Birthday: July 16th

Appearance: Curly black hair, always worn tied back. Dark brown eyes, freckles, with a scar running down her left eye.

Family: Her adoptive mother, and her twin sister Adelin are all the family she has ever known.

Hometown:

Special Abilities: She can manipulate sunlight, and the health industry growth of plants. As well as influence positive emotions.

Quote: “There’s another way. There’s always another way.”

Random Fact: Her and her sister were taken in by a midwife after their mother died in child birth, with no known family relations and leaving them without even a family name.

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Happy STS!! Do you heavily associate colors, animals, any other symbol to represent your characters and do these appear in your writing? Is there any symbolism in their names?

Happy STS!!!! I’ve been looking forward to answering this one all day, but wanted to wait until I was off of work so I could actually go into detail soooo

Gonna start with symbolism in their names!!

For the MC of the first book, her name Cassandra is derived from a Greek name meaning “to shine”. I picked this name in reference to her powers, which are best described (without getting into spoiler territory) as human glow stick. With some training she can manipulate light and create like orbs and stuff, even turning her power into a weapon. But for a while, while she gets a handle on things she glows blue.

And then her middle name, Faye is a French derivative from a Latin word meant “the Fates”, which connects to her being a child of prophecy. And being the one (of three) fated to save Olira (her world).

And the MC of the third book, Aislin’s name is a varient of the Irish name Aisling which means “dream or vision” which is a reference to the shared visions of the three MCs that are trying to bring them together so they can save the world.

The three MCs, Cassandra, Clarissa, and Aislin also each have another alias. Asha, Adie, and Elidi.

Asha meaning “wish, desire, hope for the future”, this name was chosen for Cassandra because she is the one fated to start it all. If she doesn’t succeed in her part of the prophecy there’s no hope for the future. So all hope rests with her.

Adie, I specifically remember meaning “dark one” but I can’t find the source... so I’m not entirely sure. And it’s been a few months. But that’s what I have written in my notes. But the name was chosen in a reference to Clarissa’s abilities of being able to manipulate shadows.

And Elidi, means “gift of the sun”. Aislin can also manipulate light, similar to Cassandra’s powers. But without getting too spoilery... Aislin’s is a more pure light, like sunlight. Where Cassandra’s is... not... (I have put a lot of thought into this and I’m trying not to give too much away but like I also kinda want to share my secrets 😅😫)

As for other symbolism.... I’m not sure???

I definitely have colours I associate with each character. Like Cassandra is blue. Aislin is green, and gold. And Clarissa is red.

For side characters: Elise has always been purple. Dragon is yellow. Castor silver. Serena is green.

And I strongly associate Clarissa with a wolf, I’m not sure if that shows in the writing or not...

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

When Castor Met Aislin...

——

Castor waited patiently for the guards to come. He didn’t pace anxiously around the cell. Nor did he struggle against the iron cuffs keeping him chains against the wall. He did nothing but sit, perfectly at ease, with his back resting against the wall on the bed of hay; ignoring the painful burning caused by the iron around his wrists... his ankles.

Anyone would say he was perfectly compliant. That he had subjected himself to his fate (whatever his fate might be). And maybe perhaps he was. Maybe in the three days spent down in the castle dungeons he had made peace with whatever was to come.

He had tried at first, to find some spark of guilt for the things he had done. The crimes he had committed. But no such spark existed. Truly, in his heart, he knew that what he had done was right and no part of himself could be found to regret his actions.

Saving that girl—that very human, very powerless girl—had been the right thing to do. Even if he had had to attack three of his own cousins to do so. Even if he could still feel their blood against his hands as he’d protected her. Had fought for her. Someone had to. Someone in this world had to stand up against the wrongs committed by those who used their power, their position, to hurt those weaker than them.

Treason.

He’d committed treason. The weight of the word was not lost on him. And maybe he should regret it. Maybe saving one girl was not worth everything he could lose. Everything he had worked for. All the pain and the late nights and the swallowing of his own tongue when it was his own skin that took on the injustices of the world. Everything he had hoped to change...

Gone.

But no. What he had done was right. Castor was sure of it. Nothing was worth letting an innocent suffer the hands of his cousins.

A commotion sounded on the other end of the dungeon, capturing Castor’s attention. He turned an emotionless gaze towards the far corner of his cell trying to catch sight of what was happening. He heard shouting. And he caught sight of a guard as they came to open his cell door—one he didn’t recognize though only four days ago he knew the faces and names of every guard stationed at the capital. For a brief moment he wonders if maybe it’s time for his trial, but no that couldn’t be right. And it wouldn’t explain the commotion, would it? They weren’t likely to come for him, while whatever chaos had started at the other ends of the dungeon was going on. It wouldn’t be smart. Too many distractions.

The sounds moved closer, and it was then that Castor realized they were struggling with a prisoner. The noises coming from the end of the room sounded almost feral, and if they hadn’t sounded so strangely feminine he would’ve assumed they were struggling with a wild animal.

Castor rose to his feet as another guard let out a loud curse, before calling for a vial of monkshood. It was a poison they often used for the more unruly prisoners. Though the main ingredient of the mixture was in fact monkshood, Castor knee it was also mixed with something else. A rare berry that would fasten the effects of the flower, causing the prisoners to drop almost instantly. Though he wasn’t entirely sure what the other ingredient was. Only that the mixture itself burned as it entered your system, like fire in your veins as it worked it’s way throughout your body. Castor learned the exact effects himself after they’d used it on him just three days ago. It was an experience he didn’t wish on anyone.

He could still feel the memory of it. How he’d clawed at his skin trying to get the burning to stop. A fire inside him that had been eating him from the inside out. It was a pain like nothing he’d felt before, and he’d writhed on the cell floor a pathetic whimpering mess convinced that he would die slowly and alone until his old second had slipped him the antidote.

A scream echoed through the stone walls, only for everything to fall silent a moment later. The fight gone completely from the other prisoner. Castor heard a grunt as the guards heaved the prisoner from the floor. Not a minute later his own cell door was being pulled open, and a young girl thrown inside. Her body crumpled to the floor and Castor struggled to his feet.

The guard tossed a vial in his direction, uncaring as to whether Castor caught it or it crashed and broke on the cobblestone. “Give that to her, or let her die,” he said as Castor caught they vial between his cuffed hands. “I really don’t care which.”

Castor uncorked the vial before he even spared the girl a glance. With a sniff of the contents his suspicions were confirmed. The antidote to the pain she’d just been subjected to. Without it, she would die, and judging by the state of her she wouldn’t last long.

He took in the state of her as he pulled her head into his lap, his touch gentle. Her brown skin was covered in more blood and grime than anything else. And her clothing was in tatters, barely covering her. She whimpered as he moved her, a broken barely there sound.

“There you go,” he said as he tilted the contents slowly into her mouth. There wasn’t much in the vial... He hoped it would be enough. “Not long now.”

Castor placed a hand on her forehead unsticking the curls that had found a home there, dried and held in place by a good deal of sweat and the blood that was still seeping from a wound along her hair line. His hand burned against her fevered skin.

“Make it stop,” she said, her voice weak and dry as she found a small moment of clarity. Her eyes fluttered open for a second, only to fall back closed as she shuddered. Her throat released a strangled sound as she writhed. “Please.”

“Just a few more minutes,” he assured. Though he wasn’t sure how long the antidote would take to work. The only thing he could remember from when Jacelyn had given it to him was their hand in his hair as they’d say with him through the pain. In his state the time it took hadn’t even registered to him. Only that it seemed to slowly fade away until nothing was left but a stinging in his veins. “That’s the worst of it now.”

When the worst of her shuddering had stopped Castor gently slid her back on to the floor, he didn’t notice the white of his shirt now stained with her blood as he examined her. He realized she couldn’t be less a few years younger the he was. Seventeen or eighteen summers at the most with as small and frail as she was. Her skin was little more than a loose sack around her bones, ribs and joints protruding.

Castor frowned as he took in her injuries, he quickly came to realize that the gash on her forehead and the monkshood poison were minor compared to the rest of the damage her body had taken. Bruising covered nearly every inch of her, and she had several broken ribs. Where there was no bruising she had multiple cuts and lacerations and where her skin wasn’t broken she was littered with dozens of scars. Wounds he quickly recognized from similar ones that had marred his own skin. This girl hadn’t gotten hurt in defense from the guards... No. She’d been tortured. Whipped and cut open.

The girl whimpered as he moved her to examine each wound. And hating himself because there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t even clean them.

“Goddesses above,” he exclaimed as he took in her back. Swallowing hard as he pulled the stripped remains of her shirt away from her skin so he could see better. Jagged lines of still bleeding skin crossed nearly every inch of her back from where she’d been beaten. “What did they do to you?”

Castor shook his head, biting back on his rage as he schooled his expression. No one deserves this. And he couldn’t help himself from thinking that maybe it would have been merciful to let the monkshood take her, at least that would have been quicker.

The girl didn’t stir again for the rest of the night, not when he set her broken bones or did his best to clean her cuts with what little water he’d been given. Her fever only worsened as the night progressed, and Castor sent a silent prayer that the Goddesses might spare her any more torment. A quick death, or a miracle.

——

“I can help her.”

Castor glanced behind him, towards the bars of a neighboring cell, when he heard the raspy voice. He’d barely even heard it, quiet as it was. His eyes met the eyes of a woman, old and wrinkled. Her brown skin deathly pale in the early morning light.

He hadn’t slept, not for the entire night. Keeping a silent watch over the girl and her worsening condition.

The woman’s hand shook as she reached through the bars. “I can help her,” she repeated. “I’m gifted.”

He shook his head, taking a glance back at the girl before him before looking to the woman again. “You’re in no condition. The strain...” He bit back the words before he could say them, it could kill you.

“I’ll die anyways,” her words were covered by a violent cough as she pulled her hand back to cover her mouth. “Let me do this. I’d rather save her than have my life wasted with execution or sickness.”

Castor’s chains rattled as he moved the girl to other side of the cell. She was light in his arms, too light. The woman reached her hands through the bars, her fingertips stained with her own fresh blood as she placed a hand on the girls stomach.

“Oh Aislin,” she sighed, her voice taking on a mournful tone.

Castor’s believe he might have seen a tear trail it’s way down the woman’s cheek, but he isn’t sure. “You know her?” he finally asks.

She merely nods while she pulls the rest of Aislin’s shirt away, wincing as the fabric sticks to the wounds. But Aislin doesn’t stir, mercifully obvious to any pain. She lays a hand over the worst of the angry flesh on the girl’s back, and a faint light pulses from her palms. The woman murmurs in a language Castor only recognizes from his trip to Mirrior forest, the faeries tongue. Even knowing it was forbidden. Using it, and the power behind it could get them both killed.

Though he supposed they wasn’t much sense in being worried about that now. He was likely facing death for his own crimes.

It doesn’t take long for Aislin’s wounds to knit themselves together, her skin glowing like the sun wherever the woman focused her magic. Castor let out a breath as Aislin side, the first sound of life the girl had made since being thrown into his cell that wasn’t filled with pain and suffering. He thought about stopping the woman as her hands began to shake. As sweat dripped from her brow and she painted with the effort. She would burn herself out if she kept on much longer. But she pressed on, not stopping until even the worst of Aislin’s wounds were nothing more than scars. Nothing but memories left behind.

“You should rest,” he told the woman as she pulled her hands away. She had a ghostly look about her now. Like death herself had swapped places with the woman in her cell.

——

“Time to leave this hell-hole forever,” Jacelyn called from the cell door. Keys rattled as they pulled it open. “King’s finally decided what to do with both of you.”

Aislin didn’t look up from her spot against the opposite wall of the cell she only pulled herself into a tighter ball as the cell door creaked open.

Jacelyn cast Castor a grim smile as they came inside the small room. And he knew whatever news they brought wouldn’t be pleasant. He said nothing as they sat down in front of the newly closed door, perfectly at ease with the criminals inside. If he was going to escape now would be the perfect time, but Jacelyn knew as well as Castor did he would never even make the attempt. He would face whatever news Jacelyn brought with them.

“How bad is it, Jace?” He looked over to his former second. Their expression betrayed the cheery tone they’d entered the cell with, and their shoulders were tense beneath their tunic.

They shrugged, forcing nonchalantness as they faced their captain. Castor might have lost his position as captain of the guard, but Jacelyn would always recognize them with the title. If anyone had brought honour to the position it had been Castor, always leading his people with respect and compassion.

Many called him a stone cold bastard, and perhaps he deserved the title. But he took his position seriously, and he was just and patient with his people. Something Jacelyn would always respect him for.

“Execution for you, you know the usual.” They forced a grin before nodding over to Aislin. “Your friend here gets a choice.”

“What choice?” Aislin demanded, finally looking up. Her voice was barely anything more than a whisper though, her body healed but her strength was not. It would take more than magic to get her healthy.

“Well,” Jace sighed, biting their lip, “you can submit to banishment and everything that entails. Or you can go to one of the chapels, further your education, devote yourself to the Gods. You can die alongside him, or go back to your.... master.” Jace’s features twisted with the word, like it tasted foul in her mouth.

Castor’s brow furrowed in confusion as Jacelyn spoke. If Aislin was a criminal like he’d assumed there was no way they’d let her anywhere near the chapels. Master? A runaway then... Perhaps a serving girl... but that wouldn’t explain the obvious signs of torture...

“I’m not going back,” she said, her voice taking on a stronger more forceful tone. “I’m never going back.”

“Good choice.” Jace nodded. “So, the meadows or one of the chapels?”

“The meadows, I have no desire to be a slave.”

“You wouldn’t be a slave, the chapels are for learning. Following the ways of the Gods, not for slave labor,” Castor cut in.

Aislin shook her head lightly, meeting Castor’s eye for the first time since she’d woken up. Which had been right before they had taken the other woman from her cell. “If you say so, your highness.”

“I’m not a prince, not anymore.” He ground out the words, his hand nearly reaching for the line now burned through his chest. It had been one of the first things they’d stripped of him burning the royal crest from his skin, right before they’d burned through the marks that signifies his place as captain of the royal guard.

“None of that matters.” Jace sighed again. “Your former title, what the chapels are for... None of it. You chose banishment.” They glanced towards Aislin. “So I have one prisoner I have to get ready for the Meadows, and another I have to prepare for death. They’ve refused you last rights, Castor I’m sorry...”

Castor said nothing in response, as Jacelyn moved to crouch in front of Aislin. “I hate to do this, and I’m sorry but I’m going to have to cuff you,” they said pulling the girls wrists away from around her knees. “Wait... what even is your name?”

“It doesn’t matter, Melody is the only one who will bother to remember it.” Aislin’s tone was bitter as she looked to the empty cell beside them. Where the woman who had healed her had been. “What’s going to happen to her anyways?” she questioned. She lifted her arms, wincing as the cuffs snapped around her wrists. Jacelyn had left them lose, but the feeling of them was something Aislin never wanted to experience again.

“I’m not at liberty to say, unfortunately.”

——

“How did someone so... human ever be appointed as captain of the royal guard?” Aislin questioned as Jacelyn led her prisoners through the dungeon.

The captain had linked them both together, a chain weighing down their wrists as they walked side beside.

Jacelyn tilted their head and turned around. They continued to walk backwards as they spoke. “Easy,” they grinned. “Be second-in-command when your superior goes and commits treason. I never thanked you for that, by the way. Your office is so much nicer than my old one.” They nodded in Castor’s direction.

Castor cracked half a smile at them, and Aislin looked at him, realization dawned in her eyes.

“So you’re that prince,” she mused. “Castor Fane Adonis, future ruler of Oclia and the highly esteemed Captain of the Royal Guard. Betrothed to the Bloodstone Heir... though you’re no one now. What did you do anyways?”

“He can tell you his story later,” Jace said. “We’re here.”

——

“Not this one,” a voice cut in as the three of them entered the room. Castor recognized one of his cousins instantly. He still had a smattering of bruises on his face from his fight with the former captain. He grinned as he took Aislin’s face into his hands. “This one goes back.”

She shrinked away from him, but the prince’s grip was firm. Jacelyn shook their head stepping between them both and forcing the prince back. “No, my orders were clear. This one gets to go.”

“Change of orders.” He tossed his shoulders, ignoring his cousin completely. A group of four other guards, all bearing the mark of a neighboring kingdom enter the room behind them. “This one goes back.”

“Just let her go,” Castor growled. “She’s of no use to you.”

“Afraid I can’t do that cousin. Now back off or your precious second dies with you.”

They carted Aislin back to the dungeons, the girl kicking and screaming as she was pulled away from the first bit of freedom she ever had a chance at getting. Castor powerless to do anything. If he’d been a free man, he could have taken them all. Gotten Jacelyn and Aislin at least out of the castle with their lives. But as it was, he knew he only had a chance at protecting one of them. And as much as it pained him he chose his former second. He didn’t know the girl. But he did know Jacelyn. He knew Jacelyn could do what he was unable to do with the guard, Castor weighed down by his title and responsibilities to the crown. But Jacelyn could make a difference.

Though only if she was alive.

He had to believe Aislin would be given another chance. Though it wasn’t likely at the hands of his cousin, or the guards behind him.

He ground his teeth as Jacelyn prepared him for the execution. He pretended he could still hear Aislin’s screams echoing down the hallway outside, though they’d long since faded.

Jacelyn stepped behind him, muttering apologies as she did so. Castor was just about to ask what for when she brought a syringe to his neck, a moment later his vision fell black and he collapsed to the floor. “Sorry, Cas, but you’re getting out of here. I never was too good at following orders.” Their words were the last thing he heard before the world was lost to him.

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

Modern AU OC Headcannons: Aislin O’Conner MacClyde

cuz like they’ve changed substantially since that OG post, as the world’s developed a bit. so here is a redo.

Not much has changed for her tbh

But like she runs a non profit with her best friend that teaches kids self defense

Because she doesn’t want anyone to feel powerless like she did

She was kidnapped at the age of six by a man known mostly as The Collector jeremy freeman

She spent three years alone with him until her “collection” was added to with Clarissa (9) and Faye (5)

He kept them caught up with their studies, teaching them a variety of topics. The girls are well learned, and well read. He also taught them various forms of dance, most notably ballet. He achieved this by hiring tutors. One of these tutors being the reason he was stopped and found out the first time we will go ahead and say tutor in question was ciáran

as he is a few years older and involved in enough underground and illegal things to be intially trusted by the collector

After she was found her mother moved her girls back to their childhood home in, we are going to call it, Dreyn. Small town. Lots of green. Everybody knows everybody. Quiet and cozy.

They’d lived in whatever city this entire thing is set in for a short time before Aislin’s abduction and they’d stayed their during the years she was gone in hopes of finding her again.

She moved back when Adelin did for school.

Aislin was going to go into a medical field but dropped out because she didn’t think she could handle it. Was really close to earning her degree.

Instead she works at the plant nursery her sister owns. Tending to plants is much easier than tending to people. Jokes on her though cuz she is now well on her way to becoming a pretty decent combat medic like the husband

Really really just wants to help make the world a better place

Ex boyfriends include, Caleb (childhood friend she dated for a little while about a year after getting rescued; things didn’t work out), Tyde (things ended amicably, as they both decided together that they didn’t work, remain good friends to this day), and at one point Maureen tried to get her to date Castor (that was a huge nope, on both parts; he’s like the brother she never had)

Isn’t that great of a cook, good at baking though. Like not so bad that, ew poison or burnt everything. But like nothing fancy. It won’t be great but can follow a recipe.

In the same vein, stress bakes. It was something she turned to as a coping method after she rejoined the normal world again. One of her more healthier coping methods tbh

Will go for days without sleeping because of frequent nightmares, and when she does sleep she is usually awake with the sun.

Has a habit of working herself to exhaustion just to keep her mind off of things

Doesn’t like small spaces, or feeling trapped.

Does most of her gardening at night, because the world is quiet and it gives her something to focus on and keep her mind busy. Sings while she does it.

Mom friend that is in need of a mom friend, cuz like takes care of everyone except herself.

Doesn’t open up that easily, always has some part of herself/past squirreled away out of shame or fear. Claire and Adair are the only ones who really know her.

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

The Roman Numerals, a separate post cuz it deserves more than the tags... and I’m probably going to get a bit wordy with my bad explanation of the things in my head.

Okay so, in CoN cannon, Cassandra, Clarissa, and Aislin, have at one point been imprisoned or captured by the [KINGDOM NAME REDACTED] Crown. For the simple fact of being a part of a prophecy that will bring an end to a certain currently unnamed tyrants reign. And for also possessing innate magic. Magic itself isn’t an uncommon thing in Olira, in fact most can learn it; to some degree. But in (we’re going to go with the name of the capital city here cuz the actual kingdom is unnamed and I can’t keep putting redacted) Dreyn, innate magic is either a tool or weapon for the king to control or it’s something to be feared.

Also, brief explanation. C C and A’s magic is different. As they didn’t have to learn it. Or study spells and rituals. Etc.. Where as, say Elise and Dragon, have spent years learning their craft.

It’s not something the king of Dreyn can control. So he seeks to imprison and then eventually destroy them as a way to keep in power and stop the prophecy.

So back to the Roman numerals. In cannon, these are actually going to be Oliran numbers, but for the sake of the AU and people getting an idea of what the heck I’m talking about... Roman.

They’re a serial number of a sort I guess, all prisoners of Dreyn get them. Castor and Tyde have them as well as Elise.

Though Elise, Cassandra, Clarissa, and Aislin also have an additional mark... well brand. Marking them as magic users and the kings property. The King’s seal/crest burned into their skin right above the numbers. (This would be something C C and A have in the AU as well, just the burn is different as it would be something associate with The Collector and not a King’s seal)

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

various aesthetics for aislin “needs to let others help her” o’conner (1/??)

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

B, y, e and a for the oc ask game thing?

Thank you so much for the ask!!

B can be found here! I don’t have anyone else that starts with that letter (that I can remember) aside from Brooke 2.0 and she’s a barely mentioned side character I haven’t fleshed out enough.

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For Y.... I can’t think of anyone tbh

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E for Eve, a character from an Old very cringy WIP

Full name: Forever Michaels

Nicknames: Eve

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Gender: Cis female

Sexuality: Straight

A song I associate with them: Outsiders by Against the Current

3 important relationships: Her older sister Jayla, her boyfriend Ethan, and her relationship with her parents.

2 fears: Facing her mistakes, the dark

1 element of their backstory:

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A is for Aislin!

Full Name: Aislin Miranda O’Conner

Nicknames: Ash, Elidi

Hogwarts House: Gryfindor or Hufflepuff

Gender: Cis female

Sexuality: grey ace

A song I associate with them: Dreaming Alone by Against the Current

2 fears: Being taken again, losing her family

1 element of their backstory: She was kidnapped as a child and held prisoner for many years, after escaping her captors she went back to them trading her life and freedom for the freedom of another prisoner she’d befriended.

[childrenoflight-darkness-nothing]

5 for Aislin?

5: Guilty pleasures?

Any and all tbh?

Like her entire thing is that she’s gonna make the world a better place, she’s gonna make a difference. Gonna change things for the better so that what happened to her won’t happen to someone else

And she’s a caretaker down to her very soul

So like anytime spent doing something she enjoys? Doing something for herself? Yeah there’s gonna be some guilt tied to that

But especially anything where she’s idle

Like reading, or even just sitting in the sun

She ends up spending a lot of time just lost in her thoughts outside and always feels a bit guilty for that because she could’ve been DOING something