#and astrid just straight up loves adventure

[puretopia]

[cherryfairytwist]

RickFic Ch8. AstriOid Belt

(Tags: minors dni/ substance use/ stalkerish behavior)

—- HELLO —-

—- INITIATING DOWNLOAD SEQUENCE MEMORY CLUSTER #8 —-

—-PULLING UP EARLIEST ASSISTED MEMORY RECORDS —-

—- NARRATION SIMULATING NOW —-

The gang had just gotten back from an adventure, now chilling outside of the garage on the drive way next to Rick’s ship. Both Rick and Astrid stood leaning against the ship sipping on beers while Morty and Summer sat on the driveway munching on some hors d’oeuvres they had stolen from an alien party they had all crashed while adventuring. 

“Did you see the look on those bouncer’s faces when we crashed through their ship’s hull?” Summer laughed while continuing to stuff her face. 

“H-honestly I thought m-more people partying on deck would have noticed something was going on.. but I guess they w-were too drunk..?” Morty also chuckled thinking back on it. 

“T-That was some smart thinking back there Astrid. K-knocking out some those unsuspecting guests and changing into their outfits. Priceless! We got to party for free all nightttt!” Rick emphasized in amusement. 

“Well I mean.. you said we had to try and keep those bounty hunters off our tail for a while..we had already crashed so why not have some fun waiting it out?” She snickered and took another swig. 

Earth Beth poked her head out of the garage door and asked, “oh there you guys are, dinner will be ready soon do you kids want to eat? Dad….?” She looked at all of them before her eyes landed on Astrid. “Oh um.. hi! You’re their teacher’s….assistant? From school..?” She asked trying to remember Astrid’s face from in passing. 

“Hello Mrs. Smith. Yes I’m Morty and Summer’s teacher’s assistant… we’ve met before I’m pretty sure.” Astrid said politely but awkwardly. 

“I remember! I didn’t mean to make that come off weird sorry… I just didn’t want to mistake you for….” She glanced over at Rick implying she didn’t want to assume Astrid was one of Rick’s one night stands, “… anyways.. would you like to join us for dinner?” She said with an awkward smile. 

“I would love to…” she glanced at the kids and then quickly at Rick, “but it’s getting a little late. I might need to head home to start grading papers sadly.” She used an excuse feeling as if she might be over stepping her bounds. 

“Oh we understand! I hope the kids are paying attention in class for you.” Beth commented. 

“Oh Mrs. Smith you have wonderful kids. They are both extremely smart and hard working.” Astrid said positively. 

Rick started to scoff before Astrid shot him a glare. 

“Oh that’s such a relief to hear! I worry they aren’t doing so well in school.” Beth peaked over to see what commotion Rick had made. 

“See mom! We’re doing just fine. We take after you and grandpa!” Summer shouted over to her mother. 

“You’re right honey… could you come help with dinner? Oh you too Morty.” Beth asked. 

“We’ll say goodbye to Astrid real quick just in case she doesn’t come have dinner. Be inside in a second!” Summer replied before her mother turned to head back inside. 

“Thanks for covering for us like that Astrid.” Summer said with a smile. 

“I didn’t cover for anything. You and Morty are smart hard working kids. Just because you’re not making straight A’s doesn’t mean you two aren’t smart.” Astrid replied honestly. 

Summer looked down at the ground with a shy smile. 

“T-thanks Astrid.. you’re a great teacher..” Morty said awkwardly before standing up. 

“Thanks for coming on adventures with us, it’s always really fun having you around. We hope you have a good night if we don’t see ya in there.” Summer said playfully but with a hint of sentiment while turning to head inside.

“Y-yeah.. you’re awesome Astrid..! See you at school.” Morty choked out before quickly running after Summer inside. 

Astrid stood there for a few seconds just smiling and looking at the garage door. It made her really happy to know the kids liked having her around.. she also really enjoyed seeing them do so well. She then chugged the rest of her beer and looked up at the dark night sky. The thought that she was still standing alone next to Rick slapped her back to reality as she tried to sneak a glance at him out of the corner of her eye. Still leaning up against the ship next to her she could feel the weight shift as he also chugged the rest of his beer. He turned his head to look down at her and then tossed his empty beer can into the garage. 

“A-Alright.” He pushed off of the ship and grabbed Astrid by the arm. 

His grip was stern but held no malice in it as he guided her around him towards the passenger seat of the space ship. Astrid looked up at him with a calm yet confused look. He ignored her face while opening the ship door, he then lightly pushed her into the seat and shut the door behind her. He then turned to go grab a pack of beers and a liquor bottle from the garage. He returned and got into the drivers seat, setting the drinks down on the floor next to her feet. Astrid felt her nerves jolt a smidge so she rummaged around in her pocket for her communicator to start playing the next song in her cue. She pulled out one of her earbuds from her pocket and put it in the ear facing the ship window. 

“So are you giving me a ride home or….?” She asked trying to cut the agonizing silence. 

“Y-yeah I guess you could say that. But first I want us to have a little chat.” He said emotionlessly while starting up the ship and pulling it up into the sky. 

Astrid felt the awkward silence hang in the air between them. She sat quietly and looked out the passenger window. The Sun and Earth started to look like marbles the farther they flew out into the solar system. She felt the temperature drop in the cabin around them, small wisps from her breath hung in the air after every silent exhale. Did she ever notice how cold it felt when they were flying in the ship before? Or was it that she had gotten used to the body heat of all four of them being in the ship at the same time? It felt like there was so much empty space between her and Sanchez. Why did it still feel like he was much too close for comfort still? Calming herself she pressed the play button, “Space Junk” by Wang Chung started to play in her ear. 

“W-what you listening to…?” He asked pointing at the device in her hand. “You should play some of t-that out loud so it isn’t so awkward in here.” He stated while handing her his equivalent of an all adapting aux cord. 

Astrid compiled and plugged it in. As the music began to play out loud she pulled her ear bud back out and put it in her pocket. She gave a curious glance at Rick, looking for any signs to pick up on, but nothing of note showed. As he started to slow the ship he motioned for her to grab him one of the beers on the floor. She pulled it out of the plastic and cracked it open for him, handing it off. He took it and started to steadily sip from it, still keeping his eyes in front of him. 

“You can have some more too obviously… you got any more of that weed?” He asked. 

“Uh yeah…” Astrid pulled out her bowl and grinder from her pocket. 

“Nice.” He said plainly. 

The silence and random songs seemed to continue for what was about only 15 minutes, but it had felt like forever. Astrid had already downed her first  two beers and taken a few hits from her bowl. Rick had tossed back three beers already as well as having taken some hits from her bowl. Finally Rick eased up the ship to a stop. The ship now silently floated adrift right outside of what looked like an asteroid belt. They sat there for a few moments silently sipping.

“So is this the part where you take the dog out back to the shed and shoot it…? And to save the kid’s feelings you tell them it ran away.” She joked cutting through the silence. 

Rick looked at her surprised and then laughed saying, “HA! No.” He smiled and then gave her a side eye, “Jesus y-you still came with me thinking that m-might have been a possibility…?” He let out a chuckle. 

Astrid didn’t reply and side eyed him curiously waiting for him to keep up the conversation. Which he did, 

“I also figured this would be a perfect opportunity for y-you to shoot me in the back of the head if you had planned on trying to kill me.” He said less amused but with a smug face eyeing her. “We are alone.” He stated. 

“Oh and you still brought me out here thinking that could be a possibility?” Astrid copied him in a mocking tone. 

They both rolled their eyes at each other and looked out their corresponding side windows. The silence hung back over them as the music continued to play. Until Rick broke the silence once more, 

“I didn’t know you could move like that… I knew you were fast but I-I had no idea you knew how to dance.” he mentioned referring to their adventure earlier that day where they had crashed the party. 

He thought back on earlier that night, impressed having seen her ballroom dance and perfectly execute other types of alien dances unfamiliar to Earth. She had moved in such a way it was simply captivating to watch. 

“You just assumed I couldn’t dance…?” She chuckled looking back at him scrunching her eyebrows playfully. 

“You’re not Human. There isn’t any way you are!” He suddenly blurted out slightly raising his voice in frustration. 

“Is that a question or are you making a statement?” She replied annoyed back. 

“Come on!” He demands letting go of the anger but a hint of frustration remained. 

“I guess you could say im not exactly from around these parts.” She tried joking in a perfect southern accent. 

He laughed and relaxed a little while rolling his eyes again, leaning off to his window side. 

“Hold on Rick. I know  it’s not like you’re going to share things about yourself with me.” She laughed. 

“That’s fucking different.” He insists. “You’ve probably already heard plenty of things about me.” A slight sting came in his voice. 

Astrid let out a sigh, “Fine… let’s play a game. We’ll call it Pinocchio because it’s like a truth and lies thing. I will answer questions if I feel like it. I’ll only show one “tell” if it’s a lie… you’ll see what I mean once we start playing.” She stated.

He arched his eyebrows and grinned curiously still leaning on his window, “Alright, I’ll bite. Let’s play.” He said shifting to lean on his knee while pointed in her direction nonchalantly. 

“How long have y-you been living on Earth..?” He cut straight to it. 

“Over all or recently?” She asked to clarify.

“Both.” He stated. 

“Well.. I’ve probably lived on Earth for a handful years.. I left but I’ve only been back for about a year now.” She shifted in her seat slightly uncomfortable but finally feeling relaxed knowing she was getting it off her chest. 

“Why are you here now?” He asked still intently eyeing her.

She replies, “sight seeing” and suddenly her nose popped out elongated a slight bit, much like the Pinocchio cartoon. 

Rick let out an amused laugh realizing she had lied. While eyeing her nose curiously, he quickly chugged another beer in entertainment. 

“W-why were you on Earth in the past?” He asked more exited. 

“For work.” She answered shortly knowing she still had to tread lightly. 

“Are you on Earth for work now..? A-And I don’t mean that “teacher” bullshit.” He said trying to skate her around using that excuse. 

“Not really….it’s complicated. But I’m “stuck” here for now.”  She paused feeling a sadness creep up on her. 

“You’re stuck..? Like crash landed?” He asked confused. 

“No.. I’m just supposed to be here for a while.” She huffed, “ I’m supposed to be on “vacation” but that’s not what it feels like.” Noticing she said a bit too much she snapped back into it. 

Shifting gears she sassily stated, “You’re running out of time!” 

Internally her heart was racing, why did she want to tell him so badly? This had never been a problem for her before with keeping secrets. 

“Jeez I didn’t know we were on a timer!” He joked and motioned for her to pass him the bowl. 

He sparked up and took a few more hits and then handed it back to her. She too hit it some and then sat it down on the dash. She looked down at the floor to see they had both drank through all the beers so she grabbed the liquor bottle of jack that Rick had brought. Astrid opened it and took a few swigs and handed it over to Rick. He took it and then looked back at her face,

“Are you human?” He asked once again wanting to hear her say it, searching her eyes for a sign. 

“Yes.” She lied with a smug grin lowering her gaze as her nose grew again humorously. 

“So what do you do? What are you?” He asked back to back trying not to chuckle. 

“You’re waisting your time.” She said sharply not looking up from packing the next bowl. 

Rick huffed and moved on, “Okay then. So you have heard of me?” He asked, not being able to help himself. 

“Yes Rick. I heard of you before I met the kids. But I didn’t think much of it, until we officially met.” She rolled her eyes and smiled knowing he was looking for an ego boost.

This relieved her knowing this one fold of his would help later if things got risky.  

“So what’s the verdict?” He asked cockily. 

“That you’re a crazy old man causing trouble.” She twirled her hair, “Definitely never a dull moment around you.” She replied with attitude. 

He laughs at her mockingly slow and leans back in his seat seeming to drop all signs of humor, “I’ll go a head and get right to what I wanted to chat about.” 

He pauses and glares right into Astrid’s eyes, “Have you been planning to hurt the kids?” 

Astrid felt as if daggers had been sent through her chest, “I’m never going to hurt your kids Rick. As for you though, that depends on how well we get along.” She quickly joked at the end in an attempt to lighten the mood but still be honest. 

“Oh yeah?! You think you can hurt me Hu…?” Rick joked already riled up a bit but calming down feeling as if she was being truthful to his questions. 

“Yeah of course. How many good years do you have left on you anyway?!” She said flirting not being able to help herself, hoping to further distance Rick from his suspicions. 

“Oh don’t you worry about that. I can stay young forever. You just haven’t seen me use my reverse age inventions.” He said crossing his arms behind his head and setting his feet up on the dash pleased with himself.

“Wait so you choose to stay looking at this age…?” She suddenly asked seriously, she couldn’t help but feel like she felt the same way but for her own human passing form. 

“Uh yeah…? What about it?” He arched his eyebrow at her confused by the change in emotion. 

“Do you do it because it just feels familiar or do you like how it looks…?” She asked almost searching for her own reason as to why she liked her default human form. 

“I-I don’t know.. I guess because it feels familiar..? I guess because I don’t like how it looks.. because it’s a reminder.. it seems natural looking to the family..?” He said searching for an explanation himself. 

He then quickly snapped out of it and wanted to know why she would ask that, “W-why do you ask? Are you age shaming me right now..?” He said pretending to be offended to cover up his actual feeling of embarrassment. 

“I don’t know! Ha! Sorry I’m just a curious person…? I mean you said you made something that can reverse your age!! So you just don’t use it that much? I mean seemed like a pretty basic question.” She laughed as well trying to cover her discomfort for the shift in the atmosphere.

Rick starts chugging some of the liquor and then slams his fist down on the dash, “f-fuck it! You wanna blow up some asteroids…?!” He said now trying to help lighten the mood. 

They sat in the ship taking turns targeting the hurdling rocks. As they both got more intoxicated they started to amp up their shared appreciation for destruction. Astrid thought about how pretty the moment was watching the ship light up after each explosion went off.  After what felt like hazy minutes of belligerent arcade like fun, Rick checked his watch and seemed to sober up a little. 

“Damn I-it’s late. I totally lost track o-of time. Sorry about that, w-we’ll head back.” He said trying to make up for taking up her evening time after she said she needed to get home.

“Ha, it’s fine. I’m glad we got t-that sorted out.” She said with a goofy buzzed smile. 

“You sure you’re not trying to kill me? Now’s your chance.” He pauses and then said, “We are alone.” In a slightly more suggestive tone. 

“I told you already Sanchez…” Astrid looked away pretending to be annoyed but catched her own eye in the window reflection feeling her face flush. 

They headed back mostly riding in silence enjoying music or commenting on random things they saw while flying. They got closer and closer until they slowed down right in front of her apartment. Rick slowly started to lower the ship but then Astrid, in her oblivious state, popped the ship door open. She hopped out and turned to say goodbye with a smile. Rick awkwardly smiles back embarrassed she didn’t wait so he could  have gotten the door for her. 

“Uh.. night Astrid.. h-have a good evening.” He said not quite knowing what to say. 

“Night Sanchez!” She said with a grin, patted the side of the ship and then turned to head towards her door. 

“Also I-I told you already! D-Don’t call me Sanchez!” he playfully joked in hopes to get her to call him that again. 

“Whatever Sanchez.” She said back jokingly, just like he had hoped. 

Once Rick was sure Astrid had made it inside, he pulled the ship up at rapid speed. He hurdled the ship past the block between her apartment and the Smith house. The radio now playing some random alien channel after Astrid had taken her communicator off the aux when leaving. He allowed himself to smile only for a moment before landing the ship and sprinting out of the door and into the garage. He punched in his secret code to the hatch door in the floor and jumped down into the upper part of his basement lab. He went to his elevator and punched the floor number for his super computer room. Once there he ran to it quickly punching in all kinds of commands and running all types of searches. His mood went from pleasant to maddening as he tried to piece together any information he could find on Astrid. Cursing and mumbling to himself as he kept playing back loops of footage he had gotten of her fighting when they had gone to rob the bank. Over and over the loop of her snatching out the fire alien’s eyes played in one corner. In another was the footage of her kicking the bug cyborg into the bank counter with incredible force. In the last corner he played the footage of her dancing that night from the party they had crashed. He watched all of them intensely while waiting for other searches to come back.  

“Of course she’s not fucking human, I mean look at this shit… but who are you..?” He muttered to himself rubbing his face in frustration. 

He mulled it over for a second and muttered, “are you a shape shifter..? Someone with Elasticity powers…? But then how are you so fucking fast and strong too…?” 

A few hours had gone by at this point and he had almost entirely sobered up by now. In his frustration he had thrown randoms items around the room while still searching for an answer. He had all the data from the hunting adventure they had gone on up on screen. He had all her school file information up, and even random footage and notes of her from previous times she had visited the Smith house. No DNA matches, no other records of her on earth previously to her starting work as a teacher’s assistant. 

“Who the hell are you Ms. Du Pont ?” Rick read her supposed last name from the school’s file. 

He sat back in his chair and pulled out his flask,

“Let’s just go ahead and find out.” He said confidently while activating the tracker he had planted on her arm when taking her to the ship earlier. 

“It’s the size of a flea so I doubt you’ll notice for quite a while.” He grinned watching her location pop up on his computer’s map. 

Rick sat looking at the tracker dot still at her apartment’s location. He took a swig from his flask and spun around in his chair lazily. After a moment of double checking, nothing else in his search had popped up. He sighed and then headed upstairs to his room for once. He turned the lights off and flopped down onto his cot. For the first time in a long while he felt like actually getting some sleep. He rolled over onto his side and opened up his watch’s screen. He sighed again knowing his computer search would take a while since not having that much information o

to go off of. He pulled up an image of Astrid’s teacher photo to look at. Rick let out one last long breath before closing his watch and eyes to sleep. 

Back at Astrid’s apartment she sat on her den floor grading papers while listening to music. Her mood had taken a turn for the better after feeling like she had made progress with Rick that evening. Her communicator buzzed as a few incoming messages popped up. She glanced down still a little tipsy from earlier. Seeing the name Reagan pop up from the notifications, she held her breath in disbelief and scrambled to open up the messages. With her eyes glued to the screen she started to read the various messages, 

“Hey Astrid” 

“Been busy at work…..”

“Sorry for ghosting you” 

“Could you come by this weekend when there isn’t anyone at the office?”

“We could catch up” 

Astrid read the massages from Reagan silently to herself. 

“Holy shit… okay.” She exhaled nervously while grabbing for her own flask she left under her coffee table. 

She sent a reply back and then laid down on the floor. 

“Here we go.” She said looking up at the ceiling now feeling exhausted. 

—- PART EIGHT COMPLETED —- 

—- SHUTTING DOWN —-

—- GOODBYE —-

[mordellestories]

Sneak peek of Chapter 6 "My Princess, My Love, Marry Me!"

Unfortunately, Bilbo soon discovers that he is allergic to the pony's hair. As he rides, he sneezes uncontrollably, his eyes water, and he feels miserable. Despite his discomfort, Bilbo soldiers on, determined to keep up with the rest of the group. He knows they’re keeping an eye on him, whether to make sure he’s okay or just waiting for his next embarrassment, Bilbo does not know. He doesn’t want to make a bad impression–it’s probably beyond saving at this point, but at least he can try to be useful once they make camp somewhere. 

His mother had taught him everything she knew about adventuring and living on the road for days at a time. And Gandalf, who is the one to blame for introducing his mother to adventures in the first place, is here as well. He didn’t know the wizard very personally, though. He’d seen him a few times in the Shire as a faunt, but that is the extent of it.

Still, he figures Gandalf is the right person to get some advice from, since his princess is quite set on ignoring him. So, he tries to maneuver his pony around with little success at first, but eventually his pony figures out where he’s trying to lead her.

The Wizard is tall enough as it is, but astride a man-sized horse, Gandalf is even more imposing. Bilbo has to look up at an uncomfortable level, but he manages. “My mother told me stories about you,” he says by way of greeting.

Gandalf barks a laugh and tilts his head down with a smirk. “I wondered whether you knew who I was.”

“Thanks for the fireworks, by the way, for my birthday.”

Gandalf chuckles. “So, you know some manners, after all. A bit late, but you’re very welcome. I was honored to be of use to Belladonna’s son at his coming of age party.”

Bilbo sniffs and lifts his chin. “Contrary to the tales of others, I am capable of being… polite. I just don’t care to be.”

“Well, then Bilbo,” the wizard warns gently, “you better start exercising your hidden knowledge of it on this journey. You should get to know the other dwarves.”

Bilbo’s nose twitches at the thought. He’s already squirming in his seat at the idea of talking to anyone else. “I hate small talk. It’s useless,” he says instead of admitting the truth even to himself.

“Lucky that Dwarves aren’t much for small talk either. They like to get straight to the point. I’m sure they will appreciate your… directness. Just as I do, dear boy.” He winks down at Bilbo, who looks away with a blush.

“You say that now,” Bilbo mutters under his breath. Then he faces Gandalf, sitting straight in his seat as he huffs with annoyance. “Why should I get to know anyone but the princess? She’s the one I want to talk to, but she doesn’t want to talk to me.” His complaint sounds more like a petulant fauntling whine than he wants to admit.

Gandalf hums with amusement and he looks down at Bilbo with twinkling eyes. “These are Thorin’s most trusted Company. If you win them over, you might just win over your princess.”

A scowl appears on Bilbo’s face before he droops with defeat. The wizard is probably right.

[tychodorian]

How TTRPGs Shaped King of Dust: Bringing the Dice to the Page

As a lifelong fan of tabletop RPGs, particularly Dungeons & Dragons, I couldn’t resist weaving those mechanics into King of Dust. The influence of TTRPGs runs deep in my story, not just in the worldbuilding but also in how my characters grow and face challenges. If you’re a fan of rolling dice to determine your fate, you’ll find some familiar elements in King of Dust.

When writing combat scenes, I actually rolled dice for Darius and his companions. Want to know if Darius successfully dodged that deadly blow? There’s a dice roll behind it. These rolls helped me keep combat unpredictable, just like in a campaign. I used skill checks for various challenges, like persuasion or strength checks, bringing that dice-rolling excitement straight into the narrative. There’s something thrilling about the uncertainty, the stakes, and the chance of failure or success hanging on the roll of a die!

In addition, I wanted the characters to feel like they’re leveling up throughout the story. Darius, Yra, and Astrid all gain new abilities, powers, and insights as they progress, much like you’d see in a traditional RPG. While I don't directly describe the stats, levels, and EXP, they do get physically more powerful as the book goes on. This progression mirrors how characters evolve in TTRPGs! Yay for nerdy writing!

While the book is familiar to fans of D&D, I’ve made sure it’s also something new for fantasy readers. It’s a blend of structured rules and freeform storytelling, making the characters’ growth feel earned, the battles dynamic, and the adventure unpredictable. So whether you love rolling dice or just enjoy deep fantasy worlds, King of Dust will bring something exciting to the table.

I still have a few hardcover preorder copies left! Preorder them here.

[thelostkingdom-if]

The Lost Kingdom is an IF combining time travel, Norse Mythology, and romance all into one.

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Action/Adventure, and Mythology.

Setting(s): Cambridge, England || Reistara

Warning(s): This story will be rated 18+ with depictions of violence, death, blood, war, sexual themes, profanity, alcohol consumption, mentions of torture, and various injuries.

DEMO (TBA)

“I always believed that death is a fate far better than life, for you will be reunited with lost loved ones.”

History is something that has always enraptured you. The paths that had been walked, the moments that had been shared, the tears that had been wept, hundreds— if not thousands— of years before you were even a concept.

And nothing intrigued you more than the mystery of the Vikings; of the nomadic warriors that seemingly vanished.

It was for this very reason why you applied for the fellowship within Cambridge; to assist in the possible discovery of a previously undiscovered Viking Village. One that could possibly change how the world saw them forever.

You just never expected that fate would have a different reason to pull you to the site.

A reason that would change your life forever…

Play as an MC that has been swept into a world that they’ve only ever read about; dreams, that felt like memories, aside.

Customizable MC: name, appearance, sexuality, hobbies, and a smattering of other things. Play as male or female.

Romance 1 of 6 possible options. (4 being gender selectable, one being male and the other being female.)

Will you figure out how to get back to the present? Will you want to?

Figure out your connection to the past and how they’ve affected the future in a way you could have never fathomed.

Uncover the secrets of the past as you unlock the connections to your future.

Discover the Kingdom many have forgotten about due to the passage of time.

Aster/Astrid [M/F] - The Second-in-Line

28 [6’3” | Emerald Green Eyes | Golden Brown Hair]

The second borne of the Jarl, as well as one of the first people to greet you, has a silver tongue and a wit quicker than anything you’ve ever witnessed; with secrets held tightly to their chest it’s hard to get a good read on them. Maybe, given time, you’ll witness the person underneath the mask of ice and snow. Possibly you’ll even be the thing that got it to thaw in the first place.

Revan/Revna [M/F] - The Healer

29 [5’8” | Blue-Green Eyes | Raven Black Hair]

With a gentle air and soft spoken demeanor, you were immediately soothed upon awakening within a strange land. Deceptively strong hands helping you sit up straight as they ask you questions about what happened to you. Will you be able to find your way into their battered heart? Or earn the trust of their raven?

Dagon/Dagny [M/F] - The Captain

28 [6’1” | Hazel Eyes | Dark Auburn Hair]

Loud and boisterous would be putting it mildly when it comes to them. With a laugh that could shake mountains, a brazen approach to life, and an ineffable smile, you’re glad that you have someone like them to stand beside you when things begin to get tough. Will something more grow as they spend more and more time with you?

Frey/Freya [M/F] - The Diplomat

27 [5’6” | Light Brown Eyes | Dark Brown Hair]

You didn’t know what you were expecting whenever you first met the diplomat— or the closest the Vikings could come— within Reistara, but the almost nurturing brown gaze, paired with a compassionate smile, wasn’t it. Especially not when they offer you a place to stay until you get settled on your own within the village. Will something else grow during that time?

Leif [M] - The Merchant

28 [5’11” | Dark Brown Eyes | Onyx Black Hair]

With a flirtatious smile and confident swagger to his hips, Leif wasn’t one that many could turn a blind eye to. Especially not when he was one of the main connections to Reistara and the outside world. Will you be able to dig a little deeper and see the golden heart underneath his brazen exterior? Or will you simply be two ships passing forever in the night?

Ingrid [F] - The Huntress

32 [6’2” | Crystalline Blue Eyes | Golden Blonde Hair]

The promised bride of the first borne of the Jarl, Ingrid was as stoic and cold as the region in which she hailed from. Her frigid exterior only ever thawing when around her trusty steed Sleipner and her faithful hound Hakan. You weren’t sure what you did exactly that caused her to dislike you so, but she barely spares you a second glance after being introduced to you. Will you be able to find the golden heart laying beneath? Or will she forever be an enigma to you?

[stealth-liberal]

The more I read about unicorns and reblog unicorn art on here the more I realize just how WRONG I got unicorns when I was a little girl. Unicorns are peaceful, they are drawn to genuine goodness and kindness. The cruel people of the world cannot hope to gain their friendship or their time. Yeah, there's some troubling female virginity thrown in to hate on women in a certain era of Christian history. Mostly though it's been a gentle, soft and kind mythical creature seeking the same in the humans they appear to.

I was never really a unicorn girl as a child and my only real exposure to them was the animated movie The Last Unicorn and later the book it was based off of by Peter Beagle. In that story I fell in love with Molly Grue, a tough as nails middle aged woman somewhere between 40 to 55 who befriends a unicorn and yells at her: "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DAMN YOU WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS NEW AND YOUNG? HOW DARE YOU COME TO ME NOW, WHEN I AM... THIS!"

The unicorn nuzzles her and says "I'm here now and that's all that matters."

Molly goes on to have the love of a younger man, a magician, and goes on the adventure of a lifetime. She takes names and takes no bullshit and she does it while helping a unicorn save her kind. Even as a little girl I loved what I called "Molly and her unicorn".

So... this brings me to how I managed to get unicorns so very, very, wrong. Did I envision a noble and gentle creature? No ma'am. I envisioned a fierce creature with a damn sword-horn sticking out of their head. A magical battle steed of the best kind. In backyard pretend fantasy games I ALWAYS rode into battle astride a unicorn. Brandishing a sword of my own and screaming "I REGRET NOTHING!" at the top of my tiny lungs.

To be sure, all my playmates thought my choice in magical battle buddy was very strange, but let it go.

My unicorn was always straight up murder stabbing enemies on the battlefield. Yeah... somehow I think I managed to miss every piece of gentle unicorn messaging and went straight to horn equals murder. I was a strange little girl.

So yeah, my inner child unicorn fantasies were NOT the normal ones. I also think the other unicorns would have fired my imaginary unicorn from their unicorn club.

[fatefulfaerie]

Kissing Cold Noses

December OTP prompt #4/31

It seemed distant, the way the breeze blew, the way the wind warred, the way the gales gabbled, and the way the blasts battled. It seemed almost too distant as the night air only brushed upon Astrid’s skin, touched gently like that of a mother’s hand. It felt odd to miss the way the air used to slice at her skin, the way the clouds were sights she took for granted, and the way she almost, almost wanted to be caught in Toothless’ talons just one more time.

That risk, that adventure, that was for their younger selves. That dragons that bled so much into their lives were now healing on their own.

Astrid shifted her position in Hiccup’s arms. She felt him place his lips on the top of her head and grace her ragged, unruly blonde hair with the sweetest and softest kiss before his head leaned on hers.

“It’s quiet,” she finally said.

“Too quiet?” Hiccup asked. Astrid didn’t respond and didn’t need to. She knew they understood each other.

“Isn’t it weird?” She asked. “That we miss the risk of it all, that we have a perfect home here and we’re…bored?”

“I could push you off the island,” Hiccup suggested. “Dust off the old gliders, try and catch you before you hit the sharp rocks off the edge of Gobber’s cliff.”

“You know what I mean,” Astrid said.

“Yeah, I…I know,” Hiccup said. “I keep sleeping in because Toothless isn’t here to wake me up at the crack of dawn. It sounds better but…”

Hiccup didn’t finish.

“Well it’s an adjustment, is all,” he said. “We’re not young and adventurous anymore.”

Astrid pushed herself out of Hiccup’s hold.

“Ugh,” she scoffed. “Speak for yourself.” She stood up off the bench and pointed a thumb at her chest. “I’m plenty young, and we can have adventures without our dragons.”

“Alright,” Hiccup said, standing up, gesturing towards the forest. “Let’s have an adventure.”

“Now?” Astrid said. Hiccup took her hand. “It’s cold.”

Hiccup gave her a looked of bemused unasument, believable disbelief, and unconcerned concern all in one.

“You’re cold,” Hiccup said. “Miss ‘fly the Northern mountains in a tank top’ is cold? Domestic living has spoiled you hasn’t it?”

“Maybe,” Astrid said with a slight blush. “You keep me warm.”

Hiccup’s eyes sank in love.

He pecked the spread of red across the bridge of her nose and, by now, their faces were inches apart.

“My lips are cold too.”

Hiccup smiled and leaned in for the kiss, and he just before he neared her lips he blew air straight onto them and ran of with a boyish smile, just at the right speed so that Astrid would give chase and quickly, and it was never quickly enough even though it was within seconds, tackle him to the ground.

[hiccanna-tidbits]

this is a genuine, curious question! what's appealing 2 u about jackunzel :^] ??

Sure, I can talk about why I ship Jackunzel!!!

@gryffindorkxdraws has some posts about why she likes Jackunzel here, here, and here, so those are a pretty good rundown of reasons to supplement mine. But I’ll make a list of my own!

Why Jackunzel Owns My Entire Soul: An Essay in Disorganized Bullet Points ~I dig the sun/moon symbolism! Like Jack was chosen by the moon and Rapunzel has the powers of the sun. It’s such a nice contrast, and it also lends itself really well to star-crossed lover-type fantasy/fairy tale AUs (which I am ALWAYS a sucker for!) ~From what little we know about Jack’s preference in girls (i.e. the slight crush he seemed to have on Tooth), Rapunzel seems like EXACTLY his type--bubbly, energetic, optimistic girls with a bit of a maternal streak. I think even the RotG director confirmed Punz is the kind of girl Jack would like! ~Jack also absolutely seems like Punzel’s type--if Flynn/Eugene is anything to go by, she’s kind of into sarcastic troublemakers with a hidden soft side XD And she also seems to like guys who are good with kids, if Eugene reading “The Adventures of Flynnigan Rider” to the younger kids at the orphanage is anything to go by! ~They both seem to be naturally pretty social people who suffered a lot from being isolated for a really long time--Jack had it worse, obviously (300 years--OUCH), but it was rough on Punz as well, growing up for 18 years with no one for company but Mother Gothel and Pascal. Jack, spending all that time with no one able to see him and only the guardians (who weren’t even really his friends from much of that time) for company, would understand that pain a lot. I feel like they’d be able to connect on a really deep and intimate level about the pain they felt at being isolated for so long, and this would give them a really strong bond that I can easily see turning into something romantic. ~They’re both just such genuinely lively and fun-loving people, and I can imagine them having a ton of fun together and just genuinely really enjoying spending time together. Like imagine the snowball fights!!! The ice-skating!!! The sledding!!! Chasing each other through the forest!!! Jack grabbing onto Punz and her wrapping her hair around a tree and swinging them around Tarzan-style!!! Like literally the entire scene where Punzel leaves her tower for the first time and is goofing off and doing Silly Shit for like an hour straight??? Like man...if Jack was there, they’d have the TIME OF THEIR LIVES together. Idk I just really love couples who I think would have a lot of fun together, it’s so pure <3 ~They’re both so loving!!! Like Rapunzel goes out of her way to be supportive to an entire tavernful of terrifying “ruffians and thugs” because they have dreams, and she’s so sweet to Flynn/Eugene no matter how many times he snarks at her and tries to alienate her!!! And Jack loves loves LOVES entertaining kids, and it genuinely makes him so happy to give them snow days :3 I just feel like they’d shower each other with love, and it’s honestly no less than they both deserve!!! ~Rapunzel especially is such an affectionate person, and I can see her doing just absolutely everything in her power to make Jack feel as seen and as loved as possible after 300 years of being alone. And god, does he NEED it, too. Like no way is this boy NOT touch-starved, and with some MAJOR self-esteem issues (although he’s good at hiding them). Rapunzel would do absolutely everything in her power to build him up and make him feel wanted and validated--and since it’s in her nature to do so, it would never feel like a burden or an effort for her. And she’d love him so much that hyping him up just comes naturally! She’s just got the kind of nurturing personality that someone as affection-starved as Jack really needs, and I think she could help him feel safe, comfortable, and loved in a way a lot of people couldn’t. ~For all the fun they’d have together, I also feel like Jack needs someone to ground him a bit and provide the Brain Cell to perhaps reign in that Unchecked Chaotic Energy of his sometimes XD Rapunzel certainly has a smart and rational side--I mean, she charted STARS as a teenager!!! She figured out how to get this stranger she captured to take her into the kingdom to see the lanterns!!! Girl can be spontaneous and goofy, sure, but she’s got smarts and kind of a mature streak that I think mesh with Jack really well. He’d never feel like she was a wet blanket stifling his fun, but she’d also have a sense of when to transition away from goofing off and focus on responsibilities (princess and guardian responsibilities in this case, I suppose?) ~On the flipside, I don’t see Rapunzel as being someone annoyed or irritated by Jack’s antics. She might like...gently scold him if he takes a prank too far, but she never finds his shenanigans to be grating and tiresome the way other people might. Rather, I think she’d be endlessly entertained by him. Like in his memory reel when he’s dicking around pretending to be a deer, she’d get a kick out of that! Jack would always be trying to make her laugh and make her smile, and Punz would love that so much about him! ~They’re both searching for a deeper meaning and a deeper sense of purpose in their lives. Rapunzel entertains herself with hobbies, but doesn’t feel like her life has really “begun” and is desperate to find out if her hunch is right and the floating lights really ARE meant for her. Jack has no idea why he was chosen by the moon or what he’s meant to do, and he’s determined to find out so he can finally have a sense of purpose. Rapunzel clearly wants a sense of purpose too, since she wants to do more with her life than pass the time with hobbies. I can definitely see them bonding over this! ~They’re both just so adventurous, and love to explore! Rapunzel is curious, and loves to read and learn, and she wants more than anything else to see the world and all it has to offer. Jack loves adventuring and flying around the globe spreading winter and fun, and he could show Punz everything she ever wanted to see. A perfect match, honestly! ~Aesthetically I LOVE the similarities!!! Like they both like to go barefoot, kinda showing their free-spirited natures. And I love how they’re both naturally brunette, but had their hair turned a different color by magic. It’s a little thing, but I think it’s a really neat parallel and it helps cement me thinking they really ARE perfect for each other in every little way! Haha XD AND they both have small green companions, and as of Ralph Breaks The Internet, they’re hoodie buddies as well!!! Not that surface-level parallels like that are actually that significant BUT I just think they’re neat XD ~While I am fond of Flynnzel/Eugenzel (still my favorite canon Disney couple!), finding out their age gap is around 8 years admittedly made me a bit uncomfy and just pushed me further into loving Jackunzel as an alternative option. I still really love Eugene as a character and adore his and Punzel’s dynamic, but these days I prefer their relationship as more of a big bro/little sis type thing. Jack I think is the best match for Rapunzel romantically, and Eugene I prefer with Elsa--or poooossibly Tooth, Astrid, or Zarina, if I read a fic that sells the pairing well enough! ~On a related note, I was into Jack x Tooth the first time I watched RotG, but after discovering Jackunzel, there was no going back--I was hooked! Rewatching the movie, Tooth strikes me more as a mom figure/”fun aunt” for Jack, and I actually prefer her with Bunnymund (I am WEAK for “the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one” lmao)

Well, I think that just about covers it!!! I’ll add more reasons if I think of them! Thank you for the ask, and I’m always happy to answer more ship asks about CGI crossover pairings :3

Also @ the anon who asked for Jackunzel headcanons--fear not, I shall provide them!!! I just wanna make a complete list and accumulate all the ones from my various fics so it’s gonna take a while XD

[thesurielships]

"I love you." "No you don't." + "You deserve so much better." for Cruel Intentions, maybe? i'm scared of what i'm asking for lmao

ivy (feysand)

note: hey! thank you for the prompt. i don’t see it fitting into cruel intentions, and it somehow worked itself into this one. i hope you don’t mind :))

also this is a whopping 3.5k, which is massive for me, and it’s a bitch to edit. but i will not say anything negative. i hope you enjoy!

evermore | masterlist | ao3

in from the snow, your touch brought forth an incandescent glow

Winter was a dreadful season in Springtime, which Feyre always found quite ironic. However, it was a fact she had grown to treasure as she watched her mother and Tamlin go to the stone every day, keeping her father better company than he’d ever had when he was alive.

Feyre smirked as flurries of snow hit the glass windows of the library. The howling wind was like music to her ears, a heady promise of the suffering of her two least favorite people in the world.

Ah, it really is the little things.

Suddenly, a rock slammed against the window, jolting her out of her content musings. Her hand flew to her heart, reigning in the sudden panic. Another rock hit the glass, then another, and Feyre jerked the window open before a fourth could effectively break it and ruin her only refuge in Springtime.

She scowled down at the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this isn’t a door, sir.”

His answering grin was cocky, self-assured and way too attractive for a stranger drenched in snow and shooting rocks at unsuspecting windows.

“But you answered all the same.”

Her fists clenched, longing to make contact with his perfect face, but she remembered he was out in the snow and she was inside, near a blazing fire. Instead, she shot him a saccharine smile. “May I ask who you are?”

“I am freezing.”

A dry laugh escaped her, surprising her. It had been a while since she had laughed at all. “That does not answer my question.”

He shrugged impossibly wide shoulders, and Feyre was momentarily side tracked by the way his riding clothes hugged his powerful figure.

“Where is your horse?” she belatedly asked, after she had meticulously perused him.

He tilted his head, a knowing smile curving his lips. “In the stables.”

“Are you ever going to give me a straight answer?”

“Only if you let me in.”

She rolled her eyes, and was about to shoo him away when the wind picked up and snow blasted inside the room. She trembled in her thin gown, and dared a glance at the handsome stranger. His teeth were chattering.

Her hesitation must have shown on her face, because he was soon jumping up, offering her his hands. She didn’t let herself think about it before she grabbed them and pulled.

He was heavy and his hands were indeed freezing, but between her wheezing efforts and the way he gracefully scaled the wall, they managed to get him up and through the window before they both fell into a heaving heap on the floor.

“So?” Feyre inquired, still panting.

He sat up and crossed his legs. “I am Rhysand.”

He offered no title, no last name, yet she knew exactly who he was.

Tamlin’s long sworn enemy and diplomatic friend.

Surprise and delight glimmered in his eyes. Eyes she could now see were a lovely shade of violet. “You know who I am.”

“Who doesn’t?” she shot back defiantly as she stood up, straightening her dress.

“Ah,” his eyes followed her as she closed the window and checked on the fire. “My reputation precedes me.”

“Indeed.”

“So does yours, Miss Feyre Archeron.”

She raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Indeed.”

He chuckled. “A woman of few words, I see.”

“And a man who insists on sitting on the ground when a lady is standing next to him.”

“Forgive me,” he said unapologetically as he rose to his full height, towering over her and suddenly closer than she had expected. Her breath caught. “I tend to forget my manners.”

 my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand, taking mine, but it's been promised to another

The next time Feyre saw Rhysand, he strode in through the doors of the library. He was staying at Springtime manor as Tamlin’s guest, awaiting the upcoming house party. She was surprised to find him here as he had all but pretended she didn’t exist the past few days.

“Is this what you call character growth?” she asked from her perch near the fire, closing her book around her finger to mark the page she was reading.

His steps were languid but assured as he prowled towards her, and Feyre’s heart rate picked up. Anticipation pooled like hot liquid in her gut, and she reflexively licked her lips. His eyes tracked the motion, irises darkening. His steps stuttered for a brief second before his insufferably irreverent smirk was back on lips that had felt sinfully soft on the back of her hand. Customary greeting kisses were dreadfully brief.

“Character growth,” he repeated, “is what is going to hit you, Feyre darling.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected endearment. Heat rushed to her face and she scowled at the cause of the troubles of her bodily functions.

“I am not leaving this spot.”

“Not even for an adventure?” he asked, gesturing to the book in her lap. The adventures of Tom Sawyer.

There was no stopping her curiosity, so she didn’t even try. “What adventure?”

His only answer was a mysterious grin, and soon Feyre was riding astride a magnificent horse, her hair whipping around her and her shouts of glee resonating in the forest surrounding the manor.

She had always wanted to explore it, but Tamlin was always too busy or it was too cold, or her mother needed to visit her father’s grave, again. The Cauldron only knew there was no love lost between her parents, and Feyre wondered what the real reason behind these daily visits was. She didn’t care enough to find out, and refused to join them even when they asked.

Why would she, when it was the perfect opportunity for sneaking off?

“Where are we going?”

“To the top of the world.”

She snorted at his cheesy reply, but soon enough, they stopped at the edge of a cliff overlooking sprawling woods of snow covered pines. Feyre’s eyes went wide, drinking in the details she hoped she could one day get right on canvas.

“Doesn’t this beat books?” came Rhysand’s cocky question.

She gave him a smirk. “Barely.”

He kept quiet as she marveled at the beauty unfurling in front of her. From her vantage point, she could see kilometers upon kilometers of dense woods. Snow gilded the majestic pine trees in glittering silver, and the occasional bird squawked in delight as it flew overhead.

Her shoulders loosened and a wide smile broke free. She really felt like she was on top of the world.

That must be why she was intrigued and all too willing to follow Rhysand as he guided her to their next destination, though she doubted anything could surpass this.

“It has just occurred to me that I am a very easy target right now,” Feyre remarked as he signaled for her to slow her horse.

“Target for what, darling?”

“Murder,” she supplied helpfully. “Or maybe something more romantic. Like the ravishing of a maiden,” she mused aloud, her gaze carefully trained on his face.

He rolled his eyes, the smallest smile pulling one side of his lips upward. “You seem to be the one with ulterior motives.”

She shrugged.

“Hardly. You –” The words died on her tongue as her eyes fell on a pocket of swirling starlight, tucked right there into the icy muddy ground.

“What’s that?” she breathed quietly, afraid to shatter the illusion.

“A pond.”

She whipped her head towards a smirking Rhysand. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Are you by any chance… Fae?”

He blinked, then threw his head back and roared. Feyre couldn’t stop her smile as he laughed himself to tears.

“What kind of books have you been reading, darling?”

She raised her chin. “Good ones.”

He shook his head, his smile tainted with surprise and disbelief. He jumped off his horse and tied it to a nearby tree. Feyre peered at the ground uneasily. She could mount a horse just fine, but she always had trouble getting down.

Rhysand offered her a hand silently, without teasing.

She accepted it, with no comment on his freezing hands.

Incandescent warmth spread out from their twined hands and seeped through her ribs to pour into her chest. Rhysand was staring at her in wonder, and she pulled away before she did something reckless.

Like ravishing him.

As if he was privy to her depraved thoughts, he barely turned around before he started to undress. His shirt, then his breeches fell to the ground, and the warmth veered south as she beheld his muscled back.

“It’s so warm,” he purred as he stepped into the water. “Legend has it Hell is just under here.”

Feyre gave his back an unimpressed look.

“Or maybe it’s my magic.” He peeked over his shoulder just as her eyes caught on the drops of water racing down his neck. “Are you just going to stand and stare?”

Her spine straightened at the challenge in his voice. She undressed slowly, putting on a show, but he averted his eyes, suddenly a gentleman.

Feyre’s dress joined his clothes on the muddy ground, and she joined him in the hot waters.

In a rare moment of clarity, she realized this was no feat of magic, and no work of Hell.

The water was boiling from the fire blazing under her skin.

he's in the room, your opal eyes are all I wish to see

If she had to accept another stranger’s congratulations on her proposal, Feyre was going to lose her sanity.

It hadn’t been three months since her father’s death, yet her mother thought a ball would be a good idea. What better way to announce her engagement to Lord Tamlin, duke of Springtime, and bore extraordinaire?

The ton didn’t comment on the rushed festivities. Just like they didn’t comment on their living together or his lingering touches when they still weren’t married. They were willing to overlook anything for their favorite, after all.

They had even managed to forget that Feyre had rejected him for only a thousand times before her father’s death. Before her mother accepted for her, hoping her last unmarried daughter would ensnare a rich, titled husband to fund her extravagant widow lifestyle.

Feyre breathed through her nose, clenching her teeth so hard she was surprised people bought her sorry excuse of a smile. Tamlin’s hand was a heavy weight on her shoulder as he paraded her from guest to guest, showing off his win.

Little did he know, he had won nothing at all.

Even in the crowded room, even with him by her side, her eyes were drawn to Rhysand like a moth to a flame. He was leaning against a corner, looking all dark and broody as he drank her future husband’s brandy.

“She is also an excellent pianist,” Tamlin’s remark registered in her dazed mind and Feyre smiled at the old lady he was talking to.

“I only believe what I witness,” the old lady’s smile was cunning.

Dread fell like heavy bricks in Feyre’s gut.

“It would be my pleasure,” she curtsied before making her way confidently to the piano. She sat with her back straight and her fingers primly poised on the white keys.

Rhysand tilted his head imperceptibly, and she shot him a secret smile before she started the melody.

The ton oohed and aahed, her betrothed preened, and she felt a savage kind of delight as she played the song Rhys had taught her on one of their late night escapades.

Fingers brushing and violet eyes twinkling were all she could see as the music seemed to take a life of its own, racing towards its roaring crescendo.

Then sudden silence. And loud applause.

In the glory of the moment, she didn’t notice Rhysand approach her until he was bowing over her hand and asking for a dance she pretended to reluctantly accept.

That night, the ton had to overlook the scandal of a betrothed woman waltzing with another man five times in a row.

oh, I can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland

“You didn’t mention you’re a painter.”

Feyre jumped, deflecting her paintbrush just in time before paint sprayed on her morning’s work.

“You know, Rhysand, when someone tells you to make yourself at home, they seldom mean it literally.”

He smiled that mischievous smile that set her heart racing and her core aflame.

“I knew you liked the scenery,” he said, gesturing to her rendition of the pool of starlight.

She shrugged. “It’s a wonder I remember what it looked like. I wasn’t looking.”

He opened his mouth, outraged, but then he caught the coy look she sent him from under her eyelashes. He swallowed audibly.

She put her brush down and stood slowly. She took one step towards him. He mirrored her movement, and soon they met in the middle.

“Were you thinking of your book?” he whispered.

She shook her head. “I was... distracted.”

Her gaze snagged on his mouth. Blood rushed in her ears, her breathing growing labored as all her focus honed in on his tongue licking his lips.

“I… You… I should…” his voice was flustered. The smooth and suave Rhysand of Nightsky turned into a blushing mess before her eyes. “My cousin is calling me. I will see you at dinner, Miss.”

As Rhysand all but ran away from her, Feyre let her imagination run free. For the first time since her father’s death, she let herself dream of a happy future. Of a future that was wholly and thoroughly hers.

 spring breaks loose, but so does fear

When Feyre found a note hidden in the pages of the book she was currently reading, she wasn’t the least bit surprised.

‘Meet me where the spirit meets the bones.’

Stars were her only guide as she sneaked out of the mansion, her heavy cloak unnecessary in the warm night.

She hadn’t made it past the gilded gates when strong hands plucked her away from the dirt trail and pulled her against a deliciously warm chest. Feyre melted instantly.

“The graveyard, Rhys?”

His chuckle tickled the skin of her neck. “I was curious what all the fuss was about.”

“Knowing my mother – and Tamlin, too – they probably found some treasure hidden in a tomb somewhere, and they’re trying to sneakily bring it back.”

Rhys’ smile was fond as he twirled her around in his arms and settled his hands on the small of her back, beneath her cloak.

She yelped. “Your hands are freezing!”

He raised an eyebrow as if to say, exactly.

She scowled at him but nuzzled closer, inhaling his scent deeply.

The trees around the graveyard were rumored to be hollow. Indeed, the wind blowing through them played a melody that others may have found eerie, but that they gently swayed to.

“Spring is near,” Feyre addressed his chest, her voice soft.

“It is.”

A beat of silence.

“Why won’t you ask me to run?”

No answer came.

Feyre lifted her head so she could meet his eyes. “My wedding approaches, Rhysand.”

His throat bobbed. “I know.”

“Are you just going to watch me marry him? Bear him children?”

He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.

She jerked away from him as if he had burned her. “Oh my Gods, you are.”

Realization was swift and cruel and it cut her heart into a million little pieces. Everything clicked in her head, and she was such a fool.

“Was this just a game to you?” she asked, horrified. “Did it give you some sort of sick satisfaction to make your enemy’s bride fall in love with you?”

His eyes went wide at her hysterical confession.

“I should have known,” she muttered to herself as she turned away from him. She was such an idiot, and she couldn’t bear to look at his smug face.

His hand wrapped around her forearm and she paused.

“You deserve better, Feyre.”

She whirled on him. “Seriously? That’s your excuse?” He flinched. “You think I am not aware of my own value? I chose you over Tamlin for a reason, you prick!” she poked his chest hard and his eyes flared.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What?” she screeched. She could not believe her own ears. That Rhysand would turn out to be so condescending… she must be a worse judge of character than she thought. “Then enlighten me. What’s this fatal flaw that makes you so utterly unloveable?”

His jaw clenched. Unclenched. Clenched again, and just when she thought he would not speak, he said in a voice so soft she thought she misheard him, “I am a bastard.”

“What?”

“My mother’s.”

Feyre could only stare.

“My father kept me to avoid scandal,” he continued, his tone flat and oddly detached. “And he wrote me out of his will the day I was born.”

She gaped at him.

“That is why I could never dare to proposition you, Feyre. Even before you were engaged.”

Feyre was pretty sure her brain was about one shock away from shutting down. “You knew me before?”

A small smile curved his lips. “Naturally.”

She sputtered. “What – How – ”

“I am penniless, and soon to be title less. There is nothing I can offer you but my heart.”

“You love me?” she breathed. It was the only important thing among all the nonsense he was spewing.

“I do,” he confirmed even as he let her go and stepped back, resignation clear in his face.

Feyre’s anger blazed anew. “You don’t love me, Rhysand,” she spat his name as if it was an insult. “If you did, you would fight for me.”

This time, he didn’t stop her as she left, every step heavier than the last.

 it's the goddamn fight of my life, and you started it

Rhysand really had a bad habit of taking things too literally. Feyre would have found this quirk endearing, if she wasn’t running barefoot through a clover field to reach him before he threw himself to his death.

Her mother had woken her up an hour before dawn, overjoyed at the prospect of a duke and a future earl dueling for her daughter’s hand.

Sure enough, three figures appeared on the horizon, just on the edge of the woods encircling the Springtime domain. Each was walking towards a different direction.

No, no, no, the duel had already started.

She picked up speed even though her feet bled and her lungs burned. She was almost there, only a few yards away when the shots rang out, bullets blazing in the dark.

Feyre reached Rhysand as he fell to the ground and she clutched him in her arms, blood seeping into her dress. Horror held her heart in an iron fist, and she struggled to breathe -

“Feyre, darling.”

Her eyes snapped to his face. The prick had the audacity to smile at her.

“You’re bleeding,” she hissed.

A wet laugh rasped out of his chest. “I know.”

She was wild with panic as she pushed at his clothes, trying to find the wound so she could do something, anything to stop the blood flow.

“Leave the loving exploration for our wedding night, darling.”

She shot him an incredulous look before resuming her exploration. His chest and stomach were clear. Her eyes dropped to his thighs. His pants were torn and blood dribbled from the shallowest bullet wound she had ever seen.

Relief slammed into her and she fell to the ground.

“What were you thinking?” she breathed, her voice thick with tears.

His eyes were swirling with so much love and adoration they took the breath right out of her lungs.

“That I was an idiot. That you are more than capable of making your own decisions, and if you decide to be with me, then it is an honor that I will fight for. If you will have me, Feyre, I’ll try every day to be worthy of you.”

Tears ran down her cheeks, and she turned on her side, reaching for his hand and entwining their fingers.

“You are an idiot,” she said, staring at his thumb as it brushed soothing strokes into the back of her hand. “You’re already worthy. And if you ever put yourself in harm’s way for me again, I will shoot you in the groin.”

“Duly noted.”

Distance sobs reached her. Far out on the field, her mother was hunched over a limp and bloody Tamlin.

“Well, that’ll give her another reason to go to the stone.”

Rhysand barked out a laugh. “Maybe that’s a habit we should start too, darling. Maybe we can find our own treasure, too.”

Feyre leaned over and brushed her lips against his. “I already found mine.”

note: the original plan was for Rhys to die in the duel. but thank God for my fluffy, hopelessly romantic heart.

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[azulafrost]

Favorite Emma Frost moments? Of all her herstory, of course.

Wow I have been thinking of this for sometime.

This sounds silly but I love in the origin story where Emma reads to her teddy bear as they were students.

In her origin series I do like how she defeated telepathically Astrid Bloom who helped train her and absorbed her knowledge and skills.

When she went to pick up Firestar for the school just because that was one of the first appearances I read.

Emma convincing Sebastian Shaw to open a school as it was her life long dream. Whilst running the school she ran a massive company again love it.

When Adrienne set a bomb off in the school and she straight up shot and killed her sister for putting her students in danger and killing one of them.

When Emma lost it at a reporter who insulted Beast and she confronted the ones campaigning outside the School.

Emma tricking Cassandra Nova into that massive cell blob thing.

Then when Emma chose to save the school after it was initially destroyed in New X-Men and she ran into the building to save the students. She was going to run the school with or without Scott.

When Emma straight up manifested the Hellfire Club and managed to take out half the X-Men using just her mind.

Emma knowing that Sinister was in Scott’s mind because she knew his mind.

Every single time Emma challenged Xavier and the way he treated his students past and present.

When even in House of M her values never changed she still worked with troubled children.

When Emma made the security guard in the airport annoy Wolverine whilst Scott laughed in the background.

Emma in space. Just because Emma’s one of the characters I never thought of going on a space adventure.

Emma on Utopia when she retrieved the incarnate evil in Scott’s mind which she held in her diamond form prior.

Emma creating a vision of Shaw’s head on a plate for Namor.

When she totally brought Carol Danvers to reality about what mutants face, yes it was dark putting her in a coffin next to children but she had pure cheek to ask her to back them. Same with Tony when she challenged him on his ask to join their side on Civil War.

Emma laughing her head off during Xavier’s Last Will and Testament reading when it mentions he’s married to Mystique.

Emma calling Namor a brat when he insulted Scott.

Emma throughout all of the Mutant Revolution era.

Oh and of course when Wolverine gets a plague which means her and Scott miss a special date, so she tells him he needs to go down on her as a sufficient apology. Ha.

There’s so many more I cannot remember them all but it’d go on for ages.

[aliciameade]

“Roll Again”

Author: aliciameade Rating: E Pairing: Beca/Chloe Summary: Beca decides to bring home an adult novelty dice game.

This one goes out to @asimplefavors for their generous donation to the @ppfandomdrive! Thank you for your support!

Also on AO3

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“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Beca says through a giddy laugh.

She doesn’t consider herself to be a prude, not in the slightest. But until Chloe, the people she’s had sex with—all of them men—didn’t really trigger anything particularly adventurous in her. It was always fine. Nothing to write home about. She didn’t really get why Samantha on Sex and the City (which she was forced to watch by Stacie when they were in college) was always going on about sex being so amazing.

And then, through what she considered coincidence and Chloe considered fate, she and Chloe had, after so many years as friends, just...ended up in bed together one night. They hadn’t been drunk. No one was under emotional stress over a break-up or a fight with a [non-existent] partner. Beca had gone to Chloe’s house for dinner as was commonplace and in the middle of their wheezing laughter while watching the wildly inappropriate Sausage Party, Chloe had leaned into Beca’s personal space and said, “Is it okay if I kiss you right now?” and Beca had said, “Yeah.”

That was a year ago. They hadn’t looked back, and Beca gave up her apartment to move in with Chloe.

And Beca finally learned that sex could be really, really great.

It had been her idea. She’d tossed the small box containing a dice game prompting various sexual positions and acts onto the table over dinner as if she was handing Chloe the mail. Chloe had asked if she was joking or if it had been a leftover gag gift from someone’s bridal shower at work.

“No, dude!” Beca sighed. “I just thought it would, you know, maybe be fun. It’s dumb. You hate it.”

She reached to grab it, intent to toss the game in the trash but Chloe snatched it away before she could. “No, I love it. We’re playing it right now.”

“Now?” Beca had to drop her fork because Chloe had grabbed her hand and yanked her right out of her seat to take her to their bedroom where Chloe promptly emptied the pair of dice into her hand to toss them onto their bed.

“Let’s get naked first,” Chloe said, already stripping. Beca had nodded and followed suit until they were pulling the covers down and climbing into bed.

It took three rolls of the dice to get past things like kissing the other’s neck and sharing a dirty thought for Beca to roll a prompt to tie up her partner. She’d looked up at Chloe from the result with both excitement and trepidation; she’d never tied up Chloe. She’d never really been the one in charge in the bedroom, and the dynamic suited both of them just fine.

That’s not to say her heart didn’t start racing at the possibilities that came with Chloe, for once, being at Beca’s mercy instead of the other way around.

“Can I?” she asked, well-aware of how eager she looked.

Chloe was already biting her lip when she looked up from the dice. Her lip slipped from her teeth as she nodded. “Definitely.”

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Beca says through a giddy laugh. Beca leans in and kisses her hard before scrambling off the bed to dig through their dresser drawers for something to use. She finds a light blue scarf rolled up in the corner of one of Chloe’s drawers and snags it only to be stopped in her tracks at the sight of Chloe already lying down with her hands casually, yet so purposely, clasped above her head.

“I’m waiting,” Chloe says, and it’s obvious to Beca she is trying to hide the excitement in her voice.

“Sorry, yeah,” Beca replies, hurrying back to climb back into bed. She’s hesitant at first; they’ve only done something like this a few times and their positions have always been reversed. And it’s not like she’s never straddled Chloe’s waist before—she’s done that innumerable times. But something about doing it for this, so she would be able to put something around Chloe’s wrists to restrain her, makes her second-guess herself.

“Hey,” Chloe says softly, “it’s okay.” Always one to know what Beca was feeling; she loved that about Chloe.

Beca huffs and leans forward to unfurl the scarf and figure out how to weave it around Chloe’s notably compliant wrists and one of the rails of their wooden headboard. “Right, yeah.” It wasn’t as easy as she’d expected; she has to tie the knot much tighter than she thought she should because the soft, thin fabric kept loosening. She’s so focused on it that she doesn’t expect to feel Chloe’s lips against the curve of her breast. 

“Oh, okay,” she says through a shallow gasp and with an unintentionally firm tug on the knot that is answered with a quiet moan from Chloe.

“It’s good, it’s good.”

“Is it too tight?” Beca asks, sitting upright out of concern that she’d hurt Chloe. She wasn’t ready for the sight, Chloe’s hands bound above her head, tied to the bed and her concern was all but erased. “Fuck.”

“I’m fine.” Chloe’s breathing seems to have quickened just as her face looks a bit flushed.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Beca says through a giddy laugh. The apprehension is fading quickly thanks to Chloe’s reassurance and her own steadily increasing arousal.

“It’s fun,” Chloe agrees with a smile and a pointed tug at her restraints. “And it’s my turn but I can’t roll.”

Beca had all but forgotten about the game; her mind had moved on to other things, such as what to do to or with Chloe in her current position. “Oh, right.” She twists around until she finds the dice in the bedding. “Guess that means I get to go again.”

“That’s cheating!” Chloe says with a pout.

Beca just shrugs and tosses the dice onto the mattress next to Chloe. The results of the throw make her blush and her hesitation to announce what’s come up gets Chloe’s attention.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“It uh—” she has to stop and clear her throat, “says to touch myself for five minutes while you watch.”

“Oh, my God.” Chloe’s hips try to move with Beca’s answer but they’re hindered by Beca’s slight weight sitting on her. “Please do it. Let me watch you, baby.”

That is something she’s done before, just not as a solo event. If Beca’s doing it it’s because Chloe is also doing it but this...this means putting on a show.

“Okay, yeah,” she says, thinking about how she wants to do it but then decides her current position sitting astride Chloe is about as perfect as it could be. And if Chloe’s excited about watching her, then… “You can watch me.”

She can see the excitement in Chloe’s face and slight tension in her arms as if she wants to bring her arms down and touch Beca herself.

But she can’t.

The power Beca has over her is suddenly clear and her confidence, usually reserved for things like telling narcissistic recording artists they aren’t as good as they think they are, soars. She lifts her hands from where they’ve been resting on Chloe’s ribs to her own breasts, cupping them firmly without further conversation about it.

She feels Chloe’s reaction more than she sees it, her hips tilting and they lift Beca slightly in turn. She teases herself because it’s immediately clear that this is something Chloe is into. Her fingertips trace around her own nipples which quickly harden from her touch, and the way Chloe’s eyes track her hands’ every move only fuel her desire to perform, to turn her on, to make her wet.

“Just like that,” Chloe says, her appreciative gaze hot on Beca’s skin.

“Like this?” Beca lets her left hand trail down her ribs and stomach until she stops just short of slipping her hand between her legs.

Chloe’s nod is quick; her desire for Beca visible.

But Beca’s hand changes course, instead just running down her thigh and slowly back up. “Not yet.”

Chloe’s jaw is suddenly clenched as her eyes snap up to Beca’s. “Beca.”

Beca smiles; the power is positively euphoric. “What?” Her hand makes its way back to the breast it had just abandoned and she can’t help the soft sigh that leaves her lips when she tugs on her own nipple.

“That was my roll you took, you know.”

She tilts her head at Chloe, not sure where she’s going with this. “And?”

“It should be me touching myself for you.”

That thought pierces into Beca’s mind and it makes her hips buck at the mere concept. 

“Exactly.” Chloe’s hips roll, too. “So show me how you’d want me to touch myself for you.”

Beca hesitates, but only because she’s almost overcome with arousal.

Chloe’s voice is low. “Show me how you’d want me to fuck myself.”

“Fuck,” Beca whines, hating herself a little bit at how easily Chloe’s able to take back the control that Beca will later wonder if she ever had at all. It makes her left hand drop straight down to push between her thighs, fingers automatically splitting to slide along the sides of her clit to discover just how wet she’s become.

She’s able to keep her eyes open just long enough to see the way Chloe’s watching, eyes fixated between Beca’s legs, and how Chloe’s bound hands turn so they can wrap around the railing she’s tied to. She uses it for leverage and her hips roll so deeply up into Beca that it presses Beca’s hand harder against herself, and that’s what makes her eyes fall closed.

Her right hand, the one previously tending to her breast, falls blindly. It hits Chloe’s chest and Beca splays her fingers to press against Chloe for her own leverage and balance as she starts riding her own hand. She’s so wet that her fingers slide into herself with embarrassing ease and the obvious sound that she’s being filled and squeezing every time her hips lift, aided by the rhythm Chloe’s setting.

In her mind, their roles are reversed. She’s tied to their bed, begging Chloe to touch herself, watching as Chloe leans back to let Beca see better as she rubs her clit. She’s the one feeling wetness dripping against her thighs from how turned on Chloe is and she’s the one pulling at her restraints desperate to get her hands on Chloe, and she’s the one begging Chloe to make herself come.

“Fuck, you’re so hot.” Chloe’s voice leaks into her fantasy and as amazing as the fantasy was, the reality is so much better. It makes Beca’s eyes flutter open and Chloe’s arousal is so obvious, eyes dark and face flushed and nipples so hard it makes Beca slide her hand over to grasp at her breast while she rides herself on top of Chloe. “I wanna taste you. Baby, please.”

The request makes Beca groan, as does the loss when she drags her hand from between her legs to offer her soaked fingers to Chloe. Her lips part as soon as Beca’s fingertip brushes her lip and Beca watches with awe as Chloe draws Beca’s fingers, one at a time, into her mouth, groaning as she does it. The feeling, warm and wet as her tongue moves over and between, sends her other hand back between her legs. 

She widens her stance so she’s more stable and though she’s less coordinated with her right hand, it still makes her moan as she grinds her fingers against her clit while she watches Chloe suck arousal off her fingers. She’s close; she knows she can make herself come at any time, now, but she wants to wait. What started as a game has spiraled into something else that Beca’s not ready to finish yet.

Her fingers finally slip from Chloe’s lips and before Beca can take another breath, Chloe says, “Sit on my face.”

The demand—command—is so direct that it actually makes Beca’s racing heart skip a beat. Five minutes ago (Ten? Twenty? How long has it been? She doesn’t know.) she would have hesitated, second-guessed herself in some way or wasted time being unnecessarily self-conscious. 

But now, she just nods and leans forward to grab the headboard to pull herself forward until Chloe’s face is between her legs. It’s up to her to lower herself, to give Chloe what she wants—what they both want—and she teases them both, running her hand, the one Chloe’s just finished sucking clean, over herself. She’s so wet and swollen and Chloe hasn’t even touched her yet; she knows she’s about to be ruined and the anticipation and Chloe’s moan of impatience make her wetter still.

She knows she’s dripping; she can feel it when she takes her hand away to offer it to Chloe again, watching with rapt attention as she sucks Beca’s fingers clean.

Chloe’s not nearly finished but Beca finally runs out of patience. She pulls them away and tilts her hips and lowers herself and watches, jaw dropped, as Chloe’s tongue slips out, flat and wide, and waiting for Beca to place herself on it.

When she does, they both moan, though Beca is louder.

She fully expects Chloe to take over but she doesn’t; she’s perfectly still and staring up at Beca, finally quirking an eyebrow to make Beca take a hint.

Chloe wants Beca to take what she needs.

“Oh, fuck,” Beca says with a groan as she tilts her hips back and rolls them forward to drag her cunt over Chloe’s tongue.

Chloe’s answering moan is rough and heavy through her parted lips as Beca lets herself start riding her tongue. She has to lean on the headboard for balance but her right hand reaches down to thread through Chloe’s hair, gripping and almost lifting her closer as she starts to need more.

More.

More until she can’t watch anymore, head resting on her forearm along the headboard as she fucks herself with Chloe’s mouth. Her desperation is loud as is Chloe’s and Beca can’t get the words out in time.

She comes. Hard. Grinding herself down against Chloe that some tiny part of her still-working brain tells her is probably making it hard for Chloe to breathe but Chloe’s moaning like she’s coming, too, she doesn’t worry about easing back.

She’s shuddering, inside and out, until the ecstasy passes. Then she can ease up, not shoving herself into Chloe so wantonly, but she doesn’t leave. She’s too spent and Chloe’s tongue has started being an active participant, doing more than letting Beca grind herself to orgasm on it as she licks delicately at Beca, teasing her in ways that make Beca’s hips jump.

“Fuck, you taste so good,” Chloe says while she does it and all Beca can do is sigh and shiver and lazily open her eyes to look down her body to see the way Chloe’s flick between Beca’s eyes and her pussy. It’s clear she’s still wildly turned on and that re-ignites Beca’s fire instantly.

She knows she should probably untie Chloe; her arms are probably sore by now. And though she’s not showing any sign of being uncomfortable, Beca doesn’t want her tied to the bed anymore.

She reaches down to tug at the knot that tied Chloe to the headboard to free it but leaves her wrists bound together. She likes Chloe this way, out of control. In control. Exchanging power with Beca.

“Move down,” Beca says as she lifts her knee to move off Chloe and sit on her hip for a few seconds to give her knees a break.

“What are we doing?” Chloe asks though she does as asked, smiling up at Beca as she works her way toward the center of the bed.

When she’s gone far enough, Beca stops her with a hand on her arm. “This,” she says as she gets back up and crawls forward until she’s straddling Chloe’s face again but this time, she can lean forward and part Chloe’s thighs.

“Fuck, I love you,” Chloe moans just before Beca feels her tongue between her legs again.

Beca lets herself feel it, just for a few seconds, before she’s sliding her fingers between Chloe’s legs. Beca knew she would be soaked, but it still manages to surprise her. She uses her fingers to part Chloe and leans in to let her tongue slip over her swollen clit, teasing it before she captures it between her lips.

Chloe’s hips buck up into her and she feels her moan against her own clit, and then she loses herself to it again.

To the way Chloe can make her feel. How she sounds. Tastes. How she’s struggling with her bound wrists but still manages to push three fingers into Beca to start fucking her. It’s deep and hard, and the way Beca’s lapping and sucking at Chloe’s cunt is anything but graceful but none of that matters.

None of that matters when Chloe’s moaning into Beca as they come together, soaking fingers and tongues and sheets until they’re calm and quiet again save for heavy breathing and hisses and gasps from aftershocks and teasing tongues probing for a reaction from the other until Beca finally lets herself roll off Chloe to collapse tiredly on her side, hugging Chloe’s right leg.

“That was so hot, Beca.” She feels Chloe’s hands, still tied, fall against her hip and feels lips on her knee. If she wasn’t so tired, she’d sit up and ride her for the third time.

But instead, she sighs heavily. “Fuck, yeah it was.”

She feels hands on her properly a few seconds later and she knows Chloe’s managed to untie herself. She doesn’t care, not when she’s watching with one eye open as Chloe’s freed left hand moves down and between her own legs to start touching herself even though she just came so hard in Beca’s mouth she can still feel the way her clit was throbbing.

The sight, so recently in Beca’s mind as fantasy while she had fucked herself, makes her moan and she feels pathetic at how easily she lifts her knee at Chloe’s nudging to let her back in, to suck on Beca’s clit again, this time while she fucks herself.

Beca’s so spent all she can do is breathe hard and hold on, watching from her front-row seat as Chloe’s fingers rub at her clit faster and faster.

She does find the strength, somehow, to reach over and sink two fingers into her, to give her something to squeeze, and the angle is just easy enough that she can pump them into her hard and fast to match the speed of Chloe’s fingers and tongue.

Beca’s so spent that her orgasm unfurls slowly, but intensely.

She can feel Chloe’s starting, the quick pulsing of her cunt around her fingers and it sparks her own. 

It’s long. It’s deep. She knows she’s soaking Chloe’s face again as she watches Chloe soak her hand, arousal seeping out of her as she clenches Beca again and again in desperate, intense release.

When it’s over—finally, truly over—Beca lets Chloe push her away until she’s flopping onto her back to stare at the ceiling while she tries to catch her breath.

“Okay,” she eventually says through a sigh as she tilts her head down to try to meet Chloe’s eyes as she nudges at her leg. “I think it’s your turn to roll.”

The End

[kazoo5480]

Emma wakes with Killian’s alarm, she rolls over, and kisses the underside of his jaw, he twitches, still deeply asleep. “Babe, wake up” she says smiling kissing up his neck. He groans, and rolls into her. “What time is it?” he asks yawning, 7, I have to go, work. See you for lunch?” He opens his eyes finally and takes her in, all sleep rumpled and gorgeous. Sighing “Aye, I’ll be by around 12” and she kisses him too quickly and stands to put on her clothes. “Love you” and runs out his door, and he lays there a minute, still waking up.

He sees the boxes stacked still in the corner and sighs. He pushes himself up, and into the shower, leaving Liam a note on the table, focusing on getting through the day. He grabs his skateboard and his backpack and heads out towards the gashouse and just focuses on moving and Emma, what he said to her last night and her so willingly accepting his words. It made him grin like an idiot, Liam might be leaving and starting his own adventure, but so was he. He still had his own adventure to seek, and school ahead, the fact that he was lucky enough to have Emma by his side was just the best kind of added bonus.  

Emma rushes inside and up to her room showering quickly and throwing her uniform on. Her mom stood on the precipice of her bedroom watching the whirlwind of her daughter as she raced around. “Is Killian alright Sunshine?” and Emma stopped and looked at her mom and nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t expect to need to stay but I took one look at their life being boxed up, and he was so broken up mom. I can see his point of view, this was their first home after leaving their home, losing their mom, and with Liam leaving it is just a lot and he is processing, last night was just a bad night for him is all.” Ruth noticed the ring on her daughters right hand but didn’t say anything, if it were important, she would tell her, she always did.

Emma sat down her head in her hands and her mom sat next to her rubbing over her back, and Emma leaned into her mom. “He is lucky he has you Ems, and he has us, and we will all get through this all together. Maybe you could do something nice, rally the troops to help get his stuff moved, and I’ll even throw in for Pizza. I have Saturday off so I could help in the morning, unpack stuff while the guys do the heavy lofting and all that, see if Liam needs help too” and Emma smiled at her mom “that would be awesome, good idea” and she got up rolling her socks on and threw everything in her work duffle. “I gotta go, but I will see you later Mom” and she kissed her mom as Ruth called out to have a good day behind her.

Ruth sat there, and smiled, she raised really good kids, and though she missed her husband like mad sometimes, but she would wait a little longer to tell them, it was going to change a lot in their lives, and she didn’t want to add more on to their plates. Ruth had been seeing her oncologist weekly for months, treatment options were approaching, and Ruth sighed. Speaking aloud, “I’m not ready to leave them yet honey” she said to no one, and she quickly wiped the tears that began running down her cheeks. What she wasn’t aware of was her son standing in the doorway.

“Planning on going somewhere Ma?” and he looked at her taking in her sadness. Ruth was startled, and she looked at her son and the tears began falling quicker. “Come sit” she patted the spot next to her on Emma’s bed and David sat down, his hurt arm on the opposite side and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Ma what is it?” he asked gently, and she sighed. “Breast Cancer” and David burst into tears tucking his face into his mother’s neck, hugging her as best as he could, and she held her boy, crying in her arms. “I just told your dad, I am not ready to leave yet, so that’s that” and David laughed a little as he sniffled, his tears still flowing. “How bad is it?” and she sighed, “I have options, chemotherapy, surgery. I chose to start Chemo next week, see how it goes” and David nodded.

“We will do everything mom, just tell me how to keep the family running” and she patted his cheek. “Well, I will need some help around the house, and the therapy makes you really sick, so I have been slowly building an arsenal of stuff I’m going to need, speaking with people in the treatment rooms while they go through it. I wanted to be prepared.” He nodded, “How long have you known?” “Six months. I found a lump and scheduled an appointment right away; we think we caught it early… but I am probably going to lose my hair” she said with a grim smile. David looked at her touching her soft blonde curls, so similar to Emma’s.

“Hair grows back, or we will find you some really amazing wigs, or you can totally rock a bald head” and she laughed and nodded. “The house will be fine, I have our savings, my pension with the hospital, we should be ok” and he nodded once. “Em and I will contribute everything we make to the savings; we should make a plan to tell her, and be ready with a plan, she always wants to see the long picture” and Ruth nodded. “We should make sure you both are on the bank account and the house deed.” David cut her off. “You aren’t going anywhere Ma” and she smiled, “Let’s just have a plan B, it would make me feel better” and he nodded.

“When do we tell Em?” he asked grimly, and she sighed, “I don’t know, but I think we should let Killian and her both get through the weekend, and then we will tell everyone. I have a feeling I am going to need each and every one of my kids to get us through this” and Dave nodded. “I’ll call a Sunday dinner, spread the word through Ruby, we never needed a reason before, so we should do it soon” and Ruth agreed. “I’ll make lasagna, and maybe a cake” and Dave looked at his mom, “It’s going to be ok Mom. I am not going anywhere, and me and Em, we can handle this, helping you. Our friends, they will be here too, you’re just going to have to be ok with people taking over to help you for a while, see how the treatment works, without fighting all of us” and she smiled. “How did I get so lucky to have two great kids?” and he smiled, “Because we have a great mom.” He held his mom a little longer until she got up and said she was going to get ready for work, and he nodded.

 He sat there for a while, staring out the window, and begged his dad to leave their mom with them, to not take her too. His heart was shattered, and he couldn’t tell a soul, that was his mom’s personal choice to tell people, and even though it killed him, he wouldn’t tell Emma, they would tell her together. He knew the police academy was the right choice, it would pay good, he could live here with his mom, make sure she was taken care of, Emma had another year of school so she would be around, and lord knows all their friends would band together to keep their matriarch in one piece. He just had to have hope that it would all be ok. He walked to the phone and dialed Red, she picked up immediately. “Hey Rubes, Ma is calling Sunday dinner, everyone, 5 o clock” and she agreed and said she would track everyone down, not even asking why.

He could do this, he could handle this, and Emma was strong like Ruth, they could handle it. As much as he hated to agree, they needed a Plan B, Breast Cancer wasn’t exactly new but when it was your own mother, he decided he should start reading. Since he was off today, he went downstairs, and his mom kissed him goodbye before her shift, and he headed toward the library, asking for every single book, journal, and article they had on Breast Cancer, Astrid the librarian looked at him and nodded with a curious expression but said she would grab what she had, and begin collecting everything over the next few days for him. He thanked her and began reading.

Emma and M were both on the same shift today, and they weren’t crazy busy, so they had some downtime to talk. Emma asked about swapping shifts so that she could be helping Killian Saturday and M agreed of course and said she would help him Sunday too. Zelena came out and tacked up the schedule, waving good morning, and it turns out both Saturday and Sunday Emma had the morning shifts, and would be off by 3, so M didn’t mind at all that she took her Saturday shift if Emma took her following Sunday afternoon shift for her, Emma agreed right away. They chitchatted, and a few cars came in, but by lunch they were starting to get packed. Emma was zipping around on her skates doling out orders for two hours straight, and Killian still hadn’t shown up. Maybe he was busy too she thought.

Ruby called a while later to Rae’s telling M that Ruth was calling for Sunday Dinner, and Dave had called Ruby to round them all up, Emma laughed, eating her grilled cheese as M talked to Ruby, she could have done that, but he was right, Ruby was like a one-woman telephone tree. Emma just assumed her mom wanted Killian to have support since Liam was leaving Friday, and now Elsa too. Emma told M to eat, and she was about to skate out as Killian walked in closer to 1. “Sorry, we were packed, and without Dave it was just me today” and she nodded and kissed him, “Sit, I will be right back” and skated out. Killian parked himself next to M and she was scarfing down her food. “You know no one is going to steal that from you M” and she laughed.

“Sorry, but we just had a huge rush, I am starving, you missed Emma inhaling her food a few minutes ago” and he smiled. “Eat, I am just placing a carry out, and she threw him her pad to write his order on. She got up and skated around the counter throwing it on the counter for the kitchen and tossed her plate into the dish bin. “It will be up in a few” and skated out, her brunette hair blowing out behind her. He shook his head, they worked really hard, and honestly, he was grateful because this obviously contributed to Emma’s outstanding legs. Speaking of which, she skated in and into his arms and he caught her. “Hi” she said, and he kissed her. “Do you want something?” and he told her he had a carry out coming. Emma told him Sunday dinner and he nodded, and “order up” came and Emma skated to grab his bag. “What time are you off again?” she asked, “Looks like later, 530 or so” and she nodded. “See you tonight?” and he nodded, Ill head over after I go home and shower. She nodded, “Love you” and he kissed her hard. “See you tonight” and she smiled as he walked out, food in hand. 

David closed the last book and popped a few journals and the legal pad he had taken copious notes on and headed towards the car. He looked at his watch, both Emma and his mom would be home soon, so he wanted to make sure dinner was ready and, on the table, when they both got in. Tonight, was going to be rough on them all, and he decided to swing by the gashouse on his way home. Spotting Killian, he waved with his good hand, “Hey, shouldn’t you be resting?” Jones said to him and he nodded, “I am. I need you to come to our house tonight, I know you are busy, but actually Liam and Elsa should come too for dinner.

 Killian nodded, “Ill track Liam down, what’s up? Em said Sunday dinner, but tonight?” And David sighed, “Can you make dinner? Or be there after dinner?” Killian looked nervous, “Dave” and put a hand on his good shoulder, and Dave shook his head. “Tonight?” And Killian nodded, “Emma?” “Is going to need you. But I gotta go” and he booked it out of there leaving a confused and very worried Killian in his wake. Killian lifted the phone dialing the docks, and got Liam to agree to dinner, said he would meet him there at 6, Elsa was working though, and Killian couldn’t tell him why because he honestly didn’t know, and by Emma’s demeanor today he would bet that she didn’t either.

After his shift he rushed home, and showered, changing, and throwing in clothes for good measure in case, and skated towards the Nolan’s like a fire was under his ass. Ruth walked in to find her son tossing a salad, and stir fry going on the stove. “Someone has been busy” she said to her son, as she looked over his notepad, and he snatched it out her hands. “I did some reading, wanted to be prepared” and Ruth hugged her son. “We are telling Emma tonight, I asked Killian and Liam to come over, no one else. But Emma is going to need the support, and with Liam leaving he has a right to know” and Ruth looked sad. “I didn’t want those boys to worry” and Dave nodded, but said “Ems going to need Killian just as much as I need M and you need all of us. We are a family, and I didn’t know if you wanted M to know or not yet, so I haven’t said a word to her, and didn’t ask her to come tonight.” Ruth nodded, “You should call her, I don’t want you keeping my secret from her” and he walked to the phone calling.

Ruth headed into her bedroom and changed into a floral sundress that she loved and combed her long hair back. She needed to be strong for her kids, for herself. She knew David was right, they needed to involve those closest to them first, and she headed into the kitchen to help her son with dinner, since they were expecting more people now. Dave banished her to the porch swing, and she hated being bossed around but she had to let her son come to terms with this, and if bossing people around and making her sit and read was punishment, she would be a glutton for it. Emma’s yellow bus rolled in and she hopped out, M with her, hearing her in the kitchen, and heard her daughters footsteps up the stairs. M and Dave came out to sit with her, and Emma came down a few moments later, her long blonde curls drying and a smile on her face. “Dave said dinner tonight, and Sunday. What’s going on?”

She watched her mom school her features, Emma did the same thing when she was upset or had a secret. Killian rolled up on his skateboard, and Emma was surprised but not, Killian looked nervous as he approached their porch and sat on an empty seat. M moved to an empty chair beside him, and Emma moved to the swing with her mom and Dave. Dave nodded at Ruth, and Emma’s mom clasped her hand and Dave’s good one.

“We asked you here because we have something to tell you, and because you two are the most important people in their lives, it’s going to take us all as a family to get through this, together” Ruth said swallowing. Dave produced a box of tissue from somewhere and handed one to his mom. “Mommy?” Emma said, and Ruth patted Emma’s cheek. “I’m sick Sunshine, Breast Cancer” and looked grim. Emma gasped, her lip trembled, and tears began to pour. She hugged her mom tightly, Killian and M held hands and they watched the three hold each other and cry, Killian now understanding why Dave wouldn’t tell him, it wasn’t his news to share.

Killian knelt in front of the three of them, pulling M with him and he rubbed Emma’s leg in reassurance, but she didn’t take her eyes off her mom. “Whatever you need, I’ll help” Killian said, and Ruth smiled at him. “Tell me everything” Emma said, and Ruth did, telling them all, and Dave chimed in with what he found at the library. M and Killian excused themselves to allow them privacy for a moment, and to go get dinner off the stove, and wrapped each other in a tight hug. “Ruth is tough, she will be ok” M said to Killian and he nodded, “it won’t be like it was with your mom Jones, if they caught it early enough…” and he gripped his friend tighter nodding. “Help me get this on the table” and he followed the small brunette around, lost in his thoughts.

Emma was reeling, “How long did you know” she nailed Dave with a glare. “Just this morning sunshine, don’t be mad at your brother, he caught me in a weak moment right after you left, and I just spilled it” she laughed lightly. “It isn’t funny” Emma said to her mom, and her mom wiped the tear tracks off her daughters cheeks. “I am going to be ok, treatment and maybe a surgery, but like I told your brother, I told dad this morning I wasn’t leaving and that’s that” and Emma nodded wanting to be alone. She got up off the porch, and walked around to the bus, grabbing her spare key, and backed out of the driveway and pulled out, her mom and brother looking confused, but she saw her mom pull Dave down as he tried to stand. “Emma” he yelled, and she took off, heading toward the beach.

Killian heard them call Emma’s name and saw the bus gone. He ran to the front steps, “Where did she go?” and Ruth sighed, “the place she always goes when she needs to be alone” and stood patting his cheek. “Come on, let’s get supper on the table, and start eating, is Liam coming?” and Killian nodded. “I should…” and Ruth looked at him, “Let her be, if she isn’t back before dark, you can go get her, drag her back. I expected this, Emma is like the wind, temperamental and strong, I knew she would need a moment to process it, and I am not going to deny her that and neither are any of you” and he nodded in understanding, wanting to support his love and hold her like she held him. He also knew when Emma took off, she needed it and meant it. Liam showed up a few moments later, and as they ate, Ruth told Liam who immediately knelt at her side crushing her in a hug. It was a very emotional dinner, and his thoughts were entirely on Emma as he sat there with her family processing this monumental news and wishing he could take her pain away and looking at her mother, their surrogate mother and wanting to take her illness away.

Emma threw her suit on, and grabbed her board, stalking down the pier, dropping her stuff in a pile and went into the water. The sun was orange and pink, and purples, the waves calm as she laid on her board looking at the sky, sobbing. She was furious at god, or whoever was out there for doing this, they had already lost their dad, and what if her mom didn’t come out of this. God, the tears rolled down her face and she just let her heart crack wide open, and the tears fall into the ocean as it rolled over her skin. She sat up and paddled, having drifted and the sky was getting darker. She went to the shore, and saw Killian sitting, her stuff in his lap. He handed her the towel as she dropped her board and she crawled into his lap and he held her as she cried softly, soothing her, and smoothing her hair until she had let it all out. “Come on angel, let’s get you home” and he grabbed her stuff and led her to the bus driving her back home.

Ruth was on the porch reading, Dave and M in the house watching TV. Liam had hugged her goodbye after dinner, and promised to stop by before he left, and Killian had finally run off to the beach to drag Emma home. It was full dark now and she saw the bus pull in and park at the end of the driveway. Emma hopped out, her wet bathing suit, her eyes red, and Killian kissed her forehead sending her up the front walk while he moved the bus into the backyard. Emma looked up at her mom and came to sit next to her, Ruth holding her tightly and kissing her hair. “I’m sorry” Emma said quietly, and Ruth shushed her. “I know you sunshine, you needed time.” Emma hugged her mom fiercely, “do you think it will work?” and Ruth nodded against her daughters head, “I really do sunshine, I really do. But I am tired, and I am sure you are too. Let’s head in, ok?”

Emma nodded and helped her mom up, and Dave got up and crushed Emma to his good side, “You can’t just leave in the dark, no more. No surfing after sundown Em” and she looked up at him and nodded. “I can’t be worried about you out there, and her here. I need you to be here Em, I need you.” Emma kissed his cheek and noticed Killian, Dave looked at him “When I am not here, she is your responsibility.” “I’m not a child Dave! Killian has his own life, same as you and M, and Liam. All of us. I can take care of myself, but I said I wouldn’t go after dark anymore” she said petulantly. Dave softened, and looked at Killian and Emma, “Well if you’re at the beach after dark, it’s never alone. If I am not there, he is” and Killian nods “I got it Dave” and he grabbed Emma’s hand and led her up to her room. He could feel the emotion rolling off of Emma in waves, she needed grounding and he walked up to her and grabbed her hand rubbing the ring. “I’m your anchor too Em. Let me be, let me in” and she nodded, and he hugged her tightly.

Emma went to the shower and rinsed off. She didn’t bother with clothes and Killian wasn’t surprised when she crawled into bed and curled herself around him. She needed him, just as he did the night before from her, so he rolled her and slid his boxers off. He quietly made love to Emma, silencing her moans with his mouth, and kissed her tears away until they were spent. “Ems, nightgown” he said into her hair and she grabbed it off the end of her bed and pulled it on, and he pulled on his boxers and tee shirt. Emma laid her head on his chest and fell asleep. Killian laid there a while, the crickets out her window, the wind blowing in and thought back to what Ruth said, when she offered for him to be here. Maybe now he should be, for Ruth, for Emma, for Dave. He would talk to Ruth tomorrow, and drifted off to sleep.

He crept out of Emma’s bed, her still sound asleep and put on his clothes, making a pot of coffee. Ruth came in a few minutes later, not surprised to see him. “Morning” she said, and Killian handed her a cup, and she smiled. “You knew the day of the competition, when you said no matter what that I am allowed here whenever I wanted, night, day, if I chose to be, and that you were ok with it. You meant this, didn’t you Ruth?” and she looked at him quietly, and nodded. “I thought maybe you being here would help me, it would help you avoid renting a place, and I am sick. Dave and Em can’t do it all on their own all the time, but I wanted you to know you could be here as much as you wanted honey. Losing your mom, I thought you might want to be here more for Em and Dave, me too.”

He nodded, “I do, but living with you guys is one thing, I moved closer, so I am around the corner, but into your home might be a little much for now. But I will be here every day, we can schedule your treatments around our work and school schedules, so that one of us is always here with you in the house. I assume that’s what the family dinner Sunday is for? To tell the whole tribe?” and she nods and smiles. “I have an army of kids, I figured Dave was right and letting them help as much as they can or want to.” Killian smiles at her, “It’s going to be ok Ruth, I just have a feeling.”

“Is it the same kind of feeling that you had when you put that ring on my daughter?” She cocks her head to side smiling. He blushes, “It wasn’t a proposal Ruth, god I would never do that without asking you or Dave, both of you. I made a promise to Emma is all, a promise to be here as long as she wants me to be.” Ruth nods, “okay. No proposals until college, alright? And no grandbabies either until she is done with nursing school” and Killian pales, letting out a shaky laugh. “Understood.” Ruth stands, “I am heading to work, so I will see you guys later, let the kids know I’ll be home around 4” and she kissed his hair and headed towards her room.

Killian finished his coffee and went to wake Emma, knowing she had to work but Dave headed him off at the steps. “Morning” Killian said, and Dave eyed him. “Sleeping over again Jones?” He nodded, I could lie and say it won’t be a regular thing, but your mom asked me to be here more, for Em, for you, for her. So, is that going to be a problem?” Dave looked at him and shook his head. “Just make sure you have clothes on, alright?” and Killian laughed and nodded. “I am heading to work, was going to wake Emma up before I head home” and Dave nodded. “See you later roomie” Killian taunted and laughed while Dave glared at him. “Still my sister man” and Killian ignored him still laughing.

He ran his fingers up Emma’s spine, her curls dried in a wild blonde tangle, and she looked so peaceful. “Em” he said kissing her cheek, and she stirred. “Hmmmm” “I’ve got to get to work, I’ll see you later love” and she peeked her eyes open and puckered her lips, and he kissed her soundly. “love you” she said sleepily, and he agreed. “Bye” and he grabbed his backpack heading home. Liam and Elsa were drinking coffee when he walked in, and Liam greeted him, Elsa coming to hug him.

“How are you, are the Nolan’s ok?” and he nodded. “As well as can be expected” he said leaning against the counter. “I am glad she told me” Liam said quietly. “I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself if we left and got a call, I wish I could stay to help her, return the kindness she has shown us since the day she met us” he said looking down at his hands. Killian came and clapped his hands on his brothers shoulders and kissed his head. “I’ll be doing that; you just focus on staying in one piece for us. But I have to get to work, dinner tonight, packing?” And Liam nodded. I’ll be home around 4, so I’ll just be boxing here, maybe I can help you take a few things to your new place, you have the keys, right?” and Killian nodded. “Alright, I will see you later. Bye Elsa” and he went to shower quickly and head off to work.

@captainswanouat @captainswoon @captain-swan-coffee @ao3feed-cs @kmomof4 @onceuponadaily @itsfabianadocarmo @lieutenantswan @kymbersmith-90 @killiansprincss @mrs-emma-swan-jones @hollyethecurious

@stahlop @hookedonkillianforlife87 @holdingoutforapiratehero​

@jrob64 @teamhook @purplehawkcaptain @sals86 @killiancomeback2me @killiansprincss @karlyfr13s @myfearless-love @resident-of-storybrooke

@thesschesthair @the-captains-ayebrows @jonesfandomfanatic @laschatzi @tiganasummertree @donteattheappleshook​ @purplehawkcaptain​ 

[squirrelacorngliterfarts]

Blood 2. 27

Everything Taglist: @gold-dragon-slayer @your-internet-granny

@darkwhisperswolf​ @youbloodymadgenius​ @blonddnamedhandz​ @thelastemzy​ @inforapound​ @supermassiveblackhope​ @captstefanbrandt​ @roonil-wxzlib​  @syreni-dea​ @cynthianokamaria​ @rosiebrosie @loliismutt@pinkisokay @heavenly1927​ @annekleyn​  @rose-02468​ @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @moonie-flower101

wanna start from the beginning? haven’t read the first part? start here!  Blood 1 Masterlist

it felt as if so much was happening around (y/n) still, the ever impending idea of ubbe and herself going to war with ivar and hvitserk loomed over her like an ugly storm cloud.

harald was trying to destroy and claim her home, killing anyone in the way, which may include ubbe and herself, whilst taking astrid in the middle of the day, keeping her as a pawn.

and floki, he told her of this beautiful place, the land of the gods, filled with so much beauty, he said, that (Y/n) found it hard to be true.

and he asked her to come with him..........

it was so tempting, so deliciously tempting to run and escape her problems and be with the man she considered a father, help him with a new settlement, to start over............

but she knew she couldn’t. she knew her place was with her brother ubbe, she knew she would stay with him and be by him no matter what.

she tosses her head back, closing her eyes as the rain poured, feeling it along her skin, soaking her.

“(y/n)”.

she opens her eyes and looks around her, finding no one there.

“hello!?” she calls out over the heavy rain,  squinting to try and make out any figures close by.

“(y/n)!”.

she whips around, the voice so close to her ear, she can’t see anyone through the drops of rain pounding against the forest floor, almost deafening her.

“who’s there!?” she shouts, trying to put a face to the voice, so familiar............

“you left me”.

suddenly, all the rain around her pauses mid fall, and the voice is calm, eerily calm.

she turns and finds ivar standing there, cane in hand, his body just as soaked as hers, droplets falling from his hair onto his face, looking just as beautiful as the day she left him.

“ivar.........what are you doing here?” she asks, her eyes brimming with tears, seeing how broken he looks.

he takes a step closer, lip trembling.

“you swore to me you’d never leave me, that you’d always be by my side”.

“ivar-”.

“YOU LEFT ME!”.

she can’t scream back, a sob escapes her chest, seeing that horrid look in his eyes.

“you hurt me......”she whimpers.

he’s suddenly in front of her, and grabs her hands, pressing them to his chest

“and you ripped my heart out”.

she opens her eyes and finds him handing her his still beating heart, blood dripping from his hand onto her skin, his eyes fading, blooding pouring from the wound in his empty chest.

she screams, over and over she screams as the rain began to fall again.

“NO NO NO NO! IVAR!”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

she awakes with a gasp, sitting straight up, panting as if she’d ran for days, the sweat pools above her brow as her hair sticks to the back of her neck.

she reaches her hand up to wipe it away, but realizes she had been crying as well.

she closes her eyes, trying to regain control over her wild heart, it’s not until she hears breathing in the quiet room that she notices the figure by the window.

“do dream of him often?, ivar?” floki asks, not turning towards her as he looks out into the dark night.

she says nothing, which further proves that she did dream of him, which was expected floki knew.

“it is okay to dream of the people that did us wrong, or made us feel indifferent”.

“is it normal for me to feel guilty that i left him?, even though he hurt me and our family?”.

floki finally looks at her, the sad ghost of a smile on his face.

“you love him, of course it is normal to feel that way”.

her shoulders fall, as she too looks out the window from her place on the bed, her throat tightening with unshared emotion.

“will it ever go away?”.

“the guilt?”.

she nods, and floki points to his brain.

“that is for you to rid of, it will not fade if you persist it to stay, but if you let it go than it will leave, in time”.

he comes to sit, looking into her red, tired eyes, his own filled with hurt yet that adventure (y/n loved so much.

“i asked ubbe if you could reconcile, he said no, but you never said a word”.

she looks to her right, finding an old flag ivar had made her as a young child, sitting on the corner of her bed, it was a flag he made her for when she’d travel when she got older, she was so small she used to cover her body with it when she missed him.

“i would hope so, but, in my mind i have already forgiven him, i could even more so if i knew he felt the same, but i don’t think he does”.

floki nods, looking at the flag as well.

“he told me i could never be the blood relation of ragnar” she murmurs, and floki is silent at this revelation.

“because i saved christians” she added.

floki takes in her words carefully, just looking at her, not in disgust or bother, he was looking at her with a calm expression that didn’t make her feel wrong.

“did you think it was the right thing to do?”.

“well, our people-”.

“i’m not talking about them, i’m talking about you”.

she thinks it over for a moment, remembering all that she saved, the women, the children, that boy.....alfred......

“i do, i think it was right of me to do”.

“than do not worry about anything ivar says about the matter of blood and relation. sometimes you act so much like ragnar it makes me smile, and i don’t miss him so much”.

her eyes well up as floki leans in to kiss her forehead, his palm on her cheek.

“you are the daughter of ragnar, (y/n), always have, and always will be”.

she smiles at him softly, grateful he was here tonight.

“thank you, floki”.

“always, my little dove”.

he stands, and backs away from the bed.

“get some rest, (y/n), i am leaving tomorrow and i desire you to be there when i go”.

she frowns at this, disappointment filling her.

“what time will you be leaving?”.

floki pauses by the door, facing her once again.

“mid-day, just after the sun rises”.

she nods, but floki isn’t done speaking.

“i’d ask you to come with me the new settlers, but i have a deep feeling you will say no”.

she chuckles, looking around the room.

“my place is here, i have to sort out everything between my brothers, i wish i could, floki. i would love to see the land of the gods with you someday”.

“you will, you will” floki giggles, watching her as she goes to lay back down.

“(Y/n)?”.

“yes, floki?”.

“perhaps ivar should remember his own father saved a christian once”.

and with that, floki leaves the room, leaving (Y/n) with her own thoughts and mind on the matter.

she lays down, letting her eyes close and drift off to a much more peaceful sleep...........maybe a dream involving a boy with black hair and deep blue eyes.

[happyhollow-mellowmarsh]

A Day in the Life of Gumi

“Zzzz……”

The camera continued to film the sleeping bunny for a while longer, before a small banana was brought into the frame, closer to the camera. The stem was cracked, and immediately the rabbit woke up with a start, looking around for the source of the banana… Before letting out a yawn.

“Awawawa…” 

Yawn finished, the rabbit hopped over, and began to munch on the banana. A smattering of Japanese kana floated across the screen, with the corresponding English translations captioned.

“Ohayou, everybunny! It’s me, Bubblegum, everyone’s favourite bun-bun!” The subtitles spelled out even if the rabbit herself didn’t actually vocalize anything. “Sorry for waking up late, peko! I was celebrating my third birthday yesterday… There was so much soda and I tired myself out partying!”

As she continued to munch, the camera was set down on a table. Their owner stepped into the frame of view still holding the banana, revealing a young Japanese woman in a white dress and a black hair bow: those of you who had knowledge of the idol scene (or had just read the channel’s about page) recognized her as the underground idol known as TASOGARE, or Dusky to others.

“Mama’s here! I mean, she’s always behind the camera, but she’s here now! And I love her so much!” Her free hand gently ruffled the back of the bunny’s ears. “Awawa! She always pets me just right!” 

A soft melody started playing over the two of them, before the overlaid intro card spelled out just what you were in for:

The next scene faded into a lounge room, where Bubblegum was being chased by what looked to be a tiny italian greyhound, barking as he went. Watching them frolic from atop a couch was an interesting animal, one that looked like a large cat the size of a boxer dog, but had fluffy wool much like a sheep possessed. She regarded the two on the ground impassively, as if waiting for the perfect time to strike, or simply because there was nothing better to do.

“Today, I want to introduce everyone to my familiar friends! The iggy chasing me is Bucephalus, though most of us usually call him Buce as a nickname. Say something cool, Buce-kun!”

“Yipyipyipyipyiphellohellohello!!” The tiny dog finally caught up, and booped his snout onto the fluff of Bubblegum’s tail. “Tag!”

This prompted the bunny to turn tail and chase after him back, and would not have been able to catch up to his superior speed if not for the sudden appearance of the sheep-cat, who bounded off her couch and down to block one of the greyhound’s escape routes.

“And this is my cousin, Baaby! She’s a really strong and magical sheep-cat hybrid! Please don’t call her a shat, she doesn’t like that.”

He dodged the large feline with a whine. “No fair! Why are you on her side?” 

"Because you slept on me... again. And you drool in your sleep." Baaby mewled lazily, licking one of her paws.

The chase continued for a few seconds more, before Buce bounded straight into the camera and knocked it into a black screen, setting up the next scene transition.

An underground lake framed the scene this time, as Bubblegum hopped along the water’s edge. Finding the first of her two friends, she thumped a foot in a high-five against the tailfin of the winged magical fish that leapt out of the water.

“This is Astrid! She’s a fairy koi, and she likes to swim down here. Mama likes to help her friend feed Astrid whenever she has the time to.”

The camerawoman, presumably Dusky, holds out a handful of apple blossoms towards the water. The fairy koi’s eyes light up from a distance, and she jumps out of the lake in a miniature water bubble controlled by her own magic, before swimming in the air over to munch.

“OMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!”

Finishing up all of the flowers, the fish let out a burp and smiled. “Thank you! Much appreciated! Astrid is very happy and full.” She blew some water bubbles into the air above Bubblegum before swimming back to the lake, popping her own water bubble as she did.

“See you around, Astri-tan!” Bubblegum waved, before continuing to hop along the perimeter.

Eventually, she came across a majestic horse-like creature resting on the side bank of the lake, with mottled green skin and a mane that looked more like seaweed than hair. A bright red eye cracked open at the sudden presence, as the sea-horse lifted her head to regard the rabbit.

“This is Undaria! She’s a kelpie, and she’s also my sister! Well, technically, half-sister, her dad and my mama are dating and all, but she’s my sister all the same! Say hi, Unda-chan!”

The kelpie neighed softly, prompting Bubblegum to hop closer. “What is it now, Bubbles?”

The bun hopped onto her half-sister’s back, before beginning to run her face through the kelp. “I’m helping to groom you! Because I can!” As she continued to trim through the kelpie’s mane, Bubblegum chirruped softly, “I love my sis so much! She’s the tsun-tsun to my dere-dere!”

“What does that even mean?” Undaria whinnied haughtily. It did not stop her from allowing the grooming to happen, or from gently setting the rabbit back down onto shore once she was done.

“See you later, nee-chan!” Bubblegum thumped happily, before skittering away to a new setting.

Now she was in the middle of a pumpkin patch, nibbling on some pumpkin leaves. “Hello again! My next friends are flying at the moment, so I’ll introduce you to them when they come down!”

A few seconds later, and they did. A white pigeon with streaks of purple and red in his wings glided down to land on a pumpkin, followed shortly after by a pale yellow budgie with a dash of small white spots on his head. They raised a wing in greeting. 

“I’m Berry!” The pigeon coos, before he scratched his head. “Still don’t know what kind of berry I’m supposed to be, but I guess it depends on the day.” He eyes the camera, and the person behind it extends a baked cracker, which he comes over to eat.

“And I’m Alkonost! I- ooh, cracker.” Distracted, the budgie hopped over to munch on the cracker. “Where was I? Oh yeah, I’m visiting today! Mom works somewhere else usually, but her girlfriend was in the area so I tagged along.”

While the birds were busy, Bubblegum moved further down the pumpkin patch; once they were done consuming the cracker, they led the camera over to their next pair of familiars.

Unsurprisingly, the massive clydesdale horse stood out first. Towering over Bubblegum and the two birds by a magnitude of at least ten, he had a dark brown mane with a matching brown tail, and a chocolate brown body with white patches around his face and legs. A loose red bandana was tied around his neck, and part of his mane had been braided to rest behind one of his ears.

At his feet was a strange snake-like creature, but this one was distinctly less long and slithery, and more compact and chubby. A glow stick necklace circled around this one’s neck, and his forked tongue stole chunks of pumpkin flesh as he vibed, brown and green stripes vibrating.

“This is Johnny Kane!” Bubblegum introduced, gently thumping her paw against the stallion’s leg. “I’ve been trying to get him interested in Unda-chan for a while now, but since he only comes to visit every now and then, there’s never really been much time to schedule a date.”

Judging by the long face on the horse, both metaphorically and literally, she was the only one in support of the idea. “Charmed.”

“And this is King!” Despite the natural tendency for rabbits to fear snakes, she approached him with no fear whatsoever. “He’s a tsuchinoko! Yes, tsuchinoko real. Do you wanna say anything?”

“Flpflpflpflpflp…” Retracting his tongue, King gave a toothy half-smile. “I mean… party rock is in the house tonight? I dunno, but I’m always down to have some fun.”

While rabbits weren’t usually capable of smiling, Bubblegum could trill happy vibes very well. “Aren’t we all? Thank you guys for showing up, I’m going to go find the others now. Stay sweet!”

Hopping away, she sped past the camera to the final pit stop in her adventure quest, a snazzy recreation room that contained a karaoke machine and a countertop bar. As she hopped inside, something ran outside, a black blur of an animal with the briefest flash of yellow eyes.

“That was Teto! It’s alright if we didn’t get to see her, she’s not very sociable.” Bubblegum sniffed. “Unlike the other black cat in the mansion… my mom’s boss, Trouble!”

She pauses in her tracks, scrunching up her face. “At least I know I’ve seen her as a black cat at some point a while ago… Maybe she likes transformation magic? Or maybe that’s just her fursona.”

Hopping onto a bar stool, the rabbit came face to face with a rooster on another stool. This was no ordinary rooster however, as instead of brown or white feathers, every inch of the sun bird’s body was covered in multicoloured flechettes. Both his comb and tail feathers had little balls of what looked to be concentrated fire, and he let out a cocky crow at the sight of the camera.

“This is Bata! He’s a sarima… sarima…” The subtitles were clearly poking fun at Bata’s species, even if both rabbit and mistress probably knew what he was. “Sun chicken! He’s a baby.”

“I am not!” He clucked back. “I am a very proud rooster who eats lots of big man food and can still find the time to give my Dad feather hugs whenever he wants them!”

Bubblegum blinked. “That’s… oddly specific.”

“Shush, don’t judge me, you get hugs from your momma all the time too.” He stuck out his tongue.

“Fair enough!” Bubblegum conceded with a trill. “And you will always be a baby because that’s what I remember you as when you were still a chick. A baby!”

Bata let out a squawk, preening his feathers. “Lies! Slander! I’m bigger than you, Bubble-brain!”

The two continued their friendly banter as Dusky stepped into view and pressed the service bell on the bar’s top. A little scratching noise was heard, before a mouse scampered up onto the bar: this mouse looked to be a little old, with a small witch’s hat that had probably seen better days, but he nonetheless squeaked cheerily to ask for orders.

“A tall glass of apple cider, please. And some water for them.” Dusky requested, giving the mouse a gentle pat on the head. The mouse moved to go make those drinks, and seconds later the order was set out in front of all three of the bar’s current occupants.

“And that’s Jeffrey! He was, um… he belonged to mom’s teacher before she passed away, but he’s still working here out of loyalty to my mom’s bosses. Really great mouse, who serves great drinks!” Bubblegum happily starts lapping at the water.

Once they were done, the idol scooped up her rabbit, waved goodbye to the other two familiars and walked out of the door. The scene cut back to the inside of their room, where Bubblegum is set down gently, and the bun hops around the room to exercise, just a little.

“As you can see, there’s a whole bunch of friends here with me in the mansion, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and some of them are plenty magical, too!” Rubbing the back of her ears with a paw, Bubblegum yawned. “Familiar or not though… we’re still like everyday animals and we all have our own needs. Food, sleep, and of course, love!”

Dusky shows up one last time, simply to press a kiss onto Bubblegum’s eager forehead. “And I’ll always give you as much love as I can.”

“Yay! That’s all for tonight! I’ve been Bubblegum, and I wish you all a gumi-goodnight. Goodbye!” While the outro music played, Bubblegum hopped around in a circle before she binkied herself into her bed, waving at the camera one last time before the ending card signalled the vlog’s end.

[chaotic-undying-loki]

Foulques’ Fall

// just because i want to share, and you know, Foulques got dealt a shit end of the story stick. FFXIV content because i’m newly playing, albeit Free Trial, and loving it and Foulques is my man, k. Feel free to ignore, given this isn’t Loki or any of my usual content XD //

SCENE UNDER THE CUT

The duel as fierce, and hard won, and in reality wholly unnecessary. And yet the Duskwight Elezen was possessed of chaotic emotions that so bitterly reflected the scars and pain of the world at large. Akericon had been witness in his travels at behest of the companies and the scions, and their needs, as well as the needs of the people, o'er and o'er.

The Adventurer had been wound tightly to the duty of his heart of honor as of late, but even all that while, his hearts fondness had wondered a night and another of he state of Foulques. Their last meeting did not end on reassuring terms after facing the wild boar (and his failed attempt to talk to Foulques afterwards), and had urgent matters not called upon him again, mayhaps he would have searched for the Elezen.

But the needs of the many had yet called upon him, and so he committed his heart to them through quarrel and quest. Until his short reprieve whilst working towards trust and good will with the Sylphs had led to word of Ywain calling for audience. His Guildmaster had heard word of his lengthy return, and wished to see him, and Akericon did not deny him such. And so the trial turned to his last dealing with what many seemed to see as one of the adventurers surely eventually plentiful foes...but Akericon did not see him that way. No, truly, he was sure he was perhaps the only one to see the real Foulques.

Beyond the hate, beyond the foolish lengths, the false or misconstrued and mishandled strength, and harmful beliefs that led him to be a talented, powerful, and enduring lancer with some clear view....but led him too far to false beliefs and empty courage.

During their battle, Akericon begged warning, urged sense to Foulques, but he was beyond listening. All he knew was all he was, and to him that was the greatest lancer of them all, powerful and undeniable, with Akericon as his greatest equal, and he seemed to believe he'd finally rise above his pain if he rode above him.

But he fell to Akericons steel, denial and pain sweeping over him.

Catching his breath, Akericon barely stood straight as he struggled to find his voice again, after the strained grunting. "Enough of this, Foulques! Enough of the cruel hand, enough of the pain! This is not all there is...!" He started stepping forward.

But Foulques stepped back, shaking his head and brandishing spear madly. "S-stay back!! Don't come near me!!"

The edge was too near, and in that moment, Akericon felt a flash of pain. He saw Foulques’ wavering step, the loss of balance, and time, for a moment, slowed as he saw him tip back over the edge of the chasm.

Pain. A pain like one being sucked dry of joy and desire and strength hit him, and he choked on this, before his feet brought him running without his conscious choice. "FOULQUES!!!"

He reached him as he fell, diving and making reach for his hand as he watched the panic in the Elezens face. But he caught his hand, and speared the chasm cliff wall, catching them. Foulques hung below Akericon, gasping and looking delirious, unable to find words. In that moment, seeing his state, Akericon felt surer than ever that, on top of his long festering pain of betrayal, some darkness must have taken advantage of his mental state (for had Akericon not seen the shadowy hands affecting others before, in his quest and missions against threats to the realm?).

And so Akericon used a surge of strength, lifted and vaulted the duskwight Elezen back up to safety, comforted by the sound of the impact and the groan. He made his way back up, carefully, feeling his strength waning, though persisting.

He crawled to Foulques' side, on hands and knees while the other lay on his back, pained and eyes half shut but he could do nothing but gasp, huff in pain, and hold his gaze on Akericon.

"You....you could have....die-agh..!" Foulques clutched his side. He was fairly wounded, though nothing that would kill him. But his mind held more harm than his body, Akericon could feel, and that's what would wound him now.

"I could have...but you... shouldn't..." Akericon responded to the unfinished statement.

Foulques shut his eyes, pained, but whether by body or mind, Akericon could not decipher clearly. He took a shuddering breath, then let it out. "....I was....right... You are far greater....than any who have met...those traitorous halls... Far greater..."

Unconscious took him with those words, a single tear slipping from the edge of the Elezens eye. Akericon sighed, sitting to catch his breath. "Dancing one bested the hateful dusk one!! This one saw it sure!"

He looked up, to see one of the Sylphs he had been working on befriending yesterday, flittering over. Confused, he huffed, "Gelionox?"

"But dancing one saved dusk one, but why? Your ways are strange to this one, but curious this one is!!" Gelionox squeaked, fluttering over to them, and looking over the duskwight Elezen. The sylph floated, looking thoughtful, before he looked as if he understood. "Dancing one looks into dusk one, does he? What does he see?"

".... Pain...loss... loneliness... Betrayal. None of this deserves more pain, nor does it deserve death..." He answered. Gelionox looked between them, then fluttered and bobbed with an air of amusement. "This one thinks dancing one sees much more! But walking ones are slow and silly in their ways of mating. These ones do mating better, with more fun! But dancing one can have his way."

Akericons cheeks only faintly flushed, as it was the first time it was put into words, but he wouldn't deny the feelings there. From the moment they met, he had seen something in him that couldn't be ignored. They both did.

But that was a concern for later. For now, rest and healing was important. He stood, and took out his whistle, calling for Aure'Rasmus. The 'kweh!' from the distance was all reassurance the Au Ra needed. He knelt by Foulques then, placing a hand on the others. Then he glanced to Gelionox. "Strange we are...but it is what we are nonetheless...but, Gelionox... I must find somewhere for him to rest and get better. The people round him, they do not see to who he is like we can. I must return to my guild, and tell them of his fall. So he might have a chance, to begin anew."

"Dancing one seeks to change dusk one like the change of green to gold!! Dancing one is silly...but dancing one is serious, too..." The sylph fluttered around them both, then flitted about.

Finally, the Sylph stopped before Akericon, as Aure'Rasmus padded his way to a stop a few feet behind his master. And the Sylph hummed, then squeaked, then nodded. "This one has decided!! Dusk one will stay in this ones tree, the one dancing one fought off nasty gnats from!! Is a safe, comfortable home, and this one can rest dusk one and heal him.... Only if dancing one promises the angry pain is done. This one will not suffer the chaos of walking ones, this one won't allow these ones to suffer! But this one sees you, dancing one. Dancing one believes? Truly?"

Akericon nodded. "I do. I will be there, until he has recovered and can leave your camp. He will need to be guided, and though I know there is plenty aid I must give, to many needs of many souls, I...feel he is among them, and needs it now. So... you'll help me?"

"This one will.... For locks of hair, and wonderful root you gave to the other one!!"

Akericon made a look, both at the strangeness of the locks of hair request, and disgust at the idea of dealing with that root again, but it was simple enough. He nodded. "You will have both."

Gelionox made a pleased squeak, then swiped a small chunk of Foulques' hair, then Akericons, and then fluttered off back for camp.

And so, Akericon carried Foulques astride his steed, collected the root along the way to the camp, and found the tree. There, he settled the resting and pained Elezen into the makeshift bed, while Gelionox collected potions to use when necessary.

And so, with a promise of returning before Foulques awoke, Akericon set off to relay the mostly truthful but somewhat falsified events to Ywain, finding an end to his trials and training at the guild. It felt like overcoming a hill. He hoped one day he could confess the truth to Ywain, preferably with a reformed Foulques in tow and with open minds awaiting them at the guild when they might find themselves there. But he knew this was best. And so he returned to the edge of the camp, knowing Yda and Papalymo would be awaiting him. But they would continue, until he could face Foulques for who he truly was.

                         TIMESKIP

It was the second day, and though Foulques had been in and out, enough for a potion, some water here and s tiny bit if food there, he'd yet to wake to full consciousness. But Akericon stayed near, eventually falling unconscious at the trees edge himself. The rest was much needed, of course, and Gelionox didn't mind. When Akericon woke, though, the Sylph was gone....and Foulques lay awake, watching him with a strange expression. Fond yet questioning, concerned, perhaps annoyed. There was no understanding to be found unless they finally spoke, though. So Akericon stared back at him, took a breath, and sighed. "I'm going to save the lecture, for it may be long. How are you feeling....?"

Foulques took a breath through his nose and sighed. Akericon wondered if he'd end up staying silent, ever stubborn. But he started sitting up, grunting but seeming less pained than before.

"Bruised....in all ways imaginable...." His voice was tense, and he lifted his gaze with accusations yet confused yearning. "I could've fell... Died.... Ywain's blight on the guilds name would be gone, your master pleased and singing you praise...and yet you saved me, putting yourself at risk in the process. Why would you do such a thing, risk wasting both of us...?"

Akericon rolled his eyes. "I will push aside the last part of that question, as well as admit I told Ywain I bested you. To his knowledge, and the guilds, you're dead."

Foulques scoffed, an annoyed sound. "Enjoyed that, did you...?"

"No. Not in the slightest. But after your confession, it's clear wounds fester too deep for you to rejoin their ranks now, if ever. And though I believe Ywain and his teachings to be good, they do hold failure in that...they may never grow beyond the mistakes of the past and accept you. Instead, who you were in their eyes....must die."

"Who I was...? What in seven hells does that mean?" The Elezen questioned. "It means this is your second chance. A turning of the leaf. You can either fall, or learn to thrive anew. Your choice." Akericon offered patiently, leaning back against the inner wall of the tree.

Foulques eyed him ever deeper. "You...." He sighed, shaking his head. "You think I am some coward you can break and mold? I will never be that."

"See it how you want, Foulques. I'm not leaving you, though. That...I will promise you." The Au Ra vowed, and left Foulques speechless for a while longer.

The minutes spanned longer and longer, stubbornness and a sort of lost nature falling over the duskwight Elezen, and Akericon held the patience. If he spoke again, he felt he would be testing Foulques' own patience. Though surely he must know, he had few options now, after his assault upon the guild men and guards. He had garnered a reputation that would leave him unwelcome, and Akericon felt that despite his stubbornness, Foulques would not let idiocy lead the elezen away from the only friend he had left.

The Au Ra sighed, taking up a sylph made potion, and offering it to Foulques. The latter ignored it for a moment, but when Akericon did not lower his hand, he finally grabbed it with a sigh, downing the potion. He let the soothing power of it wash over him, feeling more of his pains ease, though it could do nothing for the emotional pain. He sat up fully then, the blanket that had been on him slipping to his lap, and he seemed to finally register that, save for a waist garment and his pants and hand wraps, he was bare across his torso. He looked to Akericon then, raising a brow. "...Your idea to undress me...?"

Akericon smirked faintly, to hear the somewhat teasing tone in Foulques words, then answered. "Yes. Your armor needs mending, and your wounds needed checking before we applied any salve or prepared any potions."

Foulques huffed a laugh, leaning an arm on one knee that he brought up. He didn't seem to mind his currently state of half-dress. He did stretch a bit, seeming somewhat aware of Akericon's gaze, as he tested his body's aches and weak spots, and what was healed. His gaze became lowered again, which Akericon had learned was his stubborn refusal to have their locked gazes show clear what the elezen was feeling. But he did speak.

"You spoke of a lecture...?"

Akericon raised a crimson brow, and quirked his head. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Foulques finally looked back at him, gaze steely and somewhat blank. "I don't seem to be going anywhere, so you might as well get it over with."

Akericon shrugged and nodded. "As you wish. I'll begin in confessing, I heard you and saw you for what you provided from the moment we met. Spear tip in my face, I simply saw someone worth knowing and following, to see what I might learn and experience. When our paths began to cross, I welcomed it."

Foulques straightened up, and that steely gaze began to faltered, before he forced a blankness to cover the reaction his features urged to show--but his eyes could not hide the soaring of his spirit over these words, as it was clear that his belief in Akericon was not simply projecting pride, he did truly admire him in such a way that had led him to desire they work together in some fashion, and to know that there truly had been some mutual equality there left a gratifying sensation in his chest. But he prepared for what was to come, as this was not the lecture. He felt a sort of bitterness for what he assumed might be said, swelling.

"You had your points; there is a fierce courage and steel a lancer must acquire, and it does come from enduring great and hefty trials, and many times, a lancer may face such alone, which you clearly knew well. More than Ywain and his crew. But...he was right, as we both saw, that your courage at times was performative. It was not bred to fruition in your heart due to what was done to you and how it led you to be something more, and so it faltered at the worst of times and left your way of the lancer to falter, too." Akericon spoke, calmly, carefully.

Foulques, as expected, shook his head and seemed to be slowly boiling with his deep-seeded rage and pride, twisting around each other.

"Such a falter should not be your end, though. Your past led you to allow it all to consume you, Foulques. You let your past turn you, into everything those bastards believed you to be. And THAT is where my pride in you faltered."

Foulques looked to Akericon, brows furrowed, looking ready to speak, to argue, to question. But Akericon would not allow such. Instead, he continued before Foulques could manage to speak.

"You are not a villain, a cruel beast for them to snuff out. I will not allow you to be such, and that is why I saved you. The lancer....the man, the duskwight elezen who had pride and honor but made a mistake amidst difficult times and found himself betrayed by those who would profess them better...when they surely were not... I would not stand by and let him die. That is why I risked this life of mine, which is of need to many, because in that moment, you were in need of it more. But now, you will repay my risk and my effort of saving you, by stopping....the cruel idiocy."

Foulques glared, but didn't question what he meant, and didn't seem yet inclined to deny such demands.

"The traitors that ruined you deserve to have paid similar a price, but those in Ywain's teaching are not them. They do not deserve your wrath, nor your condescension. And though your way of the lancer benefits you, and has taught me as well, it is not the way for all Lancers." he reasoned to him. "Learn, now.... that your pain and trials are not meant to be pushed upon all others. Were you to continue your ways, I will promise you I will do what I must to prevent you from harming more innocents. For that is what you did. You made victims similar to yourself, in your mad thrashing of pain. I have the fortunate chance to see into who you truly are, but not all will, nor should they... You hurt others, wounded them deeply, terrorized them, Foulques. And that has brought shame upon who you are, a shame that can and will be mended."

"And how may that happen then? You spoke it yourself--I will never join that guild again, whether by my will or theirs." He spat.

"Well... By your words and Ywain's, I'm clearly quite the lancer, of great renown myself." he retorted, smirking slightly and he could see the faintest amusement pass over Foulques face before he contained it. But he continued.

"You may never be a part of a guild again, only time will tell. But you need not a guild in these times. What you need....is me." Akericon stated, and stood, moving over to Foulques, before getting on his knees to sit beside him. "I have made allies and near friends, in adventurers and those serving their people, along my journey which you know not of as you have been on a journey of pain yourself... But yet have a found a companion to stand by me, to fight by me through every step. And I imagine, you yourself have not had such for some time now as well."

Foulques just stared at the Au Ra with bittersweet awe, and some amount of pain in his eyes. He did not deny or confirm. He swallowed hard.

"Together, you can help me fight to better this world, to mend it, to aid those in need and make use of the strength and courage we instill our pride in. It's not enough, to simply be a master lancer. Why did you begin down this path to start with, Foulques? Why did you choose to become a Lancer, before the betrayal infected and tainted it all....?" He looked into the elezen's eyes, and through the Echo, he could send a kindred yearning that a younger Foulques had been driven by, that Akericon too had felt. But he needed Foulques to speak it.

He still stared, shaking his head.

"Tell me."

"I... I saw the adventurers...heroes...protectors, passing through my home town. All of them wildwood elezen. They protected my community, with heart, but with condescension. We were...their lesser counterparts, that needed protection and guidance, lest we fall deeper into darkness and brigand ways. But I had hope that a Duskwight Hero would join them... I saw few, and chose to join the numbers myself. I was drawn to the lance, and I struggled...but I overcame, and found...I found..."

"Purpose." Akericon offered.

Foulques sighed, and nodded. "In fighting for others, in giving my strength and talent, I found purpose, yes. But for what... It would never change the Duskwight I was born to be..."

"You are duskwight." Akericon echoed, and Foulques hissed under his breath. "And I am Au Ra of the dusk, of the Dusk Mother. That is what we are, but that is not ALL we are. What we are, does not define what we can be. Or else I would find myself bound to the peaks of Gyr Abania still with my tribe, working for a select corner of land and awaiting the battle upon Steppe for Khagan. But that was not my fate, I knew it when I was but a youngling. And you are not meant for the misconceptions of your people either. We have a greater path, and I will not stand to let this world shove you from that path any more than it has."

"Why?" Foulques suddenly muttered, throat thick with suddenly clear emotion. He looked to Akericon, face twisted with anger, but something more pained as well. His eyes were shining, though nothing fell from them. "You have a greater path than I, you have proven you are stronger, why waste time like this...?!"

"Because you are meant for my path, just as much as anything else. Whether you hate it or welcome it, Foulques, I care.... I care for you in a way that will not allow me to leave you behind. In such a way that I see you clearly and will strive to stand by you and help you thrive and grow, as you did me. I care....simply because...I just do... And so it is no waste of time to me." He sat back then. "Am I to assume your belief in our standing as equals was false? Or did you believe it...?"

"I did." Foulques confirmed swiftly. "...I do."

"Then what are equals for, if not to stand side by side?"

Foulques just stared in sudden awe, and shook his head. "....Where were you, when I made such a foolish mistake to let my life fall into such cruel hands?"

Akericon smiled faintly to him, but the smile faltered, as his memory still blurred over such a time, though emotions were a jumble of passion, pain, and some foreign loss he could not understand given what that time five years before had done to his memory. "...I was fighting my own battle. It matters not. This is where our paths were meant to cross, and where they stand now. So.... Where do you stand, Foulques? Do you take my offer, for a new day? Or would you be left to take your rest and continue upon a bitter path, continuing the cycle of pain and anguish...?" he asked.

The duskwight elezen took a few careful breaths, before shaking his head. "...I take it, Akericon..." he then carefully offered his arm, which Akericon took in a vowing grip, and they locked eyes. "I will try your path, and see it where it leads...whether your faith is admirable or wasted. I...stand by you."

Akericon grinned faintly, gripping his arm more firmly, and giving it a shake. "And I, by you." he moved, pressing their foreheads together, reaching to grip the back of Foulques head. The duskwight elezen took a shaky breath in and out at the movement, as Akericon expected (given amongst various cultures, for warriors, it was an intimate comfort for brothers in arms).

"Together, from this step on." "Together."

From that day on, though Foulques found himself in deep, bitter reflection over his actions and his past few years, he still stayed near the sylph camp to recover, as Akericon continued with his work, checking in with every free moment he was allowed. It was a strange shift, in both their lives, but already, the air had changed...become lighter, electric with expectation and chance.

A new day had begun.

[beastlywritings]

CH 2

Pairing: Eskel/OC (Lae’elan) AFAB NB (but gender doesn’t come into it until later)

Summary: After having a rough night of ignoring desire, Eskel is convinced to let Lae’elan tag along. She shows she’s worth the pains and adorable to boot. 

Rating for this chapter: PG-13 for sexual innuendo and suggested sexual acts, as well as talk of masturbation TW (this chapter): manipulation, self consciousness about scars and appearance,  eating fish raw, sexual thoughts of another person and feeling icky about it, masturbation mention, cruel self-talk, gratuitous use of italics for thoughts

AN: betaed only for grammar and spelling, but not content. If you wanna gimme some concrit, I’d be grateful; this is my first time posting fic in years and I’m rusty as hell. Hold on to your pants, kids, this whole fic is gonna be a saga. Also I know Lan is a mary-sue. I’m well aware. Deal with it. She’s bits and pieces of me and my ideal self. 

Dividers by @firefly-graphics. Eye ones were custom, swirls were premade. Go visit them! Awesome work. 

Eskel brought himself back to the world an hour before sunrise proper. The urge to just run and avoid the shapeshifter flitted through his mind as he looked across the banked firepit at her sleeping, thankfully humanoid, form. He shook the thought away, running a hand through his hair. No, she’d been nothing but kind and good conversation; she deserved a good-bye at the very least. 

Don’t run from a good thing like Wolf did, he scolded himself. She wanted to stay with him. Why, he had no clue. Surely he wasn’t that good of a conversation partner, he reiterated his thoughts from the night before. 

Leaving the clearing and walking a few paces, Eskel moved behind a bush to relieve himself. He considered how quickly he was adapting to having a campmate that was not one of his brothers. He’d immediately offered to hunt for her, had done his best to entertain her, and now he was not only leaving the clearing to piss, but also hiding himself from her potential gaze to preserve modesty while he had his dick out. It had been shockingly easy. He remembered Geralt complaining at how annoying it had been to get accustomed to camping with Jaskier. 

Don’t get used to it. She’ll leave you soon enough. Her proposal. What was he going to say? She’ll want an answer soon as she wakes, no doubt. What could she possibly want tagging along. Must have some ulterior motive.

But what if she doesn’t? What if she only wants some companionship like she says? What then? Do I want someone trailing along beside me? He made his way back, head more full of questions than when he left. 

Rummaging through the saddlebags slung over a hefty branch to find the jerky he’d stashed, he considered his next move. 

Last night was nice, he conceded, breaking his fast. He watched her for a minute, her breaths even and the rise and fall of her chest calming. I’ll ask what she’s after. Besides, she’s not like Jaskier; can probably hold her own, protect herself. He realized he’d just argued in her favor. Wiping a hand down his face, he wondered if this was how Geralt had felt like in Dol Blathanna all those years ago. 

A rustle, and an uptick in heart rate and breathing. Eskel would get his answers soon enough; Lae’elan was waking. 

She roused with a large yawn, not bothering to cover her mouth with its curling tongue and sharp teeth. Blearily, she noticed Eskel looking at her, arms crossed as he stood leant against a tree. 

“Mornin’ Eskel,” she smiled, rubbing her eyes before shaking her head like a dog. Her long ears made a plap plap plap noise as they bent and slapped against her head. She looked much more alert now. 

“Mmmm there, that’s more like it,” she said, getting to her feet, “So did you think about my offer?” she asked, stretching out her back with arms over her head. Eskel watched her and hummed. 

“And your answer?” she asked, rolling her eyes fondly. 

“What do you want tagging along with a witcher?” She sighed at his question as he eyed her suspiciously. 

“I come out of nature every so often, typically for a single day to get my fill of actual conversation. Normally,” she said, taking a few steps towards him and crossing her own arms, “I’m stuck talking to closed-minded humans about mundane shit and politics,” she winced at the word with obvious distaste, “Normally, I have to hide what I am. Normally, I’m sick of humanity after just a few hours and I fuck back off to wander the woods as a creature. You, Eskel, you’re interesting, I can be myself, and, most of all, you’re kind,” she finished, shrugging. He narrowed his eyes further. 

“Look, I’m not saying I want to stick to you forever like your brother’s bard; I’ll get sick of having hands and human niceties just as I always do,” She wiggled her fingers for emphasis. Eskel couldn’t stop the snort that escaped at that. “I’m just intrigued that I don’t find myself sick of them yet. That hasn’t happened in quite some time,”

“You know travelling with me would be dangerous. I don’t skate around the monsters; I head straight for them. And you’d be expected to pull your weight.” She laughed, tilting her head back. 

“Monsters don’t scare me, witcher. I’m sure I’ve likely killed almost as many as you and without getting paid. And it would be no more dangerous than my normal existence,” she chuckled, coming closer again. She noted that Eskel straightened up a bit. “And like last night, I wouldn’t dream of mooching. You’d be surprised at how much I can do for you. I’m a shite cook, but I can hunt bigger game much easier than you in a quarter of the time, and find roughage on top of that. Could keep you well fed. I can mend and embroider passably if you supply materials. I can keep watch if needs be, act as a nursemaid if you get hurt, and hell, if you wanted a break I could probably either help with big hunts or just outright do your small contracts for you. You can even keep the coin; I’ve no need for it, that’s for sure,” she finished, making sure to leave out the option of being his bedwarmer as well. She didn’t want to push too much after last night. 

“Sounds too good to be true,” Eskel pushed himself off the tree, “Means it most likely is. What’s in it for you?” he jutted his chin out at her. 

“Companionship from the first interesting person I’ve met in years, a little extra adventure…” she said. Eventually the information I’ve been searching for my whole life over, she thought. Ah fuck, she couldn’t help it. “And honestly, there are a few other benefits,” she smirked, eyeing him up and down. She hoped that the flirting covered up the lurch in her heart beat. “What can I say, you’re eye candy, and I don’t deny myself looking at pretty things,” she hummed. His nostrils flared, but not in anger. He was scenting her. She knew herself well enough to know he smelled the faint traces of lust coming off her. She was banking on it. He looked conflicted. Fuck, too far? she questioned herself.

“You keep… What’s so--” he grunted, frustrated with himself, with his difficulty voicing his thoughts. “Fine,” he sighed, “You can come with me, but I warn you, I bump elbows with humans quite often. Towns and cities alike.” He looked her up and down, still trying to figure her out, assessing her. 

“And at those junctures you’ll either be rid of me, or I can keep your horse company in the stable. I make a fine barn cat,” she smiled, approaching the big black warhorse. 

“Wait! He--” Eskel put out a hand to stop her, but she held her own towards Scorpion and he came sedately to her hand to be pet. Eskel was shocked. He barely let stableboys pet him after taking care of him for a few days. Lae’elan chuckled. 

“Another thing about me?” she said, petting down the stallion’s face, “Is that all animals love me.” Scorpion snorted, demanding more nose pets. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Eskel’s head tilt and his brows pull together, confused and bewildered. It was clear he’d been expecting a violent reaction.

“He-- He never-- He hates being pet by strangers. Can’t count how many times he’s bit stableboys,” he muttered. 

“With me, you’ll never be bothered by another wolf pack, bull moose, or rutting elk again,” she hummed, continuing her petting session but looking straight at Eskel. 

“Can you…”

“Talk to them? In a manner of speaking. I more… mentally order and they either acquiesce or get ornery before eventually giving in. Some creatures are more… suggestable,” she sighed, trying to collect thoughts in a sensical manner, “If you mean actually having a conversation.... Most animals communicate with body language. If I have the same body, I can speak their own tongue directly at them, easy. In a humanoid form, less so. I can alter my vocal chords for certain things that have more vocal elements of communication, like that crow last night, and for howling to wolves, and a few others. I sat my ass down and learned the vocal parts of the language fully for those.” Scorpion nipped at her hair and tugged and she laughed brightly. 

“Cheeky!” she hummed, petting him, “I think someone’s ready to go if you are.” She blew a raspberry at the horse and he knocked her with his massive head. She even allowed herself to be moved. 

At that, Eskel began loading up his horse, shaking his head in disbelievement. 

“So,” she began, “Where to?” They’d been on the road, walking in relative silence for a bit. Eskel eyed her paws from where he sat astride Scorpion.

“Nowhere in particular. Next town’s a few days away; check the notice board there,” He glanced down again. She was still very much not human. 

“You’re staring. Don’t worry, I’ll change as soon as I hear anyone coming,” she smiled up at him, “You don’t need to worry about me. No one’s caught me in decades. I’m careful,”

“Hence the stalking me for a day,” he joked, smiling. It wasn’t particularly comforting that she had been caught, period, but he supposed he was careful and had gotten ambushed all the same in the past.

“There’s your sense of humor! Knew you had one!” She kidded. Eskel smiled a tiny bit more at her jabbing back. “But yes, I’d rather not get hunted down and caged for a menagerie or a mage’s whims, so caution is my code.” His small smile made Lae’elan’s even brighter. She couldn’t help it; it was such a cute smile, and a good look on him. 

Eskel was amazed at how well she kept up with him, walking alongside the horse. She never seemed to get out of breath or slow, keeping perfect pace, her paws propelling her along quickly. She was sweating a fair bit, but then again, he was sweating some as well despite not exerting himself.

And she was alert and adept as she led on, too. She’d put a hand on his leg in the stirrup suddenly and he watched as she shifted, the horns and ears melding into a human form, her eyes dulling to a whiskey brown. Her paws turned to normal human feet, the toes peeking out from under the dress when she walked from his perspective. Others would likely see her whole foot, the skirt landing at about ankle height. The sight was discomfiting, though he couldn’t place why exactly. 

“What--”

“People. A cart,” she said, under her breath. He listened, but didn’t hear anything; the place where she’d touched him felt like it was buzzing. He realized it had been the first time she’d touched him. A few seconds and he heard them, the humans on a cart, from around the bend. 

Her hearing is better than mine, he realized, surprised. She was silent, not looking in their direction, only straight ahead. The merchants scowled at him as they passed each other, Eskel steering his single horse closer to the shoulder. He knew they could both hear the slurs and spitting coming from the occupants. He watched her, and saw she didn’t react until they were past, and only then a hardening of the eyes. Once they were a few minutes behind them, and they made no signs of following them, Lae’elan shifted back. Again, watching the change so closely made him uneasy, making his eyes ache as if he’d been staring at a book for hours.

“Try not to watch so much,” she suggested, catching him blink a few times, “Give you a headache if you watch too closely.”

At around noon, Eskel began to pull over into the trees at the side of the road. Dismounting, he asked,

“Don’t suppose those ears of yours hear water?” He couldn’t hear any himself. 

“Mmmm,” she hummed, listening for a second before pointing forward and to the right a bit. “Yep, not much, but there’s a trickle that-a-way,” Eskel looked a bit skeptically in the direction she pointed, and, focusing, he couldn’t hear the breathing or shifting of bandits, and so found no reason to doubt her. After a minute of leading Scorpion into the woods, he began hearing the sounds of water as well. 

They found it was a runoff from uphill, barely trickling down from a recent rain. Eskel was glad they’d filled canteens from the stream Lae’elan had found last night before they’d moved on, and that it wasn’t so hot that they’d drank much at all. The water was gritty with sandy dirt, but clean enough for the horse as he bent his head to drink. Eskel drank a bit, but elected to not waste time trying to refill the little space in his canteen. 

“Have to keep our ears out as we go along,” he grunted, standing. The shapeshifter was sipping, mouth to the water rather than using her hands, when the wind changed. Her head snapped up and a wide smile lit up her face. 

“What’s your opinion on raspberries?”

“Why?”

“You can’t smell ‘em?” she asked. He gave her a blank look. “Damn, alright, wait here. I’m gonna go get us some lunch,” she laughed, skipping off into the trees. 

Eskel laid back in the shade and watched the clouds, waiting. It couldn’t hurt; they were making good time. A few minutes later, he turned to the sound of twigs snapping and reached for his swords before stopping. He was getting to know her pleased giggle quite well, he realized as the shapeshifter broke through the cover of the trees. She was still in her base form, her dress pulled up to the length that would be mid-thigh level on a human to create a pouch. The pocket of fabric was heavy, laden with berries. Her fingers and lips, he noticed with a chuckle, were stained red and purple. He focused on that rather than the fact that he was rather close to seeing too much of her for his comfort. 

“Found some blackberries, too!” she said, sounding pleased as punch, “Here, help yourself! As you can see, I had a few already,” She hummed and plopped down next to him, thankfully obscuring her legs beneath the rest of her dress. 

“Quite a haul,” he noted, smiling as he took a handful of the black berries. Popping a few in his mouth, the tart-sweet taste burst on his tongue. They were warm from the sun. He hummed in enjoyment. 

“Raspberries are my favorite,” she admitted, shovelling a handful of the red fruit into her mouth and grinned, chewing, “Didn’t have breakfast like an idiot, so a roadsnack was overdue.”

“There’s no way you’re gonna eat all of those,” he shook his head, “You’ll make yourself sick,”

“You’d be surprised. Takes a lot to fill me completely. This,” she said, circling a finger around her hoard of fruit, “I can put away no problem.” She hoped he caught the double entendre. “I can eat half a deer in one sitting [i]easy.[/i] Both halves if I haven’t eaten in a day. But I did get a bunch of them for you, too. Wasn’t sure how much you could put away,” she shrugged, popping back another handful of mixed berries. Eskel was careful to take mostly blackberries, and found himself a little embarrassed at the realization he was leaving her favorites for her. 

They finished the berries, to Eskel’s surprise, and he found himself pleasantly more full than he normally would be, but not overfull. He’d eaten quite well in the past day. Maybe she is a good idea, afterall, he mused, looking down at his companion, who smiled up at him, one eye closed to the sun’s glare. Eskel felt his gut clench, pleased. Or maybe not. Taglist: @its--fandom--darling​