#and she’s never thought of herself as easy to love much less befriend

[quietlyblooms]

i have to say i sure am emotional about chiyo being loyal to an absolute fault and i have to share some pinterest things i found bc it just encouraged the spike of emotion and a bunch of rambling :’ ))

this first one in particular just had me !!!!! bc the dialogue vs the inner monologue is straight up chiyo 😭 you ask her a simple question, and she’s got a simple answer she tells you and the complex answer she thinks but keeps to herself. she can never just be honest the first time around. it’s too hard, too scary. you gotta wrestle it out of her a lil. and that’s not related to her loyalty like the other images, but it was just too good and too spot on to not include :’ )

the others are just!! also spot on in relation her loyalty. you could have a plethora of thorns, and she’d bleed for you happily. you could have done something terrible, and she’ll love you regardless. maybe there is a darkness in you that you worry she’ll fear and will she?? no. she loves you, and she loves all your light and your darkness. she loves your blossoms and your thorns. and she’ll hold your hands and tell you over and over again until you believe it. when chiyo loves, it’s unconditional, it’s loyal, and it’s incredibly stubborn — just like her 💜

[kay9leo]

At First Glance... Part VIII

Chapter 7 <<<||| Chapter 8 ||| >>> Chapter 9

...On Changes

Sebastian hated change.

It never meant good things for him.

Such as when he went from having a loving family with living parents and a healthy sister to living with Uncle Solomon and leaving Anne behind for school when her curse became too much.

From having an unbreakable trio made up of him, Anne and Ominis to him and Ominis barely on friendly terms a year after Anne left.

And now, change had even struck his friendship with MC.

During those lonely moments when he allowed himself a moment to imagine what it would be like to reunite with MC again, they were memories reimagined to new adventures, kitchen raids and games they would play once more. Comparing notes, reviewing in the Undercroft, study buddies into the dead of night. Duel partners watching each other’s back with no questions asked.

Sebastian thought that uniting with MC mean things would go back to normal. Things will finally go back to the way they were with wands blazing, spells shot out, and friendly banter between them like they used to do before.

He didn’t expect for another change to cripple the little normality he had gain in his life when he befriended MC.

In fact, Sebastain didn’t expect for there to be so many small changes in their partnership.

Specifically in her reactions.

It seems as if that small pause, that little hiatus in their friendship was enough for MC to change while apart from each other. Changes that he felt like he couldn’t keep up with.

“These ‘Keepers’ are playing games with you. You need to press them for more information.” He huffed, angry on her part for how they kept critical information from her to mastering her magic.

“It doesn’t work like that.” MC crossed her arms with a frown. “To access each of these memories, I have to complete a trial. It’s not as easy as you think. They’re showing me the memories in a particular order. They–”

“Ugh. Either they don’t trust you or you don’t care enough about Anne to ask the difficult questions!” Sebastian glared.

He was certain that before their hiatus, their break in friendship, MC wouldn’t have shrunk in on herself when they talked about her ancient magic keeper friends. Or even sigh and say:

“I do care about Anne, but I’m tired of explaining myself. Perhaps we should part ways.”

At that he froze.

“That’s – that’s not what I meant. I –” He took in a deep breath to calm himself, to prevent that ice forming in his stomach from expanding “- we’re just not getting answers. I need answers. For Anne.”

“I know.” MC sighed as she looked at the ground and kicked a stray rock away. She then threw her head back to look at the stars. “I know.” She stated once more, letting silence fill in the air.

A silence that he found was worse than when they argued.

It suffocated him.

Sebastian didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what to say to make it better.

MC stared at the stars, as if counseling them to determine whether she should leave him or not. She frowned and sighed.

He never seen MC sigh that much in his life.

Nor did he ever felt like he was in the greatest trial of his life as she looked back down at him with steel determined eyes. The ice in his stomach grew spikes as she opened her mouth to give him the verdict.

To determine whether he was worthy of her presence or not.

Worthy of her friendship.

The first friendship he made on his own.

“Now, shall we see why the triptych led us here?” She smirked, a mischievous light filling her eyes.

The ice in his stomach melted as a warmth filled him and spread out to all of his body. Not even the night breeze could cool it.

Sebastian smiled back before taking off with a “Let’s go, quickly. Before we’re spotted.”

He hoped that leading the two of them will give MC less time to doubt her decision on renewing their friendship.

A friendship that he found too valuable to lose over petty things.

Her friendship with him made his world truly better for it.

It wasn’t until when their quest into the mountain truly started, did he realize how much had changed between them.

…

“Keep a close eye out. I saw some of Ranrok’s crew moving off the path just ahead.” He alerted her, like a good partner should.

“I wonder why.” MC hummed as she ran next to him.

Once more Sebastian was grateful for the growth spurt he had this past summer before he met her this year. If it wasn’t for the couple of inches he grew, he was certain that MC would outrun him.

“Raiding, I imagine. This mountain used to safeguard local hamlet valuables.” He huffed before frowning when MC started outrunning him. I need to exercise more if I want to keep up with her. He thought as he said,

“But it’s been abandoned ever since Ranrok took hold of the coast.”

“Shite.” MC cursed a few paces ahead of him.

That was a new change. MC rarely cursed, deemed it too lowly of her to do so.

“Inlusio.” She whispered, activating the disillusionment spell. He immediately followed suit.

“I’ll be quieter than a Jobberknoll.” Sebastian whispered. He needed her to know that he’ll be a good partner.

That it wasn’t a mistake continuing her friendship with him.

“Stay back and cover for me. I’m going to petrify them and take a look around.” She mumbled in front of him.

“Fine.” He stated, unhappy with her decision.

Sebastian frowned as he watched the shimming air in front of him go forward. One by one, she oh so s l o w l y took out each globin with a Petrificus Totalus! The globins would then freeze up and fall backwards still as a statue.

In total, it took her less then ten minutes to sneak behind all of them and petrify them. Not once did a spell or a weapon flew off from a globin to harm her.

Cover her back? He thought as that same icy feeling from earlier crept in on his stomach. What does she even need me here for? I didn’t even fire one shot!

The shimmering air appeared before him again as she whispered,

“Follow me, Sebastian.”

He nodded, not that she could see him. They didn’t even finite the disillusionment spell until they were yards away from the globin camp.

“Well, that went way better than expected.” She grinned at him.

“I’ll say. You hogged the fight and took them all out MC.” He snorted with a frown. “And why so sneaky when we left? They were already down. No need to be quiet if they’re out for the count.” He glared.

“Just be happy that we didn’t have to fight Sebastian. Things aren’t quite like they used to be.” MC rolled her eyes.

“I’ll say.” Sebastian scowled.

“Whatever. Let’s keep going.” She huffed.

“Lead the way. I’ve got your back.” He stated with a waved hand pointed towards the mountain.

MC nodded.

…

As they continued onward towards the mountain with a light jog, Sebastian found another thing that was different now than how it was like before when they went on quests together. And it was one that made the ice in his stomach slowly grow and creep forward.

The suffocating silence.

MC kept mute the entire time they jogged, never making a quip or a one-liner like she used to before the argument that led to the Friendship Hiatus as he started calling it. The quiet was a bit unnerving. It felt as if he still was on trial when MC was staring at the stars, debating about whether or not he should join her on this quest. The small creeping icy sensation in his stomach hasn’t left yet since her fight with the goblins.

Sebastian wasn’t certain what he should or shouldn’t say now. He didn’t want to give her another reason to part ways with him, but he didn’t want this silence to linger that had only allowed the ice inside of him to grow.

NEIGHAAAAAW!!!!

Then his saving grace from the silence came in the form of his least favorite beast.

“Thestrals overhead.” He stated, in a voice that he tried to keep as blasé as possible. “Some consider them a bad omen.”

“Hmm…Not everyone does.” MC stated with a shrug of her shoulders as she glanced back at him before looking away towards their destination.

The quiet returned once more.

“I know that.” He huffed with a roll of his eyes.

“All right.” MC sighed, not even looking back at him this time.

“I’m making small talk.” He quipped. “I’m not going to trek up this mountain in silence.”

And that’s just what they did despite his displeasure with it.

It’s hard to hold a two-person conversation when one party didn’t even bother with replying. That small icy feeling in his stomach from before grew. Little by little, it crept up his esophagus with each step the two took deep into the mountain. Until he couldn’t take it anymore as he felt the chill reach his larynx and broke his silence once more with the verbal thought of:

“I bet the Thestral nest’s close by.”

MC stopped and just when he thought she was going to banter back as she opened her mouth, he saw her wand rise.

Immediately, he was on guard. Mentally preparing for another goblin fight (and one that he can hopefully participate in). Only to be let down when MC said:

“Incendio.”

Her wand pointed towards thickets growing between two tall boulders.

She ignored me. Sebastian thought as he watched the fire burn everything away.

But it didn’t melt the hollow cold feeling he felt inside of his gut.

Once more MC took the lead as Sebastian followed behind her like a loyal Hufflepuff. At this point, he didn’t know what else to say to keep the conversation flowing. Sebastian was certain that MC didn-

“I’m sorry we can both see Thestrals.” MC stated as she came to a stop. Sebastian soon followed afterwards, mouth ajar as he started at MC’s back before he made his way to stand next to her.

A few feet in front of them stood the two thestrals they saw flying above them earlier.

“It’s certainly not something I’d hoped we’d have in common.” He sadly smiled as he glanced at the thestrals before looking at her. While she still didn’t look back towards him, her eyes too busy admiring the Black Beauties (as she liked to call them, something about them reminding her of some famous horse in a muggle animal novel she read), he was happy enough to have this version of his friend back. One who would talk back to him and not let him feel as if he was all alone-

“Levioso!” MC hissed, shooting at both Thestral. The two beast levitated in the air before they were pulled into the Nab Sack she pulled out of her satchel. Soon, both beasts were packed away, presumably for safe keeping in the vivarium later.

By the time Sebastian looked at MC jaw-dropped, the Nab Sack was tucked away in her magical satchel once more. Then MC met his eyes.

“What? I gotten good at capturing them. I rather not let the poachers get them and sell these black beauties for parts.” MC glared back.

“Nothing…I just didn’t expect you to be that fast.” Sebastian smiled with his arms raised.

“Well…Poppy and I had to improve our skills.” She nervously grinned as he dropped his arms. “Neither of us want the beasts to fall into the wrong hands. Too many of them have been abused and caged as is.” MC sighed as she glanced towards the sky.

The silence filled the air once more.

“So, is it true then?” Sebastian found the words leaving his lips without much thought.

“What’s true?” MC frowned as she glanced down at him.  

“That you and Poppy found a dragon egg?” He frowned.

Sebastian hated it that he had to depend on the Hogwarts rumor mill to learn about what sort of mischief his former best friend got into. It made the small Friendship Hiatus they had feel greater than the one month they spent apart.

MC scoffed and rolled her eyes before starting a light trek into a different direction.

“Don’t believe everything you hear out of the Hogwarts rumor mill Sebastian.”

Sebastian would have accepted that as her answer if it wasn’t for the smirking lips she had as she started jogging once more.

So, MC did find a dragon egg –waitaminute!

“What have you been up to MC?” Sebastian stated as the ice in his stomach grew spikes once more.

The longest the two had ever spent apart before their hiatus was at most a day. They would either meet up at breakfast or at dinner where they would at least recap about the day they had, sharing the small adventures they had apart from each other.

Sebastian knew that he wasn’t the only one who went on quests with her; he knew that she and Natty were doing some reconnaissance work to gather evidence to bring charges against Harlow. That she and Poppy were on a two-women mission to protect the beast and take down poachers.

Heck! Even Larson and Thakker were working with MC ever since they took a break on their friendship. What the two were doing wandering the Highlands; Sebastian wasn’t certain. The only rumors he heard that those three got up to were exploring Astrology Tables.

Typical Eagles.

At least I hope they are. Just looking for just Astrology Tables means that they’re staying out of trouble…that’s MC isn’t looking for major trouble. I mean I don’t think I’ve ever seen Thakker fight at Crossed Wands…at least Larson is keeping her safe? He fought before…even if he isn’t that good. Sebastian thought as he felt his handgrip on his wand tighten as if he could send spells into the past to assist her in whatever unknown battles she’s gotten into. I know those two won’t go looking for trouble or even go near goblins…right?

“Just some community service Sebastian. Someone has to clean up…but there’s something important you need to know.” She frowned.

“What is it?” He narrowed his eyebrows, partly nervous but moreso pleased that she was willing to share deep secrets with him again.

That he was her to-go person once more.

“Come closer, can’t be too careful. Can’t know who’s listening.” She frowned as he nodded and lean his head forward.

It seemed as if the distance wasn’t enough as she got a hold of both of her shoulders and pulled his head down to her level. Her lips were by his ear, her breath tickling him.

“Just so you know, tag.” She said as she poked his abdomen. “You’re it.” She shoved him back with more force than he ever expected from her, causing him to stumble backwards. MC snickered as she looked back at him with a wink before she ran off. “Better watch my back Sallow!” She whispered-yelled, followed by giggles.

Leaving Sebastian to watch her back now as he got up.

“Hey! Get back here MC!” He grumbled, taking off after her as she giggled with an impish smile on her lips and eyes that glimmered underneath the moonlight.

The two ran for quite some time, with MC always looking back to him, greeting his eyes with a twinkle in hers and a cheeky grin.

“Better move faster than that slowpoke!” She laughed.

“I’m NOT slow. I’m just out of practice!” He huffed as he pushed his body to its limit. Between forcing himself to run at his top speed and his recent growth spurt, he was soon able grab her arm and pull her back into his arms. “GOT YOU!” He grinned.

Unfortunately, Sebastian didn’t take account for his body momentum.

What started as pulling MC into his chest for a hug turned into an accidental ground tackle. He just had enough time to turn his body around to land on his back with an OOF!

“Looks like I still win Sallow. Seems as if I’m the one who got you.” MC laughed. Her hands were on his shoulder, knees surround his waist with a sharp smirking grin on her face that would match a proudful wampus cat capturing its prey.

Sebastian felt as if his breath was taken out of him as he looked up to the girl who had him pinned down. Who defeated him in front of his peers during a class duel.

And he couldn’t help but smile before grunting as she sat on his stomach with a prideful smirk on her lips.

“Get up, you’re heavy MC.” He wheezed.

“Wow. Such charm Sallow. That’s something every girl wants to hear.” MC chuckled with playful eyes, blinking furiously as she fanned herself with her dirt-covered hand. Her smirk never left.

“You know what I mean witch.” He gasped with a glare towards her as she snickered. “Now can you get off? Please?” He rasped.

“Fine. But only because you said please you Slowpoke.” MC said as she finally got off of him.

Sebastian gasped, pleased to finally fully expand his chest for that sweet cool air.

MC’s hand suddenly appeared in his vision with her smiling head above. A smile he hasn’t received in such a long time.

“Need a hand partner?” She asked with her hand wide open.

“Considering you got me down here; I expect it partner.” He chuckled as he grabbed hold of hers. But instead of letting her help him to get up, Sebastian ended up puling MC down and back into his arms where he could give her a hug. “Now this is more like it.” He smiled.

He missed her hugs as well. Sebastian could count in one hand how many people would willingly hug him. Only two of those people would spontaneously hug him; and that included the one who was currently in his arms right now.

“If you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask Sebastian.” MC said as Sebastian felt her smile against his chest just from her lighthearted tone.

“You better not regret those words MC when I cash in that statement.” Sebastian grinned. He didn’t even have in him to smirk. Not when her eyes met his and it felt like, just felt like everything will be alright.

How can it not be when she was staring at him like that? With the glee of a victorious duel, the awe that came to seeing something incredible during their travel and the warmth that came naturally to her whenever their eyes met. Whether it be during those late-night study sessions, sharing a meal at the kitchens, or even laughing at one of his puns that Anne said were unfunny (who cared what Anne thought? He was funny. Why else would MC laugh or even like them? Or even try to top his and get a crackle out of him as well?), Sebastian found that his favorite feature of hers was her warm eyes.

It was like coming home to a warm hearth after a working out in the fields on a cold winter day.  

“Me? Regret hugs? Never.” MC smiled.

He pulled her in for another one. If a fireplace could be hugged, he was already doing it.

“Good. Because I’m going to be giving some whenever I want to too!” he smiled back, letting the smell of mellowsweet (that always seemed to follow her) enrapt his nose. “I missed you MC, you know?”

And somehow, MC managed to hug him back as well despite his arms locking her in his embrace.

Yeah. This is one change I can get used to. He thought as he sighed contently, loosening his hold on her for MC to hug him back properly.

“I missed you too Sebastian.” MC hummed.

…

It was getting colder as they continued walking into the mountain. Everything was as it should be. With MC at point, him at back, wands at ready and a quip thrown here and there.

While it wasn’t like before, where they could constantly talk or banter in previous quests due to her concerns, at least MC wasn’t going to do the entire trek in silence. Things were splendid.  

At least until it was broken when a voice yelled out further ahead:

“Kill any who trespass!”

Like a hunting dog, Sebastian was on alert and ready to kill his prey on sight as he felt his heartbeat jump and he looked back at MC with a determined smile.

“There they are. Let’s go!” Sebastian huffed as he took lead of their jog.

“Wait! We should have some sort of plan!” MC shouted, huffing as she ran behind him.

Yeah. I don’t think so. I’m not letting you have all the fun. He thought with a frowned, noting another change that occurred without his presence.

Before the Friendship Hiatus, the two of them would charge in, wands blazing, spells on the tip of their tongues. Improv was their main offence tactic. Enemies can’t prepare if they don’t know what will hit them or had time to react. The pair of them were fantastic duelists.

She was a goddess with her Ancient Magic and he, her steadfast battlemage champion.

 What did MC have to fear between the two of them?

What need was there to scout ahead and plan when all that sneakiness would only end with them petrifying their enemies instead of taking them out? That took time.

Time that they didn’t have.

So, instead of letting her ruminate on the best way to get to the high point to see what they’ll be facing, Sebastian took lead and led their two-men party charge on the camp.

“I’m through planning!” He growled as he ran through the gates and into the campsite with a raised wand, flicking it off with a: “CONFRINGO!”

Suddenly, spells, curses and objects flew in the air.

Like their times in Crossed Wand, they made a perfect team. Even if the small hiatus had slightly changed them, time wasn’t enough to change their dueling habits with Sebastian taking back and MC at point. MC threw out protegos, letting spells bounce off her shield that would be followed with his bombarda and confringo.

Everything was going great, until MC ran back and grabbed his wrist.

Suddenly, everything was a blur.

One second, he was standing at the center of camp, the next, he felt her ancient magic crash over him like a freezing ocean wave before he felt as if his body was being pulled through air. A blink later, Sebastian was at the edge, away from the axes that stuck each other where they once stood.

Where her protego wouldn’t protect him.

He felt his heart stop before it restarted again when MC called down thunder like the goddess that she was.

Sebastian had to close his eyes to fend against the blinding light as he felt the strike shake the ground underneath him. He didn’t even have time to recover as he felt a hand drag him down as an axe flew over them and strike the box behind them, barely missing their heads.

“Keep an eye out on their axes!” MC huffed. “Protego doesn’t work against whatever dark magic they’re using on their weapons.”

“Duly Noted.” He gasped as he lifted his wand once more, pointed it at a goblin and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus! "

The fight continued, with more wariness on his part such as keeping an eye out on magical axes, exploding barrels and tossed boxes. MC called down Thunder once more, knocking out another goblin as he tried to either petrify or freeze them to buy them time in between his confringos. Soon the battle had ended, and the camp was cleared of his moral enemies.

He was about to cheer at their victory when MC turned around towards him with narrowed eyes.

“What were you thinking?” She said slowly, as if he was as slow as a troll.

“I was thinking about dead globins.” He huffed, not understanding why she was upset when they won.

“You could have gotten us killed.” She stated in a tense but calm voice.

“But I didn’t.” He rolled his eyes before he noticed another foot-worn pathway in the grown. “Looks like Ranrok’s Loyalists were heading further up the path.” He frowned as he pointed said path to her.

“Let’s keep going.” MC sighed.

Probably tired from their recent globin fight. He reasoned to himself.

…

The caves they entered had puzzles the two had to solve before they could even go further forward. At one point, MC grabbed his hand and pulled them back behind a boulder before pushing him against the wall with both of her hands on his chest.

If his heart was beating rapidly with how handsy she was, he blamed the next voice they heard:

“Anything made from goblin silver belongs to us. Whether it’s a sword or a repository – whatever that is.” The grunted voice of a globin shouted.

“Did you hear that goblin?” MC said with a tint of fear in her voice.

“Ridiculous notion of ownership.” He growled. How can they even have a basic economy under that ideology? And what’s MC so afraid of anyways? He thought as he felt his magic buzz underneath his skin, ready to attack in response to his anger. She’s not going to get hurt – I got her back!

Then there were more goblins they had to fight to continue.

At least that note about the Ministry’s investigation about the illegal breeding of Basilisk gave them a good laugh, a good break in the tense quest he got them into. Then there were more goblins they needed to fight as one of their voices greeted them before the two of them even saw them.

“I agree. Only good wizard’s a dead wizard. Ranrok’s got that right – and I’ll be most keen to help him achieve his goals in that regard!” They heard as they saw the globin encampment in front of them.

Before he could even rush into battle, MC grabbed his arm, pulling him back with a stronger force than he was expecting from her as a coolness poured over his body.

“What now?!?” He growled as he glanced towards her eyes and paused. They weren’t her typical shade, instead, they glowed lightning blue, like her Ancient Magic.

“I’m going to zoom in first. I’ll get their attention, zoom around and leave you puck each of them down with a glacius or a petrificus totalus to buy us time to make it easier to take them all down.” She stated with a glare.

“By what do you mean you’re going to zoom in?” He frowned, already hating this plan. But he couldn’t move.

It was as if her magic was petrifying him still. He was certain of it.

Her Ancient Magic laid over him like a fine mist. Enough to hold him, but not strong enough like what an imperio would be to control him. He was certain that if he forced his own magic to push back, it would free him. Yet he knew this battle must be serious enough that MC wanted all of his attention.

Which is dumb since she always had it. He frowned as she smirked.

“Just watch. And don’t forget to watch my back.”

“I always do.” He glared.

She nodded. Then she released her grip on him, freeing him from her petrifying magic. Before he could even reach out towards her, MC took a step back, then turned towards the globin encampment. As his hand nearly touched her shoulder, a fine misty-blue cloud remain where she once was.

“HEY DWARFINGS! I HEARD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME?” MC yelled.

Sebastian looked up and felt his heart drop. MC was in the smack middle of the camp, getting all of goblins’ attention on her.

“GET HER!” Someone yelled.

MC smirked. She shot off a Petrificus Totalus towards one globin before she zoomed off, leaving a misty-blue cloud that followed the blur that he presumed was her.

None of his books that touched upon Ancient Magic ever mentioned wielders having this sort of an ability.

I really should stop being surprised by what MC says or does at this point. He thought with a shake of his head and a smile on his lips as he charged in. Especially when it comes to her Ancient Magic.

This battle, unlike their earlier one where he was blinded to the newer abilities the goblins held, Sebastian was alert. His eyes always scanning the positions of the axes, swords and most of all MC as he shot globin after globin down with her distraction.

Maybe there is something to making a quick battleplan. He thought with a smirk. The battle took less then ten minutes from his count. He made his way towards MC as the two of them took a final look around to find any remaining enemies left. Sebastian moreso.

He didn’t want a repeat of that experience back at Feldcroft.

“I think that all.” MC frowned as he looked at the stairs and was certain they lead to some sort of entrance.

“This must be it.” He grinned as walked towards the staircase in front of them. “The last triptych piece must be here!”  

Finally, they would solve this puzzle and find answers to all the questions that went unspoken between them.

He ran forward only to be pulled back by his arm.

“Sebastian – wait!” MC said with a worried look in her eyes. A look that he hasn’t seen in there before.

“Wait? For what? Ugh…why are you suddenly so cautious?” He narrowed his eyebrow with a scowl.

This wasn’t like her. Why couldn’t she see?

They won that last battle! What did MC have to be afraid of with all the power she holds? He had her back! And MC was essentially a deity in human form. That’s what every book he read on Ancient Magic said! He seen it with his own eyes! He didn’t even let a globin get to her this time! Or him!

And now MC is afraid of giving all our enemies the same treatment they gave others.

“Listen to me.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes but nodded with a sigh.

“I know you’re angry and frustrated. But charging ahead now could undo all the progress we’ve made. Lodgok said–”

At the mere mention of said globin’s name, it was as if all his restrained annoyance from their previous argument came back as he spat with sharp hot anger:

“Oh, your globin friend?” He glared, feeling his own magic buzz underneath his skin.

“Stop it. That’s enough.” She huffed. “Not all goblins are like Ranrok. I am not the enemy. We want the same thing: to find answers.” She crossed her arms.

“I thought we wanted the same thing.” He frowned, not understanding where she was going with this. Not understanding why she was putting so much faith into a monstrous race that could have destroy her life like they did with Anne. That nearly killed her as well back at Feldcroft.

Ignorant.

“We do. Listen to me. Lodgok has insights into Ranrok that we don’t.” MC narrowed her eyes as he rolled his eyes once more. “He told me that Ranrok somehow knows about the Keepers and is searching anywhere connected to each of them. THAT’S why they always seem to be one step ahead. I know what I’m doing Sebastian.” She said as she pointed towards herself.

“Do you?” He sneered as he crossed his arms.

MC closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, as if she was a teacher and he, an unruly student.

“You need to trust me,” MC said as she dropped her hand, opened her eyes and looked at him. “…or I don’t see that we can continue together.” She stated with a scowl, eyes glimmering with pain.

It was as if he was dosed in icy cold water.

I can’t let her leave me. The thought echoed in his mind as he felt the cold shivers of fear consume his body, the ice in his stomach back again, creeping up like lightning to freeze his veins and nerves.

“Fine. Fine. I’m sorry.” He sighed, dropping his arms. “I’m letting my emotions get the better of me…And I have been for a while.” He frowned as he dug his hands deep into his pockets. “I do trust you. And I don’t think I can help Anne without you.” He said as he met her eyes.

Because in the end of the day I still need your help. He thought. And I hope you will still need mine too.

“Good.” MC sighed and nodded as she looked up to the staircase. “Ranrok clearly knows more than we thought. We need to be careful and do this right. Not just go charging in.” She glanced back to look at him. “We have our work cut out for us. We need to work together if we’re going to find the final piece to the triptych.”

“Agreed.” He nodded as he waved his hand towards the stairs. “Ladies first. I got your back.”

MC nodded.

“Thank you. Let’s go.”

…

Sebastian hated change. It never meant good things for him.

Change always took the bit of good normality he found and left him empty.

However, this time, change struck differently as he took his head out of the pensieve.

Sebastian glanced towards MC, seeing her in a new light after that memory.

I don’t have to use dark magic. I don’t have to worry Ominis at all! He thought as his hope renewed within his very soul.

Maybe change can be a good thing.

...

Chapter 7 <<<||| Chapter 8 ||| >>> Chapter 9

[bienbala]

An imaginary piece... CHARACTERS: Avathara- INDIAN ROYALTY GIRL; Advik- YOUNG EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR BOY ▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️

Walking down from the aisle of carved sandstone, on both sides bordered with white camellias, the pretty white flowers that have been the pride of the Royal garden, the favorite of the first queen of the palace, Rani Chandrani, the beloved of the greatest warrior to ever rule Amargarh, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. All these flowers were a gift to the Rani, as a symbol of compassion and loyalty, and were all over the boundaries of the bageecha, surrounding huge marble fountains, where white doves dunked and bathed and flew away letting a shower from their feathers. The aisle led to the sandstone built shade, with hand carved see through jali, there laid a diwan and Avathara came and sat there.

She had always admired the beauty of this garden, the white all around, shined brighter in the setting sun, the birds let out a melody, the old sunken love gleamed with the glowing whites around. Avathara always came to wonder how the romantic legend was still alive here. She peeked through the jali at the sunset, roamed around, then sat back again. Just to think clearly had she come out from her room, once for a while away from the Royal duties and obligations, so that she could see things through. In few minutes the pillars were lit and the helper of her dadisa, her grandmother entered from the aisle to the steps of the shade, bowed, "Rani sa asks you to come inside as it's dark". She nodded, as the help left, she sighed, looking around again, left the bageecha, expecting herself to come here once more to think through.

She was immediately rushed in to her room, and shown the dress she had to wear for the evening gala, with the neighbouring royalties and rich class allies. It was an annual event now, as no one went battling with the neighboring kingdom's in the 21st century. People from different rajgharanas gathered every year, around 8 Royal families. But Avathara cared less, being more bothered about her college starting next week, she was stuck in the thought of right and wrong, should she prefer a career or the inherited responsibilities. Whatever it shall be, she was looking forward to her college debut.

It was dark enough by now, the palace was glittery gold with all the lighting striking against the magnificent walls, the hallways were decorated and a savoury aroma was arising from the main kitchen. Seemed like a big deal and quite convincing to withdraw Avathara's attention away from her dilemma towards the grand evening. Holding her gigantic beaded skirt delicately she floated across the corridor reaching towards the front lawn where the guests had started to gather. Raja Ratnaval, one of the old friends of her grandfather, Raja Ranjeet II, was found introducing his young prince to her dadi sa. Avathara rushed next to her and greeted the friendly Raja and his young son, only to know that the young prince was thirty, not so young and was seeking to ask for her hand. Before the conversation became focused on the not so young prince and princess of Amargarh, Avathara came to her own rescue, leaving all telling them she had to check up on certain special arrangements for the night. She was heading towards the evening orchestra, she had decided the ragas that had to be played tonight and wanted to see everything was alright. She was a trained classical artist, obviously she would be wanting to present the best to her guests, she always tries to give her best, for all what she is capable of, and this didn't include being a pleasing wife to someone, that too to someone that much older than her. And it was not that marrying at a young age was a problem to her, but it was one right person she yearned for, about whom she has forever believed, would befriend her all life and make it easy for her to love. She never wanted a bondage, of course she had heard of Rani Chandrani's true love. She kept such hope for herself too.

Her beaded attire and the pastel silk glistened in the lights, making her an eye catcher. She was Avathara- meant 'reflection', she was named by her father because she carried the charisma and beauty of her mother, like it's a mirror image. But she found it half a truth, as has been quite distant from her parents since she turned three. They don't live here at the palace, they usually visited her once every month but from the past 10 years they have met her only thrice. Where they were, how they were there own their own, what they were upto back then and even now hasn't been clear to her. She had been clueless and curious about this forever.

Though she was breathtaking herself but she was oblivious and rather unbothered of the fact. As she walked back from the orchestra she bumped into a tall feminine figure, draped in a heavy lehenga, delicate hand work, the lady radiated nothing but elegance. She turned her focus to the face of the person, only to realize it was Kanika, the golden city's princess, her childhood friend. Avathara heaved looking at her gorgeous girl and went straight for a hug.

"Missed you a lot princess"

"You should be lying when you don't even want me to know that you are leaving next week", said Kanika moving away to give a sarcastic frown.

" Miss don't be mad at me I was so confused by myself, what's happening, what should I do, would I just end up doing something wrong out there alone, how would I...... "

"Calm yourself"

" I have been waiting to meet you, you understand me, you always do"

"Yeah, I do.... " They hugged each other again, Kanika giving a right assuring squeeze to her. Avathara pulled away smiling and headed towards her grandmother beckoning her, turning around she gestured to Kanika,"Meet me after the party".

The grand event ended near to ten o'clock, the two girls almost tottering in their bulky dresses, their way back to Avathara's chamber after a lavish dinner. Kanika mostly stayed back here for atleast a night when she visited. They entered into the suite and rushed towards the bed, laying at their back giggling, like they always did. Breeze swirled the silk curtain, the waning moon was lighting the room floor. Avathara turned to her side to face Kanika. Kanika tilted her head saying, "You have something up? "

"I just feel, I have this feeling you know, though I have lived away from here for camps and events, but always with people that I have known. Either it's the cousins or dadi and dada, earlier, or it has been your family. I never had to directly deal with people our there. And though I know now I get a chance for that, but, it's just, so peculiar, being on tour own and so far from home... "

"Whoa, miss, that's not a huge deal, I mean you going to college is, but being out in the world by yourself is what everyone experience somewhere, and they really are able to get through it. You will handle it. "

" I know, I would find a way somehow, I mean I got to and I would at last, how bad can a college be? Not at all, it's just getting along with people, I have null idea about it, I always meet people through family "

"That is just how you think, leave college people aren't that bad either girl, and you are a princess you might end up getting some princess treatment too" Kanika nudged her chuckling.

"No... Won't that be naive and rude, to demand certain behav-"

"You are so loose with this topic. I meant maybe you find some friends, maybe a girl, maybe a boy, maybe your lover boy-"

Avathara shooted a frowned glare at Kanika, for her to tease her that way.

"Why do you pull my leg, I am not going there for all of this. Even if I crave love doesn't mean that I would go hunting for it, it would happen when it has to. I am more focused on my degree, I really want to know myself through things, try out my potential. I don't think I have time for anything else"

Kanika turned to her side and cupped Avathara's face, "I never said that you are going out to try you love luck, I know you always aim your target, but I have a strong feeling, someone's waiting for you."

Avathara went to cup kanika's face, and giving her head a shake said, "You are excessive sometimes you know, I guess you should sleep. "

Both started to laugh and slowly dozed off amidst their conversation.

▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️◻️▫️

[more-than-a-princess]

She hadn't meant to offend anyone. Sonia had only acted...well, like herself: cheerful, as sympathetic as she could, friendly. This earned her a cold shoulder from some of her classmates at first, but she'd befriended them in the end. In fact, she now found it easy to confide in Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu when she needed, and she had eventually dated Gundham. Despite it ending, despite the fact she still missed him at times. But he had a life ahead of him, one that couldn't include her: not in the way they'd wanted. "Well, maybe you'd like to join me instead, Anzu-san," She suggested, her tone and smile not skipping a beat as she gave her new friend her attention. "I'm sure you know plenty of wonderful places to go! I'd love it if you might show me around to your favorite places, or places that are simply fun. I'm afraid I don't get to see much of the city, save for work and my shopping and film excursions."

The entirety of Japan could've been lumped into the 'only traveled for work' definition, but she saw no reason to make herself appear even more strange to them. It was why Sonia looked forward to such mundane things as school festivals and class trips: at least she didn't have to be the Princess of Novoselic there. Just herself, enjoying an important time in a normal teenager's life with her friends. Unfortunately, Anzu's gentle tone was enough for her to understand that, in spite of her best efforts, she'd put a damper on their enjoyable time to begin with.

Behind her smile, Sonia grit her teeth: it was a trial, she thought, not to hear her mother's nagging voice in her head. Her parents had insisted Hope's Peak had been her only option, and yet the decision had been filled with quips that no matter how she'd try, she would never be like the rest of them. She was too different, too special, to ever warrant anything that resembled a normal life. Her very birthright, much less her education and social circles, had trained her for anything but.

What they hadn't trained her for was the most discreet of explanations Anzu clearly needed to tell her, as Sonia's reasoning had been, to put it politely, far off the mark. For a moment, all she could do was pause and stare. At least she smiled: otherwise she might have appeared horrified. Instead, it was Sonia's mind registering several things at once.

One, she'd never considered that her new friends were anything but cisgendered women.

And two, they'd likely expected her to realize that hadn't been the case and she'd failed, rather spectacularly.

Oh God. They were going to think she was an idiot at this rate-

"Oh!" She exclaimed, her cheeks pink with embarrassment as she realized she'd remained silent for far longer than she should have. "It...it never crossed my mind that you and Yaguchi-san are trans," She replied quietly. Surely this wasn't a conversation either of them wanted to be heard, and Sonia was used to her security reading lips if needed. "I do apologize if I was supposed to have known, and that I've offended you. So, from what you say, it seems like the name written for Yaguchi-san at the charity ball was not her name."

There was to be plenty of new territory to tread on her study abroad experience. This, she decided, was part of the journey. There were plenty of questions she could have, wanted to ask, but none were fit for a public place and new friends. Furthermore, none of them had any bearing on how she regarded either girl, so Sonia shook her head with a smile. "No, I'd rather not ask anything inappropriate or foolish. You may rely on me not to treat either of you differently as my friends, and-"

Sonia paused, noticing that Anzu's attention was split between herself and likely Shinobu and her friend behind her. With raised eyebrows, Sonia took a quick glance over her shoulder to see the eager girl with her mobile posing for a photo with Shinobu, a dizzyingly happy look on her face. "Yaguchi-san seems to make friends easily, that's good," Sonia beamed, unaware that her own photos had been traded for a date with Shinobu. "I believe I understand now why she is so busy: though we mustn't blame her. Dating is part of the normal teenager experience, or so I've heard!"

Her own experiences had either crashed and burned, or she simply accepted whom her parents wished her to spend an evening out with: often the son of a politician, or the son of a conglomerate president or other high-ranking executive. Someone who had no trouble acquiring a table at Joel Robuchon or box seat tickets to the orchestra or ballet, which was to be her grand weekend plans in two weeks' time. Some of them were keen, but mostly they had parents with similar agendas and could commiserate over a luxurious meal or elegant event.

"Now then," Sonia smiled as Shinobu took her seat once more, "What about those outings? If I remember correctly, Anzu-san, you live in the dormitories. You should visit my rooms for tea sometime, both of you, if you are so inclined! I hardly ever have an opportunity to be hostess here."

There were quiet glances exchanged between the two girls as Sonia spoke, conveying a great deal of information in only a few silent moments. Such was the power of childhood friends who had been on their side of this conversation many times before, that it only took a few looks, paired with discrete nods or small shakes of the head to convey all the things that needed conveying. They seemed to have agreed to something, for when Sonia asked her questions, Shinobu stood from the table, leaving their half-finished meal in place.

"Unfortunately, Miss Nevermind, I don't have a great deal of free time, and what of it I do have is often spent with particular company." Behind the frames of her glasses, Shinobu's eyes flicked upwards towards the girl standing some distance away. That Sonia had seen her and texted something shortly after was cause for concern. To cause problems for Shinobu was one thing, but to cause problems for other people was much more difficult to handle. "I believe our uninvited guest may be such company herself. I'll handle her. Anzu?"

Already moving to take Shinobu's seat across from Sonia, Anzu nodded. "I got it, Shinobu-chan, don't worry." There was a gentle hum of acknowledgement from the archer, still looking to Sonia. "I hope this won't take long, Miss Nevermind. In the event that it does, please accept my regrets that our meal was cut short by someone who couldn't behave herself even on my account." It faintly annoyed Shinobu, perhaps more than usual, though as to why, she wasn't sure. Perhaps due to the risks she'd taken without realizing it, they concluded.

As Shinobu gave a brief nod before walking across the street, Anzu turned back to Sonia with a smile. "Don't worry about Shinobu-chan; she's used to this kind of thing." Now, how approach it... Anzu wasn't resentful of Sonia personally, but it was a situation that she found a little unfair. Even if it was something about her and Shinobu, there was a need to try and protect other peoples' feelings, to keep even well-meaning friends from tripping over themselves with apologies that centered themselves in the conversation. Of course, it was fair to say nothing at all - it wasn't anyone's business - but with Shinobu, it would come out eventually if Sonia continued to hang around. Also, for herself and especially for her best friend, Anzu was kind of proud of what they'd done, and wasn't that something to share with a friend?

"I think you've got the situation a little confused, Sonia-san," Anzu said in that gentler, more refined tone of voice. "It's not that they misspelled Shinobu-chan's name, or had the wrong title or something." From when Sonia was coming from, Anzu could see how that would be a problem, but that was a formality that wouldn't have been a big issue to Shinobu, she assumed. "Shinobu-chan and I are both trans girls, so... probably what happened wasn't an accidental mistake, but more... intentionally mean." Maybe Shinobu's father wouldn't have seen it that way, but Anzu certainly did.

Anzu gave a small shrug and a reassuring smile to Sonia. "So that's probably what was upsetting to her. You don't have to treat either of us any differently though." Herself, and Shinobu especially so. That was the kind of thing that Shinobu hated. "And if you have any questions, you can ask me, or Shinobu-chan if she's in the mood to talk. Maybe ask her first." She shifted in her seat, able to watch Sonia as well as Shinobu, off in the distance talking to that girl, at the same time. "For me, though, I won't be offended if you make a mistake or something." She nodded self-assuredly. "Oh, and don't take her that seriously about being so busy. Shinobu-chan makes time for her friends, and we can talk about some normal teen girl outings when she's back!"

"Remind me of your name again, Miss?" Having been engrossed in her phone, the girl's eyes lit up as she heard Shinobu's voice, immediately attaching herself to the archer with a tight hug. "Shinobu-kuuun!" She squeezed, and even when she pulled away, her hands remained at Shinobu's sides. "It's Kaori! Kaori Hara, from Fuchu Academy, remember?" At that, Shinobu gave a thoughtful nod. "Right. Miss Hara." Though it had take prompting, Miss Hara seemed pleased to Shinobu's eyes. That was easy.

"It's impolite to take pictures of people without asking first, Miss Hara," they reproached her. "Ah ehe... I just didn't ever expect to see you out at a time like this! That fancy school keeps you sooo busy." Her eyes were wide and pleading, her hands still pressed against Shinobu as though her body was some kind of children's toy to not be let go of. "And the pictures weren't anything inappropriate, so it's fine, right?"

From this position, Shinobu could see the cars, hidden to all but the most perceptive of people. You loathsome idiot. Your unrestrained impulses might cause some international incident, and I'll doubtlessly get wrapped up in it. I should throw your phone into the lake. "I'm afraid not. I really do need you to delete those photos." "But those girls-" "Are none of your concern, Miss Hara."

Miss Hara frowned. "Mm..." After wrinkling her nose, she tapped her fingertips against one another bashfully. "How about this, Shinobu-kun? I delete this pictures, but you take a picture with me? And then, you take me to a movie I wanna see this weekend? As a date?" Having seen something like this coming, Shinobu wasn't fazed. "This sounds like extortion, Miss Hara. That's criminal activity, you know." But, her Rules were her Rules. "However, I accept." They didn't turn down such requests, and as such held out their hand for her phone.

Once it had been handed over to her, Shinobu erased the photos of herself, Anzu, and Sonia, ensured they hadn't been stored in the cloud, entered her own contact information, and snapped a quick picture of herself with Miss Hara. "I hope that suffices. I'll contact you after school to set up the specifics of our date." The girl didn't seem fully finished. "But, Shinobu-kun, I-" In so far as Shinobu wanted anything, it was to return to her meal before it got cold, and finish her time with Anzu and Sonia. No more distractions. "Miss Hara," she said in a low voice, her hand beneath her chin, tilting her gaze up. "I'll speak to you soon. I'd appreciate no further problems during my lunch hour." With wide, lovesick eyes, Miss Hara nodded, stuttering out an agreement, and then watching as Shinobu turned and began to walk back in the direction of the park table.

[just-another-author-i-guess]

Hi!

i just wanted to know if your requests are open and if they are i wanted to request something with Judd birch x GN!reader like their in highschool together and known each other for years because of leah (your her bestfriend) and he kinda falls in love with the reader and only soft and fluffy around them, all fluff x

-Markus

Hi <3 my requests are open, I’m just bad at getting through them lol

Tags: Judd Birch x gn! Reader, very cute, very fluffy, Judd is emotionally constipated, sex references, this is a big mouth fanfic cmon, I also still don’t know how to write hormone monster dialogue, talk and mentions of masturbating? Idek man, I didn’t edit it through bc I’m lazy, I wrote this at 2 am

Authors note: hello! I hope you like this <3 I realized that I always write with fem! Readers in mind so this was a nice change, I hope it’s readable (: see you at the bottom lol

Word count: 1,8k words

Judd Birch is a simp:

It just sorta happened one day, like BAM he had fallen for you. Hard.

I mean, he saw you around all the time, at school or hanging out with Leah at his house so it took him a pretty long time to realize he liked you

Of course Maury had been by his side the whole time, telling him to do all sorts of lewd things to you but he never really took it seriously

To him you were still just the quiet little 12-year-old Leah befriended in 8th grade

Until you suddenly became so much more

Maury had been going on about how cute you were for a long time, but it wasn’t until your junior year that Judd started agreeing with his hormone monster

You had always annoyed him significantly less than all of his siblings other friends, so he tolerated having you around

You also never bothered him at school, unless Leah wanted him to drive the two of you home

It was the day after summer break, the start of yours and Leah’s junior year and Judd’s senior

He drove Leah to school and as soon as he parked, she basically threw herself out the van and ran towards someone

He slowly followed her across the parking lot, somewhat curious to see where she was going

She threw herself at someone, and it took him an embarrassingly long time to realize that it was you

But when he did, he was absolutely stunned. I mean, he straight up stopped in his tracks, mouth hanging slightly open

You had grown over the summer, seemingly both physically and mentally

You seemed so much more confident in yourself, and it seemed like you had found your own style too

He would never admit it in a million years, but he thought you looked really nice in your new clothes

‘Judd likes y/n! Judd likes y/n!’ Maury appeared behind him, mockingly singing about Judd’s newfound crush

Judd’s face morphed into a scowl, as he continued to ignore his hormone monster

‘C’mon man! I can see your little heart-boner from here! It’s obvious.’ Maury chuckled, pulling out a stethoscope and placing it over Judd’s heart, feeling his slightly increased heartbeat

“Oh, Judd! I’m surprised you actually showed up today,” You called to him, suddenly turning all your attention to the older teen

He quickly recovered from his shock, shoving Maury aside and putting on his usual stone-faced expression

The wind blew your hair out of your face as you walked towards him, and he had to admit.. you were quite easy on the eyes, and your voice sounded nice calling his name and-

He lost track of his thoughts when suddenly you were in front of him. ‘Here’s the plan. Ditch school, throw them into your van and plow them till you’re shooting blanks!’ Maury said, grabbing Judd’s arm and tucking him towards the van

Judd exhaled through clenched teeth, not even realizing he had been holding his breath as you walked up to him, Leah in tow

“Fuck off.” He scoffed, looking anywhere but your eyes. “Don’t you have to go help Leah with her gay ass theater group, or some shit?”

You grinned, unfazed by his foul attitude. “Alright, mr grumpy pants. I hope you had a nice summer though, it sucks I didn’t get to see you much.”

‘FUCK YEAH! THEY MISSED YOU?’ Maury yelled in victory, throwing a bottle of whiskey to the ground, shattering it loudly. ‘Hear that, judder-butter? My dick tells me you have a good chance with them,’ he purred.

Judd didn’t even notice Maury, face slowly flushing as he took in your words. Judd Birch was not one to blush, never had he been known to look anything but murderous, but suddenly his whole facade melted and turned bright red

He coughed. “Uh. Sure. It’s not like I have time to hang out with dumb ass kids anyways,” he muttered, painfully aware how both his ears and face was now bright pink

You crossed your arms over your chest. “You’re only a year older than me, dipshit.”

Despite the flush on his face, he still managed to look somewhat intimidating as he rolled his eyes and gave a low grunt. Just before he could clumsily come up with an answer, Leah pulled your arm

“C’mon y/n, we gotta go meet Daniel in the assembly hall,” she whined, causing Judd to finally pay attention to his younger sister and break his trance

“Go piss off to your gross theater group. I won’t pick you up, walk home nutsacks.” And with that, he walked off, leaving you and Leah in the parking lot

He finally relaxed as he rounded a corner, out of sight from you and Leah

‘NOOO! What was that? Get back over there and show them a better fucking time than whatever gangbang they’ve got going on in their theater group!’ Maury pleaded, throwing himself dramatically on the ground

‘Look! My little penis was so excited!’ Maury pulled a tiny penis out and held it in his hand, the creature giving Judd a disappointed sigh

Judd stopped walking, leaning against the brick wall he was walking past “Shut the fuck up.” He grunted, sending Maury a glare.

The hormone monster simply chuckled, unfazed by his anger. ‘But loook! How can you say no to such a cute little thing? He’s so sad, he’s getting all soft..” Maury stood up, shoving the little penis in Judd’s face. Sure enough, it was crying

Judd sighed deeply, thoughts of you flooding his brain. He leaned his head back against the walls, closing his eyes for a moment. “Fine.” He snapped. “Let’s go Jack off.”

Maury roared in victory, giving Judd’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “And this is why you’re my favorite, kid.”

After that, Judd started showing up to school significantly more

He started letting you sit in the front seat when he picked you and Leah up, actually leaving his room when you came over, going out of his way to do you small favors, ect

Let’s just say Leah caught on real quick

“You know Judd is totally into you, right?” She said one day, while you were sitting in her room, getting ready for a party

“Huh?” You said, too focused on smoothing out your clothes in the mirror to pay attention

“Judd. My brother. The psychopath. Future serial killer, he likes you.”

You paused, turning to look at her. She was lying on her back on the bed, head hanging down the side as she stared at you upside down. “No way. Judd hates everyone,” you said, searching her face for any signs that she was joking

She looked completely serious as she said: “Yes way. He’s a total simp. It’s almost cute, actually, like, in a deranged creepy kinda way,”

You scrunched up your nose, thinking back to your latest interaction with Judd. He didn’t seem that different, did he? There was that one time he got you free weed, multiple times were his raccoons escorted you places to make sure you were safe, not to mention all the car rides and-

“Oh my god.” You said, looking bewildered at Leah. She grinned, rolling around to lay on her stomach. “You know, I’ve never seen him not make threats at someone. You really did a number on him,” she giggled

Slowly, your face started to heat up and you turned away from your friend with a hand clasped over your mouth. “I mean, he’s always been nice to me- I just- I didn’t think it was a big deal?”

Leah got up off the bed. “Of course it’s a big deal! You even like all the same stuff! Have you seen the way he looks at you when you talk about horror movies? Or when he offered to lend you that one, uh, what’s it called? The game with zombies or something. But anyways, that’s, like the biggest deal ever!”

You hid your face in your hands, trying to conceal the large grin that spread across your face.

“But,” Leah continued and even if you weren’t looking at her, you could tell she was grinning too. “If you’re going to date, it better not interfere with the theater rehearsals,”

You huffed out a laugh, turning back to look at her. “I wouldn’t miss those hours of watching you flirt with Daniel for anything!”

Now it was Leah’s turn to blush, the conversation quickly moving on as she went into detail about whatever Daniel had done that day

After that, you finally started noticing Judd’s odd behavior

What he called flirting, some people would probably call kinda creepy, but you didn’t mind

You liked the stolen glances, how he got angry when he blushed, the quick touches and the long talks you would have about music and movies when Leah was doing something else

You also thought it quite funny how he could go from growling at his family, to looking at you with big puppy-dog eyes in mere seconds

He’s literally only like that to you, would never be soft in public either

You started having lots of movie nights, the guy always has a new low-budget gore-fest up his sleeve

But oh my god, he’ll get so soft if you fall asleep during a movie

Like, gently tucking you in under the blanket and cuddling up to you, he even trades his scowl in for a cute little content expression

Even if he just thinks you’re asleep, he’ll sometimes mutter a bunch of lovey-dovey stuff, don’t ever ask him about it tho bc he will deny it

I think I’ve said this in a previous hc, but high Judd is soft Judd

If you’re high and the mood is right, you could coax almost anything out of him

He’ll quietly say stuff like “you know I love you, right?” Or “I’m sorry I called you fuckface, I didn’t mean it. I actually really like looking at your face.”

On very, very rare occasions his family has caught him being soft

Like, you’re cuddling on the couch or something when Nick gets home from school

Or Leah catches him softly whisper to you while you sleep

She totally filmed it and uses it as blackmail.

“Drive me to rehearsals or everyone’s gonna see you being a simp for y/n” is the only threat that ever works on Judd

Anyways, he’s a good boyfriend but don’t expect him to be soft all the time

He is most of the time, but he also has quite the temper. If he ever says something truly mean to you, he’ll feel so bad about it though

He will beg Leah to talk to you if you’re mad at him

Don’t get fooled by his attitude, he’s so whipped for you

This was so cute (,: I love Judd

I also want to thank everyone for a 1000 followers! I’m really not that active and I honestly didn’t expect to reach a 1000 lmao

But I’m really grateful, thank you all so much for reading <3

I hope you enjoyed this too, tysm for requesting!

If you want to request more Judd stuff, or anything else please go to my profile.

Love, author

[korkorali]

I’m still stuck on that last moment- they got a happy ending. No matter what happens next for them, they get the happy ending they’ve fought so hard for.

Jester, alone and never taken seriously, now a master of her own imagination, with a family who loves and cares for her above all, and a romance that’s better than the books she’s read.

Fjord, a weak and picked on nobody, who was taken advantage of by the powers that be, now a warden of the Wildmother, with people behind him who don’t give a damn about the powers he may or may not wield.

Caleb, who’s life was simply a plaything to one of the most callous and evil wizards in the empire, who thought he was an unredeemable mess, has now saved all of Exandria from devastation, has found a new family that forgives him without a second thought.

Yasha, who’s old life was torn from her for loving too hard, the love of her life killed, who suffered at the hands of Obann for untold years, has found love again, and again, and feels a safety with others she hasn’t felt in a long time.

Veth, who lost her body, her family, and her life, has now regained all of those things, and gotten more confidence in herself and another family to boot.

Beauregard, who was taught at an early age that her life wasn’t her own, that all she was was her father’s proxy, that she was inherently unlovable and worthless, has now found lasting love, a family that would destroy the world to keep her with them, and an organization at her back that she feels she can place her trust into.

Caduceus, who was also alone, desperate for a connection to his goddess, yet was too afraid of the answers he might find if he looked for his family, now has his family back, is no longer alone (will never be alone), and -just based on the dice- has one of the best relationships with a deity since the calamity.

Essek, who was taught that he was the only one who would care for himself, who thought himself willing to destroy everything he knew in exchange for power and knowledge, learned that he wasn’t the only one who cared, atonement was not unreachable, and that knowledge was not as important as the world, and that that was not as important as the people around him, who loved him.

Mollymauk, who knew nothing about himself, save for the fact that he wasn’t this ‘Lucien’, who died trying to save his friends, and was forcefully stitched back into a person who he did not belong too, now back -maybe not as he once was- but with the knowledge that he was not alone, not empty. That he was with love. With joy. With the sea. The tinkerer. The wizard. The rumor. A family.

The Mighty Nien’s journey has never been about saving the world, or solving every problem the world’s ever had. It’s always, always, been about family. About finding was to live with yourself. About looking after those taken unjustly advantage of. About leaving every place, every life, better than they found it. Or at least, more colorful.

They have fought for so long, against so much, for this ending. They’ve clawed their way through a world that told them they were nothing, they were broken, they didn’t deserve happiness, and told that world ‘fuck you, I do deserve happiness. I do deserve family. I do deserve love. And you deserve love too.’

They earned this happy ending. From dropping everything to save a town from Gnolls, to going out of their way to save a Kenku child, or poor children who stole their money. To desperately risking their lives for some bozos they’d only known for less than a month, to automatically going from 0 to 100 on a man that was making the Ruby of the Sea uncomfortable, to going to unknown wilds to save the husband of one of their own. To befriending the war criminal (who didn’t make it easy), and befriending stone giants. To stopping a war -not because they cared for either country- but because they had people they cared about on both sides. To saving an entire island of people who lost their memories. To saving an old wizard who doesn’t fucking learn from the consequences of his actions.

Everything they’ve done, they’ve tried to do to help. Everything they’ve done, they’ve tried to use to give themselves a life. A family. A happy ending. And we got to watch them succeed in that tonight. Against all odds, they got to succeed. They got to switch around the E and the N.

Long live the Mighty Nine. Long may they reign.

[inexplicifics]

I'm rereading Three Bells and I just had a thought that Voltehre would have LOVED to be a trainer in AWAU under the new rules (and also would probably adore Milena). So two questions :

what do you think the reaction would be if a Three Bells situation happened and Voltehre was suddenly alive again in AWAU?

For Want of A Nail: what would the story be like if Voltehre had never died in the AWAU? Would we still have the same Labert we know and love? Would he and Adien still have the same relationship? Would he have been adopted post haste by the Griffins and started a mini good natured fued between Cohen and Lamb?

Lambert with a living Voltehre would have been…probably a lot less of an asshole. Still prickly, because I think that’s baked in, but less so. Voltehre would probably have a reputation as “the Lambert whisperer.”

I don’t know if they’d be lovers or just best friends. Aiden might actually have had an easier time of befriending Lambert, because Lambert isn’t constantly set on “mistrust everything and bite it before it bites you.” Voltehre and Aiden would probably also be very dear friends, united in their fondness for their prickly, marvelous Lambert.

As for a Three Bells variant on the AW AU…hmmmmmmm.

*

Ciri did not mean to do whatever the hell she just did, and when she gets back to Kaer Morhen, she’s going to tell Aunt Yen they need a lot more safeguards when they’re trying to figure out what powers her Elder Blood gives her.

She’s somewhere very dark, and there’s something large nearby - she can hear it breathing, a steady deep huffing snore - and cold slightly slimy stone against her back. Far off to her left, she can see a faint gleam of what might be sunlight.

She starts edging in that direction, keeping her steps light and careful just the way Kiyan has taught her, dagger easy in her hand. It won’t do her much good against most monsters, but it might give her just enough time to get away.

There’s a soft sound off to one side, and she freezes, peering through the gloom and wishing she had a Witcher’s eyesight. Another soft sound - a footstep, leather brushing against stone. There are other people here.

Ciri presses herself back against the stone and breathes as quietly as she can. More people is…bad. If they wake up whatever is snoring…

The thought, unfortunately, appears to summon the reality into the world. Someone stumbles, tripping and sending something clattering into the darkness, and the monster wakes with a roar.

“Run, Lam!” someone yells. “Go. Go!”

There’s the sound of scampering feet - lots of them - and the monster roars again, and then there’s light.

Igni, from the hands of a terrified Witcher trainee she doesn’t recognize at all.

Ciri gets only the briefest glimpse of the fucking cyclops before the trainee who summoned Igni is snatched up in an enormous hand and crushed like a rat in a terrier’s jaws. The other trainees scatter in every direction, and the cyclops, clearly well-adapted to the darkness, strides among them. Ciri huddles against the wall, shaking, as scream after scream is swiftly cut off.

She wants to help, but there’s no way she can kill a cyclops. A cyclops is a task for a full Witcher patrol, not one half-grown girl. She has no idea why there’s one close enough to a Witcher keep that there are trainees in its cave, but that’s a question for Papa once she’s out and has figured out what is going on.

She sees a silhouette against the distant daylight, and thanks the gods that one of the trainees has made it out safely. The others…by the horrid crunching sounds, she doesn’t think many of the others are going to follow suit.

There’s a soft thump as someone runs into the wall maybe an arm’s length away from her, and Ciri strains her eyes to see a lanky, tall young man pressed against the stone. He doesn’t seem to have noticed her; his eyes are fixed in the direction of the terrible sounds.

And then there’s the sound of a heavy footstep, and Ciri gasps as the cyclops looms out of the darkness, maw dripping with gore. The trainee glances over at the sound and sees her.

“Fuck,” he breathes, and then snaps, “Run, girl!” and slaps the wall.

Drawing the monster’s attention away from her. Trying, even now, to save someone else.

Ciri can’t let him die.

She lunges, tackling him around the waist as the cyclops swings its massive fist, and as they topple to the ground together she reaches out for whatever the hell power brought her here and yanks as hard as she can.

The world goes oddly blue, and then she and the trainee are rolling together onto the floor of Aunt Yen’s workroom.

“What the hell,” Aunt Yen says as Ciri lets go of the trainee and bounces to her feet. “Cub, what -”

“I don’t know what happened but there was a cyclops,” Ciri says. “It was awful.”

Aunt Yen goes white. “A what?” she blurts.

The trainee sits up. He’s blond, Ciri sees now, with a spray of freckles on his cheeks and a snub nose and big hands and feet that suggest he’s not done growing; he’s sort of cute, really.

“That was Old Speartip,” he says. “Where am I, who are you, and what in hell is going on?”

“You’re in Kaer Morhen,” Ciri tells him. “I’m Ciri, the Wolf’s cub, and this is Yennefer of Vengerberg. Who’re you?”

The trainee gives her a very confused look. “I’m Voltehre,” he says. “And I suppose I’m still of the Wolves, since I’m not dead. But there’s no girls in Kaer Morhen.”

Ciri swallows hard. She has a very odd feeling about this. “What year is it?” she asks Voltehre.

“What year? 1178, I think, unless you want the elven reckoning.”

“Ah,” Ciri says, and sits down, hard. “Aunt Yen? I think I figured out what I did.”

“Did you travel in time, cub?” Aunt Yen asks. “Oh dear. That makes two time-related catastrophes for you. I’m going to have to find a proper expert in this, and I frankly haven’t the first idea where to start looking.”

“What year is it now?” Voltehre asks warily.

“1244,” Ciri says. Voltehre’s jaw drops.

“No shit,” he says weakly after a moment. “Sixty-six years?”

Ciri nods. Voltehre swallows hard.

“I have a sort of weird question,” he says slowly. “And I…I don’t expect you to know, necessarily, but I have to ask. Is - is there any chance that there’s a Witcher named Lambert still alive?”

Run, Lam! in Voltehre’s voice, cracking with terror. Ciri swallows hard.

“Dark hair, swears a lot, really good at alchemy?” she checks. Voltehre nods, eyes going huge. “Yes. He’s still alive.” Ciri stands and offers Voltehre a hand up. “Come on. I’ll take you to him. I - I think he’ll be very glad to see you alive.”

[dragonologist-in-the-making]

Paper Rings

Pairing: James Potter x Reader

Summary: On his first ride to Hogwarts, James befriended the girl who was obsessed with shiny things. Over their schooling together, their friendship turned into so much more.

A/N: lmao I suck at summaries. Also I’m back sorry for the random hiatus (and sorry that posting will almost definitely not be consistent after this either). I had this idea months ago, inspired by Taylor Swift’s Paper Rings, and I only just got around to writing it asdfghjkl. Still obsessed with James though rip me I just want someone to love me like this.

Warnings: Mentions of eating (briefly), otherwise just a lot of fluff.

Wordcount: 4k (wow)

...

Little James Potter waved goodbye to his parents as the train took off from the platform, nervous about his first journey to the infamous Hogwarts, but excited to discover all the great things his parents had told him for himself. First though: finding a carriage.

Trying not to show his nerves, he wandered along the corridor, peeping into the carriages to see if there was one he could join. For the most part, he found them all too full, too loud to juggle his nerves, or the students too old and intimidating. The days would come where James would rule the corridors of the castle, but the eleven year old boy on the train was just hoping to make a friend he could share this new adventure with.

As fate would have it, he found just that and so much more. In a carriage to herself sat a young girl, his age, her face turned away from him looking out the window. The only thing he could see was a petite sparkling bow, sitting neatly in her (y/h/c) hair.

Without thinking about it, he knocked gently on the compartment door, sliding it open as she turned to look at him inquisitively. Her (y/e/c) eye’s glittered as her lips pulled into a smile, creating a complete sense of comfort for James to ask. “Do you mind if I sit?” She nodded eagerly, gathering up a few books she had dumped on the opposite seat and dropping them into her lap. “I’m James.” He smiled.

“(y/n). It’s nice to meet you.”

They sat in a comfortable silence for a short while, listening to the laughs of older students, friends reuniting after a summer apart, and watching the landscape whip by them out the window.

“I like your bow, by the way.” James spoke up, feeling glad he did when an excited smile broke across her face, looking as if he’d told her she’d won the lottery.

“Thank you! I love the way it sparkles.” She said, gently pulling it from her hair and twisting it in the sunlight, showing how rainbows danced in the glitter and were thrown across their compartment. Satisfied, she used it to clip back the hair that was now falling into her face, and their conversation moved on, following each and every thought they were having, becoming fast friends. James didn’t think the journey could get any better until two boys showed up at their door and asked if they could join them, setting everlasting friendships in stone.

As the train pulled up to Hogwarts, any nervousness James had been feeling was gone. Instead, the only thought he had was that he couldn’t be more glad he sat in the compartment of the girl with the sparkling bow.

…

Their first year passed in a blur, and the Marauders spent the majority of it in each other’s company, laughing their days away.

Now, summer had come and gone, and their second year at Hogwarts was in full swing. They walked into their charms class together, laughing about a joke Sirius had made at James’ expense. (y/n) sat next to the curly-haired boy at their desk, as Remus Sirius and Peter sat at the one adjacent to them.

“Hey, it’s not my fault I didn’t make the team last year! No first year has made a house team in like 80 years! I’m telling you though, I’ll make it on this year, and I’ll be the best chaser this school has ever seen.” James protested, huffing as he put his textbook in the middle of the table for him and (y/n) to share. She laughed at him softly, hand patting his shoulder as the other boys got lost in their own conversation.

“I know you will, Jamie. And I’ll be there cheering you on every step of the way.” His cheeks redenned at her words, but luckily their attention was turned away by Professor Flitwick.

“Now students, the charm I’ll be teaching you today is more of a fun one to start off the year than anything you’ll likely need in your everyday lives. As always, I don’t expect you to create chaos by using these charms” – he turned his gaze to a particular group of students at this point who were all busily looking elsewhere – “but simply to enlighten yourselves and to show you what magic can do. So, the charm we’ll be learning today is how to make things glitter.”

James heard an almost inaudible gasp next to him, and he could feel the excitement radiating off (y/n). He chuckled, expecting nothing less; he’d known her for a year now, and if it wasn’t the bow in her hair there was always something shiny on her at any given time.

Flitwick talked about the details of the charm, how it could be applied subtly, only giving a faint sheen, or how it could be made much more obvious. Finally, he gave them the charm and told everyone to repeat after him. “Now, like I said, just because this is a fun charm doesn’t mean it’s an easy one, and I don’t expect you to get it on your first attempt. Just keep repeating the charm and-oh!” He broke off suddenly, just as James’ vision went hazy. Once he’d focused, he saw he was surrounded by a cloud of individual glitter specs floating around them, almost as if they were in their own galaxy. His gaze shifted to its centre, shining most brilliantly of all as her proud and excited smile dazzled him, making him forget entirely they were still in their charms classroom.

“Well done Miss (y/n)!” Flitwick’s voice broke through their bubble, and slowly each star seemed to fade out of existence, until they were back in their regular old classroom, thirty pairs of eyes trained on them. “You certainly felt the spirit of the charm and went above and beyond. 10 points to (y/h). Now, if you could help Mr Potter whilst we all get back to it!”

Chatter burst out the classroom almost immediately, partners working together trying to enchant an object of theirs to take on the glittery effect. Sirius turned to her, rolling his eyes half-heartedly.

“Becoming a teachers pet now are we, (y/l/n)?” She rolled her eyes back, waving her wand to produce a cloud of glitter that settled in Sirius’ hair, contrasting sharply against its darkness.

“It’s sparklesSirius, what did you expect? Now c’mon, this is the one lesson I won’t let you not do the work in. Make some glittery greatness and I’ll bake you all some cookies when I next steal James’ cloak to go to the kitchens.” With those words, the three boys turned their entire focus to the task at hand, while James still seemed slightly awestruck next to her. “You alright, J?”

“That was amazing (y/n/n). I had no idea you could do that.”

“Well I guess you can’t know until you try.” She shrugged, picking up her quill and placing it in front of him. “Charm my quill.”

“Why me? You could just do it yourself.” James asked, confused why she didn’t do it herself since she was clearly more than capable. Once again, she shrugged, looking into his eyes as she uttered the words so nonchalantly that would stick with him for years to come.

“Well, Flitwick said you needed to practise. Plus, it’ll mean more to me if every time I look at my quill I know that you’re the reason it’s shining.”

Within a heartbeat, James had uttered the incantation and a subtle shimmer had settled over the feather, imperceptible until it was moved and caught the light. The smile he saw when he looked over at (y/n) made him vow to himself that as long as he was around, she would never have an ordinary quill again.

True to his word, every time she brought out a new quill, he was quick to snatch it from her and place the simple charm on it. It became an unspoken promise between the two of them, and every time James saw that sparkle from the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

. . .

True to her word, (y/n) was there for all of James’ games, cheering him on from the side of the pitch, always the first to reach him when the game was over. High or low, win or lose, she was always there to remind him that he had played amazingly, and that she was proud of him.

After one such game in their fourth year, Gryffindor narrowly losing to Slytherin, she was at his side so quickly that he would have thought she had apparated if he knew this wasn’t possible. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly, feeling the slight shaking of his shoulders. “Oh, James.” She quickly ushered him off the pitch before he attracted eyes, assuring him that Sirius and Remus would collect his things from the changing room and bring them back to his dorm. Once they reached his dorm, she sent him to shower, promising that she would be there for him once he was back.

Sure enough, he came out of the shower in fresh clothes and damp hair, and she was still on his bed, patiently waiting for him. She held her hand out to him, a silent invitation, and as soon as he took it she pulled him to her side and once again enveloped him in a hug.

“I’m so proud of you, Jamie.” She whispered, squeezing him momentarily before drawing back and looking into his glassy eyes.

“Shouldn’t be.” He murmured, avoiding her gaze. “We lost.”

“And yet you scored more goals than anyone else the entire game.” She pointed out, sincerity lacing her voice. “It’s just because the snitch is worth a stupid amount of points, honestly the game has a lot of flaws.” James smiled weakly, they often had these debates about Quidditch and it always ended in some silly way.

“I did hit Malfoy in the head with a Quaffle.” He admitted, and (y/n) could see the weight falling off his shoulders.

“The highlight of all our years.” She laughed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a little box. “I got you something.” She handed it to him, and he pushed it back to her, head shaking, doubt returned.

“No I didn’t do anything to deserve it. Keep it.”

“We already had this argument and I’m not taking no for an answer.” She shoved the box into his hands and folded her arms across her chest, waiting for him to open it.

Reluctantly, he pulled the lid off the box to reveal a snitch, the snitch he normally kept on his person at all times, now shining with a slight iridescence. James looked up at her, thankful but a little confused at the present.

“I’ve actually been saving it for when you lose a game. Which has been hard because that’s hardly ever.” She broke off to give him a playful glare along with her words, quickly broken by her soft smile. “I know you play with the snitch when you have a lot on your mind, and when you start to doubt yourself. I wanted to remind you that you’re incredible and you should believe that yourself. So, when you see the snitch and you see it sparkle, you’ll think of me, and you’ll remember how great you are.” He was speechless, and in the silent air, she did what the two of them did best, and started to nervously babble. “Well, that’s assuming you think of me when you see sparkles, and quite frankly after all this time I’d be slightly offended if you didn’t-oof” her rambling stopped when James tackled her into a hug, knocking them both back onto the bed.

“Thank you.” Was all he said, but she could hear the emotion behind each word, everything he was trying to communicate. All she did was hold him tighter.

It was then that Sirius and Remus walked into the dorm, carrying all of James’ equipment from the game, causing James and (y/n) to jump away from each other. Blushes arose on both their faces, not that the other would have noticed, each too busy looking at opposite walls of the dorm. Sirius and Remus exchanged a knowing look, but decided to let it slide, knowing there was an inevitability to it anyway.

…

Once again, (y/n) was boarding the Hogwarts express for another year of school. She knew this year would be a stressful one, with their OWL exams coming up, but she also knew that as long as she had her boys by her side, she would be absolutely fine.

Speaking of her friends, she was currently walking along the train trying to find them. She knew that Lily and Remus were prefects now so they’d be at the front of the train, but she was struggling to find anyone else. Eventually, she found James, sitting in a carriage by himself, absentmindedly watching the view. She chuckled to herself at the situation, the reverse of their meeting all those years ago.

She slid the door open, catching his attention and his ever-so-addictive smile. “Got room for an old pal?” She asked, sitting next to him when he patted the seat, his hand enveloping hers as soon as she had, a silent communication. I missed you.

“I was starting to think you’d gotten cool and forgotten about me.” He joked, nudging her playfully.

“Piss off Potter, I was always cooler than you.” She teased back, glad to see that nothing had changed despite their time apart. It never did, they were always James and (y/n), inseparable no matter how hard anyone tried. “Where is everyone?”

“Lils and Moony are doing prefect duties, and Sirius enlisted Peter’s help to try and sneak into their carriage and get the insider information.” He rolled his eyes light-heartedly, forming air quotes around Sirius’ words as (y/n) laughed, eyes closing in amusement. “What’s that on your eyes?” James suddenly asked, stopping her laughter short as she tried to figure out what he meant.

“Oh!” She remembered. “I went to see Lils in the holidays and she was showing me this glitter eyeliner that muggles wear! Why, do you not like it?” She suddenly felt self-conscious, wondering if it really was too much despite Lily’s reassurances. It was a subtle white, but still, it was glitter on her face.

“The opposite!” James was quick to answer, rushing so much to not hurt her feelings that he wasn’t thinking about what he was saying. “I think you look really beautiful (y/n/n), with or without the makeup. Besides, the glitter brings out your eyes.”

At this point, they were both blushing furiously, and James was still holding her hand, neither of them willing to let go. (y/n) couldn’t help but smile to herself, and remembered to thank Lily for the recommendation the second they were in the dorm together that evening.

…

James climbed the last step into the astronomy tower, seeing (y/n) leaning against the railing already, gazing into the night sky, a blanket and an array of snacks out on the floor behind her.

It was a ritual they’d started who knows when, a chance to wind down and escape the chaos of everyday life, to enjoy each other’s company and to feast away on whatever snacks they had managed to stow away for these evenings. Tonight’s selection looked to consist mostly of cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs, with the occasional sugar quill hidden amongst the rest. “Heavy on the sugar tonight, I see.” He broke the silence teasingly, settling himself so that he was sat at (y/n)’s feet, still able to see the clear night sky above them.

“If I don’t consume my own bodyweight in sugar I think I’ll pass out I’m that exhausted.” She commented back, sinking down next to him. Automatically, his arm wound around her shoulder, pulling her into his side and resting his chin on top of her head. There weren’t words to describe the feeling of pure content as she melted into him, completely at ease.

She reached out and grabbed a chocolate frog, unwrapping it and handing the card to James with a sigh upon seeing it was one already in her collection. She bit into the chocolate, her gaze on the night sky as his was unable to break away from her, the way she settled so peacefully against him.

“The stars sparkle too, you know.” She broke the silence, voice quiet but still holding its signature melodic tone. James finally broke away from looking at her, joining her eyeline and looking at the constellations above them. Even though he wasn’t taking astronomy as a NEWT, spending so much time in the tower with (y/n) as she mapped the sky meant he knew precisely what he was looking at, and traced the constellations with his eyes.

“You know, six years of friendship and I don’t think I ever asked you why you like shiny things so much. I always just accepted it as a part of who you are.” A smile graced her face as she unconsciously twiddled her fingers.

“Don’t laugh.” She warned, and he solemnly shook his head. “I think there’s something so entrancing, so beautiful about them. I think it serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly dull thing,” she picked up another chocolate frog box at this point, waving her wand to create a light sparkle over it, “is wonderfully brilliant if you just remember to look at it in the right way. It’s a lesson we should all carry with us, and I try to remember it whenever I can. Everything is beautiful if you give it a chance.” The sparkles on the box faded in the moonlight, as (y/n) finally looked up at James, only to find him already staring back at her.

Body thinking quicker than brain, seeing her (y/e/c) eyes glimmering up at him, James leant down and pressed his lips to hers. She stifled a gasp, quickly moving her lips back against his as her hand wound gently around the back of his neck. He poured all of his admiration into the kiss, everything he had been feeling for her since he didn’t even know when, feeling his heart soar to be here with her in that moment.

Eventually, they broke away for air, and a breathy laugh fell from (y/n)’s lips, blush rising on her cheeks as she turned her face away. James reached for her hand, interlacing their fingers and gently rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “I’ve been drawn to you since the day I saw you in that train carriage. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, your soul. I didn’t even realise the outside matched until we came back from that summer you spent with Lily. But god, every day since then I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I like you, (y/n/n). I really like you.”

Around them, a shimmering cloud exploded simultaneous to a wide grin spreading across (y/n)’s face. It was their own galaxy, just like all that time ago in the charms lesson, but she was still in the centre, still giddy with excitement. “I like you too, Jamie.” Her smile turned a little sheepish. “And sorry, I think my emotions got a little out of control.” The star-like sparkles slowly dissipated around them until there was nothing left, and this time it was (y/n) who leaned up to James, connecting their lips one more time.

“You taste like chocolate.”

“I’m sure that must be awful for you, Potter”. Nothing had changed, and yet nothing would be the same either.

…

James was sat on the floor of his dorm, textbooks open in front of him, although this late in the day he was struggling to pay any attention to them. What he was focused on instead was his girlfriend, tucked into the alcove of the windowsill, absentmindedly writing away on a piece of parchment.

Her (y/h/c) hair was in plaits down her back, and in the candlelight the silver threads that James had helped her braid in this morning were casting light across the room that shifted with every little shake of her head or shrug of her shoulders.

“You’re staring again, Jamie.” She chastised, although the humour was clear in her voice. He pushed himself up from the floor with an exaggerated groan, making his way over to her and pulling her gently into his chest, pressing a soft kiss into her hair.

“Can’t help it love, you’re an actual angel.” He didn’t see it but he knew she’d be rolling her eyes as she buried her face in his chest to hide the blush that was forming on her cheeks.

“Stop being so cheesy.”

“As if you don’t love it.” She pressed a kiss into his chest, resting her head against him as she went back to her writing. He tried not to pry, but he couldn’t help but catch notice of his name and his interest piqued. “Who are you writing to?”

“Euphemia.” She replied nonchalantly, not pausing her actions as he took a step away, face scrunched in confusion.

“My mother?” she paused at this, looking up at him with false exasperation.

“Do you know many other Euphemias?” She deadpanned. He shrugged, admitting her fair point, moving back to her side where she immediately snuggled back into his warmth.

“How long have you been writing to my mum?” She paused for a second, contemplating.

“Since the start of term I think. She sent an owl, I responded, we haven’t really stopped talking since. Oh, I’m coming over for Christmas by the way, she invited me. Said it wouldn’t be Christmas without the whole family there” (y/n) looked up at him, flashing a mischievous grin, expecting him to whine childishly like he normally would, complaining that he was supposed to ask her. Instead, looking more solemn than she’d seen him in a long time, he crushed her against him, holding her so tightly before he leant down and connected their lips. The kiss was bruising, but it was packed with adoration, and it left (y/n) slightly breathless. He broke away, leaning his forehead against hers as she tried to catch her breath back. “What was that for?”

“I love you. So much. You’re absolutely perfect, and I swear, I can’t wait until the day I can put a ring on that finger and make it official, make you a Potter for real. I promise, it’s going to be the most sparkling, dazzling gem you’ve ever seen. It’ll shine just as brightly as you, and it’ll always remind you that you’re beautiful, in every way, and just how much I love you.” Her hand had come to rest on his cheek, smiling throughout his little speech, parchment cast aside and forgotten about at this point.

“Don’t be silly, James.” She laughed, stroking his cheek with her thumb. “I love shiny things, yes, but I don’t need one to be reminded of how amazing you are, or how much I love you. Hell, you could ask me to marry you with a paper ring and I’d still say yes in a heartbeat. I’m saying yes to you, to a life. You don’t need to win me over with some ridiculously expensive piece of jewellery.” He nodded slightly, pecking her lips before moving back to where he had been sat on the floor.

(y/n) picked her parchment back up, continuing on to the letter she had been writing to Euphemia Potter, unable to help themselves from planning the Christmas festivities despite it being early November.

Deep in concentration, she startled slightly as she noticed movement coming from the corner of her eye. She looked to the side to see her boyfriend once again, although this time he was knelt before her, holding up a piece of parchment that he had hastily fashioned into a ring, coupled with a sheepish smile.

Laughing merrily, she hopped down from the windowsill, pulling him up by his jumper and kissing him passionately as she slid the piece of paper onto her finger, looking forward to the day when they were older, when they could promise this for real, knowing that they had the rest of their lives ahead of them to love each other unconditionally.

When James first stepped on that Hogwarts train, he was hoping to find a friend he could share every moment with for the next seven years. He had found that in her, a best friend, now a lover, for seven years but for so much longer. The girl with the sparkling bow turned out to be his soulmate, and he sent a prayer of thanks to the stars every day.

[jasdiary]

credit for the chibi spite goes to @/savannyan on twt ofc with minimal edits by me

Revamped Bio

“The flowers are exceptional today…Huh, Oh! you uh- You heard me?”

Name : Hyacinth Venin ( Korean name : Lee Yeong-Hui )

Nicknames : Hya, Mademoiselle Chanteuse(Rook), Lionfish(Floyd), Flower made of thorns(Ace), Cinthia(Pop Music Club)

Jp Va : Saki Miyashita

En Va : Stephanie Sheh

Kr Va : Mun Seon-Hui

Age : 16

Height : 167 cm (5’5)

Homeland : Shaftlands

Birthday : 5/5 May 5th

Zodiac sign : Taurus

Species : Human

Hair Color : Indigo Purple

Eye Color : Cornflower Blue

Gender : Female (she/her)

Sexuality : Demiromantic Bisexual

Family : Daisy Venin(Mother), Lee Su-Yeon(Father), Lee Min-Jeong(Cousin)

Occupation : Student at Night Raven College, Unpaid singer at the Mostro Lounge

Twisted From : The Poisoned Comb - Brothers Grimm’ Snow White

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School Information

Dorm : Pomefiore

School Year : 1st (Freshman)

Class : 1-B

Best Subject : Potionology

Worst Subject : Physical Training

Club : Pop Music Club

Dominant Hand : Right

Favorite Food : Blueberry Pie

Least Favorite Food : Doenjang Jjigae

Likes : Wells, Hair accessories, Speaking in her native languages

Dislikes : Uncleanliness, Holding Grudges, Forced Interaction

Hobbies : Cleaning, Singing, Crocheting

Personality : Hyacinth is quiet and stern, but that’s just how she wants to be perceived. She doesn’t want to have any close relations with anyone, Hyacinth refuses to be hurt again. She doesn’t trust that friendships last therefore why even try? However…Underneath her thorny exterior, she’s soft. She melts like ice in the sun, so she’s not very good at keeping up her front. She’s gentle and caring. She’s a liiiittle awkward, but that’s what attracts people to her in the first place! This Hyacinth has thorns, but they’re easy to remove.

Unique Magic : Wish While Working

“Hear my call, hear my plea, I’ll wish while working, now hear me sing!”

Hyacinth must sing a song of her desires into a summoned well in order for them to come true. If her song doesnt meet the criteria of said wish, She will lose her voice for the rest of the day and may never sing the song again. The well gets dusty and old quickly, so it must be properly cleaned if Wish While Working is to be used to its fullest potential.

Backstory :

Growing up in the Shaftlands wasn’t easy when you were surrounded by flashy people who thought you were just like them. Hyacinth had the looks and the mind, but her personality was less than desirable in her hometown. She was silent, not very good with people, and even came off as cold to others. So many people befriended Hyacinth for her looks, but immediately dropped her once they got to know her. All she wanted was a friend, was that REALLY too much to ask for?? Then, he came around.

Hyacinth was singing by her favorite Well in a forest near her house, and a curious Neige Leblanche followed the sound of her voice. He spoke and spoke about how lovely her voice was, how they should sing together, how they should be friends! Could Hyacinth really trust him? What if this was just a big joke planned by everyone else? Hyacinth didn’t know what to believe, but still…he came by everyday to spend time with her. She wouldn’t reveal anything about herself, but he told her everything! The day came where Neige’s curiosity spoke faster than he could think, and he asked Hyacinth…”Why don’t people like you?”…He didn’t mean for it to come out the way it did, but the damage was already done. Hyacinth started to spiral, is that what this was? a pity friendship? All her senses started to overload and it became entirely to much for her. She yelled at Neige and pushed him, intending to just shove him out of the way. Hyacinth, however, forgot that he was right in front of the well…Her shove was so hard that Neige instantly fell backwards into the well.

It wasn’t deep, but it was scary nonetheless. Hyacinth acted as fast as she could and caught Neige’s hand, but 12 year old Hyacinth wasn’t althetic in the slightest. She screamed and screamed for help, becoming more and more terrified as her grip on his hand loosened. Finally, people came rushing and rushed to pull little Neige up from the well. When asked what happened, Neige just said he was clumsy and slipped! From then on, Hyacinth freezes up at the mention of Neige. As badly as they both wish to reconcile and sing together again, Hyacinth’s guilt eats at her heart more than blot.

Random Trivia!

Hyacinth greatly dislikes unannounced touching. She’s fine with hugs and hand holding and affection, just warn her so she doesn’t freak out!

She hates the feeling of her fingers touching each other, so she tends to spread them out and wiggle them around in between writing or any action.

Hyacinth has Sensory Processing Disorder. She was diagnosed when she was 6, and her usual symptoms are more bearable now.

She’s still pretty sensitive to loud noises, so she has a pair of headphones to wear during Pop Music Club meetings (when they actually do stuff…)

She’s…somehow Ace Trappola’s girlfriend???:!: How did she fall for adhd incarnate? how did they get together?? They don’t even know. They just,,,,kiss sometimes/j

She’s the closest with Juvia and Zelda, they’re the 1st year girlies!! They go shopping and have sleepovers <3

She speaks Korean as her main language and German as her second. Her mixed accent gives her charm ok!!

[ladyloveandjustice]

Spring 2021 anime overview: Quick Takes

Now for my Spring 2021 anime thoughts! I’ve decided from now on if a season’s like, 20- to-24 episodes I’m just going to wait ‘til it’s done to review it unless I feels super passionately, so though I watched To Your Eternity (it’s good!) and MHA (eh), I’ll comment on them next time. Also, for the record, I watched the first eight eps of Joran: Princess and Snow of Blood but I dropped it because it had clearly crossed the line from entertainingly dumb to boring dumb. 

I will probably give Supercub and some other stuff a shot later, this was a stacked season! May give updates on all that later, but this is what I have for now.

ODDTAXI

Quick Summary: A mild mannered middle-aged walrus taxi driver is drawn into a case involving a missing girl, yakuza, Youtube clout-chasers, manzai comedians and idols with big secrets.

It’s rare to walk away from media and be like “that is a singular experience I will definitely never see repeated again” but ODDTAXI is definitely one of those. A tense noir thriller murder mystery starring cartoon animals that spends an entire episode detailing the one (cat)man’s very fall into darkness triggered by addiction to gacha games and an online auction for a novelty eraser? Also there’s a porcupine Yakuza who speaks entirely in rap? Also there’s tons of meandering conversations about stuff like manzai comedy and the struggle to go viral on Twitter?

Admittedly, I had a hard time getting into the first episode, the dry meandering humor not being enough to hold my attention while I was sitting still, but once I watched this while I was working out at the end of the season, I found it an easy binge. A ton of characters with dark secrets or dangerous ambitions, each with their own part to play in a tableau of intersecting events- and it all actually comes together really well.(As for the female characters, it’s a pretty dude driven story, but they do get nuanced characterization and even some good heroic moments from one of them.)

 It’s a great example of a carefully planned narrative paying off, with all the twists appropriately seeded and foreshadowed to reward viewers who paid attention. Even when it ended on a perfect “OH SHIT” moment and denied me closure, I couldn’t help but respect it. If you that all sounds interesting to you, definitely check out the first couple episodes and see if you like it- you’re likely to have a memorable, satisfying experience!

Shadows House

Quick Summary: Emilyko is a ‘living doll’ who’s told she was created to act as the ‘face’ of her shadow master, Kate. The shadows and their ‘dolls’ all reside on the mansion and are required to pass a ‘debut’ to prove they’re a good pairing. If they don’t pass, they might be disposed of. And so the mystery of the Shadow mansion grows...

This slice of gothic intrigue was my favorite of the season, tied with ODDTAXI. With an interesting premise, slightly tense undertones and a strong focus on character building and relationships, it kept me hooked the whole way through. And for any squeamish fans put off by the hype about it, don’t worry, while there are some suspenseful elements, I wouldn’t qualify it as horror. I thought the relationship between Kate and Emilyko might end up being a completely sinister one, but it’s thankfully a lot more complex than that and it’s really interesting to follow how both their characters and relationship grow. The focus of the show is, unsurprisingly, on the “dolls” slowly discovering their autonomy and personhood as they struggle under the rigid system imposed on them by the mysterious elders of this weird Victorian mansion. Can they develop a more equitable relationship with their shadow “masters” (who are also shown to suffer under this system)? There’s a lot to dig into there, and the show has the characters develop through learning to understand and appreciate each other, which is pretty heartwarming. Our hero, Emilyko, is the typical plucky ball of sunshine (they even nickname her sunshine), but she’s also shown to be clever in her own off-the-wall way and she bounces off the far more subdued and cynical Kate well, not to mention the other ‘dolls’ she ends up befriending. 

What’s more, the show spends plenty of time to developing several other character pairings and combinations, and they all have their own interesting dynamic that makes you want to see more of them. Same-gender bonds are at the forefront of this show, and many of them are ripe for queer readings (I definitely appreciated the healthy helping of ladies carrying ladies), but even outside that it’s nice to see a show where a strong, complex bond between girls is at the forefront. My only real complaints about the show are the anime original ending is noticeably a bit rushed (though it’s not too bad, and leaves room for a season 2) and I wish the animation used the whole “shadow” theme more strikingly (like the opening and endings do)- instead the colors are a bit washed out which makes the shadows blend into the background sometimes. The “debut” arc also drags a bit in places, but it makes up for it by having a lot of good character integration.

I hope to check out the (full color)! manga soon and see more of this quirky, shadowy story. There’s some physical abuse depicted, sad things happening to characters and naturally the whole “oppressive familial system” thing, but otherwise not much I can think of to warn about. I give this one a big rec, especially If you’re a fan of gothic fairytales and stories of self discovery.  

Zombie Land Saga Revenge

Quickest summary: In this sequel season, everyone’s favorite zombie idol group must claw their way back into prominence after a disastrous show- the fate of the Saga prefecture LITERALLY depends on it!

This was a fun follow-up to the first season- if you liked the first zombie-girl romp, you’ll probably enjoy this one. In fact, there were a couple areas it improved on- namely, Kotaro failed, ate crow and embarrassed himself a lot more this season, which made him more likeable (as did the fact the girls gained a lot of independence from him). This season also shed more light on what the ‘goal’ of this zombie raising project is and what kind of shit Kotaro got involved with to make this happen, and it’s appropriately off-the-wall and ridiculous. We finally got some backstory for Yugiri too! I wish it had focused on more of her interiority, but she got to be a badass in it, and it was a treat to see this zombie idol show turn into a period piece for a couple episodes (also her song ruled).

 Tae also got a cute focus episode and there was a particular SMASHING performance early on! Also That revelation last season that had the potential to turn creepy hasn’t yet, and hopefully never will. The finale was heartwarming with big hints of more drama to come- I’m definitely down for more zombie hijinks!

Vivy: Flourite Eye’s Song

Quickest Summary: A songstress AI named DIVA (nicknamed Vivy) is approached by another AI named Matsumoto, who says he’s from the future and they must work together to prevent AI exterminating all of humankind 100 years from now.

This show is absolutely gorgeous visually with some really nice action scenes, but when it comes to the story my feelings basically amount to a shrug. It’s fine! I guess! Vivy starts out as an interesting layered character- and I guess still is by the end- with her stoic but stubborn determination bouncing off her fast-talking bossy partner Matsumoto well. She never listens to him, which is delightful. The way the show took place over the course of 100 years was an interesting conceit as well. However, it bought up a lot of themes and then sort of... dropped them. For instance, Vivy interprets her mission (PRIME DIRECTIVE if you will) as protecting humans at all costs, no matter how destructive said humans are or what their fate is supposed to be, and is perfectly willing to murder her fellow androids to do this, showing she inherently thinks of androids (herself and her own people!) as less worthy. Which is a little alarming! There’s a very dramatic point in the show where they bring this up as a potential conflict for her character but then it’s sort of...dropped. Pretty much.

Actually, despite the premise, the show doesn’t dip into the “AI rights” as much as you think it would with the main theme being more about Vivy’s search to find her own creativity and discover what it means to ‘pour your heart into something’. Vivy herself doesn’t actually care if she has rights or anything. Which is in some ways fine, because ‘AI as an oppressed class’ has been done to death, but IT’S ALSO KIND OF IN THE PREMISE, so that means that the show just shrugs really hard at a lot of the questions it brings up  basically just going “humans and AI should work together probably” and that’s it. There’s a lot that feels underexplored. The antagonists in the show also either have motivations that don’t really make sense or have boring hackneyed motivations. In the finale in particular, it feels like a lot of things happen “just because” and it falls a little flat.

I also have to warn that one of the arcs focus on a robot ‘pairing’ where the dude-coded robots actions toward his partner are straight up awful and rob her of her autonomy, but it’s played like a tragic love story. I suppose you could read it differently too, but it definitely made me go ‘ew’ the story seemed to want me to sympathize with this robo dude,

Overall, I wouldn’t anti-recommend this show, it’s an all right little sci-fic romp (and definitely SUPER pretty). My favorite element was definitely the episodes where Vivy develops an entirely new (an loveable) personality, because it played with the idea of of an AI getting “rebooted” really well and interplay between her two “selves” was done really well. But there are a lot of other parts of the show that just feel...a little underexplored and empty, making me have an ‘eh’ feeling on the show overall. It’s definitely an ambitious project, and while it didn’t quite stick the landing, there’s something to be said for a show that shoots for the stars and falls short over a show that just languishes in mediocrity.

Fruits Basket The Final

Quick summary: The final season of that dramatic drama about that weird family with a zodiac curse and the girl who loves them.

It’s very weird that after not cutting a lot out, they kinda sped through some material for, you know, the finale. I guess they thought they couldn’t stretch this final arc to 26 episodes? Or weren’t cleared for another double cour? However, though there were a couple places that felt awkward, despite being a bit condensed it mostly held together pretty well for a D R A M A T I C and ultimately heartwarming conclusion. I was really disappointed they kept the part where Ritsu cut their hair for the ‘happy ending’, I thought  their intro episode not showing them in men’s clothes meant the anime had decided their presentation didn’t need to be “fixed” but WELL I GUESS NOT. That was the only big upset for me though, otherwise the adaptation went about how I expected, sticking to the source material. Furuba has a lot of bumps, from weird age gap stuff to ...gender, but it also has a lot of important feels and great character arcs. It was a gateway shoujo for many and has its important place in animanga history, so I’m glad it finally got a shiny, full adaptation.

[arofili]

elves of arda ✹ gondolindrim ✹ headcanon disclaimer ✹ @gondolinweek

          Itarillë Vanisailë was the daughter of Turukáno Ñolofinwion and Elenwë Calimiel. She was only a child when the Ñoldor marched across the Helcaraxë, a treacherous journey where she lost her mother. Her father, always a serious nér, grew even grimmer after this tragedy and kept Itarillë close to his side.           The arrival of the Noldor in Beleriand allowed for Itarillë to exercise slightly more freedom than she had been allowed on the Ice, though Turukáno still would not allow her to wander far. As she grew into adulthood, Itarillë loved and resented her father in equal measure, for he was the only parent she retained and yet denied her the agency she craved.           Itarillë went with Turukáno to Nevrast, and while she loved the sea she missed the company of those few friends who had not quailed from her father’s intimidating presence, including the young healer Meleth who charmed her to distraction. She missed also her uncle Findekáno, a gay and jovial prince who indulged her more rebellious tendencies and shielded her from Turukáno’s anxiety. Itarillë grew restless in Vinyamar, chafing against her father’s stern watch, and eventually fled secretly to visit her uncle in Dor-lómin (and Meleth, who served in his house) without Turukáno’s leave. Turukáno lost his temper dramatically when he discovered her flight, an incident that resulted in his close friend and cousin Finrod taking him away on a journey to come to terms with his fears and losses.           Turukáno was gone for a year, during which time Itarillë finally felt she could breathe and discover what kind of nís she wanted to be. Finrod arranged for her cousins Orodreth and Tyelperinquar to keep her company while Fingon, Galadriel, and Aredhel kept watch over the band of youths; the cousins engaged in many lighthearted adventures and dramatics, including teasing Orodreth over his infatuation with the Sindarin princess Amathluin, daughter of the rulers of the Mithrim Sindar. Itarillë and Meleth flirted for several months, exchanging a few kisses and love letters before they decided that they were not fated to bond, settling instead into a deep and abiding friendship that would stand the test of time.           When Finrod and Turukáno returned, the distance between father and daughter had mellowed their tempers, and they were reunited with gladness. As Itarillë, or Idril as she became known in Sindarin, came of age, Turukáno gradually relaxed his vigilance over her safety and grew to confide in her of his plans to build a city safe from the dangers of Beleriand. Idril proved an invaluable counselor as he began work on Ondolindë’s construction, and Turukáno proved his trust in her by granting her a noble House of her own once they retreated into the city’s walls.           In the safety of Tumladen, Idril reassumed her Quenya name, and was known both as the Princess of Ondolindë and the Lady of the House of the Wing. She took this symbol from the swans she had loved in Vinyamar, having learned their language from her kinswoman Galadriel, originally of the Teleri of Alqualondë. Among the folk of the Wing were Itarillë’s friend Meleth and her house-carl Hendor, a footman she had befriended during her year in Fingon’s court.           Itarillë was a skilled dancer, both as a solo performer and with her friend Meleth as a partner, and for this and her habit of walking about the streets of Ondolindë unshod, she earned the epessë Telpevontál, or Celebrindal. She was for the most part removed from the politics of her father’s court, for she held more interest in dancing and tending to the palace gardens than quarrelling with her fellow lords. Nonetheless, when she held an opinion on King Turukáno’s policies, she was certain to make her voice known, and all respected her input.           Though Itarillë was not herself a hunter, she would sometimes accompany her aunt Aredhel, Lady of the Tower of Snow, on expeditions outside the city limits. She still yearned for freedom, and though the confinement within the white stone walls of Ondolindë was less stifling for her than it was for her aunt she wished to breathe the open air and have space to herself from time to time. When Aredhel left Gondolin to visit Fingon in Dor-lómin, Itarillë half-wished to accompany her, but she knew her place was at her father’s side. Upon Aredhel’s disappearance and her later death, Itarillë was deeply grieved, for she had loved her aunt dearly.           Though Aredhel perished, her son lived, though Itarillë knew not what to make of Maeglin Lómion, the cousin she never expected to have. His apparent apathy upon the execution of his father unsettled her, and though she was naturally sympathetic to a young ellon so cruelly orphaned his oddness made her hesitate to befriend him. It helped not at all that he seemed to shy away from her, even as he grew more confident in his position as the King’s nephew and revealed a more charming and charismatic side to the people of Gondolin.           Penlod, the Lairde of both the Pillar and the Tower of Snow after Aredhel’s demise, would still at times invite Itarillë to accompany them on hunts outside of Ondolindë. On one such occasion, Penlod also extended the invitation to Maeglin, and he eagerly accepted the chance to see some of the outside world. While on this ill-fated expedition, the hunters were attacked by white wolves from the mountains, and Itarillë and Lómion were separated from the rest of the group.           Lómion suffered a great injury in defending Itarillë from the wolves, and Itarillë, who had learned some healing from Meleth, insisted on treating his wounds. When conventional methods did little to staunch the bleeding, she insisted on Singing the wound closed despite Lómion’s great reluctance. Itarillë and Lómion both were strong in ósanwë, though Itarillë’s talent lay in perceiving the minds of others and Lómion’s in shielding his mind from any who wished to peer into his thoughts; Itarillë had long been curious—and, admittedly, a little suspicious—as to what lay hidden in her cousin’s heart.           As she Sang healing into Lómion’s hröa, their fëar mingled and Itarillë was shocked to discover that Lómion’s secret was his infatuation with her despite their close kinship, now rising to the surface of his thoughts. Astonished and not a little bit horrified, Itarillë faltered, retreating from his mind and succeeding only in making his injury worse. Luckily, they were recovered by Penlod soon after, and Maeglin was tended to by more experienced healers, but the incident deeply affected both cousins. They never spoke of it again, and Itarillë distanced herself from Maeglin more than she had already, engendering further bitterness between them.           When Turukáno marched with ten thousand soldiers to fight in the Fifth Battle, he first asked Maeglin to act as regent in absence, but he insisted on accompanying the King to war. Privately, Itarillë was glad to see him gone, for she trusted her cousin less with every passing year and did not wish to leave Ondolindë in his hands. Indeed, she was offended that her father had gone to him first with this request, and offered the regency to her only after Maeglin had refused. Nevertheless, when the warriors departed, it was Itarillë who ruled the city until the King’s return.           Not long after the disaster of the Nírnaeth Arnœdiad and her father’s ascension to High King of the Noldor, a Man arrived in Gondolin with a message from Ulmo. This was Tuor, son of Huor who had dwelt a year in Ondolindë as a child, and Itarillë was fascinated by the noble bearing and easy charm about him almost as much as she was troubled by Turukáno’s refusal to heed Ulmo’s ominous warning.           Itarillë befriended Tuor, and when Turukáno—encouraged by Maeglin—dismissed her counsel again and again, she and her new companion began to work together on a secret tunnel out of the city and into the mountains. As their collaboration progressed, Itarillë found herself growing deeply fond of Tuor, and gladly accepted his advances when he requested to court her.           At first Turukáno hesitated to see their love developing, but he recalled the last words of Huor his friend: “From you and from me a new star shall arise.” Meditating on this prophecy, he at last agreed to Tuor’s proposal of marriage, giving him the green stone known as the Elessar, once a symbol of his brother’s marriage, to his future law-son as a token of approval. Tuor took the stone and commissioned the smith Enerdhil of the Hammer of Wrath to restore it to its former glory and set it into a necklace he gave as a wedding gift to Itarillë. Tuor joined his wife as the leader of her House of the Wing; in only a year’s time, their son Eärendil Ardamírë was born.           Itarillë’s suspicion of Maeglin only grew in these years, for her cousin made no secret of his distrust and jealousy of Tuor. He gifted little Eärendil a small coat made of mithril, and while she was not so foolish as to deny such a precious gift, she resolved to watch him ever more closely. In Eärendil’s sixth year, Maeglin delved deep into the mines of Anghabar for longer than he ever had before, and Itarillë guessed he was preparing for some twisted scheme.           When at last Maeglin returned to Ondolindë, he was even grimmer and harried than usual; he would often approach Itarillë in private and attempt to speak to her, but his words would die in his throat and he would flee into the darkness. Itarillë confided her worries to Tuor, and her husband thereafter made an effort to remain by her side as often as he could. Shortly before the celebration of Tarnin Austa, Maeglin for the last time caught Itarillë on her own, insisting she take as a gift a curious dagger that would glow should the Enemy come near. Deeply troubled by this veiled threat, Itarillë set aside the blade and never used it, fearing it was somehow cursed.           At last the dreadful doom for which Tuor and Itarillë had long been preparing came to pass, for on the morn of Tarnin Austa the armies of Morgoth attacked Gondolin and its great Fall began. Once more Tuor and Itarillë begged Turukáno to flee the city, but at Maeglin’s urging he instead chose to fight and attempt to hold the city. Itarillë left at once to prepare her secret way, knowing that the hidden kingdom would fall and she would need to lead its survivors to safety, while Tuor reluctantly rallied the House of the Wing to arms.           As Itarillë made her way to her tunnel with Eärendil, she was accosted by Maeglin, whose mental defenses were now tattered and torn. Seeing clearly now that he had betrayed them, Itarillë attempted to fight him off, but with a few of his folk to aid him he captured her and dragged her to the cliffside. Raving and mad, Maeglin ranted that Morgoth’s victory was inevitable and it would be a kinder fate for them all to die at his hands than be tortured by the Enemy’s servants; he seized Eärendil and would have thrown him off the walls of the city had Itarillë not resisted him. He sneered at her for forgetting the blade he gave her, and in a moment of desperation their minds touched briefly one last time.           In that moment Tuor arrived, rushing to the defense of his wife and child. Maeglin swung his blade wildly, striking little Eärendil, but his blow was in vain for the child wore the mithril coat he himself had crafted. Swiftly, Tuor broke Maeglin’s arm, recovered Eärendil, and as soon as Itarillë had the boy safely in her arms he pressed Maeglin to the edge of Caragdûr and shoved him off the edge. Thus fell Maeglin, dying the same death as his father—but Itarillë was reeling, for in their very last moment of contact Maeglin had bared his soul to her entirely, revealing that his treachery had been coerced and that he was under a spell of Morgoth, and that he had been attempting to warn her of the attack for months. It was not enough to make up for the death and destruction and doom, but Itarillë could not find it in her heart to be glad that he was dead.           Yet there was no time to process her roiling emotions, for the battle raged on. Itarillë resumed her efforts to usher the commonfolk of Ondolindë into her tunnel, and Tuor led his warriors back into the fray, leaving his friend Voronwë to guard his family. Tuor forced his way to the battle at the gate, fighting alongside Ecthelion of the Fountain, where he slew three orc-lords and five Balrogs. He was forced to retreat when the walls fell and Ecthelion was injured, and the Fountain and the Wing fell back to the Square of the King, joined by the Tree on their journey. There a bitter last stand was made, in which Ecthelion perished killing Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, and at last Turukáno saw that Gondolin was indeed fallen. He ordered Tuor to lead the retreat of those who yet lived, though despite Tuor’s pleading he refused to flee himself.           Tuor and Itarillë led the surviving exiles through their secret way, giving charge of little Eärendil to Hendor, Meleth, and Voronwë while they ensured the safety of their people. As they fled into the mountains and the city crumbled behind them, the refugees were attacked once more by a Balrog, and were saved only by the intervention of the Eagles and by the valiance of Glorfindel of the Golden Flower, who was dragged to his death by the demon he slew.           Idril and Tuor led the Gondolindrim on a long and winding journey to the Havens of Sirion, and after seeing their son married, departed out to Sea in search of Valinor where Idril had been born. There is more to their tale, and though it is filled with great sorrow it concludes in joy and family reunited against all odds, for though Arda was Marred it shall not be so forever.

[kaizokuou-ni-naru]

The Voyage So Far: Fishman Island

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

i know i’ve said it before but i really, really love the entirety of reunion arc. it might be short, but there’s just so much fun and joy packed into it after the extremely fraught and upsetting paramount war. there’s something exhilarating about seeing characters who could barely compete on the world stage two years ago not just come back from nigh-obliteration, but come back so much stronger. this is true about fishman island as a whole as well, really, which is the main reason i enjoy it so much. 

every time we get to see luffy flex his conqueror’s haki absolutely fills me with delight.

brook’s return to the crew is, i think, the most meaningful of all of them. he knew them for, what, a week or two in-universe prior to the separation at sabaody? and in the two-year interim, he becomes basically an extremely successful rock star known worldwide and selling out stadiums. and yet he doesn’t hesitate a moment to drop all of that, to declare before the world that luffy is alive and will be king, because he might have only known the strawhats for a little while but they saved him, and he’s going to see his dream through to the end with them. 

this is possibly my favorite panel in all of one piece. it just makes me so fucking happy to finally see him again! 

i’m a big fan of oda’s choice in not revealing his full design until this moment, so that we get to see him finally appear in all his glory the same moment the rest of the world does, just in time for him to explode back into the public consciousness and fuck up sentoumaru’s whole day. 

i feel like i might be repeating myself a little with regards to reunion arc, but i don’t really care- it just makes me happy. this spread where luffy finally arrives back at the sunny- look how delighted they all are to see him! look how much they missed him! the strawhats are such a family, even though at this point they’ve just spent far more time apart than they’ve ever spent together, and i just adore them so much. 

roger is one of my favorite flashback characters and definitely one of the characters i wonder about the most, and a lot of the thoughts i have about him circle back around to this panel right here. where did he get the hat? why did he give it to shanks? why did he choose to set out to sea who is he- 

i think about kuma a lot. for such a minor character his tragedy is immense, and i would really like to know more about him, why he chose to do the things he did, what his relationship with dragon and the other revolutionaries was like- whether there’s any chance he can still be saved. 

fishman island is absolutely gorgeously drawn. i’d call it absolutely the prettiest setting in the series until wano, and i think that, like wano, it’s clear oda was waiting to draw it for a very long time. the amount of detail and care put into all of the big establishing shots is really breathtaking.

one of the reason i think fishman island is so fun is because the comparatively lower stakes, combined with how much stronger the strawhats are, means they get to be at their most fully chaotic best. they take ryuuguu palace hostage almost completely unintentionally, off-screen, and then immediately start bickering and making ransom demands. i love them so much. 

i love luffy and shirahoshi’s relationship so much- i love how much she trusts him to keep her safe, and i love how easily he does it. i love how he’s brutally honest with her but never really mean and how he encourages her to open up her world and do new things even when it’s scary and dangerous, and lets her take things at her own pace. 

i think the sun pirates’ symbol is probably my favorite jolly roger in the series, both because it’s so well-established in the story, all the way back to arlong park, and because it has so much meaning. the shadow of fisher tiger’s life and death is cast over the entire story long before we even know he existed. 

the symbolic destruction and replacement of the slave brand with the rising sun is so, so cool, and the knowledge of the reasoning behind the symbol also makes it clear long before its confirmed in-story just how empty hody and his crew are. their versions of the symbol are open, with the silhouette of a decapitated human, because they have no brand to cover. 

i care so much about koala and fisher tiger, and the relationship between them as two former slaves and two deeply injured people, and how fisher tiger still manages to muster the strength to be good and gentle to her even after how much humans have hurt him. 

i think it’s really a shame that he never got to see who and what she grew up to be as a direct result of his kindness. i think he would’ve been really proud of her.

i’ve always really liked that otohime isn’t perfect. she’s not as flawless as she first appears to be- gets angry and frustrated and even drunk and shouty when her own people won’t listen to her trying to help them, and it makes her feel so much more real. her patience and pacifism feel much more admirable when we’re also shown how hard she fights to keep them up. she works to be good.

one thing i like in one piece is how much value is placed on just the value of knowledge, of writing, of reading and understanding. it’s visible in how one of the rarest powers in the world is the ability to hear the voice of all things, and in the poneglyphs, too. 

one of my favorite things about luffy is how he becomes a hero by trying not to be one. he doesn’t care about how people view him, and he never has; he really only cares about his friends and loved ones. it’s just that he’s also an incredibly easy person to befriend, and if those friends need help, then he’ll help them, regardless of the cost. most of the island-saving he does is just positive collateral to luffy’s driving desire for the people he cares about to be safe and happy. 

i have always loved strawhat group shots ever since back in east blue when the crew was just three people, and they’ve only gotten more exhilarating as the crew has expanded and full-crew shots have become less common in the new world. it’s always just awesome, seeing them all together and united for a common purpose, whether it’s saving robin in enies lobby or kicking hody’s ass here.

my friend zeph grainjew calls moments like these, where other members of the strawhats deal with a problem so luffy doesn’t have to, ‘honor guard moments’, and i really like them. they’re a display of both the loyalty luffy’s crew has for him and the trust luffy has for them right back.

the thing about shirahoshi is that she’s not a coward. she’s a crybaby and overemotional and extremely skittish (which, for the record, is fully understandable for someone who’s been the subject of constant assassination attempts since she was six), but when it comes down to it, she’s fully ready and willing to let herself get killed by the noah in order to protect her people and her country. she’s so brave.

i sometimes see people complain that the villains of fishman island are flat and boring, as though that’s not the whole point, as though the entire arc isn’t a treatise on the importance of not passing hatred down to children. of course hody and his crew are hollow, they’re the equivalent of malcontented shitty white men who become neo-nazis because it’s easier to blame minorities for their problems. 

luffy’s victory over hody itself is nothing. it’s easy, it’s only barely a challenge because they fight in the open water and luffy is a devil fruit user, and in the larger scheme of the one piece world, hody is nobody to even take notice of, no matter how grand his ambitions might be. what’s important isn’t hody’s defeat itself, it’s that the children of fishman island see luffy come when shirahoshi calls, and that at the end of the arc, they all want straw hats of their very own.  

this might genuinely be a coincidence, but i’ve always liked that fishman island, an arc all about inheritance and what we pass down to our successors, is when luffy first pulls out red hawk, an attack clearly inspired by ace. inheritance can positive or negative- the negative examples in this arc are obvious, but there are positive ones, too. we can also see it with koala and fisher tiger, or with jinbe and both of the legacies he’s shouldered. it’s up to us what we leave behind. 

for all that fishman island isn’t the strongest arc on its own, i do think it has by far one of the strongest endings. it’s an arc all about hurt and loss and how it gets passed down and renewed over generations, and it ends with a return to zero. everything’s not better, but the wound’s been cleaned and bandaged, and now it can finally, finally start to heal. 

and into the new world we go! with skies full of fire and oceans full of lightning, looking just like the entrance to hell- and all our crew can’t wait to get there. 

[caramelcal]

the girl in the red dress

a/n: sorry for my lack of motivation and content...enjoy though : )

warnings: swearing

just to clear a few things up- in this, i would suspect after Luke got obsessed w/ her, reggie was told to never speak of her, even possible threatened, bribed not to do so etc so he didn’t speak. 

and luke became so obsessed w/ her that people thought he loved her...which, if set back in the 1800s or whatever, could have been possible cause he was like crazy obsessed even after only knowing her for like 30 mins. didn’t some of them meet for like two weeks before they got married and stuff lol idk.

plus, this was written purely because i was bored, wanted to produce some content and post, this wasn’t made to be 110% accurate, yet if there are things you think i could change just drop me a wee message :) 

Luke Tag: @rachmmb @phantompogues @meanergreener 

Masterlist

not my gif

“Nana, why does everyone say that King Lucas is so unhappy?”

The older woman in the room looked up towards the small boy, a tuft of blond hair sprawled out on the top of his head, the features on his face only to be seen by the light given by the fire. She put her half-knitted blanket down onto her lap as she shuffled slightly, looking towards her grandson with a small smile.

“Why do you ask, dear?”

The small boy shuffled awkwardly, blue eyes looking towards the older woman with a curious glint in them that she knew all too well, “Well, I heard people talking about how sad he was, saying how bad it was he never got to marry the girl that he loved and I asked mama and she wouldn’t say.”

“Well, dear, there’s a legend about why King Lucas is unhappy but we can’t ever speak of it outside of these walls, alright?” She said to the young boy, who nodded eagerly in return, “Okay, have you ever heard of the girl in the red dress?”

Classical music played around them as she stood in hand with a flute of champagne in her hand. She was simply seventeen, not old enough to be drinking yet but it wasn’t like anyone would notice or care. A mask was situated proudly on her face, covering the area around her eyes and over her nose, leaving simply her lips and chin exposed, and the top of her forehead.

A red dress hugged her figure, corset pulled in uncomfortably tight, yet she was used to it. She had been wearing corsets for years. A boy stood to her side, leaning against the wall. He was a courtier, and one of the closest friends to the prince, but he was also your friend.

“Not enjoying yourself much I see,” He commented, looking over her figure with a small smirk. She turned back around to look at him, a playful smile on her lips as she rolled her eyes.

Walking closer to the boy, she flicked at a small piece of hair that strayed from the rest of his hair, trying to fix it but it simply fell back down again, “Can’t imagine you are either.”

“Only here for him, obviously. Emotional support,” His eyes are on the ballroom where the prince stands, pretty girls, possible suitors, surrounding him. He’s one of the only people without a mask on, even the girls around him have masks on.

It’s a known fact that these events were for the prince to find a possible suitor, despite wanting to marry for love. Sure, he knew that marrying to unite kingdoms was important, but he didn’t want to sell his life away to a woman that he didn’t know or like. He wanted to be with someone that he loved, he didn’t want to miss out on the experience everyone else got just because he was royalty.

“Yeah, he looks like he needs tons of emotional support,” She snorted lightly, looking over at the prince. He was basking in the attention he was given by the girls, a charming smile on his face that would win over any girl that he wanted.

“He doesn’t enjoy these nearly as much as you think he does,” The boy beside her spoke, making her roll her eyes.

“I’m sure he doesn’t,” She replied, arms crossing over her stomach yet still keeping the flute of champagne in her hand. Her back comes in contact with the wall so that she is standing beside her friend, but her eyes remain on the prince, “he sure looks like he’s suffering.”

The sarcasm that comes out of her mouth is something that the boy is used to, especially considering that he had known her for so long. A smile graced his face when he rolled his eyes, gaze briefly flickering over to her to see her staring at the prince on the dancefloor. He seemed to be finishing his conversation, itching to get away from the girl who was trying to get close to him, laughing obnoxiously loud that they can almost hear her from the other side of the ballroom.

“He’s not that bad you know.”

“Never said he was, Reg,” She sighed, dropping her arms slightly as she takes the last drink from her flute of champagne before placing it down on the table beside her. Her gaze strayed from the prince and towards her friend Reginald, who is already looking at her, “What?”

The boy doesn’t answer her question and instead continues to stare at her, making her huff out in annoyance. His lack of response urged her to ask again, “What, Reginald? Why are you looking at me like that? Is this still about the prince? Why are you so hellbent on making me befriend the entitled prick?”

“What was that, angel?” Her body went rigid from the sound of the voice behind her, making her eyes look back up to Reggie in alarm before turning around, seeing he was not going to be of any help.

She came face to face with the prince himself, who smirked down at her with a playful glint in his eyes. However, she didn’t back down like everyone else would with him and instead sent him a sarcastic smile in return, “I asked Reginald here why he was so hellbent in making me befriend an entitled prick.”

“Ohhh,” The prince reeled his head back slightly, nodding his head, and somehow his crown didn’t move, much less fall as she expected it to. It said mockingly on the top of his hair, glinting in the light provided by the overhead chandelier that probably cost more than her house.

He held his hand out with a smirk, raising an eyebrow at the younger girl clad in red as he asked, “Well would you be so courteous as to offering this entitled prick to a dance?”

His offer hung in the air as she hesitated to answer, an eyebrow raised, not sure if the prince had ulterior motives. That’s all she could have expected, given that she did call him an entitled prick. His hand never wavered nor did his smirk, eyes glinting as the girl’s green eyes met his.

Slowly, with a discrete nudge from Reggie, she slipped her hand into his and was whisked into the middle of the room, one hand at the crook of the Prince’s elbow and the other clasped in his other hand. He smiled down at her, giving her the same smile that he gave every girl but he knew this wouldn’t make her swoon as it did everyone else.

She wasn’t worshipping the ground he walked on unlike those other girls, but he always did like a challenge.

They moved expertly to the music and she kept up with his every move, challenging the grueling lessons that he had experienced to be good at ballroom dancing, making him thoroughly surprised. He had been expecting her to fall, to step on his newly polished dress shoes, to trip over her own crimson dress but she didn’t. She made it look easy, in fact.

“I’m surprised,” He commented, eyebrows raised as his eyes traveled down towards her high heel clad feet moving expertly. Her eyes looked up to meet his, noticing the smirk on his lips, “you’re quite good at this for a peasant.”

“Whoever said I was a peasant?”

He didn’t reply as she spun out, but he kept her hand clasped in his. Everyone’s eyes were on them, despite a few other people dancing. This girl was one they had never seen before, dancing with their beloved prince but he hardly paid any mind to the people that surrounded them and instead kept laser-focused on the brunette girl who spun back towards him.

She, however, was more bothered by their gaze, considering she wasn’t used to it. Despite her face being covered by a mask and providing a little protection to her identity, she was used to slipping into the shadows, going unnoticed by everyone. Yet now, she was standing in the middle of the ballroom with the prince, and everyone’s eyes on them as they danced to the music.

No one could hear them, and that somehow made their conversations even more exhilarating. Everyone was watching, but had no idea what was going on.

“Who are you?” He couldn’t help but ask the question that he had floating around in his head from the moment he caught sight of her standing beside Reginald, one of his closest advisors, talking like they were old friends. Ever since he had seen her, he had been itching to get away from the people that tried to strike up a conversation, his curiosity getting the best of him.

It was safe to say he was enraptured by her, not only how she looked in that incredibly flattering red dress or the way she presented herself, but the way that she wasn’t putty in his hands; not yet, anyway. He couldn’t see most of her face, and instead only seen the way her green eyes glowed under the chandelier’s light, and the way her lips curved into a smirk.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, your highness?”

“So we’re at your highness now, and not entitled prick, are we?” His question was taunting, but an amused tone underlined his words as he smirked down at her.

“We could always go back,” The girl suggested, a piece of her perfectly curled brown hair falling in front of her face.

He didn’t even think twice as he let go of her hand, using his thumb to wipe the hair out and away from her face, her green eyes peering up to him with uncertainty. They weren’t dancing anymore, and simply were standing in the middle of the ballroom with everyone’s eyes on them. He could see from the corner of his eye his mother coming across to get him, to introduce him to more possible brides now that he had had his fun.

“Personally, I like the way you say your highness, but I think Prince Lucas would sound even better,” He made no move to increase the distance between them, chests almost touching as his hand fell from her face and down to her shoulder, his other hand still tightened securely around her waist, “But you can only call me that if I get your name, angel.”

“Too bad you won’t find out, the music stopped minutes ago and the queen has almost reached us,” Just before he can tighten his hold on the shorter girl she slipped through his hold, stepping back with a smirk, “Have a nice night, prince Lucas.”

She didn’t look back as she walked away coolly, back off to the side where Reginald still stood. Even when the queen arrived beside her son, who now stood by himself on the dance floor, his eyes remained on the girl’s figure, not even noticing his mother was talking to him until he was whisked away and taken off to other people by her.

Even when he continued to go through his evening, meeting many more possible future wives and chatting up a conversation he couldn’t help but let his eyes wander back over to the girl. In fact, his thoughts never strayed once from her the entire evening, or for the several weeks after. He ran through their conversation, both on and off the ballroom floor, trying to pick at any possible clues to who she was, where she could be, or anything about her whatsoever.

Reginald was no help considering Lucas hadn’t seen him since the event but Lucas couldn’t help himself but be overcome with thoughts about her and without any new leads, he became more and more frustrated as the time went on. He couldn’t explain who she was, because there was no way to explain; they wouldn’t know who she was.

From his obsession grew whispers, rumors even, about the girl in the red dress. After he had asked so many people about her, these whispers grew and people believed that prince Lucas was in love and even ten, fifteen, twenty years later, people still talked about her. About the girl that the prince, now king, would have married if she didn’t disappear.

She became a legend, one that King Lucas was forbidden to talk about and one that got his wife, Queen Georgina, became furious about simply at the mention of the younger girl. It was a known fact that King Lucas wasn’t happy in his marriage with the Queen, but one they also could never talk about. He never got to marry for love, and instead had to marry to unite kingdoms as an allegiance to help the Queen’s kingdom from war.

So after the marriage of the royal couple, the girl in the red dress became a murmur, spoke about only behind closed doors, stories that the people in the kingdom would tell the children when they asked why King Lucas was so miserable.

“Well, it all started with the girl in the red dress...”

[percabethfiles]

Charlie

Uh... Hello? Anybody still here? I haven't been around in years and years. But I keep my fandoms stored in some corner of my brain waiting for something to tug them out. And of all things this time it was Taylor Swift re-releasing her old songs, because I used to imagine so many percabeth scenes listening to "Fearless". So have this little something that's been sitting unfinished in my archives for years now.

Remember that time Percy saw Sadie Kane and thought “Hey, this is what mine and Annabeth’s daughter would look like”? Yes.

(Also there are small nods to that fic I wrote about Logan, Hidden Heritage, but I've been meaning to re-write it someday because there were SO MANY PLOT HOLES omg)

When they find out it’s a girl it’s a bit too soon to know for sure, or so the doctor tells them. They’ll have to wait for the next appointment to know for certain. “So don’t go buying any tiny dresses yet,” he jokes and they laugh along, but they’ve been together for approximately eighteen years now, they can tell what the other’s thinking with a glance and the ecstatic grin that breaks through their lips lets him know they’re on the same page. Too late. They’re already thinking plush bow and arrows and a Merida costume for her first Halloween.

Percy tries to keep his cool. As the weeks progress, he tries not to get his hopes up, but in his heart he knows already. They hadn’t really had a preference before, they’d been too happy knowing their baby was fully human and had all its limbs (with the number of deities they’d pissed off, you never knew), but a little girl? It feels right after their two boys, it feels like their family will be complete.

(He thinks about a slight blonde girl with streaked hair and a British accent dropping from the sky on a magic camel, remembers thinking “if Annabeth and I had a daughter…” and his chest squeezes tight with happiness so raw he has a little trouble breathing)

When the doctor beams at them next appointment and says “Congratulations, Jackson family, it really is a girl,” he’s not surprised, but no less elated. He doesn’t hear the lame joke about Jackson Five, he’s too busy trying to be a manly man and not burst into tears because he’s going to have a daughter. When Annabeth’s in the other room paying for the appointment, and he’s waiting for the doctor to print the really impressive high tech 3D picture of the ultrasound, the man asks him “So did you go ahead and buy a tiny dress anyway?”

Percy blushes.

The man shakes his head in amusement. “Every time”.

His work colleagues, proud dads of little girls themselves, try to terrorize him with tales of tea parties and future boyfriends, and Percy thinks somewhere in the middle of all that teasing they mean well, but really, he’s mostly annoyed. It’s not like he’s new to parenthood, he’s got two sons already and they seem to be turning out okay, and before, when Logan and Nathan were just a nice dream for the future, there was Estelle, the little sister Percy had never expected, but loved to bits all the same.

And then Charlie is born.

She’s tiny, warm and pink, all curled up in her yellow cable-knit blanket, a tuft of blonde hair peeking out of a tiny, tiny beanie, features scrunched into the most adorable variation of a grumpy face. He’s not new to parenthood, he’s been here twice before, but the rush of affection and protectiveness and awe and raw love is just as genuine. He’s smiling like a dork, can’t seem to stop, walking from side to side, avidly searching her traits. She’s bigger than Nate was when he’d been born, but smaller than Logan. Her hair was light, like Nate’s, would it stay blonde or darken with time? Would her eyes be like his or Annabeth’s? And oh, she had her mother’s nose (they all did).

It never fails to amaze him how such a small, vulnerable being can shake up his whole world until it’s made a space for her. And he’s done this before, he’s no first time sailor this time, he’d thought he had it all under control. But she blinks and looks up at him with half-lidded eyes and a frowny face and—they’re green. Her eyes are the blue-green Logan’s are, Percy’s are.

(He’s got two sons who are his life, and he does love all his children equally, but holding his daughter for the first time, he thinks he understands his friends’ warnings. He doesn’t love her more, it’s just… different. It’s special.)

When he goes back to work, Nick takes one look at him and bursts into laughter. He claps him on the shoulder in commiseration.

“I told you.”

He’s completely wrapped around her finger already.

It’s not too different, he finds out. Especially having been pre-trained by Estelle. He’s got to brush up on his Disney princess knowledge, and hair braiding skills. He hasn’t gotten much better at color coordinating the polka dotted bows and tiny shoes, but Charlie is really forgiving. She is a very happy baby, much happier and easy going than any of the boys had been.

She’s also fucking crazy.

She is smaller and skinnier than her brothers, likes to wear frilly dresses and talk to plush animals and dance around the house in a pink tutu, but she’s wild. She never learned to crawl, just held on to the couch until she was wobbling on two feet, and it seemed like the very next day she was running across the house, the mall, the park, and if he turned his eyes away for one second, she was shooting off in the streets and nearly getting run over.

He’d found her dangling from the kitchen cabinets, trying to reach the cowering cat. She had a phase when she thought she could fly and she would climb furniture and stairs and the window sill and just… Launch herself into the air expecting her flying powers to manifest spontaneously. If they hadn’t been trying to raise them away from the whole mythological world, he would have sat her down and clarified that she had the wrong Olympian Grandparent in mind. She might have had more luck jumping into the ocean.

She had a way to jut out her lower lip, and turn those big green eyes on him that could render his every effort to be a responsible parental presence useless.

Besides, she was so funny. He could never muster enough anger to discipline her, because if he found her on the kitchen table covered in peanut butter, somehow sporting a very sticky Mohawk, and looking entirely unapologetic, well, he just couldn’t stop laughing.

One day he’s coming home from work and he hasn’t even pulled the key from the lock when Charlie calls out ‘you’re back daddy,’ in what sounds vaguely like a new jersey accent. He finds her sitting on the floor of the living room, drowning in one of Annabeth’s bathrobes, pink plastic barbie sunglasses on, holding a pooh bear sippy cup with one hand and a pinky stretched out.

“Charlie, what are you doing?”

“It’s wine Wednesday, daddy.”

“It’s what?”

“Wine Wednesday.”

He had half a mind to check if her sippy cup actually contained wine because they hid their alcohol way up in the cabinets she can’t reach but that girl could climb like a monkey. He knows he should follow that remark up with some kind of questioning of where she’d even heard of ‘wine Wednesdays’ and then explain that kids don’t drink wine or some other kind of responsible parent speech, but a sudden burst of incredulous laughter bubbles up in his throat and he takes refuge in the kitchen, lest he encourages her behavior.

He finds Annabeth there, hand over her mouth, clearly in stitches over their daughter’s performance. He wants to question if she gave her permission to wear her bathrobe but finding his wife nearly doubled over in silent laughter in the kitchen is too much and he finally lets out the guffaw he’d been trying to hold on to.

It’s not the first time Charlie leaves them breathless with laughter, and he’s almost scared of what she’s going to cook up in the future.

Charlie is a hellion.

There isn’t one person safe from her pranks, but she’s so adorable she hardly ever catches hell for it, and she’s learning to use it in her favor – thankfully, just in time for her parents to develop immunity to her puppy eyes. And she’s… difficult, yes, but not always, and not in a terrible way. For all her climbing the roof, organizing illegal cookie sales, getting in fights with her classmates, she’s not a bad kid. She’s got Percy’s penchant for befriending the kids no one wants to go near, and defending her ragtag team of losers. She’s loyal to a fault, and it gets her in trouble often.

She and Nate have epic jealousy fights over everything, including – but not limited to – Logan’s attention, the crayons, the biggest piece of cake and all the videogame characters in the world are not enough, they will always want whatever the other picked. It gives them many, many headaches. Logan, on the other hand, positively spoils her, and whenever Charlie gets in trouble they can be sure to find her hiding behind her big brother while he gives them this solemn look and says “It’s ok, mom and dad, Charlie promises she won’t do it again. We’ve talked.”

When the whole “Logan being attacked by a dracanae in school and thus finding out his Olympian heritage” debacle came to pass, and they started frequenting camp again, there was nowhere in the entire Camp Charlie would rather be than the stables. She’d spend hours there with the Aphrodite kids, brushing the pegasi and talking to them endlessly about all her classmates and her friends, and her dolls, and her new dress, and the new book grandma gave her. It was all really cute until Percy realized the pegasi were talking back, and she fully understood their replies.

And it’s funny, really, because Logan had taken after Percy, to a point where bathing him had been hard as a child because he tended to stay dry in the tub, and Nathan was Annabeth to a T, but Charlie was a perfect mix of them both.

He guesses it makes sense it would be so explosive.

When Charlie is twelve, she gets kicked out of school.

Percy is not overly worried about it himself – the number of schools he’d been kicked out of reached double digits, and this was only her first – but he is worried about how she will feel. Getting the boot from a place that’s housed you for years, where your friends are, where everyone already knows you and having to start over is never pleasant, no matter how used to it you were.

He’d expected the school to have gotten tired of all her pranks and misbehaving, which was fair, he guessed. But when Annabeth comes home from the meeting with the school director, she is seething, and not at their daughter. Charlie is angry too. In fact, it’s the first time he’s ever seen his daughter well and truly pissed off. The two of them are a sight for nightmares, both blondes standing side by side ranting with righteous fury, they look ready to start a revolution. What he gets from her angry snarls and Charlie’s rushed rambling is that Charlie had talked back to a teacher that was picking on the autistic kid and demeaning the thirteen year old who was repeating sixth grade.

She’d called him a brain-washing small minded overgrown bully who, he was quoting, didn’t get enough love from his parents.

And Percy is so proud his eyes even get a little misty.

Because he’s getting old and sentimental and raising kids is very hard. No one knows what they’re doing, not one person, not even the fancy psychologists with those books on raising perfect, well rounded, high-achieving members of society that Annabeth insisted on reading when she was pregnant with Logan. You do your best and you hope for the best, and you don’t know what you get until it’s basically too late to do anything about it. And even if he did have the best mom in the history of the entire world to draw example from, he was also half of an absent Olympian father whose heritage condemned him to dance in and out of battlefields half his life.

He’s always been terrified of being a crap father.

He looks at Charlie cussing out with every mild version of actual cuss words, stalking around the kitchen like a little lioness in a cage, furious at the unfairness of the whole situation, caring less about being expelled and more about who was going to defend her friends from that awful teacher when she’s gone.

His daughter is only twelve, but she’s already so brave, such a force of nature. She won’t stand for injustice, and she won’t take insult lying down. And she’s so kind. She’s growing up, and the person she is slowly turning out to be… is good.

And something in his heart shifts and settles down, smooths over old fears and anxious thoughts.

Percy doesn’t mean to brag, but he thinks he’s not doing half bad as a parent.

[autodiscothings]

Hello! I am quite new to your page and I love how you draw Kolyat. ♥️ Also, would you care to share some details about your characters?

I’d love to, thanks for asking! Funnily enough, I did a personality quiz for them recently, so I can just copy/paste the results here. Most of my content for Mass Effect is centred around Kolyat Krios and Oriana Lawson: 

I write them here: [AO3] I draw them here: [ART TAG]

Everything I do with them is post-war, and them as adults in their 20s navigating the shit heap that is a broken, post-destroy galaxy, and how they cope with their own traumas. They both want to help rebuild, but do it different ways.

KOLYAT KRIOS

Kolyat Krios has a lot to live up to and change, but prefers to do it on his terms.

Kolyat is a methodical man, and gentle and patient with the people who need it most. He possesses an unexpected depth of emotional intelligence, and becomes a protector of the small and the strays, from a galaxy that often forgets about them.

While Kolyat can be even-keeled, if he is left to stew in his feelings, his anger will get the better of him, and he will react. He has a reputation for salt, and for his surliness; he also has a tendency to hide himself from others as a defence mechanism, and is slow to trust.

ORIANA ‘ORI’ LEE

You might know her as Oriana Lawson, but she’ll introduce herself as Ori Lee.

Ori is a warm, compassionate soul who loves to be around other people and enjoys her work as a colony developer/civil engineer for Kellam Industries. She is quick-witted and smart, and funny with it; her taste in fashion and makeup is impeccable, as is her comic timing.

She is very good at getting to know you, but you don’t get to know her. Ori keeps her cards to her chest, and only lets her guard down around people she trusts completely, and has a tendency to care too much about what others think about her.

FISH (the cat)

Queen of everything, ruler of them all- well, maybe just Kolyat’s apartment for now.

Fish is a foul-tempered gremlin of a tabby cat, with white socks and a white belly. Her iron paw rules the roost of her home; she graciously lets others share it. Fish loves her food, her nap spots, and her soft piles of things to sleep on. She likes listening to music, and watching the traffic outside of her window.

She is a former stray with both PTSD and trust issues, and for this reason she lashes out without thinking, and needs her own space. When she trusts though, she really trusts. It will take her forever to do it, but once you win her heart, she’ll love you forever.

BATESEDA ‘Bats’ T’LORI

The man, the myth, and the almost legend- at least, in his mind.

Bats was always told he had potential, and rather than stay with the Huntress squad who trained him, Bats left for the Citadel. He is a firecracker of a man who makes everything he does seem fun, always ready to crack something- a joke, his glass, a skull. Pour another one out, he has stories to tell, and they’re mostly true- if he remembers them right.

He has a tendency to go through frequent bed partners, and never keeps anyone around for long. Despite the crooked smile and easy living, there is an air of melancholy around Bats he is reluctant to explain, but something shows through the cracks every now and then. He will take things too far -the jokes, his drinking, his anger- and fall down the holes he put himself in. One day he will struggle to get back out of it.

ARJUN PATEL

A man who borders the line between squad dad and gross uncle, Patel is a treasure for any crew to have.

Patel is content to stay in the background, and is more savvy than he lets on, willing to play the bumbling, easy-going fool if it’ll get him what he wants. He is essentially Columbo with a cooking habit, but is willing to share his snacks- if he likes you, and that doesn’t take much. He is a man with quiet passions, and they shine brightly when he gets talking; his food, his wife and daughter, his interest in history… ask him about them, and his enthusiasm will be boundless- much like his appetite.

He has a tendency to be lazy, if he can get away with it. Patel can also overspill the TMI details of his life even if you’ve heard them before, without a clue he’s crossed a line.

SISO VITACUS

Like most of the squad, Vitacus came to the Citadel for a new life, and another shot of something. He recently split from his bootcamp boyfriend, and is really not looking for anything serious- at least, not at the moment. Vitacus is neither as funny as Bats, as serious as Kolyat or as happy as Patel, but he fits right in as the jack of all trades of the squad, content to play everyone’s middle man and all rounder.

He has a reputation for awful, neon suits, a love of dancing and shitty action movies, as well as a fondness for lurid drinks, despite looking like the kind of man who likes none of these things from first glance. Vitacus is a tall, stocky bruiser of a man, even for a turian.

Vitacus can also be a pushover and too laidback for his own good, and can drift along with the crowd than go against it. He’s unsure why he’s like this, but as far as he’s concerned, ending up in law enforcement is already an oddity- all his family are engineers and scientists.

BRATHAN ‘Brath’ SEKET

If ever there was a man you were unsure of -even after knowing him for years- it’s Brath. The usual rags to riches story, heavy on the rags; Brath fled the grasp of his abusive family as soon as he was able to, taking on jobs across the Terminus until he built up enough of a reputation as a gun for hire.

He got his money from less than savoury sources to begin with, but absolutely no slavery. He has a personal honor code he will hold the rest of the galaxy to, even if you don’t know the rules. Brath might give off the appearance of loving luxuries and living well, but to him it’s just greasepaint and stage costumes; he’s learning that on the Citadel, a Terminus boy like him will never fit in, anyway- the four eyes see to that.

He will hold a grudge for decades, and it will smoulder, too. Brath can be incredibly petty and keep receipts, and if things don’t go his way, he will make them- for better or for worse.

LAETITIA PHALIA

A woman with a firm grip of the ins and outs of both her work and her neighbourhood, Phalia is the person to know when you need something, and if you don’t she’ll soon tell you, anyway.

She looks strict, but only when she needs to be. Phalia is just busy! There’s always some charity, pot luck, clawball practise, afterschool homework club, Galactic Scout cookie drive, donation pickup and volunteer work activity happening in her life. Phalia is always doing something, despite a full-time job and being a single parent. She gives and gives, because that’s what she expects people to do, the kind of person who will give you her coat and freeze.

There is only so much of herself she can give away. Phalia has had the very worst happen to her in her life, and she survives by constantly moving, not looking back. She just needs to remind herself from time to time she deserves to be taken care of too, and can rest every now and then. Sometimes Phalia also has a tendency to hold people to the same standards she has, but is getting better at learning the difference.

DEREK

It's Derek, innit? Just Derek. Not his real name of course, but he thought it sounded fancy. He has a full salarian name, but his clan mostly ignore his existence - except when they want money.

The eponymous Derek has a fairly sweet soul, but it’s one slowly corrupting under a mantle of the music industry and celebrity. He has an addict’s personality, and bounces from fixation from fixation- but music will always remain a constant. He is good at what he does too; his production skills are perceptively complicated, and he is an absolute master at looping and finding rich, interesting samples; there is a reason he is in demand both as a DJ and as a producer.

Derek doesn’t have the best social skills, despite befriending people easily. He’ll pick them up and drop them, and will often self-medicate his mistakes. His ego can get him into trouble too, but finding real friends -and not hangers on- will help him realise he’s not the centre of the universe.

***

(The quiz is [HERE] f you want to see which one you got.)

[louiseleblancdiggory]

okay but what about a 'The Way I Loved You' by TS Au for Rowaelin with Punk!Rowan?? pretty please??

A/N: The way I rushed to post this. I have a bunch of fanfics to write before October is over, and now that I’m finally not sick anymore, I’ve been trying to rush and write them but this prompt.....

The Way I Loved You

--

“So I’ll pick you up at seven, right?”

Aelin smiled, nodding. “Yeah, seven is perfect.”

Chaol smiled back, putting a hand on her back as he bent down to kiss her. Even though she knew she shouldn’t, Aelin tensed slightly. She had been dating Chaol for three months now, and it wasn’t that kissing him made her uncomfortable, it was just different.

For two and a half years, she had been used to kissing a different guy.

A guy she could feel the stare at the back of her head.

Chaol withdrew, still smiling at her. Aelin forced a smile to appear on her lips, giving him a quick peck on the lips before taking a step back. She needed to go to her class, and even though she didn’t let herself turn around to confirm, she knew Rowan was still staring at her.

Part of her could understand the staring. They had broken up four months ago, and Aelin rushed to find someone new. Not to throw it at his face that she could, but just because she had felt so fucking bad at the end of their relationship, that she figured that the best cure was to jump right back at another one. It kinda worked most of the time. The other part of her, the part that felt like the solution wasn’t working out perfectly, wished he would just start ignoring her existence. Would stop looking at her, being in the same room that she was.

Preferably, stop being in the same continent that she was.

As she left the senior lounge— pointedly not looking back— she let her mind wander to months and months back when all this tension didn’t exist. Aelin had known Rowan since forever. He had been at her class from elementary school until high school, and she knew that they were also going to the same college when they graduated in two months. Until sophomore year of high school, though, Aelin had never exchanged more than three words with him. They had been different at everything their entire lives, and so both never showed any interest in having a single conversation with one another. In elementary school, while Aelin focused on the art classes, Rowan only ever showed a human reaction during music class. In middle school while she was part of every single club she could find, Rowan had been too busy avoiding every club that could find him. In high school, while Aelin dedicated her life to her grades, being cheer captain and part of the volleyball team, Rowan simply worked towards paying off his motorcycle, working at Lorcan’s dad’s mechanic shop, and almost getting arrested every now and then.

Honestly, it had been a miracle that they even knew about each other’s existence.

The only reason they actually met was because of Chemistry. Aelin had absolute no interest in the subject, but since her mother had been bothering her to take it, she relented during her second year of high school. As she had chosen to take it in advanced placement, they had a whole period of the normal class plus the addition of half a period of laboratory. To her chagrin at the time, she got paired up for the labs with the single person in the whole class she wasn’t friends with.

Rowan fucking Whitethorn.

She found some comfort in realizing that he was just as excited to work with her as she was to work with him, but since he was always polite during the labs, she didn’t find a reason to dislike him. He was coldly neutral, and, surprisingly, a fucking genius. If it hadn’t been for him, Aelin would have bombed every single lab, quiz and test they had in that godforsaken class.

Despite both of their reputations, Aelin found out that she had more in common with him than it looked, and that she also liked him a lot more than she would have ever thought. When comfortable around people, he was actually pretty chill and funny. One of the biggest things that made her befriend him, though, was the fact that he didn’t fucking care about anything that didn’t concern him. Rumors? He was too busy for that. Reputations? Nope. Social status? Couldn’t care less.

While so many people in the school saw her as an athletic bimbo, Rowan met her with absolute 0 preconceptions because he never fucking cared about them. Since the beginning, he met Aelin for who she really was, and not the person everyone at the school had a different perception of.

Maybe this was one of the reasons she fell so deeply in love with him.

Things had been normalish. They didn’t know about each other, they met, became friends and then started dating. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

The dating though.

Dating Rowan had been… wild. Not in the bad sense, no. It had been like a roller-coaster all the time. Like driving down an empty highway at 150 per hour, windows open, and screaming your lungs out. It had been fun, and it had made her feel so alive that she could still feel it when she closed her eyes. It had made her blood boil, every single nerve jump. And yet, at the same time, being with him never made her feel so calm, so comfortable. Rowan was what shook her world, but also what made her feel steady.

Loving Rowan Whitethorn had been the biggest adventure of her life.

Their relationship had been the perfect mixture of actual love and burning passion.

The passion was sometimes almost blinding, and it made her do things she would have never though she’d have the courage to do. Rowan encouraged her to push her limits— always safely, he’d make sure of that—, and Aelin enjoyed her life to the maximum. They went on a trip across the east coast on his motorcycle during the summer, went bungee jumping at the neighboring state to celebrate his birthday, and skydiving to celebrate hers. Aelin had asked her dad once, at two in the morning, to take her to the police station to bail Rowan out after he punched someone hard enough to make the other guy black out. The fact Aelin’s dad hadn’t killed her and Rowan after it had been a miracle.

The love, though, the love was her favorite part. Loving Rowan was so easy and so different from what she thought loving someone would be. She always thought that love was that blinding emotion, that easy thing that made you burn from inside out, but no. That was passion, and while it was good, love was… more. Loving him had been like sitting at a beach in the end of the afternoon, the wind on her face and the disappearing sun still warming your skin. Loving hadn’t make her feel like combusting, it had made her feel like home. It wasn’t always easy to be in love all the time, but she also found out that the hardships made part of loving.

Love, she learned, was choosing someone every day, the good and the bad, even when you didn’t feel like it. Love wasn’t always perfect, but it was always worth it.

But they fought. Oh, they fought a lot. Despite Rowan’s careless behavior, he was just as stubborn as she was. Their fights had always been filled with screaming, always making her blood boil in a different way. Even when fighting with him, Aelin had never felt more alive. In the end, however, most of their fights were stupid. They never fought about serious shit, and the screaming matches were usually about fucking nothing. They both had been too stubborn to see this, too stubborn to admit that both were usually wrong

The denial was what broke everything.

Aelin didn’t think Rowan would actually think they were breaking up. It was another one of their stupid screaming matches, and Aelin blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. She had been too proud to say she didn’t mean it, and so things ended because of nothing.

She could still see the whole scene. Could still see Rowan going still, narrowing his eyes and then shrugging as if it was nothing. Could still see him leaving. Could still hear her heart breaking. She knew since that instant that she should have gone after him.

She didn’t. He should have known.

And now he would be staring at her every now and then, would be like a fucking buzzard over her life.

“Hello, Earth to Aelin.” She felt a hand on her shoulder, a hand snapping its fingers in front of her face. She snapped back to reality, raising her head to stare at her cousin’s face. Her best friend, Lysandra, was by his side, staring at her with as much concern as Aedion was. “You ok?”

Aelin shook away from his grip, forcing a smile to her lips. “Never been better.”

————

Aelin waved Chaol goodbye, waiting until his car left her driveway to get inside the house.

She sighed, dropping her shoes down as she walked quietly to the kitchen. It was almost two in the morning, and she didn’t want to wake her parents.

Despite her efforts to keep quiet, she couldn’t help the scream that left her mouth when she turned on one of the kitchen lights and saw her father sitting there.

She put a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. “What the hell?”

“Was that necessary?” Rhoe asked, a smirk on his face.

Aelin scowled. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

“Makes it all more dramatic.” Her dad shrugged, and Aelin rolled her eyes. She walked to one of the cabinets, taking out a bottle of water. “Aelin.”

She turned at her father’s tone, frowning when she saw his expression. “You’re the one that said no curfew.”

Rhoe shook his head, patting the seat by his side. “Come here, firefly.”

Aelin set the bottle down, cautiously sitting by her father’s side. He had a strange expression on his face, body somewhat tense. “What happened?”

“You like Chaol?”

Aelin frowned at the question, scoffing a little. “Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.”

“You used to have a different boyfriend.” Her dad said, and Aelin understood what the conversation was about.

“Seriously, dad?” She went on the defensive immediately, crossing her arms. “That was months ago. And I thought you didn’t even like Rowan.”

Rhoe actually laughed, a serene smile on his face. “Nah, I actually liked the kid. Despite the motorcycle, the black clothes, constant scowl, and the criminal record, he was a nice guy. And he made you happy. What else a father could wish?”

“Someone who doesn’t have a criminal record?”

Rhoe shrugged. “It’s not like I didn’t agree with him that time I had to take you to bail him out. Some guy harassed Lysandra, Rowan punched them.”

“You sound almost appreciative.” Aelin said, still on the defensive even though a small part of her smiled internally.

Rhoe smiled knowingly. “I am.”

Aelin scoffed, but didn’t say nothing in return. Her father let her gather her thoughts, and both sat in silence for a few minutes before Aelin said quietly. “Chaol is a nice guy.”

Her dad nodded. “He is.”

“He seems easy to love.”

Rhoe got up, pressing a kiss to his daughter’s hair. “No one is easy to love, firefly. That’s one of the main points of loving. We value it so much because it is hard to find, because it is hard to keep.” Aelin raised her head to look at her dad, and he smiled at her. “I’m not telling you what to do. You’re grown enough to take your own decisions. I’m also not telling you to go to a bad relationship, not in the slightest. If I thought something was harmful to you, I’d be the first intervening. But have in mind that people fight sometimes. Gods, me and your mother when we were younger? Like fucking cat and dog.”

Aelin huffed a laugh, vaguely remembering the stories her parents told her.

“But,” Rhoe continued. “It gets better with time, and I think you know that. You get more mature, learn to admit when you’re wrong. I remember when you and Rowan were younger and fought about everything, and yet it got better and better with time. The two of you barely argued during the last year.”

“I know.” Aelin whispered, resting her face against her father’s chest. He hugged her, rubbing her back like he used to when she was younger. She knew that he was right. Despite the fact that she argued a lot with Rowan, Aelin also knew that it had gotten much better. They fought less, and the reason of the arguments never got worse. It was usually childish and they’d laugh about it in the following morning. “I didn’t mean to actually break up with him. I never though he’d think I would break up with him over something so stupid.”

Even though she was whispering, Rhoe heard her. “I know.”

“And I should have told him that.”

“Yes, you should have.”

“I was wrong.”

“You were.”

“I’m not going back to him, though.” Aelin said, some stubbornness still in her. Rowan had absolutely left that day, and didn’t give her the chance to explain afterwards. They were apart for her fault, yes, but he wasn’t the saint in all this.

Rhoe groaned. “Really, Ace?”

Aelin crossed her arms. “He was very comfortable with the breakup. Why should I bother?”

“This whole conversation was for nothing?” Her dad crossed his arms, shaking his head.

“Not for nothing. I know now that I need to stop things with Chaol. I shouldn’t have even started dating him if I wasn’t going to commit completely.” Aelin raised her head to look at her dad. “Gosh, I’m a terrible person.”

“No, you’re young. Young people fuck up sometimes.” Rhoe kissed her head one more time before he started to walk out of the kitchen. He didn’t try to bring up going back to Rowan again, knowing that it would only make her more keen on not doing so. “But now that you recognize this, I hope you fix it. I didn’t raise you to be a liar, let that be by lying to others or to yourself.”

“Gods, you could have ended this conversation a little more lightly.”

Rhoe turned his face around, smiling at her. “Fix it, firefly.”

————

“Aelin? What happened? I left you at your house twenty minutes ago.” Chaol said, rubbing his eyes. He obviously was going to sleep already, and Aelin felt bad about doing this in the middle of the night but she had to get everything done already.

“I can’t do this.” She blurted out, an apologetic look on her face. “I’m so sorry.”

“What?”

“This. Us.” She signaled in between them. “I juts can’t.”

Chaol took a step forward, a frown on his face. “We’re going too fast? I can go in whatever pace you want but—“

“I know this is gonna sound like a shit excuse but it’s really not you, it’s me.” She said, cringing. It was terrible that she used the oldest breaking up method in the book, but it was true.

“Really, Aelin?” He crossed his arms, face morphing into anger. “This bullshit excuse?”

“I understand you’re mad, but I’m really, really sorry. I don’t want to lead you on, and you’re so nice and deserves someone who is completely willing to make the relationship work.” Aelin said pleadingly. “It’s not anything you did or didn’t do, I’m just—“

She wanted to feel as if her heart was breaking, but not even that. Instead, she was feeling relieved. The feeling angered her to no end. She should have been able to fall in love with a perfectly nice and calm guy, but Rowan’s presence had become like a ghost in her life and not even that was possible anymore.

“Not interested.” He finished, voice full of scorn. “If I’m oh so nice, why are you breaking up with me?”

“I—“ Aelin hesitated, not wanting to even mention Rowan. “I just can’t. I can’t be with you.”

“With me specifically.” Chaol said, grounding his jaw. After a second of silence, he let out an incredulous laugh. “Oh, I should have expected that. I’m the very nice guy, and yet you prefer the fucking asshole that Whitethorn is.”

Aelin felt a pang of anger. Of course Cahol would think that. “I’m really sorry. You are a nice guy, it’s really nothing with you.”

“Why don’t you just leave?” Chaol said, already closing the door. “And stay away from me.”

Aelin had the feeling that he didn’t want to hear to any more excuses, and so she just gave him another apologetic look before turning around and going back to her car.

Although breaking up with Chaol had been bad, she knew it wasn’t gonna be the worst part of her night because at that moment, Aelin was pissed enough to want to pick a fight.

And she knew exactly who she was going to pick it with.

As she drove to the apartment Rowan shared with Lorcan and his dad, Aelin went over and over what she was going to say when she got there. Knowing both her personality and Rowan’s, she knew that things would go south very quickly.

Her hands were sweating as she went up the stairs of the four stories building, fingers flexing over and over again as she gathered courage to knock on the door.

Part to her relief, part to her disappointment, no one answered. She knocked again. And again. And again.

On the sixth knock, the door opened violently, and Aelin found herself staring up at Lorcan Salvaterre.

His pissed off face quickly morphed into confusion, and he crossed his arms, leaning against the door frame. “Bimbo?”

Even being all pissed, Aelin rolled her eyes. Lorcan hadn’t like her in the beginning, but now both were actually close friends. Breaking up with Rowan made them separate a little, but good to know that he still liked her enough to use that stupid nickname. “Bully boy.”

Lorcan scoffed. “What have I done to deserve such visit at two in the morning?”

“Where’s Rowan?”

Lorcan tried to contain a smirk. “Why should I tell you?”

“Cause I’m your friend.”

“Nah, not good enough.” He said, letting the smirk appear. Aelin let out a breath, crossing her arms impatiently. “What do you want with him?”

“To talk.”

“You mean scream.”

“To talk.”

“About?”

“Stuff.”

Lorcan’s sarcastic smirk was widening more and more. “What stuff?”

“You’re fucking insufferable. Where’s Rowan?”

Lorcan let out a half cruel laugh. “ Don’t spew fire, baby. He’s in the shop, moping around while you go out with your jock boyfriend.”

Aelin rolled her eyes. “Thanks, could have said that a minute ago.”

“Nah.” Lorcan said, already closing the door. “Fix this mess. Rowan already has a shit mood, and it has only been worse for three months now.”

“You’re one to talk about bad mood.”

“Fuck off, Galathynius.” Lorcan said through the closed door, but Aelin was already rushing down the steps. The mechanic shop was by the end of the street, and she almost ran there.

The storefront was all dark, but the garage door was slightly open, light filtering through the opening. Without further thinking, Aelin crouched, entering through the opened bottom.

“Rowan.” Aelin said, crossing her arms.

Rowan immediately whipped his head around to look at her, eyes narrowing when he noticed her expression. “Why do I feel like you think I did something wrong?”

Despite all the planning, Aelin’s mind was blank. It was the first time she spoke to him in months. “I hate that we dated.”

Rowan let out a laugh, resting against the hood of a car. “You came all the way here, at two in the morning, to tell me that? The dedication is on point, Ace. But shouldn’t you have someone else to talk?”

Oh, he was jealous. Aelin could feel it in his voice. “You’re an idiot.”

“I’m the idiot?” Rowan crossed his arms. “If so, you should really get back to Prince Charming.”

“He’s nice.” Aelin said for some reason. When Rowan raised his eyebrows in mocked interest, she felt her blood boiling. It was because of this fucking asshole she couldn’t date anyone else. “He’s sensible and incredible.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is. All your single friends must be swooning over your relationship.” Although he was smiling, Aelin didn’t think he was finding any of that funny.

“And he calls me when he says he will. My mom thinks he’s nice, and today when he came to pick me up, he even talked to dad about business.”

“Really? I’m sure Rhoe and Evalin adore him.”

“He respects my space and limits, never asks me to wait. I, comfortable and I literally couldn’t ask for anything better.” The last lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she didn’t take anything back.

“Wow, that sounds... fucking boring.” Rowan said, simply and with a smile. “And I bet anything you want that you’re fucking bored.”

“Fuck off, Rowan.”

“No, you fuck off, Aelin.” Rowan said, getting up. “You break up with me, you move on, you come here. And for fucking what?”

“You seemed very content in me breaking up with you, so don’t play the high moral ground card.” She replied defensively. “You wanna know what I just did, Rowan? I broke up with my amazingly normal boyfriend because of you.”

Rowan raised his eyebrows, letting out a laugh. “Can’t say I’m sorry.”

“Fuck you!”

“The girl I have loved for years just came here to tell me she broke up with her boyfriend because she still likes me. I’m so very sorry if I’m not currently crying.”

“You left.” Aelin screamed, and Rowan’s smile disappeared. She pointed a finger at him, taking a step forward. “You fucking left me after the stupidest fight we ever had. You fucking shrugged as if dating me wasn’t that important and you. Fucking. Left.”

“You broke up with me, Aelin. What the hell was I supposed to do?” Rowan spread his arms, shouting back at her.

“I don’t fucking know, but you could have showed any emotion that didn’t seem like satisfaction. You could have picked up my calls the following day, and the day after that, and the day after that. Could have asked me if I was serious when I shouted something stupid during a stupid argument.” Aelin’s voice was normal again. “And then Chaol comes and you’re right. I’m fucking bored. He opens the door for me, says all the right things and I’m fucking bored. Even when I feel perfectly fine, I’m fucking bored. I’m bored because I’m hung up over a guy who fucking shrugged when I broke a relationship of years. You shrugged, left and ignored me for days. So you don’t get to be happy about all this.”

“Aelin—“

“No. No, I’m talking now because you didn’t let me do it. I loved you so fucking much and you knew it. Loving you was a goddamn roller coaster and you knew I enjoyed it. And that’s the whole point. You knew the way I loved you and you didn’t let me explain. You knew it and you left, and then ignored me. I’m not saying this is your fault. It’s mine. I shouldn’t have screamed that I wanted to break up with you because I fucking didn’t, ok? I was fucking wrong, and we’re apart because of me. All I wanted was the chance to apologize. So now that you’re finally listening to me, you’re gonna let me apologize like it was the following morning.”

Aelin felt her heart beating fast, and when Rowan just stared at her in silence, she continued.

“I am so sorry I broke up with you. Of course I don’t mean it, and you’re acting like an idiot if you think I was for real. An absolute idiot because you should know I love you. You should know that I’d never break up with you over that. I’m so sorry that I even said that. I shouldn’t have, I let my temper get the best of me and shouted the first hurtful thing that came to my mind.” Aelin breathed in and out, trying to make her heart beat normally. “I’m sorry I even made you believe for a second I was for real. I never wanted to hurt you, and even though I hate the way you left, I understand. Please, please, forgive me and let’s go back to our normal.”

“Ace…”

“That was all I wanted to tell you when I called you a million times, Ro.” Aelin felt her throat twisting, the feeling of missing him for months hitting her straight to the chest. She knew she had been the wrong one in the situation, and even though she despised the way he left, Aelin knew Rowan enough to know that it was just a defense mechanism. “I didn’t even need you to accept me back, I just needed you to know that I was sorry and that I loved you. But you left and acted like everything was fine.”

“I’m sorry, Ace, I—“

“Gods, no. I don’t want you to apologize!” Aelin shook her head. Part of her wanted to hear it, the part that had been infuriated when ignored. The other part, however, the bigger part, didn’t want any apology. “I want you to accept the apology. And if you can’t do it, just say it and let me move on with my fucking life. Because if you can’t and this is it, I’ll have to move on with my fucking life. And I won’t bother you anymore.”

The whole room was silent, and Aelin was staring at Rowan as intently as he was staring right back at her. She could feel her heart beating, not fast anymore but so strongly she could hear it. Her palms were sweaty and, despite the fact that she hadn’t looked for Rowan with that intent in mind, she was hoping he’d accept the apology. That they’d talk and go back to being a normal fucking couple. A couple that no one really understood how it worked— Aelin being cheer captain, in the volleyball team, and every single club she’d find while Rowan was one step away from biting someone’s arm off if they talked to him.

“I was hurt.” Rowan started.

“I know.”

“And angry. And I wasn’t thinking.”

Aelin nodded hope and fear mixing inside her chest. “I guessed.”

“For two years I was waiting for the day you decided to break up with him after you realized I just wasn’t it.”

Aelin frowned, confusion clouding her mind. “What?”

“Oh, come on, Ace.” Rowan scoffed. “We both know you can do better.”

Aelin crossed her arms, eye narrowing. “No.”

“That’s a shit response.”

“Why the fuck do you mean by do better? Dating is not a sport or subject, Ro.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“I mean it, tho. There’s no doing better. I love you and it is what it is. Nowhere to improve, you’re the maximum for me already.”

Rowan stared at her in silence, and Aelin wanted to say something else, wanted to maybe hug him. But he hadn’t said everything was fine, so she didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. She hadn’t been lying, though. She never imagined there could be anyone better for her, Rowan was just… perfect. What she not only wanted, but also needed. He had never been a missing part of her, but always someone who added up to who she already was.

“I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain.” Rowan said quietly.

“I said I didn’t want an apology.”

Rowan nodded, taking a hesitant step forward. “I love you. Have for years, you know that.”

Aelin nodded, face neutral even though she could feel her whole body relaxing. Worry slowly left her veins, relief and happiness substituting it. “And I love you too. Have for years, you know that.”

Rowan walked slowly up to her, hesitating again before raising his hands to cup her face. Aelin almost sighed in relief. “I should have listened to you.”

Aelin nodded, hope washing her whole expression. “So we’re fine? You forgive me, and we’re like before?”

Rowan bushed his thumb against her cheek, a small smile on his lips. “Yeah, we’re fine and there’s nothing to forgive.”

Aelin felt her chest bursting when he said that. She threw her arms around his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to press her lips against his. Kissing Rowan after months was like coming back home, his warm and soft lips moving against her almost hungrily. Aelin opened her mouth, letting Rowan deepen the kiss as she hugged him more tightly. Rowan’s hands hugged Aelin by her waist, pressing her body against his as his mouth moved gently and yet hurriedly against hers.

Against his mouth, Aelin half sighed, half moaned in sheer happiness. 

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