#and his daughter in law (who he loved so dearly)

[fishyfarms]

August family lore anyone? I’m too tired to go too in depth about it right now (though if anyone is curious to learn more please feel free to send asks!!! Would love to chat abt them) but tldr is that Jack (August’s dad) left August with her grandpa for him to raise after his wife and her mother died. Years later he ends up marrying one of his coworkers and starts a family with her but then his new wife finds out he has a daughter he just completely abandoned and demands for her to be included. It’s a hot mess situation and everyone’s miserable! Yay!

[redheadspark]

Vow

Summary - Azriel does not take threats lightly, especially when it comes to his family.

Warnings - Some angst and a hint of fluff in the end

A/N - This is part of the Ocean Eyes Series

There was one thing that Azriel would never compromise in his life, it was the safety of his family.

Long before Alec was born, Azriel made sure the safety of his Inner Circle, especially his mate and the love of his life, would never be in jeopardy.  He already lost so much in his younger years, including his own mother.  Now that he had a new fond family, he would fight tooth and nail to keep them in his life.  He felt that more when you came along, though he knew you could handle yourself as a fellow Illyrian.  Still, you were his priority for centuries as you two were together, and being a Spymaster for Night Court and a Shadowsinger, it made the target on his back and on his family all the more tempting for enemies to attempt to strike.  Azriel knew better, he was always a step ahead and had plenty of connections in most of the other Courts, so there was never a time he was sidetracked for taken by surprise.  

There were times in the past when someone would threaten his family, whether it was under their breath or using it as a scare tactic against Azriel.  Of course, it was a low blow for them to do against the only Shadowsinger in all of Prythian, and it was a colossal mistake on their part.  Azriel would snuff out those whispers and comment instantly with a flick of his shadows or a cool look from his hazel eyes.  Of course, he knew threats would come after Night Court and Velaris, especially against High Lord Rhysand and High Lady Freya.  He would protect them, his chosen and found family, he was embedded in his bones to protect and serve them since he loved them dearly.  

It took one afternoon and one comment to make the rational side of Azriel disappear, and the Shadowsinger side of Azriel taking over

Once again, he went with Rhysand to a meeting, out in Autumn Court with High Lord Beron Vanserra.  Although the relationship between the two High Lords was still on shaky ground, it was on the mend.  Lucien and Elaine’s upcoming wedding and mating ceremony was one of the main reasons for the mending relationship between the two Courts, with Beron wishing to help in the planning with his stepson and future daughter-in-law. 

There was still one being that was making ripples of uneasiness and aches: Eris.

No matter that the war was over, or that peace was seeping through all the courts and beyond. No matter that his own father was gaining more of a better reputation with his own Court and others, Eris was still holding a bitter chip on his shoulder. Whether it was because of his broken history with Mor and what he did to her, or the severe ties he snapped from the war, he was digging himself deeper and deeper in his grave.  

Of course, he would make it worse when Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel arrived, Rhysand needing a meeting with Beron with the upcoming traveling documents with some citizens and new soldiers that were being placed under his command from the Illyrian camps.  He was now open to having Illyrian soldiers come to work for him at his Court, which was a huge step in the right direction.  Cassian handpicked the soldiers that would migrate to Autumn Court, knowing which ones would be better for Beron.   

The meeting was going quite well, much to the dismay of Eris who was sitting in on the meeting with a scowled look on his face.  Rhysand and Beron were chatting together on the formalities, Cassian and Azriel watching on behind Rhysand along the back wall.  Azriel could see it on Eris’s face, the look of disdain on his face and almost a scowl that was permanently etched within his eyes and along his mouth. Of course, Azriel was never a fan of the prince, mostly because of how he treated Mor so long ago and he made it nonchalant.  Mor was his family, a huge support for his mate and now his son.  Mor was named Alec’s Godmother, Azriel not being able to think of anyone else to hold such an honor.

So it was safe to say that Eris was not on his nice list.

“Well, I think that settles that,” Rhysand said with a smile, Beron nodding in agreement as they both looked over the documents that were drawn out in their respected courts, “Thank you for taking the time to meet and go over the last of this tedious work,”

“It’s no trouble,” Beron replied as he gestured to the documents, “This will be a new step in the right direction.  I know I have no been the best High Lord of any means, but I wish to make things right.  Not just for the sake of Autumn Court and it’s citizens, but for Lucien and his betrothed,”

Eris shifted a bit from the mention of his stepbrother, Azriel making a note of it as his eyes slightly narrowed.  Beron saw it too, giving his son a side eyes quick to almost tell him to control himself.

“Lucien and Elaine are a solid match,” Rhysand hummed in agreement, “I know my sister-in-law is looking forward to a wedding there within a month, which in return will bring a strong alliance between our Courts.  If there is anything that needs assistance, please let us know,”

“Miss Archeron has planned everything out accordingly,” Beron explained with a softer smile, “I know she will bring nothing but great happiness to Lucien.  I know he needs too, especially after all he has been through,”

“I beg to differ,” Eris replied in a snarl, all of the attention now went from the two High Lords to the Prince who had a sour look on his face.  Azriel held his composure behind Rhysand, who was eyeing Eris suspiciously with his violet orbs.  Azriel was never a huge fan of Lucien at the very beginning, though he changed that opinion over time thanks to his friendship with Elaine and how he admired her.  Now that he was considered family to Azriel, he felt his shadows lick against him as the first sign of a warning.  

“Eris,” Beron said in a low tone, though Eric shook his head and leaned back in his chair.

“Have we forgotten what Lucien has done to this court?” Eris bitterly asked his father, almost forgetting that Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel were on the other side of the table, “The pain and betrayal he has caused?  Our reputation?”

“The only being that is causing dismay with our reputation now is you,” Beron reminded him calmly, though there was clear evidence of tension with the High Lord and how he was holding back what he wished to say to his son.  Eris, though still scowling and looking as if he would rather be anywhere else, stayed quiet as Beron looked back at Rhysand, “Apologies for my son’s outburst, Rhysand.  How about you and I finish this in my private study?”

Rhysand simply smiled, not trying to show the giddiness that he was feeling seeing the High Lord and his Prince squabble with each other in front of him since it was so amusing, “I don’t see why not.  Please, show the way,”

Beron smiled, both himself and Rhysand getting up from their chairs.  Beron gave his son one last look, it was a very quick look that would have been overlooked by the common viewer but Azriel saw it with his trained orbs.  

Behave yourself.

As Rhysand and Beron walked out of the room, still chatting with one another and things were settled again with the known tension in the room, Azriel and Cassian were still standing side by side as Eris finally set his eyes on the Illryians who were on the other side of the room.  

“Must be nice to be on Rhysand’s beck and call 24 hours a day,” Eris commented lightly, a small chuckle on his lips as he reached over to one of the pitchers that was filled with wine to fill his glass.  

“That’s High Lord to you,” Cassian reminded him with a slight warning to his tone, “Prince,”

Eris laughed, taking a long sip from his wine as he then looked between Azriel and Cassian,  Azriel good and well that Eris loved talking, making his words get under the skin of his target so easily and seeming innocent about it.  It was almost like a game to him, a sinister game that would always bring him happiness when others around him would be in torment.  It was a good thing that both Cassian and Azriel knew of his game, which was a huge advantage for them.  He knew how to fight with words.

Cassian and Azriel knew how to fight with their fists.

“I’ve heard great whispers of news coming from your Court,” Eris said casually, pouring his glass again since he downed the wine swiftly, almost too pompous and full of himself, “Whispers of new changes, marriages,”

“Never took you to be one for gossip, you must be bored around here with nothing to do,” Cassian hummed as he strolled over to take the spare glass, then reaching across the table to the pitcher of wine to pour as Eris eyed him with a hint of disgust of the Commander touching his glass.  Though Cassian never cared, Azriel noted that he was even showing traits of his mate in that moment as he glared at Eris while taking a soothing drink of the wine.  Azriel had to smile, inwardly thanking the Mother that Nesta rubbed off on Cassian in the best way,

“Ah, I’m not,” Eris hummed as he traced the win of his glass with his nimble fingers, “But these whispers are the kind that do catch my attention since it involves the Illyrian Army Commander….and the Spymaster,”

Cassian paused, remaining calm and holding the glass gently in his hands as Azriel’s eyes snapped over to the Autumn Court Prince he was slowly looking over at you with that glint in his bright eyes and along his sinister smile.  Now that Azriel was mentioned, his shadows were hovering against his skin and wings, wanting him that something was going to be said.  He relied upon his shadows, more than he relied on his gut.  His shadows had protected him in plenty of close calls and have kept him alive, not to mention gave him sound advice and valuable information that he would use to protect Night Court.

“I would watch very…very…carefully before you say something that would end badly for you,” Cassian said to him in a slight warning as Eris’s eyes were still on Azriel, almost in a way that made Azriel think that he was about to piss him off.  Azriel knew how to maintain his composure, to remain calm in stressful situations.  But his shadows were still active and warning him.

Stay on your guard.

“Is that a threat, in my own Court?” Eris asked in a coy tone, yet Cassian merely raised a brow at him.

“Merely a warning,” Cassian replied as Eris took another drink from his glass and leaned back a bit more in his chair, “As you know, from your own past experiences, whispers and gossip can lead to bad reproductions and mass chaos,”

Azriel had to smirk as Eris paused in his drink, Cassian keeping his stare on him as he too was trying so hard not to smile from his own comment at him.  This was now treading dangerous water with the three of them alone in a room, though Rhysand knew that Cassian and Azriel always represented Night Court in the best manner possible.  Most of the time.  

But Rhysand also knew his brothers and when the line would be taken too far.  When that happened, all bets were off. 

“I have to wonder if the rumors that I heard are in fact true,” Eris said, still going down the road that seemed far too dangerous for anyone else to tread.  But not Eris, who was now once again looking at Azriel was now sealing his fate with the next sentence out of his mouth.

“The rumors of the Spymaster and his little family,”

Within moments, the room was filled to the brim with shadows and darkness.  Azriel’s entire demeanor shifted from cool and calm to angry.  Pure unfiltered anger, mixed in with the rage that was pitted in his belly.  Eris crossed the line with that one sentence, showing no shaming in saying it and keeping his composure.  His shadows reacted before he did, stepping out into the entire room and filling in every single space in that room.  No light was seen, not even a single drop.

If there was nothing that Azriel would ever compromise with, it was his family.  His mate and his son were now his whole world, the two beings that he would go through fire for and go through torture for.  Anyone in Prythian who would even think about bringing harm to his family, to the lights of his world, they would be dead within a millisecond.  

Eris dropped his glass, which shattered on the floor as Azriel took a second to stand in front of Eris, Truth Teller in hand and pointing right at his throat with a look of death in his eyes. Cassian stayed still, his fingers touching the glass to the point of leaving cracks along the glassware as he too glared at Eris who was now looking in shock at the Shadowsinger who had the tip of his weapon against his throat. 

“I’ll say this now, and I will only say this once: If I hear a single whisper about my family from this Court, from you, I will come back and make sure you will never say anything against them again,” Azriel growled, his voice so low to the point it was almost lethal.  But he didn’t care, not when Eris was looking at him in both fear and shock at the same time. 

He was only thinking of his mate, his son, and the new life he was building for them to simply be safe and happy.

Azriel abruptly pushed the front door open, the familiar scents of his home was filling his nostrils he could smell something roasting in the kitchen.  The soft looks of the walls, the quilt that Elaine made thrown over the couch, and the lavender garden going outside the back window brought Azriel peace again as he heard the pots in the kitchen abruptly clatter and then footsteps were heard coming his way.  

You were there, wearing Alec against your chest in a wrap and a surprised look on your face as Azriel’s face looked relieved and almost to the point of tears as you grinned.  Azriel’s heart was happy again, still beating out of his chest but he was beyond happy.  Seeing you there, seeing Alec safe in their little home, brought the Shadowsinger peace again. 

“Hey,” You said to him as he glided over to you so quickly his shadows were once again catching up to him, “You’re back a bit early, what’s wrong—“

Azriel engulfed you in his arms, carefully avoiding Alec who was fast asleep against your chest as he hugged you close and tightly.  You were shocked, hugging him back after a second of feeling like a statue.  This was not like him, Azriel would simply come through the door with a big grin on his face and take his time un-dressing his leathers and toeing off his boots.  But feeling him cling to you, almost like he thought of you as a mirage that he was afraid would disappear, scared you.

“Az, what’s going on?” You asked him carefully as he pulled away and his eyes shot down to your sleeping son, his hazel eyes looking at Alec and scanning him over.  He sighed, leaning down to kiss the top of your son’s head lovingly and breathing him in.  This was his center, this was his home base, a little being snuggled against his mate and the pair of them tucked away safely in their little home that he would take over any palace.  

“Az, look at me, sweetheart,” You said to him coaxing him to look at you with a finger under his chin.  His eyes looked at you and it was then that you saw pain there on his face, pain and almost worry.  This was not like him, not one bit, “What happened?”

Azriel just inhaled and leaned forward to touch your forehead with his, you remaining calm since you knew it would take his time for him to finally open up and tell you what was on his mind. He finally found his words, feeling you trace his cheeks and jaw with your fingers to almost coax him open for you and let those walls down that he would always have up when he was being the Spymaster.

After confronting Eris and giving him the singular warning, he backed off when Cassian placed a hand on his shoulder.  Rhysand after Cassian explained what happened to him, sent him back to Night Court before he would do anything that would be damaging.  Although Azriel knew that he did cross a line, Rhysand understood.  He ensured Azriel would get home to be centered and collected again, keeping himself and Cassian behind to watch Beron berate Eris and profusely apologize to them.  It was surprising to hear that from High Lord Beron, but then again he too was trying to turn over a new leaf.

Eris made his stance known: he was now a new threat to Night Court and specifically to the Shadowsinger.

After Azriel explained all that happened, you were simply holding his hand and then hugging him close as the sun the setting over little home. It made you scared, the realization that your family was known in other Courts.  You already knew the risk of dating the Spymaster and being connected to him, but now that you had a child with him, the target only got bigger on your back.  You knew why Azriel acted the way he did, how could you stop him?

“Nothing will happen to our family,” Azriel promised you as you held him, you nodding in agreement as he held you a pinch tighter, “I promise you on my life, you and Alec will never be in danger,”

“I know,” You replied, kissing the side of his head over and over, “I know that, baby.  We’re okay, we’re okay now,”

No matter that you three had your own little bubble in Velaris, filled with happiness and joy that every new family had.  The danger was lurking around every corner because of who your family was, and it would stay that way for some time.  All you could do was simply take it daily, moment by moment, knowing that although there was danger, you had safety.  The safety of Rhysand as the High Lord who would move mountains for his family and their well-being.  The safety of the Inner Circle would keep Velaris and Night Court peaceful and filled with joy. 

Most importantly, the safety of your mate that would do anything, be anything, to keep you and your son safe. 

As Azriel tucked Alec into his bassinet that night, kissing his head and watching his son softly snore, Azriel made a vow then and there.  His family would never be in danger.  Not by a pompous Prince from another Court, not by any being filled to the brim with magic.  And while he held you close in your bed, watching the stars twinkle high above the mountaintops that were towering over Velaris, he kept that vow close to his heart.  

Nothing will tear his family away from him.

The End

Tagged - @valeridarkness @impossibelle @acourtofbatboydreams

[peaxhygirl]

𝙰𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾 𝙰𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙰𝚂 𝚇 𝙵𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙴𝚁 - 𝙼𝙰𝙼𝙰 𝙸'𝙼 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙰 𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙰𝙻

: ̗̀➛𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙲𝙺 𝚏𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝙾𝙲

: ̗̀➛𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: Inspired by Britney Spears x Criminal

: ̗̀➛𝙰𝙽: This is done in a universe where Armando is a teenager, the female reader is also a teenager. There is no adult/minor play in the passage and I do not write that.

Sixteen-year-old Yara was a good girl, never broke the rules, never back talked her parents, and was a straight A student. President of the Debate team, captain of the cheer team, and on student counsel, she was every parent's wet dream. That was until she met Seventeen-year-old Armando Aretas. A guy she kept away from to the best of her ability, but he always seemed to be around. Now, he was in her veins and well, it caused for a rather contentious environment in her home.

"Yara, have you still been seeing that boy?" The booming voice of her father cut through the silence of her room right along with the slamming open of her bedroom door. Grateful that she'd even gotten her door back after having it taken away for a month, she decided to play it cool. "No." Her eyes remaining trained to her phone screen, voice monotone and lacking it's usual emotion. "Well then why the hell is he outside my house?"

Yara's deep black curls bounced as her head swung towards her window. Her body basically moved on autopilot as she went over to her bedroom window. Her heart thumbed so intensely that she felt it in her throat, her ears rung, and her body trembled a bit as she stared at him out the window. There he was, stationed on his shiny black motorcycle that she was still somewhat terrified of. Even in the dark of the night it still shined. He removed his helmet, their eyes locked and it hit her that she'd given up probably the most intense love she'd experience all because her parent didn't like him.

All because of who his family was. The Aretas' weren't known for being the most law abiding, safe and friendly people. They had a strong hold on the drug market in Mexico and it was well known that they didn't care who knew this about them. They operated off the fear that forced people to respect them. Something thar kept her away, but God he pulled her in.

"Yara, don't even think about it." Her father was firm as she spun around. Her brown eyes darted across the room, looking for the best way to get out. "Young lady, you will not be associated with that criminal!" "God, will you just shut up! I stayed away from him; I did what you said. I let him go for you and look how you're treating me!"

For the moment, her father froze in pure shock. It was the first time he'd ever even heard her raise her voice, let alone at him. What kind of influence was this boy having on his perfect daughter. He didn't have much longer to think, because Yara went bolting out her bedroom door heading for the steps.

On the way down, Yara caught a glimpse of her mother, a look of worry and dismay present on the face idetical to her own.

"Yara, honey. Please, this isn't you. It's him its-- that influence." She pleaded running down the steps behind her daughter. This caused Yara to roar in frustration.

"It's not him!! It's you. You guys want me to be this perfect kid that I'm not! I have issues just like everyone else, but you guys don't even give me the space to express them and learn-- I don't have the space to be myself. With him..I do." The knot that formed in her throat was filled with the frustration she'd felt since childhood. The pressure put on her was incomprehensible. "With him, I can be me. I don't have to pretend that I'm ok and I can be flawed. I'm finally allowed the space to-- to just fucking relax!"

"Yarina." Her parents resorted to her full name. "You better watch yourself young lady. Like we said, you will not be associated with that thug." Her wide eyes gazed over her parents. She loved them dearly, but she couldn't continue like this. "Yara, please." Her mother's voice was much softer in comparison to her father as she stepped forward to take her hand, being immediately met with Yara moving backward.

"I'm sorry, but I'm in love with him." She offered one final apology before she quickly turned to exit the home. She wore nothing but pajamas, no shoes, socks, or even a sweater to keep her warm. "Yari." The teenage male rasped as his girlfriend approached.

"Where's your clothes?" His brows furrowed, hopping off his bike to remove his hoodie and pull it over her body. He glanced past her, seeing her parents standing in the doorway. "Let's go." He murmured, handing her his helmet. She knew he'd argue with her about her needing it more than him, so she put it on. Climbing on his bike behind him, wrapping her arms around his torso.

She didn't know what would happen with her parents, but she knew it wasn't her concern for the moment as he pulled off and she opted not to look back.

[mschievousx]

now and then | b.b.

pairing: benedict bridgerton x ofc

summary: loraine silva always knew she was not normal. she loves unusual things. she love her father's guns, horses, boxing, climbing a tree, falling from a tree, engineering, astronomy... oh, and a man eleven years older.

series masterlist

iv. four: you were right for me

"why would you need to go? the hawkins balloon will be tomorrow."

loraine silva finds herself at her father's study, planting her head on her hands above his table in an attempt to act endearing enough and change his mind.

she pouted, whining to him, "i am not interested with the gas laws related to balloons. i have read them enough."

"what is in this scientific convention then?" armand placed his pen down and removed his glasses, fully putting his attention to his daughter.

"chemistry and medicine!" she exclaimed with exciteness in her voice.

"hm? i thought you like engineering."

"i do, but it's not everyday you can practice chemistry and medicine." she argues. although the girl loves engineering above both subjects, the opportunity to witness these two does not come as often, "aside from the difficulty of obtaining chemicals, it also must be supervised closely."

he narrowed his eyes at her, crossing his arms strictly, "you're not helping your case. that means it would be dangerous."

raine pouted at him, her chances of attending continues to decline, "they are professionals and experts, likely recognised by the queen to be able to conduct such a grand expo."

"you have not been doing much of the work of a viscountess." he sternly added.

"papa, it is my very first season." she stood up, rounding the table to her father's side, clasping both hands as if on a prayer, "please? i will surely attend to everything after the season."

her father made no attempt to move or acknowledge whatever she said, forcing her to make more points for consideration.

"it is perhaps a part of being a viscountess. my presence in academic events will highlight our activeness in such field." still with no budge, she sighed heavily before another point entered her mind.

"it's like a ball. a lot of gentlemen will be there, and who knows? perhaps, i will meet a charming one who shares my interests." she reasoned with a dearly smile.

armand growled at the mention of charming boys. he really doubts there is anyone as such these days, "and what of the bridgerton boy?"

"i jest—it is still benedict. however," she moved to unlock his crossed arms and grasped his hands together in hers, which she cannot envelop seeing as her hands are quite smaller in comparison, and gave out a longing smile, "i could use another friend, can't i?"

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

it is safe to say that the young silva has her father wrapped around her thumb. with warm smiles here and there, she now arrives at the medical convention with unmeasurable elation.

stepping in, she did not know where to look at all. everywhere she turns, she could spend an hour looking at a single specimen—minus the bones. she does not like them at all. but, she knew they're still a sight to see, so she has decided to start with them before she spends most of her time to other subjects.

she walked and walked, simply passing the specimen with a lot of audience like the humerus, the pelvic bone, and the thoracic cavity.

raine would have really loved to observe the thoracic cavity but she thought against it. being in close proximity with a lot of people is not something she enjoys.

upon more walking, a lone skull has managed to grab her attention. she neared to look at it closely. it's crazy, isn't it? to refer to this skull as it when it once housed a brain of a moving, feeling person—one that was referred as he or she.

"the human skull is made up of twenty-two bones, accounting for ten percent of all our bones." an unfamiliar voice joined her side.

she stood up straight from her peering, adding to what the man said, "eight cranial, fourteen facial."

"a fan of the skull?"

raine turned to him at that question. she fought all her facial muscles that was aching to grimace. on another note, the man is quite handsome. of distinguished upbringing too, it seems.

she puffed out lightly as she turned back to the skull, "i dislike bones."

he chuckled at her strong statement, quite ironic that he finds her curiously looking at one, "what are you here for?"

"muscles, cardio, and neuro." she answered, walking away towards other specimen this time.

"ah, interesting choice of subjects. although, i must say, bones are as important." the man followed closely, which she did not mind but she would have loved to look around with none bothering her.

she let out a sarcastic chuckle, looking around as if disregarding his person, "i did not say otherwise."

"you dislike it."

the young lady turned to him with a crossed brows, "i do not have to like it for it to be as significant."

"you are shrugging at its importance." he stubbornly argued.

raine fired back, "i am shrugging at you."

"with the use of your scapula, which are in fact bones." he held up his right index finger, as if to highlight a point—a point she chose not to take.

"with the use of my muscles who initiate the movement sent by motor neurons." she completely turned to him, her voice quite increasing in volume.

his mouth is slightly ajar as raine waited for his retort. he settled with an astonished smile, offering a hand forward, "astley cooper, lady silva."

she let out a small scoff, her annoyance being covered by the very familiar name, "ah, and another day i do not get to introduce myself."

"you must understand. your family is celebrated," they continued to converse in a calmer manner, both accepting the arguments of each other, "and you cause an uproar everywhere you go."

the young silva lightly laughed at the mention of her antics, stopping in front of the humerus that was crowded earlier, "i like to leave my mark."

"i do not doubt it." mr. cooper affirmed.

"you are the son of sir cooper?" she inquired with indifference.

"i am." he shows no sign of surprise that the lady knows of the name. if she is indeed an academic, his father's name is always mentioned on the textbooks.

she simply hummed at that, proceeding to walk to another specimen, "well, this is your forte after all."

"conceding so easily, lady silva?" astley retorted with a hint of smugness. she turned to him, voice laced with friendly annoyance.

"i doubt you would argue with me about guns, would you?"

he laughed at her point as he replied, "never."

and for the first time of the day, she was reminded; she would have loved for him to be the one with her right now. granted, he does not know a lot about these, and granted, she prefers to look around in solitude in these events, but she would have seriously loved his presence. to him, she would never say never."

noticing her zoning out, the man coughed lightly and asked, "what part of the body do you most like?"

she turned to him, completely caught, "oh, hands."

"you surprise me. i thought you would be a lover of eyes. why the hands?"

she smiled at that, raising her hand from the arm near him, as if showing it to him, "they are fascinating; their ability to grip things."

she would have loved to mention the real reason. they can hold on to things. they can let things go. raine thought it too poetic for an academe like him to understand.

"incredible. i'm afraid mine is not as well-thought as yours."

she returned the question, certainly feeling the man's own urge to share his, "what's yours?"

"a femur. it's the hardest bone."

raine did not think twice to laugh. he was being honest after all. it was indeed not as well-thought.

they reach a hall where a live amputation is going on. most audiences were of the academy, she can tell. the daily man would have no appetite for such thing that these young men were watching closely.

she whispered to astley in a hushed voice, "how do you convince them to do it live?"

"he is from our school. he understands the importance of live discussions. sadly, he met an unfortunate accident, and here we are."

raine nodded in understanding, eyes watching the procedure attentively. it is quite harsh to look at, of course. after all, it is an amputation.

after the left mid-forearm was severed, the use of burnt wool was executed. the man has been administered with a bit of anaesthetic, but only enough for until the severing is done. a higher dose than that would prove to be risky for the patient. and so, the application of burnt wool can be felt by the man, gradually increasing in intensity.

as the procedure is ongoing, the surgeon performing it offered information and explanations here and there. the ligature, she could understand, but surely there's an alternative for burnt wool that is less painful.

"how about hydrogen peroxide, sir?" she offered, the surgeon and the students turning to her.

"what do you mean?" he asked, returning to his patient and continuing post-operative care.

"it may be able stop the bleeding more effectively than a burnt wool, which can cause more damage."

the surgeon chuckled, finding the fault on her argument, "it causes irritation to skin, actually the harmful one."

raine stepped forward, laying her case more directly, "yes, but in the right concentration, it has oxidative properties and is a reactive oxygen species. by this, it can cause vasoconstriction upon the dysfunction of the endothelial cells."

the surgeon turned to her, now understanding her train of thought, "it can close the source of the bleeding, achieving hemostasis."

"impressive. we will study such activity of the said chemical, lady?" he inquired, genuinely amazed by her case and how she has thought of it.

raine smiled inwardly, letting out the most prideful smirk she could muster, "silva. viscountess silva."

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

just as the clock hits ten before two in the afternoon, the young lady has decided she's satisfied enough of the things she were able to witness and learn. that and the fact that her stomach is now growling.

as she stepped out of the building that housed the convention, she's met with a familiar back of a person across the street.

"ben!" she called, waving overly that some people have spared her a look. the said man turned to her and immediately placed a hand on his forehead at her loudness.

she eagerly crossed the street to him, bridgerton inquiring with a confused face, "what are you doing here?"

upon reaching him, she hugged his right arm with pure excitement as they continue to walk forwards. he could do nothing but let her, "there's a medical convention near. it was awesome!"

"really? i did not know." he feigned ignorance at that, the girl not minding anything as she was overcame with exhilaration.

"you're not an avid follower. that's alright. anyways—"

she proceeded to tell him what happened to her day, from the part she was begging her father to let her go until before the amputation. she also highlighted the specimen she has seen, throwing information about them with elation. she was about to continue when benedict interposed.

"i would have went with you, you know." he said before setting his eyes back on where the pair is walking towards, now with a smaller voice, "if you just asked."

she heard it. of course, she heard it. he could whisper meters away and she would certainly hear it with ease. and, no matter how high up on cloud nine she was, she had no problem jumping off it just to hear him.

raine giggled at his offer, "it's not fun for you. you would find the contents of it boring."

"i would not," he replied at once, seeming as if he does not even need to think twice of the reason, "you were there."

she stopped walking instantly, pulling benedict back by the act without warning. he turned to her for the second time today and all he can see is her widest grin. she was not doing anything but grin, which is what making him so confused as of the moment.

and, just as raine was utterly clueless of what her words were doing to him, he was just as clueless of his words to her.

with confusion, he raised a brow at her, "what? did you have lunch?"

she simply nodded her head sidewards, grin still present, "i have not."

he nudged her as they begin walking again, "what say you for a late lunch together?"

her answer was apparent, "yes!"

they entered an eating house nearby, raine continuing her stories of the day as the food is served.

in the middle of eating, she asked out of the blue, "what part of the body do you most like, ben?"

"mine? let me think," he settled both his hands on the table, looking afar in thinking.

"hands," he replied, placing the fork on the dish to steady it as he slice, "you can tell a lot from a person's hands—the softness, the roughness, its shaking..."

raine smiled serenely at that. he would never fail to do poetic justice to the mere existence of things. and, perhaps, she should have really asked him to go with her earlier, so that the contents of the convention would feel alive once more by his words alone.

he knew her so well that his words spoke to her on their own. she could not remember clearly, but she was sure. it was a moment like this when she first realised she liked benedict. it was one of those moments where she realised that he was the right person for her.

"how about you? what were you doing around here?" she asked, turning to her own plate.

"oh, i was just walking around." he shrugged off easily, which just made her suspicious of it.

"oh my—right," she began, causing the man across her to look at her, "there is a pleasure house nearby."

he should have really noted already not to intake anything if the girl is present. but, he did not. and so, he finds himself choking once again, on food this time, at what the girl accused him of.

"what are you insinuating? how do you even know there is such a house here?!" he whisper-yelled, controlling his volume to not attract other listeners.

raine laughed at his reaction and gave a sarcastic, understanding smile, "ben, do not worry. i have known your activities since i was a child. i still like you."

"i did not go to a brothel!"

taglist: @aadu2173 @imgondeletedis @pumkiinpasties @rebleforkicks

[callsign-dexter]

"911 what is your emergency?"

Request: hi I was wondering if I could please request a TK x daughter with the angst prompt starter “you were supposed to leave”?

totally your choice 💜

Starter- You were supposed to leave.

Pairings: TK Strand x Daughter!Reader

Warnings: angst

Masterlist

miscellaneous angst starters

A/N: Thank you to the person who sent this in!

“Remember I need your guy’s permission slips for our field trip to Laboratory and Field Investigations. I also need another parent to go because this is a huge lab and we will be splitting up.” Mr. Vencie said, he was your science teacher and you absolutely loved him because he always made class fun. You, Y/N Strand, are just a junior in high school. You didn’t like school but science had quickly become your favorite subject thanks to Mr. Venice. There was instant chatter has the bell rang signaling the end of the school day. Normally you would head home but you were given specific instructions to head the fire station that your father and grandfather, TK Strand and Owen Strand, worked at.

“So, what are your plans after you leave?” Your best friend, Harper Wells, asked as you both walked out of the school.

“I was planning on going home but I was told I needed to head to the station, something about people coming to work on the house. Dad, Carlos, and Gramps don’t want me there alone and they’re both working.” You said, Carlos is your father’s boyfriend and you love him dearly and he loves you just as equally. You called Owen, Gramps just to get on his nerves because he didn’t look that old but he acted like it sometimes.

“Your dad is hot.” She said not afraid to let you know that pretty much all the time.

“And gay.” You said with a roll of your eyes.

“Hey, it doesn’t hurt to look.” She said and you laughed as you reached your Jeep that you begged your dad for. “You think he will be chaperoning the trip?” She asked and you shook your head.

“No, he has to work. I think Carlos may go though.” You said already preparing for what was about to be said.

“Hey, he’s hot too.” She said and there it was.

“Yea ok Harper.” You said and she just smiled because she knew that it got on your nerves sometimes. “Listen, I got to go. I’ll text you later.” You said and then hugged her and she hugged you back.

“Be careful and let me know when you get to the station safely.” She said as she released you from the hug.

“You know I will.” You said and then you both were saying bye to each other and getting your cars and driving home. You got into your car and sat there for a minute while you pulled out your phone and opened your text messages and opened the group chat that you had going with your father, Carlos, and grandpa.

School just let out. Heading to the station.

You waited for a response and immediately got them back.

Dad: Be safe. We will see you when you get here. Love you!

Gramps: Don’t get pulled over… but I’m sure Carlos would get you out. Love you.

Carlos: I would absolutely do that. I love her too much. Let me know when you get there safely. Love you.

Love you guys too. I will be safe. Gramps I’m going to break every single road law.

Gramps: Y/N Y/M/N Strand

You just laughed and began your drive after starting your car up. It was only a 30-minute drive to the station. You arrived in no time and parked where your Jeep next to your grandpa’s truck and killed the engine and made your way inside with your backpack on your shoulder and keys in one hand. Everyone knew who you were even the ones that normally didn’t work with your dad’s crew so nobody asked why you were there. As you were walking you noticed that the ambulance wasn’t there and it didn’t surprise you. You walked further and saw Judd. “Hey, Judd!” You said and he turned around and smiled.

“Little Strand! How are you?” He asked coming over and hugging you and you hugged him back.

“It was good! I have a field trip coming up to a science lab.” You said and he smiled and released you from the hug.

“That sounds fun. Your dad, Tommy, and Nancy got called out but should be back shortly. It didn’t sound like anything serious.” He said and you nodded.

“How is Grace?” You asked and he smiled. Grace was like a mother figure to you; she helped you with girl problems and when you had boy problems but your dad was surprisingly good with that. Your mom hasn’t been in the picture since you born. She and your dad had hooked up while they were both on drugs and she had stopped them when she was pregnant with you, she did have a soft spot for kids and babies, but when you were born, she gave up parenting rights to TK who was off of drugs and getting help. You had stayed with your grandma at the time while he got help but once he was clean, he was 100% about taking care of you and you quickly became a daddy’s girl. Now at 17 years old your bond with your father was strong and you could care less about his sexuality just as long as he was happy so were you. When he got dumped by his boyfriend before coming to Texas, he was heartbroken but he stayed strong for you and continued to be a great father to you.

“She’s good! She’s wondering when your next girl date is, she’s missing you.” He said and you smiled.

“I’ll have to shoot her a text later.” You replied and he smiled.

“She would love that.” Judd said “Your grandpa is in his office.” He said and you nodded and started that way. As you were walking you saw everyone else in the kitchen. “Hey!” You said with a smile and everyone turned to look at you.

“Little Strand!” A course of voices shouted out and they came over to hug you.

“How was school?” Marjan asked

“It was good. We have a field trip coming up that I need to talk to dad about chaperoning or maybe getting Carlos to do so.” You said and they smiled.

“Where is it?” Mateo asked and you turned to look at him.

“Laboratory and Field Investigations.” You said 

“Oh, that sounds fun.” Paul said and you nodded.

“Science is a favorite of mine especially since the teacher I have makes it fun.” You said “Sorry to cut this short but I need to talk to Gramps.” You said and they all snickered, they encouraged it. You headed to his office and when you got there, he wasn't doing anything so you knocked and he looked up and waved you on in. “Hi, Gramps.” You said with a smirk and he groaned playfully but got up and walked over to you and hugged you.

“Hi, Sweetheart.” He said and then released you from the hug. “Your dad will be back soon.” He said and you nodded.

“Yea, Judd told me.” You said and then went and sat down on the couch and pulled out your phone shooting off a text to Carlos letting him know that you had arrived along with one to Harper. “Hey, Gramps?” You asked looking up at your phone seeing that he had gone back to his desk and he looked up.

“What's up?” He asked

“I have a field trip coming up soon and need a chaperone. Do you think Dad will be able to get off?” You asked, sounding hopeful but knew the answer.

“Depends on the day. When is it?” He asked 

“Friday.” You said and he nodded thinking.

“I think we'll be working. Maybe Carlos can go with you.” He said and you nodded.

“That was going to be my next person I ask.” You said just then your dad walked in and that made you smile and get up and hug him. “Hi, Daddy.” You said excitedly which made him chuckle.

“Hi, Baby Girl. Good day at school?” He asked and you nodded and stepped back. 

“Yes. Speaking of school.” You started

“Uh oh. What did you do?” He asked smirking teasingly and you pushed him slightly “Kidding.” He said and then you both went and sat down on the couch and Owen came over.

“Oh hush. I have a field trip coming up and we need an extra chaperone. Gramps said that you all would be working.” You said and he nodded.

“He's right but Carlos would love to go with you. He loves hanging out with you and doing stuff with you.” TK said and you smiled and nodded, you really loved Carlos too. “You can ask him tonight.” He said 

“Ok!” You said and didn't have a moment to say anything else because the bell rang signaling for all trucks and ambulances to go and you hugged them both and got cozy on the couch. While they were gone you did your homework and played on your phone. There was no telling how long they would be gone for.

It was Monday night which meant that your day was getting off today and that meant he had 3 days off but would have to go back to work on Friday. When he got off of shift, he got into his car and you drove behind him going home. When you got home you saw Carlos’ Camero was in the driveway and you both parked in your undesignated spots. You both walked in to the cooking filing the house and your mouth watered, that was one thing about your dad and Carlos they could cook and it was the most delicious food ever but its another story for when your grandpa cooked. Carlos looked up and greeted the both of you with a smile. “Hey guys.” He said as he stirred something on the stove you walked over and he pulled you in a side hug.

“Hey.” You said

“Hey babe.” TK said and walked over to kiss Carlos.

“We’re having enchiladas tonight. I hope you’re both hungry.” He said and both you and your dad nodded.

“I’m ready for some good food. Let’s just say it had been rough with food for the last couple of days at the station.” He said and you and Carlos chuckled and TK grimaced.

“Grandpa cook?” You asked and he nodded.  

“You two go wash up and change. Supper will be ready in 30 minutes.” Carlos said and that is what you both did. 30 minutes later all 3 of you were sitting down for supper and talking began. Typically, they kept work talk at work and didn’t bring it home but sometimes there was a slip up but you enjoyed hearing about their days.

“Carlos.” You began and he looked up at you as if saying ‘go on’ “I have a field trip to a science lab coming up on Friday and we need another chaperone. Dad is working and so is Grandpa. I was wondering if you would be able to go.” You asked shyly. You didn’t like asking much but you had too.

“Of course, I would love to go with you. It sounds like fun and I get to be with you.” He said and the biggest smile appeared on your face and one appeared on both his and TK’s face. “Where is it?” He asked.

“Laboratory and Field Investigations.” You said getting excited.

“Oh exciting.” He said and TK said at the same time and you smiled and continued to eat. The rest of dinner was in great spirits and everyone was happy.

Over the next couple of days, you were preparing to go on the field trip. You had turned in your permission slip that your dad had signed and told Mr. Vencie that Carlos would be the chaperone for the trip, he was beyond excited to hear that since he was a cop and could handle out of control situations.

Friday rolled around and you were riding with Carlos to school. When you got there both of you walked in and went to the meeting place to check in. Once everything was good to go Harper found you and you both began to talk. Everyone got on the bus and you sat close to Carlos not wanting to be away from him, the bus ride didn’t take to long it was only a 20-minute drive to the lab and you were getting excited. Carlos talked with the other chaperones about anything could and you could tell they were drooling over him you just smirked and nudged him and he would playfully roll his eyes at you “You’re too much liked your father.” He would say and that just made you laugh.

Everyone gathered out front of the building and Mr. Venice gave orders and told everyone to get into groups with a chaperone. You were quick to side with Carlos and Harper was too. Once everyone was grouped the tour began, something was making you uneasy and you didn’t like this feeling but you were enjoying the lab so you didn’t say anything. The further the tour went on the more had the feeling but still didn’t say anything.

The tour was almost done when there was an explosion very close to your group and was so powerful that it pushed you back into Carlos and you both went down. You had hit your head on a metal pole and that had your ears ringing and blacked out for a moment. When your senses came back to you the building was filled with smoke and some fires had broken out. “Are you alright?” Carlos was asking you but your ears were ringing and that made him concerned he has been kneeling over you having gotten up but you could see some soot and some cuts on his face but nothing too major. “Y/N.” He said and it was slowly becoming clearer and you turned to him “Are you ok?” He asked again and you nodded having heard him this time around.

“I think so.” You said as he helped you sit up.

“It looks like you have a cut on your forehead and doesn’t need stitches. Anything else hurt?” He asked and when you went to get up your ankle screamed out in pain and you hissed.

“My ankle.” You said and he nodded and looked down and when he touched it you were ready to kick him but didn’t.

“Can you walk and try to help everyone and get them out?” He asked and you nodded as he helped you up. You pushed the pain down and limped checking on people and telling them where to go. You also had gotten your phone and called 911.

“911 what’s your emergency?” Grace’s voice came through.

“Grace it’s Y/N Strand. There was an explosion at Laboratory and Field Investigations. I’m on a field trip.” You said

“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” She asked

“Yes, I am but I’m ok. Carlos is here with me.” You said

“Is anybody else hurt?” She asked

“Yes.” You said

“Ok, I’m dispatching the 126. Y/N?” She asked

“Hmm?” You asked surveying the area.

“Be careful.” She said

“I will.” You said and then hung up the phone.

As you were making your rounds you would look up at Carlos every now and then but when you went back to checking on people you saw Harper lying unconscious on the ground. You limped over to her and kneeled down.

“Harper?” You asked and shook her slightly and that roused her and she was slowly opening her eyes. “Are you ok? There has been an explosion.” You said and helped her sit up.

“I think so.” She said and you helped her up and started to walk outside. Carlos was right behind you and when you got out most of the building had been evacuated and people were being tended to. You could really see the smoke and the fire from the outside. Carlos turned to you.

“Stay here.” He said and you nodded and waited outside after 10 minutes he hadn’t come out and you needed to go back in you needed to help people, it was in your blood. You started to walk that way when Harper stopped you.

“What are you doing?” She asked

“I can’t just sit around and do nothing. That’s not who I am.” You told her and then hurriedly walked towards the building just as soon as the 126 pulled up meaning that your dad was pulling up. You walked into the building and was met with smoke and that made you cough. You got to one part and ran into someone and it turned out to be Carlos and he turned to you.

 "You're not supposed to be here. You were supposed to get out." Carlos said to Y/N, she was just like her dad and grandpa always running into danger and not away. You shook your head.

“I need to help.” You said and he sighed.

“You’re just like your father and grandpa.” He said and shook his head and then began telling you what to do. You got more people out but you heard someone hollering and instead of sticking with Carlos you went to that voice. “Y/N!” He yelled but you were already gone into the black smoke.

“Can you hear me?!” You yelled out.

“I’m here!” The voice said you followed it and it led you to a door you tried to touch the handle but was burnt in the process.

“Hold on! Back away from the door!” You said and prayed they listened and you raised you foot and used all the strength you had and kicked the door and it actually worked.

“Thank you! We were trapped!” They yelled out over the alarms and fire.

“You’re welcome! Is anyone injured?” You asked and they nodded.

“My partner. She was blown back into the wall and hit her head. She’s bleeding pretty badly.” They said and you nodded and looked around.

“Take your jacket off and press it to her head. The pressure will help. Let’s get you out of here.” You said and they nodded and did as they were told and the three of you slowly made the trek out of the building you were close to the entrance but you heard something “Get her to an EMT more specifically Tommy Vega, Nancy Gillian, or TK Strand.” You said and they nodded and you headed back in. You followed the sound to another room and saw that someone was trapped and you tried to get to them but it was hard and your ankle hurt and so was your head. When you got them, you kneeled down. “Sir? Can you hear me?” You asked and he nodded.

“Yes, I can. My leg is trapped.” He said and looked over and it was.

“I’m gonna try and lift it.” You said and he nodded and when you began to lift it, he yelled out in pain but it was working. Once it was up, he scooted himself away and out.

“Thank you so much.” He said and you smiled.

“Let’s get you out of here.” You said and he nodded and you helped him stand up it was getting hard to breathe.

“How are you so calm and know what to do for a 17-year-old?” He asked and you smiled but coughed and so did he.

“My dad and grandpa taught me. He is a paramedic and my grandpa is a firefighter.” You said and you could see the exit but something was creaking both you and the man you were helping stopped and looked up the ceiling was about to collapse. “We need to go!” You shouted and he agreed. You both barley made it out before it collapsed though your shoulder was hit in the process. When you were out and saw daylight you both sighed in relief. You were safe enough away from the building when you saw three very familiar figures hurrying over to you as another paramedic from another station took the man off and away from you.

“You were supposed to leave.” TK said and you looked down.

“I know but people needed help.” You said and he sighed and brought you into a hug.

“You did well. When two people said that a 17-year-old girl helped them and told them to ask for us we knew it was you.” Your dad said and kissed your head and then released you and looked at you. “Let’s get you checked out.” He said and you nodded and he threw and arm around you and helped you limp your way to the others.

“You scared us.” Owen said finally speaking up after you had come out and helping TK lower you down onto the back of the ambulance. Your dad started to clean up the cut on your head.

“I’m sorry.” You said

“You’re safe and you helped a lot of people. We can’t be mad at you.” You dad said and everyone nodded.

“TK is right. You were so brave.” Carlos said and you looked up and smiled.

“Alright, I want you to go to the hospital and get your head and ankle checked out.” TK said

“But dad-“ You began but one look that only a parent could have when their child was doing something bad you shut your mouth.

“This is not up for discussion. As your father I want you to get checked out.” Your dad said and you nodded and then he leaned over and kissed your forehead just as soon as Nancy and Tommy walked over they greeted you and your dad explained everything and they nodded as if you were being loaded onto a gurney.

“Carlos go with her. I’m gonna finish and help here.” Owen said and he nodded and got into the back of the ambulance with you and Tommy and Nancy got up in the front. “I love you, Y/N.” He said and you smiled.

“Love you too Gramps.” You said with a smirk and he groaned but smiled and closed the doors and hit the back of it and you were on your way. As you made your way to the hospital your dad and Carlos fussed over you and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You just smiled, happy everyone is ok and you were going to be ok and you had your dad and your soon to be step-dad with you, you knew it was coming it was just a matter of time. “Dad, Carlos?” You asked and they looked at you.

“Are you ok? Is anything wrong?” Carlos asked and chuckled and nodded your head.

“I’m ok and nothing is wrong. I just wanted to say I love you both so much.” You said and they smiled.

“We love you too.” They both said at the same time. You smiled. You were going to be ok. 

Tag list:

@kmc1989

@els-marvelvsp

@atarmychick007

@nyx2021

@grandstrangerphantom

@angenu01-blog

@talesofreading

[5-7-9]

There’s a level of irony here about how a daughter of a cop who she dearly loved and believed in, being symbolized against cops

in fact, even in the comic her campaign manager is a former police detective. Furthering just how connected she was/is.

I know they offhandedly make sure we knew Babs changed her mind about vigilantism+police after Batman’s and Gordon’s death, but so did Harvey in every recreation of his Two face backstory ever.

Babs barely even confronts the criminal system in her works unless it was supporting her father who is commissioner or generic vigilante business. In fact, she even got a law degree so she is technically a lawyer, just like Harvey. She even went one step further into law, and wanted to become a congress woman!!! 👏 Would love to bring that back., if it’s possible to combine it with her librarian aspect.

They even point out how they both have disabilities!!! Which i wish dc comics canon actually tried exploring how Twotwo is literally physically disabled and should technically not be capable of talking or eating normally so easily (and i don’t just mean the rasp, he’s literally missing a cheek!!!)(he is also practically blind in one eye).

Babs showing interests in her dad’s detective duties, Twotwo showing interests in his old friend Gordon’s daughter’s life, Harvey and Babs’ father working together against the mafia, how in the world has no writer thought they should have an interesting dynamic at all is a wonder. It is legit not fair they were pitted against each other, when in fact they have a lot in common and tied together.

[fallenhunnyapple]

A Precursor To The Dragon's Wife AU

Generations ago, Dragons were Gods. They were beautiful ethereal beings, immortal, invulnerable, untouchable. And they could grant favor to the mortals who caught their fancy. Revered and beloved, they were considered to be beings of the highest caliber.

There was one dragon who had such affection for humanity he spent more of his time with them than with his own kind. He was considered an oddball and most dragons chose to leave him to his self imposed isolation with the humans he loved so much.

But that proved to be a mistake.

Lucifer, the dragon who loved Humanity and wanted to share what knowledge and gifts he could, made a fatal error. Dragons were Not invincible, they were Not immortal. They could be killed. And to drink the blood of a dragon would grant any creature who did so to extend their life span and youth, cure illnesses, create miracles.

This knowledge was dangerous in the hands of humans, prone to greed and desire. They did not aim for the dragon who cared for them, but another. Slaughtering and harvesting their blood. This was not something Dragons as a whole could ignore. Lucifer's foolish love of humans had made them vulnerable, had made them targets. They were no longer Gods, because why revere what you yourself could become if you simply kill one?

Recovering the body of the felled Dragon, Lucifer was officially exiled, told that if he wanted so badly to give to humanity, he could give them himself and let them leech him dry. They would have no hand in his fate.

Humanity changed that day, and their attitude towards dragons changed. The tale of the White and Red Dragon was no longer one of a benevolent god-like being who wished to take care of humanity but a harbinger of the death of Gods. He was not humanity's friend, he had given them the secrets of the Universe and then taken them away. He was an Enemy to all. But he was still powerful and so he was to not be approached for fear of him destroying any who came near and their entire villages.

He had the fortune of once meeting a human woman, a beauty beyond compare that he felt his heart call out for. Their affair was beautiful but short. She became pregnant with his child but lost her life during the birth. He was not there at that time, he stayed far away from the village in fear of being seen and targeted. He mourned her. But his daughter was born healthy. He couldn't directly interact with her. To claim paternity would exile her from the village and as much as he may love her, she was more human than dragon and he wouldn't be able to provide her with what she would need to grow and learn. He left gifts of money and fabrics, things that could be used to take care of her. He watched over her from afar and he loved her dearly. He awaited the time she would be a grown woman and he could explain her ancestry and get to spend time with her face to face.

The outskirts of Lucifer's territory bordered multiple kingdoms and on occasion, humans would try to kill him to prove themselves. He never gave them much consideration, he thought they were naive and overly proud. He always sent them home, alive but egos shattered. He would not kill those he had lost everything for. They rarely returned home, ashamed of their loss.

One Kingdom was soon approaching the time of a coronation. The eldest Prince was poised to take the throne. He was crass, selfish, entitled and overall Not an ideal ruler. The laws of the land were strict, the eldest would become monarch, regardless of their fitness for the throne. There were siblings younger than the current Crown Prince who far more qualified, dignified, perfect to become the next ruler. But in order for that to ever have the chance to come to pass, the Crown Prince must be dealt with.

And so, a plan was devised to be rid of him. The dragon who was said to have the secrets to eternal life and youth and health, who selfishly guarded said secrets, whose opponents surely died to him as they never returned home, if the Crown Prince could defeat him, he would be deemed Worthy. Of course they hoped he'd fail, he would die and the throne would be in better hands than his.

Little did they expect the Prince to instead be found favorable by the wretched Dragon. As the Dragon's wife, he was still removed from the throne so ultimately they still got their wish. But Adam was now in the clutches of a Dragon who had knowledge and affection to give and finally someone to give it to. And he would be able to keep his wife by his side for eternity, bestowing the eternal life and youth that so many humans sought.

[ewanmitchelll]

Imagine Arctic Monkeys’s songs: Do I Wanna Know?

Imagine you are seduced by Aemond Targaryen.

Warnings: fluffy, light reading—explicit smut.

Warnings 2: alternative universe where the Greens won uncontestedly the war.

***

Have you got colour in your cheeks? Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the type that sticks around like something in your teeth?

Aemond finds difficulty to settle after years waging war. There is peace after a decade fighting his sister and her partisans. They are all nothing but names now, recorded in the maesters books.

To placate his restless energy, the prince has, in many ways, followed in his bitter enemy’s footsteps—getting himself lands in the Free Cities, he found himself a new life style as well as a new wife.

But because he’s now the Hand of the King, in opposite to Daeron’s career in Citadel, his life style was left behind. For now.

You, however, settled easily with this new routine. Harrenhal is your home and this is the household you must fill your wifely duties. Initially, you found a rival for your husband’s affection—his former mistress, a woman named Alys Rivers, did not let easily go the path to Aemond’a heart—which complicated your smooth transition from the life of a free damsel who loved the seas to a noblewoman, wife of a bad reputed prince.

Despite the initial scandal such a match evoked, you and Aemond overcame the early disapprovals until the dowager queen accepted you as her daughter-in-law in a relationship that grew fondly in due time.

As you spend the afternoon reading a love story between a knight and his damsel in distress, which in some shades reminds yours, you are found missing your husband dearly.

Aemond has been gone to Free Cities to knock a local rebellion and negotiate peace terms with the involved, applying the law, before going back. And he misses you too.

When he lands with Vhagar, he hurries to you—although the prince needs to clean himself first. Only then he comes at you.

Aemond finds you busy with your lecture at their bedchambers, so concentrated that you don’t spot him, leaning against the wall, watching you with a side smirk on his lips.

Are there some aces up your sleeve? Have you no idea that you're in deep? I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week…

His good eye is set on you like a hunter when it’s about to get its prey. Your y/c hair is loose behind your back, your eyes are focused in the lines you read but he wonders what is the theme that makes you furrow your eyebrows. Your lips are partially open and Aemond easily sees his own clashing against yours in a long fervent kiss. But the man is patient.

The gown you dress is the first he gifted you, in the days of your courtship. Aemond is pleased to see you still keep it in your wardrobe. The gown shows some cleavage and shoulders, reinforcing your firm full breasts.

When staring at your heavy breathing, his own chest goes slowly up and down. His eyes devour your skin through the clothing, still keeping in his thought the moment your nipples go hard under his eager tongue.

When remembering how much you enjoy it, how you always sang louder the moment he took his time to suck each breast, a heat troubles his inner balance. His manhood gets lightly unbearable.

It’s time to move.

How many secrets can you keep? 'Cause there's this tune I've found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat until I fall asleep, spilling drinks on my settee…

Aemond recollects the first time he saw you. Finding a way to survive in Essos, your brother had plans to send you to serve Rh’llor whilst you considered piracy. You’ve always loved the sea, and there you’d content yourself when your path crossed his.

You knew nothing of his past, and yet you took him in. When love flourished, it took not much time.

Moved by this agony of spending too much of his time away from you, he wants you again. Using shadows on his favor, he is about to surprise you.

Aemond kneels behind you. Still focused in the reading, you do not notice he’s behind your chair. The prince is lightly amused at how this novel has stolen you from him.

“My lady, I am no poet, no bard, no man versed in the court of love, but I’d think by now you were missing me.”

Quickly, you stand, turning at him with joy. It’s been five years since he espoused you and the same joy is there whenever he comes back to your arms.

“I missed you, my husband! How could it not be? Oh Aemond, it’s been so long!”

He experiments that peaceful bliss he never thought he’d feel the moment his lips are welcomed by yours. It starts as a slow, passionate kiss, only then to be parted by you.

“I should have prepared our chambers to receive you better”, you say, ready to fetch a servant when he pulls you right in front of him.

“Why, I wanted to surprise my lady”, he smirks, resting his chin over your shoulder as his hands begin to pace around your waist. “You still have the gown I gifted you during our courtship.”

“Yes, I do”, you blush lightly, not expecting him to notice it.

“Looking gorgeous as always”, he whispers hotly in your ear, giving you goosebumps.

“Aemond…”, you smirk, wondering what’s to come. “I have some news to tell you.”

“Then tell me”, so he says as his tongue begins to draw lines from your earlobe to your jawline and neck, tightening the grip of your waist.

You try to focus, but when he gets to your neck, your leg automatically begin to rub in another and you giggle softly.

“Y-Your brother…”, you almost forget how to breathe the moment he rests a hand over your belly, moving up to your breast.

“Yes?”, he bites your neck softly, missing to feel your firm breast over his hand, but not taking it long now… not yet. “You were saying?”

You try to release yourself off his grip, about to get on fire, but Aemond is very domineering today. The hand on your back is now over your neck, holding it possessively. The way you like it.

“He is throwing a feast and a tournament…”, you get speechless the moment his lips are back at your neck and his right hand starts to lift the skirts of your gown.

“And…”, he smirks, encouraging you to speak as he defies you not to succumb easily into his teasings.

“And… Aemond!”, you hiss impatiently when feeling his hand on your thigh.

Aemond takes a seat and makes you sit on his lap. There is a fire that is about to burn you…and you want to get burnt. But you know it’ll be on his terms.

“Tell me, or I will stop.”

He smirks devilishly as you pout.

Do I wanna know if this feeling flows both ways (Sad to see you go) Sort of hoping that you'd stay. (Baby we both know) That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day…

“The tournament is on…” you barely speak as he begins to tease you through your undergarments. Using his thumb to draw circles over it, you whimper, partially impatient.

“On?”

He pauses, amused as you frown at him.

“Either you tell me or I’ll stop, my dear. The punishment for ignoring me…” Aemond chuckles as you pout again.

“…on the next week”, and he resumes the touching, working his hands within you. “He wants to…. Oh, Aemond!… to celebrate his tenth year he is on the I-I-Iron Throne!”

Aemond chuckles to himself as you try to keep your composure the moment two fingers are inserted in your womanhood. He feels how soaked you are, enjoying the sounds you make as he stimulates you.

“Mm. What else?”, he asks in your ear, using his free hand to unlace your gown, aroused by your reactions.

“He wants you…”, and here you let out a poorly muffled cry the moment he increases his pace. “…to take part of the feast and… and be his champion! Oh bloody seven hells!”

As you throw your head back, the gown, now loose, begins to fall. Aemond stares at your denuded chest, biting his own bottom lip as your nipples are hardened under his lustful gaze.

“His champion?”, he helps you to straighten on his knee, despite the trouble to ignore the aching in his manhood.

“On the tournament!”, you moan indecently loud the moment he cups one boob with his free hand.

Aemond smirks at you. Oh how he loves these games he plays with you. He is a victor each time.

“Hmm. I shall consider the invitation”, he leaves more bruises in your skin, before whispering unspeakable things to your ear that makes you hot enough to burst into his hand.

And when he licks each finger before you, you almost go insane.

“Aemond!”, you turn at him, finally free of his grasp. You remove the gown off your body, rubbing yourself to his manhood as you settle your hips properly over his, hands eagerly removing his own clothing.

“Oh I haven’t finished with you yet, woman”, he groans as he lifts you and pulls you gently against the window. As you remain on your back to him, he kisses your neck and down to your back, before fingering you again.

“Lords, Aemond!”

And to your delightful surprise, his lips soon take place where his fingers have been. Now you settle the reins and gladly ride his face.

Crawling back to you… Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? 'Cause I always do. Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new. Now I've thought it through, crawling back to you…

But once again in bed he has you under his command again. Crawling over your body, he prepares to set his pace.

“I’ve been burning too long alone to let these flames go unescaped”, he whispers, touching himself right before you, until he leaves it to tease your entrance.

Aemond likes seeing you subduing to him. Even more when fire is indeed burning in such a level that makes you bed. And nothing arouses him more than seeing a prideful lady be turned into a beggar in… bed.

This is how he spreads your legs gently and, leaning his body to be closer to yours, the prince slowly thrusts in you.

“Have I been punished enough?”, you moan sensually, legs wrapped around his waist.

“Perhaps”, he smiles at you.

Only when your gazes meet, he softens.

“I’ve missed you”, and his lust is replaced by the genuine affection that has mirrored in your eyes. “A lot.”

“As have I”, you admit in short breath. “Very much, my rogue prince.”

Aemond smiles down at you, kissing your lips as your body and his finally move as one.

Simmer down and pucker up. I'm sorry to interrupt. It's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you. I don't know if you feel the same as I do but we could be together… If you wanted to.

Later, you feel his wide eyed gaze at you. With no patch to cover his bad eye, he is the way you like him to: himself, nude and crude.

“I am pleased to find your heart shut for me alone”, you muse after a moment spent in warming silence.

“How so?”

He turns at you, on his elbow. Aemond strokes your face gently, doing the same then to your hair.

“Are you still daunted by these insecurities?”

“At times I am. I fear to lose your affection”, you admit. “But this only happens when I’m sensitive.”

“You do not need to excuse yourself for me when I’m open like this before you, wife”, he presses a kiss over your forehead. “I admit I have my own demons to haunt. There are nights I wish I had not… survived.”

“How so, my love,”, you turn at him and he sees fear in your eyes.

“I wish I had not been the cause why such a war disrupted. There is no good in dwelling in the past, but if I must be open with my lady, then my remorse must be shared with you. This is what pains me in times where restlessness knocks me out. Not an old mistress.”

“I’m sorry for this”, you feel ashamed for the confession, but Aemond looks in peace with it.

“Don’t be. We are husband and wife, love. We are in this together. I love you and it’s your love that helps me with going through difficult times.”

That being said, he kisses your lips. Every doubt dies permanently at his passionate kiss.

[unluckedtj]

i’ve had an au in mind for a while (quite literally came to me in a dream????), something like a swap au but not quite as your usual tgaa swap au. an au where barok van zieks and herlock sholmes are sent from britain to japan, at the age of 23 and 24 respectively

“ticket swap” au i like to call it

of course, this isn’t just ‘back in time’, there are many things jumbled around such as occupations and ages. and none of this is solid! i’m putting down the ideas i’ve had, and this can very well change overtime.

and of course, a lot of this is going to be me info dumping about this very self indulgent vanlock partners(?) focused au, side of mostly susarei but also asoryuu

ahem! tgaa:tsau cast!

below the line, that is

————————————————

herlock sholmes, (25) who wanted to research in forensic science, follows yujin to his nation to do just that (and preferably solve crime, too)

barok van zieks, (24) who applies to go to japan in hopes of learning more about the laws of other nations (and perhaps, something else) aiming to be a prosecutor like his brother

ryunosuke naruhodo, (33) a writer who had recently gotten into researching true crime. it scares him but he can’t help but think there is something about these crimes that are calling him. isn’t really thinking too much about looking into law (but something might change that…) close friends with kazuma asogi

rei membami, (26) yujin mikotoba’s long time forensics assistant that is working towards becoming a doctor herself. decided to help ryunosuke in his research hobby. (she seems to be interested in this man she sees in the hallways of imperial yumei university while on her way to dr mikotoba’s laboratory) close friends with susato mikotoba

kazuma asogi, (34) a well known prosecutor in japan, it is unknown what changed his decision from becoming a defense lawyer. despite being famous among people in law, there is not much known about him. close friends with ryunosuke naruhodo

susato mikotoba, (26) kazuma asogi’s famed judicial assistant (and as sholmes soon learns, sister). she seems to be taking law classes in yumei university under an alias. a bit of a sholmes fan. close friends with rei membami

yujin mikotoba, (52) sholmes’ friend and partner in (solving) crime of course, but also a mentor, and now that sholmes recently learned, a foster father to kazuma asogi and father of susato mikotoba

genshin asogi, (??) family friend of the van zieks, and relative of the renowned prosecutor asogi. he has gone missing

klint van zieks, (35) well known prosecutor in britain. happily married and has one daughter he loves so dearly, to the point of being a little bit of a helicopter parent in the recent years, but barok can’t quite figure out why. he has kept his daughter a secret from everyone apart from family

iris (wilson?) van zieks, (8) how in the world did she end up in japan?! (i’ll give you the answer; through sholmes’s suitcase, which she mistook for barok’s. there were shenanigans), her parents are in a panic looking for her (barok will get to them asap)

————————————————

i just really wanted something where it’s similar to tgaa 1-1 but younger vanlock without their life altering events (klints death for van zieks and iris adoption for sholmes)

and also just the thought of it and how it would play out; van zieks isn’t even a defense lawyer but was preparing to defend the guy he barely knew on the steamship (who had his niece in his suitcase) that he firmly believes did not commit this murder, but sholmes found out what was at stake (aka van zieks being sent back home for a couple more years if he fails this) and was like “nuh uh i got this im herlock sholmes after all” (he does not got this) (i lied he clutched like he always does)

this is superrrrr self indulgent so i don’t expect this to be perfectly aligned with canon, but i kinda just wanna see if anyone could give me more ideas because i currently cannnnnot talk to my friends about this due to massive spoilers 😔

maybe next time i’ll go more in depth on the group dynamics (specifically ryunosuke, rei, herlock, iris, and barok)

[mixelation]

One of my favorite things about the Tori/Itachi fake->real relationship arc is the reactions you've mentioned for everyone else. Deidara particularly who is just constantly suffering from whatever random thing Itachi has done this week.

deidara would never have been able to predict this development, but now that it's happening it seems like he should have. he should have sat down and gone "what is the worst thing my teammates could do to me?" and then reverse engineer this. alas, he didn't, and somehow he got convinced to take their engagement photos?

anyway the rest of this post is about shisui. im haven't developed his relationship with tori uch so this is still rotating/could change

so in this au shisui loves itachi dearly and vice versa, but also shisui is acutely aware that itachi is a weird paranoid little freak. he does not know he's a time traveler. he does know itachi was very upset for years that danzo would Ruin Everything, especially sasuke somehow and also konoha, and then danzo suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. shisui has his suspicions about what happened but he is keeping his mouth SHUT

(shisui agreed danzo is Shady but minato has more of a leash on him than hiruzen, so shisui never felt the danger was like.... real?)

anyway tori and shisui just like... don't really get along. but by the time the whole danzo incident is resolved, tori is really firmly itachi's close friend. they can't avoid each other. awkward smiles all around.

so when itachi is like "i'm going to try and date tori," shisui isn't, like, surprised? but also his advice is "if you date her just to be dating someone, and not because you actually like her, you'll risk ruining your friendship and you only have like three friends." it doesn't occur to him that tori isn't in on the relationship

but then shisui goes to like their book club or something and sees them actually interacting, and he immediately realizes his mistake, which was assuming itachi isn't a catastrophic moron. so he's like "oh NO little cousin" and assumes that eventually tori will kill him. RIP, itachi, you did this to yourself

and then she doesn't kill him, and shisui feels an intense wave of fear wash over him. he's like 82% sure she helped/enabled him to kill Major Village Leader Danzo. tori doesn't even blink when itachi randomly genjust-brainwashes people. he has never once questioned the multitude of insane claims she makes. they can't go forward like this. people WILL suffer

at the same time mikoto comes to shisui like WHY HASN'T ONE OF THEM CALLED IT OFF YET?" because she KNOWS itachi is only dating her to make mikoto stop throwing girls at him, and she doesn't dislike tori but she doesn't really like her either, and also SHE wants to pick her daughter-in-law even though she promised itachi she'd back off if he found someone himself. help her.

and listen. shisui doesn't like tori, he doesn't think this weird relationship move is a good idea, he DEFINITELY doesn't think she'll ever agree to marry into the family, but also he is itachi's brother. his ride or die.

shisui is forced to look mikoto in the eyes and be like, "idk, auntie, i think they're really, truly in love"

then they ACTUALLY get engaged and shisui has another wave of intense fear like no other

shisui: okay, but you DO understand that she'd BE AN UCHIHA, right? and have actual power over the clan?

itachi: it's fine tori thrives in toxic environments

shisui: you are talking about our FAMILY

[whinlatter]

What about the dynamic between Ron and Ginny? I don’t see too many people talk about them other than the one time he tried to sl*t shame her.

this is a lovely one, thank you so much anon. the two baby weasleys. two beloved bruisers who will squabble til the cows come home but who would absolutely take bullets for each other in a heart beat... it's the loves of my life, ron and ginny weasley.

the dynamic between ron and ginny is, as you say, deeply misunderstood, deeply underrated and, ultimately, deeply loving. the ron haters will say ron's a misogynistic slut shamer towards his sister: the ginny haters (these are, i fear, much more numerous...) will say that ginny is a nasty bully towards her big brother, the family/molly's favourite who basks in greater limelight and parental love than poor tormented ronnie. i think that says more about fandom's inability to a) remember we are talking about children/teenagers, b) remember that tripping your brother to humble him when he's being openly horny about his future in sister in law is praxis, and c) grasp that conflict between characters does not preclude the presence of real love, care and mutual respect in their relationship. ron and ginny's dynamic is interesting because it brings out each characters' insecurities and flaws (for ron, his anxieties about his reputation among his own peers and his position within his own family, his worry about his family's wider reputation and wellbeing, his particular overbearing concern about ginny's safety post CoS; for ginny, her resentment of being overprotected, her inability to stomach hypocrisy and tendency to fly off the handle when confronted with it, her righteous temper in general...) but i think if the characters were, er, real, and you were able to show them the fandom takes/discourse around their relationship they'd be like, er, what? obviously we love each other to death. we're very very close. we're mates who enjoy each other's company and increasingly hang out a ton and treasure each other as dearly beloved family, what are you on about? like, yes, of course they bicker. of course they fight. but those two, in their core, are good. i think as adults they'd be closer still.

(there's been a horrid fanon tendency in the last few years to make a lot of hay out of the idea that molly desperately wanted a daughter and mistreated ron, her sixth son, as a result. this is an allegation that seems to have its sole canon basis in what the horcrux screams at ron ('least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter'). looking past the fact that the horcrux is, er, expressing ron's fears not reality (in its next breath claims hermione is .... in love with harry lads! tiktok fandom discourse do not like to remember this!), i think it's very important that even if this is ron's fear - that his mum loves him less than his siblings and only had him because she was trying to have a girl - it doesn't actually ever inform any resentment or jealousy towards ginny by ron. ron and ginny fight, of course, they do, but ron never makes this apparent anxiety ginny's problem. ginny could be someone ron bitterly resents, someone his mother and, by 1997, his best friend prefers. but he doesn't ever do that. ron just really loves his sister and wants her to be safe, and yeah, sometimes that pisses her off, but it doesn't come from a place of envy or resentment, which, given ron has oodles of that in other relationships, is saying something.)

my favourite ron and ginny moments:

in CoS when ron's desperate to see ginny get sorted and then gutted that he missed it :(

in CoS when ron teases ginny sweetly about her crush on harry but as soon as malfoy does it is ready to commit bodily harm

in PoA when ginny's suffering with the dementors and she goes looking for ron (even though the last thing he told her was to go away, lmao. just sibling things. fuck off and die! but also i would give you both my kidneys)

in GoF where ginny really is trying not to laugh at ron for asking out fleur when that is plainly fucking funny

in OotP when ron gets one singular look at michael corner and decides he is NOT good enough for his sister and also probably a traitor

in HBP when ron and ginny are at war with each other but ginny names her pygmy puff after him and as soon as ron is poisoned ginny is the first person on the scene (with hermione) and does up poirot with harry trying to solve the mystery of her beloved brother's assassination attempt. he will be avenged!

in DH when the catalyst for the ron/harry fight escalating and ron leaving is the moment ron accuses harry of not caring enough about ginny........ king shit sorry!

bonus in DH when ron's like yeah ofc i didn't go home are you mad. fred and george would have been fuming. and ginny, my moral weather vane, would have run me through with the rustiest of pikes

thank you for humouring me with this ask game anon!

[grey-gazania]

I'm sorry someone bombarded you with bitchy comments 😭. While my To Read list is lengthy and continually lengthier (actually I think something of yours with her is on it), I'd like to hear more about Ianneth-Fingon-Maedhros if you want to talk about them.

@polutrope

It wasn't really upsetting, just annoying and honestly a little bit funny. This guy left comments on all six chapters of By Love or at Least Free Will, every time I updated the story, just objecting to the entire premise of the story and ranting about how Elves have incorruptible pure souls and are immune to lust. I was sorely tempted to respond with this quote from "Laws & Customs Among the Eldar":

Even when in after days, as the histories reveal, many of the Eldar in Middle-earth became corrupted, and their hearts darkened by the shadow that lies upon Arda, seldom is any tale told of deeds of lust among them.

'Seldom' is not the same thing as 'never', and furthermore, I don't think lust is even a major theme of my story. It's more about conflicting obligations and unruly hearts.

In the end I deleted the comments without responding, because I have a personal policy of not engaging with people who are acting in bad faith. But I have to assume that this guy has no actual hobbies if he spends his time hate-reading entire stories instead of just...closing the window and moving on with his life. Maybe take up crochet, bro? Or volunteer at a soup kitchen? Watch a TV show that you like? Grow some tomatoes? Do something that will be more fulfilling than typing long screeds on AO3. I promise it will make you a happier person.

Anyway. On to the actual topic of your ask! As you've probably noticed, I am very fond of Russingon. However, I am also very fond of Fingon as Gil-galad's father. At first I balanced these two ideas by keeping my Russingon ideas and my Fingon-father-of-Gil-galad ideas in two separate universes, but then I started really fleshing out Gil-galad's mother, and it made me think some thoughts. To repeat something I said to @cuarthol in a comment on AO3:

...half the genesis of Ianneth was seeing so many stories (in multiple fandoms, not just Tolkien) where the woman is written out of a canon or semi-canon couple to make room for a popular M/M ship instead, without the female character being treated with any respect. I decided that the female perspective on that situation would be a nice change of pace and interesting to write.

I'm not trying to point fingers -- I'll readily admit that I have my male faves just like the next gal and that it's fun to make them kiss -- but the wives and girlfriends don't get a lot of love in fandom, do they? And it doesn't help that the legendarium in general tends to be a bit of a sausage fest. So I decided that Fingon would have a wife and be in love with Maedhros. But instead of focusing just on the forbidden love, I was going to focus on the wife's feelings, too.

Ianneth ("bridge-woman") is one of the Northern Sindar, from the community that lives around Lake Mithrim. She's the daughter of Annael (yes, that Annael), whom I've imagined to be one of the more influential leaders among the Northern Sindar, and particularly among the Elves of Mithrim.

Her betrothal to Fingon starts as a political arrangement. Fingolfin loves Fingon dearly, of course, but he's also been hinting for a while now that Fingon really needs to settle down and start having kids so that there will be a strong line of heirs should Fingolfin die. After all, Argon's dead, and Turgon and Aredhel abruptly fucked off to god-knows-where some three hundred years ago and haven't been seen nor heard from since. Your dad needs some grandsons, Fingon, and this also seems like a ripe opportunity to strengthen the Noldor's alliance with the Northern Sindar.

I don't think political marriage is unknown among the Elves of Beleriand. (For one example in the text, see Celegorm trying to marry Luthien to force Doriath into an alliance.) And the quote I drew the title of the aforementioned Fingon/Ianneth story from, also found in "Laws and Customs Among the Eldar," is:

The Eldar wedded only once in life, and for love or at the least by free will upon either part.

Free will could easily mean, "Are we in love? No. But I'll still marry you, for the good of our peoples, and I'll bring some of Dad's soldiers along with me." That sort of thing happened all the time among real-world nobility, so I see no reason why it can't happen among Elven nobility in Beleriand, too.

At any rate, Fingolfin arranges for Fingon to meet the daughters of some of the more powerful leaders of the Northern Sindar, and he's hint-hint-hinting that Fingon really needs to pick one of them to be his wife. Fingon, having been in love with Maedhros since they were young in Valinor, is not exactly keen on this plan. But he goes along with it anyway because he is a dutiful son, he knows that his father is right about needing to strengthen the line of succession, and he also knows that revealing his (quite taboo!) relationship with Maedhros to his father would probably break Fingolfin's heart.

It takes Fingon a while to decide who to court, but he picks Ianneth because he likes her sense of humor; she has the guts to gently tease him at their first meeting, which he finds quite charming. He doesn't think he can love anyone besides Maedhros, but he does look at Ianneth and think, "This is a woman I could grow to care for and whose companionship I think could enjoy."

The trouble begins when, over the course of their courtship, Fingon starts falling in love with Ianneth without falling out of love with Maedhros. And he doesn't know what to do about this. He can't call off the marriage, and he doesn't want to break things off with Maedhros, so he decides to just...keep the whole thing with Maedhros a secret and marry Ianneth anyway. It's not a good decision, but really, are there any options here that won't end with someone getting hurt? I don't think so.

So we have Ianneth, blissfully ignorant of her husband's infidelity (for now); Fingon, in love with two people at once and feeling horribly guilty about it, but unwilling to pick one partner over the other; and Maedhros, resigned to the situation but still hurting because Fingon is no longer his alone.

Maedhros' feelings are complicated by the fact that, once he meets her, he finds that likes Ianneth. It would be easier, he thinks, if he could write her off as just a political necessity for Fingon, but it turns out that she's charming and intelligent and kind, and he can understand why Fingon loves her. His feelings soften further once Ereiniel is born, because Fingon is so happy being a father, and he loves Fingon, so how can he begrudge him that? There's a line from "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Leonard Cohen that I always think of when I'm getting into Maedhros' head at this point:

And thanks for the trouble you took from [his] eyes. I thought it was there for good, so I never tried.

Things tick along about as smoothly as they can for thirteen years, until, in the aftermath of Fingolfin's death during the Dagor Bragollach, as Fingon prepares to send Ianneth and Ereiniel to the Falas for their safety, Ianneth learns his secret. This is understandably devastating for her, and leaves her wondering if Fingon ever really loved her as she loved him, or if his marriage to her was simply a politically expedient sham.

Add to that the fact that she leaves for the Falas less than ten hours after this revelation and spends most of that ten hours either crying or asleep, as she's too upset to really talk to Fingon about what she's discovered, and it leaves her with this horrible knowledge and all the worst thoughts that come from it gnawing at her nearly a full year until Fingon next comes to Eglarest -- time that she spends as the sole caregiver for her young daughter, among strangers in a foreign city, without her mother or her sister or any of her friends who might have theoretically been able to offer her some emotional support.

Theoretically is a key word there, though, because even if, say, her sister had come to Eglarest, Ianneth isn't sure she'd even be able to tell her. For one thing, she can't help feeling ashamed, because infidelity is very rare among Elves, and she can't help thinking that maybe she failed as a wife somehow, and if she'd done something different, Fingon wouldn't have strayed. Then there's the fact that he's the High King of the Noldor, and if this gets out it could cause a crisis in the Noldorin government and possibly tank the alliance between the House of Fingolfin and the Northern Sindar. Ianneth is a practical woman, and she's of the Northern Sindar -- the people who have been living practically on Morgoth's doorstep for centuries, with no Maia queen's magic girdle to protect them. Their alliance with the Noldor is vital, and she would never want to jeopardize it.

So Ianneth is just...completely alone with this pain. She has no one to turn to, no one who can comfort her. And that pain is central to her story, and a not insignificant part of Ereiniel's story, too.

[not-so-lost-after-all]

Thank you @oonalovesastarionssimpleplan for tagging me!

Your tav or durge's name and their partner:

Esipre the human wizard. It's a question how good she actually is at being a wizard because she's never got much of a formal education and had many teachers throughout many years due to her wild life but she's enthusiastic 🤣 She loves Astarion and in fact, has never felt so strongly about anyone before and he'll remain the only love of her life.

Tell us about your character - anything at all!

She's a former Balduran noble kicked out of the palace by her stepmother once she had younger brothers. Her house is no more though and the palace in ruins. She's a roguish wizard with relaxed attitude towards law who occasionaly uses daggers when it's... more convinient and quicker. Doesn't talk that much but she sure as hell listens and is very good at reading people which made her a leader in most of the groups she used to be part of. Not great at real relationships and betrayed people in the past because she's lived on the road since she was 12. She's almost 80 now because her witchy step mum blessed (cursed?) her with slow aging - something Esipre's father wanted before choosing that woman as his bride.

What do they enjoy doing together?

Besides the obvious? 😁 They're very "touchy", so some massage and bathing together. Also adventuring, the precious feeling that they can completely rely on each other.

What's something your character's partner loves about them?

Esipre is level headed and task oriented and Astarion knows that it saved their asses many times. She's also a big softie in private and likes to cuddle. Oh and he loves her lips and hands.

Their life after Baldur's Gate?

They have a permanent house in BG. They're doing bounty hunting for living which made them rich and since they both enjoy some finer things in life, their home interior reflects that. They have a half elven daughter Wen who... didn't inherit her father's immortality nor mother's talent for magic. She loves them both dearly and they her but you can probably see why she left the home very young to strike on her own. She became a smooth talking political advisor to a powerful elven noble in Waterdeep, had his child and he marries her some time later.

How their story ends is not set in stone but for now... after travelling the world for decades they find a way to turn Astarion mortal. You see, they die some 300 years after the events of the game. Their granddaughter is marrying the son of Duke Ravengard. The thing is that the son was engaged to a far better match whose family is not pleased and turn the wedding into a blood bath. Astarion and Esipre help the young couple escape but die in the last stand situation, in blood on the floor but hand in hand. It's alright, Astarion's had his happy life and hers is nearing an end anyway despite all her efforts. I hate the concept of living together forever, that sounds like a nightmare.

Something your Tav/Durge loves about their partner:

Esipre noticed his good looks but his gallows humor which she shares is what sealed the deal. Well, at first. She loves how bold and open he turned out to be about his feelings about her. He feels deep and since that's something so precious to her, she can't but reciprocate. She greatly admires his resilience which made her to make some peace with the shitty cards the fate has dealt her before. He's like a tree stricken by the lightning that despite everything continues to grow.

Something that your character and their partner both hate (about anything):

Gods. They're all pricks.

Tagging @lirotation and @memoiandy if there's something you want to share...

[imagoddamnonionmason]

Howdy Goose! What do you think Steph’s family would think about Zach when they met for the first time? I imagine they wouldn’t think he’s ’masculine enough’, due to the fact he was in therapy, not understanding that bro literally has hallucinations cause of Afghanistan.

Zach would be respectful, get both his mother in law and Rachel flowers, but wouldn’t stand for any ‘jokes’ about Steph. He’d be subtle about it, but would stand up for her if they made any comments about her.

(Why do I imagine Rachel would try to flirt with him unless she’s married 🤢)

I think her Dad, Richard, would actually be very accepting; he's a man who's fought for his country, he takes care of his daughter and the two seem to be very in love. But this man is especially blind to the life the both he and Stephanie have lived, the experiences they have had and the trauma that they learned to live with. I think it comes down to not understanding, but made worse by his lack of not realising that there's issues there that need to be understood, so there would be quite the disconnect. It's not intentional disconnect, but I don't think that Richard and Zach's father-son relationship would ever go any deeper than a surface level. It'll never go beneath a surface Zach allows him to see because, quite frankly, who talks about their trauma gained from war and especially with a man who has the emotional capacity of a pre-fried chip. You know, that part of the process where the potato is just a soggy wet slice of blandness.

I think later on in life, Richard would regret not getting to know him better, regret not trying harder to understand him and would genuinely wish he could turn back time to thank him more for taking care of his daughter and giving her a family she loves so dearly. But, regrets hang heavy around the neck and his back hurts from the weight of them.

Regarding the wife and daughter?

Huh. Yeah, I feel like Agatha would be that type of Step Mom that would hide awful remarks behind non genuine concern. It would be comments towards Steph's hair, her body, her looks, the scars on her arm, sides and thighs. It's taken a while for Stephanie to become indifferent to the marks on her skin, having gone through a lot of shit trying to reconcile the connection of the scars to the shit that happened in Afghanistan. So then for Agatha to make comments like "oh, I know you struggle with how people see those scars, so I got you this to try and hide them! We don't want to be scaring kids with ugly things like that! We don't want you getting upset!" Like, fuck off, right? I love the idea that Zach would straight up just be thinking "why don't you mind your fucking mouth, Aggie, before someone minds it for you." But really he's so calculated about how he claps back.

Agatha or Rachael make a comment on her, maybe her hair, like "oh, did you style your hair like that today? What a... choice! It could only suit you." "I was thinking the same about yours, Rachael, no one else could pull off something like that."

ON THE TOPIC OF RACHAEL THOUGH

She would flirt with him. Imagine it's like... idk a family get-together and there's a lot of extended family present. Stephanie didn't really want to go, but she does because it's good for Zach Jr to see family and while Stephanie is sorting out Zach Jr, Zach Sr is just chilling in the kitchen waiting with his Wife's drink.

Rachael saunters in, maybe a few too many drinks in than she should be, and comes to stand in front of Zach. She watching him with a furtively coy stare with the slightest attempt of a flirtatious upturn of her lips and sucks on the straw of her drink. Zach isn't even looking at her. He's just doing his job of keeping his eye on his wife's drink and speaking with those who deserve his time.

She tries flirting a little more overtly, and it would be this that catches his attention because like??? This bitch? really being so forward?

I don't think she'd take lightly being shut down, probably still got that stereotypically snotty popular girl attitude of 'every man thinks I'm god's gift' and she thinks 'he wants me, not my step-sister'. Being told no would probably lead to her having a petulant reaction.

I also don't think even marriage would stop Rachael from flirting with him - I imagine her bagging such a lovely guy but she treats him like shit. She's that kind of person. Probably ends up divorced and the ex-husband finds someone better and lives happily. Good for him, Steph and Zach would think, and he dodged a bullet.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd add!! This was fun to think about 😎

[sea-owl]

Teddy, the bear cub, is Albion’s best friend and is always seconds behind him. He absolutely ADORES to be cuddled and loves all the cheese Albion and Philippa share with him.

Harry engrave his and Prudence’s names in the swords he made, she absolutely treasured them dearly and centuries later, the Featheringtons descendants keep the swords well kept.

These are so precious!

Teddy is a very polite bear who loves his parents and cheese very much. When he's grown and the Finches have children they'll often nap on Teddy's warm back, holding his fur.

Harry makes mini swords for his kids and extremely sharp hair pins for his sister in-laws. He makes those same hair pins for his daughters and nieces when they reach debutant age. Ain't no rake gonna ruin their reputations, no sir. Marriage proposals only or you get stabbed AND hexed.

[bethanydelleman]

What do you think of John and Isabella Knightley's marriage? To me they don't seem all that happy. John appears to always be in a bad mood and Isabella's hysterical outbursts whenever she believes someone in her family might not be well is irritating him (not that i can blame him). She loves him dearly but he never seems to be all that invested in the relationship himself. It just makes me wonder how they even got together.

I think their relationship is much stronger than it appears at first and we have to remember that Emma's opinion of John is really biased.

He was not a great favourite with his fair sister-in-law. Nothing wrong in him escaped her. She was quick in feeling the little injuries to Isabella, which Isabella never felt herself. Perhaps she might have passed over more had his manners been flattering to Isabella’s sister, but they were only those of a calmly kind brother and friend, without praise and without blindness; but hardly any degree of personal compliment could have made her regardless of that greatest fault of all in her eyes which he sometimes fell into, the want of respectful forbearance towards her father.

Notice, Emma doesn't like John because he, like George Knightley, doesn't compliment her. Also, unlike Mrs. Bennet, who does know her husband is cruel to her, Emma feels slights that Isabella does not. Those slights might well be his insistence that she has to stop worrying about his health. Either way, we know that Isabella dearly loves her husband and will not stay home because she can't bear being separated from him:

Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley were not detained long at Hartfield. The weather soon improved enough for those to move who must move; and Mr. Woodhouse having, as usual, tried to persuade his daughter to stay behind with all her children, was obliged to see the whole party set off, and return to his lamentations over the destiny of poor Isabella;—which poor Isabella, passing her life with those she doated on, full of their merits, blind to their faults, and always innocently busy, might have been a model of right feminine happiness.

The "poor Isabella" in this quote is clearly sarcastic, Isabella loves her life.

Now as for John, it's not immediately apparent, but he does love his wife back. The best example is here, where John is watching Mrs. Elton on a solo visit: "wanting only to observe enough for Isabella’s information". He's collecting gossip for his wife! That is the cutest and most romantic thing in the world. And then when Mr. Weston comes home after a long day and joins their party, John thinks:

Could he [Mr. Weston] by a touch of his finger have instantly taken back his wife, there would have been a motive; but his coming would probably prolong rather than break up the party. John Knightley looked at him with amazement, then shrugged his shoulders, and said, “I could not have believed it even of him.”

So the dynamic is this, John actually has a job, unlike most Austen characters, and he is devoted to both his job and his family. His idea of a good time is woking during the day and being with his family at night. It makes sense that he'd be a bit moody when he's on visits to Hartfield since it's messing up his normal routine.

Also, um... judging by the five babies, John is enjoying at least some of his time with Isabella ;)

(the birth rate tended to be much lower in non-love matches)