#aq fandom exchange

[artificialqueens]

🏳️‍🌈 Part of Your World, Ch. 6 (Raja x Adore) for Dartmouth420 - Grinder

A/N: Last chapter! Hope you all enjoyed this wee story, especially Dartmouth420!

Raja wasn’t sure how she’d get used to this, let alone when. Five weeks had passed, and the memories of Adore were still fresh in her brain. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, everything always led her back to thinking about the mermaid — taking a bath, eating breakfast, staring at the quarter amount of seaweed remaining in the once filled jar, the little moments in which the tethered witches would share a sweet kiss.

One could say it was torture. But then again, didn’t Raja deserve this? Afterall, there was a reason Raven used the word unspeakable in her spell.

“Raja? Raja?”

The witch was brought out of a trance, having been staring at the thin blades of grass below her, reminded of how Adore would run her hand through it all, like she was combing someone’s hair.

The five baby witches sat in front of her, awaiting her critique of their spells.

This. Tutoring. Something she used to do for years on end. Yet now, even after these five weeks of not having Adore anymore, it felt unfamiliar…

She was lost.

“I’m sorry, Kim. What were you asking?” Raja tucked a strand of hair beneath her ear.

“I said we finished turning the roses black,” the baby witch answered, glancing down at the now black rose before her.

Gia, Aja and Farrah had theirs turned black too. But, of course, Laila’s was still a vibrant red.

Raja looked at the baby witch, too busy playing with her hair to be interested in this morning lecture. It was clear she had enjoyed her time off while Raja was busy looking after Adore, helping her adjust.

“Laila.” Raja only said.

The baby witch looked at her with half hooded eyes and a raised brow. “What?”

“Did you even try?”

“No. But that wouldn’t be a problem if you weren’t busy trying to hold your mermaid wife prisoner.”

Fuck. It stung. 

Rage flooded through Raja, taking all her strength not to hex Laila.

“Don’t look at me like that. You know it’s true,” Laila flipped her hair.

It wasn’t like Raven to speak of anything like this, giving the opportunity for gossip around camp. Katya had most likely heard of it somehow, and, of course, did her thing — whispering in the ears of people who didn’t need to know.

Before Raja could snap back, Laila let out a yelp, flinching back and away from the group.

A familiar small snake had slithered it’s way over her hand, scaring the fuck out of her. The baby witch stood quickly, running for her life, leaving her peers to their amusement.

Raja only wished she could join in their amusement. She turned her gaze away from the terrified witch, seeing Alaska lingering outside her home, beckoning the snake to return. She was one of the few witches who were the smallest bit sympathetic to Raja’s mourning.

The dark witch mouthed a thank you to Alaska, the snake witch giving a quick smile as she waited for her baby to return.

Turning back to the group of baby witches, Raja wasn’t fully convinced she could keep doing this. Not now at least.

And as if sensing this…

“Hey, girls?” Courtney’s voice sounded from behind Raja, “Why don’t you go have some more tea. Jinkx is brewing up a second round. Better get it fast before it’s gone.”

The baby witches didn’t need to be told twice. They were already on their feet, running for Jinkx’s place.

Courtney then look Raja by the hand, bringing her to stand. “Come on, Bianca wants a word with you.” She kissed Raja in the typical witch greeting — another thing so awkward to Raja now.

“What’s going on?” Raja asked, being led away.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.”

That’s when Katya pranced by, “morning Courtney. Morning Raja.”

Raja pointed at the mischievous witch, “Don’t talk to me.”

“Wha - -” Katya gave her a questioning look.

But Courtney only pulled her along more. “Don’t. It’s not worth it.”

Raja sighed, disagreeing with Courtney. Like, who else could have spread the rumours around camp?

Once in Bianca’s place, Courtney let go of Raja, “I found her.” She sauntered up to the filled bath tub, aromas of dark cherry in the air as Bianca lounged. Courtney leaned down kissing Bianca.

Raja averted her gaze as her stomach twisted.

“Do you mind if I do this alone actually?” Bianca asked quietly, lifting a wet hand from the soapy water and stroked Courtney’s cheek.

“Sure.” Courtney kissed Bianca back before retreating away from the tub. She offered Raja a smile as she passed by, almost like she was wishing her good luck.

“Well. Get over here,” Bianca settled back into the tub, closing her eyes as she relished in this pampering session. “Pull up a chair ‘cause I’m not getting out.”

“You don’t need to, B’,” Raja obeyed, pulling up the wooden table chair to sit next to the tub. Sitting down, she could tell by how Bianca was looking at her, the bitch wanted the usual kiss. But Raja didn’t budge.

Bianca lifted her hand to Raja’s face. “Here. A kiss on the knuckle at least. I don’t want to be fucking cursed.”

Finally, for the first time in weeks, the dark witch let a smile appear on her lips, breathing out a small laugh. “Of course,” she took Bianca’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I don’t want you to get cursed either.”

Bianca didn’t let Raja let go of her hand, however. For a moment, her thumb brushed along the back of the heartbroken witch’s skin. “I was going to invite you for a little run in the woods earlier, but you were already preoccupied with your students.”

Raja just stared at their joined hands. 

No. She stared through them.

“I just…want to get back to normal.” Raja said sadly.

Bianca’s closed mouth moved to the side slightly. “You didn’t grieve for your mother like you’re grieving Adore.”

Still, Raja was unable to meet Bianca’s gaze. “Mother and I weren’t the closest.” She paused, the tears already threatening to surface. “But…Adore…Bianca, you wouldn’t understand.” Raja held a hand to her heart, as if showing where this feeling of longing was coming from.

Bianca let out a short laugh, her fingers playing with the bubbles surrounding her. “Do you forget that I am tethered to Courtney? I do understand, Raja”

“Well, at least Courtney’s still here,” the dark witch replied solemnly.

“Oh, quit feeling sorry for yourself.” Bianca scoffed. “You know; maybe if you had at least proposed the idea to her the second day she was here, she would have agreed.”

“No. I don’t think so,” Raja said dejectedly. “You should have heard the way she said it, B’. How she had a home of her own…Like this was just a little getaway.”

“Okay, now you’re starting to sound very ‘woe is me’,” Bianca rolled her eyes, “like ‘how dare she do this to me’.”

“That wasn’t my intention.” And then Raja sighed, “Fuck, I just…I don’t know what to do. Or how to act now that she isn’t here anymore.”

The bathing witch was silent for a moment, as if debating on saying what was on her mind. Raja knew this. Therefore, she refrained from saying anything else. Not until Bianca said what she needed to say.

“You could be practising for the crowning ceremony,” Bianca stated, ignoring how Raja groaned, “Or, I don’t know, maybe even planning for compatibility trials if you’re still hellbent on not taking the throne.”

“Bianca,” Raja pulled her hand out of Bianca’s grasp, sweeping it down her face.

Bianca held her hands up in defence, “All I’m saying is that it’s been over a year now.”

“Please, stop.”

“We need a Mother Witch already.”

Finally, Raja was able to meet her bestfriend’s gaze, her brows furrowed. “Look. We have been through this hundreds of times already — I don’t want this. And, fuck, I’d dare say I don’t even fucking deserve it now, what with the fact I fucked up so badly.”

“Then hold the trials, Raja,” Bianca was leaning her arm on the edge of the tub now, moving closer to her friend, “If you’re so insistent that you don’t want this then let someone else have it.”

“Bianca!” Courtney’s voice sounded from the door, stopping Raja from snapping back at the pampered witch. The blonde rushed in, excitement practically radiating off her. “She kicked! The baby kicked!”

Bianca was up like a shot, foamy bubbles dripping down her body. Her eyes were wide, shifting between both Courtney’s eyes and the bump of her stomach, “Oh, fuck. Is she okay?! Did it hurt?”

“What? Yes, it hurt. But I’m fine. She’s fine,” Courtney rubbed her belly as if soothing the little witch within.

“Thank fuck,” Bianca sighed with relief, placing a hand over the bump, “Don’t rush in here and scare me like that. Damn, you interrupted my leisuring.” She sat back down in the tub.

“You’ll get over it, diva,” Courtney tucked a strand of hair behind Bianca’s ear before turning her attention to the now quiet witch. “You okay, Raja?”

The dark witch was fiddling with her hair, eyes turned away. “Hm? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

The word ‘liar’ was on the tip of Bianca’s tongue, but she refrained from saying it. Not that it needed to be said. Courtney could just see it in Raja, how she seemed to grow more miserable with each passing week. She brushed her delicate fingers through the dark witch’s hair. 

“I know you probably don’t want to do this, but,” Courtney began, “maybe you should go talk to Raven.”

“Why?” Raja asked, confused. She hadn’t talked to Raven since the incident, let alone looked in her direction. Not because of any ill feelings she held towards the cunty witch, but because she knew Raven had even more reason to resent her.

“I heard she’s feeling quite guilty actually,” Courtney informed her.

“Raven? Guilty? Who told you that? Katya?" 

"Actually; Alaska. One of her snakes went to spy on her the other night. Said she was just sitting there by the fire, calling out to the spirits to reverse what was done.” Courtney then averted her eyes for a moment. “I know we all tend to stay away from her, but I think she could use the company right now. Both of you.”

Raja’s gaze flickered away from Courtney to Bianca, the bathing witch’s eyes speaking for her. Do what my wife says.

And turning her attention back to Courtney, Raja sighed. “Okay.”

-_-_-_-

Much like the whisperings from Alaska’s snake, Raven was kneeling in front of the fire, Raja just barely hearing her whisperings. The witch was rocking back and forth slightly, as if trying to will the spirits to hear her pleading. Who knew how long she had been at this.

Before taking any steps further, Raja cleared her throat to which Raven turned around. Her eyes were rimmed red — from crying, or exhaustion?

“Good morning, Mother Witch,” Raven swallowed before clearing her own throat.

Raja didn’t wait for an invite. She approached the open fireplace, kneeling down and kissing her fellow witch, only for Raven to sort of flinch.

“Forgive me. But I don’t deserve a blessing.” Raven turned her attention back to the fire.

“How come?” Raja asked.

“Pfft. Because,” Raven let out a pitiful laugh, “I’ve brought shame to my name…this camp…to you,” and she looked at Raja, her eyes half hooded.

Raja raised her brows. “You really think that?”

“How can I not?”

“Raven,” Raja dared herself to take Raven’s hand, stroking the back of the witch’s skin with her thumb, “You have nothing to be ashamed about. None of this was your fault.”

“Wasn’t it, though?” Raven breathed out long and hard through her nostrils. “Fuck, I should have just…just fucking told right off the bat that it wasn’t right. Turning one species into another without their knowledge…I should have fucking told you.”

“Well, I mean, yes. You could have. But, without sounding like a bitch, it’s not very in your style to express concern for others.” Raja pointed out.

“Well I was concerned. I cared, Raja. I saw the way she looked at you. And the way you looked at her,” Raven paused, her eyes burning into Raja’s. “I saw how much this meant to you, and that was the only motivation I needed to go through with it. But I guess…I was only thinking about you and not Adore.”

Raja was silent, eyes flickering down to their joined hands. This was nice — connecting with Raven like this despite the circumstances. For once, Raja wasn’t wary around her. “Raven…You shouldn’t have to feel bad for this. At the end of the day, I shouldn’t have suggested it. I was the one who started this shit, and you were only helping a client out. You were using your gifts. But the motive was all my idea.”

And the way Raven was looking at her now…something Raja had never seen in this witch. Something almost like…admiration. “I think we’re both responsible, to be honest. Okay, maybe more so you. But we’re both guilty, Raja.”

“Okay,” Raja nodded, pulling her hand away from Raven’s, and sweeping a dark hair from the witch’s face, “then do me a favour. Let’s just forget about this. Just…stop this, whatever it is you’re doing because we can’t reverse what’s been done. We can’t fix it.”

Raven only blinked. “Can’t believe you won’t be the Mother Witch.”

Raja let out a quick laugh. “Why?”

And a smile slowly started to appear on Raven’s lips. “Because you sound so wise right now but in the most condescending and egotistical way possible.”

“I am my mother’s daughter.”

The two chuckled for a moment, enjoying this sweet moment. Finally free to be themselves around eachother — Raja not so guarded, and Raven much more down-to-earth.

“Alright, but onto that subject,” Raven brought her laughs to an end, “You’re still adamant about not taking over as Mother Witch, right?”

“Pretty sure. Why?” Raja tucked a knee to her chest, clasping her hands on her calf.

“I don’t know,” Raven shrugged, sliding out of her kneeling position so her legs were tucked under her. Her dark eyes stared into the fiery flames, prodding them with the tip of a burnt poker. “I just think you’re wasting your potential.”

“Potential? Raven, there are so many other people on sight who have just as much potential as me. Fuck, maybe even moreso.”

“Like who?”

“Well…Bianca definitely.”

“Okay, favouritism.”

“Shut up. You know I’m right.”

Raven smirked again, “Okay. True.”

“And - And, I just…my heart’s just not in it, you know? And, after what we did…I just don’t think I deserve it.” Raja continued to plead her case.

“Well, everyone’s allowed to make mistakes. I mean, look at Chaderia. She married your mother.” Raven’s smirk only grew more mischievous.

Raja playfully pushed the witch over, again; thriving in this atmosphere they both created. “I’m being serious. Look, if someone is going to take over then it’s just…it’s not me. Because I don’t want it. I want…something different…something…something beyond everything I’ve ever known.”

Raven’s smile was slowly disappearing, hearing the distress growing within Raja. “And…that something is…?”

That something…What was that something?

But, of course, Raja knew what it was. And now that there was in no way she was going to get the chance to live that life, was there even a point in saying it outloud?

A finger found its way under her chin, lifting her face up to meet Raven’s dark eyes. 

“Tell me, Raja.” Raven uttered.

And a lump formed in the dark witch’s throat. “I want to be with Adore…For the rest of my life.” There was a crack in her voice, one she tried to control, and not let her emotions get the better of her. But when Raven traced her finger up from Raja’s face, along her cheek and brow bone, the tears began to surface.

And Raven just stared back, watching a single salty tear slip down the dark witch’s face. Her heart ached for her, a feeling she hadn’t felt in so long. “Raja…” she said quietly, practically whispering, “I think…I think there’s something we can do…”

-_-_-_-

It took two whole days to prepare, with the help of Raven and some from Sasha. Even though Raja knew Adore better than anyone else, Sasha knew mermaids.

This was risky, and Raja should have been done taking risks. But, it was a risk she was willing to take. 

It would be her last shot.

Now standing in the cave, Raven by her side, her hands were shaking. 

Being here now, the first place she ever met Adore, it was strange…Like the ghost of their connected energies was gone.

Like their first kiss never happened.

“Well, are you going to do it?” Raven nudged Raja.

“Wait. We’re all ready to go?” The dark witch looked at her friend quizzically.

“Of course. We did all the prep back in the woods.” Raven nodded. “We’re lucky the spirits even listened to us again.” She cast a look around the cave wearily, adjusting the strap of her satchel.

“We truly are. Fuck, I thought they would have cast us out with a storm or a flood,” Raja laughed nervously.

“Oh, me too. Now, shall we continue?” Raven gestured towards the pool, the waters slowly rippling, reflecting their blue glow off the walls.

And Raja nodded, her nerves sky rocketing. But she did as she was told. She stepped forward, looking down into the depths of the pool, the void she once fell into, only to find herself in the arms of the one she loved the most.

Kneeling down, the dark witch simply reached a hand out and let it penetrate the surface. And she squeezed her eyes shut.

Already, she could feel it, the tendril, almost like a third limb, made up of her power. It reached out through the tips of her fingers, deep down into the depths of the pool. It searched and searched, seeking out any trace of her.

As powerful as Raja was, there was no way her magic could find one person out of the whole ocean.

“Don’t give up,” Raven sensed the dark witch’s apprehension, “magic works on intent. If you give up, your strength will too.”

Raja opened her eyes, just for a moment, hopelessness draining over her. But as much as Raven’s words seemed useless, all she could do was keep trying.

And so she shut her eyes again, willing the tendril to find the one she loved. For if their love was real, and they truly were tethered, it would work. It had to work.

Despite keeping her distance, Raven stared over Raja’s shoulder. The water was beginning to ripple, more and more with every passing second. Was this Raja’s energy, wild with desperation to find the mermaid? Or was there something coming?

Someone?

Within seconds, her question was answered.

The surface of the water seemed to crash, the head of a mermaid springing up from underneath and launching at Raja.

The dark witch backed off immediately, yelping in shock. “V-Vixen!”

Raven grabbed Raja’s shoulder as if it would protect her, as the green haired mermaid spat vile words in her own language. Soon enough, the rest of Adore’s sisters arrived, sharing the same spiteful look as Vixen’s.

“You called the wrong girls,” Raven uttered quietly, her eyes trailing each one of them.

The one with the pink hair pulled Vixen back, whispering in her ear almost like she was scolding her sister. 

“I…I don’t know what to do now,” Raja clutched Raven’s hand.

“Wait. Look,” Raven watched the water, how it’s rippling increased again.

Someone was coming. Raja hoped, she begged internally, that she had called the right mermaid.

And finally, when a head popped up, out from under the surface…

There she was.

Adore.

Raja watched with bated breath as the mermaid moved closer to the edge of the pool. Her green eyes were half-hooded as she stared at Raja.

Vixen moved to Adore, putting a hand on the blonde mermaid’s shoulder, whispering something unintelligible. The witches may not have been able to translate the words, but the concern was hard to miss.

Adore glanced over her shoulder at her sister — her eyes doing the talking. And Vixen backed off giving Raja a warning look.

“What are you doing here?” Adore asked. It was hard to tell what emotion was behind this obvious question. Hurt? Shame? 

Longing?

“I…” Raja uttered. 

Raven ushered her to stand, the dark witch having been too stunned in the presence of this beautiful person to even move an inch.

When Raja stood, her hands brushed down her skirt, her nerves all the more apparent now.

“Um…I came to say…” how to do this…fuck, how to fucking do this, “to say that…I’m sorry. And, I know I’ve already said that and sorry won’t make things better. But…fuck…”

Adore’s face softened somewhat, but her mouth was still a hard line. “Raja. I…I forgive you, but…” she paused, glancing down, gasping as she tried her hardest to contain her emotions. “You have to understand that I can’t live on this land. I can’t. I’m a creature of the sea. I make the sea the beautiful place that it is to live. We all do,” Adore gestured to her sisters. “Look, I loved my time up there, but I love the sea even more. I can’t part with it. Please, just understand that.”

Raja’s chin was trembling. Of course, she knew this. That Adore would never part with her home, her family. And therefore, she had to do what she had to do. “Adore?”

“Yes?” Adore cast her green eyes back up at the witch. 

“I…I love you, and,” Raja paused, her hands shaking, “I want to be with you until my dying day.”

The line of Adore’s mouth loosened, a sad smile appearing as the outer corners of her eyes crinkled. “I want that more than anything too, Raja.”

“Alright,” Raja nodded, “then please…take me as not a witch, but also as a creature of the ocean…”

Fuck. It felt so good to say it out loud. A weight instantly lifted off Raja’s shoulders.

Adore’s lips parted, eyes widened slightly. Almost as if…a glimmer of hope shone through.

“I don’t care how long it takes me to learn your language, or how to even be a mermaid. But we’re tethered together.” Raja’s smile was slowly appearing, “And I couldn’t be happier knowing that you’re the person I was supposed to fall in love with.”

And Adore was smiling now, eyes turning crystal like. She let out a small. “How do you know if it’ll even work?”

“It will. Raven and I already got a head start,” Raja gestured to her friend behind her. “Now, it’s just up to you…that’s if you’ll have me…”

Adore squeezed her eyes shut, a single tear rolling down her deep cheek. “Forever?”

Raja nodded.

And Adore beckoned the witch to step forward.

Once so afraid of rejection, anxiety rattling through her, Raja moved with confidence — the witch Adore had fallen in love with.

Now kneeling before the pool of water, all it took was a single drop of blood from Raja’s cheek, and the taste of one of Adore’s tears to initiate the rest of the spell.

Raja dipped her feet into the waters, but before submerging herself, she took Adore’s face in her hands, drawing her into that magic kiss.

And just like their very first time, the tingling sensation of their connected energies coursed through the two lovers. It was enough for Raja to clasp the back of Adore’s head and pull her deeper into the kiss. 

The mermaid wrapped an arm around Raja’s waist, her other hand clasping the witch’s cheek, accepting the invitation. The ghost of Raja’s kisses had lingered on her lips for weeks now, and as hurt as she was by the dark witch’s actions, she had missed every single kiss…every touch. 

Raja’s lips were soft and delicate as they moved against Adore’s. And yet, such a hungry kiss, fiery even. How could Adore ever leave this woman again?

She pulled away, just to take in the sight of her tethered’s dark eyes — her favourite part of Raja. The mermaid let her fingers trail the witch’s brow bone, just staring, their love reignited.

Only when Raven let out an audible gasp did the two lovers snap back to reality.

Adore felt it first, how something brushed along her tail.

And Raja felt it next, how her legs were practically stuck together. Looking down — a long, glimmering gold tail.

The spell worked.

Adore gasped, sort of laughed too. It really worked.

“Fuck,” Raja said with bated breath, unable to take her eyes away from her new feature.

“The witch is a mermaid now?” Vixen raised a brow, nudging her pink haired sister.

“I suppose we can’t fight her anymore,” another mermaid said.

Raja didn’t pay much attention. Her forehead connected with Adore’s, the two giggling with sheer happiness while the sisters continued to discuss things.

“What are they saying?” Raven could hear it in their tones, the unease. And in turn, that made her uneasy.

That’s when Raja finally acknowledged her friend again. “You can’t understand them?”

“Do I speak mermaid?”

And again, Raja let out a half gasp - half laugh. Finally, she could understand mermaid talk. This truly was real.

“It’s fine,” Adore looked past Raja’s shoulder, smiling warmly at Raven. “They won’t hurt you. Not unless they want me to cut their hair off in their sleep.”

Vixen scoffed.

Taking another moment to soak up this moment, the fact her fate was sealed now — she was going to be with the one she loved for the rest of her life.

Looking over her shoulder to Raven again, she let out a sigh, her stomach twisting. This certainly wasn’t goodbye forever. But there was still a level of sadness there. “You remember what I asked you to do?”

Raven could practically sense it, the sealed letter in her satchel. And she nodded. “I won’t forget.”

“Thank you.” Raja blinked, wishing she had at least kissed Raven as a sign of goodluck before she did this. The bitch wasn’t as bad as she always thought her to be. “Thank you for everything.”

Raven only nodded.

Finally, Raja turned back around to face Adore. And her hands lifted, taking the ribbon from her corset in her fingers and undoing the bonds. When the piece was gone, she lifted the red burgundy dress up over her head, abandoning it to the side. Not like she’d need it where she was going.

She tossed it to the side of the cave knowing if she were to ever return for a visit, at least it was there.

Adore backed off in the pool, taking Raja’s hands in her own, and pulling the former witch towards her.

And Raja fell forward, her body dropping down into the depths. 

And Adore appeared before her, taking Raja’s face in her hands, “I love you, Raja.”

And Raja pulled Adore close to her. “I love you too.”

And the distance between them was closed.

Just one of the thousands of kisses they would ever share.

-_-_-_-

“Have you thought of any names yet?” Courtney asked sweetly, still lounging out having not left her bed yet. It was nearing the afternoon and she was feeling lazy. Just laying there, staring up at the ceiling barely making out the blue sky through the thatch work of the hut. Her hand absentmindedly stroked her round belly, thinking about the little life inside.

Bianca was at her work desk, fixing up an elixir to get her through the day. She barely slept the night before, what with her mind always taking her back to Raja, and how the poor witch hadn’t been happy in so long now. Bianca hadn’t been sleeping all that great for weeks, just thinking of all the ways she could make her best friend feel better. And now, she was exhausted.

“Bianca?” Courtney looked up in the bed slightly.

“Hm? Sorry. Trying to make an elixir to ensure Katya pisses every time she cries.” Bianca chuckled. “What were you saying?”

“I said have you thought of any names yet?” Courtney’s smile was refreshing.

Bianca needed such a sight, what with where her mind was at. “Honey. We’re literally half way through the pregnancy. Why? Have you?”

“Well, I was thinking Willow would be sort of nice.” Courtney suggested. “Or maybe even Elle.”

“Eh. I say Bianca Two.” The working witch shrugged, finishing up her elixir, the vial emitting a small cloud of pink smoke. It was down the hatch within seconds.

“Bianca Two?” Courtney’s brows joined, her mouth moving to the side. “As if we need another.”

“Well, if you ask me,” Bianca stood, already feeling the potions properties working on her, the tiredness vanishing with each passing second. Carrying herself towards the bed, she climbed on and made her way to Courtney, “The damage has already been done. There’s going to be a little Bianca - Courtney hybrid running around her and none of these bitches can do anything about it.” She kissed the baby bump, laying her head down and relaxing. As much as she was feeling her energy levels rising, she could lay here with Courtney forever.

“Well, depends. Like, maybe she’ll be lovely like me. Or a bitch like you.” Courtney suggested, stroking her fingers through Bianca’s hair, the soft locks having yet to be put up.

“Maybe both.”

“Well, I guess. But even at that, would she be nice to your face and a bitch behind your back? Or a rude cunt who actually has a heart of gold?”

“Stop. You’re giving me baby fever. I just want her to come already.”

“You know? I think she’ll be like you.” Courtney looked down at Bianca, her fingers moving from the hair to the witch’s neck. “Rude with a heart of gold.” She could feel it, Bianca’s smile.

Such a sweet moment, not their first and certainly not last either. But it came to a halt when the sound of someone clearing their throat came from the doorway. Both witches sat up, seeing Raven standing there, clutching the strap of her satchel.

“A letter for you, Bianca,” Raven said, pulling the folded piece of paper out from her bag.

“From who?” Bianca’s brows knit.

Raven didn’t answer, and judging by how a small smile appeared, and vanished just as quick, Bianca wasn’t getting an answer. The dark witch simply held out the paper, ushering Bianca forward.

“Ugh, do you always have to be so mysterious and shit?” Bianca dragged herself up off the bed, making her way towards Raven and taking the letter. “Shoo. Your dark aura smells like dead animal carcass.”

Courtney tsk’ed.

“Be careful, Bianca. Or I may just turn your teeth black.” Raven let her hand trail the wall as she left the two alone again.

“This better be important,” Bianca clambered back onto the bed, resting against Courtney’s body, the light witch playing with her hair again, “not like Raven of all people to show up on my door step. Think she’s cursing us with this thing?” Bianca flipped the letter open.

“I don’t know. I mean, what motive does she have?” Courtney enjoyed the feeling of Bianca’s curls in her fingers. “I’m nice enough to her whenever she leaves her house. Don’t know about you though.” And she closed her eyes, hoping to get at least another hour of sleep in, not that she needed it.

Bianca didn’t mind. For her attention was now stuck on this letter. Upon opening it, her eyes were instantly drawn to the bottom of the page, seeing Raja’s signature there. Just from seeing the letters of her bestfriends name, how elegant they appeared, Bianca could see in her head how Raja scrawled it effortlessly, her wrist flicking softly as she wrote, the sound of the quill scratching the paper.

It wasn’t like Raja to send her letters. In fact, the dark witch hadn’t ever written to her like this, what with them being in close proximity of eachother. The only person Bianca had ever known to receive a letter from Raja was Jinkx — that one time Raja was romantically interested in the red head witch, using her charm with a sappy love letter. It didn’t work.

So why now? Bianca had seen Raja only an hour prior, the dark witch just casually waltzing up to her, wrapping her long golden arms around her. Bianca of course returned the gesture. But Raja went the step further. For after she kissed Bianca in that traditional witchy greeting, the dark witch kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I love you, B’.”

Of course, Bianca didn’t know what to make of it at the time. But it didn’t bother her.

And yet, now reading this letter, she understood why.

‘My dearest Bianca,

You’re probably wondering where I am right now, or most likely fighting with Raven to get the fuck out of your house.

Or cuddling Courtney. I don’t know.

But now, as I’ve said that first statement, you’re panicking. I want you to know, B’, that I’m fine. I’m safe. And this isn’t goodbye forever.

I’ve decided to try and patch things up with Adore by doing the only thing I think is left for me to do — to become a mermaid and live as a creature of the ocean for the rest of my life. And if it doesn’t go well at all, then you won’t even get the chance to read this. But if you are, then the plan was a success.

Adore’s accepted me, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her.

As for the rest of you, I’m proud to say that the coven is not without their Mother Witch anymore. For I’ve ensured that Raven deliver this very note to the only person I deem worthy.

Lead these ladies, Bianca. Be the best Mother Witch there ever was.

I will see you again. Afterall, mermaids can come to land whenever they please.

Goodluck, my sister. And thank you for being the bestest friend I could ever ask for.

All my love,

Raja.’

Pride Challenge Points: 4074

[corellianhounds]

i think people are so focused on din being such a good dad (or daddy) that they forget that he really doesn't care about other people (not related to him in any way) in general. he saved villages and towns because he was paid to or he gets something in exchange, not from the goodness of his heart. this says a lot about his moral compass as a character and i love that about him. so many people think he's kind and caring because they only ever really see him with grogu but outside of that he's a cold and calculating individual who can be merciless in his job.

I do think the focus of the character skews in favor of those first two options in fandom like you said, but I’d disagree in saying he doesn’t care about other people beyond what transactions he has with them; the flashbacks he has of Aq Vetina highlight the fact the Mandalorians showed up to save people who couldn’t save themselves, and those are the people he was then raised by. They’re a community-oriented people, and though they’re wary of outsiders for good reason, supplemental SW material says they’re generally not openly hostile unless somebody else throws the first punch, and hospitality extended to friendly allies or strangers is encouraged. Mando says “Thank you” a lot and that speaks to more than just good manners to me. He builds relationships. If he didn’t care about people, he wouldn’t have formed a connection with or gone back for the kid in the very beginning, which I think speaks the most to his character because that kind of care isn’t born in a vacuum.

The longer answer is that though we know Mando specifically cares about his clan and covert, I think that sense of community and the desire to see other people safe extends to the Sorgan village and Mos Pelgo too, same as it does to the individuals he makes friends with along the way.

Peli had already fixed his ship by the time he got back to the hangar that night in “The Gunslinger” and if she hadn’t, there’s plenty of other mechanics on Tatooine; if he only cared about the kid, he could’ve shot Peli to get her out of the way the second he saw the three of them so he could get a clear shot of Calican. He also didn’t have to overpay her to make up for the trouble before leaving, but money is also one of the only ways he CAN smooth over the problems he causes people so that’s all he could do there by way of apology

He could have just killed Cara Dune when she attacked him first, but he didn’t pull his gun until she did and still retained the presence of mind to see if a truce could be found since she also didn’t shoot the kid the moment she saw him, nor did she use his own distraction to get a shot in

The guilt trip the Frog Lady invokes by appealing to his sense of family and holding him to the reputation of Mandalorians being honorable and keeping their word wouldn’t have worked if he didn’t care about her beyond what information he thought he already wasn’t going to get because their situation seemed hopeless.

He didn’t have to let the crew in “The Prisoner” live if he didn’t think everybody— even the people who betray him— deserved at least one chance. He could’ve killed Karga at the end of “The Sin,” but he specifically shot Karga where he knew for a fact Karga had beskar shielding him.

He’s sad when it becomes clear IG-11 is going to sacrifice himself in the finale, and he made it a point to give Kuiil a proper burial.

Part of the reason everything he does feels transactional is because 1. Trading and working have been his primary interactions with people as a lone hunter who spends the majority of his adult life working paycheck to paycheck, and 2. Mando shows his care for others by doing things. His abilities and actions aren’t just currency, but the loudest way he has or knows how to show his care or gratitude. He’s not big on words or physical touch (lone hunter/survivalist, emotionally reclusive, guarded Mandalorian), he can’t afford to spend time with people and likely knows the reputation and staunch refusal to remove his armor and helmet make it hard to connect on a personal level and be good company in casual settings (best shown in how he never eats around anybody, except the kid), and he lives a meager life with few creature comforts himself, so any physical gifts he can give or share are few and far in between, but are also practical and/or the results of the actions he took to acquire them (a better cradle and chainmail for Grogu, beskar for the covert, blankets for the Frog Lady, soup for Cara Dune in the lodge, dragon meat for Peli, heck even his willingness to relinquish the armor to Fett could fall under that category), and that same thought process tracks for gifts given to him or how he views them given between other people

Mando wanted to lay low on Sorgan long term and he asked after lodging in the farm village— If he didn’t care about the people when the job turned out to be bigger/more dangerous than anticipated, he wouldn’t have stuck around and risked his neck when he very easily could have moved on. He’s got a ship, he’s got fuel, it’s a big planet, and right now nobody’s chasing him. Instead he tells the village they have to pick up and move if they want to stay safe (which makes sense coming from a nomad whose own people, it’s implied, have had to relocate several times because of encroaching danger), which negates his whole purpose in coming to them in the first place if his regard of them is only transactional (if he really wanted to stay somewhere and needed their community to be that homebase, he would have started with the idea of telling them to cowboy up and fight so he could by extension stay there). He still could have ditched at any point, grabbed the kid and took off, but he didn’t.

Same could be said for Mos Pelgo. Those townsfolk were more capable than the ones on Sorgan, but their physical opponent is about a thousand times bigger than two dozen bandits and a Walker. Yes Din wanted the marshal’s armor, but realistically he shouldn’t have had to bargain with anything for it and would have been justified in fighting or killing the marshal and forcing him to give it up. The Krayt dragon is an absurd job from an outside perspective, and Din easily has fifty pounds on the marshal and would absolutely win in a close quarters fight; he didn’t have to agree to help the people of the town, and he never indicates that he’s going to double cross the marshal and take the armor while they’re out in the desert alone. Mando sees and respects how Vanth takes care of people and mediates between not just the townsfolk, but learns to mediate between the town and the Tuskens. Mando wouldn’t make it a point to be a mediator himself if he didn’t think the people around him were worth the peace, safety and cooperation he helps them find.

There’s a fine line the writers need to walk when it comes to characterizing him because he does have a resigned, realistic, occasionally harsh understanding of the world and how things don't always work out for people. He’s old enough in a dangerous galaxy to have experienced some of the worst it has to offer, and he can really only take things day by day without a guarantee of tomorrow— It gives him an objective understanding of the idea that you can’t save everyone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Mercy often goes hand-in-hand with compassion. We have evidence of him stepping forward to protect people who can’t protect themselves (or spending valuable time and resources enabling them to defend themselves), and that typically doesn’t come from somebody completely detached from interpersonal connections.

His characterization and the writing start to break down a bit in Season 2 at a few different junctures; one of the biggest that comes to mind is “The Jedi” because they made Ahsoka the main character of that episode and didn’t tie Mando to anything concerning the main plot. His whole purpose in that episode WAS transactional because he was just providing backup for her to fight her own enemy so she’d take the kid as an apprentice. The writers didn’t connect him to the town or people or the plot happening there with the corrupt magistrate at all. (That's one of my big complaints with Season 2, the episodes where it feels like he’s being moved around instead of being the one driving the story). If Mando is the main character, you have to connect the plot of each episode to him in some way.

Why doesn’t Mando voice any concern over the citizens or situation in Calodan? Why are their interactions with civilians and the choice to save the people being tortured in the street relegated to barely a footnote within the plot? Why doesn’t he ask more questions about Elsbeth and how she got to be in power? Why doesn’t he voice any concern about being two people against a small army and a woman who— based on circumstantial evidence— must be a pretty formidable opponent if a Jedi has beef with her? What is Elsbeth capable of and should he be concerned?

If he’s only there to act as Ahsoka’s muscle and we don’t get anything about how Calodan affects him, then you as the writer have solidified that this whole chunk of story isn’t actually about him, it’s the third act in the samurai movie you actually wanted to make about this special new character who, in the end, you give an effective exit to go into her own show by having her go back on her word to the guy who should be the main character. (We as the audience don’t have to worry about that though because I guess Mando’s okay with it because he never says anything to the contrary. Another dead end with the barest flimsy offer of information sending him elsewhere. If Ahsoka can’t be trusted to keep her word, why should he believe anything she tells him after that? Mando should have been angry with her, and justifiably so.)

I guess my point here was that I’m picky about his interpretation when the writers/fans don’t quite strike the right balance between him being an intimidating, ruthless hunter as well as an intelligent person who can analyze each circumstance with a sense of restraint. They don’t know where to draw the line on his sense of mercy and end up making him a pushover as a result like in “The Heiress” and “The Jedi” and a few other S2 plot points (if not outright woobifying him).

Mando’s moral compass has a balance between justice and mercy, but because his character is hidden behind a mask and rarely speaks, we can only get so much from the rest of his body language and performance (and the aid of good cinematographers) alone, which means it’s up to the writers to have a clear idea of why he does everything he does in a scene. If they don’t have a clear sense of what this guy is thinking based on his character history up to that point, his actions aren’t going to convey the right story and it muddies the character for the audience in unintended ways, especially if that considerable change in his character is never resolved (see: same episodes listed above).

The second season opens with him going to Gor Koresh for information and having to fight his way out of a trap, but only after he gives the don the chance to back down. Gor Koresh doesn’t, and Mando’s retaliation is swift, just, and gruesome. Mando shouldn’t have put up with Bo-Katan manipulating him and changing the terms of their deal midway through the hijacking, and I think he should have jumped ship and left her to the consequences of her deceit as a result. I think the interactions he had with Ahsoka should have built in conflict because he should be at his most desperate, having finally found somebody he believes more capable than himself of caring for and protecting the child, and here she is refusing him (and in the end, breaking the terms she agreed to).

Both of those episodes push to the side how his character should be reacting in favor of getting to the right circumstances for Luke “Deus Ex Machina” Skywalker to show up at the end of the season as the Jedi who will train the kid (Oh hey audience, just ignore the fact Mando’s never met this guy, no one knows who he is when he arrives, and also he’s dressed like Moff Gideon when he shows up)

Not that I’m bitter. But I digress.

A good example of the writers actually giving Mando the voice to his change of heart concerning a conflict he started off with with another character is at the end of “The Tragedy” when the two of them discuss the armor and Fett’s claim to it. That interpersonal conflict has setup and meaningful closure given in a way that makes sense for Mando’s character based on what we know of him up to that point, where I think the other two episodes don’t resolve the characters’ conflicts in ways consistent with what Mando’s character should have thought and said once they broke the terms of their deals.

A lot of writers, showrunners included, sort of defang the justice side of him, and I mean justice not only in the sense of the law and him hunting down criminals, but justice in interpersonal conflicts too. The writers (and fandom) tend to neglect/overlook/not analyze the established characteristics of what makes him probably the best bounty hunter of that time: intelligent, analytical, observant, detached, patient, incredibly skilled, and efficient. He’s not gullible, and when it comes to people who are already criminals, he doesn’t have any qualms about tracking them down and dragging them back by any means necessary for payment (though if the showrunners had spent more time on that aspect of him, we could have gotten into how the justice system operates vis-à-vis who is declared a criminal by whom).

When he’s doing something dangerous with dangerous or more specific people in the monster-of-the-week adventure, he should be more intimidating, deadly, ruthless and capable, but at the end of the day he still needs to be the same person capable of soothing a frightened child. Finding the balance lies in the fact he shows innocent people compassion and gives guilty people mercy— And if that guilty party expends that chance, then we see the legendary bounty hunter who doesn’t stop until justice (his own or otherwise) is achieved. He wouldn’t give people those chances if he didn’t see them as anything more than what they’re worth in his pursuit of material gain.

[dindjarindiaries]

The metaphorical aspects of Din Djarin’s physical armor and his ship are extremely brilliant and so fascinating when it comes to his character.

DISCLAIMER: This topic gets discussed often in this fandom. If this is a topic you’re sick of hearing about, I suggest you stop reading here!

I won’t go too much into the metaphor of the Razor Crest because I recently saw an analysis going around here (which was brilliantly done, though I forget whose it was!) and I don’t want to be redundant. If I had to add one thing to that, though, it would be using this quote from the junior novelization: “Where others might look at the [Razor Crest] and see a simple means of transportation or escape, the Mandalorian knew the Crest as his haven, almost an extension of the armor and helmet that protected him” (Schreiber). Essentially, then, the Crest was another layer that kept Din hidden away from things he didn’t want to face: the pains of his past, the growing attachments within his heart, etc. Thus, whenever the Crest undergoes stress, Din is also undergoing a stress. In Chapter 2, it’s when he starts to get attached to Grogu, even if it’s happening unknowingly (hence Din’s denial at being able to fix it; he’s in denial that the same thing’s happening to him with Grogu). In Chapter 10, it’s Din deep attachment to Grogu and his ability to start trusting and having to care for others. In Chapter 11, it’s his shattering idea of his Creed, thanks to the Nite Owls. We see it get fixed in Chapter 12 after he spends time with friends he knows he can trust, which makes him feel safe again, but then in Chapter 14 everything gets shattered—thus foreshadowing what’s going to happen to his character in the following two episodes.

Now, for his true armor: the beskar and his helmet. When we first see Din’s armor, it’s colored a deep red, which is actually very reminiscent of the robes his people in Aq Vetina used to wear. According to Wookiepedia, when a Mandalorian’s armor is red, it can mean they’re honoring a parent. In this case, then, it makes sense that Din wears red: to honor his fallen parents. This armor gets badly broken in the fight against the mudhorn, just before the event that changes Din’s heart forever: being rescued by Grogu. We see him being protected by nothing, fully exposed for the first time in a long time—not just physically, but also mentally/emotionally��and then he’s still protected, but this time by something aside from his armor. That’s a beautiful parallel between the destruction of his physical armor and the destruction of his emotional armor, both occurring when he’s starting to question his attachment to Grogu. Then, we see Din exchange his red for silver with the reward he gets for turning in Grogu. According to the Mandalorian Guild’s wiki, silver armor signifies someone who’s seeking redemption. This also makes sense for Din, as he starts trying to right what he’s wronged with Grogu from the moment he gets his new silver armor. It holds strong until it’s put to the ultimate test: the explosion in Chapter 8. The armor couldn’t save Din from what happened to him in that explosion. But, what did happen was that Din lost his right cuisse, the only remaining armor from his old set. That shows the significance of his willingness to sacrifice himself for Grogu: he completed his redemption in the “Warrior’s Death” sequence. That’s why, in season two, we see that his new cuisse is silver, fully signifying his successful redemption in saving Grogu.

Then, there’s the helmet. This is something we mostly see the significance of in season two. It was, of course, mentioned often in season one, with people asking if Din really couldn’t take it off or what the consequences of that would be—plus, being willing to die to uphold his Creed in Chapter 8 until IG-11 finds the necessary loophole—but season two took it to a whole new level with Chapters 11, 15, and 16. The helmet is perhaps the most significant layer of protection for Din. It keeps people from seeing his eyes, a feature known as the “window to the soul,” and he can also be more guarded about disguising how he feels when his facial expressions don’t give it away. In Chapter 11, he’s floored by the idea that there could possibly be Mandalorians who don’t practice the same way, as if he refuses to believe that there’s a world where he might have to live without the protection of his helmet. Then, in Chapter 15, we see Din sacrificing this very thing—the thing that’s protected him the most—in order to save his son. I think the fact that Mayfeld uses “Brown Eyes” to refer to him, and Valin Hess also does as a result, is extremely significant in regards to my earlier point: eyes are by far one of the most vulnerable features we have in communicating the things we feel. Up until that point in Chapter 15, we can see Din holding his own without the rest of his beskar armor, but once that helmet comes off, he is vulnerable. This is at the same time Din’s coming to terms with the fact that he can’t live in a galaxy where he’s lost Grogu. Din would rather lose all layers of protection than lose this attachment he now has to his son, and the removal/loss of his armor is such a profound way of showing that.

I’ll close with Chapter 16′s helmet removal. This is significant because it was completely by choice. Chapter 15 was something Din had to do. This wasn’t. Din took off his helmet, his finest layer of protection, because Grogu has finally made him feel safe enough to be able to show who he really is—just as Din has helped Grogu to feel safe enough to use his powers again.

The parallels of Din’s physical armor to his emotional armor are so brilliant, as Pedro Pascal, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and many others have commented on before. Diving into that and truly looking at it just makes it all so much wonderful.

[mxtxsblog]

Untamed did XY dirty

I love Untamed, I really do. Unpopular opinion: I love love love almost all the changes from the novel. WWX having the same body? Inspired (and MDZS cheated about it: in most adaptations WWX's and MX's body are so similar the audience can't disintiguish them!). The bit about WWX falling, LWJ trying, JC stabbing (but not really)? A piece of art. Demonic cultivation as black smoke? Yes baby!

JC and WQ? Genius.

WWX tenderly wiping away JC's tears in the climax? I want to scream (WWX and JC's relationship is my second favorite one, just after XueXiao). And I love the changes about Yi City quartet! XY appearing early and being a force of demonic cultivation? Sweet. XXC not being so driven to arrest him? Yay. XY dying with a smile remembering XXC? Babies. But I really really really hate the change about XY's tragic backstory. It really changes everything about XY and I simply ignore it (and so usually does fandom, so yay!). Why? Because XY's backstory is divided into two parts, and the division is essential.

(As usual, I wish I had more time and energy to dedicate to this meta, but sadly I can't).

From the start, XY doesn't make it a mystery he grew up beaten up. Because that's not the point, not really. Then XY decides to share a bit with AQ and XXC, and it's the sad story of a child without parents nor money who loves sweets but can't eat them. Of course sweets are a symbol of food, a home, a family, kindness, happiness, everything baby XY (he's only 7 years old!!!) doesn't have. It's noted that child XY is strangely naive and trusting (they call him dim-witted!). So even in his poor situation, he conserved a trust in the world and its justice. (And I think this particular is key to WHX's belief that XY has a good nature). So a man asks XY to do a task, in exchange of some sweets. XY does it (and he's happy to earn the pastries! He doesn't even think about stealing them or anything!), and he's harshly beaten (twice!) because of it, injustly. The story ends for the moment, XY lets out the most important part (and XXC feels that the story is unfinished). Then everything happens. And XY tries to share the last part to XXC. And yes, that's the really important part. XY runs in Chang Cian and, with an innocence impressive for a child in his situation, tells him what happened. He doesn't understand yet, he thinks there was a mistake ("he felt both frustrated and happy"). Surely Chang Cian didn't send a poor innocent child to be beaten for fun. But Chang Cian beats him too, and denies him his pastries. XY tries to stop him, and Chang Cian decides to strike him in the face with a whip and runs him over with his charriot. That's the important part of the story, that's the thing who destroyed and shaped XY. It's not about his little finger (but of course his mutilated hand is a eternal remind of what's happened!). It's not about physical suffering: living poor, alone, homeless, in the streets, XY must had already met many bad people (he himself says that he was beaten a lot as a child). (Although I can concede that the excrucing pain of a crushed hand, obviously not treated, was the worst pain XY had ever felt, with painful and lasting consequences.) It's about hurting a child for one's amusement. It's about tormenting him without any care. As he was a stray dog, a broken toy. It's about being manipulated and hurt simply because a person is rich, is gentry, is powerful. (And also normal people, the man, the waiter, the driver, hurt him without any care. I think that's essential for XY loss of trust in anyone, and his disgust with people in general). If Chang Cian was simply a person who denied a begging child few pastries, if he was simply a cruel man who beated a child, he wouldn't have earned XY's revenge. But XY hates him, not the waiter, not the other man. Why? Because Chang Cian chose him to amuse himself with his pain, with his shattered hopes. XY did everything right, did what was asked of him, and was cruelly hurt for it. And when XY tried to stand up, to demand his recompense, he was hurt even worse. "Is it that, since the fingers weren’t yours, you guys were incapable of feeling the pain?! You guys didn’t know how horrifying screams sounded like out of your own mouths? Why didn’t you ask him why he decided to amuse himself with me without a single reason?!" And of course nobody helped him. Not the waiter, not the driver of the charriot, not the people. Nobody cared about a starving nobody. And it's this cruelty, this abusing of an innocent child's trust, who broke XY. So yes, the backstory in Untamed about a man who denied a homeless child's begging for sweets and run him over, while tragic, lacks the most important part. The things that set Chang Cian apart from all the other people who hurt a homeless child. "A man sat on a table inside the shop. as he saw the child, he gestured for him to come over." XY wasn't bothering him in any way. The man just saw a poor defenseless child and decided to hurt him and be cruel without any care. And yes, I can't forgive The Untamed for this. So in all my meta XY's backstory is MDZS's one. Because the other one really doesn't make sense and lacks the

original's complexity and brutality (also, XXC gives XY candies even in The Untamed, so it makes more sense if the story was told). Last but not least: they robbed us of XY sharing the first part of his story around the fire. Eternal shame on them. Of course in my meta that scene happened. Strangely enough, they originally also cut XY's incredibly complicated smile at XXC by the fire. Maybe they didn't know how the audience would have reacted to XY, who from what I can see he's a popular but deeply divisive character. So they couldn't decide how much sympathetic they wanted to present him? (Similar to Loki's case, in truth). So in the end: don't let Untamed fools you, XY's backstory is tragic and deep. And it's not about physical hurt, but the shattering of a child's trust in the world.

(Also, XY knows and hates that cultivators and people in general don't care about powerful people abusing poor nobodies. Ghosts and monsters? Political conquests? Of course, but rich powerful people hurting defenseless children? Ahahah, no.)

In short: XY is a woobie destroyer of worlds and that's really sexy of him.

Also, the world fully earned his enmity.

Also, I want all the AUs where somebody is kind to this child and nurses him back to health. As consequence, magic ancient China loses a killer and gains a bloody defensor of starving children, eater of the rich, rogue demoniac cultivator.

[softieskywalker]

Hi there! [This is sleepydin on my main blog lol.] Im not latinx myself but i AM from southern africa and i totally get how fucking frustrating it is to see cultures be so generalized, ESP by people in fandom spaces, and ESP when they put more effort into researching fictional cultures and languages over, yknow, very REAL ones. Like, someone from namibia isn't gonna have the same culture or speak the same language/dialect as someone from, say, kenya, just as someone from chile isn't going to be the same as someone from brazil. It's infuriating as fuck and im sorry that people dont give these things the respect they deserve.

Hope you have a good day/night ❤

hello! yes i agree, it’s very frustrating. especially when i see so many posts about “isn’t this alien culture so interesting??? we should really look into this! mandalore and its history with colonialism” and people making the accurate analysis that those alien cultures are allegories for how non-european or north-american cultures are treated... but then fail to have that same level of respect towards actual cultures from the real world. it’s very telling to me that people overinvest interest on mandalore regarding din djarin as a character but never put any interest over his original culture in aq vetina that’s very explicitly portrayed as a mirror to post colonial south american cultures (from the clothes, to the architecture, to the casting of din’s parents and din as a child.) 

of course this is an issue that comes from the incredibly ignorant and narrow minded worldview of those who grew up in the global north and... it seems silly in fandom but i feel like i’m used to it at this point. like the bar is underground, but it really feels like they’re able to feel more sympathy for fictional alien cultures than real life ones. and those who try to be “respectful” just don’t even bother asking people “hey is this ok?” and instead leave things on a very washed out culturally ambiguous position that feels like a corporate treatment to fandom. idk. 

for example i once told an american friend that comparing mexican culture to argentinian culture is like comparing usamerican culture to australian culture. yes we were colonized by the same people and technically speak the same language but we live on opposite sides of the globe and have had barely any cultural exchange during history. assuming every latin american person eats tacos is incredibly offensive and ignorant. our spanish is basically two different dialects. to be seen as one homogeneous unit by such a large population really makes you feel like the ant under their boot lol. 

[stillmumu]

author interview tag! 💖

got tagged by @clownhoward ty angel!

Name: Mumu

Fandoms: RPDR and various music ppl (I only write for RPDR though)

Where you post: AO3 and AQ!

Most popular oneshot, most popular multi-chap fic, favourite story you’ve written so far, complete: My most popular oneshot is called Sweet On My Lips and it’s a crygi coffeeshop meet-cute. I haven’t done a multi-chap yet bc I have the attention span of a goldfish. My personal favourite story is Magnetic Moon (a jankie uni au.) I’m really proud of how I worked my poetry roots into it!

fic you were nervous to post: Crying in My Prom Dress. I really wanted to get the characterization right, to feel authentic and teenager-y(?) but still be entertaining, if that makes sense.

how you choose your titles: Tbh I don’t really have a set process? If a story is based on a song (like I Wish You Were Sober was) than it’s pretty obvious. Otherwise, I just hope really hard that something comes to my brain in a stroke of genius lmao.

do you outline: Not at all! I usually start with some kind of trope/plot and a ship and wing it from there.

in progress: Main wips right now: a Lemyanka proposal fic, a Scyvie high school reunion type vibe, a prose-heavy pretentious asf Crygi fic (w nb Gigi), and three different Jujubee/Miz Cracker fics because for some reason they’re a bit hard to write atm :/

coming soon: *crossing fingers* the Lemyanka fic. Also I might brush up a Jaida/Nicky fic that’s been sitting in my done folder bc I’m not quite happy with it.

do you accept prompts: I actually just reblogged a prompt list here so feel free to send me stuff! I also take prompts outside of that list too, just no smut please <3

upcoming work that you’re most excited for: most of my wips, but also i got an idea recently for a momo soulmates au (w a twist!) that i’m pumped for. the songfic exchange is coming up, and i’ll be working on @themetalluna ‘s “i was kinda hoping you’d stay” prompt too

gonna tag @uwusunflower and @lemyanka love y’all!

[lilolilyr]

11, 22, 26

11: fandom you enjoyed writing for the most this last year

Oh gosh, I'm honestly not sure, different ones for different reasons!

Both Andromaquynh and Milippa have grown so dear to me over 2020 and 2021, and while they might not have been my main obsession the entire last year, they were always around, I love writing the characters, and I love writing for the fandom friends I made..

Mirandy and Berena were nice not just as new fandoms to get into but also because they (especially Mirandy, but compared to others also Berena) are larger fandoms than I'm used to, and I got a lot more comments and all than in the other fandoms! I'm not sure whether they're really my fav fandoms to write for tho, I like reading more than writing in that case, same for Bering and Wells I think... tho I did still enjoy writing the fics I finished last year

Gunpowder Milkshake on the other hand is tiny, but the reception of my fics was so enthusiastic, idk? Also made lots of new fandom friends there, and it feels like such an interactive smoll fanbase, I got a lot of prompts to choose from and had fun writing the ones I had some idea how to fulfil the prompt, knowing someone would get a little gift fic! Also I just absolutely Adore Florence and Madeleine, and have grown to love Scarlet and Anna May as well even though they hadn't caught my attention quite as much at the beginning... yes, I think this one's my fav, if I have to pick just one!

22: events you participated in this year

Oh gosh, let's see whether I can remember them all! Just writing events here tho, let's not list all the others, chats/meetups, games and watchalongs and such xD

I believe I wrote at least a few fics for Femslash February?

Theen, there was the TOG Femslash Fortnight back in I think march where I managed to create something for every single day, tho not just fic but also manips and such

Also idk whether to quite count them as writing events at all, but I organized a lot of headcanon games where I both came up with lots of new ideas and also wrote fics to a number of prompts both by me and by others

Then of course the Discovery Femslash Fortnight I organized, that was intensely fun tho also a lot of work to pull off, but I think I also managed to write something for most daily prompts!

Now, there are gift exchanges... not counting B&W and GM cause while orga started last year they're mainly this January and February, I was in 4 exchanges, Mirandy, Berena, Andromaquynh and Milippa, the latter two I'm currently struggling to finish my fics for because I'm busy with university applications for my masters degree (yes, perhapppss I should be either writing fic or go back to my application stuff rn instead of clearing out my inbox, but I needed a break from the applications, and answering asks only requires a minimum of braincell activity, way less than fic writing xD), but I should manage to finish at least AQ by the deadline of the 7th, and my Milippa giftee has been warned that it might be a wee bit later than planned

26: number of favorites/bookmarks you made this year

354 bookmarks apparently! And also 84 fic recs, feel free to have a look, you can also filter for fandoms!

Thanks for the ask! ♡

[artificialqueens]

🏳️‍🌈 Part of Your World, Ch. 5 (Raja x Adore) for Dartmouth420 - Grinder

AN: Well it's been a long time since I last uploaded. So sorry yall! Been busy lately. Ya girl got a new job, she been working on Drag or Die (shameless plug = it's on AO3) and also I went to Amsterdam this weekend. It was so beautiful!

This chapter is a bit more sad, I actually could have cried reading the ending of it. But I am strong. I also want to point out that we meet Adore's sister's in this chapter, and they are the cast of S10. I mean, the mermaid runway is my all time favourite theme from the show. I love mermaids so much, like, how could I not add them as her sisters?

Anyway, I digress! Enjoy (and I'm sorry)

The spell hadn’t even begun yet, and Raja was already worn out. Both she and Raven raised the tub with a levitation spell, carrying it all the way out to the forest. Apparently this sort of magic was supposed to ease the weight of heavier objects.

But Raja could feel it all — the weight of the ceramic tub, the cold water, and the mermaid sleeping peacefully inside…All of it weighing her arms down.

When they were far enough from the camp, they lowered the tub to a more open space in the forest. Raja recognised this area, what with a carving on an old oak tree — ‘B+C’. This was a common place for the witches to train, Courtney and Bianca having practised here the most.

Raja tried to tell herself that that could be her and Adore someday soon, both of them practising magic all the way out here. 

But deep down inside, something was stirring.

And it made the lump in her throat hard to swallow.

Raven was already getting to work, using a long and thick stick to mark out runes around the tub, whereas Raja just…stood there, unsure of what to do.

“Wh-What are you doing first?” The dark witch’s gaze shifted between both Raven and the filled bathtub.

“Creating the symbols, knocking on all the forces of nature’s door,” Raven said, somewhat bothered. “Can you at least help me?”

“Oh, uh…sure. Wh-What do you need me to do?” Raja played with her hands.

Once she was finished marking the runes, Raven dug around in her satchel, tossing a bag of salt at Raja. “Here. Make a circle around the area.”

“Alright,” Raja glanced into the small brown bag. “Why?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb, honey,” Raven stood with one hand on her hip now, the other resting on the stick. “Dark magic. Really…really dark magic. We have to keep out the evil spirits. You know how they like to fuck shit up. You remember the time you tried to summon Chaderia’s spirit but only conjured a demon instead?”

Any other time, Raja could have laughed at the comment. God, that moment…it was something no one ever let her live down. As terrifying as it was, she could see the humour in it now.

But at the present moment, the dark witch’s stomach only twisted harder. “Alright.” She let out a shaking breath as she drew out the circle.

While doing so, she could feel Raven’s eyes on her — either to make sure the circle was perfect, or just…scrutinising her. But the dark witch pretended not to notice, her gaze shifting between the circle she was creating, and the tub, for fear that Adore would wake up.

“I just hope you know,” Raven paused, approaching the tub and peering in at Adore, the first time getting close to the mermaid, “this is going to be a long and tiring process.”

Raja finished the circle, gritting her teeth, “I know. You don’t need to tell me again.”

“At least you listened. But…you understand, right?” Raven’s hand lingered along the edge of the tub.

“Of course, I fucking understand!” Infuriated, Raja tossed the now empty bag to the ground. “Can you just…stop fucking patronising me?”

And for once in her life, Raven flinched, holding her hands up in defence. “Alright. Okay, fine. Let’s do this.”

Raja suppressed a relieved sigh, watching as Raven made her way back from the filled tub. The darkest witch of all stood at one end of the circle, gesturing with the point of her finger for Raja to stand directly opposite.

When the positions were assumed, Raven lifted her arms into the air and said, “Repeat after me; Tonight, I call upon every soul…the spirits of all things powerful…to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

Yikes. Raja’s breath caught in her throat. She knew this was going to be heavy…but judging by that last part…she didn’t think it would be this bad. But she gulped, her dark eyes flickering to the tub. And finally, she lifted her arms. “Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

“Together now.”

“When do we stop?” Raja shivered.

Raven was silent for a moment, before answering, “You’ll know.”

Fuck. What would that even feel like? The knowing…Pain? Nothingness? Raja didn’t question it. She only opened her mouth, and chanted along with Raven.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

Raja gulped, a lump forming in her throat.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

She glanced at the tub, the lump hardening.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

Raven took a step forward, Raja doing the same…only, apprehensively.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

And they moved closer and closer together…

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

Until the only thing stopping them from meeting, nose to nose, was the tub.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

Raja peered down, observing the being beneath the salty water. 

Adore was rested on her side, tail curled up around her, so so comfortable.

Completely, and peacefully, unaware of what was going on around her.

Raven moved her raised hands, now towering above the tub, looking at Raja to do the same.

“Tonight, I call upon every soul, the spirits of all things powerful, to ignite within me the ability to do the unspeakable.”

But Raja didn’t. She only stared down at Adore, her eyes slightly wide. Her words were gone. 

This wasn’t right.

“Raja.” Raven barked. “We need to keep chanting. The spirits - -”

“I can’t do this,” Raja stated.

Raven’s eyes widened, her arms slowly dropping. “What?”

Immediately, Raja was flustered, “I-I just have this, like, really horrible feeling. And - - We - - We could stop. W-We should.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Raven’s voice was grave. “Of all the time you could have got cold feet, you chose now?”

“Raven, I - -”

“After I spent time fucking preparing everything?” Her voice grew louder.

Raja’s shoulders stood stiff. “Raven! Please! Shut up! I know you put in work here, but Jesus Christ, I don’t need you guilt tripping me right now!”

And Raven clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. “Well, isn’t that an interesting word. Guilt. Why’d you choose that one, Mother Witch?”

“Shut up! This is wrong and you know it.” Raja bent over slightly, her fists curled around the edge of the tub. “Let’s just get back to the camp.”

“But why, Raja? I mean, you’re right; I do know it’s wrong. I always knew.” Raven practically spat. “But you just didn’t want to listen. And you know why?”

“Raven, I’m warning you right now,” Raja pointed.

“Because you’re selfish.” Raven also leaned forward, her gaze dark.

“I swear to God. I swear to fucking God, one more word.”

“You don’t care about anybody else but yourself.”

“Raven…” 

“And you know what? You’ll never ever be the Witch your mother was.”

And rage coursed through Raja. Her blood boiled, her skin tingling. Thrusting her arms forward, she let out a primal roar as the water from the tub blasted Raven, sending the witch flying back, hitting one of the trees.

Raven grunted in pain, rubbing the back of her now dizzy head. Water dripped from her hair and clothes, already making her shiver.

Raja seethed, her eyes bulging out of her head. She could have attacked Raven again. She wanted to. The bitch fucking deserved it, bringing up her mother like that. No one had ever crossed that line. Not even Bianca. 

But as much as Raja wanted to show Raven what real pain was, a cold hand wrapped around her wrist gently.

The dark witch instantly relaxed, as if under a spell. She turned her gaze away from Raven and downwards.

Adore was wide awake, God knew how long for. Her eyes were crystal-like, as if she was close to tears.

“Adore…” Raja panted, her voice soft, “I - -”

But the mermaid’s face contorted, face whipping around to face Raven.

Before Raja could interject, Adore released the witch’s wrist, launching herself out of the tub and crawling towards Raven.

“Fuck!” Raven yelled, crawling backwards away from the mermaid.

At first, Raja didn’t know what the fuck to do. This was the last thing she expected to happen. And she found herself reeling backward as well, too shocked to think of what to do.

Adore hissed, her face scrunched up with so much rage.

“Adore, honey, relax!” Raven pleaded for her life as she crawled.

When Adore was practically on top of her, the mermaid raised a hand, her nails now like the talons of an agitated feline.

“Adore, no!” Raja threw herself at Adore before she could strike Raven. The mermaid growled even more as Raja tried to grab her hands and restrain her. The tussle only lasted a few seconds before Adore arched her back abruptly, tensing every muscle in her being, and throwing Raja off of her. The witch practically flew through the air, her body hitting the ground hard.

Adore was on top of Raven now. And just like so long ago, the mermaid’s face was contorted, rage coursing through her. 

“Adore, stop!” Raja was on her feet again, rushing towards her tethered.

It seemed as though the mermaid hadn’t heard her lover, for she hissed, raising a claw above her head again, ready to tear Raven a new one.

“No!” Raja grabbed Adore by the shoulder, pulling her away from Raven. In her panicked state, she didn’t anticipate how forceful she’d become. For when she pulled the mermaid away from the now terrified witch, Adore was thrown back, her body rolling in the grass.

Before Raja could even think to help Raven, no. She helped Adore instead. Now kneeling beside the angered mermaid, she took both hands in her own. “Adore, look at me.”

The monstrous face, barely recognisable, growled at Raja. “She had no right to say that to you.” Her voice sort of cracked.

“Adore, leave her alone.” Raja’s chest heaved. She glanced over her shoulder at Raven, the witch even more shaken now. Christ, Raja never saw the bitch so scared.

“Raja. She deserves it!” Adore pleaded, her angry disappearing, swapped for despair instead. “Whatever this is about, she has no right - -”

“No.” Raja silenced the mermaid, realisation seeping in. This was just…a huge fucking mess. “She’s right…I…I’ve done something bad.”

Adore was silent now, clasping her fingers tighter around Raja’s.

Raja sighed, shaking her head. Shutting her eyes, she spoke, “I tried to…make you human. A-And, I know it’s wrong and…” Opening them again, she saw the disappointment sinking in – the betrayal. “Fuck, Adore. I’m so so sorry. I just…fuck, I just want you to stay here. I love you so much.”

The sweet words were pointless. Adore was hurt. 

Raja dared herself to lift Adore’s hands to her face, placing sweet kisses on each one. “Please, forgive me,” she whispered. “I just want us to be together forever.”

And Adore gulped, her eyes closing. “Raja…I…”

But the mermaid couldn’t finish. She squeezed her eyes shut and withdrew her hands. The blonde hair covered her face as she lowered her head.

Raja’s heart ached. This should have been a sweet moment for them…the minute they realised they’d get to be together forever.

But Raja knew…just from how Adore avoided her eyes…

She fucked up.

-_-_-_-

Both witches were too exhausted to levitate Raja’s tub back to her home, instead carrying their weary bodies back to the camp. The night air that was once filled with sounds of pure pleasure and ecstasy was dead silent.

And now sitting in her own home, Raven in the chair opposite her, Raja felt like an even bigger idiot.

“Would it have worked?” Raja only quickly glanced at Raven.

Raven didn’t answer at first, only staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace before them. “Don’t do that…It’ll only make it worse. You said so yourself, honey. We can’t do such a thing.”

Raja nodded. She didn’t realise it back then, what with everything happening so fast, but Adore did manage to hurt Raven, tearing the skin on her shoulder. The witch insisted it was simply a scratch, but Raja knew it was much worse than that.

Raja brought her knee to her chest, unable to look at the injured witch. “I’ve…” she gulped, “I’ve fucked up.”

“Yes…You have,” Raven nodded.

And Raja buried her head in her crossed arms. “Fuck, I’m so fucking stupid!”

Only now could Raven finally look at her fellow dark witch. “Well, I mean, are you even surprised? You knew this wasn’t what she wanted.”

“Yeah, I know now, and - -”

“Is that so?” Raven interrupted. And she stood up, towering over Raja. “You know now. Ha. Don’t bullshit me, Mother Witch,” she took a step towards the defeated witch. “If you really thought this was what she wanted…then why did you keep your little plan a secret from her?”

And that was it. Raja was silent, the ability to breath forgotten.

Yet Raven continued, “Thought you could take her for a fool, didn’t you.”

“I didn’t - -” Raja paused, scratching her head for any sort of response as to clear her name of any wrong doing, “It wasn’t - - I was - -” But how could she do that? How could she not take accountability when Raven was so on the nose?

The darkest witch of all nodded, almost triumphantly. Funny how Raja thought this bitch was just being her usual cunty self before, like…she almost had a disliking for Adore, for whatever reason. But now it was clear. The only one Raven had an issue with her was Raja.

“Go to her,” Raven said simply, making her way towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Raja asked, almost concerned.

Raven turned to look at her one last time, “I’m going to wind down for the night. Maybe drop some pixie dust if I find one kind enough to give me some. After all of that…I need to clear my head.”

And Raven was gone like a shadow blending in with its surroundings. Fuck, how Raja would do anything to join her. Maybe have a glass of wine and summon a musical sprite to lull her into a much needed sleep. 

But she didn’t deserve it. 

She didn’t even deserve forgiveness.

-_-_-_-

Yet Raja knew she had to say something. 

Entering Raven’s home, while the witch in question was out, was strange. So so strange seeing the mermaid here of all places and not in Raja’s place. 

It was funny how Raja got so used to seeing Adore back there, almost like she truly belonged, like she had been there the witch’s entire life.

And Adore still couldn’t look at Raja as she walked in and approached the filled the tub. The mermaid was still on her side, hiding from the witch.

“Adore?” Raja tried. “Can we talk?”

Nothing. Not a budge from Adore.

Raja knew she should have just left it at that. She needed to turn the fuck around and go back to her own place.

But she continued. “Adore…I’m so so sorry.” She pulled a chair up beside the tub and took a seat. “I…” she sighed, rubbing her thighs, “fuck, I should have just asked you. B-But, I was afraid that…” she cleared her throat as it cracked, “that you’d say no. And…I know it sounds awful, but I didn’t want you to say no. I…I love you.”

Raja lowered her eyes, staring at her magic-wielding hands that now felt powerless to her — almost like a curse.

Finally, Adore turned over, face like stone, jaw tensed.

“A-And I truly mean that,” Raja continued to stare at her hands, “And I know what I’ve done is so so wrong, and you’ll most likely never forgive me…but, please…just know the reason I did it was because I love you so much and I want us to be together forever.” Raja couldn’t stop the crack in her voice now, “that’s not an excuse, I know. But it’s a reason.”

Like a precious statue, Adore’s face was still. But after a moment passed, she opened her mouth.

“Raja…” the mermaid uttered, “I want to show you something.”

-_-_-_-

It was surprising that Adore knew the exact way back to the cave, almost as if she had done this many times, coming to the dry land to explore a world that she wasn’t a part of. Raja would have thought this sweet before, almost like life was trying to bring them together all along.

But now, this just felt like a taunt — the spirits of the forest rubbing it all in.

Adore held Raja’s hand, leading her into the cold cave, the sounds of the water and smell of the sea already all around.

Once in the main room, Raja could have wept, just remembering the day they met. Adore — just a playful little thing excited to have finally found the love of her life.

But now, Adore let go of the witch’s hand, approaching the bright blue of the water. She bent down before the pool, the rippling water reflecting off her perfect face. Reaching out a hand, she could see how Raja panicked internally.

“Don’t worry.” Adore said reassuringly. “Just…look.” And the mermaid placed a flat palm on the surface of the water, her eyes shutting tight.

Before Raja could even question what Adore was doing, the mermaid hummed…almost like a sweet melody crawling its way up her throat.

And the humming became singing, a string of notes leaving Adore’s now parted lips.

Finally, Raja was hearing her sing. And, fuck, it was the most beautiful sound to have ever graced her ears. She felt no fear for who could be drawn in by this siren’s serenade. She was going to savour this while she could. 

As soon as Adore stopped singing, Raja could have cried, wishing nothing but to sit there and hold Adore in her arms, just listening to her sing her beautiful song.

“Come here,” Adore said, beckoning Raja over.

The witch did as she was told, bending down next to Adore and peering down into the deep blue abyss.

At first, she saw nothing.

But a moment passed.

There they were — two brown eyes peering out right back at Raja.

The witch squinted her gaze, as if it would make it any clearer before quickly glancing to Adore for answers. The mermaid only looked back at the pool.

So did Raja. 

And when a head emerged from under the depths, the witch stood back. 

The brown eyes belonged to a woman — a woman with a head of mint green hair, a crown made of shells and pearls dawning her head. She peered up at Raja with curiosity.

And the witch reciprocated, moving back to the pool. She cocked her head to the side, the woman doing just the same, when another head popped up. 

Raja looked away from the first stranger to this new one, this woman having a crown similar to the other’s, only her hair was pastel pink.

Then came another woman, this one muscular with green hair.

Then another.

And another.

And just one more.

Raja’s brows connected, looking to Adore for an explanation.

The mermaid did not give one however. She just nodded her head to the pool again.

The one with the mint green hair, she had her hand lifted now, droplets of water falling from her dark skin. Raja’s stomach twisted. But she couldn’t ignore this. She lifted her own hand and reached out.

The other women seemed to back away, almost like…like they were fearful.

When Raja and the woman’s hands connected, their fingers interlocking, the green haired woman’s face hardened, her jaw tensed.

And she began to pull, ever so slowly, pulling Raja closer and closer to the waters.

“A-Adore…what’s she doing?” Raja asked.

But Adore did nothing, only watched with curiosity.

The other women were wading the waters, moving closer to Raja again, their faces wearing the same expression as the first one.

“Adore…I think,” Raja tugged her hand back, only to find it in a vice-like grip, “Alright, she wont let me go. Adore, do something!”

Finally, Adore did as she was told. She appeared beside Raja abruptly, tearing the joined hands apart. And her face contorted as she hissed at the woman with the mint green hair.

The woman did the same, even louder than Adore had, before turning and ducking back under the water, a long blue tail splashing the pool.

Raja flinched, blocking any water from splashing her. Now leaning back and away from the other women in the pool, the witch tried to catch her breath.

“Adore, what is this?” Raja asked quietly, staring at the remaining mermaids.

“That’s Vixen. She’s one of my sisters.” Adore answered, practically whispering. “They all are. They’re my family, Raja.”

Raja was silent, staring up at Adore. 

She knew what was going on here. A lump was slowly forming in her throat. “They seem nice,” she laughed nervously.

Adore didn’t reciprocate. “You know what I’m saying, right?”

Raja drew in a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah,” she replied solemnly. The witch squeezed back any tears, keeping them from falling, She didn’t deserve to cry. She just had to accept this — this was punishment.

She stood up, brushing the dust from her skirt before stepping towards Adore. For a second, she couldn’t meet the mermaid in the eye, almost convincing herself it was better to keep her eyes averted.

But… “Am I ever going to see you again?” Raja asked pathetically as she looked Adore in her ocean green eyes.

“Raja…” Adore let out a shaking breath, lifting her hand to caress the heartbroken witch’s cheek, “I have a family, even more than just my sisters…I have a home of my own. And…I’m sorry, but…that home is not your world.”

And just like that…Raja let her tears fall. But she nodded, trying her hardest to pretend she was going to be okay with this — never seeing her true love ever again.

Adore swept the tear from Raja’s face, allowing herself to smile sadly. “I love you, Raja.”

“I love you too.” Raja leaned into Adore’s touch.

The mermaid let her green eyes drift away from Raja’s eyes, just for a moment, taking a second to look at the witch’s deep red lips. And she leaned in close.

Raja did the same, lifting a hand to Adore’s shoulder, pulling her in closer.

And the distance between them was closed.

They shared their very last kiss.

Oh, how Raja could just hold on to this forever — Adore’s hand on her skin, their energies mixing together and making them one whole. To see this incredible girl every morning when she opened her eyes. To hold her close when Winter rolled in. To feel comforted by the mermaid when she was down.

Raja knew none of that could be her reality. It never could have. 

Adore pulled away, stepping back from Raja, slowly removing her hand from the witch’s shoulder. And the mermaid turned towards the pool, her sisters peering up at her. Adore’s fingers undid the lace on her bodice, letting the dress slide down her body and to the ground — the last trace of human she’d ever feel. The mermaid lowered herself down, sitting on the edge and letting her legs dip down into the water. And before she fully submerged herself, she looked over her shoulder — salty tears in her eyes.

“Goodbye, Raja.”

And that was it. 

She was gone.

Pride Challenge Points: 1649

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Rosè and Denali go to a Winter Festival (Rosnali) for Berry - Mock-Star

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @mock-star-aq

this is a pinch sarcastic, a little experimental, a little cheesy, and 100% pure fluff. I really hope you like it.

After the sun set on a chilly December day, Rosè and Denali approached the square where the winter festival was being held. They smelled candied nuts before they saw the bright lights, first seeing the tip of the giant Christmas tree, and then seeing the string lights that spanned the entirely of the festival. They could see small figures skating and eating and playing, and as they got closer, they could see parents with their young children lined up to meet Santa, and holding various treats for them as they nibbled on them, breaking off pieces for themselves. They could see couples sitting at tables together, eating and drinking or just holding hands and talking. They could see groups of friends hanging out, groups of teenagers and elderly people at a wreath making lesson together, laughing and just enjoying being together. As soon they crossed the threshold, they made a beeline for the skating rink, Rosè going to the rental booth and Denali slipping on her own skates. 

The ice was crowded, but manageable. All the same, they held onto each other as they stepped on the ice, almost immediately almost getting run over by a young kid zooming around the ice so fast you would think they were an Olympian. They skated about 5 laps, doing it more so they could say they did so, holding hands the entire time. After taking their skates off, they made a beeline for the food booths, getting mulled wine and candied almonds and latkes and mac and cheese, finding an empty table to sit down with their spoils, toasting with their drinks before they dug in. 

After they ate, they explored the rest of the festival, people-watching as they took in the festivities, leaning into each other, mostly for warmth, but also in genuine appreciation for each other's presence. They did some more shopping, for little trinkets and presents. One of the last things they bought was an ornament customized with their names and the year, because of course. The last thing they bought was a carrot, because they walked right past where the "reindeer" (ponies with antler headbands) were, and one of them headbutted Denali, so they had to stop because it's the law. As they crossed the threshold again, they stopped to look up at the night sky, sharing a brief kiss as a flurry of snow started to fall, dusting their shoulders as they walked back home. 

[artificialqueens]

Part of Your World, Ch. 4 (Raja x Adore) for Dartmouth420 - Grinder

AN: Apologies for uploading this so late! I haven’t forgotten about it. And, this chapter has smut, thank god (although it was written by me and, like, I’m not amazing at this kind of stuff but I hope yall like it anyway.)

Fishing went exactly how Raja expected — judgement…judgement from Bianca.

“So you want to turn her into a human,” the witch had said, tossing a spear into the waters before her.

Raja didn’t want this — a discussion. She hadn’t been to the beach in so long. This could have been time to soak it all in. But Bianca just couldn’t help but…well, be Bianca.

“I mean, yes, I want to turn her human. But I won’t be the one carrying the spell out,” Raja tossed her speer too. “Raven will do the dirty work. Thank’s for the information.”

Bianca chose to ignore the remark and refrained from calling Raja out on the fact that she gave that information against her will. Instead, she only said, “You’re kinda obsessed with your mermaid.”

The dark witch spared Bianca a glance, the two going to fetch their weapons again. “I’m not obsessed. I’m in love.” She pulled the spear from the water, finding nothing on the bottom. “We’re tethered, Bianca.”

“I know - I know.”

And Raja glanced at her again. “You sound…disappointed.”

Bianca didn’t answer immediately, searching her brain for a spell that would make the fishing less taxing. But with shit on her mind, she couldn’t think. “I just…I wish there was another way.”

Raja whirled around to look at her best friend, her dress treading the water. “Another way?”

Bianca held her hands up in defence, signalling she would say no more. Raja wanted to press her for a real response, but at the same time, she knew deep down this conversation was already exhausting.

Nothing else Adore-related was said until they returned to the camp two hours later, having managed to catch five fish.

That’s when they saw the whole camp of witches gathered around Raja’s hut.

“The fuck?” The dark witch said, dropping her bag of fish to the ground and rushing towards her home. Her heart was pounding now. Did something happen to Adore while they were gone?

“Move, bitches!” Bianca yelled as both witches shoved past the crowd.

“Sorry, Raja,” Farrah said, allowing the two to pass through.

Once inside, they could see how they all gathered around the now filled tub, Adore leisuring to her heart’s content, fins flapping slightly, signalling her delight. The last time Raja had seen the mermaid, she was deep in sleep, hydrating her body.

Now everyone was gathered around, babbling to her about all sorts of things.

“I got another one,” the enigmatic Katya was sitting on the ground beside the tub, Adore’s attention solely on her, “What do you call two witches who live together? Broom-mates!”

Not one laugh was given.

Adore just stared blankly.

“Oh, come on. That’s a classic! It’s stupid as fuck!” Katya pled with everyone around her.

“Sorry, sweety. Just give up and accept defeat,” Trixie rubbed the jokester’s shoulder.

“What’s going on?” Raja rushed to the tub, Adore reaching for her hand to kiss it.

“We just…heard singing…” Courtney explained, “Coming from here. We think she drew us in.”

Adore smiled sheepishly. “I honestly did not know we could do that.”

“An incredible ability to hold,” Sasha said in admiration.

“Okay, I don’t want to sound rude, but can you all get out?” Raja’s eyes glared at the crowd.

They whined in frustration, but when Bianca barked at them, the witches began to file out.

Now only Adore, Raja, Bianca and Courtney remained. The pregnant witch approached the tub before going to leave herself. “Do you want to come mingle with me later?”

There was a hint of something on her face, almost like excitement.

“Yes. I would love that, Courtney,” Adore shared the light witch’s expression.

“Great.” Courtney then took Bianca’s hand, leading her out of Raja’s hut, “Come on you. We have shit to discuss.”

Once they were gone, Raja sat on the ground where Katya had before, her hand still in Adore’s. “So, you can sing, I’m guessing.”

The mermaid blushed. “I always thought I sounded good. But…never that good,” she glanced at the door where all the witches had disappeared. “Do you want to hear a song?”

Raja never shook her head so fast. “As much as I would love that, it’s probably not a good idea.”

Adore’s face dropped, and Raja felt like a dick. 

“Look, I promise, I’d love to hear you sing, but it’s not safe,” the witch said quietly, “there's…” she gulped, “We’re not alone in this forest, Adore. Of course, there’s the warlock camp, it’s not far at all, and they’re all lovely. But… we’re not the only witches.”

“You have other sisters?” Adore’s eyes squinted.

“Oh, Adore. They are not my sisters.” Raja’s thumb stroked the back of the mermaid’s hand, “They're…Well, let’s just say they aren’t very nice. We’ve feuded with them in the past many a time. You know, sometimes even going to war. It’s been going on for centuries. Even the witches who came before me had to deal with them.”

“That’s awful,” Adore practically whispered. “I don’t understand. You’re all witches, all the same, so why the feud? I mean, back home, all merpeople… we’re one and the same, and all we share is love.”

God, this woman was too pure… Raja’s heart was melting again. She brought Adore’s damp knuckle to her lips, kissing each one sweetly. “I wish that’s how things were for us." 

"Maybe someday,” Adore shrugged.

Raja’s smile turned sad. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

The mermaid lowered her face, “I’m sorry for singing.”

“Oh, Adore. Don’t feel bad.” Raja lifted the mermaid’s chin, “you didn’t know. Fuck, I should have told you before.”

And Adore laughed through her nose, “I probably wouldn’t have understood a word.”

“Oh. Well, true,” Raja giggled.

-_-_-_-

Courtney didn’t explain what she was doing, let alone why she was doing this.

But Adore just let her put whatever this weird stuff was on her face. 

At first, it felt weird, and that weirdness made the mermaid uneasy. But the way Courtney delicately smeared crushed beetroot over Adore’s lips made her feel safe.

“This stuff will stain your lips; give them a nice bit of colour.” Courtney finished painting Adores lips before wiping the beetroot mush from her finger on a cloth.

Adore nodded in understanding. “So, this is what land girls use to…as you say, make themselves look pretty?”

“Yes. I mean, in the towns and cities, ladies wear real makeup. But being out here, all we have is the nature around us. So we make do with what we got.” Courtney explained as she began crushing up rose petals. “Honestly, though, I prefer the natural way. Better for the skin, and even more so for our powers.”

“I don’t think you need makeup.” Adore shrugged.

“Aw, thank you, Adore. Keep talking, please.”

“I don’t think you need makeup. I think you’re beautiful, and Bianca is very lucky to - -”

Courtney raised a hand to silence the babbling mermaid. “Don’t worry, it’s just an expression.”

“Oh. Gosh, human language confuses me.”

“This isn’t ‘human language’ you’re speaking. It’s wican.” Courtney explained, taking a brush and dabbing it into the rose petals, crushed up so much they were now dust.

Adore let Courtney dab the pink powder on her cheeks, and her eyes were stuck on the small bump.

“You know what’s in there, right?” Courtney asked, knowing full well Adore was staring.

“A baby?” Adore answered.

“Yep.” Courtney swept a hand across her belly. “I’m only four months in, so they’re not that big yet.”

The mermaid let out a laugh through a breath before confusion took over. “So, it’s possible for…for two women to make a baby on the land.”

“Oh, no. That’s not what Bianca and I did.” Courtney laughed even more. “We have a mating season with the warlocks, kind of like a pact that’s been going on since before I was even born. They’re nice boys over in that camp.”

“They sound nice.”

“Yeah. I think I chose the right man too. He seemed nice. I’d like to think that if the baby was a boy, and he’d be taken over there, he’d have a great father.” Courtney’s eyes drifted off, fantasising about this future to come.

“And, what if it is a boy?” Adore asked.

Courtney looked back at her, “Honestly, I don’t even think I give a shit about gender. Boy, girl, anything… I’m keeping my baby. And I’ll love them no matter who they are.”

A warm smile found its way to Adore’s face, her green eyes trailing back down to Courtney’s bump.

“Do you want to touch it?” Courtney already took the nodding mermaid’s hand. 

Placing it on Courtney’s belly, Adore felt it, the tiny heart inside beating.

“I mean, there’s not much going on in there right now, but….” Courtney said.

Adore placed an ear up to the bump. “Wow.”

“What? What is it?” The light witch said with intrigue.

And Adore peered up at Courtney again. “I can hear her heartbeat.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. “Her?”

The mermaid nodded.

“Adore, you are fucking incredible.”

-_-_-_-

“Bianca, what is the meaning of this?!” Raja shouted as her best friend shoved her out of her own home.

“You’ll fucking see! Fuck, patience is a virtue, you know,” Bianca shoved the witch again.

“Alright! I’m fucking moving, God!”

For the last two hours, Bianca had been a pest — insisting Raja skip dinner, weaving silk through the dark witch’s hair, forcing her into a beautiful yet uncomfortable dress. And for every question Raja hurled at her, her friend refused to answer.

And now, here Bianca was, pushing her around, literally.

Almost every witch was outside now, jumping around with excitement and yelling out into the night sky. Even Willam was out — odd for the daylight witch. As soon as she lowered the sun and Blair raised the moon, Willam would be long gone, hitting the hay before anyone could beg for her attention. Yet, there she was, whooping with joy, Alaska carrying her on her back.

“What the fuck is going on?!” Raja exclaimed.

Bianca groaned, taking her friend by the hand and dragging her to their destination instead, “We’re all going over to the warlock camp for a good old time.”

“We’re going to get some dick!” Willam cheered.

“B-But,” Raja couldn’t keep up with this shit anymore, “the mating season is over.”

“Oh, fuck the rules, Raj’,” Katya brushed past, hand in hand with Trixie. “We made them so we can fucking break them whenever we want.” And she carried on with her partner.

“Bianca, what about Adore?” Raja questioned. “I know the men are nice, but…I don’t think it’s safe for her to be out there.”

“And that’s why you’re both going to be staying here,” Bianca glanced over her shoulder with a teasing smile.

Finally reaching the end of the camp, the witches rounded the last hut there.

“B’, I swear to God, whatever you bitches have going on here, I’ll - -”

“Shut up already!” Bianca then gestured to what was in front of them, “Look! We did this for you two.”

In the middle of the green was a small table fit for two, a red candle burning in the middle. A bottle of red wine stood next to the candle, most likely made by one of the witches. And then there were the two plates, the fish Raja and Bianca had caught earlier in the day cooked to perfection.

“You did this,” Raja said, the words sounding more like a question.

“Well, it was Courtney’s idea. She roped me into it.” Bianca put a hand on Raja’s shoulder and the other on her hip. God, she was proud of herself. “Just thought it would be nice for you to have alone time with your mermaid.”

“Okay, you can stop calling her my mermaid. One — she has a name. Two — Adore is her own person. And three — Bianca, Adore and I do have alone time.”

“Yes, but now, you’ll both be even more alone.”

“God, you really are childish,” Raja swept a hand through her hair.

“Oh, wow. You know, that’s a lovely thank you for the fish we cooked and all the work we put into making this shit,” Bianca held a hand out to the display. “Fuck, Nina made that table from scratch!”

Raja looked at said table and back to Bianca, “Bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit.”

“Come on. That’s probably just a fucking spare table.”

Bianca tsked. “Well, believe whatever you want.”

“What are you two bickering about now?” Courtney’s fed-up voice sounded as she stepped up to the two.

“Nothing amazing,” Bianca rolled her eyes. “Where’s Adore?”

“Oh, she’s just coming now,” the light witch glanced over her shoulder before turning her attention to Raja, “So, do you like it?”

Raja peered at the set table again, “Yes. I love it, Courtney.”

Bianca’s eyes widened. “What the fuck? What did I do to you to make you not nice to me tonight?”

Raja chuckled. “Nothing. Maybe I just like pissing you off,” she playfully shoved Bianca on the shoulder.

“Oh, I know you do. So, what about you, Court’? Ready to go over to the warlock camp?” Bianca swung an arm around her tethered.

“Can’t lie; I’m excited to meet the baby’s father again.” Courtney kissed Bianca softly. 

“Who knows? Maybe I could meet a man, give the kid a sibling,” Bianca teased.

“Oh, come on, honey. We can’t be thinking about that so soon.”

“I know. I’m just joking.” Bianca kissed Courtney’s head.

Raja wasn’t paying much attention to the two anymore. 

For Adore just rounded the corner of the end hut, and the dark witch couldn’t take her eyes away.

The mermaid’s hair was now separated into two messy braids that lay on her shoulders, a crown of dark red roses dawning her head. Her lips may have been a deep blood colour, but her eyes stood out the most, shades of red and orange surrounding those green orbs, making them pop.

The dress came to her ankles, with burgundy lace and black roses lined along the waistline. The sleeves came to her elbows, hanging down to her knees in drapey lace.

She looked…just like a witch.

And, fuck…she was so so beautiful.

“Hello,” Adore waved nervously, approaching Raja.

Courtney and Bianca were also now watching, the light witch smiling proudly. 

“Um…hi,” Raja’s nerves kicked in. “Y-You look beautiful.”

Adore cocked her head, “Even without makeup?”

“What? Of course.” Raja took the mermaid in her arms, “No matter what you look like. Just, right now…you look…fuck, like a goddess.”

The red on Adore’s cheeks intensified. But she didn’t hide it. She took Raja’s face in her hands, pulling her into a heated kiss.

Bianca glanced at Courtney, her eyes telling them they should leave.

“Alright,” Courtney clapped her hands together once, “I guess that’s our cue.”

“Absolutely,” Bianca nodded, taking her tethered partner’s hand and aiming for the forest where the other witches were headed.

When they were alone, Raja pulled out of the kiss, “They made us food.”

Adore only now sniffed the air, her eyes moving towards the table. “Oh, pretty.”

“I know, right?” Raja led Adore towards the table. “And it’s fish. So I think you’ll like it.”

“Ugh, it smells so angelic,” was the only word Adore could think to describe it. She took her seat, ready to dig into the meal. Never had she had fish like this. 

“You know, what’s interesting is that being a witch, we usually give a blessing before we eat, but that tradition only comes into play when there’s a Mother Witch present. But, we haven’t had one in so long,” Raja already picked up her knife and fork, carving into the cooked fish. “Fun fact, it’s supposed to be me, but I - -” She paused, watching Adore pick the fish up with her hands, biting into the tender meat. “D-Doesn’t that… Isn’t it hot?”

Adore shook her head, her smile wide.

“You amaze me,” Raja lifted the bottle of wine, pouring the deep red liquid into both glasses.

“You witches amaze me,” Adore said with wide eyes and a full mouth. Swallowing, she continued, “Do you know, earlier, I saw Jinkx. She was outside her house, and she was breathing fire.”

The dark witch raised a brow, sealing the bottle and putting it back. “Oh really?”

“Yes. She was…” Adore paused, returning the fish to the plate as if trying to make sense of her thoughts, “She was sucking on this little stick, and just…smoke…smoke came from her mouth. Is she a dragon?”

That was enough to make Raja chuckle. Ah yes, Jinkx with her cigarettes. She was the only witch on sight who could grow tobacco plants, and the others adored her for it.

“Oh, I see what you’re talking about. Yeah, it’s pretty cool.” The dark witch took a sip of the wine, and Adore did the same, “I love how amazed our world is to you, yet so…normal to me.”

The mermaid grimaced, coughing some as she put the glass down. “W-What is that?!”

“It’s wine.” Raja suppressed a giggle. “It comes from the grapes.”

“Grapes?”

“Yes.”

And Adore took another sip, swallowing with ease now. “I-I think I’ll adjust to it.”

“Don’t drink too much. I’m guessing this is the first alcohol you’ve ever tried.”

“Oh? And what’s alcohol?”

“Alcohol is amazing. But too much, you’ll start to feel… light-headed, I guess? Maybe lose control of your own actions.” Raja explained. “Between you and me, one time Bianca drank too much wine and thought her shadow was a demon latched onto her soul. It was a wild night.”

“…Alright, but that just makes me want to drink as much as I can,” Adore admitted, her eyes wide with intrigue.

“Well, good thing we have just this one bottle,” Raja held it up as if the mermaid couldn’t already see it.

“I love this place,” Adore let her eyes wander around the camp. “It feels like… every day I’m learning something new that just…blows my mind.”

And the dark witch felt all sorts of excitement brewing from within. If only the mermaid knew she could have the chance to stay here for the rest of her life. As much as Raja hated Raven, she hoped the bitch would come through with her promise. The thought of Adore not being here…it was enough to make her heart ache.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Adore.” Raja reached a hand across the table, taking Adore’s. 

They both seemed to forget about the fish now, preferring to sit and talk for a while.

“You know that day in the cave?” Raja asked.

“The day we met?” Adore smiled fondly.

“Of course. Do you go there often? I mean…what are the chances of us meeting that day?” The dark witch stroked her thumb over the back of Adore’s hand.

The mermaid looked at Raja’s hand, her stomach stirring, just feeling that spark between them both. “I usually go there, just for alone time. My realm isn’t too far away, and sometimes I need a break from everyone else. I have a lot of suitors looking for my hand in marriage, you know?” She teased with a raised brow and coy smile. “I have to meet with at least five a day. It’s exhausting.”

“Five?” Raja exclaimed. “God, I think the King does that with his daughter,” and with that thought, “Wait, are you a princess? Like…soon to be the queen of the ocean?”

And the mermaid laughed, pressing her hand to her sealed lips as she took another bit of wine. “Do I look like royalty to you?”

“Uh…yes.”

“I love you. But no. I am not a princess. Although my father is a noble merman. He works as one of the King’s many advisors.” Adore explained. “So, I’m kind of a big deal.”

“You and me both,” Raja said. 

“So yes, I just like to be alone for a while. Just to…sing and swim around and make new friends with the clown fish,” Adore reminisced. “And that day, I just…saw you looking down at me. And I had never ever met a human before. I heard tales that they were dangerous creatures. But, just looking at you…I thought…how is that even possible?”

Raja lowered her now red-stained cheeks. “Well, I am kind of dangerous, being a dark witch and all. But, I only ever hurt those who hurt my family or me.”

“As I would do the same for mine." 

At the mention of Adore’s family, Raja gulped, lifting her wine and taking another sip. Best to change the subject. "I’m sorry I made you cry that day.”

“It's…ugh, it’s fine. I’m sorry. Sometimes I can’t control my emotions.” Adore looked away as if pained by the memory. “I just…you know, meeting with all those other merpeople coming to ask for my hand in marriage, when I met you, and when I kissed you…I just felt it. We were supposed to be together.” She looked back at Raja.

The dark witch let out a wavered breath. “Oh, Adore. We’re tethered, that’s why. It’s strange. I thought that was just a witch thing. I mean, I’ve never heard of any other species tethering.” Then she shrugged, “Then again, I don’t meet a lot of other people.” She laughed pitifully, gesturing to the world around her.

“Funny thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of tethering before.” Adore pointed out. 

“Well, maybe…maybe you have a bit of witch in you. Probably explains why you can grow legs when you’re dry.” Raja suggested.

“Nah, mermaids can do that anyway.”

“Oh. I see." Damn.

"Gosh, I’m stuffed.” Adore declared, having barely touched her food.

Raja was just the same, “Oh, me too. Come on.”

Sitting before the lit fire in the centre of camp, the two sipped their wine, talking some more.

“I meant it, by the way, when I said you’re beautiful every day,” Raja stated, holding Adore close.

“I know.” Adore smirked, “I can’t lie, though. I think I look beautiful times ten now,” the mermaid stared into the flames. “I’m pretty like Courtney now.”

“Well, between you and me, you’re prettier than Courtney.” Raja kissed Adore on the cheek.

“Oh, come on.” The mermaid moved out of Raja’s grasp, sitting in front of her now. “Courtney’s one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen. Besides you, of course. At first, I thought she was another mermaid. One I’d never met before.”

“Well, I can assure you Courtney is a full-blood witch. I remember the day she was born. Bianca and I were only five.” And the dark witch looked at the flames next, remembering that day. “It was so cute. Bianca just…reached out her tiny hand and held Courtney’s.” God, her heart was melting, “Bianca’s mother, Valentina, she just…she knew. She knew by Bianca’s face and how Courtney woke up that they would be together.”

Adore sighed, almost dreamily. “I love hearing you talk about this stuff. Even when I couldn’t understand you.”

Raja giggled. “I just…I don’t know. If it weren’t for those two, I wouldn’t believe in tethering.” She shrugged, “I’m more inclined to believe not all tethered relationships work out. Fun fact; Bianca and I were a thing for a long time.”

Adore nodded. “A…thing?”

“Yeah, like… we’d see each other, you know? We’d kiss, hold each other…fuck sometimes. I don’t know, I just thought maybe she was the one I wanted to be with,” Raja tried her hardest to explain. “But, we both realised that we were better as friends.”

The whole time Adore was suppressing her laughs. But eventually, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “You and Bianca?!”

“Yes. Why?” Raja squinted her eyes.

“It’s just…I don’t see it, but I can see it at the same time. Yesterday, Katya was saying you two were like…like…God, what was that phrase?” The mermaid tried her hardest to remember.

“Chalk and cheese?”

“Yes! Chalk and cheese! I may not know what that means exactly, but I have an idea.”

“Well, judging by what you’re saying, you’re probably right. Bianca’s my bestfriend. And Courtney is lucky to have her as her tethered one.” Raja stated. “They just…reassure me that there’s someone for everyone.”

Adore’s smile turned warm. “And what about us? Does our connection make you believe in tethering?” The mermaid was leaning close to the witch now.

And Raja reciprocated. “Oh, absolutely.”

Their foreheads connect, Adore lifting a hand and stroking Raja’s cheek.

The witch couldn’t tell if it was the warmth from the fire or the heat pooling in her stomach, but her body was warm now. All sorts of feelings stirred within, and she dared herself to say, “Adore…Do you ever think we could - -”

Marry. That’s what Raja wanted to say. Just to get it out of the way. The hardest part of it all.

But she stopped when Adore flinched, hearing the howling from the forest. “What was that?”

“Oh, God,” Raja groaned. Fuck these bitches for ruining the moment, “Don’t worry. It’s just the warlocks. I guess they decided to move the party over here.”

And true to her statement, the men began to pour out of the trees, invading the witch camp. A specific group of them howled at the moon, witches running behind them, thirsty for skin on skin. Another group worked their magic, sending blasts off into the sky, loud explosions painting the night with bright colours.

At first, Adore flinched again, but…this was pretty. Nothing like she had ever seen before. “What is it?”

“I can’t remember the exact name. I think the boys call them fireworks,” Raja also stared up at the exploding colours. “It’s incredible, right?”

The mermaid didn’t have the words to describe it. The loud banging was harsh on her ears, but the…fuck, just taking it all in, it was breathtaking.

“Guess who’s getting dicked down tonight?!” Willam hollered, riding the back of one of the men, rushing to the witch’s hut.

“Me! I am! Me!” Laila was just excited, leading her man for the night away.

They weren’t the only ones. While some witches and warlocks danced around the flames of the fire as they played music with what instruments they had, the others rushed to their homes, ready for a long night of fucking.

“Everyone’s so excited,” the mermaid observed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yep. Most of these witches rarely get the chance to meet up with a man,” Raja explained, “mating season is once a year.”

“But tonight,” Adore turned her attention back to her love, “fuck the rules?”

“Fuck the rules,” Raja clarified, drawing Adore into another kiss.

Maybe it was the mixed feelings of love and lust in the air, but Raja was thriving on it all. This was how she wanted it to be forever — just sitting here with Adore, kissing passionately in front of this fire, not a care in the world.

The mermaid’s hand crept along Raja’s leg, making the butterflies in the witch’s belly go wild.

“BOO!”

Adore yelped as soon as her lips parted from Raja’s.

A warlock ran off, cackling wickedly as he rushed for Tatianna, holding her arms open, hungry for a kiss.

“Hey, fuck off!” Raja yelled after the stupid warlock. But when the mermaid’s fear turned to amusement, giggles leaving her lips, the witch relaxed.

“Come on!” Adore stood, taking Raja by the wrist and leading her away.

They were running now, Raja having no idea where she was being led to. As long as it was with Adore, she didn’t care.

Reaching Raja’s hut, they both stood in the doorway, Adore giggling as she leaned back against the bookcase. Raja also laughed, standing opposite Adore.

They just stood there for a moment, eyes shifting between the shenanigans going on outside and then back to each other, just laughing. Why was this amusing?

Maybe just the sheer joy of being here together.

When Adore’s chest stopped heaving, she stepped forward, kissing Raja again.

So many times they had done this already…So many times they kissed.

Yet Raja knew where this was going. 

Fiery flames engulfed her insides, coursing through her body as she allowed Adore to pull her closer. The witch’s hands found their way around the mermaid’s waist, her fingers trailing the line of roses.

Adore pulled away briefly, “Don’t let go of me,” she whispered in Raja’s ear.

“I won’t, Raja smiled, tilting her head and allowing the mermaid to nip at her neck. "Why would I do such a thing?”

No response from the mermaid as she kissed Raja’s mouth again, her body curving against the witch’s. She lured her back, Raja didn’t know where, but she trusted Adore. She trusted Adore with her life.

They found the bed, and Adore pulled away, guiding Raja down. She then climbed the length of the witch, like she had done this many times.

But was this actually happening? Did Adore even know how this worked?

“Adore, do you….” But Raja couldn’t bring herself to finish the statement as the mermaid sucked on her neck some more.

“Hm?” Adore sounded against the witch’s skin.

Her lips were so hot, sucking Raja’s soon-to-be bruised skin. The witch gasped, her hand finding the back of Adore’s head. “Nevermind.”

Adore had to know what she was doing now that her fingers were undoing the black ribbon that bound Raja’s corset. Not like they hadn’t seen each other naked before, but…

This was different. They both knew that. 

And they wanted it.

When the lace was gone, the corset was pulled away from her. Raja sat up, quickly pulling her dress up over her head. Adore giggled, Raja unable to tell if it was because of nerves or excitement.

As soon as the dress was tossed to the side, Adore took it all in – the sight of her tethered partner, like it was the first time seeing her like this again. “I can't…I can’t believe this is real,” Adore’s delicate fingers trailed from Raja’s chest all the way down to her thigh.

“My body?” Raja chuckled, skin tingling as Adore touched her.

The mermaid smiled coyly before correcting her lover, “The fact that we’re together.” She traced the side of Raja’s face.

And the witch sat up again, a hand stroking Adore’s side, the other caressing her cheek.

Adore reached around, untying the threads of her own corset, dropping it from the side of the bed while Raja reached for the bottom of the expertly made dress, lifting it up and over the mermaid’s head. 

As soon as it was removed, Adore didn’t allow Raja to look at her just yet, capturing her lover’s lips with her own again.

The hot sensation of skin on skin, the mixture of their energies tingling between them…This was to be the perfect moment.

Raja grabbed Adore’s hips, momentarily stroking her skin as she lowered the mermaid onto the bed. Pulling out of the kiss, Raja let her thumb trail Adore’s cheek and then her lips. She stared into Adore’s green eyes, the mermaid staring right back.

Fuck, how it made her stomach twist…but in a longing way…almost as if insecurity was taking over but only connected them further. 

They hadn’t even barely started yet. But it was already so intense.

“You’re driving me insane.” Raja kissed her sweetly before moving these kisses down towards Adore’s breasts.

Adore whimpered sighs, music to Raja’s ears. The rise and fall of the mermaid’s chest was a heavenly sight, riling Raja up even more. She teased Adore’s right nipple with her tongue, the right with her thumb. 

Adore arched her back, gasping when Raja’s mouth enveloped her nipple, her thumb flicking the other back and forth. The mermaid squeezed her knees together, mewling with pleasure.

Raja could have done just this all night, anything to hear Adore gasp the way she did, anything to prove her love for Adore. But when she teased her breasts enough, Raja kissed Adore’s nipple again, her lashes fluttering as she looked up at the mermaid. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too, Raja,” Adore smiled slightly, letting her fingers get tangled in Raja’s hair. God, she wanted more. She had never experienced something so…special…this need to be pressed against each other…the need for Raja to kiss her places she had never been kissed before.

Raja’s hands were wandering again, stroking Adore’s thighs, along her stomach and back up to her breasts. She savoured this all – the heat of Adore’s skin against hers. She knew the mermaid was ready for her…to take this further.

“Do you want to keep going?” Raja asked, just to be sure.

“Yes,” Adore said breathlessly. “God, yes.”

Fire coursed through Raja as her kisses lowered. “Is this your first time?” She whispered against Adore’s stomach.

The mermaid closed her eyes. She may not have known fully what that meant, but she knew she wanted this – Raja’s lips all over her body. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll go easy on you,” Raja kissed Adore’s belly button before trailing her lips further down her body.

Even though the mermaid didn’t necessarily want easy, her stomach quivered as she allowed Raja to part her legs. Something inside her fluttered as the cool air hit her between her legs. This was so unfamiliar but so so delicious.

Raja kissed Adore’s knee, then the inside of her thigh. She glanced up once more at the riled-up mermaid before her tongue flicked over Adore’s clit.

Adore moaned, eyes rolling to the back of her head as she arched her back again. She was crumbling just under Raja’s mouth. This was…something.

Raja’s tongue circled Adore’s clit while her eyes flickered upwards, enjoying the reactions from the mermaid. 

“Fuck…fuck,” Adore writhed, tightening her hold on Raja’s hair. Her legs spread wider, her left knee brought up into a bend which Raja caressed. 

“You’re beautiful, Adore. You’re so beautiful.” Raja sucked Adore’s clit.

“It’s s-so hot,” Adore murmured, her torso arching as hew mewls of pleasure turned pathetic.

Raja knew Adore was close, the witch’s tongue lapping up her lover’s wetness whilst her finger rubbed against the sensitive clit. “Come for me, baby.”

Her chest still heaving, nails gripping the blanket, Adore glanced down at Raja. Her eyes were wild yet slightly confused.

Placing a sweet kiss against Adore’s core, Raja murmured, “That hot feeling inside,” she rubbed harder at the mermaid’s clit, “Just let it go, Adore.”

“I…I want to….” Adore quivered. “Oh God, I need to.”

“Come for me, Adore. Please,” Raja whispered, her hot breath teasing.

And Adore just couldn’t take it anymore. A lightning-hot course of electricity shocked her whole being, her head rolling back against the pillows as she cried out in pure ecstasy.

Raja sat up again, licking the fluids from her fingers as she watched Adore whine.

“F-Fuck,” Adore’s skin glistened with sweat, her eyes half hooded.

The definition of perfection.

Raja wiped her mouth, sweeping her black hair out of her face as she leaned down to kiss her lover. 

Adore wrapped her trembling arms around Raja, her kisses hungry.

They weren’t done. Now, it was Adore’s turn.

She kept her lips over Raja’s as she flipped the witch onto her back, still panting.

“Did you…” Raja gasped when Adore kissed her neck again, “Did you like that?”

“Of course,” Adore smiled against Raja’s skin, letting her hand slowly creep its way down Raja’s chest, past her flat belly, all the way down to between the witch’s legs.

Raja parted her knees, only now realising there was more to come. She was never the one on the receiving end. But she couldn’t resist Adore’s touch. She moaned as soon as the mermaid delicately brushed the tip of her finger over her clit. Just the simplest touch…it was torture.

“Adore, fuck…” Raja’s fingers tangled in Adore’s hair.

Adore brushed Raja’s clit again, teasing her with no mercy. “You want more?” She brushed her lips against Raja’s ear.

“Please.” Raja squeezed her eyes shut, already soaking wet.

“How much?” Adore giggled mischievously, nipping Raja’s earlobe with her teeth as she pressed harder on Raja’s clit and rubbed it in hypnotic circles. “How much do you want this?”

“God, so much. Please, just…fuck.”

“Are you begging?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I don’t think you are, Raja.”

Fuck, this mermaid was driving her insane. Who knew someone so…mystified by the world…so amazed by all the things she didn’t know…so adorable…Who knew she could be so cruel in the sheets.

“Please, Adore,” Raja whined, wrapping her legs around Adore’s waist. “I want you so bad. I need you.”

This must have satisfied Adore, “Good girl,” she murmured as she slid two fingers inside Raja.

The witch gasped, tightening her hold on Adore, her vision blurring.

Adore slid her fingers in and out, sucking Raja’s neck, leaving behind a pretty red mark. The smell of Raja’s hair and skin only increased her hunger for this intensity. The ecstasy was building within her again, bringing her to rock her bare hips against the bed. The blanket rubbed against her clit, the feeling not as sensational as Raja’s tongue. But this was heaven.

“I love you,” Raja’s hips began to ride against Adore’s fingers, pressing a kiss against Adore’s blush-covered cheek.

Adore pumped harder, biting down on Raja’s neck. “You’re so…fucking…beautiful…”

Raja couldn’t take it anymore. She sat up, Adore’s fingers still deep inside of her. She continued to rock her hips against the mermaid’s hand, wrapping her sun-kissed arm around Adore’s waist.

Again, they stared into each other’s eyes, Adore’s gaze intense, whilst Raja’s was half closed. Their lips brushed against each other, almost like threatening each other with a kiss.

Adore’s free hand trailed along Raja’s arm, up her shoulder and wrapped around Raja’s throat. 

A pitiful crying sound left Raja’s parted lips as Adore squeezed the sides of her neck and continued to bury her fingers inside of her. Her body was now covered in a film of sweat, and her skin was on fire.

“Adore…Adore, fuck!” Raja gasped, her whole being completely surrendered to her lover.

“I love you. I swear to God, Raja. I fucking love you.” Adore’s forehead met Raja’s. She wanted this to last all night but knew it was impossible. For soon, she would start to dehydrate again and need to rejuvenate in the tub. But for now, she would prove how much she loved Raja.

Raja’s whines were now loud moans, matching those of which sounded from outside her home. She was getting close, especially now that Adore had added another finger and was clawing at the witch’s back.

“Come for me, Raja,” Adore whispered, just as Raja had. She ground her hips against the bed sheets more, close to releasing herself. “Come with me.”

And Raja threw her head back, her body trembling as she released against Adore’s hand.

The mermaid did just the same, her free arm now wrapped around Raja’s body as she held them both tightly together. They were both sweaty messes of pure euphoria.

Raja panted, kissing Adore’s cheek before flopping down onto the bed. Now they were done.

Adore pressed a kiss to Raja’s thigh, her stomach, her chest, and her lips before she relaxed her body against the witch’s. 

Raja was still catching her breath, playing with Adore’s blonde hair as her body relaxed.

“You made white blood,” Adore closed her eyes, fingers dancing delicately along Raja’s abdomen.

Raja chuckled. “That’s the come, Adore. That’s why we tell the person we love to come for them.”

“Oh. Humans are so bizarre sometimes.” Adore smiled.

“Yeah. We can be,” Raja looked down at Adore, trailing a finger along the mermaid’s brow. “I want to know though…what you just did to me…how did you know how to do that?”

Adore shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. I just wanted to touch you there. I just…knew I wanted to.”

“I see.” Raja nodded before a thought crossed her mind. “So, like, how do merpeople make love?” Her nails moved to Adore’s back, relishing in this moonlight that seeped in from the roof.

Adore giggled, “Maybe I’ll tell you another day. Let’s just enjoy this.” She kissed Raja’s breast. “While it lasts.”

And Raja’s smile wavered. “I wish I could just hold you all night.”

“You can always get in the tub with me,” Adore hinted. “Not like we haven’t done that before.”

“True.”

“But I’ll let you sleep in your own bed tonight. Maybe some other time,” Adore’s fingers stroked delicately along Raja’s belly now, the witch shivering. “God, they all sound in pain.”

Raja noted the sounds of pure ecstasy coming from outside, witches and warlocks fucking like it was their first time. “Yeah, it’s kind of noisy, I guess. But they’re having fun.”

“I had fun,” Adore giggled, lashes tickling Raja’s chest. “I want to do that again.”

“Oh my God, you’re hilarious.” Raja chuckled, her fingers now in Adore’s snow-like hair. “There’s nothing stopping us.”

“We can’t,” Adore groaned, however, “I’m starting to dry out again.”

“Oh.” Raja panicked internally, sitting up. “You need to go in the tub?”

“Yes. But I can do it myself,” Adore also sat up, getting off the bed.

Making her way to the still-filled tub, Raja still lay there in her bed, taking in the sight of the mermaid’s naked form. Just looking at her skin, she could still feel the softness of it under her fingertips. And it was pure heaven. 

The mermaid was pure heaven.

Before getting in the tub, Adore looked over her shoulder, “Would you come sit with me? Until I sleep, at least?”

Of course, Raja couldn’t say no. She stood by the tub, watching Adore’s legs seal together, forming her long shimmering tail. When the transformation was finished, she sat down.

And that’s when Adore asked, “Which part of me do you like the best?”

“What? Like, body part?” Raja asked.

“No. I mean, do you like me human or mermaid?” Adore raised a brow.

And Raja gulped. “I…I like you no matter what.” It wasn’t a lie. The witch adored every bit of her tethered one. But, deep down, she wanted the human version because that meant they had a future. And, fuck, she wanted that so bad.

Adore seemed satisfied with the answer, reaching her hand out of the tub.

The witch took it in her own, leaning her head against the cold tub.

“Goodnight, Raja,” Adore said breathlessly. “I love you.”

Raja’s heart pounded, cheeks staining red. “I love you too.”

And with that, the mermaid let go of Raja’s hand, letting her body slide down, the water now submerging her.

And that was it. All Raja could do now was get up and drag her tired ass to bed. 

But she simply couldn’t move. 

Just…sitting there beside the tub, knowing Adore was still in there…she couldn’t bring herself not to be away from the mermaid.

Not after what they had just shared. Part of her mind couldn’t grasp any of it, how this was even possible. Of all the other witches she had fucked in her lifetime, nothing compared to what happened with Adore. Her skin could have lit itself on fire when Adore pressed her body to hers. That tethered feeling, the electric light flowing through them both, it reached its peak the moment Adore kissed Raja’s skin. 

Fuck, it was almost as if she was high, the buzz beneath her skin making her see bursts of colour behind her closed eyes.

Yes…A feeling the witch had never experienced in her life.

A throaty moan from somewhere outside brought Raja back to reality. And when she was aware of her surroundings again, she felt it. 

Like she was being watched.

Looking around, the dark witch knew her instinct was correct. Looking towards the door, there was Raven — just standing there, her arms folded, shadows covering most of her.

“Can I help you?” Raja could tell; there was something about the way Raven looked at her, almost like…she was disappointed. But the dark witch paid no heed, finally standing up, uncaring of her nakedness.

“I thought I heard some sort of commotion.” Raven cocked her head.

Raja cringed, “Yeah, sorry we kept you awake.” She finally reached for her night dress.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t just you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are a lot of riled-up witches out there tonight.” Raven glanced outside, the sounds of ecstasy still echoing in the night air, “And I was also awake anyway. Just thought I’d let you know I’ve finished preparations for the spell.”

Raja’s breath caught in her throat, eyes widening. “Oh. R-Really?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Good.” Raja nodded, now fidgeting with her hands.

Raven cocked her head to the other side now. “What’s wrong, Mother Witch?”

“Raven." 

"Answer the question.”

Raja scoffed, looking away. “Nothing is wrong.”

“Oh, really?” Raven’s hands were now on her hips. “How odd. I could have sworn I heard a bit of hesitation just now.”

And Raja shook her head. “No. No, I didn’t hesitate.”

“Hmm. Having second thoughts?" 

”No.“ 

To this, all Raven did was blink. And, fuck, Raja could have punched her in the throat.

"I see,” Raven nodded. She turned and slowly inched her way back to the door. Before leaving, however, she looked over her shoulder. “Well? Aren’t you coming?”

Raja’s brows knit together. “Where?”

“My place. I need a hand carrying the equipment.” Raven answered, her voice suggesting it should have been a given.

Raja then fidgeted with the knot tied around her waist. “We're… We’re doing it now?”

And Raven was silent for a moment. “Are you sure you’re not having doubts, my love?”

“Raven.” Raja’s voice raised. “No. I am not having doubts.”

“Huh. Alright.” Raven nodded a head to the cold night outside the hut. “Well, let’s go.”

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Confessions From Blooming Lungs (Crygi) for Gi - Cheetah

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @opalescent-cheetah for @thecollectionsof

Summary: In this world, the only way to cure hanahaki disease is to confess to the object of your affections. Gigi falls for Crystal, the cute redhead in her songwriting elective, and pretty soon she’s coughing up petals. What she doesn’t expect, however, is for Crystal to wholeheartedly believe that she’s in love with someone else.

A/N: I’m deeply fascinated by the concept of hanahaki aus, but at the same time made somewhat uncomfortable by the fact that the sufferer’s potential death is generally the fault of their love interest, for not returning their feelings. When I saw this opportunity to write a hanahaki fic that was more up my alley, I knew I had to take it, and so this au was born! Gi: happy holidays, and thank you for inspiring me to write this! I had a lot of fun with it, and I hope you enjoy all the Crygi shenanigans 💖

~

Tap-tap-tap, tap.

Gigi drums her pen on the desktop, tapping out the rhythm to one of her favourite songs. In the corner of her eye, she can see her lecturer, a woman named Michelle with glossy dark hair and striking eyes, scrawling the word ‘songwriting’ in blocky letters onto the whiteboard. This is the first session of her elective, and Gigi is thankful for it. Despite it only being the beginning of the semester, her fashion course is already hectic, and Gigi is ready to spend a few hours doing something that doesn’t involve repeatedly pricking her fingers and cursing at sewing machines.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Michelle says, capping the whiteboard marker as she turns towards her students. “Welcome to your–”

BANG.

The door slams open, a gust of wind blowing in and bringing with it a bedraggled-looking redhead. She smiles, somehow managing to look at once sheepish and completely unashamed. “Sorry I’m late.”

“How very kind of you to finally join us,” Michelle replies wryly. “Check your name off the roll and take a seat. We were just getting started.”

The girl wastes no time in doing as she’s told. She shuffles over to the closest available chair, which just happens to be right next to Gigi, and flops gracelessly into it.

“Hey. I’m Crystal,” she says, offering Gigi a radiant grin. “I hope you don’t mind if I sit here.”

“I mean, you’re already sitting, so I can’t complain,” Gigi responds, amused. “I’m Gigi. Lovely to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Crystal then returns her attention to Michelle, who is still in the process of introducing the subject. Gigi lets herself zone out - she’s read the university handbook enough times to have this spiel memorised - and instead studies the girl now sitting next to her. 

Her first impression is that Crystal is charming, quirky, and more than a little bit eccentric. Her ethos seems to be “too much”: she is wearing an array of gaudy, bright colours, and her makeup is vivid and heavy. The most noticeable thing, however, is the pile of necklaces arranged across her collarbones. Chunky beads, pearls and chains tangle with one another; there’s even a necklace that seems to be made of tiny figurines of cheetahs and rhinoceroses.

“Today, I want you to get to know the people you’ll be studying with, as well as think about what this subject means to you and what you want to achieve,” Michelle is saying. “Start by spending five minutes talking to the person next to you, and finding out what songwriting means to them.”

Gigi meets Crystal’s eyes, as warm and shiny as a midsummer day. Crystal grins again, looking far too alive for a Friday afternoon.

“So, songwriting!” she says. “Uhh… who are your favourite artists?”

“I’m a big fan of Madonna,” Gigi offers.

“Oh, yeah, she’s amazing!” Crystal agrees enthusiastically, before launching into a horrifyingly off-key rendition of Ray of Light. “‘Zephyr in the SKYYY at night, I WOOONNNDEEERRR!’”

Gigi wrinkles her nose, trying very hard not to laugh and cringe at the same time. Crystal’s performance lingers somewhere on the border between amusing and disturbing - Crystal herself seems to realise that, and looks extremely proud of herself for it.

“Oh my god,” Gigi wheezes. “You sound like Kermit, but if he smoked a lot of pot.”

“An accurate description of my character,” Crystal responds breezily, smoothing down imaginary lapels. This time, Gigi can’t help but genuinely laugh.

“Alright, what about you?” she finally manages to say through a smile. “Who’s your favourite artist?”

“Hm… I’m going to have to say El Debarge - mostly because my Uncle Ru would legitimately kill me if I didn’t. He practically raised me on El Debarge… the rhythm of the night runs in my blood.” Crystal feigns seriousness as she says it, and once again Gigi fails to stifle a giggle.

They chat and laugh their way through the rest of the class (even when Michelle is talking, in which case they lower their voices to a whisper and choose to ignore the pointed looks she keeps sending them). By the end of it, Gigi finds herself wishing the class lasted longer than the allocated three hours - Crystal might just be the funniest and most charismatic person Gigi has met in her life, and no amount of time with her seems like it would ever be enough.

~

Gigi isn’t sure if she should feel bad for looking forward to her Friday afternoon elective more than any of her actual coursework. By the fourth week of the semester, she’s even making an effort to get to her songwriting class early so she can scan the room for sparkling brown eyes.

She’d be lying if she said she was excited to be there purely for the songwriting.

She has to swallow back a cough as she reaches for the door handle. It’s been a week of itchy lungs and stubborn coughing fits, neither of which have subsided despite how much water she drinks or medicine she takes. Because she has no other symptoms, Gigi has elected to ignore it - besides, it hasn’t gottenworse either, and she’d hate to miss her weekly meeting with Crystal over a mild cough.

“Hey! Geege!” Gorgeous eyes and a dazzling smile greet Gigi as she steps into the classroom. Crystal is sitting in her usual seat, with her bag propped up on the one beside her, saving Gigi’s place.

Warmth curls in Gigi’s chest when she hears the now-familiar nickname on Crystal’s lips. She slides into her chair, trying to ignore the prickling in her throat in favour of admiring Crystal’s outfit of the week. Aside from the layers of chunky necklaces (and occasionally matching bracelets), which Gigi has learned are a staple of Crystal’s wardrobe, she is wearing a pink-and-blue button-up paired with shiny aquamarine leggings. The fabric catches the light whenever she moves, and Gigi can’t help but notice the way it accentuates every curve of her legs.

Dandelions seem to blossom in her lungs. Gigi coughs, but the itchiness is unrelenting.

“Are you alright?” Crystal asks, her features suddenly darkening with concern. Gigi simply nods, reaching for her water bottle and trying to think of all the ways she can bring that beautiful smile back to Crystal’s face.

“Hayfever,” she mumbles, once her coughing has subsided.

“Hayfever?” Crystal snickers, her nose wrinkling in the cutest way, and Gigi internally whoops with triumph. “In autumn?”

“Oh– well– I’m special,” Gigi stammers. “Unrelenting allergies, you know how it is…”

“Do I ever. You know, one of my friends is diabetic, and I know that’s different, but…” Crystal keeps rambling about her friend, but Gigi has already stopped listening despite her best attempts to focus. All she can think about is Crystal’s dazzling smile - Gigi rarely sees her without it, even when she’s talking about a topic like diabetes - and the adorable way she gestures with her hands as she speaks.

Gigi is overcome with the sudden urge to hold them, to play with Crystal’s fingers and trace the delicate lines of her palm. Her lungs itch, and she swears she must go red from how hard she’s trying to stifle another coughing fit. By the time it passes, she finds she’s guzzled most of her water in one go, and Michelle has already started class.

This week, they have to practise writing lyrics. Gigi and Crystal work together for the full three hours, laughing themselves silly over the lines they come up with. Productivity has never felt so effortless.

“Let your hair dooowwwnn,” Crystal sings, making a face as she puts on the deepest voice she can muster. “Swing it aroooouuunnndd!”

She waves her head wildly as she says it, making an even bigger mess of her russet curls. The movement makes her voice crack, and before long, she and Gigi have both dissolved into a fit of giggles. 

“Oh my god,” Gigi wheezes. “Please–” she coughs sharply into her elbow, “please keep that.”

Crystal’s face sombers suddenly. “Geege, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been coughing for the entire class.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” Gigi assures her, even though the words come out croaky and rough. “It’s just– just–”

She’s interrupted by another coughing fit. It racks her body, aching deep in her lungs and rubbing her throat raw. After what feels like an eternity, she finally spits something into her hand, and the fit subsides.

“Shit,” Crystal says. Gigi blinks pained tears out of her eyes.

Only to see a delicate flower petal resting in her palm. 

“Shit,” she echoes, her voice strangely small.

“Gigi, oh my god. Do you know what this means?”

Gigi squeezes her eyes shut, wanting nothing more than for the ground to swallow her whole. She nods.

Of course she knows what it means. It’s the first symptom of hanahaki disease: a rare, but potentially deadly illness that manifests purely from the strength of one’s feelings. And the only way to cure it?

Gigi crushes the petal in her palm, unable to meet Crystal’s eyes.

The only way to cure it is to confess.

~

By the fifth week of the semester, Gigi wants nothing more than to skip the songwriting class, go back to her dorm, and sleep for the entire weekend.

She can’t, though, and not simply because it would reflect badly on her report. She hasn’t been sleeping well - her lungs ache, roots twining themselves through her chest and around her heart. Leaves and soft petals tickle her ribcage, racking her body with coughing fits, and her throat is so raw now that she feels like she’s on a strict diet of sandpaper. Her room is perfumed with flowers.

She swallows back another cough as she reaches for the door handle. Everyone inside the classroom is already seated; through the pane of glass on the door, Gigi can see a familiar head of curly red hair, sitting next to a seat that is empty save for the bag propped up against it.

Something brushes against her lungs. Gigi shivers, pushing open the door. 

“Ah, there you are, Gigi. I was wondering when you’d join us,” Michelle comments, as wry as ever.

“Sorry I’m– sor–” Gigi is cut off by a violent cough. She hurries to cover her mouth, spitting petals into her palm. “Sorry I’m late.”

Michelle nods curtly. “Take a seat.”

Crystal waves, smiling brightly, and drags her bag off Gigi’s chair. Gigi tries to smile (although she’s sure it looks more like a grimace), and shuffles into the seat, shoving the petals into her pocket.

“Geege! Thank goodness you’re here,” Crystal whispers, excitedly grabbing Gigi’s hands the moment she’s sat down. “I’ve been dying to ask you about the person you like. Have you told them yet?”

Gigi clears her throat, ignoring how every flower in her chest seems to have bloomed at Crystal’s touch, which is just as soft and warm as she’d imagined.. “I - er, no. Not - not yet.”

“Aw, how come?”

“Oh, I just… I don’t know, I’m not ready, and I - I don’t know if they’d feel the same–”

Crystal sighs good-naturedly, a soft smile still dancing across her face. 

“Geege, you really are so modest,” she says. “Who in their right mind wouldn’t like you?”

Gigi’s chest convulses, and she has to swallow down petals. Crystal seems to notice the panic that flits across her face, but her only response is to smile, as easy-going as ever. She squeezes Gigi’s hands, brown eyes sparkling as she leans in and whispers, “later, you’ve gotta tell me about them! I’ll help you find a way to confess.” She winks, turning away to focus back on the lesson as though nothing had happened at all.

Gigi releases a shuddering breath, raising one clammy palm to her chest. Her heart is hammering behind her ribs, her lungs itching with every brush of leaf and petal. Doing so much as thinking about Crystal is usually enough to send her into a coughing fit - now, sitting here right beside her, with traces of her warmth still lingering on Gigi’s hands…

Gigi has no idea how she is keeping it together.

Her gaze routinely drifts to Crystal during the lecture. Today, she’s dressed in a gorgeous yellow jumpsuit, with a matching jacket draped over her shoulders. The garment is lined with a glossy violet fabric, which compliments the vibrant purple hue of her eye makeup. The sheer amount of jewellery she’s wearing should make her look ridiculous, but somehow, Crystal manages to seem effortlessly charming and endearing.

And oh, Gigi is endeared. She presses her knuckles into her sternum, trying to massage away the combined itchiness and pain. Having hanahaki disease is something akin to torture, and yet, as easy as it would be to get rid of… Gigi can’t bring herself to do it. This… thing that she has with Crystal, this friendship, this bond - she can’t bring herself to risk breaking it, if she can avoid it. 

Feelings are messy, and Gigi knows that all too well. She isn’t going to let something as trifling as feelings disturb what she has with Crystal.

It could make things even better, a tiny voice in her head reminds her. And Gigi knows - she’s thought about it countless times, in those nights when she lies awake, the swaying of plant stems in her lungs keeping her from slumber. She always pictures Crystal’s face, those adorable freckles, and how soft her eyelashes would look as she leaned in close for a kiss. Things could, indeed, take a turn for the better…

…But they could also take a turn for the worse, and that is not a risk Gigi is willing to take. Even if it means planting gardens in her lungs, choking herself on roots and stems until her only option left is to confess, or take her silence to her grave.

Gigi will wait for that day. If it ruins things, then… at least they were good for as long as they could be.

“Geege, oh my god, I am so curious,” Crystal says, snapping Gigi out of her reverie. “This person you’re into - what are they like? Tell me all about them.”

Gigi blinks rapidly, trying to bring her thoughts back into focus. The class has dissolved into hushed chatter as her peers exchange ideas - she glances over at Michelle, who is walking around the room, listening in on students’ discussions.

“My, um… right, the person,” Gigi stammers. “They’re, uh…”

“Are they a fashion student too?” Crystal asks, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Got lots of common interests?” She raises her eyebrows, her expression brimming with intrigue.

“I…” Gigi stares at her in disbelief. “Um, yeah. Yeah, they are. They’ve, um… got a good taste in music, too.”

“Yeah? Lots of Madonna?” Crystal’s eyes are sparkling as she says it. Gigi can’t help but think of her unforgettable rendition of Ray of Light, and she smiles despite herself.

“Lots.” She nods, eyeing Crystal curiously. The only thing stopping her from waiting this disease out until the last possible moment is if the object of her affections guesses who she likes. After the interaction they had when she entered the room, she was sure Crystal would’ve figured it out, or at least had the slightest idea, but…

“Aw, come on, you’ve gotta tell me more than that,” she whines, before launching into another off-key performance of Madonna’s greatest hits. “‘Open your heart to me, baby! I hold the lock and–’”

“Oh my god, stop,” Gigi laughs. “That line is an innuendo and you know it.”

“It’s a good song! Besides, my point still stands.” Crystal crosses her arms in mock seriousness. “How am I supposed to be the most iconic wingwoman in history if you don’t give me anything to work with?”

“Fine, fine, I’ll tell you about them. Where to start, um…” she drops her gaze, thinking back over every Friday for the last five weeks. “They’ve got the most beautiful smile. And they smile a lot - I swear, if you looked up ‘happiness’ in the dictionary, there’d be a picture of them on the page.”

“Aw!” Crystal croons. “Go on, go on.”

“They also… they also have the coolest fashion sense. I look forward to seeing them every lesson, just because I know they’ll be a fountain of inspiration for me. And they’re just so… so confident. They don’t seem to care what anybody thinks.” She glances back up at Crystal then, whose eyes are as shiny as a summer afternoon. “They make me really happy.”

“Oh my gosh, whoever this is, they are so lucky to have you. That was the sweetest, most poetic thing I’ve ever heard,” Crystal says, pretending to brush away a tear. “Plus, they sound awesome. You’ve got good taste, Geege.” 

Gigi snickers despite herself. 

“‘Awesome’ doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she says, unable to stop the wave of relief that washes over her. Crystal is, frankly, the most oblivious person she’s ever met - and that might just work in her favour.

~

The next week, Crystal shows up to class with a spare notebook in one hand and a glittery gel pen in the other. She places them both on her desk and shoots Gigi a grin, tapping her fingertips along the book’s cover.

“Wanna go on a walk with me after class?” she asks brightly. “I have so many ideas.”

Gigi nods apprehensively, trying her hardest to hold back a cough. Her chest tightens, her ribs constricting painfully around her lungs. It’s another reminder that her case of hanahaki disease has worsened, but she would never say so aloud.

After class, she follows Crystal to a nearby park, ignoring the stash of bloodied petals that is slowly accumulating in her pocket. Crystal is as joyously effervescent as ever, leading the way to a park bench dappled with sunlight and shade. 

“I had a funny thought the other day,” she says as she takes a seat. “You should make your confession - and hear me out here” - a pause, for dramatic effect - “on a dance floor.”

Gigi bursts out laughing. “I can’t believe I didn’t see that one coming.”

Crystal grins, looking far too proud of herself. “Solid idea, isn’t it? I mean, you can’t go wrong with Madonna.”

“Yeah. It’s just a pity I’m not much of a dancer.”

“How about your crush? Oh, that reminds me, you never did tell me their name.”

Gigi balks. “It’s, um…” she hesitates, wondering whether it would be awkward if she actually gave out one of her classmates’ names. “It’s… Opal.”

She ends up settling for the closest thing she can think of to ‘Crystal’. Her heartbeat quickens as soon as the word leaves her mouth, and she glances sidewards, carefully gauging Crystal’s reaction.

“Ooh, Opal - that’s such a pretty name.” Eyes shining, Crystal writes it down at the top of a clean page. “You know, I always told myself, if I ever had a daughter - or maybe a cat, that’s another good way of continuing my bloodline - I’d name her Opal.”

Gigi’s chest constricts as she files that information away for later.

“So, this Opal,” Crystal continues, tapping her pen against the page, “do they dance?”

“I, er… I don’t know, actually,” Gigi admits honestly. “I’ve never asked.”

“Damn, you fashion students are all so boring,” Crystal replies, putting on an air of mock haughtiness. “I, on the other hand, am known as the dancing diva.”

Gigi gawks at her, the information completely taking her by surprise. Crystal is a fine arts student too, and certainly not the first person to come to Gigi’s mind when she thinks about dancing.

“Is that… true?”

Crystal flashes her most radiant grin. “Nope.”

Gigi just stares at her for a moment before exploding into laughter, affectionately pushing Crystal’s shoulder. Something about Crystal makes it so easy to be happy around her, to feel unadulterated joy with no restraints. It’s a feeling Gigi could get drunk on; her heart feels fit to burst, although whether that’s from happiness or hanahaki disease she can’t be sure.

It’s only when Gigi’s laughter dissolves into yet another coughing fit that the mood shifts. Crystal’s face darkens, her bright eyes clouding over with worry. Beside her, Gigi coughs into a hand, trying not to wince in pain. When she straightens, there is blood on her lips.

“Geege… I know it’s hard, but you seriously have to tell them at some point,” Crystal says gravely as she rubs gentle circles into Gigi’s back. “I’d hate to lose you over something as silly as a crush.”

Gigi swallows back thorns. Crystal’s words ring closer to home than she could possibly realise.

“I know, I just… I don’t want to lose Opal over this silly crush either.”

“You really think there’s no chance of them liking you back?”

Gigi shrugs, feeling defeated. “I don’t know, and that’s the problem. I like to be sure of things.”

“Hm.” Crystal chews on the tip of her pen for a long moment. “I see, I see… well then, I’m just going to have to think of ways for you to figure out how Opal feels!” She claps her hands together, a look of sheer determination coming over her face, and Gigi isn’t sure whether being scared or awestruck would be more appropriate.

~

Every subsequent Friday without fail, Crystal takes Gigi to the park and asks for updates on two things: Opal, and the progression of the hanahaki symptoms, which Gigi can’t deny are steadily getting worse. As the weeks go by, breathing becomes harder - a byproduct of the roots entwining themselves through her lungs - and the iron tang of blood lingers on her lips more often than not. The harder she tries to act blasé, the more Crystal’s expression darkens, her eyes a storm of concern. Every week, she conjures up different plans for Gigi to get closer to Opal so she’ll become comfortable enough to confess, and so far Gigi’s reports have been nothing short of disappointing.

“Have you told them yet?” Crystal asks seriously. It’s the last week of the semester, and their time is running out.

Gigi sucks in a deep, shaky breath. It’s now or never.

“Not yet, b-but I’m going to,” she mumbles, shrinking under the intensity of Crystal’s stare. She can’t meet her eyes as she says, “for real this time. I-It’s you. I like you.”

The next moment is so silent, so fragile, that Gigi doesn’t even dare to breathe. When she looks up, she finds a dazzling grin on Crystal’s face, and her heart leaps amidst a bouquet of blossoming flowers.

“Yeah yeah yeah, just like that!” Crystal says enthusiastically. “That was great!” 

Gigi stares blankly at her for a moment, her thoughts whirling in disbelief. Surely, Crystal cannot be serious–

But she is. Crystal is nothing if not genuine, and this is no exception. 

At this point, Gigi isn’t sure whether kissing her right then and there would even be obvious enough.

“N-No, I mean–” she stammers, flowers trembling in her chest. Crystal’s face has contorted with confusion, her brows scrunched in such an adorable way that Gigi almost loses her breath. “I mean, it’s you, Crystal.”

Crystal somehow manages to look even more lost. She points at herself, her eyes wide with incredulity. “Me? But– but what about Opal?”

“You are Opal.” Gigi’s hands are shaking now, so she balls them into fists in her skirt. “Or, well… I, um, made them up. B-based on you.” Her voice goes quiet, her eyes scanning Crystal’s face apprehensively.

Crystal is silent for a long moment, before she buries her face in her hands. Her shoulders shake, and for a second Gigi is scared she’s crying.

“Oh my god,” she mumbles, laughter seeping through her fingers. “I’m - holy shit. I’m such an idiot.”

Gigi manages a nervous smile, unsure what to say. Even if she knew, she doesn’t think she’d be able to get the words out: her throat is tight, her lungs aching as hundreds of roots loosen their grip on her.

“But, Geege.” Crystal looks up then, those beautiful autumnal eyes meeting Gigi’s. “How come you didn't say something sooner?”

“I, uh…” Gigi shrugs, but before she can put together a proper response, Crystal answers her own question.

“Oh, right. Even if you did, I never would have realised.” She laughs good-naturedly, taking out her notebook and flipping through all the pages of ideas and plans she wrote throughout the semester. “I mean, look at this. You were just describing me the entire time.”

“As vaguely as possible,” Gigi murmurs quietly. “But yeah.” 

At that, Crystal runs her finger down a list of glittering words, outlining all the wonderful things Gigi had said about ‘Opal’. The more she reads, the more a flush crawls up her cheeks, her smile wobbly with awe and disbelief.

“So… all the poetic things you said,” Crystal says slowly, “you really meant them? About me?”

“Well, yeah.” Gigi clears her throat, spitting up flowers - it will be a little while yet, before her lungs are fully freed of the disease. “Of course. You’re amazing, Crys.”

“I just… wow.” Crystal lets out a breath. When she glances up, her eyes are sparkling earnestly. “You remember what I said, way back when? About Opal being stupid not to like you?”

Gigi nods, her heart in her throat. She can hardly breathe as Crystal takes her hands, her touch as soft and warm as ever.

“I meant it,” Crystal says sincerely. “I like you too, Gigi. I really, really like you. All those lovely things… I’ll say them back to you, a hundred times over, if you let me.”

“Wow, um…” Gigi’s mind is whirling with elation and euphoria. “I’d– I’d love that. But…” there’s a question lingering on her lips, and she drops Crystal’s gaze as she asks it. “But what about Opal? W-Why were you so willing to help me if…”

The rest of the sentence remains unsaid, hovering in the ensuing silence. Crystal rubs her thumbs over her knuckles, comforting and gentle.

“I did it because I like you,” Crystal admits. “I wanted to see you happy, even if it wasn’t with me. And… well… also because anything was better than seeing you, you know, literally die.”

“Okay, yeah, that’s fair.” Gigi moves to pick up one of the many delicate flowers she’s coughed up. “It’ll be nice to finally be rid of these.” 

“‘Nice’ doesn’t even begin to cut it. You don’t even want to know, I was so scared you were just going to topple over, dead, in one of our classes. I am beyond glad it didn’t come to that.”

Gigi manages a smile. “I wouldn’t have let it,” she reassures her. “My plan was to wait for you to guess, or tell you at the last possible moment. Which–”

“–is today,” Crystal finishes for her, grimacing. “I still cannot believe how dense I am.”

Gigi laughs at her expression. “It’s okay. It was funny.”

“You dying isn’t funny–”

“I mean, I’m not dead–”

Crystal sighs, an affectionate smile blossoming across her face. “And thank goodness for that. Imagine if you’d croaked before I had a chance to do this…”

And then she’s leaning in, eyelids fluttering shut as she brings her hand up to Gigi’s cheek, pulling her close. Gigi’s heart soars when their lips touch, and this time, she knows it’s purely out of love for Crystal.

[artificialqueens]

🎁 And It's a Potion (Lady Camden x Bosco) for Puppy - Athena2

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @buffyathena

Summary: Bosco works at a magic shop, and must track down her crush, Camden, after accidentally selling her a love potion.

A/N: I was so excited to do secret Santa and write this!! Thank you so much to Writ for helping me come with ideas and for beta-ing this, I seriously couldn't have done it without you. Puppy, I really hope you enjoy this, and have a great holiday!

(Title from Potion by Dua Lipa)

Inventory is never a fun day for Bosco over at Jinkx’s shop, and they have to do it twice a week. The bulk of what they sell is potions, which Jinkx brews themself, and which have a tendency to go haywire after more than a few days—hence the constant inventory of new ones. Jinkx had a never-ending supply of stories about things that had gone wrong, including a flying cat. So Bosco always makes sure to be careful when they lay out the new vials: ten love potions and ten sleep potions on the counter by the register, since they’re the most popular. Then they arrange the other products in rows of five on each shelf, containing potions, creams, and powders for healing minor illnesses, centering visions for psychics, and temporarily changing appearances, along with 20 others. The rest of the shop sells supplies and cauldrons and other usual witch supplies.

Bosco lines up the love and sleep potions, then whirls around when the bell rings, and in walks the one person who always makes the day better.

“Morning, Camden!” Bosco smiles cheerfully.

“Morning,” Camden returns, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. There are gray half-moons under her blue eyes, but they still light up with her smile. She’s been a constant fixture at the shop, mostly for sleeping potions so she could get some actual rest amid the flurry of ballet performances, or cream for all the aches and pains after.

“Do you need help with anything?”

“Do you have any sleep potions?”

Bosco nods. “Shouldn’t you be able to sleep after all that dancing you do?”

“You would think.” Camden sighs. “Lately I think I’m thinking too much. About…stuff. Stuff I probably shouldn’t think about.” She quickly looks away from them, fiddling with the sleeve of her jacket.

“You said ‘think’ way too much,” Bosco says. “Thinking sucks. That’s why I try not to.”

“I think that might be pretty obvious sometimes,” Camden teases, and Bosco grins.

“I’m gonna sue you for slandering my good name. That’s right, slander. That’s a word only us true intellectuals know.” They pat their chest proudly.

Bosco isn’t sure either of them fully knows what slander means, but people always say it on TV in situations just like this. And besides, it makes Camden laugh, her nose wrinkling up, and Bosco takes it as a win. They’re so distracted by the effects of their victory, in fact, that they grab a vial without really looking at it.

“About three sips of this should be good for the night,” Bosco says, ringing up the sale and sliding Camden the bottle.

“Thank you.”

“Of course. If that doesn’t work, you could always count horses,” Bosco suggests.

Camden blinks. “It’s sheep.”

“Horses are cooler. Fight me.”

Camden laughs again. “I’ll take your word for it.” And then she’s gone, her red hair waving behind her.

Bosco sighs and sags against the counter, their elbow knocking over the row of love potions. They pick them back up, heart skipping a beat when there’s only nine, instead of ten, like there should be.

Bosco forces in a breath. Maybe they’re just miscounting, or mixing things up. After all, the dark blue of the sleep potion is close to the purple love potion. Maybe too close, Bosco thinks, as a quick scan doesn’t help sort the potions out. Bosco tears a hand through their hair, then knocks the vials over again in the rush to count them properly. Ten sleep potions, just like they had marked down this morning. But only nine love potions.

“Oh, fuck.”

“Swearing this early is never a good sign.” Bosco looks up to see Jinkx in the doorway, bagel in hand.

“You do it every morning.”

“Exactly. So what’s the issue?”

“Camden took a love potion.”

“Did she drink it?” Jinkx asks around a mouthful of bagel, “Because it would make my life much easier if she did.” With all the feelings they didn’t want to admit, Bosco often spilled them all to Jinkx for hours at a time, then tried to deny they even felt that way for Camden at all. They’ve never convinced either of them.

“Well, shit, it’d be easier for me too if she drank it!” Bosco splutters. “But it was an accident. I wouldn’t give her one on purpose.”

Bosco would be lying if they said they hadn’t thought about it, just for a few seconds before shaking the temptation off. It would be easy, more than easy, to slip a few drops of a love potion into one of Camden’s sleep potions. Then she would fall in love with Bosco, and they wouldn’t have to make the first move, risk ruining their kind-of friendship. Wouldn’t have to admit they like Camden that much, in that way. But Bosco would never do that. They could never manipulate Camden like that, force her into loving them.

Jinkx nods to themself.

“Plus it’s really strong. Like, follow the person you love across the country and die for them like this is Romeo and Juliet strong. It could make her do something…bad.” Bosco doesn’t even want to think about Camden under the control of something that powerful. “Do you have, like, customer records or something? So I can call her?”

“I sell potions for a living, you tell me,” Jinkx says dryly.

Bosco groans. “How am I gonna stop her from taking it?”

“I guess you have to find her,” Jinkx says.

Bosco sighs and runs out the door. Camden usually goes to the Black Tea Shop in town after she visits, and that’s where they head.

Joe’s tea shop is normally a place Bosco loves, with black-and-white striped walls and spooky decor year-round, plus a piano wedged into the corner. But they tear inside, the door slamming into the wall, and look around breathlessly, giving a quick wave to Pythia – a regular customer at Jinkx's – before turning to Joe.

“Is Camden here?” they demand. Every part of their body is on alert; sweat trickles down their neck, heart racing from the run and from the worry.

“Sorry, love, she left a few minutes ago. Said she wanted her tea to-go today, so she could go home and take a nap.”

It robs Bosco of even more air. Not only is Camden already on her way home, but she’s clearly intending to take that potion when she gets there.

“Everything all right?” Joe’s tattooed, ring-covered hand settles over theirs, and Bosco’s face burns from the comfort.

“Do you know where she lives? It’s really important.”

Joe looks at them deeply, like he’s sizing them up, trying to decide if they’re worthy of the information. “You need to help her, don’t you?”

“How did you—”

“I just know sometimes,” he says firmly, and Bosco remembers that Jinkx has mentioned brewing potions or having séances with Joe before. “Her apartment isn’t far. I’ll write the information down for you.”

Paper in hand, Bosco shoots out several thank yous and runs off again. Camden’s apartment is nearby, which is good, because Bosco is not in shape or good at running. Why on Earth should anyone run unless they need to? Though running practice would have been helpful for this mess. Bosco just listens to their shoes pound over the sidewalk, hoping it isn’t too late to help Camden.

Camden’s confused, but she buzzes them into the apartment, and Bosco skips the elevator and sprints up three flights of stairs, because they’re already soaked in sweat and gasping for air.

Bosco knocks on the door, then bends over and sucks in air until Camden opens the door. She looks ready for bed, in sweatpants and a soft pink sweatshirt. The bags under her eyes look more pronounced, and it makes Bosco’s pounding heart ache. She has to look up to meet Bosco’s eyes, and they try not to think of how she’s just the perfect height for a forehead kiss.

“Bosco? What are you doing—”

“Don’t drink the potion I gave you!”

“Why? Are you trying to poison me?”

“No, it was an accident, but if you drink it, something really bad might happen. Please, you can’t drink it.”

Camden’s face shifts. “You’re serious,” she says, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows, and Bosco realizes that they’ve never been this serious with her; usually it’s a lot of joking and small talk. They’ve never even shown this much emotion around her. They try not to, afraid that any hint of deep emotion would reveal their true feelings to her. Feelings that are rising to the surface like lava preparing to erupt from a volcano.

Bosco nods, trying to collect their words. “I made a mistake and gave you the wrong one. It’s a love potion. A really strong one. It’ll make you fall madly and obsessively in love with the first person you see.”

It’s quiet, the confession just hanging in the air. Camden finally looks up at them, biting her lip. “If it weren’t for the obsession part, that might not be so bad.”

Bosco’s brain lags as they try to process it. “What do you…“ Camden looks at them again, more pointed. Bosco’s head spins. “You don’t…you like me?”

Camden nods, her cheeks flushed red. “I’ve liked you for a while, if I’m being honest. I’ve been wondering if I should tell, but then I kept thinking that would ruin everything.”

“Wait a minute.” Bosco thinks of the bags under Camden’s eyes, the tired set of her shoulders when she comes in the store lately, much more than normal.  “Is that why you haven’t been sleeping?”

Camden nods sheepishly.

“Camden! Why would you lose sleep over me? I’m not…I’m not worth that, I’m just…” Bosco trails off with a helpless shrug. They’ve never thought Camden saw them as anything other than the funny person she traded banter with at the magic shop. Surely Bosco, with their purposely-messy hair and dark jokes, wouldn’t be someone Camden, with all her perfection and grace, would crush on.

But Camden takes their hand, and shakes her head firmly. “You are worth that, Bosco. Do you not know how amazing you are? You make me laugh every day, and you’re so beautiful, and smart, and you’re so kind to everyone. You’re not ‘just’ anything.”

Camden squeezes their hand as she talks, and it’s the only sign to Bosco that they’re really still here, because Camden’s words are running through their mind too fast. Camden really saw them in that way. Camden really liked them in that way. The feelings finally erupt, and Bosco floods with warmth, wondering why they denied telling Camden for so long.

“I, uh…”

“I’m sorry,” Camden says quickly. “I shouldn’t have told you all that, you probably don’t feel the same—”

“I do!” Bosco grips Camden’s hand, taking in her wide eyes. “I do like you that way. I just didn’t want to tell you. Didn’t want to actually admit my feelings and let them out and get hurt.” It seems so ridiculous now, but Bosco’s had unrequited crushes before, and the memory of that constant heartache never really goes away.

“I understand.”

“But, um, would you ever want to go on a date? We could get dinner or something.” Bosco’s hesitation flies away, because it’s okay. Camden likes her back.

“I would love that! Can we do it later though?” Camden asks hesitantly. “I really do need a nap.”

“Hey, I’m the one who ran a damn marathon to get here!”

“I live barely ten minutes from the shop,” Camden says, unimpressed.

“Ten minutes that I fully sprinted, thank you.” Bosco makes a show of grabbing their shirt collar and showing Camden the sweat there. “You’re lucky I didn’t pass out in the hall. I’m sure your landlord would love that.”

Camden grins. “Come in. We can take a nap together.”

Bosco squeezes her hand and follows her inside. 

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Let Me Read You a Story (Lady Camden x Angeria Paris VanMichaels) for Athena2 - Puppy

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @puppywritesthings, for @buffyathena

Summary: Camden can't sleep, and Angeria helps.

A/N: I wish this could have been longer, but to be honest, I have been lacking motivation, having been hit with the poison known as writer's block. Enjoy nearly 300 words of just wholesome fluff!

(Title from "I Don't Know" from Ghost Quartet)

--

She couldn’t sleep, and everything she tried didn’t help. For the past several nights, Camden was stuck in a strange cycle of insomnia to the point she was borderline nocturnal. Only madmen could have If she stared any longer at that Google Doc, her eyes would possibly burn out of her skull.

Before any kind of burning could begin, she felt a soft hand sneak towards one of hers still clacking on the keyboard. Rather than resist the urge to swat it away, she let it lift that hand off the keyboard. “You’re going to bed.”

Camden reluctantly let her girlfriend close the laptop, closing her eyes to get rid of some of the strain. Before she could protest any further, Angeria continued. "I know this project is important, but it's not due til the end of the week.

"I've lost count." The redhead admitted. “Anyway, would a cup of sleepytime tea and a Five Hour Energy cancel each other out?”

Angie put her head into her hands as Camden straightened her posture. "I don't want to find that out. I'm sure there's another way to get you to sleep faster."

"Well, what do you suggest?" "Want me to..." The other girl turned her face away, almost embarrassed that this was the first thing that came to mind, "read you a bedtime story?"

The offer sounded unbelievably corny at first. Camden was a grown woman who wasn't afraid of the monsters under the bed or the shadows on the wall. She wasn't someone who needed to be soothed to sleep by a comforting voice. However, Angie was the kind of girl who made the dictionary sound appealing. And no matter how often she got to hear that voice, hearing it again. "Why not? Want to tuck me in too?" She teased.

"Of course."

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Game Night (UK4) for VioletSchiffer - Winter

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @winterboxx, for VioletSchiffer

a/n: apologies for the late post but i hope my giftee enjoys, tried my best to make something silly and fluffy for you :))) 

—

“Oh you slag!” Danny shouted boisterously, Sminty looking at them smugly as they won another round, everyone snickering at the intense reaction. 

“It’s not my fault you got hit by a blue shell, just get better.” She ducked as Danny threw a cushion her way, snickering at their dramatic reaction. 

“Maybe we should play something else?” Dakota grimaced at the rowdiness of her friends, glancing to Cheddar for help, who just shrugged in response “I don’t know, I’m finding this pretty entertaining.” Starlet piped up, her smile enough to calm Dakota into a sense of amusement at the chaos unfolding in front of them. Getting everyone in a room with video games sure was a decision but she’d be lying if she said this wasn’t fun. It was loud, a bit hot with so many of them squished into the flat’s front room but she felt comfortable for the first time in years. 

By the time she focused back on what was happening around her, Cheddar had convinced Danny to stop trying to beat Sminty after she’d won every game she’d played against them and passed one controller to Baby who seemed confident in their abilities and dangled the other in the air for whoever volunteered. 

“Dakota, use your nerd skills to beat her!” Danny prodded the blonde’s shoulder, tossing her the controller from Cheddar’s hand. In an ideal world she would have caught it, not making a fool out of herself in front of her friends. Unfortunately not everything could be so perfect, the small controller smacking her in the face with a loud thwack. That caught everyone’s attention, great. 

Starlet couldn’t hold back her laughter by Dakota’s side, getting gently elbowed in response for laughing and their misery. Danny looked half apologetic and half as if they were trying not to burst out laughing. Only Cheddar cared to actually inquire about how she felt.

“Are you okay?” They asked, crouching to the floor where Dakota sat and staring at her face as she covered it with one hand, the other picking up the joycon from where it had landed on the floor.  “…That hurt.” Her muffled whine of a  response was enough to crack the rest of Danny’s composure, bursting into a cacophony of laughter that soon spread around the room.  “I can see that.”

“Sorry ‘kota, didn’t mean to hit you. Was kinda funny though.” She knew the apology was genuine but still, Dakota shot the most annoyed look she could muster at Danny before breaking into a grin. All seriousness gone within a second as the fun of the atmosphere got to her. This was new, feeling such comfort in a group of people even if she knew and liked all of them. A few months ago she wouldn’t have dreamed of being in a group larger than 5 and only then because she wanted to spend time with Starlet and just happened to be in the front room while the rest of her flatmates were. 

Times like this were a good reminder, no matter how much things felt suffocating with exams and assignment after assignment at least going to uni gave her these people, no matter how obnoxious some of them could be, they were family now. 

Dakota focused her attention back to the screen, deciding to avenge Danny just to irk Sminty. It was funny seeing her get riled up and super competitive, picking pink gold Peach like it would give her some innate advantage over the rest of them. 

The first track was easy enough, the cheer Danny let out at her sniping Sminty out of first with a red shell made it hard to keep focus but she managed, placing first with Sminty second, Baby third and Cheddar somehow in 7th. They truly were an enigma sometimes. 

“Kick her ass.” Starlet whispered into her ear as the results came in for the second track, a mirror of the previous one. 

The streak continued onto the third track, Sminty getting more perturbed by the minute and Danny taking great joy in their retribution. Baby managed to outplace her that time, coming in second once again behind Dakota. Everyone had turned their attention to the screen by that point, enjoying the competition and the playful insults being thrown around, mostly Sminty unable to admit defeat. No one was surprised when she lost the fourth track but watching her huff when admitting to the loss was the fun part. 

Even among all this chaos, she felt something bubbling up. A warmth that enveloped her whole being. Maybe this was what it was like to finally feel understood.  

Maybe she wasn’t alone anymore, they all had each other in a mismatched chaotic little family. It felt right. 

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Holiday Fever (Crygi) for BabyCarrot - Gi

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @thecollectionsof

A/N:  Summary: There was something about Crystal being sick that made Gigi extra affectionate. Not that she wasn’t affectionate before, but when Crystal was sick it seemed that Gigi’s whole purpose in life was to help Crystal feel better. And now that she's sick before the holidays, it seems like Gigi only gets more affectionate. Crystal's not sure what will get her first: the sweet pet names Gigi keeps calling her, or the fever that's keeping her in bed.

aka a gentle little crygi holiday sickfic <3 happy holidays!!

There was something about Crystal being sick that made Gigi extra affectionate. Not that she wasn’t affectionate before, but when Crystal was sick it seemed that Gigi’s whole purpose in life was to help Crystal feel better.

Crystal always hated being sick, but being doted on by her long term crush and roommate made her almost want to cling to it. It was worth the days of stuffy noses and heaving coughs and pounding headaches to get to see Gigi nudging her way into Crystal’s bedroom with a cup of tea and a gentle smile, or to hear her on facetime with her mom in the kitchen trying to make homemade soup (before eventually giving up and buying some. The thought was always very appreciated anyway.)

This time, it starts when Crystal wakes up with a sore throat. Not that Crystal would admit it, even though she has to fight back a wince every time she swallows, each breath coming in dry and painful—she despises getting sick, and it’s almost the holidays, anyway. If she can just hold on for a few more days she can go back to her parents’ house and mope in peace. She just has to finish up her finals before letting herself take time to rest. If she can just hold on a few more days, isolate herself from Gigi a bit, she can make sure that she doesn’t pass on whatever she has to the other girl, even if it means she misses out on studying for their exams together. Even if she has to miss getting distracted by Gigi as she pulls her hair into a slicked back ponytail multiple times throughout the night, and when she chews on the end of her pen, and the little triumphant smile she gets when she gets a problem right.

Just a few more days.

The days she spends holed up in her room are long and stressful, and she hates how Gigi seems to deflate when she turns down her suggestions to study together, but she keeps telling herself it’s for the best. Her sore throat subsides a bit, becoming an annoying ache, but she starts getting headaches, and it’s a particularly stressful morning before her last final that she wakes up with a fever. The day—and final—pass in a blur, and before she knows it she’s done for winter break, finally. All she has to do is get back home.

She walks home, wanting nothing more than to bury herself under her covers and never reappear. She's cold, her head is pounding, and she’s exhausted in a way that she usually only equates with pulling all nighters, even if she only woke up six hours ago.

Everything is too much. Too bright, too loud, too… head-hurty. There’s a better word for that, she’s sure, but thinking hurts. She stumbles through the door gracelessly after her classes, kicking off her boots close enough to the shoe rack as she shrugs off her coat despite feeling cold, not knowing what else to do. She just has to get into her room and then she can bundle up under the covers, safe and warm. All she has to do is avoid Gigi, who will immediately know something’s wrong. At least she’s done with finals.

“Hey Crys! Wanna do pasta tonight? We could make some and then watch some Christmas movies, get in the Christmas spirit?” Gigi’s voice greets her through the apartment, seemingly coming from the kitchen area. She wants to agree, but her eyes are too heavy, as is her tongue. She musters up an affirmative noise as her hand shoots out, holding herself up with the wall.

She’s feeling a lot worse than she thought. Staying up late studying, taking a final, and then walking thirty minutes in the cold probably didn’t help, though.

“Crys? 

Gigi’s voice trails off as she rounds the corner, taking a moment to look at Crystal. Crystal stands up taller and tries to smile, but even she knows that it comes off more like a grimace. Gigi’s face falls into a mask of concern, and she steps closer to Crystal, gently touching her forehead with the back of her palm. “Oh, honey,” she tuts, “you’re sick! How come you didn’t tell me, I would’ve… c’mere, sweetie.”

Gigi holds out her arms and Crystal falls into them, enjoying Gigi’s warmth. Her eyes slip shut as she leans into Gigi, and her lips part only to murmur “I really… I don’t feel really good right now.”

“Oh, I can see that, hun. Here, let’s get you into bed.” Gigi helps her to her room, only leaving her side to pull back the covers that Crystal had hastily thrown over her bed in an attempt to make it that morning. “In, in, let’s get you comfy.”

Crystal practically falls into her bed and Gigi is there immediately, tucking her in and making sure she has enough blankets and pillows, even going so far as to take the small stuffed bear she’s had since she was little (that baby Crystal had creatively named Bear Bear) and tucking him in next to her. Crystal hums, her eyes half-open and mouth open, breathing through it. Her mouth was so dry and her lips were chapped, but she didn’t want to take advantage of Gigi’s kindness anymore.

“Thanks Geege,” she slurs, already falling asleep despite her attempts to fight it, to stay awake and watch Gigi flutter around the room and pet her hair and, sometimes, even drop a kiss on her forehead. She smiles a bit as she feels that familiar pressure on her temple, the gentle kiss making her forget about how much her head aches for just a moment. “…Love you.”

Maybe being sick isn’t all that bad. It can’t be, if it means Gigi’s looking at her so gently, calling her those pet names and tucking her in with a kiss to the forehead. Maybe she should get sick more often.

“Love you too, Crys.” Gigi replies, and Crystal closes her eyes and lets herself drift off with the feeling of Gigi’s hand gently carding through her hair easing some of the anxiety she has about being sick.

She wakes up a while later, thirsty and disoriented and not sure how long she’s been asleep. She thinks it’s been a few hours, but she can’t tell—it had been getting dark so early recently that this level of darkness outside could be anytime from 5pm onwards. Her headache has gone down a bit, but she still feels cold, despite being sticky with sweat and heavy under the mountain of blankets Gigi had covered her in.

She didn’t even recognize one of the blankets. Where did it come from? It was soft, and it smelled a bit like Gigi from what she could tell as she pushed all of them off in uncoordinated attempts, whining softly to herself at the cold of her room. It takes her a moment to stand, and she does with the help of her desk, her hand grazing one half of a matching set of Santa and Mrs. Claus plushies Gigi bought to split between them last year. She had Santa, of course, because Gigi pouted at the thought of not having Mrs. Claus and Crystal couldn’t deny Gigi anything when she hit her with her puppy dog eyes. She had a weakness for Gigi, sue her. 

What was she doing again?

Getting a glass of water. Right.

She pads into the kitchen, and she’s greeted by the sight of Gigi hunched over her laptop at the small table for two they have pushed against the wall. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail and she’s surrounded by notes and pens, and the blue light glasses she only wears at times like these are slipping down her sloped nose, making her look like one of those disapproving librarians that Crystal always saw in movies. At least, until she looks up.

“Crystal! What are you doing up, do you need anything?” Gigi rushes, hurrying to stand up. The movement jostles her laptop, turning it so Crystal can just barely read the headline of the article pulled up on it.

Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever

God, this girl. She likes Gigi so much.

“Do you have some tea that I could have? Maybe?” Crystal’s voice is weak, weaker than she was expecting. Gigi’s face changes from concerned to soft, and she touches Crystal’s forehead with the back of her palm again. Crystal leans into the touch, closing her eyes. “Oh, that feels nice.”

“Of course I have tea for you, baby. Go back to bed, I’ll make it for you.” Gigi says, and she retracts her hand, making Crystal pout. Gigi huffs out a fond laugh at the sight. “I’ll be right there, and I can pet your hair as much as you want. You just gotta go back to bed, okay, hun?”

The pet names were going to drive her insane. She nods, shuffling back into her room, piling the covers back on top of her. Suddenly, it didn’t seem like enough. It feels like no time has passed at all when Gigi pushes into the room with two mugs and a gentle smile. “I have your tea, if you wanna sit up so you can drink it.”

Crystal wiggles her way up so she can sit up against the headboard, only letting go of her blankets to grab the cup of tea from Gigi’s outstretched hand. She doesn't usually care for tea, but it’s good when Gigi makes it. Maybe it’s because Gigi adds the right amount of sugar, or maybe it’s the good loose leaf tea that Crystal can only assume is expensive, or maybe it’s just because it’s made by Gigi. 

Gigi sits next to her, on top of all of the blankets, and sets down her laptop in front of both of them. It has a Christmas movie open on it and she presses play, the opening of a Hallmark movie that Crystal had drunkenly confessed to loving at Christmastime last year playing through her laptop speakers. It’s little things like this, things like Gigi remembering her comfort Hallmark Christmas movie, that make her feel confident that she’d never be able to get over this girl even if she tried.

“Are you feeling any better after your nap?” Gigi asks over the sound of the movie, leaning down to pick up Bear Bear, who had fallen to the floor when she got up, tucking him in between them once again.

Crystal takes a second, thinking, and takes a sip from her mug. It’s good, as predicted. 

“Um, a little bit. Like I'm not gonna fall over or anything, but… I think I have a fever?” She takes stock of how she’s feeling. She’s cold, shivering, and her head feels funny, but she’s definitely feeling better than she was before she took her nap. And she’s half convinced that Gigi’s tea had some kind of magical healing property, so she should be better in time to go down to her parents house on Monday. Hopefully.

“Oh, you think?” Gigi asks rhetorically, a hint of sarcasm breaking through her concern. She shakes her head, and a strand of hair falls out of her ponytail. She ignores it. “Crys, you scared me half to death! I wish you would’ve said something, it’s too cold for you to walk out there when you’re already sick.” Gigi looks like she’s blaming herself, and Crystal feels a pang of guilt run through her. She didn’t want to inconvenience Gigi or get her sick, but now that she made her feel bad in the process? 

Somehow, she felt even worse. 

Gigi tuts, the hand not holding her own mug coming out to gently rub Crystal’s leg through the blankets. “Oh, no, don’t feel bad. I just hate seeing you sick, honey, especially since it’s right before Christmas.” 

Crystal doesn’t know if she’s blushing or not, but if she wasn’t feeling like this she’s sure her face would be bright red. Or maybe she is blushing, she heard something a while ago about fevers making people blush. She doesn’t want to check. As long as Gigi can’t see how much she melts every time she uses a pet name for her she’s safe, she can pretend that she only feels platonic things for her roommate.

She closes her eyes and leans into Gigi’s warmth, not knowing how to reply. Gigi lifts a hand to the crown of Crystal’s head, running her hand through Crystal’s hair once again. They stay like that for a while, and suddenly Crystal is blinking awake to the sight of the end credits. 

“Hmm, when did I fall asleep?” she blinks a few more times, and she notices that her mug is sitting safely on the bedside table when she reaches up to rub her eyes. Gigi’s hand stops gently scratching her head, and she unconsciously chases the contact, leaning further into her side. 

“Not too long into the movie, but I’m glad you got the sleep, it looked like you really needed it!” Gigi stretches as well as she can with Crystal pressed into her, leaning forwards a bit as if to leave, “But I’ll leave you to rest now, you need to recover.” Crystal scrunches her nose. She doesn’t want her to leave, even though it’s selfish, and she’ll allow herself to be selfish, just this once.

“Geege... stay with me?” Crystal asks quietly, a hand coming out to rest on her wrist, “You’re warm and nice and I like when you play with my hair.” 

“Of course,” Gigi confirms, a small smile and pretty pink blush appearing on her face as she settles back in and presses another small kiss to her forehead. “I’ll stay with you anytime, Crys. All you have to do is ask.”

[artificialqueens]

🎁 Part of Your World, Ch. 1 (Raja x Adore) for Dartmouth420 - Grinder

SECRET QUEEN 2022 by @grinder-lector

AN: Hey, Hi, Hello! Dear Dartmouth420, it was so fun writing this fic! I don't think I've ever written Raja as a lead in a fic so it was an exciting new experience! I really hope you enjoy this story, theres so much more to come! 

"Laila, did you eat your slug this morning?" Raja stopped her marching, staring down at the group of baby witches kneeling before her. 

Laila in particular failed to make her dead fly come back to life, let alone even show any sign of resurrection.

"Yes, I did. And slugs are slow. Maybe that's why I'm so sluggish today," Laila quipped. There was a bit of bite there, Raja could hear it. It was always Laila who decided to be a cunt about everything.

But Raja tried to smile, one that suggested she wasn't having it. "Laila, you and I both know if you had eaten the slug, your magic energy would be soaring right now." And then the sass came out, "maybe the reason for your fatigue this morning is because of that drop of pixie dust you had last night."

As usual, whenever Raja would bite back at one of her students, both Kim and Farrah snickered, while Gia and Aja glared. 

"How do you all expect to become the best dark witches that you can if you can't take this seriously?" Raja’s dark eyes scrutinised all of them now, enough to make them silent again. Fuck, how she loved this once upon a time, tutoring the younger girls. Not even just the task, but this whole camp. Set on the edge of the forest not too far from the coast, the coven resided, and they stayed there. 

Being surrounded by so much beauty and nature, one would think that was paradise. But with other covens nearby, not the friendliest of bitches, not like they could venture too far. 

The last ten years saw the claustrophobia set in. And Raja was slowly losing the will power to tolerate it any longer.

"Oh, Raja!" A voice called.

Already, without turning, she knew that voice. How could anyone fail to recognise it?

Raja's baby witches smirked, the dark witch already over the oncoming shenanigans. "Fuck you all," She murmured under her breath, sweeping down her long dress.

Even before turning, she already knew how this conversation was going to go. It felt like a weekly occurrence now when Bianca would approach her with preaching words.

"Yes, Bianca. How can I assist you today?" Raja dragged herself towards Bianca's hut, the woman already lingering in the door, her auburn hair freshly curled without any use of magic.

When Raja was below the doorstep, she leaned up and kissed Bianca — not something unusual within the coven, unless blood-related. It was their sign of peace, the wish for good luck.

The redhead glanced at the baby witches, all of them running free before Raja could call them all back to continue their morning lessons.

"You're kind of wasting your time on tutoring those sperm donations." Bianca raised a brow as she looked at Raja again.

"Somebody has to. I mean, who else is going to teach them?" Raja threw a hand up in questioning as she watched her students flee to their homes. "Don't call them that, by the way."

"Raja, you know fine well there are other dark witches here who are capable of teaching them how to use their powers."

"Like who?"

"Raven?" Bianca raised her brows tauntingly.

"Pfft. As if I'd let Raven train anybody. Darkest of the dark witches. No fucking way." Raja leaned against the door frame.

"Oh, well, that's true. But still. There are others here capable of what you're doing right now." Bianca started, and Raja rolled her eyes. "No - no. Don't do that, honey. You know you could be learning for when you take over as the Mother Witch."

The Mother Witch. Oh, how Raja was sick of hearing that term. Why did her mother have to be tethered to the late Chaderia, why did they have to marry? 

It had only been a year since Raja's mother passed away, and twelve years since Chaderia did. Of course, this left Raja, the only heir to the throne left.

But she didn't want that. Having gone a whole year with no true Mother Witch, the ladies of the camp were feeling lost. But what Raja wanted was to break free, venture further out of the forest, live something bigger. And if it took a couple of trials and tests to determine who would take over, then so be it.

"Or maybe I could be training you to be the Mother Witch," Raja's smile was teasing.

"Oh, honey, I already know so much more than you do," Bianca leaned in close to Raja before pushing her away from the doorstep.

The dark witch chuckled. God, she loved Bianca. Of all the centuries she’d been alive, Bianca was always right there with her, having been born the same year. Of course, they became bestfriends. And there was that strange period in which they thought there was something a bit more between them. Every time they locked lips, however, every time they fucked, there was just something not right. With no real spark no feeling of energies mixing together, they were a complete mismatch.

Raja had tried to reassure herself that, in more current times among the witch clan, just because one may not tether with someone else, they can still love each other just as strongly.

But Raja longed for that — to find her tethered other half.

And Bianca had potential for things greater than sticking around and trying to make things work out between them. As much as Raja wanted freedom, Bianca wanted it ten times more. And with that willpower, she could take the throne, be the best Mother Witch that ever lived, and bring the wider circle of covens together.

“Well, maybe you should pursue that, Bianca,” Raja was already walking away from her bestfriend’s home.

“And put myself through the whole trial process? Oh, sounds delightful.” Bianca quipped, following behind her.

"How's Courtney?" Raja changed the subject. 

"Great. She's fine. Still manifesting for a girl so we can keep the baby. Not that Courtney cares. She says no matter the gender, it's her baby and the warlocks aren't getting them."

Raja felt like a dick, for she was losing track of how far along Courtney was into her pregnancy. Most likely four months at this stage.

Every year, both the witches and warlocks of the other camps looked forward to spring time, when they got to fuck like rabbits in the wild and produce many more little magical beings.

"But let's not change the subject, dear," Bianca's voice drew the dark witch’s attention back.

The dark witch ignored her friend and carried on. She had baby witches to teach. Striding across the camp, the green grass tickling her bare feet, her brown eyes scanned the area for them.

Trixie was sitting outside her hut playing her handmade guitar. “I once met a young man by the glittering blue stream…It was very la-da-de-da.”

At just two hundred years old, she was the only musical witch on sight. Before her birth, predictions said a trickster would come into the lives of the coven. Of course, they assumed it was Trixie, hence the name. But along came another baby girl from another witch, a child who would grow up with Trixie and become her best friend. This one was Katya. Now she was the torture, and her cunning ways brushed off on all the other witches. Hence why…

“Then again, you don’t have the brains to fulfil the role,” Bianca commented, now walking alongside Raja.

Raja shot her a look. “What? How? I’m so fucking intelligent. You can’t even - -”

“Oh, what’s that over there?” Bianca pointed.

“Where?” But there was nothing. “Bianca…” Raja started to look back around at her friend, “What are you tr - -”

Nothing could have prepared her for the illusion of a moth flying at her face. Raja flinched, swiping it away until it was nothing but dust.

Bianca lowered her hand, quickening her steps as she chuckled. “Intelligence at it’s finest.”

“Oh, you wicked old bitch!” And with Raja’s voice now raised, she moved faster too.

Bianca laughed harder, taking off in a run, too much energy for the morning. 

But Raja ran right after her. “You’re a dead woman, Bianca!”

As much as the dark witch could kill her, she loved this side of Bianca ー the one that wasn’t so sharp and quick with her wit. Despite being four centuries old, she was still young at heart, with her playful wiles.

And because Raja loved it so much, she chased Bianca into the forest, calling after her every cruel name she had ever learned.

But Bianca kept running, cackling at one point even. 

The two witches ran straight forward, hopping every fallen tree log, avoiding any sinkhole, ducking out of the way of any puddle. This wasn’t the first time they did this after all; they knew what to avoid.

The only thing different this time, taking Raja by surprise, was when Bianca dived to the left of the trees.

“Bianca, stop!” Raja shouted. She brought her body to a grinding halt at where Bianca disappeared, and peering off to the left; the witch was nowhere to be seen. The fuck? Was this a spell used to hide her? “No magic! That’s cheating!”

Raja just stood there for a moment longer, waiting for any sign of movement. But when none came…yes, this had to be a spell. There was no way Bianca would be able to disappear that fast.

“Okay, if that’s how you want to play the game, B’, so be it.” Raja didn’t know how just yet, but if she was going to use magic, then it would need to be a quick one. 

Maybe a revealing spell…too slow of a build-up. 

Then perhaps a quick blast of wind to knock Bianca off her feet, and probably make her yell in shock…Eh, maybe she’d end up hurt somehow.

Then, maybe - -

Fuck, Bianca must have read her mind. A strong gust of wind practically slapped Raja’s whole being, sending her sprawling to the ground. The witch yelped in pain when her body met the ground, nothing agonising but still irritating.

“Fuck,” Raja rubbed her elbow as she gathered herself.

Bianca rounded the trunk of a tree, stepping up to Raja, a quiet chuckle leaving her lips. “Sorry. Magic makes it more fun.”

“Magic makes it unfair, actually,” Raja grumbled as she brought herself to her knees, catching her breath.

“Might want to slip yourself a bliss elixir if you’re going to cry about it.” Bianca put her hands on her hips, raising a brow.

“I will get you,” the dark witch was already standing to her feet.

“Should be good.”

“Count your days, witch.”

Bianca had no counter insult, her long skirt wrapping around her legs as she spun and took off in another sprint.

Raja cussed before she could even chase her friend. Her body was already wrecked, having been awake for just an hour. Right about now, she should have been finished with her morning tutoring and enjoying a relaxing cup of tea with Sasha. Yet here she was, acting like a child, a baby witch, exploring this forest.

As she finally took off running again, she was reminded of the barrier separating her coven from the others. Raja had no idea where in the forest she was right now, therefore couldn’t be sure how close to it she was. 

Now she wished she could have at least warned Bianca before she ran off again. For if she were to accidentally run past the barrier…it would not be pretty.

Bianca wasn’t stupid however, so hopefully she’d remember.

“Bianca! Remember the barrier!” It was the least Raja could do, just shout out to her friend.

If she didn’t see the bitch back at the grounds later, the dark witch would bring her back and beat the shit out of her.

Raja kept running, her heart hammering now. God, this was so tiring. She’d need a good bath and nap after this.

As much as she thought the forest was unrecognisable anyway, just an endless sea of trees, she knew now, that this particular part was unknown to her.

She came to a stop when she saw the rocks building up high in the sky, almost like a barrier in of themselves. Yes, definitely unrecognisable. Even the smell around her, salty almost, unfamiliar.

There in the wall of rocks was a large hole, leading into a cave. 

Raja sighed. Of course, if Bianca came across this, she’d investigate. “Damn it.” She neared the cave carefully, “Bianca? Are you in there?” 

The dark witch braved herself and entered the cave. “Bianca!” Her voice echoed all around. The smell of salt was intensifying now, and the air seemed to turn cold. Raja trailed her hand along the stone wall as she ventured further in. 

Her vision took a few seconds to adjust to the dark. She peered around her as she rubbed her arms in an attempt to keep warm, not that it was doing much. Before she could even give in and spark up a flame from the tip of her finger, she saw the blue glowing light at the end of the walkway, trailing around a corner.

What was this place?

Curiously coming closer to the blue light…the salty smell in the air, she could taste it on her tongue now. What did she just stumble upon? 

That’s when the sound of water rippling reached her ears. 

Again — what was this place?

Raja reached the end of the tunnel, rounding the corner. And she took it all in. The source of the blue light.

A bigger, more open space — cave walls surrounded her, of course, but in the middle of the room was a large pool of water.

“What…” she stopped herself from speaking, moving further into the room. How had she only found this now?

“Bianca?” She said quietly as she neared the edge of the pool. Surely Bianca wouldn’t have gotten into the water, right? The bitch loved her curly hair too much to ruin it.

Raja inspected the bright blue water for a moment as if she’d be able to see Bianca floating around in there.

But the witch was nowhere to be seen. Not even her berry smell lingered in the air.

And when Raja turned to leave, ready to find that witch and put her in her place…

Curiosity got the better of her. She turned back around, unable to leave. How could she? This was just…too interesting not to investigate. She neared the pool once more, bending down to get a better look.

The water was so pretty, and mesmerising to look at, but the bottom was invisible to the eye. How far down did this thing go?

She reached out a hand, the tip of her finger hovering over the calm surface, as if too afraid to even break through that barrier of water.

And the pool began to ripple, gentle at first, but eventually becoming more aggressive…as if something was moving down there…

Or someone.

Raja let her hand remain there, above the surface as dots of salty water sparked her fingers. Her eyes were too focused on the dark abyss just below her.

And her heartbeat quickened.

Yes. There was someone…moving closer to the top, moving too fast for Raja to comprehend. 

Too fast for the witch to react before two hands shot up from beneath the surface, snatched her wrist and dragged her right under.

Breaking through to the water, all Raja felt was cold. The salty taste was overwhelming now, and her ears filled with bubbling water.

At first, she squeezed her eyes shut upon going under. But if she was going to get back out, she would need her vision. So she opened her eyes. 

All around her was blue, small bubbles leaving her lips and floating up to the surface in front of her face.

Everything was a blur for a moment. But when her vision cleared…There it was…

There she was.

A woman floating towards her, practically face to face.

Before Raja could even open her mouth to yell in fright and fill her lungs with water, the mysterious woman moved even closer, long bright blonde hair floating around her alluring face. So blonde it could have been white. 

Raja just stared, watching this mysterious woman as she took the witch's face in her pale hands…

And she pulled Raja towards her…the dark witch accepting what was happening…

Their lips making contact. 

And that was it…There it was…Energies passing between them both, time seemingly stopping. Raja was warmed in this cold pool now, and she couldn’t deny her hands that moved to the woman’s face in return.

It was…euphoric.

So when the woman pulled away, Raja could have cried. This felt like…life force…the only way she could breathe.

And with that thought…how the fuck was it possible she was breathing right now? How could she inhale air when she was surrounded by all this water.

Her train of thought was pulled back to the woman again. This mysterious yet beautiful stranger caressed Raja’s cheek, searching the witch's dark brown eyes with her own green ones. There was something about this look…as if…she knew it too…she felt it — the energies mixing.

The woman smiled, almost playfully. Raja couldn’t help but reciprocate.

She was just about to kiss the woman again when she felt something slither along her bare foot. And looking down to investigate…

Her blood ran cold. 

Fins…feathery white translucent fins attached to the long white, almost iridescent white tail that was this woman’s lower body..

Reality sank in. Raja backed away, eyes back on the woman’s face.

The stranger’s smile dropped, brows joining together in concern. And when she tried to move forward again, Raja pushed her away.

The witch didn’t even take time to watch how the woman seemed to crumble. She powered it to the surface, finding she wasn’t that deep in.

Reaching the top, Raja yelled, clambering out of the pool, water pouring from her whole being.

“Fuck! Fuck!” She yelled, dragging her body up onto the rocky surface of the cave, scrabbling away from the edge.

As she neared the far wall, a chorus of splashing sounded all around, bringing her eyes back to the pool. The creature was clambering out after her, her face practically contorted, something monstrous compared to how she previously looked. The woman yelled a series of nonsensical words. Raja may not have recognised this language, but she could feel the venom in the words.

Raja didn’t know what to do with herself — to just run for it, or try and reason with the woman.

But her answer came when the creature’s angry shouting ceased. Now, she was crying, letting out a quiet disappointed sound at first before this became sobs. The poor thing hid her face, her trail curling up under her as she wept into her lap.

Raja’s heart ached for the poor woman. “I’m…I’m sorry. I - -”

But the creature held her hand up, silencing the witch’s words.

And that was it — Raja’s cue to leave.

-_-_-_-

Of course, Raja was met with so many comments when she returned to the coven grounds.

“A wet look! Love it, Raja!”

“Wow, you look like hell, honey.”

“Bianca get you with a blast of water or something?”

“What’s up, loser?” Bianca began, lingering outside her home while Courtney wove berries into her tethered partner’s hair, “I know I’m hot, and the chase is intense as fuck but I didn’t realise it would get you that riled up.”

“Shut up, Bianca!” Raja growled, storming towards Sasha’s hut.

She’d have the answers for her. Sasha may have been the Autumn witch, but she prided herself more on her knowledge. She knew shit.

Inviting herself in, Raja shouted, “Sasha,” her dress dripping all over the floor.

“Oh, good morning, Raja,” Sasha’s voice came from the makeshift fireplace, her back to the dark witch, “next time you invite yourself into my home, make sure you dry yourself off first. I can smell it.”

The dark witch cussed, quickly putting the spell out there and instantly drying herself.

Sasha looked around, putting down the book she was invested in, “come sit with me, darling.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice.” Raja stepped up towards the fire, already feeling its warm flames warming her. She sat down on the ground next to the smart witch, rubbing her hands.

“Um…excuse me?” Sasha’s voice pulled Raja’s attention back, puckering her red lips.

The dark witch rolled her eyes, leaning towards Sasha and kissing her gentle. “Sorry.”

“Not like you to forget the greeting,” Sasha eyed Raja, sniffing the air and finding herself enjoying the smell of salt water. “And not like you to go down to the beach this early? You normally go out there when Blair lowers the moon.”

“I wasn’t at the beach,” Raja swept a hand over her face. “I was…I…” Fuck, how was this going to be easy? “Alright, please don’t judge me and don’t repeat anything we talk about. Promise me.”

“Well, of course, I would never - -”

“No. Promise me, you’ll keep your lips sealed.” Raja lifted a now glowing hand. 

Now Sasha was concerned. In situations like this, when an oath was being made, it had to be serious. “Alright.” Sasha placed her hand against Raja’s. The gold glow intensified for a moment.

And Raja began. “So…I found a cave. A-And, there was this…this pool and, something came up and dragged me under.”

“Something?” Sasha repeated.

“Yes…And…” Raja swallowed, casting her eyes at the flame for a moment. Fuck, she could still feel it, “she kissed me…” those soft and gentle lips, “and something happened…”

“Wait. Hold on. She…kissed you?” Sasha raised her brows.

And Raja nodded. “Um…do you think that…that mermaids exist?”

Sasha was silent for a moment. “Mermaids?”

“Mermaids.”

“...Well, I mean,” Sasha paused, looking around at her long bookshelf, seeing the exact one, “I’ve read that they do. Or, at least, they did. There have been no sightings of them for so long. We’re talking millenia here.”

“But, they could still exist?” 

“I guess, maybe. I mean, we’ve been stuck in this forest for so long, I haven’t found a way to claim new books.” Sasha shrugged.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, honey.”

Raja sighed. Finally, the glowing of their hands stopped, so they lowered them. She knew how she sounded — crazy. But she had to know. “So, what do…what do mermaids do? Are they…” and the image flickered in her brain — the woman’s contorted face of anger, “are they evil?”

Sasha shrugged. “Sometimes. I read tales of mermaid sightings that didn’t end well. You know; women of the ocean luring handsome sailors into the dark waters and drowning them. Then again, how do these records exist if no one survived such an event. On the other hand, I’ve read mermaids just…stay in their own grounds, those grounds being the ocean, and mind their own business. The only time they show aggression is when they’re threatened.”

Was that what happened back there? The creature was trying to drown Raja? But when the witch resisted her advances, she felt threatened?

Those eyes…that look…It couldn’t have been the case. The woman seemed too smitten with Raja to do such a thing. And not to mention, she gave her the ability to breathe underwater. Not a very deadly gift to give someone.

“So, do you think there would be mermaids in this area?” Raja raised a brow, looking back at Sasha.

The witch laughed a bit, “Oh, my future Mother Witch,” she tucked a strand of Raja’s hair behind her ear, “anywhere there’s saltwater belongs to a mermaid. Of course, they could be in this area.”

“Ah, I see.” Raja nodded. 

“So. Let me guess; you think this was a mermaid who kissed you.” Sasha proposed.

“Look. Don’t judge me. I know what I saw Sasha. I could…I could breathe underwater. It was just so…magic.” Raja shook her head like she couldn’t believe it herself.

“I believe you.” Sasha said sincerely.

“Good.” Raja nodded again. She moved forward and kissed Sasha again. “This stays between us. Okay?”

“An oath is an oath.” Sasha nodded.

And just as the twisting in Raja’s stomach was beginning to subside…

“Well, too fucking bad you didn’t make that oath with me!”

Both witches turned their heads to the entrance.

Oh, fuck. Katya.

“Everyone is going to love this!” The mischievous witch skipped away, ready to spread this information to as many people as possible.