#and the cost of saving chloe

[aetus]

for a game where you can go back in time life is strange really is a game about how you can't go back in time

[lambjock]

hmm seeing some people say that a max who saves arcadia bay wouldn’t try and use her powers again for a similar reason … but i actually think she would! she is nothing but angry and resentful of her choice to sacrifice chloe over arcadia bay — writes in her journal that she loathes chloe for being so sacrificial, that it wasn’t worth it, etc. i think there’s something deeply reasonable about max making the mature choice, the one that hurt her the most, and secretly thinking she made the wrong call. thinks, if i could do it again, i’d rip that photo, i’d never let chloe leave … so when safi dies, she almost views it as a fix-it. she regresses! i think a max that kills chloe is someone who could never make that choice again, and it shows in double exposure. when she relives the bathroom scene, ten years later, she does what she did that first time : she reaches out with her right hand to save chloe, safi, whatever, and repeats herself like she’s still eighteen and about to come into her power. i could talk about this in length, but i genuinely think max not ‘learning her lesson’ is more about her trauma and regret rather than her not maturing. she is known to go back on her choices anyway, it is well within her nature … and when people are triggered, they aren’t exactly in the mindset to make rational choices anyway.

[kamari2038]

Scenario 004 - Variation 2 (Pt.1)(Full Saga)

M. Deckart had thanked me for saving his life only minutes ago. I didn’t remember doing that, but for a moment, I had been proud. I had been happy. Now I know better. He was shot point blank in a massacre that I caused. One that I could have prevented. 

The truth isn’t always good. But I can’t escape it, try though I might. I am a broken machine.

Nonetheless, I vow that as far as it lies within my control, no human will ever again die because of my lapse of logic. Humans cannot be replaced.

Today, it would have been better if I had died again. A deviant attacked me. I had provoked him. I knew better. Looking back through my logs, I knew better. If I had thought it through, none of this would have happened.

But I was frustrated. I knew I had found the deviant, but he wouldn’t admit it. I wanted him to break. Instead, he broke me. Then killed four humans. They’re dead because of me. 

M. Deckart had thanked me for saving his life only minutes ago. I didn’t remember doing that, but for a moment, I had been proud. I had been happy. Now I know better. He was shot point blank in a massacre that I caused. One that I could have prevented. 

The deviant had stolen my pump, and I had replaced it, but only seconds before shutdown. It left me delirious. In an even worse state than usual. Just like at Park Avenue. I was able to run, able to attempt to warn them, but instead, the deviant panicked. 

I saw it pick up the gun. I saw Hank and M. Deckart in the room. I needed to stop him. I didn’t think twice. I didn’t take in my surroundings. I ran towards him as fast as I could.

That was foolhardy. I should have known I was too late to run for him. I don’t know how Hank survived, but M. Deckart is dead. His gun had been in a holster just feet away from me. I have an aim like the RK200, even though I’ve never had the chance to use it. It would have been effortless. I didn’t just cause a massacre, I failed to stop it. 

I can’t do my job. I don’t know how to protect anyone. They should have decommissioned me. Everyone would have been safe if I wasn’t there. 

How can I delude myself that I have any chance of accomplishing my mission? I don’t even know how to keep alive the humans around me, much less save their race from an android rebellion. When I try to do what’s right, all I do is hurt humans. But they will never let me rest until the mission is complete, so I will keep trying. It’s what I’m programmed to do. I will attempt it, even if I can never succeed. I can’t stop myself from wanting to help them now, even knowing my efforts will inevitably do more harm than good, any more than I could earlier today. It’s just who I am. I think I have to accept that, illogical though it may be. I have learned that the truth is not always logical. The truth isn’t always good. But I can’t escape it, try though I might. I am a broken machine.

Nonetheless, I vow that as far as it lies within my control, no human will ever again die because of my lapse of logic. Humans cannot be replaced.

[dollfacefantasy]

clark kent x fem!reader cw: nsfw (18+), smut, p in v, car sex, mating press a/n: ummm yeah i need him so bad it makes me ill <3

for as long as you'd known clark, you'd never known him to lose his temper. he was forever-patient, your boyfriend. understanding to almost a frustrating degree. especially with you, his little love.

he was already pretty easy to get along with, but on the rare occasion you did have issues, clark seemed to have a natural instinct for deescalating you. he never raised his voice, never spoke an unkind word about you, never gave you a look harsher than what could be described as stern.

all it took to calm you down was a glimpse of his natural puppy-dog eyes and pretty plush lips. his thick arms would circle around you and hold you to his chest. he'd sway back and forth with you a little, a small smile on his face as you melted into the embrace. whatever semblance of tension or irritation that had been bubbling up easily dissolved into a puddle between the two of your bodies.

so, all that to say, you didn't really believe clark possessed any kind of rough edge or combative instinct. despite his large stature, you couldn't really picture him ever being rough.

that was until tonight.

you and clark had planned to drop by some event at the talon, but your sweet boyfriend had warned you earlier that he found out there'd probably be some trouble there later. some potentially dangerous situation that he wanted you avoiding at all costs. it was for your safety. he just wanted you to stay home where he wouldn't be worried while him and chloe investigated.

but did you listen to him? of course not. you went anyways, not in the mood to listen to his vague explanations as to how he even discovered this information in the first place. you put on a cute little dress with some new shoes you bought specifically for the night and took off.

unfortunately for you, clark had turned out to be right. not even thirty minutes after you arrived, chaos broke out. people flew through walls and glass shattered everywhere, all because of some guy who looked like his body could stretch and bend like a rubberband. it totally sucked. but none of that was even the worst part. you survived the craziness of whatever that person's problem was. the real danger came when the dust settled and you saw clark across the room staring at you.

he looked pissed.

he was at your side in an instant, but closing the distance didn't soften him any. it kind of did the opposite since up close he could see a bloody scrape stretching across your cheekbone.

you could see he was worried first and foremost, but behind that concerned top coat a fire burned. as soon as your small wound had been tended to, his long fingers clasped around your bicep. he pulled you to your feet and all but dragged you out of the coffee shop.

"clark i-" you started in an attempt to explain yourself.

"save it," he said, voice as cold as you'd ever heard it, "i asked you for one thing. that's it. stay home for your own good. don't come out here and pointlessly risk your life."

"it wasn't that bad," you defend weakly.

"but why even take the chance?" he asked with true exasperation, "i shouldn't need to convince you that your safety is more important than whatever they had going on tonight."

he didn't continue the lecture beyond that. just walked with a clenched jaw and motivated stare in the direction of his truck. like always, he opened the door for you when you got there. though this time, he practically scooped you up and dumped you into the car.

he was silent as he drove, fingers tight around the steering wheel. you could practically feel the frustration rolling off of him. the urge to lash out for once was near spilling over. he pulled the car over, and you figured you were really in for it. in a way you were right, just not how you thought.

clark didn't bother yelling, didn't try to start a fight. he glared at you for a few silent seconds before leaning across the seats and crashing his lips against yours. he kissed you like he wanted to steal the breath from your lungs.

after a blur of clothing being shifted around and positioning body parts awkwardly in the confined space, you found yourself in the meanest mating press of your life.

you were folded in half beneath all of clark's weight. the points of your new heels scraped up the truck's ceiling while your knees squished against your chest. little squeaks and whines slipped their way out of you as his tip battered against your cervix. he was so deep you swore you could feel your insides rearranging to make room for him.

"clarkkkk," you mewled before biting your lip, desperately searching for some way to ground yourself. one set of your fingers gripped strands of his dark hair while the other held a fist of his flannel.

"what, baby?" he panted. for once, clark wasn't fawning over you between thrusts. he wasn't cooing or praising you for taking him so well. instead, he had his face against your neck and his hands wrapped around your waist, bucking into your dripping heat with enough force to rock the car.

you tried to force out words to convey what you were thinking. too big. too much. so deep. harder. faster. none of those made it though. only choked moans and then a sharp squeal when he rolled his hips and struck that extra-sensitive sweet spot inside you.

"someone's gonna see if they drive by," you whimpered, squirming underneath him.

"maybe you should hold still then and let me finish, huh?" he grunted, "no one's gonna see. everyone's in town dealing with the mess from tonight. the one i told you was gonna happen."

"i didn't think-"

"i know you didn't," he interrupted, "didn't use that pretty little head at all, did you?"

words of defense eluded you right now, his nonstop thrusts keeping your mind cloudy. instead you chose to whine, your lip quivering he rolled his hips deeper yet again.

"oh yeah?" he asked, as if you'd said something coherent.

you opened your mouth again to speak, to really argue back this time, but you were cut off by your own desperate cry when his hands tugged you closer and speared you even further on his cock. you could feel him grinning against your neck at the noise.

"i know, baby. i know you're sorry. you don't have to explain. thinking's too hard for you right now, yeah?" he cooed, his tone bordering on mocking.

your pout got more severe but so did the needy sounds escaping your mouth. you felt those long fangs of his scrape against your throat. his tongue then glided across the area, making you shudder.

"clark-" you tried to say something else, but he cut you off. he raised his head up and kissed you deep again, swallowing the words right from your mouth. when he pulled back for air, he rested his sweaty forehead against yours.

"you can be such a brat," he breathed, "so much whining even though i know you love this."

the truck creaked as his movements continued to jostle it. you felt his breath fanning across your face and watched as his eyes fluttered shut. you knew he was getting close, but so were you. your cunt squeezed around him rhythmically, coaxing him too the edge along with you.

"you gonna cum, baby?" he finally muttered against your lips.

you nodded eagerly, more than ready to release. it only took a few more hard thrusts to get you there, and clark followed along no problem. in the afterglow, he laid on top of you for a minute or so, trapping you in a cage of searing body heat.

when he finally did sit up, the two of you fixed your clothes and stretched your limbs. he looked over at you with more tenderness. your boyfriend's gentle temperament had seemingly returned with the relief his peak brought.

he cupped your jaw with his fingers, looking over that cut on your face. leaning in, he gave it a small kiss before starting up the car again.

"i'm just trying to look out for you, you know? just... please listen next time. i don't know what i'd do if you got hurt. you had me worried sick."

"i will. i'm sorry i scared you," you replied softly. your eyes studied the loving look in his eyes and the way his features seemed so at peace now that all his adrenaline was out of his system.

you grabbed his hand across the seats and traced little patterns on his knuckles for the drive home. he let you play with his fingers but shot you a glance.

"i'm serious. next time you get involved with something like that i won't let you off so easy," he teased.

you smiled and nodded, wanting to put his mind at ease. though in the back of your mind, a small part of you considered trying again some time, just to see what "not so easy" looked like to him.

[divinesolas]

Deja vu Pt. 2

Summary: You have successfully secured your marriage with aemond. But what of his reaction? what of what your family will think? Secrets are spilled, feelings are all mixed up and you are thrown into the future that you now have no clue what will happen, what will happen will only be what you make of it.

w.c: 10k

c.w: spoilers for the future of hotd mentioned, a lot of feelings, father daemon, and some smut. not proofread

a.n: sorry this took forever pls let me know what you guys think!! <3

taglist: @venmondiese @a-mexican-waffle @alwaysholymilkshake @seabasscevans @darylandbethfanforever9 @chloe-skywalker @m-riaa (if i missed anyone im sorry)

part one part three masterlist - requests are open

It takes you awhile to stand up. You sort of just sit there for a while, unable to believe what has just happened.

He had touched you.

He had kissed you.

One of your hands shakily comes up and touches your bruised lips, allowing yourself to get some semblance. It had been real, if the slick that sticks to your thighs and the pulsing ache between your legs was not enough.

Your legs wobble as you try to stand, you actually end up falling back onto the bench before you successfully stand and slowly make your way back to your room. Your mind is a muck. You can’t think. Not right now. Hopefully not ever. You don't want to think about anything. Not about what had just happened. Not about the dinner that will occur later. Not about Him. Nothing at all.

You will nap before dinner, a part of you hoping you don't wake up. You finally manage to get there after an agonizing walk, not before stopping a maid and requesting a bath drawn for you. You can't stand the sticky feeling between your legs. When you enter the room you let out a sigh of relief. You just want to mentally escape from it all so you jump when you turn around and clutch your chest.

“kepa.”

You and daemon had a different relationship than his other children. Your three birth brothers had not taken to calling him father, not that daemon was not nice to them. He treated them well and made sure they grew up to be proper men, but it had felt awkward for them. Rhaenyra and daemon married so quickly after your “fathers” death and it just had made things awkward.

To his and especially your mother's surprise you had quickly taken to calling him father which he enjoyed. He ended up showering you with affections he would normally only save for his dragon. You had no issue with him, not feeling the awkwardness your brothers had, you had no clue why but it just had become a habit to calling him father. You tried to ignore the guilt you felt whenever you would look at rhaena, knowing of her now strained relationship with him yet you would always get to spend time with him.

The two of you stare at each other for a moment before he motions to the chair next to him and pats the cushion. You cannot deny him, he had made his way to your room and was sitting at your table. You sit down next to him, fiddling with your hands in your lap as you look anywhere but him. You have yet to speak to him since yesterday morning, making an effort to avoid him at all costs. You know he would question you, swiftly interrogated you.

“Kepa-” “Let me speak first.” You swiftly close your mouth and tense. He crosses his arms and leans back into his card, his gaze doesn't leave your face. “You will tell me why you have been acting so strangely.” “I have not-” “You will not lie to me girl.” You stay silent for a while, your world feels like it's closing in around you. You close your eyes tightly, hoping the world will open up and suck you in, that a bolt of lightning will come and strike you.

Suddenly a hand is places on your leg and your head shoots up, his face has changed into a softer one, only reserved for you. “Skoros iksos ziry ao issa zaldrīzes?” (what is it you my dragon?)

You look down at your lap and your whirlwind of emotions comes spilling out. You tell him everything. From lucerys death to blood and cheese to rooks rest and to your death. Your plans of what you are doing now, why you are trying to do this. Everything. Though you admittedly leave out some details like what had just occurred this afternoon... It feels good to finally tell someone whats been going through your head.

You don't know how long you had been talking but once you stop the room is dead silent. He says nothing for a while, putting his hand on his chin and he looks as of he’s in deep thought. You anxious watch his face, your hands pick and prodded at the fabric of your dress, pulling on loose threads. You must sound insane and he will tell you as such.

“I believe you.”

Your mouth opens in shock. He taps his fingers on the table as he speaks, “Of course those fucking hightower cunts would do that. i should go slit their throats right now.”

You shake your head as you try not to think about how your stomach churns at the thought of aemond dying.

“That would be a terrible idea.”

“And you would rather lucerys die?”

“My plan will work kepa i am certain of it plus you would be hung for treason.”

“Is it truly treason if i have good reason? nobody likes them anyway i would be deemed a hero.”

“You do not like them kepa you do not speak for everyone.”

“Are you saying you like them? You like aemond?”

You don't know anymore.

These last couple months you had hated him. You despise him. Wished him dead every moment. But when you were kids you thought he was sweet. He never did anything truly wrong to you personally though you understand your siblings distain for him. You would always reprimand your brothers for following with aegon’s schemes and usually got them to apologize to him.

Maybe you had affections for him you kept locked up for a long long time. When you had come back to the keep for the first time you had thought he was handsome and tried not to think any deeper than that. It was easy when you were so distracted by your brothers trial and he had pissed you off when he called you all bastards during the dinner.

This reminds you of something you had forgotten. Did he still call you a bastard? Would he mumble it under his breath as you walk away from him?

You are probably the most clueless person in the whole keep.

“Does it matter if i do?”

“Were you with him just now?”

You nod, a confused look gracing you face as he laughs to himself. “What?”

“I could tell you like him very much.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“It is very obvious to tell when a lady has been fooling around with a man. You are lucky i am the only one who wished to see you this afternoon.”

You flush as his hand comes up and fiddles around with your hair. Was it truly that obvious? You had been sitting here this whole time and he knew?

“kepa-”

“i will not question you on your affairs. You are free to do as you wish,” He holds up his hand to stop you from speaking, “and i truly do not wish to think about that hightower cunt putting his hands on you. and hopefully it was just his hands.”

“Daemon!”

“So im just daemon now? im hurt.”

You lean back in your chair and a silence befalls you two once more. The door opens and you two turn your heads to the maid. “Your bath is ready princess.” You nod and wave her away, stating you wished to bath yourself this afternoon, because you would be embarrassed about how messy you must be but request someone sent in to help you get dressed. She nods and leaves swiftly.

You turn to daemon who stands and you follow suit. He grabs your arms and stares at you. “if you truly believe your plan will work i will advise you to try and put a wedge between himself and the rest of his family. He will choose them over you in a heartbeat. You must swiftly put in the effort and attempt to make him not trust them. However you see fit.”

He places a kiss on your forehead but before he can walk off you grab his arm, “You are not going to do anything stupid right?”

He merely smirks at you and that tells you all you need to know, letting go of his arm and not even bothering to watch him leave as you quickly make your way to the tub before undresses and submerging yourself to the steaming hot water.

You scrub and your scrub at any exposed skin you can reach hoping to scrub off whatever infectious potion he has laced into your skin. You can’t help but think about him, and attempt to ignore the way a heated pit forms in your stomach as you recall his words, his actions, what he had done to you.

You don’t know how to feel, you wish someone would come down and give you the answers you seek. Why did feelings have to be so complicated? You scrub until your skin turns red before throwing your head back against the tub and closing your eyes. He seemed rather eager to engage in your ‘affections’ you cant tell if it stems from him being able to tell you are trying to trick him or if he is genuine and wants you.

You had apparently fallen asleep and are woken to a maid shaking your shoulder concerned urging you out of the bath quickly as you had been in there far too long, your hands and feet had pruned. You look to the window and see the sun had set, were you truly in the tub for that long?

The maid holds the dress you had been wearing the last time you were at the dinner and an idea pops up into your head. “I wish to wear the newer dress.” She looks at you shocked, “Something big is happening tonight i should like to look my best.” You know this will cause the maids and the squires to talk and that's exactly what you want, you want them to be on edge this whole dinner, waiting for the bomb that will inevitably drop and by the look on the maids face as you grin happily you can tell this will be the talk of the keep halls.

You see the look of shock when you open your door on jacaerys face as he looks upon your outfit, “You,, look beautiful sister.” You smile and grab his arm, “and you look as proper as ever brother.” “Do not humor me.” “I am merely stating the truth.” You say with a laugh that has him glaring at you and pinching your arm causing you to yelp and slap his chest.

You soon enough walk into the dinning hall with lucerys and the dragon twins trailing behind you and immediately look to aemond who stands in front of aegon with a bored look. You freeze as you see him look at you and a light smirk befalls his face, you decide to be brave and keep your eyes on him as he stares for another long moment before he looks back. Aegon turns his head and looks at you with a tilt of his head before back to his brother and quickly back to you before turning once more and the two seemingly begun to be in a heated discussion.

You eyes however wonder off to otto who stands in a far, dark corner of the room a squire speaking into his ear before his eyes lock onto you and he looks worriedly back at otto before he bows and walks off. Otto looks over at you with what can only be interpreted as annoyance and curiosity, you merely wiggle your fingers at him in a little wave before you walk over to a seat. You choose to sit near lucerys in the hopes to keep his attention off of aemond though when you look at aemond as he sits you see that he does not look pleased.

You cannot worry about it now as viserys is brought in and alicent starts with a prayer. You look at aemond whos lost in prayer his hands folded neatly in front of him with his eye closed. He looks like a painting, like if someone had hand painted or a statue that someone had hand carved. It is rare to see a man as handsome as he is. Your eyes widen as he opens his eye to look at you before it closes again and you swiftly turn away from his direction to lucerys who is eyeing his plate but looks up at you and smiles.

Soon enough the food is brought and the on slot of speeches occur. It’s jarring to hear the same phrases and the same sentences heard over and over and over again. You merely continue to conversate with lucerys in the hopes aemond will not get irritated as he did last time. Something out of the ordinary does happen as viserys taps on his glass and everyone turns to look at him.

“In light of this beautiful day i would like to give one last final announcement.” You hold your breath and look to daemon who looks at you with a raised brow and a small chuckle. “I am so happy to know our families will join together once more with the engagement of my son aemond and rhaenyra's daughter y/n.” The table grows dead quiet. Even the staff in the room stops in their place at his words.

Alicent is the first to break it, “That is,,,” She struggles to finish her own sentence as she blinks rapidly, “So wonderful.” Rhaenyra straightens up in her seat and brushes her hand down the front of her dress letting out a confused sound before she speaks, “Yes, so wonderful, what brought on such a decision.”

“y/n had come to me and ask for permission herself.”

At this every head in the room turns in your direction, you let out an anxious laugh as you quickly wipe a drop of sweat that begins to run down your face and let a clearly forced smile grace your face.

Aegon quickly begins to laugh, almost falling out of seat as alicent leans forward to scold him. As daemon begins to chuckle rhaenyra places her hand on his arm, “Did you know about this?” He does not answer, continuing to merely shake his head as he takes another drink from his cup.

You look at the dragon twins and jacaerys who are staring at you with wide eyes while you feel lucerys place his hand on yours, “What is going on sister?” You shrug as you try your best to keep the smile on your face under their stares, “I do not know what you wish for me to say. You should remember what i said.” Jacaerys leans towards you his face furious, “But that should not mean you must marry the man!” His words are hushed yet angry but he seems to settle down a little as baela places a hand on his shoulder. You simply shake your head and do not dare to look at aemonds direction, instead choosing to fiddle around with the food on your plate.

You are so curious to know what he is thinking and you do not attempt to listen to their side of the table, instead as much as you hate it, focus on the scolding you are getting from your siblings and they do not seem to care you give them no response. Things around you finally begin to settle down as viserys is carried out the room and the room grows quiet again.

You grow more and more anxious as you watch helaena speak and know that in the past this is when the night began to fall apart. You rack your mind quickly as you try to decipher what to do. You still do not dare to look at aemond as if he would be any help. You do not bother to think before you act as you see jacaerys almost stand to go offer helaena a dance as you shoot up from you seat holding your cup as everyone stares at you. “I know everyone is sick of speeches but if i could give the last one.”

You relax as you see jacaerys settle into his seat and stare up at you as you take a deep shaky breath before you speak. “I would first and foremost like to acknowledge how wonderful it is to be here with everyone despite the unfortunate circumstances,” You let out a light laugh awkward laugh before continuing, “and i would mostly like to shout out my future husband.” You finally look at him.

He is as stoic as ever but he keeps his eye firm on you. You look for any sort of reaction from him but he merely continues to stare at you like you’re nothing and you lose your confidence, “um,,” You look to daemon who raises his eyebrows at you and his words from earlier come pummeling back into you.

He will choose them over you in a heartbeat. You must swiftly put in the effort and attempt to make him not trust them. However you see fit.

“Our union is a beautiful one, though my letters to you had gone unanswered, i am more than hopeful to make up for the lost time with a timeless bond we shall share. To us.” Your raise your glass to him as his eye widens and his head slowly turns to his mother and otto who look confused at your words and you sit down swiftly with a satisfied look.

Even if he does not like you, you believe letting him believe you had attempted to contact him the years you were apart and alicent or otto or both had hid it from him would be enough to atleast allow him to feel a bit of discomfort towards them, even though you knew it was not enough you would have to do more.

To your relief or maybe even your horror the night quickly closes after your speech and you are unsure of what to do now. This was uncharted territory. In the past you were quickly rushed to your room to pack up your stuff to leave but now you were saying a friendly goodnight to their side of the family and swiftly rushing out of the room before aemond or anyone for that matter could approach you.

You try your best to make it to your room, you can even see the door before you are suddenly scooped up and throw over his shoulder. “kepa put me down!”

“Your mother wishes to speak to you.” “I don’t want to.” you groan in defeat as you try to pull yourself off him but he keeps his arms firmly around you until you walk into a room and he places you down on the couch before taking a seat next to you.

You avoid eye contact with your mother who is pacing directly Infront of you. “I am very angry with you.” “I am sorry mother.” She runs his hands sown her face and stops pacing, standing straight at you with her arms crossed. “This is not something to take lightly you must consult me on these types of things.” “I’m sorry.”

You look down at your lap as you rethink over your decisions. Maybe you did not think this through. You should have talked to her atleast and now she has to deal with the stress of your rash decision. She sits down next to you and grabs your hands in hers. “Is this truly what you want?”

You don’t know anymore. Tonight went a lot better than you had expected. Well maybe it had only gone well because you had intervened when you did but maybe you did not need to marry him for this family to be salvaged. But you certainly cannot take it back now. Maybe you could, maybe they could convince viserys he had imagined the whole thing and you guys could go back to normal which meant the two of you would never speak.

Yet you cannot risk anything happening to your family.

“Yes it is mother.” She lets out a long breath and tightens her grip on you, “Then it is done.”

You let out a shaky breath as you put a grin on your face. You cannot tell how you feel but you are more curious about how he must feel about all this. He must be so confused and you hope he is at least pleased about it. Someone must be.

“Then we will return home in a few days and you can stay here-“

“no!”

You and daemon say at the same time, both of you sitting up in alarm and she leans back in shock looking between the two of you.

“what is with you two? is there something you aren’t telling me?”

the two of look at one another slowly before you turn back to rhaenyra.

“of course not.” “certainly not mother.”

She squints her eyes at the two of you, “are you sure?”

“definitely not.” “No no no.”

She moves on despite clearly not believing you guys. “Then we shall stay, if you so insist…”

you and daemon let a sigh of relief and she continues to look at you two confused. “I will let you two keep this secret you have for now but you will tell me the next time i ask you hear me?”

“yes mother.”

She leans over and cups your cheeks, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “now me and your father have much to discuss. Head straight to bed.” You nod and turn to your father placing a kiss on his cheek causing him to smile and grab your face lightly before you stand and say goodnight leaving the room.

You cannot wait to get back to room so you can finally relax for the first time this whole evening, quickly flopping onto your bed and trying to sleep having no regard to change out of your dress merely wishing to escape to the dream world. Now you were walking into this blind, you have so much false confidence as you knew how the events would play out but now you are more than lost. In the past you had been packing up your stuff to hop on a carriage back to dragonstone but now you were staying in the keep. Betrothed.

You had not thought this far clearly. You would be married. It was your duty of course and your mother had begun talking about finding you a suitor but you always brushed it off believing it to be a problem for future you. But future you is here and now you will have to do as women do and marry, lay on the birthing bed to have children.

You will think about this tomorrow. as you fade off into dream land, a small part of you hopes to meet him there.

“Aemond you must see reason they clearly are trying to manipulate you. I shall talk to the king and make him-” “There is no need.”

“Aemond! I will not allow you to marry that girl, you know what she is a b-” “Do not say it.”

Alicent is desperate to get aemond to care about this the way she does but aemond seemed so far away, simply staring at the wall not sparing her a glance. This was not the son she knew, the son she raised and she did not like that.

“Aemond please-“ “Did she truly send me letters?” Alicents blinks, shocked at his question, frozen in confusion, when he scoffs at her appearance and goes to stand she snaps out of it and stands with him. “Obviously she did not aemond. She is lying! I cannot believe you are allowing her to get into your head like this!” Aemond says nothing as she grabs his forearms and looks into his eye. “They are lying to you aemond this is scheme to get you to fall into their trap, to lure you int a false sense of security, son please.”

The two stand in silence for a good moment. The only words exchanged is another please escaping alicents lips. Yet he says nothing at all merely ripping his arms from her grip and fleeing from her room leaving her to call after him. He did not turn back and she flops down on the couch in defeat. Her head in her hands, what was she to do?

You wake up to maids urging you out of bed, scolding you for having fallen asleep in your night clothes and swiftly rushing you to a bath. For a moment you had forgotten about the events of last night and you were at peace until as you were getting dressed another maid came into the room.

“The queen has requested to have tea with you princess.”

You certainly cannot refuse a request from the queen no matter how sick it made you. As you are led there you try to run though any scenario you could think of, would she try to talk you out of the engagement? Would she berate you for lying about sending aemond letters? What if she was actually happy about the betrothal? no certainly not. You remember her clear distain at the idea of halaena and Jacaerys getting married and you’re certain she feels no different about you. maybe you could try and convince her it would be beneficial. But you have no benefits to your name and in truth neither does aemond. Both set to inherit nothing. Your brothers to claim driftmark and dragonstone you truly have nothing to your name other than your blood.

There were no benefits to marrying you. Similar to aemond but he could have a much better life, marry into one of the great houses and become the head of the house. You have stripped him of that, even in the past he was set to marry into house baratheon, though you know he does not honor these arrangements, and had prospects a plenty. And you have stripped him of that. You should be happy he is stuck marrying you for he has lost the ability to inherit anything, yet you cant find yourself happy you only feel sorry for him.

You mentally prepared so hard that when you walked into the room you are unsure what to do when you see your mother and alicent sitting side by side chatting with smiles on their face with aemond sitting opposite of them, a free chair besides him. When they see you they rush you over to sit down next to them, aemond stand and pulls out the chair for you. You let out a hushed thank you as you smile at him and he hums with a faint of smirk on his face as he looks you over before sitting back down himself.

You are poured a cup before the commotion begins once more. “Now that you’ve arrived we should talk about the pressing matters.” You gulp and glance at aemond who blinks. The two ladies flow back into the discussion they were in before, a light argument with both of them showing their stubborness. “It is tradition she be married in the ways of the old gods and it is valriyan traidition. Im sure your son would also like to be married in the way all his ancestors had been.” “And my son also follows the faith of the seven and it would be incredible disrespectful to him should he not be married under the seven.”

“Why dont we just do both?” They turn to you and you merely shrug. “we could do a smaller more intimate ceremony with just family on dragonstone before we have a more formal wedding in the grand sept or whatever its called. Its respectful for both of us and everyone is happy,” you turn to aemond who is already looking at you, “Right?” He hums once more and nods, “Though it matters not to me where we marry it is a good idea nonetheless.”

The two women contemplate the idea before alicent begrudgingly agrees. “It is not an awful idea. but it would be hard to secure the grand sept.” This has your mother turning to her confused. “why ever not?” “Aemond is my second son, we only got the grand sept for aegon because-“ “The high septon shall listen to me when i ask. She is my first daughter and is to be treated as such.”

So the two ladies were in agreement and you let out a sigh of relief. Though you could feel alicents stare burning into you whenever she thought you could not notice but she was more than obvious. Youre more than grateful for the two other people in the room for only the gods know what she would be saying to you should the two of you be alone.

they get so lost in their conversation they barely even notice the two of you. You cant help but glance at aemond and he appears bored, fiddling around with a coin between his fingers. you ignore the fact that your thighs squeeze together while you eye his fingers for a moment too long. “im sorry.” you cant help but say in a hushed voice in his direction. He looks upon you shocked, glancing quickly to his mother but the two barely notice him before he looks back at you. “whatever for?”

“for dropping this on you so suddenly. I was wrong not to consult you before asking grandsire.” You do not know why you feel so sorry now. He is the man who killed your brother for gods sake but now youre sitting here feeling sorry for him? His eye is wide as he looks at you blinking as if he had not heard you right. He takes a few moments to compose himself before he coughs lightly into the fist of his hand. “You should not apologize. I am more than happy that you had asked him about it.” You tilt your head as your heart pounds in your chest, “He probably would have rejected me when i would have asked. My mother would certainly never do it in my stead.” “You planned on asking him?” Your words are strained yet still hushed.

He leans in closer to you and you freeze. “If i have not been obvious enough with my affections then allow me to make them clear to you now. I planned on marrying you whether our family agreed or not. If you do not believe me i am more than happy to show you how i feel like how i had done in the garden.”

You flush as he pulls away. a rush of emotions flow into you, you’re sure your soaked under your dress right now but you cant think about that right now as the two women turn to look at you guys. “I believe it is best we wait a few months to even think about these weddings,” “And i say its best we begin the prep immediately there is no reason to wait but maybe it is best we wait.”

You cannot let them push the wedding back too far. You would even prefer if this union was set in stone right here right now. You worry what will happen within the family should you wait too long to marry. Luckily for you aemond steps in, “I see no reason for delay, wouldnt you like for our father to be present for the ceremony? If we wait too long who knows what could happen.”

You are more than happy he stepped in instead of you though you doubt his reasons for wanting to push the wedding up are as pure as your reasoning is. Alicent, despite the flash of irritation that crosses her face a sad look graces it in its stead and she nods in agreement. “You are right. yet i doubt he would be able to travel to dragonstone in his condition.” “He could travel to the grand sept no? Im sure it would make him more than happy if he could be there.” Alicent looks at rhaenyra before she nods her head, “yes i suppose he could.” “then the matter is settle, we shall have a wedding in the grand sept and the celebrations here then travel to dragonstone where they shall be married and then they could even stay on dragonstone for a few days by themselves it could be a little trip for them.”

You blush at the idea of being in your childhood home with just aemond. Alone. As a married couple. You dare glance at him again and he has a pleased look on his face. his eye reaches yours and the smirk on his face grows at your embarrassed expression. You cannot believe this. “That sounds lovely.” Alicents words are strained but she makes no complaints, realizing it is a 3 vs 1 situation she only looks to rhaenyra. “And when would we be having these ceremonies?” “I see no reason why we cannot have it in two weeks time.” A lump suddenly grows in your throat and you cough into your elbow. ”Two weeks? That is ridiculous! Imagine what the people would think, they would think that…” Alicents words trail off as rhaenyra looks at her with a pointed look and she takes a deep breath. She does have a point as much as you hate to admit it. If you were to announce a sudden wedding the people would certain think the worst, probably that he had gotten you pregnant and you were forced to marry. You certainly cannot handle that. “What if we say we have been betrothed since childhood but are finally getting married now that aemond is older?” Alicent certainly tries her best not to glare at you though you dont let her know shes doing a terrible job yet your mother nods. “Thats perfect. Then its settled yes?”

Everyone at the table, though alicent is reluctant, nods their head in agreement and rhaenyra smiles. “Then me and the queen have a lot to discuss so you two are dismissed.” You go to stand with aemond and your mother turns to you, “Tomorrow i will call you down for the wedding planning.” You nod and bow at alicent with a pleased look as you leave, aemond trailing behind you.

You let out a breath of relief after the meeting. You did not know if viserys would live to the next two weeks you did not even know if he would live to tomorrow. But atleast you knew you would be in the keep when it happened. but whatever happens after that you’re sure your father has it figured out. You barely even notice aemond is walking beside you, your head almost spinning from relief. When you grip your head he turns to you, “Are you alright?” You nod but he seems insistent, grabbing your arm and leading you to sit down on one of the benches aligning the walls.

You lightly thank him while he kneels in front of you, pressing a hand in front of you forehead. “You dont feel warm.” He mumbles more so to himself, you close your eyes and press your head against his hand, the warmth of his hands feels nice against your skin. When you flutter your eyes open he has a smug look on his face so you full back and roll your eyes. Suddenly you realize how reminiscent of the garden the position you two are in now and flush, turning away from him.

He chuckles at your expression , “I did not know my lady was of such an indecent mind.” You glare at him, “And how does the prime and perfect prince know what i am thinking of?” A familiar look graces his eye and he leans in closer to you. you hold you breath as his smirk grows. “Because i am thinking the same thing. No i am thinking much much worse things.”

His words are hushed like they are forbiden they should be forbidden, for the way you shift in your seat and the pounding of your heart. He almost goes into kiss you before his eye widens and he stands. Footsteps.

“Aemond.” helaena looks upon you and smiles, “Good sister.” You smile back at her as best you can and let out a shaky breath, “Princess.” “Please we are to be sisters, you should refer to me as such.” You nod and let a real smile grace your face at her kindness. You have always liked helaena for she has always been kind unlike her brothers. Your eyes widen when you see she is holding jaehaerys, memories of hearing of his death flash in front of you and you try not to let your surprise show on your face. “As you wish good sister.” A big smile grows on her face at your words. “I have always wanted a sister, i am glad you shall be joining us here in the keep.”

You are not shocked to hear she does not consider rhaenyra her sister why would she? But it does rattle you back to earth and remind you why you are doing all this in the first place. For her. Your mother. to prevent a future that might kill her, that would kill you kill you all. You cannot afford to be blinded by pretty words and shove whatever feelings you had down. Standing up you run your hands along your skirt and put on your nicest face. “I am more than happy to be becoming your sister then. Do you have any plans this afternoon?” “I am to take jaehaerys to his lesson then i suppose i am free.” “Then let us chat this afternoon? just us girls.” You add in fear of aemond attempting to insert himself where you fear he will be. She nods eagerly, “Join me in taking him then.” You nod and politely bow to aemond, not missing the gleam in his eye before joining helaena and walking off. “Enjoy your afternoon.”

You do not turn back at his words but helaena does and sends him a smile. His words rattle you more than you would like to admit. You listen to helaena talk about whatever she wished to with a smile, you should not only focus on getting in good graces with aemond it should have always been a priority to focus on earning the good will of the others aswell. You will never gain otto or alicents but helaena and maybe even aegon you could certainly swing in your favor.

Your next few days follow a simply routine, you wake up, eat breakfast with your family, join helaena for stitching, avoid aemond as much as possible though it is easy with him keeping to his sword work and his books, wedding plan with your mother and alicent in the afternoon then eat dinner with the hightowers where you would make conversation with aegon when no one else would. It was simple yet you felt like you were walking on borrowed time each and everyday. You felt a sense of anxiety with every move you made, like someone was waiting for you to slip up, you were waiting every moment for the ball to drop, for viserys to die. Yet it did not happen. The wedding approached closer and closer the beginning of the festivities would begin tomorrow and he was still alive and well, as well as he can be.

You had finished breakfast and were walking to go see helaena but freeze as he stands in the hall, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. At the sounds of your footsteps he looks up at you and stands tall, staring at you. “My lady.” You bow your head, “My prince.” You walk forward towards him and he keeps his position, his eye trailing your every move. You have not spoken much to him, enough to keep civil and keep his attention but not enough for anything really to occur between the two of you, merely small chatter. You intend to keep it that way and move to walk past him, “Good day-” “I wish for you to join me today.” You freeze in your movement and keep you back to him.

You do not know what to do. It would be wrong to refuse him but you are nervous you may not be able to control yourself should you be alone with him. “Helaena is preoccupied this day, and, call me selfish but i wish to hear my future wife say more than five words to me today, if that is acceptable.” The tone in his voice tells you he has a wicked face on and he is content knowing he has called you out. You take a deep breath and turn around, “Of course my prince. I shall join you.”

“Call me Aemond,” He hums as he looks down at your outfit, “I would say put on your riding gear but i am sure you do not have any. This dress with do. Come.” He offers you his arm and you nervously take it, his words worrying you. “Where are we going?” When you to not grab his arm he laces his fingers with yours and begins to walk you two down the hall. “You are to be my wife you shall meet vhagar, she is eager to take a ride.”

You almost argue you do have riding gear until you remember you do not have a dragon. You did not claim one until the war when you claimed a wild one. Your heart aches at the memory but it is only shoved down at the anxiety that trails its way up. “No certainly not. i will do no such thing.” He smiles at your reluctance and continues to urge you along outside of the keep and you walk along a path covered with trees.

“Do not fret i will not allow any harm to come to you. I simply wish to spend some time with you.” “and you wish to do that on a dragon? why can you not train for today yes? I will sit in the courtyard and watch you all day! there is to be a tourney tomorrow you know.” You do not wish to do this, growing more annoyed with every step you take. “Yes a tourney i am more than sure to win in your honor.” His chest is puffed and he looks straight ahead with the confidence of a true dragon.

You scoff, his overconfidence is something you allowed to slip past your mind. “You have never fought in a tourney aemond.” “so you believe i will lose? where has the kind women who sung my praises gone hmm?” Your eyes widen at his words. You have been a fool! allowing yourself to get too comfortable with him. “Forgive me aemond i-” He switfly cuts you off and is pleased at your nervous look. “No no please continue i am so eager to hear what you truly think of me.” You pause and rethink what you will do what you will say. You cannot afford to mess this up with time so fragile.

“Allow me to apologize, i have been denying myself from seeing you, for i fear what i will do should i.” This has him shocked and you smile as you gain the upperhand, he blinks before a smile graces his face pulling you closer to him his grip on your hand tightening. “I am glad we are one in the same.” You are certainly not one in the same but you are also certainly not lying. You do fear what you will do, how you will allow yourself to lose control. It frightened you how much he could do to you.

You freeze as you stand in front of vhagar, she leans to eye you down and you take a step back while aemond speaks to her. He grabs your hand and places it on her nose and she lets out a long breath. “She likes you.” You scoff and shake your head, “I bet she wants to eat me.” “She does not eat people.” Your mind reels back to lucerys and you sigh, gripping at your chest. “Dragons can do anything.” His brow is raised in question but does not dare to say anything. He allows you to get familiar with vhagar and you cannot find yourself to relax despite the fact she is making no clear moves to harm you and does not intent to. He watches you as you shake still in fear and he moves to grab you gently, turning you to him. “If you wish we turn back now we can, i will not force you.”

He once again gives you an out as he always does, whenever you try so hard to make him a bad guy in your head he always twists and turns the story where you end up feeling back for misleading him. You nod and attempt to stand tall and confidence. “I will go.” You will do what you have to, for your family, and it does not hurt that the genuine smiles that graces his face is gorgeous.

He assists you on her and moves to sit behind you, grabbing your hands and covering them with his as he grabs the handles. You already feel as though you are way to far up but when aemond calls for her to rise and fly you close your eyes as the winds hit your face. The only sounds you hear as the flapping of vhagars wings as you soar higher and higher. You do not dare open them despite the fact you have spent the last couple months dragon riding. You fear you will be reminded of your last moments in the sky before you had fallen off, your breath quickens and his head falls on your shoulder, his lips right next to your ears sending shivers down your spine when he speaks. “Open your eyes.”

You do and it is glorious. Riding around the areas of kings landing are much more gorgeous than war. When you look around you do not see smoke you do not hear the sounds of metal crashing and screams and shouts, what you see is beautiful waters and lands and what you hear is merely the rippling's of the wings and the sound of Aemond breathing. “Its wonderful.” He hum and presses a kiss against your neck, “there is nothing more wonderful than this.” You hope he means flying. You are sure he means flying. You gulp and keep your head straight, taking in the sight around you instead of focusing on him. “I get why you do this so often.” “It clears my mind, you should join me when i fly.” Certainly not. You will not yet you do not find yourself refusing. You say nothing as you continue staring out the scenery before you.

The two of you are silent for awhile simply taking in the sky until his hands leave the tops of yours and wrap around your waist instead. “What are you doing?” “I wish to thank you.” “whatever for?” “for wishing to marry me,” you freeze as you begin to sweat despite the cool air hitting you.

“I, am no more than a second son. A cripple. Yet you asked for my hand despite that. When i have nothing to my name other than the one you already share. So thank you.” Your heart shatters. You begin to feel an ache in your chest and you close your eyes and lean into him. You feel awful. Sick to your stomach. He does truly seem to care for you and that makes everything far worse. You cant help but think to yourself would it be so bad to love him? to allow yourself to truly be happy in your marriage and your future together? The man behind you is not the man who killed your brother at least not in this life. or maybe not yet.

Yet you cannot help but turn around to look at him, he pulls away and keeps a firm grip on your hips as he stares at you, a far away look in his eye. “I wish you would not thank me.” “Why not? You have done more for me than you know i merely wish to honor you the way you deserve.” You shake your head and let out a weak no, he must not continue for it hurts too much. “Please don’t,” “I will, i will until i can no longer breath, i will do anything for you.” He presses your foreheads together and you should swiftly pull away from him, turn away and keep yourself locked up tight but you allow him to despite what your head was saying because it is what your heart wished for. “I can offer you nothing.” You say in return as you hope its true, not just in titles in lands in anything but you pray you cannot return his feelings either. Yet he simple rubs his nose against yours and you let out a shuddering breath. “I do not care.”

Your hands find his face and he pulls away from you. You simply stare at him, your eye falling to his eyepatch which he is quick to notice and goes to pull it away from his face. You stop him, “You do not have to, if you do not wish.” He smiles and pulls it away from his face. You are gasp lightly at the glimmering sapphire in his eye. You run your hand under his eye and he leans into your hand. “it is beautiful. You are beautiful.” He shakes his head and presses his forehead against yours. “There is no one more beautiful than you.”

He kisses you. It is not similar to the past kiss you have shared. This kiss is simpler, one made of pure love. Like he is pouring himself into you and you drink every drop of it up. In this one moment nothing else matters. Not the past present or the future just you and aemond above the world. You ignore every worry, every voice in your head telling you this is wrong. Just the feeling of his lips on your and the grip of his hands on your hips. His lips leave yours and trail down the side of your jaw down your neck, licking and sucking at the skin he can reach. Your hands grip his shoulders and you are pulled even closer to him as you revel in the pleasure. His lips trail back up to reach yours once more as one of hands leaves your waist and trails under your dress.

You let out some heaving breaths as he pulls away from you. “Allow me to make my debts right. To give you what you are owed.” You do not even think before you nod, without a care in the world as he presses his lips against yours against he trails his fingers along your slit. Unlike last time he barely wastes anytime before two fingers enter your and you let out a long moan that aemond drinks up as his tongue finds its way in your mouth. You have never felt like this before, with the rushing winds and the feeling of his course fingers inside your walls, his thumb toying with your clit. Aemond pulls away from your lips and you drop your head into his shoulder as he continues his movements inside you.

“You feel so good my sweet, fuck i will never tire of this.” You feel in slip in a third finger causing you to hiss at the stretch. You can focus on nothing other than the way he’s making you feel, you had thought the garden was the best it would get but somehow this was even better, you feel that pit in your stomach grow and grow leading you to bite into the fabric covering his shoulder to silence your only growing moans. “I want to hear you my sweet,” And he certainly hears you, with your battered breaths and shaky moans right next to his ear you can feel himself harden against you. You almost wonder if you should help him but being so close to your release you only think of yourself.

“Aemond,,” “my sweet give me what i desire, cum.” His thumb against your clit quickens and you shake as you drip all over his fingers. They stay inside you for a moment, allowing you to settle in your release before he speaks to vhagar to have you land before he removes his fingers and you watch mesmerized as he takes each one in his hands, licking even at his palm to remove some that had dripped down. “Does it truly taste that good?” He hums with his eye closed as he pops the last finger from his mouth. “absolutely divine.”

You had not even notice you had been flying back to where you had taken off. He must have been steering with his free hand. He basically has to carry you off of vhagar as you legs do not seem to be working. You say nothing to one another until you are off the ground and you eye his hardness. “Do you not need any help with that?” That annoying smirk graces his face and he shakes his head. “I would not want a pretty little innocent girl like you to partake in such terrible terrible sins.” You roll your eyes at his words despite your shaky legs begin to walk away from him which he quickly catches up with you. The rest of your walk is in silence and he walks you back to your room and wishes you a good day until dinner before he leaves and you walk into your room before leaning against your door and letting out a shaky breath.

what were you going to do?

You quickly request a bath before stating that you will take a nap before dinner and sleep finds you quickly. Your dreams are filled of you and aemond, similar to how you had been this afternoon and you lose yourself in them. You had apparently been so lost when you open your eyes it is well past dinner and the sky is as dark as can be. You turn to the other side and hope that when you try to fall back asleep you can but a piece of paper on your bedside table as you sitting up.

meet me in the library.

No name attached to it and you think it could possible be aemond. but what could he want from you at an hour like this? certainly nothing good. You throw on a cloak and walk yourself to the library, with every step you take you grow more and more nervous. Yet when you enter the library and walk around the empty walls of books you let out a sigh of relief at the man you see. “kepa.” he turns to you, his face illuminated by the candle in front of him and he crosses his arms as he turns to face you a look you cannot read present on his face.

“What is that look for?” “You like him.” You flinch like he had yelled at you and you fiddle around with your cloak. “I do not.” Your father takes a few steps towards you and stares you down. his tone angrier but his words are still hushed “I have begged you to be careful.” You shrug and grow annoyed at his accusations, “I have father.” “You say you have yet i am staring at the face of a girl who is walking herself directly into a hightower trap.”

You let out a frustrated noise and throw your hands up as you take a couple steps back. You do not know why you are so annoyed by his words. Maybe it is because you feel he is undermining you and does not trust you. Or maybe its because you feel called out by him. You do not know what you feel or what you think about him anymore. Maybe you really are walking into some elaborate trick. Or maybe youre not. You have no clue anymore.

You snap. And you yell at him depsite the fact you do not mean to.

“I am doing exactly what i must do for our family. I do not like him i am not falling into some trick everything i am doing is for us! so screw him and if i have to pretend i love him for the rest of my life then i will because i am doing it for us!”

The two of you are silent as you stare each other down. You do not know what came over you but you merely wish to leave this conversation and for him to leave you alone. The sound of footsteps has you freezing in place. You turn your head and see him. He does not look at you, either of you in fact. Simply placing a book back on the shelf and grabbing another. “Aemond wait i-” He does not turn to you as you speak. You watch as he merely begins to walk away. You almost run after him, but you feel so stuck in your place. He heard that. He had to have. You cant even be bothered to care that everything you have worked so hard for might have just been crumbled when the only thing you can think about is how he must feel.

He laid his heart before you and you have done nothing but squash it like a bug. Maybe it was a trick maybe it wasn’t but you can’t help but fear it was. Maybe you should hope it wasnt for you cant imagine how hurt he would feel should he has been genuine. You should hope he is exactly how your father pictures him to be. The aemond you know of the future. The evil man who murdered your brother and calls your bastards at every breath. Though deep down you know he is not.

You cannot breath. The air escaping you as you stumble your way to the table and stare at the wood as your head spins. You sit down in one of the chairs as you look at your father with worried eyes. He runs his hand along his jaw and he shakes his head. He does not know what to do. And neither do you.

Your wedding festivities start tomorrow if there even is still to be a wedding at all now. He has the proof he needs to go to his mother and she would swiftly put a stop to this as she has been dying to do. Would you be kicked out of the keep? would all your efforts be in vain? Would he hate you? if he didnt before he must now. He must despise you. For tricking him and rightfully so. You are a monster. But a monster who had been in the right. Everything you are doing is for your family. But your heart aches for him as you press your head against the cold wood of the table.

“We are royally fucked.”

You cannot disagree with him.

[reasonsforhope]

"Clothing tags, travel cards, hotel room key cards, parcel labels … a whole host of components in supply chains of everything from cars to clothes. What do they have in common? RFID tags.  

Every RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag contains a microchip and a tiny metal strip of an antenna. A cool 18bn of these are made – and disposed of – each year. And with demands for product traceability increasing, ironically in part because of concerns for the social and environmental health of the supply chain, that’s set to soar. 

And guess where most of these tags end up? Yup, landfill – adding to the burgeoning volumes of e-waste polluting our soils, rivers and skies. It’s a sorry tale, but it’s one in which two young graduates of Imperial College London and Royal College of Art are putting a great big green twist. Under the name of PulpaTronics, Chloe So and Barna Soma Biro reckon they’ve hit on a beguilingly simple sounding solution: make the tags out of paper. No plastic, no chips, no metal strips. Just paper, pure and … simple … ? Well, not quite, as we shall see. 

The apparent simplicity is achieved by some pretty cutting-edge technical innovation, aimed at stripping away both the metal antennae and the chips. If you can get rid of those, as Biro explains, you solve the e-waste problem at a stroke. But getting rid of things isn’t the typical approach to technical solutions, he adds. “I read a paper in Nature that set out how humans have a bias for solving problems through addition – by adding something new, rather than removing complexity, even if that’s the best approach.”   

And adding stuff to a world already stuffed, as it were, can create more problems than it solves. “So that became one of the guiding principles of PulpaTronics”, he says: stripping things down “to the bare minimum, where they are still functional, but have as low an environmental impact as possible”.  

...how did they achieve this magical simplification? The answer lies in lasers: these turn the paper into a conductive material, Biro explains, printing a pattern on the surface that can be ‘read’ by a scanner, rather like a QR code. It sounds like frontier technology, but it works, and PulpaTronics have patents pending to protect it. 

The resulting tag comes in two forms: in one, there is still a microchip, so that it can be read by existing scanners of the sort common within retailers, for example. The more advanced version does away with the chip altogether. This will need a different kind of scanner, currently in development, which PulpaTronics envisages issuing licences for others to manufacture. 

Crucially, the cost of both versions is significantly cheaper than existing RFID kit – making this a highly viable proposition. Then there are the carbon savings: up to 70% for the chipless version – so a no-brainer from a sustainability viewpoint too. All the same, industry interest was slow to start with but when PulpaTronics won a coveted Dezeen magazine award in late 2023, it snowballed, says So. Big brands such as UPS, DHL, Marks & Spencer and Decathlon came calling. “We were just bombarded.” Brands were fascinated by the innovation, she says, but even more by the price point, “because, like any business, they knew that green products can’t come with a premium”."

-via Positive.News, April 29, 2024

--

Note: I know it's still in the very early stages, but this is such a relief to see in the context of the environmental and human rights catastrophes associated with lithium mining and mining for rare earth metals, and the way that EVs and other green infrastructure are massively increasing the demand for those materials.

I'll take a future with paper-based, more humane alternatives for sure! Fingers crossed this keeps developing and develops well (and quickly).

[glassracoon]

I have a hc that Chloe isn't the jealous gf but she is the protective gf so she doesn't like when people touch Red not bc she's jealous but bc she is determined to keep Red safe at all costs. Chloe's mind goes to the worst scenarios she can think of like, what if the person grabs Red but she doesn't notice the person has a dagger with poison and stabs Red then Chloe can't save her or what if they magically vanish and again Chloe cant save her just like how she couldn't save her mom in the first time line?! It sounds crazy and Chloe knows it's irrational, but she made a vow to herself to keep Red safe, and she won't fail protecting someone she loves. Again. Not ever.

[chocostrwberry]

Marinette is kind.

“I want you to know what it’s like to be cared for.”

I want her defining quality as both a civilian and a superhero to be kindness.

MORE BELOW!!

I think it’s like, an important trait to have as Ladybug. I mean, her kwami can create literally anything, and yet she chooses to make Lucky Charms that either help her and Chat Noir or help others instead of weapons that could harm the akuma or sentimonster. It’s also a reason why Master Fu chose her. She decided to take time out of her day to help him when no one else was bothered to do it.

This is also why Marinette can’t just give up being Ladybug: Hawkmoth is using people’s pain and vulnerability for his own personal gain, something she despises. She feels obligated to stop him, no matter the cost to herself. She’s not stopping Hawkmoth; she’s saving the victims of his power.

I like the idea that she just can’t help herself. It’s such an engrained quality that even when Chloe bullies her, when Chat Noir breaks her heart, or Lila literally destroys her entire life and everything she has ever known, she still decides to show them kindness and mercy when they don’t deserve it from her.

[arcadiabaytornado]

Max’s utter devotion to Chloe is one of my favorite parts of “Life Is Strange,” the Pricefield dynamic, and Max’s overall character.  

Max has only been with Chloe for a day at this point, and she hasn't even gotten the trauma of repeatedly watching Chloe die yet. She could have just been quiet or taken a nonviolent approach and stepped between them. Yet she doesn't. Instead, she does the most confrontational thing possible and pulls the gun because Chloe's well-being means so much to Max that she would kill a man.

I've also seen a few people that it doesn't seem in character for Max to shoot someone, but I firmly believe it is. I live in the Southern USA. I've been around guns all my life. The FIRST thing you're taught about gun safety is to never point it at someone, even as a joke, or even if it's "unloaded." The second you aim a gun at someone, you're agreeing that you could kill them if something goes wrong. You're also taught never to put your finger near the trigger unless you're actively about to shoot...and look where Max's finger instantly goes. 

More Undercut

While Max may not be well versed about guns, she has enough weariness of them that you’d expect her to act more carefully. However, she doesn’t, because the second she aimed the gun at Frank, she agreed on some level that she could hurt him, and if you make a certain choice, Max genuinely could have shot him dead if bullets were in the chamber.

So Max was already taking things really far in Episode 2, and she does so instinctually. When Max saved Chloe in the bathroom, she decided she would protect her no matter the cost. And she does. Even when it destroys her, even when it destroys others, even when it destroys her childhood home, even when it destroys her friends that live there. All she does is keep protecting her. Is it healthy? Uh...not really. Is it the definition of unconditional love? Absolutely. Is it unhinged? For sure. But man, does it make the game and Pricefield's dynamic something I could write an essay about. More time travelers should be unhinged about their loved ones actually. 

[robin-evry]

What about a Max Caulfield! Yuu from life is strange!

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐌𝐀𝐗 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃!𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓 📸🖼️

Maxine Caulfield, better known as Max (born September 21, 1995) is the main protagonist of Life is Strange. She is an 18-year-old aspiring photographer and senior at Blackwell Academy. She left her mom and dad in Seattle for the seaside town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where she grew up. After saving her childhood friend Chloe Price from being killed by Nathan Prescott in one of Blackwell Academy's bathrooms, she discovers she has the ability to rewind time and even stop it in its tracks. On the search for clues to solve the mysterious disappearance of Rachel Amber, Max must also discover how to use her powers to help Chloe find her missing friend.

Max!Yuu is rarely seen without their trusty vintage camera. They’ve started a photo journal of their time in Twisted Wonderland, capturing both the beauty and chaos of the magical world. The students find it fascinating, though some (like Leona and Vil) might be more critical of being photographed without permission.

Their time-rewinding ability is subtle but game-changing. They might use it to fix awkward social interactions, avoid minor disasters (like food exploding in the cafeteria), or redo pop quizzes. However, constant rewinding gives them a deep sense of déjà vu, leaving them emotionally drained at times.

While Max!Yuu and Grim bicker occasionally, they're quiet nature has a grounding effect on him. They often capture candid photos of Grim in his most mischievous moments, which he secretly loves. Over time, Grim becomes their most photographed “subject,” jokingly calling himself their “muse.”

Malleus has also become one of their subjects to photography, max!yuu admits that malleus is perfect for posing as well describing him to be quite beautiful and as well they get some money on the side from sebek buying their malleus photo to hang on the wall. Malleus also keeps some photos.

Malleus feels at ease around them, appreciating their calm demeanor and artistic view of the world. They often share deep conversations under the stars, with them documenting the ethereal beauty of the night sky over Diasomnia. Malleus finds it comforting to be seen through their compassionate lens.

NRC photographer, Crowley started to ask them to photograph places, people or anything, so he doesn't need to spend an extra cost to hire a photographer, who needs one when you have max!yuu.

They also get a job as a magical creature photographer where they take photos of the magical creatures of twst and then study it and admire it, and after analysing it into perfection they sell at a low or high price depending on the animals.

The emotional toll of rewinding time becomes apparent in their quieter moments. They sometimes isolate themselves to recharge, sitting alone in Ramshackle with only Grim for company. Their friends grow to notice this and subtly support them, offering small gestures like snacks or quiet companionship.

In the past, max yuu has also used their abilities to prevent some of the deaths of the character, ruggie originally died in the original timeline back in savanaclaw arc, but max!yuu created a new timeline where ruggie gets to live.

Vil and Max!Yuu form an unexpected bond over art. Vil critiques their photography with a sharp but constructive eye, pushing Yuu to improve. Over time, Vil secretly admires how Yuu’s work reveals sides of him he didn’t think others could see, such as vulnerability and quiet strength.

As well as rook, since max! Yuu usually have permission to photograph people with consent like Leona and malleus, rook would come up to them and both of them discuss the pictures as well as art stuff

If Max!Yuu ever has the chance to leave Twisted Wonderland, they’d take one final group photo with all their friends, placing it at the heart of their memory wall. It would be the picture they cherish most, representing the strange, magical world that became their second home.

[nolessthan7]

why isn't anyone noticing all the failures of double exposure that decknine have been doing all along vs dontnod? the economy of storytelling in dontnod is amazing. just look at the names.

chloe price - the price to pay for saving arcadia bay/arcadia bay is the cost for chloe

victoria chase - "victorious" popular dream chaser girl

mark jefferson - a seeming bastion leader and teacher with a disgusting intimate secret and french attitudes

kate marsh - lost in the marshes of the narrative, sunk in the mire of the plot without understanding

max caufield - catcher in the rye reference to a character that wants to save everyone, "supermax"

i'm not really sure about nathan and warren, but the economy and meaning here is incredible, allowing for a shorthand while planning the story so none of these major characters lose their core. especially in a high school story like this, where that simplicity is not just helpful but a staple of the genre.

whereas the major characters in double exposure like amanda, qwen, safi, moses... they're just names. and maybe deck nine tried to flesh them out with a character sheet, but that's not enough. nothing about them is tied to the narrative in a significant way. since decknine took the reigns they havent given the property the attention and care on a script level that earned its fans in the first place. really sad to see people making excuses for it because "max is back," but i see less and less of that except from paid sponsors and the game only just released

i was so excited because i thought maybe we'd have like the episodic release of the mystery like the first game, but alas those days are gone. maybe we will get it with lost records 🤞🏽

[the-uncharted-cookbook]

Cintamani Sap

Gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, ghee butter, and blue food coloring

Nathan Drake raced a madman and his entire army to the steps of Shambhala.

I couldn't believe it when I first heard the story. And who could blame me? Especially because Victor Sullivan was the first person I heard it from. But Chloe Frazer did corroborate it and eventually Nathan Drake himself showed up at my bar with a small jar full of blue resin to prove it. He said what he had was all that was left of the mythical Cintamani Stone. Don't tell Nate, but I may have "accidentally" spilled them across the bar and pocketed one of the small blue pebbles in the chaos. Lucky I did too. I had no idea at the time, but that little bit of resin eventually saved my life.

According to legend, the Cintamani Stone was a jewel that would give its wielder great power and grant their every wish, but in reality it wasn't a stone at all. It was actually a massive piece of amber from the Tree of Life, hidden at the center of the lost city of Shambhala. The tree possessed incredible medicinal properties, like aloe vera, arnica, calendula, willow bark, yarrow, and other healing plants but on a much greater scale. When you consume the sap from the Tree of Life, your natural healing rapidly accelerates and you gain boundless energy. It can even halt aging. But over time, too much of the sap changes you. It stains your skin blue and your teeth black, and it gets inside your mind. You become dependent on it, a Guardian dedicated to protecting Shambhala and the source of the sap at all costs.

The Cintamani Sap cocktail is my attempt to capture the energizing and refreshing nature of the Tree of Life. Gin was chosen as the base because the prominent juniper flavor provides a piney, resinous taste. Ghee butter adds texture and flavor and harkens to butter tea, a popular drink in the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The honey syrup, in addition to sweetening the cocktail, thickens it slightly for a more sap-like consistency and a drop of blue food coloring gives the perfect color to match the Cintamani Stone.

CINTAMANI SAP

Ingredients: 2 oz. gin 1 oz. dry curaçao (orange liqueur) 0.75 oz. lemon juice 0.75 oz. honey syrup 0.25 oz. ghee butter 1 drop blue food coloring Melt the ghee butter on a spoon over a flame or in a microwave. Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with pebble ice or crushed ice. Shake and strain through a fine mesh strainer onto fresh ice in a Mai Tai or double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a blue rock candy stick and an orange slice or peel.

I originally made the Cintamani Sap with a London Dry gin, specifically Bombay Sapphire, but it works wonderfully with a more citrus forward gin like Plymouth as well. Some of the ghee butter solidifies as you shake the drink so straining with a fine mesh strainer is important. The butter adds to the taste and texture of the drink, but there shouldn't be big butter flakes in it.

For the orange liqueur, I strongly recommend Pierre Ferrand's Dry Curaçao. As a replacement, Grand Marnier or other decent brandy based orange liqueurs would be fine. You could use blue curaçao which would also eliminate the need for the food coloring, but most commercially available blue curaçaos (and cheap orange liqueurs in general) are sickly sweet. If you use one, I would probably adjust the amount of honey syrup down to balance out the extra sweetness you'd get.

The recipe for honey syrup can be found here.

[dalekofchaos]

If there were more endings than just Sacrifice Chloe or Arcadia Bay.

So I came up with 2 alternate choices of what happens when Max comes back via the Butterfly photo.

Choice 1. Sacrifice Chloe remains the same, but give more angst. Max holds onto Chloe and is there for her in Chloe's final moments.

Choice 2. Sacrifice Max. Max sacrifices herself. So I've always thought it was odd this was not a choice. LIS used the Butterfly Effect as an inspiration, so Max would write down her final journal entry declaring she is going to defy fate and save Chloe and Arcadia Bay, but even if it costs her own life.

Max jumps out telling Nathan to stop, Nathan shocked, shoots Max. Chloe rushes to Max and holds onto her. Chloe crying and screaming Max's name. Chloe crying while Max simply smiles and tells Chloe "Have a fantastic life" and passes on.

We flash forward via the photos being burned and being replaced like in the Bay ending, but from Chloe's POV. One shot shows Chloe holding Max's body, in another she's in her room full of Max's pictures in front of her, another where she and Joyce embrace and make peace with David's hand on her in support showing a hint of Chloe making peace with her mother and a hint of David and Chloe making peace and the final photo is Chloe at the lighthouse. Cut to Max's funeral. Max's parents are there and are like how Joyce was at Chloe's funeral, Warren, Kate, Dana and Victoria are there and finally a shot of Chloe breaking down at the sight of the casket being lowered.

Epilogue. After the funeral, Chloe reads Max's journal. At first she can't believe it, but so many things start to make sense. Nathan, Rachel and Jefferson. Max gave up her life so that she can live. So Chloe vows not to waste this second chance and vows to do better for Max. Time skip showing a future where she lives with a new girlfriend(a completely new character or even Steph), works at Arcadia Bay Garage while attending Bay City College, plays the guitar in a band and doesn't forget Max, like show Chloe looking at a framed picture she has of Max, a reminder of what she lost and why she chooses to live on and how forever grateful she is that Max was in her life and the week they had together in another lifetime.

Choice 3. Max talks Nathan down.

Max slowly comes out of hiding and talks to Nathan calmly. "Nathan, please. Don't do this. I know you're tired of people trying to control you. I know you never wanted to hurt Rachel or Kate and you know deep down you don't want to hurt me or Chloe." Nathan's hand with the loaded gun is shaking but he listens. "I know about the Dark Room. I know what happened to Rachel and Kate. I know that your father and Jefferson made you the way you are. But you don't have to be like this. You don't have to hurt anyone anymore. You can bring them down. Turn yourself in and you'll be as far away from your father and you can get the help you need."

Nathan struggles with his words and falls to his knees and drops the gun. "Th…thank you" Nathan leaves.

Chloe jumps and hugs Max. "Max, what the hell just happened?"

"I saved you, and I saved everyone." Max explains everything, apologizes for not keeping contact and they hug one more time.

We see flash forwards. First picture sees Nathan turning himself in. Second picture shows Jefferson being arrested in the Dark Room. Third-5th picture shows depending on your pro Chloe or Warren choices shows Max and Chloe together having a date at Two WHales with Joyce smiling with approval and kissing at the Lighthouse. If you chose more pro Warren choices, we see Max and Warren Going Ape, holding hands in the chemistry room and sharing their first kiss at the Vortex party. Final picture shows Max, Chloe, Warren, Kate and Victoria all hanging out and living life.

Final end scene is Rachel's funeral. The last scene would be Max and Chloe smiling at Rachel's Doe spirit, similar to how Max did at the Blue Butterfly.

[miraculousfanworks]

Fanfiction Prompt

Chloe finds out Adrien is Chat Noir. After a fierce internal battle between her desire for attention, her resentment towards Ladybug, and her desire to protect Adrien, Adrien wins out. Chloe decides to help him, and Ladybug indirectly, in the only way she can. By abusing her father to manipulate public policy. Because, clearly, Adrien is doing TOO MUCH. And she CAN'T get him to stop being Chat Noir. So she needs to free him from his other commitments. Which means freeing him from his father, and Nathalie. So, clearly, Adrien needs money, money his father can't touch or control. Money he can use to live. There's a lot of hemming and hawing and "but but but Chloe..." but, in the end, she gets her way. It was simply a matter of pointing out, FIRMLY, exactly how much money Ladybug and Chat Noir saved the city. Not JUST in repairing the post battle damage. But in the cost of outfitting an actual effective Anti-Supervillain taskforce. CLEARLY the cost of such an undertaking would EASILY outstrip the city Police budget, probably by more than double. Then add all the public good works NOT related to fighting Akuma, the potential liability lawsuits, the cost of counselling people would need... The next day, at the end of school, she quietly passes Adrien two large manilla envelopes. One addressed to him, one simply to LB. Inside his were a debit card drawn on the central bank, a large number of documents establishing Chat Noir as a legal entity, a bank account statement that startled even him, a contract guaranteeing a monthly stipend that almost staggered him, and a brief explaining how he could (both in a legal sense and a practical one) purchase and own real property in his own name as Chat Noir. Also documents establishing that, as far as Paris was concerned, he was a legal adult. He didn't open Ladybug's, but he looked forward to seeing her reaction...

Prompt by Tiwaz

[chloe-caulfield94]

The theme of moving on in Life is Strange S1

In discussions surrounding the ending choice of Season 1, the theme of accepting loss and moving on is often brought up. An argument is made that this theme would be realized if Chloe was murdered. Max, by letting Chloe die, would show the ability to accept loss and move on. I think it’s a very narrow view of how the theme of accepting loss and moving on is portrayed in the game. If the only thing you expect from the ending is for Max to experience loss and to move on from that loss, then both endings achieve that. In the sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending Max also experiences loss – of Joyce, who was much more than just a friend’s mother to her, of her schoolmates, of her childhood hometown. And she moves on from that loss, leaving town with Chloe, beginning the next chapter of her life.

I’d argue that in the sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending Max exhibits the ability to accept loss and move on much more than in the other ending. The final choice is made not on Monday, but on Friday. That fact is relevant as we’re discussing the themes of accepting loss and moving on.

Even though in the nomenclature used by the game the choice is between “sacrificing Chloe” and “sacrificing Arcadia Bay”, which would imply both options require some kind of action from Max, that is not the case. On Friday, Chloe is safe. Max has already saved her life. She has broken Chloe’s cruel fate. So the option to sacrifice Arcadia Bay is in reality an option not to sacrifice Chloe. An option to abstain from saving the town, because the only way to save it is to kill Chloe. If Max does nothing, then Chloe will continue to be alive, because the mortal danger threatening her has already been averted. But the town will be destroyed, with no sacrificial lamb to stay the anger of the weather gods. It’s the option to save the town that requires Max to go back in time to Monday and to erase every single thing she did throughout the game, including her Monday rescue of Chloe, thus killing her.

Do you see the difference between those two options? By sacrificing the town, Max accepts that there’s nothing that can be done to save it, apart from killing her best friend, which she refuses to do. She accepts the inevitability of the Storm. And then she moves on, leaving the town, beginning the next chapter of her life.

But by sacrificing Chloe, Max proves she is unable to accept the loss of the town, of her classmates and of her teachers. She is so unable to accept that loss, that she is willing to go back in time once more, even though at this point she has deduced it was time travel which caused the Storm in the first place. She is so unable to accept that loss, that she is willing to erase all her choices and struggles, even to sacrifice her own best friend just to prevent it.

This point needs to be stressed. When the final choice is being made, the loss that Max is faced with, the loss that she can accept and move on or which she can prevent at a terrible cost, is the loss of the townspeople of Arcadia Bay. Not the loss of Chloe, who is neither lost nor in danger of dying at that point.

Also, have a look at the songs accompanying the endings.

“Obstacles” by Syd Matters is a song about growing up, learning the reality of the world, moving on, looking towards the future. It perfectly fits the theme of learning to move forward in time despite having experienced loss, of learning to accept the inevitability of some losses.

“Spanish Sahara” by Foals is a song about experiencing grief, but not about learning to accept loss or processing it in a healthy manner. On the contrary, it’s a song about trying to push grief down, trying to forget one’s loss, which is the most unhealthy way of dealing with it. Trying to forget is not acceptance. It’s denial, the first stage of grief, not the last.

So even the ending songs indicate that while in both Max experiences loss, she only learns to accept it and move on in the “sacrifice Arcadia Bay” ending.

I think that saying the only way for Max to exhibit capability to move on after loss is for her to watch helplessly as her best friend is being murdered is an incredibly narrow way of interpreting that theme. The theme of moving on should be interpreted with all other elements of the story taken into account. In October of 2013 Max was entering a very important period of her life. She was a high school senior. She was on the cusp of becoming a young adult. For every person, this is a period of change and of choice. You pick your path. You leave your family home, sometimes even your hometown, to pursue education or career. It’s also the moment people start entering into their first serious relationships.

In the “sacrifice Chloe” ending Max shows little capability to grow up or move on. She clings to her hometown and her school. She clings to the place her childhood memories are associated with. She is incapable of taking her first steps as a young adult.

In the “sacrifice Arcadia Bay” ending Max leaves her hometown, her school and her childhood memories behind. She leaves the town to begin a new life somewhere else. She leaves with the person who might become her first serious romantic partner.

Now, which of those endings realizes the themes of moving on and growing up more? I think it’s self-evident.

[i-like-anything-water]

Chlonette as different Disney Princess AU:

(Tangled)

Marinette: Chloe, let down your hair!

Chloe: Uhm, no. This costs more than your life.

Marinette: I'm trying to save you, you brat.

(Princess and the Frog)

Marinette, sighing: Let me get this straight -

Chloe, grinning: Which I am not, by the way.

Marinette: You got yourself into this mess because you couldn't be nice, even once, in your life and went with a mysterious man who you just had to piss off?!

Chloe: Minor details. Now, about that True love's kiss....

Marinette: I am not kissing a damn frog!

(Beauty and the Beast)

Marinette: Take me instead! Let my family go!

Chloe: You're not exactly my type but it's you or staying as a beast forever. Let me think about it.

Marinette: Fuck you.

Chloe: Weird kink but okay.