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aikuse · 7 months ago

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ARIIIII may i request a nanami blurb (nsfw or sfw i'll leave that up to you :3) based on the song killshot by magdalena bay please? <3

-> hit me with your killshot, baby. (x) | 2,276 words. afab!reader (no pronouns used but female anatomy included), slight yandere obsession if u squint, alcohol consumption, fingering, cunnilingus, implied penetrative + protected sex, nanami calls reader “sweet thing”, “darling”, higuruma cameo. nanami might be a lil ooc but bear with me here.

a/n: oh salem, this was DELICIOUS to write. what a banger of a song too omg i gotta listen to them more!! i took a more obsessive!nanami approach, i feel like he'd get off on how easy some people are to fall in love with him, but not necessarily in a bad way. it's almost like a confirmation that he's good, he's not rotten like the rest of the men he works with; he's respectful so he deserves rewards in a way??? anyway i'm not sure what happened but here we are LMAO

The speakeasy was quiet this evening.

You sip on a lovely gin and tonic, mixed together just right as your eyes drag across the people dotted around the space. Your business shirt has been unbuttoned slightly, enough to tease as your drink steadily makes you feel warmer and fuzzier. Your heels are long gone, tucked away in your bag as you opt for chunky boots, which tend to be much comfier after a few drinks.

It was a cozy atmosphere; one of your favorite places to go after work to unwind without having to worry about seeing those you know. Which, unfortunately, has happened before and almost turned you off from coming back completely.

But you couldn’t.

Mainly due to the man you’re staring at now, half-hoping he can’t feel your burning gaze.

He’s stunning, and he’s been coming for the past few weeks now. Always on a Tuesday, for some reason, but you ignored the choice of weekday and instead decided to have your gaze wander across his features. His blue office shirt is unbuttoned at the top, just enough that light blonde hairs poke out of the revealed opening. His suspenders are tight against his chest, brown, connecting to his tan slacks. Shiny office shoes adorn his feet as he leans back, crossing his foot over his knee as he takes a sip from his own drink (something dark) and fixates on the book in front of him.

He’s beautiful. Tempting. Like forbidden fruit, except he doesn’t seem to be married.

Even better.

The one thing you do pick up on is how incredibly tired he looks. He normally comes in with another man, this one’s palette almost inverse from your muse’s; dark suit, white shirt, dark hair, but the same bags underneath his eyes and tired facial expressions. They don’t typically speak to each other that much, due to how quiet the rest of the venue is, and choose to read together instead.

However, today, his companion is not here. He has come alone.

One of your fingers, complete with a perfectly manicured black nail, rubs against the edge of your glass as you watch him. He wears glasses, the golden rims catching the lowlight every once in a while as his eyes scan across the words in front of him. He hasn’t noticed you staring; he never has, which is somewhat of a shock to you. Whenever someone is staring at you, it feels like there’s fire alight on the back of your neck. He’s either completely oblivious, or he knows and he doesn’t seem to care.

Something about that makes your thighs clench together. The song in the background, playing gently against the velvet walls, does nothing for your growing yearning for the man.

Something chronic, bit demonic I been on the late shift All alone, staring at my phone

Sin and tonic Stupid promise Something like a death wish All alone, stare into my soul

You’ve never been one for one-night stands, but for him, there is a chance you’d make an exception.

You down the drink, drawing on the courage of the gin as you stand, making your way over to him. You identify his book, first; ironically, it’s one of your favorites, and a smile tugs at your lips as you approach. He looks up in surprise, before his expression smoothens into something close to neutrality. “Well, well, the voyeur finally decides to encounter their muse, eh?” he says, and his voice washes over your ears like silk. It’s gorgeous, with a low pitch and a rasp that makes the ache in your stomach only strengthen.

You take a seat, smiling and blushing to yourself that you’ve been discovered. “I was wondering how long it would take you to notice,” you admit, and he smiles back, folding a worn bookmark into the page he's reading and shutting the book, placing it on the table before turning to you, taking another sip of his own drink. It’s whiskey, made neat; you can tell from the smell across the table.

You sit awkwardly for a moment, listening to the crackling of the fire behind you, before he breaks the silence, his smooth voice taking up space once again.

“Come here often?”

You can’t help but chuckle. “More than I will admit,” you respond, “but it’s nice here. Gives me a chance to slow down after work, and the drinks are lovely.”

He nods, agreeing. “Yes, it’s a good place. Higuruma and I come here often after work; he also enjoys unwinding in a quieter atmosphere.”

Higuruma. That must be his companion. “What do you both do?” you ask, your elbow appearing on the table as the side of your head rests on your open hand. He leans forward then, fully facing the table, and sighs. “He’s a lawyer. Ironic, since he’s just finalized his own divorce as well. I stick to the salary business. It’s boring, but it’s something. Pays the bills at the end of the day.”

You hum. “If I may be honest, you don’t look as if you’re happy there at all.”

He laughs at that, a jovial laugh that isn’t obnoxiously loud; it’s just enough to be between the two of you. “Yes, well, dealing with finance is never an enjoyable activity, but I’ve been in it long enough now where I can find my own pleasures. Especially outside of work when I can look at such a pretty lady, if I do say so myself.”

The blush that appears on your cheeks is bright red, you can feel it as you look down bashfully. “Oh, don’t get shy on me now,” you hear him say as he reaches across the table, lightly touching your chin and raising your face to look back at him. There’s a softness in his gaze, one that you’re not used to. The touch is gentle as well, and you’re praying that he can’t feel the spark you felt as soon as his fingertips touched your skin.

Instead, you opt for teasing him.

“That was a bit forward, wasn’t it?”

He pales, moving his hand away. “Oh, God, sorry, I just—”

You grab his hand, a smile on your lips again as you hold it between your own, rolling your eyes. “Kidding. Promise,” you reassure him as his face relaxes again in relief, “I’d have said something much faster if you crossed a line, don’t worry. Although to me, it seems you don’t enjoy doing that very often. Salarymen are always so by the book.”

He nods, rolling his eyes as well. “I try not to be. Hence me attempting to read books more,” he gestures to the book on the table, “and being here. It’s not as public as many people have dragged me to, but it’s intimate enough where it feels nice to unwind.” He takes another swig of his whiskey, his cheeks dusted a light pink from the alcohol.

You both chat about other things, such as the books you’re reading, what you do for your job, your favorite drinks and what speakeasies and intimate bars you’ve both been to. Before you know it, it’s dark outside, and you’re fumbling for your bag and your keys, cursing at how long you’ve stayed. “I know it’s Friday,” you say, standing, “but I always like to be home a little early. That way I can pour a glass of wine after being here and relax even more.”

He’s standing up with you almost mechanically, tucking his book into a briefcase you didn’t notice before. There’s a flash of black-and-white print inside of the case, but you don’t get a good look before he shuts it and locks it, smiling at you and offering his hand.

“Well, I can’t allow for a stunning woman such as yourself to walk home alone, yes?”

You’re tempted to say no. You know for a fact this is a decision you’re either going to regret or enjoy, but at the point you are at with knowing him better than some of your own coworkers who you’ve worked beside for years, your better judgment is shelved for an impulse decision.

You take his hand.

“Well, well, Kento, I will take you up on the offer. What a kind gesture to someone who's been staring at you for weeks. How do you know I don’t have terrible intentions?” you ask him as he walks with you to the door, hand in hand. He looks back at you with a smile, crinkling the edges of his eyes.

“I’m quite good at reading people.”

“Need you, Kento.”

The plea comes out as a whine, the blonde man’s head between your thighs as he laps at your center. He looks up at you through his eyelashes, and you feel your obsession roaring in your ears as he smirks against you. “How do you need me, darling?” he whispers, and your hips buck into his face, forcing him to return to sucking on your sensitive clit.

“Anywhere. Everywhere. Forever.” It’s all coming out as senseless babbles, your hands deep in his hair, tugging on the strands and scratching at his scalp as his strong hands hold your legs apart, your thighs twitching against his grip. He doesn’t stop what he’s doing; he doesn’t seem to mind your comments, either, even if they do seem a little intense at the moment. It seems he either knows his effect on you, or he enjoys hearing about it.

The latter makes you wetter just thinking about it.

You’d had him walk you home, sharing a glass of wine on your couch as you discussed your favorite pieces of literature, the books strewn across the floor in the flurry of motion instigated by Kento himself. “Please do not take this the wrong way,” he had whispered, before placing the wine glass on the coffee table, “but I cannot stand staring at your lips and doing nothing about them.”

You’d kissed him then, whiskey and wine and a calming feeling flooding your veins as your lips moved against him, his large hands cupping your face so gently as if he didn’t want to harm you. But little did he know, that was what you craved; you wanted him to devour you, to make you think of nothing but him. If you were hung up on him for the rest of your life, you would be satisfied.

Come and get that honeySweeter than I ever knewTell me that you love meLove me till my lips turn blue

“K-Kento—”

He leans back, his fingers having been added to the mix, squelching as he scissors you open so deliciously well that your back is arching. His thumb, locked onto your clit, keeps it under a steady rhythm as you cry out. Every brush against the sensitive area is tightening that coil in your stomach, your whole body trembling beneath him. You can feel it, the climax roaring into you like a shockwave. “Gonna c—”

He leans over you then, his lips centimeters away from your ear, and growls.

“Cum for me, sweet thing. Cum all over my fingers, I know you can do it.”

The explosion of emotions that comes out of you, the noises, everything feels like a dam bursting as your soaking pussy twitches and drools all over his fingers, dripping onto the couch as you cum harder than you ever have before. The whole world seems to fall away except for Kento’s face, a haloed silhouette, like an angel coming to deliver you from everything that’s harmed you.

He looks down and grins, as if he’s proud of his handiwork, and as he looks back at you, you cannot help but watch him as you ride out your high.

I love you falls from your lips, but he doesn’t bat an eye. He doesn’t even flinch; in fact, his motions only get more aggressive as he fucks you into overstimulation, tears pricking at your eyes and breaking your lashline, sliding down your cheeks.

“Say it again.”

“W-What?” it comes out choked as you shudder underneath him, his fingers only continuing their movements.

“Say it again.”

“I love you?”

“Say it more confidently. Come on, sweet thing.” He sounds exasperated, and in your vulnerable state, all you want to do is please him. Make him want to stay with you, make him live inside of your bones.

“I love you. I will love you forever if you’ll let me, I—”

“Fuck, that’s good,” he whispers as he finally relents, removing his fingers from your center. He doesn’t wipe them on his slacks, however…instead, he chooses to prod at your lips, his other hand brushing away your tears. You obey within a beat, sucking on your own juices underneath him, watching his pupils dilate. His gaze is dark; it’s like his own obsession with you is forming, a mutual delusion you both can share.

His hand removes itself from your mouth, before his belt clinks and you hear the zipper of his pants echo around the room, clearing the post-climax daze and fluff that had been stuffed in your head. You clench as you feel the head of his fat cock brush against your abused opening, and he leans down close to you, his broad, bare chest flush with your own.

“God, you’re everything,” he whispers as he slides in, and your mind goes blank.

If I fall in every time Wicked love will leave me blind Yeah, I knew it I been through it

Oh god Can you make my heart stop? Hit me with your kill shot, baby I mean it, so serious

divider credit: @/benkeibear

networks: @thehoneypotserver @enchantedforest-network

disclaimer: DO NOT copy or repost my works for any reason. translations are acceptable, but please ask for permission first!

#kentophilia #nanami kento x reader #kento nanami x reader #jjk x reader #hooo boy this song was SO delicious to listen to. and research about as well. i love a good obsessive love #ari's autographs #ari's got mail!#after hours

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dailyhelldorm · 4 months ago

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Romance ★ Sing along SWING NIGHT - Rei’s mini-talks translation

Location: Cafe Cinnamon

Repairing Request (1/3)

Rei: To be able to have tea with the Young Lady, today is my lucky day. If I tell Kaoru-kun and everyone, they might get jealous.

By the way, from this year on, Young Lady will be independent of the P-Association, I am supposed?

Regularly where do you perform your activities now?

I do my work in the 'Trickstudio'...

Rei: Fumu. I see that Trickstar has their secret base now?

Kukuku. If this goes on, Trickstar might end up monopolizing the Young Lady for themselves.

Maybe we UNDEAD too have to build our own hideout so we can confine the Young Lady inside... ♪

I still work in ES a lot.

Rei: Fumu. Certainly, the work in ES is indispensable for the Young Lady.

Newcomers are joining in too, and I feel the atmosphere around us has been getting more and more busy lately.

We have more staff and new members entered our agency too. Next time, you should drop by and hang out in the RhyLin office.

Repairing Request (2/3)

Rei: While we are having tea, I have a request to make for the Young Lady here.

In our next magazine photoshoot, we are planning to wear one of our old live costumes but we found out that the ornaments on them were broken.

If Young Lady has some free time, I want to request your assistance with the repair...

Please let me do it.

Rei: Oh. That would help a lot... ♪

Then, I will bring our costumes to you tomorrow or such. I am having them in my dorm room right now.

About the place we are meeting... How about meeting at lunchtime in Cafe Cinnamon again? Your lunch will be my treat as a token of gratitude.

If you let me do it tomorrow...!

Rei: So you can handle this? That would help a lot.

All the handicraft people around me are currently busy. If Young Lady can take over this, it will be a great saving.

Our shooting is on the weekend, so there is still time. When you are done, please let me know... ♪

Repairing Request (3/3)

Rei: The black tea Young Lady is drinking... Perhaps it is the 'Emperor Tea'?

What is it actually? Well, I know one thing for sure, from the naming of it, this must be something coming from Tenshouin-kun.

Anyhow it is quite a bizarre drink. From the look of it, this looks quite like the normal black tea…

It is delicious.

Rei: It has a taste of ‘seemingly in good health’? That kind, what kind of taste is that…?

Well, it is fine anyway. I will have some coffee for a drink.

Later in the afternoon I still have some work to do, so this will help me clear my drowsiness away.

Do you want to have a sip?

Rei: No need, I will pass on that.

This ‘Shinonon Blend’ name sounds much cuter.

I will have this as my second cup… ♪

Location: Season Avenue

The mini theater of the talk (1/3)

Rei: Young Lady, what a coincidence meeting you here.

Me? There is a mini theater near here and I came to enjoy a movie there.

The movie theater is managed by an acquaintance of mine. He has some good taste so it is quite a lovely place.

It is the theater over that corner?

Rei: It is, does the Yound Lady also know about the place?

Oh I see, Young Lady also plans to come to that place. Oh to have such an interesting coincidence ♪

The theater is becoming the talk all over the SNS, I see. Mini theater is very rare nowadays; in fact, it might turn out to be the talk of the town.

An acquaintance of your…

Rei: Oh my, why Young Lady have a photo of him inside your smartphone?

Oh, he became famous as the director of the intrigued mini theater, I see. So that’s why the Young Lady also wants to come visit the place?

The man is a pleasant companion. If you meet him, Young Lady might get to have more inspiration. Let me have a word with him first.

The mini theater of the talk (2/3)

Rei: The movie I enjoyed was a romantic film, and to be honest, I would like to express that I especially fancy this genre… but too bad it is not the case.

However, when I watched the last scene in the end, inadvertently the tears welled up inside my eyes.

When you talk about romantic movies, this is the first masterpiece that will come to your mind. I have watched this movie in the past before, but maybe because turning senile makes my tear gland weaker?

By the saying your tear gland is weaker…

Rei: I am still too young for that? Kukuku, you might be right.

You say it is perhaps because the movie was resonating with my feelings right now? Do you think I myself might want to fall in love somewhere inside my heart…?

I am just joking. It is merely because this movie is a masterpiece, and I was so concentrating on watching it that it had sept into my heart.

It sounds so intriguing.

Rei: The plot itself is quite simple, but thanks to all the famous actors’ realistic acting, it brought out the charm of the old yet beautiful performance.

Young Lady too, if you haven’t had the chance to view it, give it a try. You will certainly love it.

Although in the past, I forced Ritsu to keep company with me, and halfway through the movie he ended up falling asleep.

The mini theater of the talk (3/3)

Rei: Hm? Even though I had turned off my phone, I got a message in the middle of watching the movie.

This is from… Koga and Adonis-kun, with Kaoru-kun too, they have abruptly encountered each other and it looks like they are about to have a meal together.

It is such a good opportunity to join them… but it seems that I am too late now. Such bad luck, but it can’t be helped.

What if you…

Rei: You say I might still make it?

Right, you are right. Firstly, if I don’t try to contact them, things will never get through.

Kukuku, I ended up having you encourage me in the most unexpected times ♪

First thing first…

Rei: Ah, I will try and contact them.

That being said, afterward those children should have idol work to attend to, I don’t think I can come in time for them.

If I can’t make it, will the Young Lady keep me company and have a meal together?

#translation #rei sakuma #dorm translation #enstars translation

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zecretsanta · 11 months ago

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Fic: Lavender for Loneliness

To: @aciesvirtus

From: @lightphieric

AO3

Happy holidays! As an avid tea drinker and a huge fan of Kyle’s, I loved your prompt about Kyle having a tea party. Enjoy these three scenes from various moments in the best boy’s life! Since you also had a prompt about Carlos and Maria, they have a cameo in the final scene, too. (I have this headcanon about Kyle going to Earth with the other participants after the true ending to live in a settlement led by Carlos, so that’s where that scene takes place if you were lost.)

Age 10 – Rhizome 9

When a child in a cartoon held a mock tea party, it was to indicate that they were very imaginative or very lonely. Kyle was both of those things, granted. But he never picked up on that nuance. To him, a tea party, just like every foreign image he saw on his tablet, was something that normal children did. And he wanted so badly to be normal.

His guests were Lagomorph, a rabbit with stuffing coming out of his long, floppy ears; Panthera, a lion with mismatched buttons for eyes; and Tina, a bear wearing a nurse’s hat, whose matted fur may have been white many, many years ago. They had all been Kyle’s companions for as long as he could remember. He was pleased now to realize just how many friends he had, enough to fill a four-sided table, if he’d had one. As it was now, Tina and Lagomorph had to sit side by side on the long end of Kyle’s pullout bed.

He arranged his tea set carefully: in the center of the bed, his globe sitting on top of his tablet, and four building blocks set in front of himself and his guests. The globe spun in place as he tilted it towards Panthera’s building block. “Earl Grey for the cat?” None of Kyle’s toys even remotely resembled a teapot. He wondered why Father would neglect to give him a plaything that seemed so essential; the fact that it was only little girls hosting tea parties in the cartoons did not register with him.

“Here’s your oolog,” said Kyle to Lagomorph, his mispronunciations warped into incomprehensibility by his voice modulator. “And for me, some cabameel.” He took his block in his hand and pressed it against his faceplate. It hadn’t occurred to him that he should remove his mask for this. He didn’t really know what tea was, that it was something to be drunk. This was just the way normal children moved when they hosted a tea party. They lifted their pinkies. They wrapped their bedsheets around their shoulders just so. They exchanged words like “Marvelous!” and “Indeed!” with their guests. Kyle didn’t know why any of it was done, but he played along anyway. An imitation of an imitation.

As Kyle scolded Tina for spilling, a self-consciousness washed over him. There were eyes on him always, the cameras hidden in his home’s every nook. Kyle was accustomed to and unbothered by the fact that Father or his artificial intelligences could be watching him at any moment. It was only when he saw his armor reflected in Panthera’s button eyes that he realized how foolish he looked, playing at being an average child.

Clumsily and hastily, Kyle swept his table settings away without so much as a gracious goodbye to his guests. He felt his tears condensate on the interior of his mask, but no one else saw him cry. No one ever did.

—

Age 18 – Rhizome 9

Kyle’s first gulp was far too big. He gagged and the tea poured indelicately over his chin; it burned, and the bitter taste lingered on his tongue.

“Oh dear,” said Akane, pressing her fingertips against her chin like she did when she was trying to stifle a laugh. With her other hand, she handed him her cloth napkin.

“I don’t like that,” said Kyle as he dabbed his chin. Some of the tea had gone down the front of his suit, soaking his chest. He could sit with the discomfort until it was time to bathe; he was used to it. “You said there were flowers in it.” Perhaps he had been a fool for assuming roses would taste as sweet as they smelled.

“Black tea can be an acquired taste, I admit – Kyle, the table, as well,” Akane said, tapping the metal surface just at the edge of his spill. Sheepishly, Kyle wiped the table clean, something he’d gotten used to Luna taking care of for him. “I’ve grown to like it this way, but I used to prefer it with milk. That would cut the bitterness. My colleague Maria even liked to mix her tea with honey, before our supply of it ran out.”

“Honey? What bees make?”

“We used it as a sweetener before,” said Akane. She smiled. “If only you could have tasted it, Kyle. It could make just about anything delicious.”

Akane talked a lot about “before.” Kyle had come to realize that everything he’d once assumed was “normal” was really just the world of “before,” a world that was now gone. But Akane always spoke of it with a wistful hopefulness, as if she thought it would come back some day. It made Kyle hope, too, as he was still unaware of what her plans were to bring “before” back. One day, he would live a normal life. Have a normal family. Be a normal person.

First, though, Akane would have to teach him how to act like he belonged.

“Why don’t you try the tea again? You might like it better now that it’s cooled.” She pulled Kyle’s attention back to the beverage he’d blissfully forgotten about over several minutes of her correcting his posture and instructing him to maintain eye contact as they spoke. It was all unintuitive for a man who had lived his entire life encased in metal, but he had been the one to ask her for lessons in etiquette. And apparently, normal people practiced etiquette over tea.

Kyle looked down at the murky black liquid sitting before him in Father’s favorite mug. It was no longer spewing tendrils of steam, and it smelled just as sweet as ever (although Kyle now knew how misleading a scent could be). He lifted the cup in his gauntlet – Akane held hers by lacing her slender fingers through the handle, but Kyle’s hands were too large even when bare – and he drank.

“Small sips, Kyle,” Akane scolded. “It’s rude to gulp.”

Kyle swallowed. “I apologize,” he said with a cough, reaching out to grab the napkin again. “I like it better now,” he admitted as he wiped the tea from his lips. He could at least taste the delicate sweetness of the rose petals now that it was cool.

“I’m glad I could share it with you, then,” cooed Akane. “I wasn’t able to bring many of Maria’s leaves from Earth, but I would happily let you have the lion’s share if that’s what you would like.”

Kyle cringed, remembering Panthera’s judgmental stare. “Oh… no, that’s all right.” He didn’t think he disliked tea. But it was underwhelming. His tastebuds were attuned to artificial and heavily preserved dehydrated foods calibrated precisely to his necessary nutritional intake; the idea of consuming something just because it tasted nice remained foreign. And besides, even if he had loved it, the idea of growing so attached to such a finite resource seemed… foolish. He felt himself shrink into his suit in shame. How had he been so stupid as to let himself indulge?

Akane extended her hand to comfort him. Kyle watched as it landed on his upper arm, but he couldn’t feel her touch through the metal. She promptly realized her mistake and touched his cheek instead, brushing away a stray droplet of tea with her thumb. “I wasn’t too hard on you, was I?”

“Not at all.” Having a mother, someone to teach him things and be stern, was one of the parts of normal life Kyle had always wanted. But now that he had that, he was faced with a new problem. He knew how to behave himself at a tea table. But when would he ever have a use for that knowledge?

—

Age 24 - Earth

Maria stuck her pinky out as she sipped her tea. Akane had claimed that was improper, but Maria held her teacup with two fingers and a thumb and laughed as she extended her pinky, as if it were the most joyous feeling in the world.

Kyle imitated her as he lifted his own cup. It was so much easier to extend a single finger without his suit restricting his flexibility. His cup wobbled in his grip and some tea dribbled onto his shirt, but he held in his embarrassment and met Maria’s gaze with a smile. The corners of her eyes wrinkled as she laughed.

“God, Kyle, you’re such a dork.” Phi couldn’t restrain her own smile despite her teasing.

Alice rolled her eyes. “Oh, go easy on him, Phi.” She was also grinning. “That’s a hell of a throwback. I used to lift my pinky when I was a kid throwing tea parties for my stuffed animals.” She nudged Kyle with her elbow and mirrored him herself.

Carlos called over from his spot by the counter. He didn’t drink tea like his sister did, but Kyle had still wanted him there – he was the one who had given them all this home on Earth, after all – so he kept the fire stoked so the kettle didn’t go cold. “I wish I still had my camera,” he said warmly.

“What would you take a picture of?” Kyle asked, tilting his head.

“You party animals, of course!”

Maria sighed and leaned towards Kyle conspiratorially, her free hand clutching the head of her cane to keep her balance. “He would always take pictures of birthday parties and give them as gifts after the fact. You know. Before.”

She brushed the word off her shoulder. She and everyone else sitting around the table knew that “before” was gone for good, despite what Akane and Sigma had accomplished. This birthday party would only ever be a facsimile of “normal,” for the two women who had been ripped from the time they called home, for the two siblings who had watched the world they loved be destroyed, for him, the birthday boy whose “birth” had only ever amounted to being extracted from a growth chamber.

But Kyle was okay with that. Because for all the normalcy that would forever be out of his grasp, he had the thing he’d always wanted the most: companionship. He had more friends now than he’d been able to even visualize with his stuffed animals. He had too many friends to fit at one table – there might have been room here for Clover and Dio, too, but Clover had just received a memory of Kyle’s unsportsmanlike behavior in another timeline and needed space, and Dio had shared his birthday wishes privately that morning. Just the love of Maria, Carlos, Phi, and Alice was overwhelming, in a wonderful way.

Not to mention that Maria’s herbal blend of mint leaves and chamomile was delicious.

#submission #vlr #ZTD #kyle #maria #carlos #aciesvirtus #lightphieric #zecret santa 2023

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neoninky · 4 months ago

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TWST Fic: 'Her Devoted Shield' Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is heeeere

So far my goal is to write a chapter a week(ish) and it's going pretty well *knocks on wood*

For any new readers who found their way here - hello firstly lol - you are welcome to read this story, but I'd highly recommend starting with the first fic in this series called 'Her Ivory Crown' (you can read all of it and the sequel story on my AO3 and Masterlist). Just so you know who all these non-canon people are and what's going on lol.

Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated, welcomed, and enjoyed by me so thank you!

Chapter 3: A Change of Seasons

A soft breeze entered the windows and tussled Moselle's long locks as she continued to stare at the book in her hands. She had her choice of literature, botany textbooks, and a myriad of genres at her fingertips within the massive royal library. Today, she read from a history book on the Rose Queendom concerning a young girl standing trial. It was history but it was so bizarre that it read like a fairytale to her.

"And Alice stood tr-trial before the Q-...the Q-Queen of Hearts," Her voice was starting to come back more fluidly in time with her reading. She even laughed a little bit when she got to the part about the stolen tarts.

The dragon paused when she noticed that Tai was looking rather drowsy on the sofa across from her. The fox fae was already leaning on his arm with heavy half-lidded eyes looking glazed over in the warm daylight. She went over to fluff one of the cushions and ease him back into a more comfortable position, "You should r-rest, Tai."

A yawn cut off any argument he had at the ready as the man slumped back into the soft cushion like a ragdoll, "Sorry, my dear...the daytime is tiring for nocturnals like myself...keep reading to me, please. You're improving rather quickly, well done..." His voice tapered off as his tired eyes shut.

Moselle gave him an affectionate grin and took a seat next to him, propping his feet into her lap as she continued to quietly read aloud. It had been about two weeks since they rescued her and each day eased her back into a peaceful life. The royal tailors were kind enough to fashion proper clothes for her in a style much like the one she wore back home though in much richer fabrics.

The style of the Rose nobility was gorgeous but a bit too much for the dragon. Her style was old-fashioned, or 'cottage core' as Petra said when Moselle was trying to describe it to the tailors. She wasn't familiar with this term, but it seemed to fit her tastes. Normally she settled for cool-toned pastels or more muted colors, but the enthusiastic tailors insisted on experimenting with the palette in the richer tones often. Her current off-the-shoulder blouse was ivory with short puffed sleeves and paired with a long red-violet corseted skirt with black stitched rose patterned along the bottom trim. They even gave her short heeled ankle boots that fit perfectly. For Moselle, the skirt color seemed like a very bold choice, but her companions were up front on their approval, saying it suited her. Speaking of her companions, each one also adhered to their unique styles. When not in mission mode, Petra wore very casual, practical clothes: t-shirts or a hoodie if the weather called for it, worn jeans, and a well-loved pair of combat boots. Occasionally she wore some jewelry but always something simple and never wore makeup unless she was forced to. Her long, ash brown hair was always pulled up in a ponytail or a messy bun. Simple and easy. The girl was a princess only in title, in her mind anyway. If Petra Revie could avoid all the frills and lace that was often attached to it in place of a more comfortable tomboyish fashion, you bet your bottom madol she would. She might consider it if the offending garment were in a shade of green, but even then, it would take a lot of bargaining.

"You'd have to catch her in a bear trap to get her into a dress..." Tai had said before. The fox on the other hand cared very little about what the established gender of garments were but still adhered to whatever the occasion was. If he wanted to dress casually, he did. Formal? Why not, dressed to absolute nines. Sometimes it was more masculine, others it was more feminine, but mostly, it was somewhere in the middle and most importantly, his. Fabric was just fabric at the end of the day. The only thing he was strict about was when he needed to go into the field for any hands-on reason, stealth and mobility were his priorities. Whether he was hiding in the shadows or plain sight, it didn't matter. In most cases, however, red was a personal favorite of his.

When not in uniform, Astrid leaned into her feminity like Moselle but more calculated. Flowy dresses and skirts were lovely, but in her line of work, Astrid needed to be ready to give aid at the drop of a hat. It's a big reason why she kept her hair short. So the young healer mostly wore breathable fabric tops and modest shorts in the warmer seasons and comfortable sweaters, fitted skirts, and leggings in the colder seasons along with properly laced sneakers or boots to allow for proper mobility if she had to move quickly. Comfort and function were top priorities but personal fulfillment was never neglected either. She also took color psychology into account and often wore soothing colors as a result. Blues were her favorite.

Having spent more time with them, the trio reminded Moselle of another story she read about three little fairie sisters. Granted, they seemed far more like a guardian and his two charges...well three now, including her. It didn't take long for Tai to take the dragon under his wing along with his other two human 'pups'. Not that Moselle minded whatsoever, it felt so nice to be surrounded by friends. It helped her forget the lingering anxiety she felt each morning she woke up, suddenly afraid that maybe her rescue had been a cruel dream. Bit by bit, Moselle was starting to feel normal again and she didn't want to fight it. So she read to Tai during the day. She went for swims frequently in the crystal clear pools in the garden and did her checkups with Astrid. She watched as Petra often sparred together with her fox guardian on the grounds and sometimes with the royal guard to help each other stay sharp. Occasionally, all three of them would take a stroll around town to get some air and a change of scenery. She ate her meals with all three of them and just let herself heal. It was blissful. Too blissful, the voice in the back of her mind brought up at least once a day.

It hasn't even been that long, aren't you getting ahead of yourself? Eventually, they'll move on-

"Be q-quiet!" Moselle snapped the book with a little too much intensity, jolting Tai awake and almost crushing the poor book at the same time. The fox quickly sat up with a ready look on his face, his hand on something he kept hidden at his back. The only 'intruder' to be found was Moselle sitting still as a statue, embarrassment filling up at her outburst.

"I-I'm sorry..." Her eyes darted away from him with a look of shame. After a quick survey of the room, the fox relaxed.

"Are you alright?"

Before she could answer there was a rapid knock at the door. Astrid quickly entered looking like she had run there.

"Moselle, there's an ambassador from Briar Valley here to meet you," she huffed, trying to pull herself back together.

A cold lump of lead sank into the dragon's stomach hearing those words. Petra had given her a heads-up that this visit was coming eventually. Though the exact time was unclear. Now that the day had arrived, Moselle felt as unprepared as she would've had no one warned her at all. She was pulled to her feet by both Astrid and Tai and led out of the library in a daze. Petra met the others halfway to the throne room, looking a bit frazzled herself.

"I thought they were supposed to be here a week ago?!" Her harsh whisper was directed to Tai as she fell in step with the fox. She regretted it as soon as he turned a stern look her way.

"Like any other noble family on the planet, I imagine they and their emissaries arrive 'exactly when they intended to' and not a moment sooner. That goes double for your elusive Briar royalty neighbors or have you forgotten your etiquette training already?" His side-eye nearly smacked Petra upside the head. She was to be on her best behavior today no questions asked. None of them were given enough heads up to dress more formally for the ambassador's arrival but being on time took precedent.

The group stopped just outside the throne room to prepare, Tai taking the lead. When he saw how nervous Moselle looked, he softened.

"Now then, we are about to meet an important guest. That's all it is, a meeting. I'm sure the Briar Valley royal ambassador is a lovely person."

Petra bit her tongue before her sarcasm could make an ass out of her. Anything she knew prior about Briar Valley could be summed in a few particular themes: gloomy, staunchly devoted to archaic tradition, and as intense as the thorns the valley was named for. Somehow, a lovely and kind person didn't seem to fit the bill.

As soon as the doors opened, Reine announced them to the stranger facing her. The minute the ambassador turned on her poised heel like a trained dancer, Petra ate her unspoken words in a heartbeat.

"Well, well! Hello, hellooo!" Ambassador Valida's lilted voice rang out like a bell as the group entered. The raven fae greeted them with a refined bow and the tip of her ribboned top hat, "How do you do, friends? I am Hermia Valida, royal ambassador of Briar Valley here to greet you on Her Majesty Queen Malefica's behath! A pleasure to meet you! I do apologize for not being here sooner. I made a couple of stops along the way and found myself a wee bit detained."

Petra was dumbfounded as her brain registered every little detail about Ambassador Valida from her fanciful get-up and perfectly crafted curled up-do, her bubbly voice, to her exquisite posture. Well...she was intense in some kind of way. She didn't look any older than Petra or Astrid either. The raven fae practically pranced forward as Tai took it upon himself to start the introductions.

"Ambassador Valida, I'm Zhao Tai-Yang," The fox stood poised with a pleasant grin on his face as he half bowed to the raven.

Valida cooed over his general appearance without a hint of sarcasm, "Oh my, my! You're a fox fae, are you not? I have met many a fox fae during a past visit to the Land of Red Dragons. I have yet to see one with such a sumptuous coloring though! How lovely you are, sir!"

Tai didn't so much as flinch as the ambassador eyed his pale blonde hair and face. He was quite used to being ogled. "You have a keen eye, Ambassador."

"You must be quite the rarity! If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Zhao, how many tails do you currently have? I've heard your kind tend to acquire more than one depending on the mana quality and longevity you have."

He smirked, silently impressed at the ambassador's learned curiosity, "Ah, that has been a well-kept myth for several generations. I'd hate to be the one to spoil the mystique."

The raven laughed lightly and he thanked her for her kind words before she swiftly moved on to Astrid and Petra with a thrilled gleam in her dark blue eyes, making both of them jump a bit.

"And who are these two darling little flowers?" she giggled, "Oh I just adore humans! Such fascinating and diverse creatures!"

Petra felt her eye twitch at being called a creature. Thankfully Astrid gracefully took the lead, "Hello, I'm Astrid Piperita. I'm one of the royal healers on staff here."

Valida's enthusiasm knew no limits, "Oh yes, yes! Lord Nocturne has mentioned you before! The smart little healer mage. Lovely to meet you at last, Miss Piperita."

Petra had to fight her urge to bristle as the boisterous fae turned her way. Valida tilted her head as she looked the princess up and down, "And you, my dear?"

"Petra," she said rather bluntly, "Petra Revie." Be cool, keep it together, don't be rude...and other such thoughts buzzed around her mind.

Upon hearing her family name, the fae ambassador's grin froze to her wide eyed face, "Revie? Princess Revie from Isentor? My stars! What brings you here of all places? Why, the last time I visited our human neighbors on the other side of the mountains-or tried to anyway-your father-"

Petra felt all the anxiety come rushing back tenfold at the mention of her home and her father. She laughed and smiled, quickly cut the raven off before her resolve collapsed on itself, "Oh yup, that's me. Nice to meet you."

At first Moselle's attention was on the human princess. She could feel the nervous energy rolling off of her, hidden under Petra's usually confident air. Before the dragon could translate what the feeling could mean, the spotlight was on her. The raven quickly turned down her lively demeanor to a more critical one as she took a good look at the dragon. There was still a smile in place but there was a different flavor of elation attached to it. It made the dragon even more nervous, being inspected so thoroughly, but she remained as still as possible. Perhaps this was just how these things were done, said the logical side of her mind. The other side, the one that spoke from experience, didn't care for this weird display of 'observing' her at all. Thankfully it was over in mere moments.

"My, what a diamond you are, Miss Moselle!" Valida beamed as she looked especially close at Moselle's horns, "It's so rare that I meet an aquatic species of dragon fae nowadays! Especially from the Shaftlands!"

The more Valida prattled on, the more irritated Moselle started to feel. This bird wasn't any better than the humans treating her like an attraction for years. The thin line of patience Moselle had left immediately snapped the moment the fae ambassador asked to touch her horns. The raven's enthralled nosiness made Moselle see red.

"There aren't any of us left except for me. So of course you haven't met any. I'm the only one left because of hunters and others like you who look at us like collection pieces."

The entire room froze under the cold snarl that left the dragon's mouth. Not only did she speak clearly, she was baring her sharp fangs at the ambassador who could only stare up at her angry expression in shock. The sound of her seething anger registered in the dragon's head making her suddenly shrink back with a far more mortified expression.

"I-...I-I'm sorry..."

She wanted to run, to sink to the bottom of the deepest garden pool, and stay there until the dark swallowed her whole, but the raven's cheery expression grounded her back at that moment.

"Oh no, no, no, do not apologize, Miss Moselle! You have such an extraordinary command in your voice, by all means use it! You are a proud dragon fae after all!"

Both Moselle and Petra were dumbfounded by how quickly the ambassador bounced back. Valida sighed and once again bowed to the group with her hat to her chest, "If anyone should apologize, tis I, friends. Do forgive me. My enthusiasm does tend to get a bit out of hand at times. I meant no offense by saying too much."

Reine took that as her cue to steer the conversation back to its original purpose, "I suggest we continue this out in the fresh air. The tea party should be all set of us."

The raven practically squawked with glee and that same lively sparkle in her eyes, "Oh I love a good Rose Queendom tea party!"

The group moved outside following the queen and her chatty guest. Moselle still felt embarrassed as both Astrid and Petra lagged to check on her. The dragon looked as if she were about to sink into the floor.

"No harm done, it's alright," Astrid whispered and offered her a friendly arm, "If nothing else, your vocal practices are paying off wonderfully."

Moselle laughed a bit weakly and linked her arm with the shorter girl, appreciating her kindness. Petra felt her mantra intensify as she followed the other two. Today was already proving to be a trial in itself.

The atmosphere was thankfully much lighter once everyone was outside. Most of the talk between the group was far more casual. Story swapping between the ambassador, the royal couple, and Tai when it came to the topic of experiencing various cultures and cities around the world. Astrid chimed in now and again any time the conversation drifted towards the topic of her family and life growing up in the Rose Queendom. "My parents keep very busy running several tea shops around the Queendom and also a direct supply to Her Majesty. I used to help out before I entered the Healers Academy," Astrid bloomed with pride as she spoke, "Oh actually, the blend being served today is one of their most popular sellers. I have all the notes and medicinal benefits memorized if you wish to know."

"I can see why! It makes a splendid cup. I must take some back home with me before I go! You certainly know your teas, Miss Piperita," the ambassador was delighted at every beat of conversation she smoothly served back and forth like a verbal tennis match. Even to more frosty partners such as Petra.

"By the way, Your Highness-"

"Petra. Just Petra is fine," she forced a smile to seem less prickly. It didn't work but Valida was unphased regardless.

"-Miss Petra, what brings you to the Rose Queendom?"

The raven's genuine curiosity was met with blunt deflection.

"Extended holiday."

The ambassador laughed, "Oh I do love a holiday, yes."

Petra just continued to falsify her smile and sip her tea as the raven thankfully moved on to someone else. After the initial bombastic shock of energy she gave off, Hermia Valida was just a very fascinated and curious fae in the presence of new faces who, as she said, happened to let her enthusiasm take the wheel a bit too far at times. Even Moselle seemed more at ease when the two fae spoke to each other.

"I must apologize again, my dear Miss Moselle, despite appearances, I did not come here to interrogate or grade you like some show pony, no, no, no," the raven spoke as she elegantly poured the dragon a second cup of tea, "Her Majesty has been informed of your previous plight, you poor thing, and has taken great interest in you. I am merely here as her eyes and ears to get to know you."

"O-Oh. Have y-you served the qu-queen a long time?" Her stutter had returned but Moselle was thankful that it seemed to have lessened at least a little bit.

"Why yes! Well no, not me personally. I'm merely two hundred and two years old...or was it three? Either way, I'm hardly out of the nest myself!" Valida chuckled at herself as if she said something hilarious, "The Valida family has served the royal family for generations. We are a proud family of corvus fae. Our family line reaches back to the glorious Thorn Fairy herself! I merely took the position once my dear father passed, Seven rest his soul. He was a decorated war hero and I'm afraid his injuries finally caught up to him."

The raven sipped her tea with a slight somber look on her face. One that Petra caught moments before it disappeared behind the bird's elegant smile.

"Well, history is meant to stay in the past where it belongs. We must look towards the future, friends! After all, why else would I do what I do? Now, Miss Moselle, tell me more about yourself. You come from the Fleur City, yes? I was just there! Part of my delay, unfortunately, but absolutely worth it!"

The human princess watched as the dragon's expression softened as she reminisced about her home before it settled on watching the ambassador listening to Moselle's stories. A whisper to her right pulled her away from the conversation.

"Careful, pup. Your stare could burn holes through steel."

Tai gently pushed a plate of snacks toward Petra with a look she knew well. It was a mixture of affectionate teasing and actual concern. His human ward made a face at him before taking a few of the treats, "So it's ok if she 'observes' us but I can't do it back?"

"I never said that. I'm just wondering if you are still shaken from her getting under your skin earlier, princess?"

The two looked at each other, silently waiting for the other to make a move. Petra eventually conceded by shoving another pastry into her mouth and looking away with a huff. Between her and the Great Seven, Petra was starting to feel like a jackass deep down for assuming the worst about the Briar ambassador. All in all, the fae seemed pretty harmless. The mentioned attempt to visit Petra's kingdom and her father did pick at her. It must have been a few years ago when this happened. Tai leaned over to whisper to her in a comforting tone once more to quiet whatever was bothering his ward.

"No matter the outcome, the fact that Briar Valley even attempted to bridge the gap between themselves and your kingdom is a good sign."

"Yeah..." Petra muttered before taking another sip of tea, "Hopefully, they'll want to try again in the future."

Isentor wasn't known for its equal treatment of fae kind despite Petra's efforts over the past few years. Since her departure with Tai at her side, the name Isentor hadn't reached her ears until today. Had she been able to help it, Petra would have gladly gone another five years without hearing it again.

Across the table, Moselle's heart was being pulled in the opposite direction at the mention of her home. She missed it terribly but knew that returning wasn't in the cards for her. Even before her new companions told her about Rollo's request, Moselle had a feeling that her old friend would have wanted to keep her out of harm's way even if it meant never seeing one another again. That said, they only told her part of the young man's request regarding her not being able to return to Fleur City. Now the result of the other half was staring her in the face and found a piece of the past that was still tender after all this time.

"There is something else I must know, Miss Moselle. Just before I left for this tour, I was told that your name has come up within the royal family before."

Her words caused Moselle's heart to feel a tiny glow of hope, "I-It has...?"

The raven warmed at the hopeful look on the dragon fae's face, "Yes, yes! Our own Prince Malleus is an old friend of yours, isn't he?"

Hearing the prince's name stirred something in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time. As much as she wanted to enjoy it, it also made Moselle put two and two together rather quickly, "Is he...is that wh-why the qu-queen sent you here?"

The look on the ambassador's face turned a bit coy, "Oh no, no, well I imagine that did inspire Her Majesty's interest in you somewhat, but the queen's intentions are first and foremost altruistic! If our fine homeland can provide a haven for a fellow dragon fae such as yourself then, of course, Her Majesty will extend her aid to you! That's why I'm here naturally! But, uh...my question still stands. Off the books, of course. I'm just so curious."

Valida was brewing in her seat like a schoolgirl waiting for the hottest gossip. The seemingly innocent display amused most of the table. Perhaps she was being a little uptight before...is what Petra was thinking before that moment. Now Petra's reservations overshadowed any previous minute guilt. Something about this bird lady felt off-putting.

Moselle felt her face warm as she suddenly became the center of attention, "O-oh well yes. Mal-ah, Prince Malleus, and I met before in Fleur City. During a festival. We...we danced together at a ma-masquerade."

This was the first time Moselle let the memory play out in full without trying to bury it again. The ambassador gave a soft dreamy sigh, "What a romantic first meeting. You're a lucky girl, not everyone gets to meet let alone dance with our prince! Which is a shame. He is a fantastic dancer. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Moselle?"

The dragon fae's expression grew a bit bashful, "Y-Yes, I think so too." It wasn't so much the question as the implication of their meeting being 'romantic' stunned Moselle. Granted, the raven wasn't completely wrong, at least on Moselle's side of things. This silent acknowledgment unlocked a whole mess of feelings that the dragon hadn't tapped into in several years. Malleus was a good dancer and a handsome prince. Those parts of him were very nice, yes, but...those weren't her favorite things about him.

"Oh pinfeathers, where is my head?" Valida chuckled, "As I mentioned before I made a stop in your hometown before coming here and I have something for you, Miss Moselle!"

Before the ambassador could even lift a finger, one of Reine's servants zipped to Moselle's side with a box that made her whole expression light up as soon as she opened it. Valida thanked the servant and continued with a giddy grin, "I hope you don't mind me visiting your old stomping ground to get a little more intel on you before coming to meet you personally, Miss Moselle. While I was there, I met your human friend, Mr. Flamme and he asked that I bring this to you, and said it was very important to you."

Inside were all the letters Malleus had written to her and even the ones that couldn't be sent to him in return. Every single one was accounted for and organized neatly for her. Happy tears prickled at the corner of her eyes as she gently held the box to her chest, "It is. Th-Thank you so much."

At the sight of her impending tears, both Tai and Astrid looked up for any signs of rain. Not a grey cloud in sight, just warm sunshine. The realization made them melt a bit especially because the dragon looked so happy. Petra felt moved seeing the first real smile on Moselle's face since they rescued her, but still, a bit weirded out at Valida's choice of words. The ambassador inwardly preened and took this as her cue to make her final judgment.

"Well, that settles it! I'll make all the arrangements! I'm sure Prince Malleus will be thrilled to see you again, Miss Moselle!" The raven was humming with a glee.

The rush of positivity hit an invisible wall all at once as Moselle froze like a startled deer, "...Wh-what?"

"Well naturally the final call is up to Her Majesty, but I have nothing but good, good things to tell her so surely it will be a resounding yes! " The raven wasn't listening or picking up on the rising panic on the dragon's face, "Now the coronation is in, let's see, in about three months from now. Plenty of time to prepare! It will be a grand ceremony and a beautiful ball afterward! I'll make sure you're listed as a VIP on the guest list, of course-"

Moselle began to feel dizzy with each word that shot out of the excited ambassador's mouth. After years of hearing nothing and then suddenly hearing that he not only remembered her but would see her again so soon?! The whiplash from nervousness to joy, and then a hard turn back into anxiety was too much! Moselle felt like she was about to faint right as Petra came out of the blue to her rescue.

The princess cleared her throat with enough emphasis to stop a stampede and the look she got any time she was about to drop a heavy piece of her mind, "Ambassador Valida? Excuse me? Hi."

The raven verbally stopped on a dime, her candied smile still in place, "Yes, Miss Petra?"

Tai and Astrid sat on either side of the princess in anxious silence. One sipped his tea with a look of dread, feeling in his gut all intentions of being on her best behavior were flung right out the window. The other sat perfectly still, trying her best to look pleasant while feeling like someone stuck in a hostage situation. The Rosehearts were mere spectators to this increasingly tense scene. Poor Moselle was just trying to get her downward mental spiral under control as things unfolded in front of her.

"Yeah I think you need to slow down, actually," Petra's tone was full of sardonic sass, "I get that this is all very exciting, but isn't it too much too soon? I mean, Moselle hasn't been out in the world for years. She's barely been here for two weeks! And now you're suddenly making plans for her in a place, in a society she knows nothing about?"

"Petra..." Tai hissed a warning that fell on deaf ears.

A confident grin spread across Valida's face as her gaze narrowed, taking in Petra's argument with sharp precision, "Oh? Forgive me, I was under the impression that was the purpose of this entire endeavor. To help Miss Moselle acclimate to a new life, one with fellow fae like herself where she can live a full, abundant life. Was I summoned here under false pretenses, Princess Revie?" The raven turned to extend the question to Reine and Riddle as well, "Your Majesties? Do correct me if I'm wrong."

Before either the king or queen could answer, Petra retorted in a huff, "No, that's not what I'm saying! I just think-"

"Yes, yes," Valida chuckled lightly as she rhythmically tapped her manicured fingers on the table, "Of all the wonderful qualities humans have, thinking and speaking for others who are perfectly capable of doing so on their own is one of the more unsightly ones I've come to learn."

The smug look on the bird's face cranked Petra's temper up at breakneck speed. She jumped to her feet, slamming her hands on the table, blood heated, "You-!!"

Just as quickly, Petra found herself yanked away from the table. The forced smile on Tai's face barely hid his anger as he held his ward back.

"Apologies. I need to have a quick word with Petra. Excuse us."

The fox didn't wait for an answer before forcefully dragging the princess further into the garden with him, as far from the tea party as he could get. The air was heavy with silence that Astrid did her best to fix in the only way she knew how.

"A-Ah Ambassador, Your Majesties! I'm so sorry!" the embarrassed healer stood and bowed to them before immediately pouring everyone more tea. Valida just laughed it off light-heartedly as the other three members of the party quietly processed what had just happened.

"Oh you sweet dear, it's quite alright. I do admire Miss Petra's frankness. It's quite refreshing! Ha, ha, yes," the raven quickly cleared her throat and addressed the rest of the party, "That said, I have gotten ahead of myself yet again, I'm afraid. My apologies, friends."

Moselle exhaled all remaining tension out of her body as the conversation veered back into much calmer waters. Proceeding on a better foot, Valida turned to Moselle with a gentile smile, "Miss Moselle, I just want you to know, though I am excited for you to experience Briar Valley firsthand, there is no pressure for you to accept Her Majesty's possible invitation for permanent residency. It is entirely your choice, dear."

That was enough assurance to put a small smile on Moselle's face, "O-Of course."

"This is not about you, Petra."

The pair stood in an empty gazebo without another soul within earshot. Tai was staring her down with a burning look, his form standing tall and rigid. She was still fuming but also fighting to keep her mouth shut in front of the pissed off fox.

"This is not about you or those prejudices you have stuffed up in that stubborn head of yours," he hissed. And suddenly all restraint was gone.

"Prejudices that I have?! Did you not hear what she said-"

"OH, I heard the ambassador, yes. I heard her put a very rude human princess in her place when said princess began trampling over an opportunity meant for someone else," his harsh words cut her down but Tai didn't stop there, "Petra, I understand you mean well. I understand that you feel some responsibility for Moselle's protection. But I also understand - better than you apparently - that your personal feelings about setting foot on the same continent as Isentor and all it stands for have kept you from seeing how your words and actions ruin any chance for things to get better. For you, for those around you, and especially for your people who you still represent even now, whether you like it or not."

The singing birds and warm sun were strange contrasts to the bitter scolding Petra was receiving. The fox fae always had her best interests in mind since she was a baby. This meant moments of honey and moments of bitter vinegar in turn and he rarely pulled his punches. He quietly watched his words break through any remaining resistance Petra had left in her. The princess sighed and relaxed into slightly more open body language, signaling to the fox that she was ready to keep listening without a fuss. He, however, didn't drop the strict tone just yet.

"You need to learn when to speak up and when to be quiet, Petra. Not every occasion calls for a sword and grit. Not every 'castle' needs to be stormed and conquered. Understand?" He kept his hands behind his back as he paced around her.

"Yes, Tai, " Her voice simmered down and ditched its previously heated tone.

"While I don't like everything Ambassador Valida has said and done today, I do agree with one point she made: 'History is meant to stay in the past where it belongs.' That goes for your personal history as well, Petra," Tai finally put a gentle hand on the princess' shoulder, "Understand?"

"Yes, Tai...I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven. Now....ten laps around the gardens to cool off that temper of yours, starting at that fountain waaay over there."

Petra immediately whirled on the fox, eyes wide with disbelief, "What?! Ten?! These gardens are massive!"

Tai's wily grin was back as he pinched her cheek, "Keep arguing and I'll make it twenty. Once you're finished, you will apologize to Moselle and Ambassador Valida if she's still around. Off you go, pup."

A loud exasperated groan rang out as the fox made his way back to the tea party.

The party was back to normal as Tai casually returned to his seat at the now mostly empty table. Valida remained seated across from him, finishing her tea and watching the others begin the afternoon game of croquet. He took a breath to settle back into his manners before addressing her. "Not joining the game, Ambassador Valida?" The raven hummed peacefully in the afternoon light, "Not yet, no. I know it's hard to believe, Mr. Zhao, but even a fae of my vigor needs moments of repose." They both chuckled lightly at the notion before Tai went straight into damage control, "I hope you can forgive my ward. She is out of her teen years though her mouth hasn't outgrown them quite yet, unfortunately..." "Oh, she does seem like a handful. Still, you call Miss Petra your ward? Is she not of age in human years??" Valida wasn't even meaning to sound snarky. Human time versus fae time could get rather confusing. The fox's grin turned a bit sentimental. "An old habit. I've been watching after her for most of her life." "Oh, you must be a very highly regarded family servant then," the bird was eyeing him again like she did earlier, "you're too well kept to be one of the royal ditch diggers. Or are you a family friend...?" "Depends on who you ask. Her late father, King Anselm, would probably echo your previous guess," the fox's smile gave little away though his words seemed to be too revealing. The Ambassador's expression was openly shocked, "Late? Oh dear, I had no idea he passed. Condolences to both you and Miss Petra. When did this come about?" "Just before Petra graduated from Sacred Crown, unfortunately," Tai's eyes flicked over towards the game that just ended with Reine's undefeated victory, "It looks like they're about to start another round, Ambassador. Would be a shame for you to miss out." The novelty of playing croquet with live animals was enough to immediately distract the fae into switching places with Moselle. The dragon joined Tai back at the table with a soft sigh as soon as she settled back into her seat. Moselle quickly noticed Petra's absence. "Is Petra alright?" The fact that the young fae was concerned for the sassy princess instead of offended by her behavior only endeared Tai to the dragon more.

"She'll be fine. Just needs some time to clear her head. Did I miss anything important?"

Moselle's expression became soft and hopeful, "Not r-...really. I think I want to...t-to go though. If they give me the ch-chance. Miss Valida is pos-sitive it will happen."

Tai felt relief as the warmth and tenderness in her smile latched onto him. The dragon opened her letterbox like a treasure chest and found an old photo. It was a group picture someone had taken of Malleus, Silver, and Sebek during their school days. The way she was looking at it was one of the purest things Tai had seen in a very long time.

"Good. It sounds like you will have at least one friend waiting for you. Speaking of which," he leaned over to take a look at the picture with his teasing grin back in place, "Is this the handsome young buck in question?"

"Yes," Moselle prayed her face wasn't as pink as it felt as she giggled, "He even has two dashing kn-knights," she pointed to the two boys on either side of the dragon prince, "This is Silver and that's Sebek. I met them at the masquerade too."

"I see~" The fox's grin widened as he remembered those names from earlier. So those were the two 'friends'.

The fox passed the remaining golden afternoon, leaning on his arm and listening to the dragon gush about this prince and his friends, not once interrupting to point out how her stutter seemed to disappear with each story, picture, or collected trinket she shared.

The sun was almost gone by the time Petra was climbing the outside stairs to the main hall. Exhausted, sweaty, and greatly humbled, she looked a total mess. Astrid and Moselle were sitting on the top step, watching the sunset while they waited. Neither one said a word, quietly waiting for the princess to speak. Easier said than done. Petra steadied herself, hunched over, hands on knees, puffing out ragged breaths as sweat trickled down her face.

"I....I'm sorry for....for being a fucking asshole...ea-earlier...Sevens above, wh-why are the grounds so huge here?!"

The healer stood with a soft sigh and held out a bottle of water for her tired friend, "I don't need one, but apology accepted."

The fae showed her forgiveness by placing a cool towel on the back of Petra's neck, "I used ic-ice magic on it so it should keep co-cold for a bit."

Petra felt guilty ten times over at the kind gestures, "Thank you...is the Ambassador still here?"

Astrid's mellow voice was promptly obscured by a boisterous interruption barreling down the hall.

"THERE she is!"

Petra inwardly cringed as Ambassador Valida pranced down the front steps towards the three girls. She supposed being seen like this was part of her punishment for popping off earlier. Despite her current slobby state, Petra threw on the best smile she could manage.

"Heeeey, Ambassador Valida. About earlier-"

The raven shushed her with a posh flourish of her hand. How someone could be 'on' like this every second of the day was astounding. Still, Petra kept her snark to herself. Lesson learned.

"Not another word, I won't hear of it! Water under the bridge, Miss Petra. In fact, no, from now on, you and I are going to be such good friends," The raven fae was practically sparkling, "All of us are! I want you girls to call me Hermia. There's no need for formalities amongst young lady friends!"

Youth seemed to have a different relevancy to fae versus humans. Moselle and Astrid showed more satisfaction over the notion versus Petra who was suffering even more than before.

Petra's eye and plastered smile twitched, "Oook. Sure."

"Lovely! It has been such a grand time meeting all of you, but I must return to Briar Valley at once. So much to do," without any hesitation, Hermia gave each of them a delighted hug, "I will send word once everything is in order! Ta, ta, friends!"

The newly initiated 'lady friends' waved in varying degrees of stupor to the limo as it drove the lively ambassador off the palace grounds. All three stood there like statues until Astrid finally broke the stunned silence.

"Well, she was...fun?"

Petra used what energy she had left to drift back into the palace to offer another tired apology to the royal couple before she collapsed back in her room. Neither one seemed all that upset with the punished girl. Had their croquet game been forced to start late because of her outburst, well, then Petra would have been even more trouble.

The night was warm and accompanied by crickets as a bus made its last stop deep in the forests of Briar Valley. An equally exhausted Lilia exited the old, beat-up vehicle with a yawn. The bags under his eyes were anything but cute and just as heavy as the large duffle strapped to his back. He took a moment to get his bearings as the bus drove down the road. "Thank Seven for some technological advancement in this country", he mumbled to himself, "back in the day, I'd have to walk from the port town to get back home. Or teleport..." Back when he could still do that.

Thankfully, his old house wasn't far from the bus stop. Silver had offered to meet him once he returned but Lilia had turned down the offer, knowing his son was busy with full-time duties since he and Sebek were properly knighted by Malefica after graduating. More importantly, it was late and also Lilia had cut his trip short by a few days. He just wanted to be home, in his bed, and alone for a while. As soon he reached the old cottage in the glen, Lilia felt a conflicting wave of both relief and sadness. He did smile at how clean and tidy it was once he stepped inside. The sealed note on the kitchen table revealed the culprit.

Father,

Welcome home. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to greet you in person, but we should meet up soon. I want to hear all about your trip- The old fae's spirits lifted a little as he read Silver's note. He and Sebek took time out of their busy schedules to make sure his house was in order by the time Lilia came home so he could rest easy from his travels. In other countries, traveling was far more convenient with airports and the like being pretty common. Briar Valley had come a long way but was still incredibly vintage in comparison. While there was an airport in Isentor, it didn't exactly cater to fae like himself. So when Lilia decided to go to the other side of the world, he hopped on a boat from the southern port town on their side of the mountains and traveled to the closest hub to fly out of. It was far more taxing than he remembered.

"Not so young anymore are we?"

He decided to forgo a meal and made his way up to his room. The duffle bag was left by the door with a heavy thud as Lilia lazily changed into more comfortable clothes before flopping onto the bed. The immense sigh that left his body sounded like a ghost moaning. Now that he was settled and alone with his thoughts, Lilia felt a lump in his throat. He had been fighting it off as he traveled back home but there was no avoiding it now. The ragged bat slowly turned to his side and reached for his nightstand. Inside the drawer was a small, weathered pouch that he kept close by for hundreds of years. It was his secret treasure, something even his boys didn't know about. Tears started to form as he removed the jade charm kept inside. It was carved in the image of a fox.

"I'm sorry I couldn't find you and bring you home with me. I think you would have liked it here," his laugh was bittered by a sob, "Wherever you are...I hope you're alive and well." ------------------------------------------------------------------

Lilia stans don't come at me he's gonna be fine I PROMISE

Soon the whole crew - canon and OC - will be coming together. I have plans for all sorts of reunion feelies lol. Side note about Petra's kingdom: "Isentor" (pronounced aiz-en-tour) is a mash up of the German words for "iron" (eisen) and "door" (tor). More on that later in the story.

If you'd like to be added to the tag list, lemme know!

@foxwitchaine @wysteriadelights @nuitthegoddess @iscarlettappel @1ndigowitch @victoria1676 @yunaemiya @ladyrosemoon @aiimee9

#neoninky #twisted wonderland #sacred crown chronicles #her devoted shield #ao3 writer #ao3 fic #ao3 fanfic #twst canon x oc #diasomnia #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #sebek zigvolt #silver vanrouge #dramasomnia #more ocs coming #chapter update #fox girl dad/uncle doing his best

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k4creative · 7 months ago

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Raven and Cat

Please be my beta readers! 😊

I saw this photo on facebook for the umpteenth time this week and I decided to consider it a writing prompt. I'm keeping the premise, but I am deviating from the picture somewhat.

Here is the first part. I hope, I’ll be able to continue it!

Note: english is not my first language.

Any comment, criticism and good-intentioned help is welcome!

In a forest clearing, on a moss-covered, sunny rock, a big white cat sleeps.

Calling this cat white though is like describing a sunset as ’orange’, or the eye of your lover as ’blue’... As the sun rays glide over his coat, you can observe, that parts of it are white as milk, others are like whitewash, or the silvery-creamy white of a pearl. His whiskers fracture the light into rainbow-coloured sparkles, and his fluffy tail – his pride and joy – gleams like the light of a harvest moon.

He sleeps restlessly. His ears are constantly twitching - catching the noises of the forest –, so does the end of his tail. Now his ears perk up, he opens one yellow eye and in the very next second he’s sitting upright, regally curling his tail around his front paws. He looks like, he never slept. An unholy swishing sound fills the forest clearing as an enormous black bird breaks the treeline. It lands without fuss a little further from the cat. It’s eyes glow purple for a moment, but the next blink clears the enchantment, leaving only the normal colour of anthracite in the big bird’s iris.

-Well? – asks the cat, unable to mask his agitation.

-Nothing. – comes the reply in a sharp, edgy tone. – I looked everywhere. – continues the bird, adjusting their chest feathers irritably – There’s no way she’s still in the vicinity. I can see traces of her mana all over the place…it is her territory after all…but beyond the Border…only a faint trail pointing North. We’re gonna have to follow her dammit! It’s been a month…

-I vote we wait for another week. There were times, she was away longer than…

-Yes yes – interrupts the raven rather rudely – but she always, always left instructions and sent dreams if she was delayed.

The cat visibly pouts after the interruption. His whiskers twitch and his pupils dilate for a split second. He remains accusingly silent, looking daggers at his companion.

-Look – says the raven, perfectly imitating a human sigh – I know you are territorial…I am too, but this is serious stuff.

-What about her villages? – asks the cat, finding her superior tone again.

-They have to make do without her anyway. – shrugs the raven – We did everything we could since she left. We educated that dull herbalist down in Riverbend. I replenished the potions of all the barber surgeons in the area and you strengthened every enchantment around the Border. The people gotta be fine until winter. – they tilt their head with a nasty expression on their beak - If this is not enough, they’d die without her anyway…

The cat lowers his lashes disapprovingly, then he lets out a sigh, yawns and stretches. The raven fidgets, waiting for a reply. They know that the cat has a bad temper and a stick up his butt about basically everything, so they force themselves to be patient. With two small licks of the hair on his chest, he finishes the ritualistic stretching and – apparently – the thinking too.

-I think in this particular matter your surmise might be true, bird. – the cat’s sonorous voice sounds in the raven’s head – However, an expedition of this importance and caliber should not be rushed. We need provisions: food, water, enchantments…we have to think about lodgings along the way…

-You must be joking! You are a hunter and a high class mage for the goddess’ sake! And I am a proud scavenger. Food? Water? Lodging?! It’s high summer, we can sleep wherever and whenever. You are nocturnal and I can adapt my eyes, so we can even move at night...! Stop pussyfooting around this and let’s go!

The moment they say it, the raven knows it was a mistake. They pull their head way down between the wings and with rapid blinking, looks apologetically at him. His eyes sparkle, ears flat, mane is all fluffed up and his whole body radiates righteous indignation. If the situation wouldn’t be this serious, the raven would flee now, till he calms down, but not now.

-Look, I am sorry! It was tactless of me to use that word, but we have to go and we have to start now!

-I will not let this insult slide, bird! - sounds his voice in the bird’s head, underlined with a faint growl emanating from his throat. His blue left and yellow right eyes sparkle with fury. The raven is certain that if the enchantment would still be active, they’d be able to see his mana swirling red around his paws. After a few seconds of heavy eye contact, he gets a hold of himself.

-Unfortunately we really are pressed by time here. – he sighs, forcing calm on himself - She can only count on us. I will follow your lead for now, but be warned: you’re dancing on thin ice.

With that, the cat swishes his tail and with energetic bounds, fueled by his unquenched anger, he leaves the clearing. Due North.

The tension leaves the bird’s body after a few seconds. They imitate a heavy sigh again, and to calm themselves down, they emit a silent, low, purring ’kraa’. With a full body shake, they tidy their plumage, activate the enchantment in their eyes with a heavy blink, then take off to the sky, their giant wings beating the air heavily.

#raven #cat #cat&raven #writing #writing prompt #original prose #fic

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acacia-may · 1 year ago

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Can I request a headcanon and a song for Lumière and Secre/Nero, please 🧡

Ooh this is an angsty one. I'm not sure if you meant it to be angsty or not, but I feel a deep, bittersweet sadness whenever I think about these two. They deserved so much better! 😭💔

Anyways, yes, of course you may request a headcanon and a song for Lumière and Secre/Nero! Thank you so much for your ask and for playing my song + headcanon game!

Song & Headcanon below the cut because of Black Clover Spoilers (though the anime)

The first song that came to mind when I saw this ask was "In Another Life (Goodbye)" by Jason Walker. The whole first verse really reminds me of when Secre had to say goodbye to Lumiere again at the end of the Elf Arc because she knows "that this was coming" but it doesn't make their goodbye any easier. Though to be fair this song is also very fitting for when he was alive as well--given that he was royalty because of Secre's weak magic making her into a sort of second-class citizen in the kingdom, they probably wouldn't have had the chance to pursue a romantic relationship then either and would have had to say goodbye not only to each other but to their chance at love. Ultimately, the only hope for these two is that they get a chance at happiness in another life--maybe an AU where he doesn't die and/or Secre doesn't get turned into a bird or where they're in the modern era with no rigid medieval caste system, somewhere that is not the canon since the canon universe was not kind to them.

On that note, here's an AU Headcanon for Secre and Lumiere in an alternate universe where Lumiere was just sealed in the Wizard King Statue in a similiar way to Secre being sealed as a bird, so he gets to survive post the Elf Arc:

Now free not only from his statue but also from the responsibilities of being next in line to the throne of the Clover Kingdom, Lumiere decides embrace the normal life of a commoner. He and Secre join the Black Bulls for a while, but when they retire, Lumiere sets out to travel around the kingdom learning about new and interesting kinds of magic with Secre as his companion. Eventually they decide to settle down in a quiet farming village in the middle of nowhere where they live a happy, domestic life as the village's healers, using their magical gifts to help the sick and injured townspeople.

In Another Life (Goodbye) - YouTube

#lumiere x secre #secre x lumiere #lumiere silvamillion clover #secre swallowtail #nero black clover #this pairing is so sweet but so sad #song + headcanon game #answered anons

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protocolseben · 2 years ago

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slipshod writing because i just want a companion random story to that edit accompanied with some drawings (and also all written in lower case)

fernando is pissed as balls that his engine broke down in abu dhabi. He can’t even have a leaving-team race in peace, and worst of all, no donuts. he can’t send seb off like he wanted. everything was going to plan even. alas renault’s high quality engine™ decided it had enough of the year and wrecked itself in the middle of the race.

karma in a way after ocon’s car also went spectacularly, it seems

so there he is dragging his items and the whole nine yards to the aston martin motorhome with his friend and basically minder because he’s also had enough with alpine management screwing him over. aston was nice enough to have a few spare rooms so he dumps everything in there and just. sits on a chair. he’s properly rinsed anyway and tired and also sad that now he has one less super experienced driver to go toe to toe with and really get him going

Internally he’s wishing really really hard. i wish with whatever is left of my heart that i get a really fun season next year with not a lot of crashes and good good racing please i'll politick a little less even.

something in his mind makes a faint click sound, but he's gone and napped too far to care about it.

Anyway his friend just lets him ko on the floor because it’s fernando, he knows what he's doing 95% of the time so its alright.

might as well acclimatise to the aston place that feels immediately extra homey and already accepted him as compared to alpine. Its gonna be his team for a while after all. uncharacteristically he just straight up KOs on the floor and no one had the mind to actually wake him up because that’s a dirty floor sir. but it's a comfy dirty floor for starters.

- - - - -

Anyway it gets real funky when he gets up and is in a hotel, but he felt like the entire weight of last season was completely gone. Its an athlete thing to always be at the top of your game, but right now he feels the same as if it was 2012 all over again and superduper motivated. That’s absolutely not right.

It’s dawn and really cool out and his stuff is still there except none of them are alpine related. It’s practically his black sponsorless suit and normal kimoa stuff. His helmet is…not bwt? It’s his standard asturias flag, not the horrible and pink but also seemingly missing the tribute flag lines he did for seb’s last race.

wait a minute, the season just ended.

he finds out he's near silverstone and his friend’s basically at the door telling him he needs to get ready to go to aston’s hq, meet the team etc etc. well ok sure no problem, except he swore it was not that fast dude. sadly the calendar on his phone says 1 JANUARY 2023 ..

He gets driven to the hq by his friend and he loves how nice the whole place is turning out. Getting to know the engineers and also Lance’s engineers and see how the car will go. Judging from how chatty they all are they are really excited about it, saying that he was excited about it, but fernando has legitimately zero idea about how the aston car felt like. because he can’t remember if he did a post season test or anything, and for once in his life just hoping he's not too clueless while looking around in the factory

Now you see, the other driver standing there waiting around isn't 185.5cm and fernando remembers this very well because Lance is a lanky man. This person is very much 176cm and wearing a knitted aston beanie and has the stupidest but gentle looking hair curls. He also has the biggest shit eating grin on his face seeing fernando come in and welcoming him in happily

“wait you're supposed to be retired totally wtf” fernando is whispering in semi-panic later when the engies are all away to get things because “THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED” and he is positive the date is 1 January 2023

“No??? We welcomed you in and stuff remember”

“No you said you were done with the whole thing and you wanted to do new things not driving”

"fernando you're getting old!!!! i signed for another year"

This makes nando the most confused he has been in years and to make sure he proper isn't on some funny drug, he asks seb if he did post season testing

“Yeah you were really loving it you said the engine was really solid despite the miles i did”

Nando runs out of questions because he knows seb is almost incapable of lying unlike him who has chronic politicking syndrome. Also because the man is looking at him like he has grown five heads and that's not a good way to greet your new teammate.

- - - - -

He leaves the factory very confused but also very satisfied in the racing part of things, because the car feels so strong. He gets a genius idea on the way to his car and knows the internet is permanent, and he checks his twitter and-

that is not right. there isn't a single post about seb’s retirement. In fact the month of July-August is celebrating that both he and seb are going to aston, hell there’s an edit.

it takes him a minute to parse that this is in fact the new reality and he has 2 months to slowly get to it. he thinks he has a plan, but it fizzles before realising the contact he wanted to speak to wasn't even in his phone. briatore has stopped existing in his list .

...

who's briatore again?

#writing #idle thoughts #alexa play pools by gla/ss animals lol just vibin while shitposting

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godofdystopia · 2 years ago

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Lead me not into Damnation

I cant believe im stuck with this title now. Its all i got though so too bad for me :/

Anyway, welcome to the first story ive written for Wrath of the Righteous. It will not be the last. Arueshalae is the best and i love her and so does my commander Malara.

Please enjoy this short little hurt/comfort i guess, i stand by it

Words: 4.5k

When the Commander came back from Kenabres, everyone knew something was different.

For one thing, she had left with five companions and only came back with four. Now, normally, this wouldn't have prompted such mystery: The worldwound was dangerous and everyone knew it. They would erect a small monument and say a few prayers before offering their condolences to the commander and moving on with their lives because everyone could feel that the end of the crusade was near. But the Commanders other companions who had gone with her didn't react like grieving comrades. Not at all.

Seelah had thrown herself into training with a furious zeal, spitting curses and swears like the training dummies had personally offended her. There was no grief in her, only righteous anger and betrayal. Trever scowled and prowled around the city in a dark haze even deeper than the one he had usually: a great achievement for the former slave of Alushinyrra. Daeran had disappeared and kept himself scarce for he couldn't decide if he wanted to chuckle humorously to himself before wincing guiltily or scowl at any passerby who chuckled or laughed for any reason whatsoever.

And Nenio… Well, Nenio seemed to be focused on the two masks the inner circle had procured and so had promptly forgotten whatever had put the rest of her comrades into a tizzy so at least there was some normalcy out of it all.

And Camellia was gone. Nobody quite knew where she had gone off to and anyone who asked got yelled at, scowled at, or subjected to long and furious ranting by whoever they had asked.

The Commander had sequestered herself into the citadel and had so far not come out, usually the tiefling woman would have been out and about at least once or twice if only to see how the fortress-city was doing but so far she was a no show, it was worrying.

And so people wondered and theorized about what had happened, as they wanted to do with any mystery. And all the while the world turned on.

Just as it wanted to do.

**********

On a very luxurious bed in the heart of the Drezen Citadel, a tiefling woman lay despondent.

The bed was a silken wonder, soft as a cloud and with blankets and sheets that cost more than most people had in their homes. Around the room, hanging from the rafters and across the ceiling, vines crept along every surface they could and bloomed into every flower imaginable. Bright blue butterflies flapped lazily around the prettiest flowers they could find and occasionally joined the ethereal blue ones that currently lay all across the tieflings body and just rested there with her.

The tiefling herself was maybe one or two inches shorter than most people. A leonine face with bright red eyes surrounded by silky black hair currently tied back into a simple braid showed a martial beauty broken only by the numerous scars on the left side of her face, from a childhood encounter with some Inquisitors gone wrong. Ten glorious, starry butterfly wings sprawled out in every direction from her back, the constellations of the night sky etched onto their velvety blue membranes.

The Azata in training would have gone throughout the fortress by now, would have tried to do something, anything at all to get out of her own head, but everytime the urge to do so came up the same phrase that had haunted her the entire time away from Kenabres came back.

“There is no Mireya, I made her up.”

Those eight little words had destroyed her.

Camellia had been a friend, had been a crush when they traveled across Kenabres the first time all those months ago now. She was elegant and graceful and had lied to her face. She had lied and now Malara just lay there and wondered where on Golarion it had all gone wrong.

She had believed her, had trusted her. Camellia had told her it was all for the spirit that tormented her and why would she lie?

“The truth is I like killing.”

Camellia was a monster and Malara had indulged her, had gladly gone along with her horror because she had trusted her. Malara was supposed to be better than that, had been better than that. She was becoming an Azata for Desna’s sake! She was supposed to be a spirit of freedom, and good, and-

“There is no Mireya, I made her up.”

The butterfly winged tiefling curled up into a ball and hugged her legs to her chest in a fetal position. Her wings fluttered before going back to laying uselessly on the comfy bed like they had been for the past few hours.

… Had it all been a lie?

Camellia had said that she was her friend, but she had also said that all the atrocities were for the good of Golarion. She’d lied to her face over and over again so who even knew what the truth of their friendship was.

Malara had faced down two different Demon Lords at this point and had faced down Mephistopheles himself at The Court of Freedom’s Dream. She’d been able to stand tall against temptation even in the heart of Alushinyrra itself.

Admittedly, standing up to Nocticula had been harder than fighting Baphomet or the Devil Prince pretending to be Early Sunset, because the truth was that her greatest weakness had always been pretty women.

And Camellia was beautiful.

And she’d used that to get away with murder again, and again, and again and Malara had allowed it because it was supposed to be for Golarion! It was supposed to help defeat the demons why would she lie!?

“The truth is I like killing.”

Malara sighed weakly as she hugged her knees, the comfortable bed not helping at all. A butterfly landed on her cheek, almost as if trying to comfort her. And then, almost as if mocking, the butterfly took off and headed towards the door, all the butterflies in the room that weren't ethereal extensions of her own power joining them as they all landed on the door and began fluttering their wings.

Malara felt just the least bit hurt, the ardent Desnan had taken comfort from the symbols of her goddess, had taken their presence as proof that Desna was watching over her and approved of her actions.

“There is no Mireya, I made her up.”

Perhaps the proof that she had fallen for a murderess psychopath and let her get away with atrocity after atrocity had been too much for her goddess and she’d finally abandoned her, taking the butterflies away to show that she had turned away from the poor little tiefling who had helped murder countless innocents because it was supposed to be for Golarion, to help close the Worldwound why would she LIE!? A hesitant knock at the door accompanied by some rapid scratching that sounded close to tearing down the whole door made her lift her head, the butterflies now clustering close to the doorknob as they waited.

Normally, Malara would be happy to entertain guests and would happily spend time with anyone that came by so long as they did not try and complain about the Free Crusaders and if they did she would simply direct them towards Anevia and Irabeth.

Well, just Anevia now.

Malara would be happy to open the door, but right now she simply curled into an even tighter ball and refused to get up. If she ignored them, they would probably go away and she could be alone with her thoughts. Her dark thoughts about her failure to stop Camellia, her failure as an ascendant Azata, her failure as a commander, her failure as a friend, her failure as every-

Before her thoughts could continue to spiral, the door was ripped apart as the claws of a worried Havoc Dragon. Aivu, her friend and companion since beginning the path of the Azata, looked worried and frightened. Her insectile wings fluttered nervously while the massive dragon sort of paced behind the door. Her purple scales reflected the torches outside and cast wondrous colors across the room.

Malara raised her head to look at the worried dragon child.

“You wouldn't come out of your room and I was frightened.” She whispered, as if trying to keep it a secret. “I got scared after the second day.”

“It’s alright Aivu, I'm just…” she trailed off in the face of the young dragon's distress. “I’m getting better.” she offered weakly. And falsely.

Aivu made a whine of distress and looked behind her at something. “Come on, get here and help her already.” Who was she tal-

“May I come in, Malara?”

Arueshalae.

If there was one person that Malara wanted to see more than anyone else, it was the Succubus she had fallen madly in love with. And yet the idea of seeing Arueshalae right now, of letting the redeemed succubus see her wallow in failure and sorrow, set her stomach tight with discomfort and her heart burned at the thought.

She couldn't let Arueshalae see her like this, couldn't let her see the depths of her descent.

Before she could try and explain that she would rather be alone right now and not be around people, Aivu stole the option form her by nudging the reformed succubus through the door and into the room before bounding off to go guard the hallway and make sure the two of them were undisturbed.

And so the two were left alone.

“Uh, come in I guess.” She muttered as she turned over so her back was to the wall. She didn't care that it was uncomfortable on her wings because she deserved the discomfort right now.

Arueshalae sent her a concerned look and made her way towards the bed before sitting on the floor in front of her, eye level with the despondent tiefling. She didn't say anything, just waiting patiently for the commander to speak.

Ever so slowly the ethereal butterflies around her took off and began to flutter gently around the room, mixing with the real ones that had come from the little slice of Elysium. They fluttered peacefully around Arueshalae and her, just circling, and that was what finally broke her.

“I trusted her, you know?” she said, staring at all the butterflies around them as they danced through the air. “I trusted her to stand by my side, to help me. She promised that it was all for good, that it had a purpose.”

“I know.” Arueshalae said simply, continuing to slowly pet Malara’s hair as the tiefling woman wallowed in despair.

“They were there for a new job. Horgus hired them to work the mansion. They were just there for work.”

Arueshalae said nothing, merely laying one of her wings on Malara’s side in comfort.

“They had lives. They had families that loved them, maybe even kids. They survived the siege unharmed, they made it out alive after Deskari ruined the city. And I… I…”

Malara shivered, the memories of the massacre imprinted on her mind. She would never forget the faces, never forget that entire day no matter how much she wished that she could.

“It’s not your fault, you know. Camellia-”

“Didn't make me swing the blade, didn't make me do anything.” Malara said, her voice full of self loathing. “She talked me into it because I truly believed in her. I should have seen the signs.”

“If even the Hand of the Inheritor did not sense the evil in her then how could you have?” She asked.

“Because I knew her longer. And I can think of so many little things that… that should have told me something wasn't right!” And that had been all she had been doing for the last two days, just thinking about all the little things that now screamed that she was a monster.

For Desna’s sake, she even knew about spells on how to hide one’s true nature from detection and had admitted as such before them!

Malara had never felt like such an idiot before.

All the bodies she was found with. The murderous glee with which she threw herself into battle.

The little comments she made about murder and slaughter.

“She murdered someone in camp, you know?” Malara blurted out “It was before we met, even before I got the message out to you.” Arueshalae nodded in understanding and offered a patient smile. “Gargoyles attacked the camp led by Nulkineth and made off with half the army.”

“I heard about that.” Arueshalae winced as she remembered the prison bars shaking as Darrazand raged and roared, destroying multiple buildings throughout the fortress and killing whatever demon came across his vision.

Many demons had hid in the prison till the army made it to the gates of Drezen itself as Darrazand went on his rampage across the city. “Darrazand wasnt happy that Minagho and Nulkineth lost their defense forces to the crusade.” Arueshalae said as the days leading up to her rescue danced through her mind.

“Yeah, Nurah led them to us with a fire…” Malara remembered the odd compulsions that led her to giving Nurah a chance to play a prank on Darrazand rather than… she didn't know, going to Anevia or something.

“Either way, in the chaos Lann and I came across Camellia hiding behind a wagon as the Gargoyles made off with whoever they could or killed those they couldn't.” Malara remembered that night well, and remembered the running fight up the slopes towards the horror show that was Lost Chapel. She didn't think she would ever forget that night.

“She had a dead body at her feet, Arue. At the time i thought it was a gargoyle that got him but…” But he hadnt been nearly mauled enough to be a gargoyle victim, and Camellia claimed she just ‘came across’ the poor bastard.

Desna, she felt like an idiot.

“When I went after mortals, I often targeted the virtuous.” Arueshalae squeezed her hand and she realized she had let that last thought slip out. “They never realized my true nature until I had already sunk my claws into their souls, sometimes literally. I targeted scholars from Absalom and priests of Iomedae, those who I saw as a challenge for pulling one over on them would make the desecration all the sweeter.”

Malara listened, holding onto Arueshalae’s hand like a lifeline as she listened to her lover describe what was honestly terrifying stuff.

“Malara, i know how Camellia works and how she thinks because it was how i was until Desna intervened.” She looked at Malara, making sure to catch the tiefling’s eyes. “Believe me when I say that nobody would have known what she was unless she wanted them to.”

“Anevia knew.”

Arueshalae winced, she had been hoping that Malara wouldn't bring that up. “Anevia is a spymaster whose job is to figure out stuff like this.”

“And yet I knew Camellia more than Anevia did and she figured out she was the murderer in a week.” Malara winced again in shame. “She murdered two people and i let her get away with it because-”

“She lied.” Arueshalae said firmly. “She lied and she had been lying since you met her most likely. The only person at fault for a lie is the liar.”

“And I should have been better!” Malara screamed, the hurt and the pain of what she'd done all falling together in that moment and needing to come out. “I'm the Knight Commander! I'm the head of the Free Crusaders! I’m supposed to be better than someone who falls for bullshit like hers!” Tears were falling from her eyes as she hunched in on herself.

Arueshalae swept in and gathered Malara in her arms, holding the tiefling woman as she wept. They sat there for what felt like hours, just holding one another as Arueshalae held the woman she loved in her arms.

It hurt to see her like this, hurt to hold her as she cried. Hurt to know that it was the explicit fault of someone.

Someone who had hurt what was hers. Who had the gall to dare defy her and attempt to ruin her Malara!

She would kill Camellia, she would kill her one day even if it took a hundred years. Arueshalae knew she should tamp down the demonic rage, should try and be better, but right now she felt too angry to care about that.

She would never tell Malara this, but she was going to murder the half elf. Hopefully, Malara would never find out.

The logistics behind how she would do this would be for another day though, for comforting her was more important than revenge. So Arueshalae put the thoughts aside and simply held her beloved, held her and tried her best to be as comforting as possible.

Finally, after so long, Malara’s tears dried and they came apart. Arueshalae knew what to say, knew what would work, and even though it would hurt it would hurt more to leave her like this.

“I lied to Dimalchio and led him into damnation with an endless supply of lies.” It hurt, to bring up her greatest mistake, but it didn't sting like it used to. After dealing with him in the Abyss… she would never be able to forgive herself for what she did but she had at least found closure.

“Arue, you don't need to talk about him if you don't want to.” Malara actually sat up now, wanting to stop the succubus from digging up that particular old hurt. It was proof that Arueshalae was on the right path.

“No, it's important.” She went on anyway, not wanting to stop now. “I lied as easily as breathing to him and caused him to do horrible things because of it. Is he to blame or am i?”

“No he’s not.” Malara said softly.

“I’m at fault, yes.” Arueshalae nodded. “What he did after I left is on him, but what he did due to my lies is on me. So why is he not at fault for falling for my lies but you’re at fault for falling for hers?”

She didn't know what to say, just sat there in thought while Arueshalae waited patiently.

“I killed innocent people, Arue.”

“I know.” She said softly. “She got me to kill innocent people.”

Somewhere in the far distance, the sun finally fully disappeared from the evening sky and the last light went away till morning. Like a wave, the many flowers and vines began to glow, shining pale blue light that bathed the room in a gentle glow as the flowers of elysium took on light to banish the dark of the evening.

The light bathed around Arueshalae and Malara would swear that it appeared as if she had a halo around her head. The reformed succubus looked down at her with such care in her eyes that she felt her breath be stolen away.

“Malara, I won't pretend that I know what you’re going through.” She said gently. “I've caused such feelings of betrayal and hurt before but never experienced them myself.”

She grabbed Malara’s hand in hers and held it to her chest. “You stumbled, that’s no one's fault but Camellia’s. It will never be anybody’s fault but hers.” She frowned and looked away before coming back to her. “ You helped me overcome my mistakes, helped me know what it means to be mortal.”

She offered a radiant smile to the tiefling. “I'll be here every step of the way to help you like you did me.”

“I love you.” The words slipped out of her mouth as she stared at Arueshalae, her eyes watering at the mere existence of this wonderful woman who held such love and care for her in her heart.

Arueshalae blushed. “I… I love you too, Malara.” she got up to leave, thinking her job was done.

“I’ll let you think on-”

“Wait.” Malara’s hand reached out to grab her own before she could leave. She looked back and Malara looked at her with such desperation in her eyes that it stopped her in her tracks.

“I… I can't be alone. Please…” She begged, hating the sheer need in her voice. She was close to breaking and she knew it. She truly was pathetic wasn’t she?

Before Malara could fall back into despair, a weight joined her on the bed and two arms wrapped around her. Arueshalae, bathed in the light of the glowing flowers around them, looked more like an Azata than Malara ever would.

From the small smile on the former succubus’ face paired with a blush, she may have said that out loud. Right now she didn't care.

“I'll be here for as long as you need me to be.” Arueshalae said gently, holding her so lovingly and kindly.

“Don't leave me, not now.” She begged. “Just… stay with me.”

Arueshalae kissed her. “I'll be here when you wake up. I won't go anywhere.”

She was glad, with Arue in her arms maybe… maybe she could… finally fall..

Malara slowly fell asleep, comforted by Arueshalae’s presence. Clinging to her desperately. Arueshalae smiled and tried to stay awake for as long as she could, watching over her dream as she slept.

But now that she was mortal, she needed rest like anyone else. And soon she too fell into a dream.

**********

Arueshalae knew she was dreaming.

Her dream was special to her and she would hold onto it for the rest of her days, she would know it anywhere: A cozy cabin somewhere in the wilds with morning light shining through the windows, flowers hanging from the ceiling to give a pleasant aroma, a table packed with handmade food to share, and Malara sitting beside her with eyes full of such love that Arueshalae’s heart sang.

She knew her dream like the back of her hand, just as she knew that this was currently a nightmare.

Malara did not hold her hands with love in her eyes, instead she sat hunched over in her chair and stared at her with… fear. That hurt more than anything.

“I trusted her, you know?” She spoke casually, idly poking at the dream food with her fork. “I trusted her to stand by my side, to help me. She promised it was all for good, that it had a purpose.”

So far, it was going just like it had in the real world. Malara’s words were a perfect mimicry of reality. Soon, she would start tearing up over Horgus’s dead servants that that bitch had fooled Malara into killing.

But now things went astray, for instead of looking sad she looked wrathful as she stared Arueshalae down. “She led me into damnation because it was funny. Remind you of anyone?”

Two blackened and twisted hands, covered with criss-crossing wounds that dripped pus and poison from them landed on each of Malara’s shoulders. She felt her breath catch as she saw the horrifying figure behind her beloved. Golden hair filled with flowers and a bare chest studded with shining gemstones uncovered by a snow-white toga. All offset by a cruel grin and cold, dead eyes that glowed with malice

“She finally understands me, my venomous butterfly.” Dimalchio, the Azata she had led gladly into damnation, said with hideous glee. “She gets it now.”

Arueshalae flinched when Malara stared her down. The tiefling looked afraid of her which only made the fallen Azata laugh. Even after a century spent in the Abyss, he had had a pleasant laugh.

“How long do you think it will take for her, hmm? A month? Maybe a year or two? Me, i think it will only be half a week at most.” Dimalchio said casually, his cold and cruel eyes never leaving hers.

She didn't want to ask, she knew she would hate the answer, but she also needed it. “How long for what?”

“For her to leave you.”

“I get him now” Malara said, her voice so broken that even in this nightmare Arueshalae wanted to reach out and comfort her. “Camellia started my descent and now i'll always wonder when you'll finish me off.”

“The real Malara knows I'm not that person anymore.” she tried to say, but the words wouldn't leave her mouth. She didn't have one, her hands flying up to claw at the empty space where her mouth should have been.

“She’s already begun her journey.” Dimalchio said happily, petting Malara’s hair and slowly turning it golden as the ascendant Azata started to slowly resemble the fallen one. “A murder here, a massacre there, before long she’ll start to kill those who annoy her, and then just for the hell of it.”

“And then…” He rose, taller and taller until the cabin she had built turned to dust and the world around her resembled his abyssal mansion with him standing taller than Deskari himself. He looked down on her like she would look at an ant and laughed loud enough to shatter glass. “She’ll join me here.”

Malara now looked even more beautiful, she resembled the Azata she deserves to be and yet the same signs of abyssal poison were present in her as well: the ruined hands with venom dripping from them, the cold and hateful eyes, the subtle aura of demonic energy. Her horns looked sharper and had a burning crown between them as the tiefling woman leaned in and whispered.

“And it will be all your fault.”

Arueshalae woke with a gasp, the image of her beloved, fallen like Dimalchio, burned in her mind.

She still held Malara in her arms, the tiefling Azata’s wings lowered and still as she clung to Arueshalae like a lifeline. Here, asleep in her arms, the face of despair she'd worn since returning to the fortress city was gone at last and in its place was a look of comfort and contentment.

Arueshala wanted to run, to let go and move away from Malara so she wouldn't hurt her, couldn't ruin her like she did Dimalchio, couldn't bring her into darkness like that worthless scum beneath her heel that dared to hurt her beloved, hurt what was hers!

She forced down the demonic rage, something that even after overcoming her evil nature she would carry for the rest of her days. She forced it back down and focused back on her beloved.

Running, hiding, avoiding her to protect her… once, Arueshala would have done just that, would have thought that that was for the best.

“She finally understands me, my venomous butterfly.” Dimalchio said in her dream, his voice like a pleasant poison.

But your instincts did not control you and your thoughts did not matter so long as you did not act on them. Malara taught her that. What you do is important, more important than thought or instinct.

And Arueshalae would not run away, not now, not when her dream needed her.

Slowly, Arueshalae wrapped her wings around the tiefling woman, forming a blanket around them to hold Malara and bring her in tight.

Arueshala would not run, not now.

She would protect Malara, and would strive to ensure she became the Azata she deserved to be. If she stumbled and fell, Arueshalae would be there to pick her up. If she doubted, she would be there to reassure. She was not a venomous butterfly anymore.

She was Malara’s butterfly.

#pathfinder #pathfinder wrath of the righteous #wrath of the righteous #Arueshalae #dimalchio #hurt/comfort #fanfiction

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stygiananon · 2 years ago

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Destiny Hearts - Prologue

Short Pitch : Magical Girls that have moved on with life suddenly being called back into action, with all the silly trappings played straight.

Background: It's been eighteen years. Eighteen long, normal years since you and the other Destiny Hearts put a stop to the diabolical plans of invaders from beyond a magical rift.

Shifting alliances and dire revelations lead to great sacrifices in the name of peace. Still, with the combined magical might of the Destiny Hearts, the Great Magos A'luric lay defeated.

Following the defeat you, Former Leader Carnelian Red, drifted apart from your companions and mentor, guilt and shame at your decisions driving you to isolation and seeking to forget a past you no longer wished to remember. Triggers for [Breakup][Mentions of injury]

Context: Another night, another call from the Destiny Heart. This time however, your partner confronts you over leaving yet again.

Speaker list

[ ] - Sound Effects -> - Partner

Story Start

A pair of sleeping figures lay in bed, in a small bedroom.

[Cute chime of the Destiny Heart, rustling of the sheets, groggy moan]

-> Seriously? This is like the third time this week... Doesn't your work have anyone else they can call? [Rustling of clothing / sharp click of a tongue]

-> What could possibly be so important that so the need specifically *you* for anyway? Wouldn't the owner or your manager be the better choice? -> And that means it has to be you?

[Exasperated sigh]

-> Sweetheart? Can you please stop for a second and look at me?

-> What's *really* going on with you Red?

-> You get calls to run off at all hours of the night, come home bruised and sweaty, and you honestly expect me to believe that it is from your *office* job?

-> You look like you went three rounds with a heavyweight champion in bare knuckle boxing. Is something happening with you? Is there any way I can help?

-> I just want to be supportive, but you've been shutting me out for weeks.

-> Yes, weeks.

-> The first time was just after you got that job. You had a fractured wrist, I drove you to the hospital after you appeared on the doorstep.

-> Red. We've been living together for months, you're more graceful than a cat. Trying to pawn this off like it is no big deal or that you're just clumsy isn't going to work on me.

-> And the black eye from a few weeks ago? The one that you tried to hide with makeup and when I caught you you said you fell into a door handle? Is... Is someone hurting you?

-> I'm asking questions *because* I care Red.

-> No. I can't just let it go... I should never have let it go on this long, but I thought you would have come to me by now.

-> Because you won't give me a straight answer.

->[scoff] You refuse to tell me where you are actually going for a start.

-> No. No you aren't.

-> [sigh] I know because... because I followed you, or... at least I tried to.

-> Yes, I did. A week ago, you slipped out at night, I tried calling you several times. You didn't pick up, so I drove to your office building.

-> I ended up waiting for at least an hour and a half. A night guard came over and spoke to me, said you never showed up. In fact, he said no one called you at all.

-> Please Red. Please just tell me the truth. Is there... someone else? Are they hurting you?

-> There is no one else... but you can't tell me who is hurting you or where you go?

-> I wouldn't believe you? [Raised voice] I can't possibly understand?! Of course I can't! You won't explain a damn thing.

-> Overreacting?! Are you listening to yourself?! I'm worried sick about you. You've disappeared without a word, not returning for several days, and when you do you're battered and bruised yet you act like nothing happened. You've slipped out of bed no less than six times this past month. Whatever the hell it is you are getting up to has you so exhausted that when you sit for even a few minutes you pass out... How *exactly* am I supposed to be taking this?

[Pause] [Destiny Heart chimes]

-> Trust you... Trust you?! How can I possibly trust you? You aren't saying---

[Destiny Heart chimes]

-> Last chance, I love you Red and I want to trust you but whatever **this** is, whatever it is that's happening right now...

[Destiny Heart chimes]

->[Exasperated sigh] Red... I'm gonna leave. When you are ready to talk, we'll talk.

-> You keep lying to my face, evading my questions, you're hurting and you won't say how or why...

-> I'm going to leave.

-> No. Not forever. I just need time.

[Destiny Heart chimes]

-> Go on. Whatever it is seems important.

[Destiny Heart chimes]

-> No. No, I won't be here when you get back. I'll leave my key.

[Destiny Heart chimes]

-> No tears Red... When you think you can tell me the truth... the entire truth, you know how to find me.

[Destiny Heart chimes]

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a little something that has been kicking around in my head for quite a while. It's gonna be split into many pieces otherwise we'd be here for ages.

#Audio Script #Multipart Post #Destiny Hearts #Angst

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excaive · 2 years ago

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I am ON MY KNEES begging you to explain some parasite lore! Jk, tho I would love to know!! Please

Since you asked I can explain a bit! :3

I've never really properly explained so I'll try and give an overview.

[if you haven't read my short comic Lasting Bonds, that gives insight into some parasite history also]

Parasites in my universe are Kin of Kqo'twec, also known as The Parasite God

They're just a funky creature that might be a bit radioactive, don't worry about it. Being a parasite themself, they infected Keith Sun, gang leader of Black Orbit when they were bleeding out in a ditch lol lucky them.

Kqo'twec and Keith at some point become interchangable. Funny how that works (points at my blog title)

Anyway!

Parasites are divided into two categories: Minor & Major

MINOR parasites are smaller parasites that give a few minor attributes - changing eye color, hair color, giving horns, sharp teeth, tails, claws etc. These are very low maintanance and practically everyone has at least one of some sort, but people don't think much of it bc it's just normal. They're just vibing and as long as you're chill with them and respect them, then the attributes will be maintained. These don't have like. a physical look or body to them (that can be perceived with the naked eye), they're kinda just the concept of giving abilities. Or I mean you can pull out a microscope and check them out, that's just A Shape.

MAJOR parasites are companions! They have a conscience and you need to work with them to maintain a good bond with them. That's ur life buddy. Their attributes are more connected with each other, if that makes sense. For example, transformative parasites are common - parasite that allow their host to physically transform into another form, fully or partially. A parasite could be like. snake adjacent and give you snake-like attributes. Slit pupils, scales, tail and fangs. Those are all attributes from that parasite.

Compared to minor parasites, you could have a couple of minor parasites that give attributes that aren't following the same theme. like you could have goat-like horns and a reptile-like tail, they're just coming from different parasites.

Minor and Major parasites can also compliment each other! If we go with the snake-like attributes again, you could get a minor parasite that could change the scale patterns or pupil shape. it's like pretty customizable lol

Speaking of customization, there are also Modified Minor & Major parasites. Currently it's mainly modified minor parasites on the parasite market bc it's kind of controversial modifying major parasites (but that's not stopping The Company from experimenting with it lol)

This is the major conflict in Black Orbit. It kinda fucks up the natural way of how parasites have been treated since Kqo'twec bestowed the knowledge of them onto the ancestors.

Modified parasites aren't healthy and some get packed with more attributes than they naturally can give + the general public begins to see them (minor parasites) as accessories they can switch out or discard rather than littol cool creatures that make you look dope, which worsens the bond between host and parasite, being very imbalanced - or not there at all. So they don't live that long and their attributes might be "weaker" or quickly fade (dull colors or like. brittle horns) ""luckily"" you can easily extract them and replace them at Parasite Clinics.

The only character with a modified major parasite that I've talked about is Cass. She has a dragon parasite, which. is a whole other can of worms tbh. It's in an artificial coma and its attributes are what is giving her the half dragon appearance and size (she's also full of minor modified parasites that made her beefy lol) so that's definitely not gonna bite her in the ass at some point! It's ok tho bc she's so sexy <3

You might think 'wait isn't a dragon parasite just a transformative parasite then?' which isn't incorrect but. They're special little guys with other requirements than most parasites, and in the city of Sunjin (which the main conflict of Black Orbit takes place) they are not well understood and there's little information about them (well. outside of the B.O.A - the Black Orbit Archives which holds documents and practically the whole history of Kqo'twec's Kin, but only archivists/oathbearers have access to that place.) Keith is so mad about how reckless Cass is with parasites but. well..[gestures at this picture]

I think that's enough for an overview!

#ask #black orbit #cai arts #I think this is the most lore I've dropped here ever #give me an inch and you give me an excuse to go a mile lol #black orbit lore #i do like talking about my stuff but also.#there are freaks (derogatory) out there who put their grubby hands on shit that's not theirs #u can look but oh my god do not touch i'll hunt you for sport #anyway sry for the mini rant thank u for the ask! <3 #u have so many cool points by now interacting with me

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another-rogue-trevelyan · 4 years ago

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Y’all I got the funniest email from the BioWare Gear store today regarding my preordered nug and I just had to copy and paste it here because this shit is hilarious

——————————————————————————

There is no "right" way to tell a fan that there is an issue with their order...so let's skip past the awkward introductions and just jump in with both feet.

Recently, we were contacted by the folks at Sanchee about our latest order of Squeaking Nugs they were providing to us. When they got the shipment from the manufacturing plant, there was a issue with those cute pink Nugs.

You see, instead of the normal dark pink spots, these little guys have black spots. There was lots of shock and dismay, but then they found this note in the crate...

“Greetings Adored Readers!

NugWatch (the only scholarly dispatch all about that most noble of creatures) is here with an incredible update! We recently received news about a colony of Nugs found living on an island off the southern coast of Rivain, in a series of caves north of the city of Llomerryn. Llomerryn (as you’re no doubt aware) currently serves as a port of ill-repute for the Felicisima Armada.

There’s some debate over how this colony of nugs came to be on the island, but we at NugWatch have theorized that some sailors in years past brought them to the island (either as pets or provisions) and lost of track of them, and the Nugs, being the incredibly adorable survivors that they are, have thrived. What isn’t a matter of debate is that, while undeniably cute, this group of Nugs is having a negative effect on the native flora and fauna of the island. Luckily, with the help of a powerful friend from Orlais (and after a series of negotiations with a captain whose name I shan’t transcribe here for the sake of propriety) we were able to secure all of the nugs for transport and adoption to loving homes across Thedas!

It should be stated that there appear to be several minor differences apparent in this colony when compared to the common nug you’re all familiar with. Most notably, the spots on their hind-quarters are considerably darker than on their mainland cousins. Less stark, but no less fascinating, the flesh of their inner-ears appears to be somewhat darker as well, and their overall skin tone seems faintly deeper, too. We haven’t yet been able to figure out the cause of these slight differences (though we suspect being fed off of scraps from the privateers… unique diets has played a role, at least in part.

Regardless, we know it won’t affect that love and affection our readers will show to these delightful companions, and we urge you to look among them and see if there’s one (or perhaps more) you’d like to adopt into your family. Take a look today and help us get all of these lovable little scamps to good homes!”

So, now you know that we were sent some very rare and uncommon Nugs instead of our normal Squeaking Nug. The question is now, do you wish to accept your amazing new Black Spotted Nug, or would you prefer to receive a refund for you order.

If You Want A Refund:

All you need to do is contact our Customer Service team and request your refund prior to 3/11. They can be reached at https://gear.bioware.com/pages/customer-service

If You Want Your Nug:

You 've got it easy. You can do absolutely nothing and your nug will be sent to you after the deadline expires.

PLEASE NOTE:

While we might be having a little fun with this announcement - we certainly aren't taking this issue lightly. Both Sanchee and the BioWare Gear Store are very upset about the breach in trust we've committed with this manufacturing mistake. Please accept our most sincere apologies. We hope that we can earn your trust agin in the future.

——————————————————————————

They fucking made up lore to go with their manufacturing error I can’t even take it

Anyway catch me snuggling my rare and adorable black spotted nug in the near future

#bioware #BioWare gear store #nug #dragon age

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raichett · 2 years ago

Note

if you're comfortable with it and still taking prompts i'd love for u to write abt scarian!! maybe an outsider's perspective on "Well It's Not Quite Narnia, But" :0? or a fun silly pre-dating thing w arm wrestling...or sumn..!! just ideas <3!

As requested, an outside POV of our beloved pair out on a date!

This flash fic can also be found as the second chapter of "Well It's Not Quite Narnia, But -" on AO3.

–

COFFEE DATE

Upon first sight of the pair coming in through the door, the bell ringing above as the wind sweeps in and chills her even on the other side of the room, Sheela thinks they’re cosplayers. Or ren-faire goers. Something like that.

It’s mid-afternoon, less than two hours ‘til closing, and the wind howling through the streets of the city has sent most inside, seeking shelter in shops and homes and places of work. It’s past the lunch hour, and the dim light of late autumn has had most already complete any outings already, so it’s pretty quiet in the café. Sheela’s feet ache a little, and the shift’s been dragging long, but she puts on a polite smile anyway and goes over to the table the pair claim, digging her pad and pen out of the pocket of her apron.

They look up at her approach. One looks fairly normal, all things considered: brown-blond hair, freckles, dark eyes, more cute than hot, and smiling politely. He’s wearing red, an almost military style jacket with gleaming gold buttons, over a white shirt and black trousers, a necklace shaped like wings encircling a blue gem hung around his neck; it looks a bit steampunk, and Sheela wonders if there’s a convention in the city she hasn’t heard about, busy as she’s been with her dissertation.

The other man is – not normal. He looks unnatural in some way, like a handsome model photoshopped onto a jpeg background picture of a café interior. His face, scarred though it is, is too smooth, too sculpted, his hair too shiny and rich in colour, his eyes bright enough to give the illusion of coloured contacts rather than a natural iris, and there’s just – something about the way he moves. It’s too fluid to feel human.

He smiles at her, though, his teeth bright white. Sheela flinches a moment, a shiver flashing down her spine: Predator! her hindbrain screams. She swallows, digs into her stubborn experience of having worked in food-related retail for two years, and brings back her polite smile. “Hello, what can I get for you?”

“Ah, yes, um… Grian?” the unnatural man says, eyes leaving her to focus on his companion, uncertainty suddenly humanising him enough for Sheela’s guts to unknot themselves. A tourist, perhaps? He seems unfamiliar with what he should order, relying on his friend to help him.

The other man flicks a moment through the menu on the table. “Two hot chocolates, please,” he says. “Both with cream and marshmallows – it’s sweet, Scar, don’t worry – and…” He flips the menu over to the other side. “One carrot cake and one millionaire shortbread, please.”

“Will that be everything?” Sheela asks as she pens down the order, the script coming to her lips easily.

“Yeah, that’s everything,” the man says. He looks over to his companion – a man likewise in steampunk-like wear, though his is green and gold rather than red and gold – “Don’t worry, you’ll like this. It’ll be sweet, like the honey-fizz you showed me, all right?”

Sheela leaves the table, walking back to behind the counter. It’s impossible not to overhear their conversation, despite the way she tries to focus on pulling out the correct cakes from the display.

“I know, I know,” the strange man – Scar? – replies. “I’ve just – not been in a huma- in a city. For a while. This is a bit new for me.”

Sheela wonders where he comes from, then. It’s not like cafés are an endangered species in little towns and villages, after all.

“And your marketplace was new to me,” the other man returns. “You showed me honey-fizz and I’ll show you hot chocolate. And cakes are cakes, I’ve got to tell you; we’ll split these two between us. And if you don’t like something, we can just order something else.”

“But then you’ll be paying more – and you said my currency won’t work here; I can’t pay you back.”

Definitely a tourist, Sheela thinks as she pops both cakes onto small plates and loads them onto a tray.

“This is my treat, and I’m not going to lose the roof over my head if I buy a couple of extra cakes at the café, I assure you.”

Sheela sprays whipped cream from the container into the tops of both mugs and sprinkles mini marshmallows on top. She puts them on the tray next to the cakes, lifts it up, and brings it over to the table the men are sitting at, by the window and overlooking the street. It’s still pretty grey outside, some loose newspaper flapping in the wind by the kerb. Not the best view, but they’re in a city centre, not a country garden.

“Here you go,” Sheela says as she places the tray down. She unloads the drinks first, and then the plates, not bothering to ask who wants which one if they’re just going to split each in half anyway. “Enjoy,” she smiles, taking the tray away after adding a small pile of napkins to the table.

“Thank you, we will,” probably-Scar answers, the first direct words he’s said to her.

Sheela nods and retreats behind the counter again, busying herself with wiping down the surface there. In the corner of her eye, she sees maybe-Scar poke at the whipped cream and scoop a bit into his mouth from his finger. The other – Grain? Grayson? – rolls his eyes but hides a smile behind his mug.

“Oh! Oh wow, Gri, I love this – what plant does this come from, can we grow it over in Vex?”

“Maybe. I’ll look it up.”

They’re kinda cute together, Sheela thinks as possibly-Scar becomes animated, biting into his half of the millionaire shortbread and gesturing enthusiastically – though wordlessly, manners keeping his mouth closed while he eats – to his companion. The put-upon sigh of the other man is so old-married-couple, as is the fondness softening his eyes, visible even from the other side of the room.

I hope one day I get a partner who looks at me like that, Sheela decides. That would be nice.

#my writing #flash fic #scarian #hermitshipping #ask

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moodymelanist · 3 years ago

Text

One Thousand Followers Celebration

okay I’m honestly kind of shook that we’re even here but thank you to everyone who’s a part of our little corner of the fandom. I love you all so so much and I’m so happy to be here ❤️ most people requested something cute and fluffy so here’s Cassian being drunk and and Nesta comes to get him. I hope you all enjoy!! 💘💘💘

feel free to read it on AO3 here too!

word count: 2975

—————

Nesta was halfway through her latest read when her phone started buzzing incessantly. It was just getting to the good part, where the main couple started to realize maybe there was something more between them than burning hatred, and she didn’t want to put it down. Frankly, it reminded her of her own love story, but she’d never admit that to anyone out loud.

She was forced to look away when her phone was vibrating so constantly with texts she thought someone was calling her. Sighing, she reached for her phone, unlocking it only to see her husband had sent her almost twenty messages.

Cassian, 11:52 PM

Nesta

Nes

I love yiu sooooo muche

Youe so pretty

I weish u were here

everyons laufghint at me but i miss u

wyd

nesssssssssss

are u ignoringme for a book agwain

Swethearft<3

did i tell u i luv u td

wait its ok I ddid

i want a kiss when i see u ok

The remaining messages were a jumble of Spanish and English words mixed together, and while she had a working knowledge of Spanish, she didn’t know it well enough to even attempt to decipher what he was trying to tell her. Still, she couldn’t help but smile as she read through them all, affection blooming in her chest for her favorite person in the world.

Cassian, Rhys, and Azriel had gone out to their favorite bar for guys night, and Cassian was clearly drunk off his ass. It was really hard to keep a straight face with him normally, but when he was drunk, she thought it was one of the most adorable things she’d ever seen.

Nesta, 12:01 AM

I love you too, you big goofball

I’ll give you a kiss and a hug when I see you how’s that

Her phone was ringing within seconds, a picture of Cassian filling her screen before she answered.

“Hello?” she said, marking her page with a bookmark before closing it.

“Nesta!” Cassian exclaimed. She had to pull her phone from her ear for a moment, but she smiled again anyways.

“Hi, Cassian,” she replied, trying not to laugh. He was just so cute. “Are you having a good time?”

“Leave me alone, I’m talking to my wife,” he said, his voice sounding slightly further away. He must have been talking to Rhys or Azriel, but the way referred to her made her want to melt. They’d been together for years and married for just over one, but it still sent a thrill through her to hear him claim her out loud.

“Nes?” he said, his voice back to normal volume.

“I’m here,” she said, getting off the bed to begin looking for her shoes. He normally called her and started getting ridiculously affectionate when it was getting close for him to come home, so it was only a matter of time before he asked her to come get him.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Looking for my shoes,” she replied, spotting her boots on the floor. Leaning her phone against her ear, she bent down and put them on over her leggings before walking back to her dresser.

“Are you coming to find me?” he asked. She couldn’t help but smile at how excited he sounded by the prospect.

“Yes, baby.” Nesta hit speaker and put the phone down on their dresser as she took off the oversized shirt that she’d borrowed from him, slid a sports bra on, and put on a plain tee shirt over it.

“Oh thank God,” he said, and then dropped his voice to a loud whisper. “You’re much more fun than the dumbasses I’m with.”

She’d opened her mouth to reply, but then Cassian began talking to someone else nearby. “Tarquin! Fancy seeing you here! Are you still mad about your windows? Nes, I gotta go. Love you.”

It was a cool September evening, so Nesta grabbed a denim jacket before throwing her hair up into a bun and leaving their apartment. Once she got to her car, it was a short fifteen minutes to get to The Sidra. Thankfully there was ample street parking around the corner, and the bouncer let her in with a quick flash of her ID.

Nesta walked inside, spotting her husband and his friends immediately. They took up a ridiculous amount of space in one of the booths, and she couldn’t resist smiling as Cassian visibly brightened by her appearance.

“Nesta!” he shouted, grinning widely as she got closer. So much for subtlety, she supposed. She offered repeated apologies as she walked over to where he was sitting, but thankfully most of the people there seemed to think his behavior was too cute to be a serious nuisance.

Once she was next to the side of the booth he was sitting on, he pulled her in for a hug, wrapping his muscular arms around her waist and laying his head on her chest.

“Cassian,” she said at a normal volume, endlessly amused as he snuggled into her. She leaned down to press a kiss to the top of his head before turning to greet Rhys and Azriel, both of whom looked seconds away from breaking out laughing.

“Don’t you dare,” she told them, tightening her arms around Cassian as she gave his friends a look. They both hold their hands up in surrender, Azriel raising his beer at her before turning back to Rhys.

“I missed you,” Cassian said against her chest, his voice muffled. “So much.”

“Every minute without you was excruciating,” Nesta said, playing along. He looked up at her with a pout.

“Stop teasing me,” he told her. He was frowning slightly now. “I did miss you a lot, you know.”

“I’m sorry. You’re just so cute like this, it’s hard not to tease you a little bit.”

“Not as cute as you.” Cassian smiled up at her, pleased with himself. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes good-naturedly and let him tug her into his lap.

“Sorry to crash your guys’ night,” she said to Rhys and Azriel now that she was facing them.

“He’s not as much fun when he gets like this anyway,” Azriel replied, chuckling. “In his old age, he’s turned into a sappy drunk.”

“Hey! We’re the same age!” Cassian protested from behind her, tightening his grip around her waist. Azriel and Cassian had both turned thirty earlier this year, while Rhys’ birthday wasn’t until November. Nesta had turned twenty-eight back in April.

“Good thing I like sappy drunks,” she said, twisting around to face him. He gave his friends a smug look as she pressed a kiss to his warm cheek, his stubble scratching her face in a way she loved.

“You two are the worst,” Rhys groaned.

“Like you and my sister are any better,” Nesta shot back as she turned around. Feyre and Rhys had been together since their college days and had tied the knot once they’d both graduated.

“Speaking of her, I’d love to get back home to her,” he replied. He pulled out his phone and began texting, and Nesta guessed he was asking if she was still awake.

“I guess that’s it then, huh?” Azriel asked, raising an eyebrow at Nesta.

“I’m sure Gwyn is dying to see you too,” she teased, smiling softly at him. She and Emerie had colluded with Cassian and Rhys to set the pair up on a blind date last year, and everyone had been thrilled when they’d agreed to keep seeing each other.

“She has a performance tomorrow, so she’s probably already asleep,” Azriel answered, raising a hand to catch the closest server’s attention.

“I told you my wife was hot as fuck,” Cassian said suddenly, shifting to point wildly at Nesta as their server – a young woman named Nuala – came by to bring them the check.

“I’m thrilled,” she replied dryly, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Nesta. “He hasn’t shut up about you for the last half an hour, you know. Thank God he wasn’t making you up.”

“Thanks,” Nesta said, her lips twitching from trying to hold in her laughter. Rhys put down his card to pay for all of them, waving off Cassian and Azriel’s attempts to give him money for their share of the check. Within a few minutes, the four of them were getting out of their booth and beginning the walk to the exit.

Cassian immediately went for Nesta’s hand, intertwining their fingers before bringing their hands to his mouth so he could kiss the back of hers.

“That is so unhygienic,” she said, exasperated. “I haven’t washed my hands since I left our place.”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” he said, grinning at her. He kissed the back of her hand one more time before lowering their hands to swing them between the two of them as they kept walking.

“Who’s that guy glaring at you?” Nesta asked, noticing a tall Black guy staring Cassian down from a booth near the door. He had silver curls that stood out brightly against his dark skin, but he couldn’t have been much older than any of them. It had to have been natural, since his eyebrows and lashes were the same color.

“Oh, that’s Tarquin,” he replied, waving at Tarquin with a sheepish grin from where they stood. Tarquin flipped him off before turning back to his companions, who both shared the same dark skin and silvery hair.

“Why is he glaring at you? Do I need to talk to him?” Nesta asked, frowning. She was the only one allowed to glare at her husband like that.

“No sweetheart, it’s fine,” Cassian replied, laughing as they walked by the table. “It’s our inside joke. He threw a party senior year of college and I might have gotten drunk and broken a few windows in his house.”

“You what? Cassian, that’s not an inside joke.”

“It’s fine, Nes. I paid him back for it, but his parents were pissed. I’m banned from his neighborhood, actually.”

“That is not fine.”

“I might be drunk, but I know when I’m right,” Cassian said, just before walking right into the door. Azriel had accidentally let it swing behind him and Cassian hadn’t grabbed it in time, and it got him right in the face.

Nesta burst out laughing before she clapped her free hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed. Are you okay?”

“The love of my life just laughed at my pain,” he whined, yanking open the door. Azriel and Rhys were absolutely losing it on the other side, making it hard for Nesta to keep her composure in solidarity with Cassian.

“Let me see it,” she said once they were outside. Cassian had pressed his hand to the side of his face, but Nesta got him to move it with her free one. His cheek was red from the impact, but she was sure it’d be fine with some ice once they got back to their place.

“It’s not so bad,” she reassured him. It was hard to keep a straight face with his friends – mostly Rhys – still howling in the background, but she got on her toes to give him a kiss on his face.

“It still hurts,” he said, pouting at her. “Can I get another kiss?”

“You big baby,” she said, but she leaned in and kissed his cheek again. “That’s all you’re getting. When we get home, I’m putting ice on that.”

“I love it when you boss me around,” he said dreamily, letting her tug him past his friends. “It does things to me.”

“Please take him home,” Rhys called from behind them. Nesta flipped him off before Cassian could, earning another wide grin from him as they walked towards her car.

“Thanks for the best thing I’ve ever seen!” Azriel added, both of their laughter fading the farther Nesta and Cassian walked.

“They’re so mean,” Cassian grumbled as she dug into her pocket for the keys.

“You want me to yell at them? Hurt their feelings a little?” she offered, unlocking the doors.

“No,” he said, pouting again. He got into the passenger seat as Nesta walked around to the driver’s side, and he immediately reached for her hand once she sat down.

“I’d do it if you wanted me to,” she told him, shooting him an amused look before starting the car.

“Maybe a real kiss would make me feel better,” he suggested, leaning towards her and puckering his lips.

Nesta leaned in and brushed her lips against his, but he wasn’t having it. He cupped the back of her head as he deepened their kiss, warming her up inside from the cool September air.

“Come on, let’s go home,” Nesta said, pulling away even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. He huffed and pouted but thankfully put his seatbelt on.

It was a quick ride back to their building, and thankfully Cassian managed not to walk into any more doors on their way upstairs. He wrapped his arm around her as they got off the elevator, which Nesta thought was as much for balance as it was to hold her close.

“Thank you for coming to get me,” he said once they were back in their apartment. He immediately walked into the bedroom and flopped on their bed, somehow managing not to knock anything over or hit Nesta’s book.

“You’re welcome,” Nesta said back, taking the time to take off her jacket and shoes before walking to the freezer to grab a bag of frozen peas. She wrapped it in a paper towel before coming to lay next to him, taking down her bun so that her hair was down around her.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he whispered, turning to look at her. His eyes lit up when he noticed her hair was down, and he reached over to play with it. She handed him the peas instead, making sure he pressed them to the side of his face.

“I thought I knew all your secrets,” she whispered back, smiling softly as she indulged him. She loved that she was the one who got to see him like this, that she was the first person he saw in the mornings and the last person he saw when he closed his eyes at night.

“You do,” he confirmed, pulling the peas away to smile at her. She gave him a disapproving look and he quickly put them back before continuing. “I love nights like these.”

“Why’s that?” she asked. She reached out to brush some of his loose waves away from his face so they didn’t get in the way of the peas.

“I never thought I would be as happy as I am right now,” Cassian said seriously. His other eye was blocked from the position of the peas, so Nesta just held the gaze of the one she could see as he moved his hand to cup her face.

Sometimes he would say things like this that made her feel like her heart was going to burst from how sweet he was. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He shifted closer to her, and Nesta inhaled deeply at the lingering scent of his cologne. “I remember when you wouldn’t even say my name out loud. Now you’re here with me and my peas.”

She laughed before answering. “It was the peas that really sold me, you know. I should have written them into my vows.”

“And you’re telling jokes? Tonight must be my lucky night.”

“Shut up before I take the peas from you, Cassian.”

“You love me too much to do that, Nes.”

“Stop using my love for you against me. It’s unfair and you know it.”

“Never,” he said, running his thumb across her cheek. “I love you too much not to use every advantage I can get.”

“I taught you too well,” she said, smiling softly at him. “Come on, let’s get ready for bed.”

She turned to kiss his palm, as unhygienic as it was, and then got up and started changing into pajamas. He groaned as he rolled off the bed, stretching as he stood up to reveal a strip of golden-brown skin at his abdomen before walking towards their bathroom.

Nesta joined him to brush her teeth in another one of his oversized shirts and no pants. He finished first, squeezing her hip as he walked by her and went back into their bedroom. She quickly brushed through her hair and pulled it into a loose braid for sleep before turning off the light.

Cassian was waiting for her under the covers, laughing as he examined the back of her book. “Is there smut in this one?”

She rolled her eyes before grabbing it from him. “You’re insufferable.”

“That’s a yes, then,” he said, grinning. She turned the lights off and put the book on her nightstand before she slid under the covers, snuggling up next to him anyway.

“I’ll let you know when I get to the juicy parts,” she grumbled eventually. He laughed under his breath, pulling her tighter against him as he maneuvered them so her back was to his chest as usual. His heart was beating its usual steady rhythm against her, a familiar baseline that let her know she was safe and everything was right in the world as long as she could curl up next to him every night.

“I love you,” she whispered, not sure if he was asleep yet. He could fall asleep anywhere, and ridiculously quickly at that; she wasn’t too proud to admit she was jealous.

“I love you, too,” he replied, tangling their legs together.

It didn’t take long for either of them to fall asleep after that.

#acotar #acosf #nessian #nesta archeron #cassian #one thousand followers ahhhh

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baepsaesbae · 4 years ago

Text

Taming Temerity

Pairing— Min Yoongi x reader

Genre— SMUT +18, incubus!Yoongi, demon au, Valentine’s Day au

Warnings— Dom!Yoongi, brat!reader, fingering, oral (f receiving), multiple orgasms, hickies, shibari, tickling huehuehue, swearing, explicit unprotected sex (use protection when fucking a demon), ass slapping, creampie

Word Count— 4.3k

/təˈmerədē/: excessive confidence or boldness; audacity || You try explaining Valentine’s Day to Min Yoongi, your incubus boyfriend that feeds on your sexual energy. At first he doesn’t understand the point, but if it’ll make you horny then he’s willing to do anything.

A/N— This fic is part of the Valentine’s Day collab Be My Bangtanvine with @kimtaehyunq @ppersonna @ughseoks @jinned @joontopia and @feliix. Make sure to check out their stories too!

“I never understood this holiday. You know it’s just a corporate scam for suckers like you, right?” Yoongi expressed his disdain as his gaze fell on the extravagant Valentine’s Day section in the grocery store.

“So you’ve mentioned, Mr. Party Pooper,” you rolled your eyes, “Some people just like getting chocolates and flowers from their partners. I don’t see any problem with that.”

“Do you want chocolates and flowers? I can get them for you any time, just say the word,” Yoongi offered.

“That’s the point, it should be a little surprise. I wouldn’t have to ask you to do anything,” you tried to explain.

“At that point you’re already expecting something, doesn’t that just defeat the purpose?” your companion was genuinely confused.

“You know what? I don’t expect a demon like you to get it,” you were getting frustrated.

“No need to throw the ‘D’ word around like that. I’m an incubus sure, but we specialize in lust, not love. However, I’m always down to try new things. You of all people should know that,” he ended suggestively.

You started to think about how your relationship started with Yoongi. Your body went on autopilot mode on the drive back home as flashbacks flooded your mind.

It all started about six months ago when you randomly started to have sleep paralysis consistently. You’d foolishly open your eyes and see a dark figure in the corner of your room that gradually came closer before settling on top of you. The extra weight on your chest made it hard to breathe. Once it got to that point, your eyelids would close and you’d be whisked away to a sensual dream. You’d wake up refreshed and energized, completely forgetting about the terrifying events that led up to your wet dream.

One night, you miraculously were able to break the cycle. As soon as the dark figure approached the bed, you threw a pillow at it. At that point, you weren’t sure if you were in a dream or not, but you dashed to turn on your bedroom lights. The light revealed a man standing frozen in place by your bed. You remember screaming for help and shouting things about a pervert stalker.

“Help! Somebody help there’s an intruder! Someone please--” suddenly your mouth refused to open.

“Well this is awkward,” the man rubbed the back of his neck, “Let’s get a few things out of the way first. I’m not a pervert or a stalker. In fact, I’m not even human, I’m an incubus. A new one at that.”

Your eyes widened in horror at the mention of a demonic entity. You backed up into a wall trying to get away from him while muffled screams desperately tried to escape from your sealed lips.

“I’m sure you have a few questions. Normally I would just put you to sleep but you’re wide awake now and honestly I don’t have the kind of mana to deal with all that. So we’ve found ourselves in quite the predicament,” the demon sighed as he sat on your bed. With a wave of his hand, your mouth was finally able to open again.

“What the fuck do you mean you’re a demon? This must be a dream right?” you were bewildered.

“Come sit by me, I can show you that I’m real,” the demon patted the bed.

“Trusting a self proclaimed demon is probably a bad idea but this is just a weird dream anyway,” you reasoned out loud as you sat beside the intruder.

The man raised one of his hands to cup your cheek; you shuddered at his cold touch. Something changed when you looked into his eyes. Suddenly, you felt like kissing this total stranger. In fact, you felt a lust that you’ve never felt before. Before you knew it, you were straddling the man, rubbing your crotch against his as you passionately made out.

“Lay back and take off your pants, dear,” he commanded. You did as he said without hesitation.

The man licked his lips as he spread open your legs. He slowly dragged a finger along your covered slit. Pulling your panties aside, he dove in tongue first, causing you to shudder at the warm and wet sensation. His tongue flicked around between your folds as his thumb began to circle your clit. Pleasure coursed throughout your body as your hands entangled themselves in his hair. You felt two hard protruding bumps atop his head...horns?

“Reaching for my horns already? Naughty girl,” the man smirked as he inserted a finger into your wet pussy. You squirmed at his action. It wasn’t enough, you needed more.

“Oh? What’s wrong?” he asked with fake innocence as he slowly finger fucked you, “Is one not enough? Do you need more?” You silently nodded in response.

“Nuh uh, I need to hear you say it,” he teased.

“Please, I need more,” you begged as you helplessly tried to grind against his one finger.

“Hm one finger isn’t enough huh? How about two?” he added in his middle finger as you moaned, “Or do you want three?”

His ring finger slid in with ease. Finally, you felt full; lewd sounds escaped from your lips. Your back arched as he picked up his pace, curling his fingers into you with every pump. Something tight wound up in you, indicating that you were close to your high.

“Keep going. Faster,” you panted as your legs began to shake.

“Your wish is my command,” he obliged. You cried out as your orgasm hit you. Waves of euphoria rippled across your body as he slammed his fingers into you a final time, leaving his fingers pressed up against your g-spot to prolong the event.

You focused on catching your breath while the alleged demon smiled down at you. It wasn’t a creepy smile, it was one of triumph. His fingers were still inside of you.

“You can pull them out now,” you said weakly.

“I tried. Your tight little pussy is clamped onto them. See?” he showed you how your lips stayed gripped onto his fingers, “If I can’t pull them out, I might as well go back in.”

He pushed his fingers back in, making you gasp. You were still extremely sensitive, any movement of his would push you over the edge yet again.

“If you do that-- fuck-- I’ll come again,” you warned him.

“Let’s see how many you can handle,” the man challenged as he picked up his speed yet again.

You came three times that night. All just to his hand and occasionally his mouth. The demon looked satisfied with his work as you laid blissed out before him. He slunk down beside you, laying on his side with his head propped up on his arm.

“These got bigger,” you observed as you reached for his horns. The tiny black stumps had grown longer and had a more defined horn shape. They felt cool to the touch and were ridged, similar to those of a ram.

“They’re not the only things that got bigger,” he winked, “This is where my mana is stored. Essentially I get stronger when I consume energy.”

“Consume energy? Are you going to eat me?” you questioned with intrigue. You still believed you were in a strange dream.

“Already did. I told you, I’m an incubus. We feed off of sexual energy. I rather enjoyed the meal. It’s too bad this will be the last time I can see you though,” he pouted.

“What? Why can’t you visit me in my dreams like you normally do?” you could get used to having dreams like this.

“Because you know that I exist. After tonight, you’ll forget all about me and I’ll get reassigned to a different human,” he answered nonchalantly.

“Does that mean I’ll get another incubus demon?”

“Not exactly. There are many different kinds of beings that dwell in the underworld. You could get any one of them. Most of them aren’t as fun or as handsome as me though,” he tried to lighten the conversation.

“I don’t want to forget you, nor do I want this dream to end,” you admitted.

“Silly girl, you still think this is a dream? There actually might be a way to have me stay with you. All you have to do is make a contract with me. Interested?” the demon offered.

“A contract? Am I gonna be selling my soul to you or something? I would prefer to keep that if possible,” you tried to joke.

“I’m not that kind of demon. The contract would simply bind us together. You let me consume all of your sexual energy and I give you the best orgasms you’ll ever have. Seems like a fair deal to me,” he explained.

“So I’ll basically have a demon boyfriend? I don’t mind that, sign me up,” you nodded. You were groggy at this point and your eyelids were getting heavy.

“Boyfriend? I suppose you could put it that way. Let’s seal this deal with a kiss,” he suggested. He leaned in to your already puckered up lips. He paused mere centimeters from your face, “I’m Yoongi by the way. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier.”

You pulled him in for a soft kiss, “Hey Yoongi, I’m ___. I guess I’m your girlfriend now.”

“Whatcha thinking about?” Yoongi interrupted your thoughts.

“About the night we met,” you answered as you pulled into your driveway.

“That was a good night. You were so cute when you called yourself my girlfriend,” he smiled.

“Shut up, I thought it was all a dream,” you said defensively as you unloaded the groceries.

“I was thinking about Valentine’s Day as you were driving in silence. I wanna give it a try. I don’t get the hype, but if it will make you happy then I’m willing to go along with it,” Yoongi stated.

“Really?” your mouth opened with excitement, “Do I need to plan the date or are you taking the reins on this one?”

“I’ll start doing my research now,” Yoongi gave you a thumbs up.

“Rise and shine gorgeous~” Yoongi sing songed as he opened the blinds.

You retreated back under the covers to shield yourself from the light. Yoongi tugged at the edge, making you even more aggravated. Curling up into a ball in the fetal position was your last line of defense. Once Yoongi flung off the blanket, you were done for.

“To start off your very best Valentine’s Day ever, I present you a bouquet,” Yoongi shoved a bundle of red roses in your face, causing you to sneeze. A few petals violently detached and fluttered helplessly onto the bed.

“Thanks Yoongi, the flowers are pretty,” you managed to say with a stuffy nose, “I wish I could adore them more but flowers always trigger my allergies.”

“Hm, every romance film I watched always showed the girl loving roses,” Yoongi pondered, “Not to worry, my algorithm is flawless.”

“Are you a robot now?” you joked. The sweet smell of syrup and waffles caught your attention. Yoongi noticed this and excitedly yanked you out of bed. Normally you would bicker about the manhandling but you decided to let today be an exception.

The living room was filled with pink and white heart shaped balloons. Yoongi dragged you to the breakfast table, where the usual placemats were replaced with red hearts and small metallic heart shaped confetti were sprinkled all across the surface. To top it off, the belgian waffles were heart shaped, outlined with whipped cream and topped with strawberries. The presentation rivaled that of an actual restaurant.

Yoongi watched expectantly as you took the first bite. Your mouth turned into a smile as you tasted the fluffy waffle. The toppings complemented the dish perfectly, and you were hungry for more.

“I made eggs and bacon too, though it was hard to get the eggs into a heart shape,” Yoongi sighed as he showed you his attempt to get heart sunny side eggs. The shape was wonky but it was impressive that the yolks were still well intact.

“I don’t care what they look like, I’m sure they’ll taste great. Thank you, Yoongi, this is incredible,” you showered him with compliments as you continued to eat. Yoongi smiled with satisfaction as he took a sip of coffee, his favorite choice of sustenance from the human realm.

“Enjoying your Valentine’s Day so far?” he asked from across the table.

“I’ve only been awake for about 5 minutes but it’s been pretty good so far,” you nodded.

“Well whenever you’re ready, go get ready for a day out,” Yoongi winked, “Dress however you want, it’ll be casual.”

You couldn’t help but wonder about what Yoongi had planned for the day. It was still a little chilly, so you put on a cute sweater paired with jeans. You accessorized with a beret and your favorite jewelry pieces. Yoongi waited for you in the living room, and his eyes lit up when he saw you. It wasn’t the usual dark lustful look he normally gave you, but rather one of fondness and genuine adoration.

“Where are we off to now?” you asked in the passenger seat, which was a rare sight. Yoongi didn’t like to drive, he always complained about how it would be easier to just teleport. You always had to remind him that humans do not simply ‘teleport’ places and you’d surely turn a lot of heads if you did. Regardless, you enjoyed watching Yoongi drive. You admired his delicate features as he concentrated on the road.

“Can’t tell you, that you ruin the surprise,” Yoongi chided.

Your eyes widened as he pulled into the parking lot of the local aquarium. It had been years since you last visited, and you were thrilled that Yoongi picked this place as a date spot.

“The aquarium! Ah, I’m so excited! But they aren’t inherently romantic, what made you think of coming here?” you questioned.

“I remember you mentioned wanting to come back here someday. I figured today would be a good time,” he shrugged. Yoongi’s thoughtfulness made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Once inside, you took the liberty of pointing out every fish you thought looked pretty to Yoongi. He was amused by how much you enjoyed something as simple as looking at fish. Colorful fish chased each other around their tanks, darting between corals and other underwater plants. You loved watching them go about their lives as they vibed within the aquarium.

“It would be nice to be a fish,” you said to Yoongi as you stared in awe at jellyfish that were nearly transparent as they carelessly floated around.

“A fish? Why?” Yoongi scoffed.

“They seem happy, and free in a way. All they do is swim around and eat, that sounds like a good time to me,” you explained.

“And worry about getting eaten by a bigger fish. I’d rather be a cat if I had to be any animal,” Yoongi countered.

“Okay, that’s probably a better choice,” you laughed as you imagined Yoongi as a cat. It fit him surprisingly well.

After leaving the aquarium, Yoongi suggested walking to a nearby gelato shop. You were never one to turn down dessert, so you agreed. The air was crisp and the cold made your cheeks go slightly numb, but you didn’t mind. You happily swung Yoongi’s hand back and forth in yours, you couldn’t remember the last time you’ve been on a date that went this well.

“___?” a voice called out to you. You looked around to see who called you. Out of nowhere, someone ran up and hugged you from behind. You let go of Yoongi’s hand in the commotion as you were spun around.

“What the--” you said in shock. Finally you were put down, and saw a familiar face grinning back at you.

“Oh my god, Jungkook!” you exclaimed as you hugged him back. He greeted you with a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s been forever! I didn’t know you still lived here,” you said.

“I know right?! God, like 13 years or something? I’m here visiting some old pals. We’re all single so we’re celebrating this stupid holiday together,” Jungkook laughed.

“Aww that's cute. I guess this holiday is pretty dumb, but I’m actually celebrating it with someone this year! This is Yoongi,” you introduced Jungkook to your boyfriend.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Jungkook,” the young boy extended a hand.

“Min Yoongi,” Yoongi replied curtly as he firmly shook Jungkook’s hand.

“Damn, where are you hiding all that muscle?” Jungkook joked as he clutched his hand.

“Looks can be deceiving,” Yoongi deadpanned.

“How long are you in town for? I’d love to catch up with you on another day,” you interrupted.

“I’ll be here for a few more days. Is your number still the same? I can text you tomorrow?” Jungkook offered.

“That’s perfect, I’ll see you around!” you waved goodbye and returned your attention to Yoongi.

You took a hold of his hand and continued walking to the gelato shop. Yoongi was noticeably quiet now, and his demeanor had completely changed. There was an awkward silence between you two as you ordered your favorite flavors. You both sat outside to eat the gelato.

“So who was he?” Yoongi finally spoke.

“Jungkook used to be my neighbor when we were kids. We practically grew up together. He moved away sometime in middle school and I haven’t seen him since. He looks great, I almost didn’t recognize him. What? Are you jealous?” you teased.

“I almost killed him when he kissed you,” Yoongi said in a tone that let you know that he was not kidding.

“Yoongi! People greet each other that way sometimes. Sure, it was a little forward, but we used to be best friends as kids,” you scolded him.

“Ready to go home?” Yoongi asked, completely disregarding your explanation.

“Okay let’s go back you big baby,” you sighed as you threw away your trash.

You hummed along with the radio all the way home. Yoongi didn’t say anything the whole ride. You were surprised by his behavior, you figured an incubus wouldn’t mind seeing affection in public. He had never given you the silent treatment before, so this was uncharted waters.

“Today was really nice, I think you did a good job planning out our Valentine’s day together,” you praised Yoongi as you returned home.

“Glad you enjoyed it,” Yoongi said coldly.

“Why are you being so pouty? C’mere, let me give the big baby a hug,” you reached for him with outstretched arms.

“You think I’d let you get away with that kind of behavior?” an annoyed Yoongi glared back at you.

“C’mon, it’s not like it really matters,” you teased, trying to push your luck.

“It matters to me. You’re mine,” Yoongi snarled, baring his fangs.

“You’ve made that abundantly clear,” you tilted your neck, revealing marks from his previous feedings, “I can’t leave the house without a crap ton of concealer to cover up your monstrous hickeys.”

“You knew what you were signing up for when you agreed to be my permanent lover,” Yoongi shrugged, his anger dissipating.

“Who knew dating an incubus would be so tiresome,” you playfully roll your eyes.

“So that random guy kissing your cheeks doesn’t deserve to die?” he asked quietly.

“No! I told you, we’re childhood friends. I haven’t seen him in years. It’s okay to greet close friends with a friendly peck on the cheeks” you crossed your arms, “You’re being annoying. No dinner for you tonight,” you said confidently as you both entered the bedroom.

“Oh? Since when do you call the shots around here?” his voice lowered.

“Since now,” you replied defiantly.

“Keep being cheeky, see where that gets you,” Yoongi challenged.

You smiled slyly as you pushed him onto the bed. Standing before him, you pulled off your sweater to reveal your bare chest. Yoongi instinctively reached out to grab them but you slapped his hand away.

“No touching,” you tsked as you slowly stripped off your bottoms.

You turned to shake your ass at him. The gesture was meant to be playful, but Yoongi took it as a wage of war. He instantly pulled you onto his lap; your panties rubbed up against his hardened crotch.

“I’m hungry,” he growled in your ear as he firmly gripped your ass.

“Not my problem,” you snapped, doing your best to maintain your composure.

“You’ll let me starve?”

“Don’t act as if you didn’t eat me out until I begged for you to stop last night,” you admonished.

“Enough,” Yoongi silenced you.

He roughly latched his soft lips onto your neck. His harsh suckling caused you to moan and tangle your fingers in his minty green hair. You cupped his chin in an attempt to kiss him, but he pulled away.

“You think you get to touch me now? Foolish,” he threw you further onto the bed.

With a snap of his fingers, your panties vanished. They were replaced with strict constraints as your hands and feet were bound by an intricate silk rope pattern. You’ve never been tied up like this before. You’ve dabbled in using handcuffs or fastening a belt around your wrists, but this was something else entirely.

“You wanted to play. So let’s play,” Yoongi cooed in your ear as his fingers traced your sides.

“Oh fuck, Yoongi no,” your eyes widened.

“You’ve been a bad girl,” he smiled deviously.

His fingers dug into your sides. You burst out into a fit of laughter. You wriggled around uncontrollably in a futile attempt to get away from him. Yoongi accidentally found out that you were extremely ticklish, and ever since that day he uses it as leverage against you. It wasn’t fair at all considering that demons aren’t ticklish.

Tears welled in your eyes when he finally ceased his attack. Yoongi also knew that tickling was a turn on for you. Something about having another person’s hands all over you made you wet.

“You look so helpless,” Yoongi chuckled.

“Maybe these ropes have something to do with that,” you retorted as you panted.

“Still talking back? You obviously haven’t learned your lesson,” Yoongi ran his fingers along your sides.

“No, please. I can’t take anymore,” you pleaded.

“I think you can,” he smirked before tickling you again.

This time he didn’t stop until you were on the verge of passing out. The bondage made it even harder to catch your breath. Yoongi gingerly kissed your neck as you howled with laughter.

“Will you be a good girl now?” Yoongi asked as he flicked your nipples.

“Mhm,” you managed to whimper.

“I haven’t whipped out any shibari in ages, but I’m glad I did. I forgot how appetizing it makes humans look,” Yoongi licked his lips.

“I can’t move,” you complained.

“That’s the point, my dear ___,” Yoongi kissed your forehead.

His hand trailed down your stomach to your exposed pussy. He was pleased to find that you were already dripping wet. He rubbed circles around your clit as he licked your neck. He ferociously kissed over his previous marks as he started rubbing you faster. Your energy tasted exponentially better the more aroused you became.

Being in such a vulnerable and powerless position turned you on so much. You found yourself at Yoongi’s mercy. Yoongi easily slipped two fingers inside of you. He curled his fingers to perfectly graze your g-spot, causing you to moan loudly.

“You want me to fuck you?” Yoongi whispered in your ear.

“Please. I need you, Yoongi,” you begged.

“I know you do,” he kissed your lips gently.

With another snap of his fingers, the ropes moved their position. Now your wrists were bound to your chest, and your legs were already spread open.

Yoongi dragged his dick along your wet pussy. He loved watching you squirm beneath him as you impatiently waited for him to dick you down. He relished the erotic scene that lay before him. Witnessing you at the pinnacle of your horniess was a blessing. He couldn’t hold himself back any longer.

He thrusted his hips into you with inhuman force. He didn’t give you time to adjust to his thick cock; you didn’t deserve that tonight. Your cries of pleasure were music to his ears. He grabbed your chin as he ran his thumb along your bottom lip. You automatically stuck your tongue out for him.

“Good fucking girl,” Yoongi growled as you began to suck on his thumb, your tongue swirling around it.

Yoongi tugged at the ropes, making them vanish instantly. Your freedom was short lived since he immediately flipped you onto your chest. He propped up your ass, giving each cheek a firm slap.

This position was his favorite, and admittedly yours as well. He loved the backside view, and you loved how deep he got. You were sure to lose your mind every time he got behind you. This instance was no exception.

You reached down between your thighs to maximize your pleasure as your fingers easily toyed with your clit. Usually Yoongi wouldn’t allow you to touch yourself, but you couldn’t help it. You were too riled up from being all tied up.

You came undone all over Yoongi’s cock. The warmth of your juices heightened Yoongi’s lust, causing him to thrust faster. He released his hot load into you, groaning as he climaxed.

Your chest heaved as you struggled to stay awake. One of the side effects of being fucked by an incubus is that they literally can fuck you to sleep. After Yoongi cleaned you up, it was cuddle time. He ran his fingers through your hair, making it even harder not to succumb to slumber.

“Full?” you asked with your eyes half shut.

“I’m never satiated, but I can’t complain for now,” he answered.

“Great. Happy Valentine’s Day, Yoongi,” you yawned.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, ___. I hope I lived up to your expectations,” he patted your head.

“You surpassed them,” you nodded in approval.

“Go to bed,” Yoongi stifled a laugh, “I guess it’s not a pointless holiday after all.”

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