#any guesses who the gladiator is? 👀

[brandwhorestarscream]

Energon ideas:

Pink - Gives Heat Stroke. Makes fans go brrrp as such.

Yellow - Equivalent to Caffeinated Energon.

Orange - Strength buff (adrenaline style). Will likely cause strut damage due to loss of pain sensations during use.

Other Colors:

Dark Blue - Processor Buff. Less energy per L though so it makes it's user's tire out faster in exchange for greater processor power

Deep Purple (not that sickly purple DE is) - Gives hallucinations. Often confused with DE, resulting in toxic contamination to DE.

Deep Green - Vaguely toxic. Result of mixing E + ToxEn + SynthEn. Strength buff with downside of nerve failure.

Grey - Tastes like Slag. That's it. Perfectly fine energon, just tastes terrible. Thankfully not that common.

Black - Slowly dyes parts of the body black. Otherwise an OK fuel source... if your not attached to clean paint. (Some claim it helps joints function better. Claim not proven)

White - Super Energized Energon. You think Engex is overcharged? Try this. You drink a shot of this and risk engex poisoning. Used in larger ships if quantity is large enough. Otherwise, only used in hyperspecitic medical cases, when energy deprecation was too intense for regular medgrade.

Thoughts? This is legit what i use in my own HC.

These are super fun! I've already come up with a roster for the rainbow energon and what they do, but this is great nonetheless! I already talked about the orange energon being like Primus's immune system and the effects it can grant, but I never mentioned what was settled on for yellow!

I've decided to make yellow energon a powerful anesthetic, useful in surgeries, and too much of it can easily kill someone. The story, going along with the infected insanity theme, sees a very important (read: profitable) gladiator suddenly sustain injury outside of the Pits. He needs emergency surgery, and it just so happens that the mines owned by the arena have recently come across a sample of never before seen yellow energon. They administer it to the gladiator in prep for the operation, but they miscalculate the dose. Mech enters lethal spark arrest and spirals. They manage to resuscitate him, but he comes back....... wrong

With the yellow energon's power over sleep, being the concentrated blood of a god not meant for mortal consumption, the gladiator mutates. The energon in his veins is no longer blue, and suddenly... nightmares and dreams alike begin coming to life. First, only in visions: he sees his greatest dreams realized and his worst nightmares hunting him, before beginning to see the inner workings of others as well. Everyone he sees is surrounded by the things of their innermost mind, and as he loses his grip on reality. Dreams and nightmares start climbing out of people's heads, given physical form by the sheer presence of this twisted, mutated mech

The rainbow energon has that effect, taking over an infected host's body, warping their mind and stripping away their sanity, giving them capabilities that would normally be impossible for a mortal to achieve. Drinking the blood of Primus that's not meant for them carries a heavy price, and eventually, all life on Cybertron will be wiped out thanks to the infecteds' rampages. Ruling the post apocalyptic rubble, the gladiator that hosts the yellow energon is given the title of the Nightmare King 😌

[twistofstory]

So if we must sail through dangerous oceans and beaches I'll go where Poseidon won't reach us And if I gotta drop another infant from a wall In an instant so we all don't die Then I'll become the monster

(Monster from EPIC: The Musical)

Stargazer's the only character from the main trio who doesn't become an avatar at any point! She has a lot on her plate here, at least she has Parhelion in the main story... I'll jump a bit further in the plot this time - Newt was already discovered to be a Desolation avatar at this point.

Latest venture got the trio to a Slaughter arena, and both of Stargazer's companions wanted to put an end to it. Yet, a quarrel of two powerful beings, fueled by a murderous spirit of the place, couldn't end in a simple altercation. Guests were ecstatic about the fight - not so much about the decision to let the downed fighters "rest", yet no one seemed to object. To stunned Stargazer's suprize, it was a simple dragon-gladiator who showed up on the side of the arena to clean up the mess. As a healer, Stargazer always avoid unneeded violence. Her prerogative was saving lives, not taking them, and she was successful to stay true to this motto for years. Besides, in a team of two monsters and a dragon she was the weakest and, most importantly, the most fragile. But now? She didn't care anymore. Landing on a bloody sand of the arena, Stargazer couldn't find even a drop of fear in her. All she had was dull exhaustion and determination. She needs to find her kid, but she won't lose the remains of her family in the process.

A little tip about trio's quest...

I reeeeally want to talk about Stargazer's guilt, especially since this song fits this part of her AU arc as well, but I would rather keep the story short and to the point this time… I even wrote that part, guess I'll have to draw a different piece for this narrative?.. 👀 Stargazer sertantly deserves a deeper and better look, I think this one's the weakest on this front comparing to my previous two posts Also def would love to talk about the Slaughter arena episode more, it's the lowest of lows in Newt and Iris relationship :(

[titleleaf]

On a Caracalla reblog you said "#it's really fascinating to me how his companions all look around his age #which I have abundant thoughts about". Care to share your thoughts? 👀👀

Absolutely! Or some of them anyway because this movie is eating my brain.

Generally if you’re surrounding yourself in persons of ill repute (and lets face it the twins are not doing much to cover themselves in good repute) in a salacious Roman history full of speculation and scurrilous gossip, they’re often described as people whose occupation already puts them in public view — actors and mimes, independent sex workers, charioteers and gladiators. Cassius Dio attributes this kind of disreputable behavior to the historical very-much-non-twin brothers after they successfully bump off their dad's closest lieutenant for his real or imagined treachery:

The sons of Severus, Antoninus and Geta, feeling that they had got rid of a pedagogue, as it were, in Plautianus, now went to all lengths in their conduct. They outraged women and abused boys, they embezzled money, and made gladiators and charioteers their boon companions, emulating each other in the similarity of their deeds, but full of strife in their rivalries; for if the one attached himself to a certain faction, the other would be sure to choose the opposite side. And at last they were pitted against each other in some kind of contest with teams of ponies and drove with such fierce rivalry that Antoninus fell out of his two-wheeled chariot and broke his leg.

"I'm Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and this is Jackass! [immediately gets his shit wrecked]"

But back to the film -- we don't know too much about Caracalla's squad in this scene or the crowd of overdressed hotties who accompany him and his brother at Thraex's house party. (In fact, compare the young people in that scene to the broader crowd at Thraex's place -- definitely a lively guest list but it seems to skew older and reflect Thraex's own position as an ageing politician surrounding himself with hot young things.)

The ones he's surrounded by after Geta's death are all a bunch of cheerful-looking, attractive young people who are as gaudy and flashy as Caracalla himself. I'm more inclined to classify them as basically multi-purpose hangers-on and flatterers than exclusively his lovers (though the two categories are pretty fluid tbf) and they don't appear to be enslaved/otherwise forced to be there, with the exception of the guy who seems to be Dondus' handler. (What a grim job that must be, seriously.) In modern terms, I joke about Caracalla having groupies or surrounding himself with social media influencers, but I do think these companions reflect the twins' alienation from any sort of peer group and desire for friends to hang out with more than… literally anything that might be more useful from a political POV. We see plenty of older political figures in the film but they're mostly either doing their own midlife crisis version of the same shit (shout out to Thraex again) or seemingly alienated by it.

It would be hard to say whether this actually reflects reality or just the different ways contemporary writers with their own biases wanted to show "look at these disreputable Bad Emperors cavorting shamelessly with their social inferiors!". It would be extra hard to say what Ridley Scott thinks he's achieving here, though I've got some good guesses. But on a Watsonian level, what does it say about the twins that they choose to surround themselves with people who are less likely to be powerful in their own right/potential political assets, and more likely to be really fun hangs? Young people, people of low birth, people of questionable respectability or social standing however famous or acclaimed they are in the world of sports/entertainment/glamorous nightlife?

It comes up both in the special features and in interviews around the film that the twins are intentionally framed and styled in terms of youth and rebellion — scruffy punk rockers, shitty teens out of their depth, rather than mature statesmen. (Commodus in the first film is certainly played like a youthful baddie/more boyish and juvenile than Maximus, but they turned that up to 11 for part deux.) The twins (twimperors…) are mostly seen pursuing pleasure and amusement or trying to avoid the incoming consequences of their own intemperate actions. They don't seem to have any allies other than their own immediate guard. Unfortunately all this means they're not… apparently very good at doing the things a head of state ought to be doing. Caracalla seems most interested in military expansion, Geta in the quasi-divine/priestly role of the emperor, which notably are two of the aspects of imperial succession they can lay claim to when there's not much else to recommend them -- neither of them seems all that interested in administration or public works or whatever but neither is Ridley Scott so for fanwank purposes perhaps that's going on in the background somewhere. It doesn't seem likely any of these youthful fresh faces are being kept around for their administrative experience, or that the twins are maintaining these relationships to network with important people.

We never see the twins' father or mother, or even hear about them except in the deleted scenes/screenplay establishing that their father was physically abusive. The historical Severan dynasty was not the most functional family on the planet, but Julia Domna was very much an important person in her own right, involved in her sons' lives (until, uh, one of them murdered the other) and in the administration of the empire. Removing her from the story, on a Watsonian level we’re left with a couple of stripling youths with no one to whom they can turn for guidance — or to whom they have any obligation to listen, which is a dangerous combo. Despite their clearly self-willed nature the twins repeatedly look to older more experienced and competent adults to lend them legitimacy or authority -- Acacius, Lucilla, and ultimately Macrinus. In Macrinus they find someone who’s both perceptive and politically adept enough to manage their volatility and give them guidance without offending their egos… just unfortunately he’s got plans of his own and he has zero sentimentality about power and its exercise. Macrinus' eye for other people's weaknesses is really fascinating to me; he appeals to the overwhelmed Geta by presenting himself like he's at last the grown-up in the room, someone who sees things Geta's way and can help him manage his increasingly unmanageable brother, while he plays on Caracalla's fear, confusion, and resentment. He's had a lifetime of experience putting on a false face, and the exact minute they stop being strategically useful to him, he has no further need for them. Anyway, I fucking love that guy, but this isn't about him so back to the lads.

It’s a really classic Bad Monarch Trope too to have a ruler surrounding themselves with improper favorites instead of the implicitly proper choice of well-connected established aristocrats and members of their own family. So there's nothing revelatory in Caracalla favoring a bunch of other pretty but inexperienced kids who aren't old enough to rent a car (or serve as quaestor) yet it's a lot of fun for me both as a trainwreck of historiography tropes and societal baggage and a wonderfully fanficcable look at their social lives and inner circles. These relationships exist in a weird space where they're, on one level, based around shared interests (getting hammered, watching buff men fight to the death, applying blush, fucking and sucking, amateur theatricals, etc.) and potentially some level of mutual affection; on the other there's a really obvious ulterior motive in the form of money/gifts/undue favoritism and, I would wager, some real risks to losing your emperor's favor or appearing to contradict him. (Or appearing to burst his bubble, given how much they seem to be smiley and relaxed like nothing unusual has happened right after Caracalla's just murdered his twin brother in ostensible self defense.) Does Geta have a similar squad that we're just not seeing, what kind of companions does he favor, what are the histories of the different individuals we see in these scenes... very ficcable stuff, basically.

Anyway somebody should make their OC a sexy superstar in the world of mime who's navigating the treacherous yet sexy soap opera of the Imperial court.

[romance-club-daily]

Who is your LI in each book and why/how did you pick 'em?

Let's go:

Sails in the Fog: Sebastian de Aldana, one of my first LIs (As you will see throughout the list, I have a thing for soft-hearted grumpy guys 🙈).

Moonborn: Max Fall, one of my favorite LIs, sneaky and fun guy.

My Hollywood Story: First I choose Jeff, but later I saw that he was a jerk and did a replay with Ray. I guess he's the better route on this book (but there's not a lot scenes with him :/).

Queen in 30 Days: Adam Huez, of all three. I like his route more. But he's annoying sometimes.

Shadows of Saintfour: Derek Nixon. I like the idea of ​​friends to lovers and to see their friendship, although it doesn't show much of them.

Wave Patrol: Jake Brown, hands down. My first LI ever, and another grumpy with a soft heart.

Seduced by The Rhythm: First I played with Justin, but he became unbearable, so I did Brandon's route and love it! His "redemption" arc is amazing!

Chasing You: Same case as above, but first Alexander Nielsen at first (he became a lot better later) and Ellia November. Ellia deserved more scenes... :/ he's such a passionate guy.

Heaven's Secret: Lucifer. Although I think this guy a little controversial at first, I really like his development by the end of the book.

Legend of the Willow: Kazu Naito a.k.a. the best LI in RC so far (until now at least). This man is everything.

Dracula: A Love Story: I'm on Vlad's route and I love this emo boi, but I too follow/watch Noe's path in the yt playthroughs and I think he's great too. So... both :D

Love From Outer Space: Todd Madison, he's super relatable and a cute nerd.

Rage of the Titans: I'm still waiting for a miracle, Marshall/Hephaestus has to become an endgame LI 🙂 I don't follow any of the other routes now.

Path of the Valkyrie: Ullr! Good guy! (But I follow/watch Sagr's one too)

Sophie's Ten Wishes: I'm on Benedict Reed's path. He's shy and cute, I liked him from the beginning. But I'm curious about Diego and Mitch's route too 👀

Sins of London: Sherlock Holmes! He's unbearable sometimes, but I still like him.

On Thin Ice: I was on Brian's route, then did a replay for Hodge. I liked both, but I came back for Brian, since I wanted to finished the book with him first.

Arcanum: Robert Steltz, his path of angst is so tempting and frustrating 🙂 But I guess we'll have a good reward later when he finally realizes his big love for Selena/Lilith 😀

Gladiator Chronicles: For now I'm trying to follow Paulina's path, but Stortia, Labelle and Augusta are calling for me too~ Still don't know what to do 🤡

Heart of Trespia: I was without a LI because none of them caught my attention, but Reinhold's arc get a grip on me later. So I'm in his route now. I just wanted D'Mario to appear earlier in the story 😀

The Flower from Tiamat's Fire: Sin! Hope we can have more scenes with him... Lyar is interesting too 👀

Theodora: This one will tear me apart 🥺 Lawrence stole my heart, then came John Roberts and Friedrich too 🤡 What am I suppose to do???

Hell and High Water: I guess will appear more LIs but I liked Chand.

Edit because I forgot ROTT and POTV 🤡

[lavender-annd-lilac]

Ok time to get all blues clues up in here 🧐

They say many things. Including the bond between brother and sister. Twins, I believe, yes?”

I literally hate that my mind immediately went to GoT lmao 😫 bc otherwise, I think I would have just thought he was implying it was like a Twelfth Night scenario where the sister is pretending to be her brother or some kind of switcheroo haha

I feel like ppl always encouraged this kind of gossip (see: Anne Boleyn)

“You believe Emeric killed King Richard.”

👀 Player 2 has entered the game.

Tbh I don’t feel like if Ransom did have a hitman, he wouldn’t let him live (Nero and Brutus getting overfed for sure lol). Bc like, then he would be indebted to them in some way and that’s a loose canon he can’t control? I would wager it’s like a poison thing à la Hamlet, or a magic thing like Melly’s shadow baby from GoT.

Which of them spoke ill of my future queen? Which of them had the audacity to utter those words?

Does he care about her reputation? Or does he care about how her reputation affects his reputation? 🤔Court gossip is a powerful political tool tho I feel like (see: Marie Antoinette RIP 😓), so either way it’s prob a rumour he would want to quash.

You matter so little to me, Weara.

“I cared for you, Ransom,” she starts, voice cracking with emotion.

“I had no need for you any longer. You served your purpose. Don’t try to pretend that you were not aware of how it would end.”

Dang I felt bad here y’all😬. Like, this is so Joker and Harley lmao. Also idk, I feel like it sucks if the person u thought was a fuckboi suddenly develops feelings for a person that isn’t u. It’s probably worse than him just picking a new whore of the week bc now apparently he’s turning over a new lead for some new bitch he just met lol. Team Weara tbh 😬

“Lord Formad.”

Ok this guy, THIS guy is just spreading rumours left and right huh? He’s like the medieval gossip girl. What is his endgame tho? It’s clear he’s jelly of Emeric’s position, but idk how antagonizing the future Queen wins him any favours with Ransom, unless he’s planning some kind of coup and starting to sew seeds of distrust with these rumours. Also RIP I guess 😂

Nunc est devorandum

Smh these lions knowing more Latin than me 😂. This scene was so Joaquin Phoenix deciding to give a thumbs up/thumbs down to the gladiators

Your uncle, locked in an intimate embrace with a woman

Lady Formad.

My head is spinning fam 😵‍💫 is this some Littlefinger having an affair with Lysa Arryn so he can convince her to kill her husband and start the rumour that someone else killed her husband?

Like, Lord Hanad schemes with Lady Formad to convince her husband to spread rumours about the Queen - knowing this will get him killed, so now Lord H and Lady F are free to get together??

Or maybe they genuinely like each other idk what reality is anymore tbh 🤷‍♀️

Ransom steps into the light, holding a black leopard cub in his arms.

He’s like look, I got you a mini trash compactor! We can use my two state of the art lions trash compactors for real stuff, but this is just for fun!

And how does the exotic animal trade work here? And is Ransom some kind of animal whisperer or are there like 8 dead trainers somewhere who died teaching this cub how to behave lol 😆

Also idk why I thought of this but what if this leopard and the 2 lions are like… people and that’s why Ransom can tame them so easily haha.

reign - iii.

Thank you to everyone who has read, reblogged and commented on this little fantasy fic of mine. We have a series masterlist now!

reign masterlist

King! Ransom Drysdale x Female Reader

Word Count: 3.5K

Warnings: 18+ ONLY, family toxicity, angst, minor character death/murder, mentions of magic, language, mentions of rumored incest (gossip).

Summary | After the untimely death of the King, a family is thrown into a dangerous game of politics, navigated by a man who offers up his niece as a bargaining chip to secure his place in the realm.

“I must say I was surprised at your inquiry,” Lord Formad says, his servant pouring them both goblets of wine before she bows her head, taking her leave. “Though I believe it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed, Lord Hanad.”

The keep is large, airy and bright with the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks. Formad looks at Hanad’s hand, carefully bandaged, that he quickly moves under the table.

“An accident,” Hanad explains, the man across from him nodding his head. “I asked for a meeting to discuss your concerns with our Lord Chancellor.”

“Mm, indeed, Lord Chancellor,” Lord Formad gripes, stroking his beard. “Merely a boy who believes to know our politics, much like our King to be.”

He pauses, giving a small smile.

“I mean no ill will toward t our future queen, of course. It’s quite interesting, my Lord Hanad, that your niece was hidden away for so long and yet, never set foot in Greymount until earlier today. Most men would have loved for their daughters to come to court. Your brother seemed content to keep her away from here. It does have the people talking of course. They say many things. Including the bond between brother and sister. Twins, I believe, yes?”

“Yes. My brother is very strict with his household. Since she was a babe, she was under lock and key. I aimed to change that. My niece has many gifts.”

“One or two that I’m certain our new king will enjoy.”

Hanad ignores the lewd comment, leaning forward as Formad empties his goblet, wiping his mouth.

“Emeric believes that he has the upper hand. He was installed after King Richard’s death, in the middle of the night. My supporters were dismayed at the haste decision. I had been a faithful steward to our late King Consort Richard and the Queen. As you can imagine, the slight is still raw with myself and my allies.”

“So I have heard. I come to you with listening ears and an open mind, my Lord.”

“You have positioned yourself wisely, Lord Hanad. I saw the way our Prince Ransom looked at your niece. He is quite taken with her, though I am not sure she has been trained to deal with men like him. He could devour her. What then of you, my Lord Hanad? What hand would you have to play?”

“Devour?”

“They say our new king killed his father,” Lord Formad whispers. “A delicate situation, one rife with swift discipline if the word got out. I trust that this piece of nonsense with you goes nowhere else. As you can imagine, our lands are thrust into turmoil with such gossip. It would mean that our new king would be illegitimate.”

“Indeed,” Hanad agrees. “Has it been spreading?”

“Only to my allies, the ones who believe it to be true are weighing options to bring the prince to the council.”

“Do you believe it?”

Formad sighs, leaning his beefy arms on the table.

“What I believe is that Ransom is cunning. Cruel hearted and darkness follows him where he goes. A position of great power could have appealed to him. But I don’t believe that he would get his hands dirty. I believe, my Lord Hanad, that he gave that edict to one of his own.”

“You believe Emeric killed King Richard.”

“I do,” Lord Formad says with a hard nod. “And he would do it to keep his seat at the table. To keep his future king happy. I aim to bring that to light, my Lord Hanad.”

Hanad taps his fingers on the table. Formad slumps in his chair, a shapely young woman calling out to him as he turns.

“Ah, Romeria,” he calls out, the much younger woman placing her hand on his shoulder, her robe pulled against her. “This is my associate, Lord Hanad of Ulyera.  My wife, Romeria.”

“Pleasure to meet you, my Lord Hanad.”

He gives her a smile, nodding his head as Formad turns her back, patting her backside as she disappears.

“The hour is late and my wife needs attending to,” he says with a sly grin. “I’ll send word for you, my Lord, when we have another meeting. I welcome your thoughts on what our realm is dealing with. You may be able to provide some clarity. Maybe some direction.”

“Of course.”

-

“What business do you have with me now?” Ransom snaps, tossing down the fabrics as Walter closes the door shut.

“We need to discuss what I’ve just heard.”

“Discuss what? You’ve been prattling on for days now.”

“The people are talking about your future bride. They say that she and her brother are…” he pauses, nearly spitting out the words with disgust. “Intimate.”

Ransom stills, lifting his head to glare at his uncle.

“Who?”

“The people.”

“No, the people know better. Your circle of acquaintances don’t. Which of them spoke ill of my future queen? Which of them had the audacity to utter those words?”

“Ransom, you aren’t listening,” Walter urges, pulling up a chair as he sits. “That night, they saw her and Dominic in her room at nightfall.”

“One time? Cannot a brother and sister see each other?”

“Are you blind? This is unnatural.”

Ransom slams his hand on the table, silencing his uncle.

“What is unnatural is that you believe your acquaintances before your own nephew. I will appease you and ask her, dear uncle, if these rumors are true. But I will also have my revenge if I find a name. Does that sound fair?”

He’s met with silence, a hard knock breaking their conversation.

“Who is it!” Ransom shouts, the door opening as a woman stands in the entryway. Immediately, he glares. “Out.”

Walter lifts from his chair, giving a slight bow before he moves out of the room, leaving the woman to stand in front of the door after she closes it.

“Weara,” he greets, her eyes narrowing at the fabrics on the table. “What brings you to my door? Especially after I have told you countless times I do not wish to see you.”

“Since I was so cruelly removed from your bed weeks ago, I wanted to confirm the truth. The great Prince Ransom has a thawing heart? One would have thought that was a myth,” she hisses. “I always expect cruelty from you. But never deceit.”

“Deceit?” Ransom asks, his tone soft. “You mistake priority with deceit. You matter so little to me, Weara. You warm my bed for months, to do a duty your own mother did with my father and you expect a full accounting of my day? You think I would share the details of what goes on inside this castle to a whore? Have you gone mad?”

“I cared for you, Ransom,” she starts, voice cracking with emotion. “You cast me out the minute your father died.”

“I had no need for you any longer. You served your purpose. Don’t try to pretend that you were not aware of how it would end.”

“And if I were to bear your bastard?”

“You wouldn’t,” Ransom answers. “I’d feed you to my pets before you could tell a soul. But we both know you’re infertile, Weara. It is a curse that you flaunt well to your customers, or have you forgotten? For one who speaks of deceit, you have no problem with it flowing from your own lips.”

“You cannot marry her!”

“By who’s ruling?” Ransom demands.

“I warmed your bed, Ransom,” Weara sobs. “For months, I heard your schemes and I kept them quiet.”

“And so you believe you should queen as a result of your silence? You interrupt my meeting with my beloved uncle for a hissy fit? You are lucky I did not have you thrown out into the streets. Go.”

“Ransom, please I -”

“I am your King! Get out before I remove you myself!”

With a hard sob, Weara flees, the door slamming as he exhales loudly, grabbing a glass before throwing it against the wall, watching it shatter.

-

Fingers coast over a silky leaf, checking the health of the plant as a heavy knock rouses you from your thoughts, the door opening to reveal Prince Ransom. You curtsy, still trying to get used to the heavy dresses that feel unnatural to wear.

“Your Majesty,” you greet, his expression one of curiosity before he sits, motioning for you to do the same. 

As childish is it is to dream, you are enamored with his handsome face, nary a wrinkle on him as he offers a cool smile. It’s dangerous to think about this future king, one who you cannot get to know as of yet. Many walks in the gardens have taken place with the future King at your side. The conversations are surface level, leaving much to be desired, much more questions to ask on the tip of your tongue.

“A moment of your time, my lady,” Ransom begins as you sit. “I need your assistance in a matter I find… distressing.”

Judging by his stare, you realize it is better to listen than to speak, nodding quickly.

“You are very close with your brother. As an only child, I can’t imagine the bond that you must share. Envious, as I may be, it appears that to others, this bond is too familiar.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“I believe you do. There are witnesses who say that they saw you and your brother on your balcony on your first night.”

You swallow, thinking of who you saw that night.

“Say it,” you whisper, heart pounding in your chest from anger. “Tell me what they suspect.”

“There are whispers that you and your brother are intimate.”

“Do you believe these whispers, Your Majesty?”

It takes every bit of you to maintain your composure, to block out the thoughts you have so that Dominic does not come crashing into your room, defending your honor. More importantly, you are surprised at how quickly rumors have started.

“Have you given me any reason to believe them?” Ransom counters.

“No. My brother is my closest confidant. I trust him where I trust no one else. In times of hardship and struggle, he has always been my constant. I don’t expect any of your followers, your people to understand that. But we are not deviants, Your Majesty. While I would lie on the sword for my brother, there are limits and boundaries that one will never cross, nor ever entertain,” you state, lifting from your seat. “Please excuse me.”

Ransom doesn’t let you get far, his hand on your upper arm as you stop, eyes welling in your eyes while he shakes his head.

“You’re angry,” he confirms, your lip trembling as he spies your tightly gripped fists at your sides. “Do you know who spoke such lies?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me,” Ransom murmurs, pulling you closer. “It matters that my future queen is distressed over a blatant lie. I want the name.”

Shaking your head, you won’t start anything you can’t finish yourself. You’ll have your vengeance in time, the hurt of the words and the weight of what Ransom has told you hangs heavy in your heart. You’ve grown used to the words that have been hurdled against you since you were a kid. Every unholy name was casted upon you from children to adults, who hadn’t believed in your gifts, who thought you daft for planting a garden when there were flowers blooming across the hills. 

Dominic has always been your savior, protecting you from the grieving widows who blamed you for their husbands’ deaths in the forests due to the hardwinds, calling you a witch and begging for your death to appease their suffering.

Blood was always thicker than water but the bond you have with Dominic is unbreakable. One that would not be sullied by anything unclean.

Ransom’s hand coasts over your cheek, thumb rubbing against it, blue eyes boring into yours.

“Tell me,” he urges, gently pulling you closer as his soft lips press on your forehead. “Let me put to bed these rumors so that you may be at ease. Do not deny me.”

Closing your eyes, your heartbeat slows as you allow him to soothe you, even if it’s temporary. You can see the man in your thoughts, clear as day.

“Lord Formad.”

-

The hushed whispers cease when Lord Emeric enters the council hall, the men following him with their eyes as he sits.

Dominic stands at the door, listening intently as he hears your fervent plea to not intervene.

“I called this emergency council meeting to discuss a very troubling concern,” Lord Emeric begins, looking around the table. “It appears our future queen became very distressed over some very vile accusations of her character.”

“Already?” Lord Ghentam exclaims with a shake of his head. “She’s only been here for less than a week.”

“What allegations does she speak of?” Lord Formad inquires. “My Lord Ghentam is correct. It could be the gossip of milk maids, of the women of the night. Jealously knows no bounds.”

“My Lords,” Lord Emeric says loudly. “There is someone who sits presently at our council who has been confirmed spreading these inaccuracies. The King would like to speak with them in his chambers to verify the validity of these accusations.”

The eerie silence that follows makes Emeric narrow his eyes.

“Am I to take this silence as you all agreeing to meet with Our Majesty?”

“I would do no such thing to our future queen,” Lord Ghentam speaks up. “She is still of virtue! A maid! I know her father, Lord Kulane, well. They have no depravity in their household.”

“And you, Ser Dominic?” Lord Formad speaks up. “What say you of this accusation?”

“I know nothing knowing of you what you speak, my Lords,” Dominic replies. “My duty is to serve Greymount and the King. I have not been made aware of any gossip regarding my sister.”

“You might as well know it,” Lord Emeric says with a sigh. “Someone at this table believes you are sleeping with your sister.”

“Which?” Dominic asks angrily, hand on his sword as he takes a step forward. “Tell me so that I may answer them.”

“Now, Ser Dominic,” Lord Emeric sighs at his infuriated face. “I mean to put an end to this. My Lord Votelnar, will you explain what you heard the night our dear lady came to Greymount?”

They turn their heads to face him, Lord Votelnar lifting his head.

“I heard my Lord Formad make an observation of Ser Dominic who was in her room. He said he found it odd that Ser Dominic would come between our Prince Ransom and his future bride at their first meeting, only to end up in her bedroom late that night.”

“Do you believe Lord Formad thought they were intimate.”

Lord Votelnar nods, staring at Lord Formad as he answers.

“He told me he believed it to be so.”

“Lies!” Lord Formad shouts, standing up as his chair scrapes loudly, pointing at Lord Emeric as spittle rests on his chin. “This is madness! This entire council rests on its laurels when a witch is placed in our midst, brought here by our Lord Chancellor to cement his place at our king’s side.”

“She is not a witch!” Dominic shouts. “Nor would I ever lay with my sister, you conniving -”

“That’s quite enough,” Lord Emeric says with a nod. “Ser Dominic, Ser Ulrich, please escort Lord Formad to our Prince Ransom for interrogation.”

“You’re mad!” Lord Formad shouts, the knights grabbing each arm of his. “You’re not the real Lord Chancellor! My allies will hear about this!”

Pulling him up the steps, he calls for his supporters before the doors slam shut.

-

“Leave us,” Ransom instructs, watching a cowering Lord Formad on his hands and knees.

Dominic and Ulrich bow before they leave, Dominic giving him a threatening glance before disappearing out the door.

Ransom circles the man, taking a bite of an apple as he chews thoughtfully, inhaling slowly before he swallows.

“Do you know why you are here, my Lord Formad?”

“I do.”

“Then you are aware that this matter is of utmost importance and needs to be dealt with.”

“I ask for mercy, Prince Ransom,” Lord Formad whispers, getting to his feet slowly.

“You may certainly ask for it, Formad. But I will deny it.”

“Deny me mercy? Your Majesty, I have served you and your family for decades,” Lord Formad begs.

“And you sully your service with lies about my future queen, do you not?”

A low roar and a growl gets Lord Formad’s attention, his shaky hands gripping the table as he looks out over the balcony.

“You can’t see them, Formad,” Ransom says with an irritated sigh. “That’s half the fun.”

“You can’t do this.”

“I can’t?” Ransom pauses, tapping his finger against his chin as he thinks. “I think I can, actually. I made sure of it.”

Ransom grips him by his robes, lifting him as Lord Formad’s eyes go wide at his strength.

“Did you believe I would not find out about your treachery? That you met in darkness with Lord Hanad?”

“I…I…” Lord Formad gasps for air, Ransom’s eyes burning into his own. 

“You severely underestimate me, my Lord Formad. You singlehandedly tried to turn my uncle against this union and you spread your lies about my future queen to the point of her tears. You underestimate what she can do to this entire kingdom and beyond our realm. What we can do together.”

“I can make it right,” Lord Formad wheezes, his legs kicking as his face goes red. “P-Please, Your Majesty.”

“You are going to make it right, my Lord Formad,” Ransom replies with a cold smile, letting him go as the man drops to the ground, trying to crawl away before he’s dragged toward the balcony. 

“No, no, please!”

With a shrill whistle, he can hear his pets, growling as tears prick at Formad’s eyes

“I hate it when nobles beg,” Ransom seethes. “Go with dignity.”

He tosses him over the balcony, the sound of his body hitting the ground with a thick thud, his screams overpowered by the loud roars of Nero and Brutus as he looks over. Formad’s eyes look up in terror as the lions wait, looking up at their owner, their tails flicking as they lick their chops.

“Nunc est devorandum,” he commands, the lions roaring before they tear into Formad, Ransom leaning over as he observes him being devoured.

-

Standing in the moonlight, you let it bathe you in its light, the root now spouting another branch. Inhaling deeply, you focus on where your uncle could be. Your mind is a map, voices in your head acting as a guide to your path.

“You believe Emeric killed King Richard.”

“So I have heard. I come to you with listening ears and an open mind, my Lord.”

A vision clouds your mind, eyes opening as they turn to milky white, face upwards toward the sun.

Your uncle, locked in an intimate embrace with a woman, candles around them as he pulls on her hair. The woman looks up at the ceiling, her face one that you’ve seen before.

When you first arrived, introduced to the nobles that stood around you.

Lady Formad.

The vision is clear, the sound of the door opening to your chambers that breaks you of your meditation, heart pounding at the realization that your uncle is sleeping with a married woman.

“Your Majesty,” you gasp, curtsying to him as he stands in the darkness. 

“The hour is late. I thought you may have been asleep. I come with a wedding gift.”

“A gift?”

Ransom steps into the light, holding a black leopard cub in his arms. Its yellow eyes shine in the moonlight like jewels.

“You’ve yet to meet my pets but I wanted you to have one of your own.”

He places the cub in your arms, watching it snuggle into the crook of your arm.

“Do you like her?”

Petting her soft fur gently, you nod, unsure of what makes you worthy of such a precious thing when your head raises at the remembrance of his words.

“Wedding gift.”

“I will announce to the council tomorrow with a larger celebration planned prior to our wedding. If you will allow me to do so.”

“I do,” you respond.

“Then,” Ransom says against your lips, kissing you slowly as his fingers slide up the back of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine. “Let the celebrations begin.”

[romance-club-daily]

Hi so I'm new to rc and look so I'm kinda sick of playing a story and then it goes crazy supernatural cause its not my thing if its really out there like I liked moonborn and lotw but hated dls and sol do you have any recommendations?

Hi! 👋🏽 Yeah, supernatural stories are a trend around here 🙈

Well, let's see:

There's Hell and High Water which is the most comforting, calming post-apocalyptic story you'll ever read. It's new but it's already one of my favorites 🥺 Following the story of Lori Kaplan (MC) who is the captain of her own boat, this in a future with scarce resources.

We have Gladiator Chronicles that takes place in a futuristic Roman Empire (with other planets) that follows the life of Rix (MC) a boy who was stolen from his planet and became a Gladiator and struggles to know the whereabouts of his sister he was separated on the day of his capture while unlocks the many secrets of this new empire.

And Heart of Trespia if you like royal intrigues and found family + comedy and gorgeous outfits. It follows the life of Ellaire (MC) who prepared all her life to be the queen of Trespia, her birthright, but knew nothing of it beyond the walls. When she tries to see it with his own eyes and leaves for a few days, her throne is usurped. Now she will have to travel and gain strength throughout her kingdom to regain what was rightfully hers.

There are more, but I guess these will do for now? 👀