#anyway if you like these answers i cannot recommend enough simply....reading my fanfic

[cinnamontails-ff]

Fanfic ask game! 💚(green) 🤎 (brown) and 🤍 (white)

I answered 🤎 for my 2 main fics here and here!

💚 - Do I feel inspired by and/or jealous of other people's writing?

Yes. Both. I've gotten pretty good at recognizing my own strengths and telling myself that just because I could never write like that other author doesn't mean I don't have my own little niche to fill. That's the beautiful thing about creative endeavors: We all have our own stories to tell in a way that no one else ever could. Still, there have been times when I've had to step away from reading a fic I enjoyed, simply because I kept comparing myself to them (be it in terms of quality and / or engagement). I've had to stop looking through the AO3 rankings because there is nothing more depressing than watching your work fall lower and lower as new stuff comes in to take its place. Interestingly, I don't fall into the trap of self-comparison nearly as much when I read novels, so that's usually what I focus on when I'm going through a vulnerable phase. When it comes to fandom, all I want to be is a cheerleader for other people's work, so if I'm not in a state where I can do that, I'll rather take a step back and reread "Guards, Guards" for the gazillionth time.

🤍 - What's a fanfic scenario I'd like someone else to write?

Gonna cheat a little here because the wonderful @larvasmoon is already writing the Pirate Astarion fic of my dreams (and I cannot recommend it enough!).

As for something I haven't seen yet: Mafia AU. Specifically, I'm thinking a scenario like in Leigh Bardugo's "Six of Crows" where we're the underdogs and have to pull off an impossible job to show the big bad (aka Cazador) what's what. I want there to be a tinkerer and an acrobat and a schemer and a badass fighter, and I want a whole lot of unresolved sexual tension until they get locked in a vault and have to make out to save air. Someone. Please. I am literally begging.

Anyway, thanks so much for the ask! Really, I'm so happy you reached out and let me nerd out for a minute (or two or 40, ahem). I appreciate it ❤

[recurring-polynya]

Besides the obvious orchid-related topics do the Byakuya/Hisana couple have other things that they like to do together? And for something different, what might it look like if Hisana had gotten the chance to meet Ichika and/or be involved in Rukia's love life/marriage/etc?

My headcanon about Byakuya and Hisana’s marriage is that a) Hisana was already sick when they got married and they were both aware that she was not in it for the long haul, but b) she was still very mobile and able to do a lot in the first years of their marriage.

I like to think Hisana was a more social person than Byakuya, and I also think she liked being rich, so a lot of their early days involved dressing up fancy and going to parties and galas. I, personally, am pretty uncomfortable in social situations by myself, but my husband is very personable and it makes a huge difference, and I think Byakuya would feel this way too-- that for the first time in his life, he likes going out and talking to people, even if it’s just a thinly veiled excuse to show off his beautiful wife and listen to her sparkling wit. While Hisana may caused a lot of mixed feelings in Byakuya’s family, I think she was very charismatic, and there were genuinely people she was able to charm (she was also barely-reformed con artist and was loved playing mind games with people). 

Byakuya knows What’s Good in Life, and he also loved showing all of it to Hisana-- theater, fine dining, trips to the lake house. He wanted to make up for everything she didn’t get early in life and more.

At home, I think they were people who both had their own projects, but enjoyed working quietly in parallel, intersecting paths sometimes. Hisana liked to draw, primarily botanical illustrations, and she also liked to paint, flower and landscapes. Byakuya likes write poetry, and do calligraphy and to draw his weird fucking cartoons. I am standing by my assertion that Hisana had her own seaweed-based OC and they would tell little stories about Wakame Taishi and Hijiki-sama’s adventures together. One of my very niche Byakuya headcanons is that he really likes to sing, but does not feel like it’s appropriate for a clan head (he is not supposed to entertain, he is supposed to be entertained). Hisana also liked to sing, even if her voice wasn’t always up for it, and she spent some time learning to play the shamisen, and they used to make music together, just for the two of them.

I do not care if anyone else thinks this is out of character, but I think Byakuya spent a lot of time by her bedside in the later days. The man has a tremendous ability to just sit peacefully and exist, which is not something everyone can do. I think he read to her, mostly poetry, but anything she requested. Byakuya is not a person to ever take over a duty that a servant should rightfully be doing, but he knew which foods she would want, depending on how she was feeling. He kept track of her various blankets and jackets and socks. I think he really put aside the other aspects of his life to be with her in every way possible. 

ENOUGH SAD STUFF!

For the other half of the question: I have written quite a few Hisana-based AUs now, and the one thing they all have in common is that Hisana is very pro-Renji. I am very interested in the curious negative space relationship that Hisana and Renji have on each other. Renji likely would never have met Rukia (or at least wouldn’t have had the same relationship with her) if Hisana hadn’t left her behind, but also, Rukia ended up being taken away from him because of Hisana, except that, in a Hisana Lives AU, I feel like he can’t be 100% mad at that because Renji doesn’t begrudge anyone loving Rukia. In a Hisana Lives AU, I feel like she would feel tremendous gratitude to Renji for having cared for and about Rukia in the wake of her abandonment-- that Renji did the job Hisana was supposed to, and that she would want to do whatever possible to enable their relationship.

I also like to write Hisana as a nosy meddler who pesters Rukia about her love life, because Rukia is naturally so closed-off and stoic and this is how sisters are.

It depends on the AU a lot, but I tend to think that even if Hisana had lived, it’s unlikely that she would be able to have children, so I think she might naturally have some difficult feelings about her sister having a child. That being said, I think she would try really hard not to let them show (Rukia would know) and she and Byakuya would be at least four times as ridiculous as a team than Uncle Byakuya is by himself.

[lorirwritesfanfic]

Lori's Favorite Fics #1

I've been thinking about doing this for a while and I guess a new year is a good time to start new things, right? Anyway, I'm going to start making fic reviews. I'm not popular so I can't say it'll count as promoting other fanfic writers, but I want to show my appreciation to the talented writers of fandom and there's no better way to do it than giving reviews. I'm calling it Lori's favorite fics, I'll talk about all the fics I read and I’ll be doing this twice per month. if you have any fic recommendations, my ask box is always open, send me a message or you can leave a comment on this post or the fave fics masterlist 😊

Now then, enough jabbering and let's begin. These are my favorite fics from this holiday season:

Drabble | Michael x MC (@litgpop): I miss Michael Harrison so much and reading super cute fic about him spending New Year's alone with Nari (MC) was so good. I love how he knows her so well to the point that he knows exactly how to make her smile again when she got annoyed that he fell asleep minutes before the countdown.

Gifts and Games | Levi x MC (@argylemnwrites): I cannot begin to say how glad I was to find a Levi fic. Seeing my favorite Jewish Samurai (hahaha) celebrating Hanukkah with Zoey and Tara is simply adorable and I just don't know how to deal with how sweet and understanding he is when he tries to answer all Zoey's questions.

Snowglobe | Logan x MC (@princessstellaris): Heart connections are real and Logan can prove it when he shows up at Julia's (MC) room in the dorms just when she needs him the most. Despite the moments in which Julia deals with depressive thoughts, this fic gave me fluff overdose 😍

Time of The Year | Thomas Mendez x MC (@itsbrindleybinch): My Choices Secret Santa wrote this lovely piece in which MOTY gang spends Christmas day at Ayla's (my MOTY MC 😍) apartment and it's just too cute to handle!

It's The Little Things | Leo x OC (@xxrainbow-princessxx): Leo and Isabella (OC) are back! *squeals in excitement* Even when they’re no longer a couple, nothing will stop this rebel prince from looking after the woman loves and I’m here for it.

You Make It Feel Like Christmas | Prince Hamid x MC (@missameliep): Finally a Hamid holiday fic (Thank you, Dani ❤)! In this beautifully written piece, Elizabeth (MC) faces loneliness as she anxiously waits for her husband's safe return from a long trip. Fortunately, Prince Hamid is well and has a lovely surprise for his wife.

Red Wings - Part One and Part Two | Drake x Olivia / Maxwell x OC (@allaboutchoices): you know when you request a fic to a talented friend/fellow writer and he completely exceeds your expectations with an outstanding fic? Well, this is one of those moments ❤ Drake and Maurice (OC) can't stand each other, but under extreme circumstances, the two of them realize they have more in common than they could've imagined.

This is it for now! Feel free to leave comments with your opinions about these fics and suggestions to my fic reviews. Happy reading!

[purple-spring]

How long did it take you to become this well of a writer? Do you have any tips or suggestions? I want to make my writing more exciting and vibrant like yours is. I feel like it's not as good as yours and I want it to be the best it can be.

Hey there, @fangirlthatreads​! I’ve been sitting on this ask for a while and I do apologise for that, but I was so incredibly touched that you came to me with this kind of question that I wanted to answer it as best as I could, and create a sort of masterpost for writing in the process. I’m devoting my whole day to answering this, so hopefully it’s worth the wait :)

So, to answer your first question, I guess I’ve always enjoyed and have been fairly competent in writing. I wrote all throughout school, but never really got the opportunity to continue that in college, so I got a bit rusty. I only really started again recently (Sprousehart and Bughead were too tempting to resist), which has just been the most joyful, creativity-unleashing thing. I started simply by writing the beginning for “Tomorrow” because I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, and I had a very vocal cheerleader (hi, @jandjsalmon​) encouraging me to write the whole thing. I haven’t looked back since then. 

As for tips and suggestions, I thought about this for a long time and came up with the following, which I’ve tried to divide into three sections after the cut - READ, LISTEN, WRITE. 

Anyway, without any further ado, I give you –

paperlesscrown’s personal guide to writing 

—-READ—-

I mean, your account name kind of gives it away, but I’m sure you read a lot! But my #1 tip for writers is to read voraciously. I often think of it as fuel for the tank: you can’t put out what you don’t put in. When I run into writers’ block, it’s the first thing I do - I purchase a book for my Kindle and bunker down and read.

Three kinds of reading that I do:

Fanfic - This is a no-brainer. It’s important to expose yourself to the different interpretations of the canon and the characters you are writing about. I must admit that I’m not always the most up-to-date fanfic reader, but I am always hitting up @blueandgoldoffice​ and my dear friend @theatreofexpression​ for suggestions and recommendations. 

Literature - This is important, too. As amazing as fanfic writers are, there is a whole other universe out there of incredibly written original fiction (and poetry!). Anything I can get my hands on, I get onto it. It’s why I bought myself a Kindle - I carry it around with me everywhere to make sure that I am constantly feeding my brain with exciting plots and engaging characters and beautifully turned phrases. 

I often try to read specifically, too. What do I mean by this? So, for example, when I was writing “Apparitions”, which included huge chunks of dialogue between Cole and Lili, I chose to read One Day by David Nicholls, which I knew had a lot of earthy, realistic dialogue between a couple in love. When I was writing my first smutty fic (“In here, too”), I made sure to read The Boss by Abigail Barnette, which is an INCREDIBLE Dom/Sub series (which honestly every Dom!Jug writer should read) with amazingly written sex scenes.

I also make sure I read different formats - not just chapter books, but also longform articles, poetry, etc. I read a lot of short stories because I write exclusively in one-shots, so reading them allows me to see how writers develop plot within a limited word count. 

Writers’ resources - This is something I’ve started doing recently, and it’s made such a huge difference. There is a whole world of writers’ resources out there. I recently bought the Emotion Thesaurus, which is described as “a writers’ guide to character expression.” It. Is. Amazing. It catalogues an emotion and the different ways a character could express them (that way I’m able to avoid cliches or vary the way that the emotion is expressed). It’s formatted like this:

It’s quite cheap on Amazon and such a worthwhile purchase. You should also check out websites such as Reference for Writers, which has SO MANY amazing resources for writers, plus links to similar websites. 

Meta - Read analysis on your characters, whether it’s a recap from website like Vulture and AV Club or (with Riverdale specifically) meta posts from places like @riverdalemeta, which compiles all the incredible theorising from around the fandom. It helps you think about your characters more clearly. A good story always comes from a good grasp of character, and sometimes meta posts make a world of difference in understanding a character. 

—-LISTEN—-

Listen to…

1. A beta. I cannot emphasise this enough. Betas make all the difference between a good piece of writing and a great one. My forever beta, @jandjsalmon, has saved from terrible writing decisions and has also steered me towards incredible ones. @theatreofexpression is a constant source of ideas, headcanons and discussions about the show. The thing about betas is that they are essentially your first audience and an important first filter for your work. They are able to pick up on inconsistencies, disruptions to flow, awkward phrasing, spelling and grammar errors, etc. I often think about them as the midwives for our stories. I may be the one giving birth to it, but it’s the beta who guides me with how to breathe, stand, position myself, etc. and essentially get the baby out into the world (sorry for the weird metaphor, lol). Always, always try and work with one.  

2. The characters you are writing about. A handy tip - whenever I am writing, I put the show on in the background (as long as it’s not distracting), or interviews with the actors (if I’m writing RPF). It helps me to get a good grasp on their voice. With Bughead, I’m not much of an AU author - I prefer writing and expanding on canon scenes, so it’s important for me to try and get the voice, tone and phrasing of each character right (as well as the overall tone and atmosphere of the scene).

3. Music. Music can activate some really strong emotions and neurological reactions in us that help us to write well. Some people like writing to playlists (I made one for “What she wanted”), while others like listening to instrumental music. Both are fine, although sometimes I can find lyrics quite distracting. In terms of instrumental music, I listen to a lot of Philip Glass (classical and heavy) and Explosions in the Sky (indie and atmospheric) when I write. 

—-WRITE—-

I guess there’s nothing left to do but to write! 

Start small. I write a lot of drabbles, as you may have noticed, and those are just small writing exercises for me to keep the words flowing. Not everything you write will contribute to an amazing story, but it’s important to keep putting ideas to paper. 

Engage in writing prompts. These don’t have to be Bughead-specific. There are plenty of writing prompts on the net - Pinterest is a great place to find some good ones!

Do writing sprints. I actually learned about this idea from the incredible @tory-b​, who does this with other writers on the wonderful Bughead Family Discord. It’s basically stretches of 30 minutes to an hour where you do nothing but write. It doesn’t have to be perfect - it just needs to be written down. It’s a way for you to knuckle down and focus and not have any sort of pressure in terms of getting everything perfect. While my job and life often prevent me from engaging in these, they’re an awesome idea for any budding writer.

Practical tip: Google Docs is your friend. This is a tip just for logistics, but I write on Google Docs rather than Microsoft Word because it’s a lot more portable and I work on multiple devices throughout the day. I have Google Docs installed on my phone and I access it via my web browser off my laptop. This just means I can work on a story when I’m travelling, when I’m at home, even when I’m standing in line at a grocery store. I’m often hit by inspiration quite randomly, so this works really well for me. It’s also the best tool for betas - they are able to edit and make comments in a way that’s easy for them and doesn’t involve multiple file-sending.

…

Anyway. I truly apologise for that insane essay, but I hope this can help you (and anyone else). If you have any other questions, please feel free to send them to me! I hope we can read more of your work soon! xx

[mysticdelphox97]

Never Say Goodbye, a Fan Sequel: Chapter One

So my wonderful friend JJ, aka @11random-person11, decided to write a broken MarissonShipping fanfic called "When We Say Goodbye," and she finally finished the last part. Of course, I cannot stand the fact that there is a hella huge cliffhanger at the end, as well as numerous unanswered questions. Not to mention that I'm a huge emotional wreckage because of how the story ended.

However! With JJ’s generous permission, I have decided to write some of my interpretations of what happens after WWSG in my fan sequel, "Never Say Goodbye"! Please note that while I am writing this with my own ideas, JJ gets full credit for the story as a whole, since she came up with the initial plot and created her adorable Marisson child, Faith. And I’m going to be doing Mended MarissonShipping because Alain and Mairin deserve to be happy, gosh darn it!

Also, if a broken AU isn’t your cup of tea, then don't you worry! JJ has plenty of other works that include happy and fluffy and super sweet MarissonShipping moments. I definitely recommend giving those a read for sure! I hope you guys enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE.

“…I expect you to inform her as swiftly as possible. The quicker this goes through, the sooner you’ll have no connections to them—meaning I can finally make full use of you.”

The dark-haired man on the other side of the screen blinked. Stunned, no doubt, from the compromise they had just made. Even though it offered no benefit to him, other than his family would be unharmed.

At least, that’s what Lysandre told him.

After a moment of silence, the man spoke up. “…It shall be done, sir,” he said in a voice no louder than a whisper.

“Good. We’ll talk again soon, Alain.”

And with a single tap of his finger, he disconnected the call.

The moment the monitor went black, Lysandre let the façade he’d been putting on vanish. With a heavy groan, he pushed himself away slightly from the desk and rested his face in his hands. His head pounded with a dull headache, and tremors wracked his body. A series of coughs erupted from his lips, despite all his efforts to suppress it. The metallic taste of blood became all too familiar to him now.

“Bryony,” Lysandre croaked. Without even a moment’s hesitation, his former admin entered the small, dark office that he occupied.

“Yes, sir?”

“My medicine, if you will.”

He caught the briefest glimpse of concern on Bryony’s face, which was easier to do without her green visor. As quickly as the expression came, it disappeared, and Bryony exited the room with a curt nod towards her boss.

What’s left of him, in any case.

A sudden, intense shudder wracked through Lysandre’s body. He grimaced as pain surfaced to his chest, and found himself slipping from the chair and falling onto the carpet. He wheezed between coughs, blood spattering from his mouth. When it subsided, Lysandre forced himself to control his breathing. A bought of light-headedness caused him to lean over, but something preventing him from falling again.

“Oh, goodness. You have certainly seen better days, haven’t you?”

He recognized that voice, despite it being years since he last heard it. He turned his head towards the woman that had caught him, and was met with orange eyes and perfectly-maintained pink hair.

“What are you doing here?” Lysandre did not bother hiding the contempt laced on his tongue.

The woman frowned disapprovingly, but said nothing as she assisted him back onto the chair. She then sat on the edge of the desk, which creaked under her weight.

“I heard that you cheated death,” the woman remarked curtly.

Lysandre glared at her, his hands gripping tightly on the armrests of the chair. “I know that’s not why you’re here, Malva.” He spat out her name like a bad taste in his mouth.

Malva raised an eyebrow curiously at him. She sighed, adjusting her glasses before crossing her legs. “Is that so?” she asked, not bothering to give him an explanation for her sudden appearance.

The former boss of Team Flare grimaced. “Do you really want to play this game, Malva? Because I am not in the m—” he was interrupted with another fit of coughing. Thankfully, it wasn’t strong enough to send him over the edge again.

“Clearly, you seem unable to do much as it is,” she said. She waited for Lysandre to stop coughing before continuing. “It’s a wonder how you got that boy back under your control.”

Lysandre stared her down.

“Although, he’s hardly a boy anymore, is he? He married a wonderful woman, and even had an adorable little girl. But thanks to you, he’s lost that and much more. You are certainly a cruel man, Lysandre.”

“He’s not difficult to manipulate,” Lysandre responded. A thin film of perspiration began to form on his forehead. Where was Bryony?

Malva hummed in agreement. “I’ll say. He truly believes you actually killed the Professor,” she mused.

Lysandre’s eyebrows furrowed. “Because I did kill him,” he corrected her.

A mischievous smirk curled itself onto Malva’s lips. “Ah. Then it must be a coincidence that dear Augustine is being held captive in the Kanto region… by Team Rocket.”

Lysandre felt his skin grow cold. He could only stare at Malva, absolutely dumbfounded by what she just said. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

With a flick of her hair, Malva hopped from the desk, using her finger to trace its edge as she walked to the front of it. “I must say, you did a convincing enough job to fake his death. Even I was temporarily fooled,” she complimented. She stopped walking and turned to face Lysandre. “Although, I knew that was the plan from the very beginning.”

“How?”

“A reporter has her ways,” she said slyly. Lysandre knew there was more to it than that, however.

“If you know so much… why don’t you just tell Alain all of this?” Lysandre glowered.

“I’m not the one who forced him to cut all his ties with people, especially his own wife and daughter,” she retorted. Lysandre flinched at her words, and she noticed. “And something tells me you aren’t as thrilled to be dragging him into this.”

Lysandre’s eyes narrowed. “That is preposterous. Alain is merely a tool, nothing more.”

Malva frowned and crossed her arms. “Easier to see him as a tool rather than your own son, isn’t it?”

In one swift motion, Lysandre leapt from the chair and strode over to Malva. She took one step back, but nevertheless held her ground as he towered over her. His face contorted into a furious glare, and if looks could kill, she’d be dead several times over.

“You have no right…” he threatened. Lysandre expected her to continue, but she only stared at him. A knot began to form in his throat, and his fists were clenched.

He did not expect her gaze to soften. The look she gave him wasn’t that of pity, either. “Perhaps I’ve crossed a line,” she muttered, breaking away and glancing away from him.

“…He looks so much like her…” His voice was on the verge of breaking.

It was true, though. There was no doubt that Alain was his son… and that his mother was Alina. The first woman Lysandre fell in love with. He was practically a carbon copy of her. Lysandre brushed it off as his mind playing tricks on him when he first saw the boy. After all, Alina had left Lysandre before Alain had been born… but perhaps there was a chance she knew they were going to have a child, and left anyways.

It was because of Giovanni that Lysandre even found out, only to have that information be used as blackmail against him. As a means of paying off his debt to the boss of Team Rocket, who managed to save Lysandre’s life after nearly succumbing to the power of the Megalith’s energy. But it had left him weak and sick, and only Team Rocket could supply him with the medicine he needed in order to stay alive. Giovanni had the money and the power to put even someone like Lysandre in their place.

And as it stood now, Lysandre had no choice but to comply with his wishes. Which meant being stuck in this dreadful building complex in an abandoned section of town as his base of operations. It was far from the luxury he was used to at his laboratories… but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

He was powerless. He’d never been powerless before. And he despised it.

“If finding this out has made you suddenly care for him… why are you dragging him into this?” Malva’s question brought Lysandre back to his senses. He looked at her as she stood, waiting for an answer.

“Because I can make sure his family is safe… by separating him from them,” he explained carefully. “Team Rocket would’ve taken Mairin and Faith away, like they did with the Professor. And I can’t imagine that they would be merciful with them.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t disagree with you on that,” Malva sighed. “Is this really alright with you, though? To keep up this charade of a villain, when you’re not even in control anymore?”

Lysandre scoffed. “I tried to destroy the world for the sake of making it beautiful again. I can’t change that, no matter what I do.” A wave of nausea suddenly rushed over him, and Lysandre winced at the sensation. “It’s better that I continue to be a villain. There’s no hope for this world to ever become beautiful again, anyway.”

The sound of the door opening caught both of their attention. Malva and Lysandre watched as Bryony carefully shut the door behind her and approached the desk.

“Your medicine, sir,” Bryony simply stated, placing the bottle of pills next to the monitor.

“I suppose that must be my cue to leave,” Malva remarked. She smiled at Bryony as she passed by, and made to open the door to leave.

“Malva.”

Upon hearing her name, Malva stopped and glanced back. “Yes?”

“What are you planning to do now?” Lysandre inquired.

Malva let out a quiet laugh. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she answered. There was a pause, and then she continued. “There’s no telling what Team Rocket has in store for us. I’m going to contact some… acquaintances. See if we can’t figure out what Giovanni’s planning.”

“It won’t be easy. The technology he’s using, and providing us with, is far more advanced that anything I’ve ever seen. And he has grunts stationed almost everywhere… it’ll be a challenge to sneak by him,” he warned.

Malva smiled. “I told you before, haven’t I? I have my ways.”

And with that, she opened the door and slipped away, shutting it behind her as she left.

A heavy sigh escaped Lysandre’s lips. With what little energy he had left, Lysandre ambled back towards the chair and pulled it up to the desk. He grabbed the medicine that Bryony had fetched for him and sat down, untwisting the cap and shaking out several pills from the container. In a single motion, Lysandre swallowed them, chasing it down with a glass of wine that had been left from earlier in the day.

“Sir… is it safe to be taking the medication with alcohol?” Bryony asked.

“The medicine doesn’t treat the sickness, just the symptoms,” Lysandre explained. He turned to face her. “Have you been able to locate the other former admins?”

Bryony tensed slightly. When she responded, she had trouble looking Lysandre in the eyes. “I… I was able to locate Mabel and contact her. She should be coming by within the week. Celosia and Aliana’s locations are unknown. As for Xerosic… he’s under strict federal monitorization.”

“Giovanni probably has the means to fix that,” Lysandre pondered.

“My apologies, sir. The grunts and I will continue to look for them.”

Lysandre waived a hand dismissively at her. “I’m sure they’ll be found soon,” he reassured her.

“Sir… if Team Rocket finds them first…” Bryony began to say.

“They won’t,” Lysandre cut her off. “We’ll find them, Bryony. They’ll be safe under my command, I assure you.”

Bryony said nothing, but worry was clearly etched on her visage. She mustered as best of a smile as she could, bowed in thanks, and quietly dismissed herself to continue her search. Lysandre was left by himself in the dismal office.

With a quick roll of his shoulders, Lysandre turned the monitor back on and pulled up some documents. He had custody papers to file, after all.