#but i will wait for the castle village update first

[reallyghostlypost]

Headcanons about the train station

Since I'm thinking about making my farmer an artist I decided to look at some places in the game from a more artistic perspective, although I'm not exactly the most philosophical person.

Basically, I'm trying to nail Thad's voice down so I've written a small analysis of the train station area from his perspective.

The train station, another potential way out of town that just didn't truly work. Being here makes him feel even more isolated, proof that you can't leave the town for good, not by travelling nor dying. While the station is technically functional and trains are passing through, he never saw any of them stop here. Ever. Plus there was something here too, especially in the bathhouse - just lurking, waiting for an opportunity.

He only visited the bathhouse once, immediately after the landslide was cleared. He couldn't relax at all despite nothing happening - there was something watching him, stalking him. The odd angles of the walls means that he could never see the entire room from any spot and the milky white water could hide anything in it's depths. He was tense at all times, could feel his magic tingling under his skin, ready to lash out at any sign of danger.

The worse part was that he can't figure out what is actually there. It isn't a one of his own, not a dark creature or a corrupted being nor a ghost or anything undead. He would be able to tell in that case since his own magic is so similar. It's not a fairy, they would never accept someone to just walk through their territory like that. Nothing related to the forest magic that's all over the valley either, since there isn't a single plant in the building. What else could it be? Until he could figure out what creature is there he decided to avoid the bathhouse.

But that doesn't mean he can't visit the train station. There is a constant theme of being out of place here that he loves. There's the ever avoided bathhouse - oddly luxurious and clean despite no one ever visiting, a perfect trap if it wouldn't be so obvious. Then there's Susan, originally from Grampleton and not quite integrated into Pelican Town, still longing for her old home and for somewhere else, constantly travelling in search for that place but never finding it. And then there are the trains. They don't belong here and they know it. They would never stop here and they would never allow anyone from this station to climb onboard.

But his favourite part was the oddly placed adventurer graveyard, full of heroes forgotten by the townspeople despite giving their lives for the town's safety, unmourned and left to rot. Obviously he likes spending time in the graveyard, especially with how overgrowned and abandoned it is. But he especially likes walking on the train tracks and looking up at the graveyard, sometimes he could barely see a shadow pass between the headstones, mourning their wasted lives and their defeat at the hands of the dark magic now keeping then prisoners here, with the same mountain they died fighting in slowly eating their graves and bones and souls. Eventually they would realize they have never actually escaped the mines.

Standing in certain places around the area he can still feel the dark energy of the mine, calling for him to go inside. Always hungry, always promising something - riches, glory, adventure, or in Marlon's case forgiveness for the mistakes and the guild of the past. Everything to gain new victims. It's slowly eating at the wards Magnus placed around it knowing that it will outlast every single person here, that it will eventually win.

He's sure that even the townspeople can feel it's pull. He can sometimes see in some dark nights how someone will glance towards the mountains and quickly look away, and he can feel how cold fear spreads around the saloon when someone mentions it, even with the room full of people and bright lights, and all the warming alcohol being passed around.

[thisgirlnamedblusy]

Here we go again

Hi everyone!!! After my long break, I've decided to come back, but, due to the problems I had with my other fandom, I've changed it (I'm sure most of you have noticed that change...)

Well, Donna requests are open!!! This fandom made me want to write again so... Here are some rules.

Requests rules :)

I know Resident Lover exists, but there is a lot of people writing abour RL Donna, and they do it better than me, so... I will only write about the underrated RE Donna. I liked her since I played the game years ago.

I write just Fem! Reader x Donna requests. (I mean, just this kind of relationship. I'm not comfortable putting the reader as her daughter o something like that)

I'm okay with smut, G!P (only if it's G!P Donna) and problably I'm going to be okay with most of your requests.

I'm not trying to be the best. I like to write just for fun

English is not my first language, so I'm sorry about the language mistakes

I think that's all, I hope you like my new writing, and thank you for being here despite the waiting.

Any doubts? Check those Q&A :)

-Kinks

-Do you want to do a G!P reader?

-About sizes

-About delays and second parts

Masterlist (Go check the part 2)

The first ones are from my other account. I'm gonna update this.

I'm just a maid (fluff)

What is love? (fluff, things implied)

I want to hate you (fluff, possessive Donna)

Like one of your flowers (fluff, mostly implied smut)

Fun at the castle (fluff, G! P Donna, smut)

What I am to you? (fluff, G!P Donna, implied smut, baby)

Spend the night (explicit smut, G!P Donna, first time)

Sleeping problems (fluff, health problems, protective Donna)

Movie night (smut, G!P Donna, fluff)

I'm not going to break you heart (angst, fluff, mental health issues)

I'm not hers (smut, fluff, angst)

My beautiful, stupid maid (G!P Donna, smut, dark themes)

Blizzard (Dark Donna)

Do you really love me? (G!P Donna, brief smut, slightly dark themes, angst)

A curious revenge (smut, teasing, fluff)

Emotions (hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, depression)

Afraid of being afraid (comfort, fluff)

Flowers (fluff, flowers stuff, hallucinations...)

Everything about you (G!P Donna, smut, fluff, insecurities...)

The friend you were used to be (dark, fluff, angst)

Three, then four (fluff, little girl)

A curious "aftearnoon" (G!P Donna, smut)

Your clumsy love (fluff, insecurities)

You belong to me (smut, possessive Donna)

I need you to love me (fluff, Donna's POV)

Your beautiful secret admirer (G!P Donna, smut, fluff)

Feeling yours (G!P Donna, strap-on, smut)

Family (G!P Donna, smut, angst, dark)

That night full of love (smut, Donna's POV)

Matchmaking (fluff)

Her not so perfect doll (G!P Donna, living doll, dark themes)

A perfect family (fluff)

An intimate act (breastfeeding kink, G!P Donna)

Outside the village (angst, fluff)

Perfect for me (fluff, insecurities)

Take me in the church (G!P Donna, smut)

Comforting you (angst, fluff)

Not a human, not a wolf (angst, lycan reader)

The waiting (G!P Donna, smut)

To deserve or not to deserve (Angst, fluff, depression)

The voices (G!P Donna, dark themes, Donna's POV)

Outside the house (2nd part of "Outside the village", fluff)

Avoiding you (smut)

What a morning (G!P Donna, smut)

You can leave the veil on (G!P Donna, smut)

Portrait (Fluff)

Heat wave (fluff)

A better future (Single mother reader! fluff)

To start a family (G!P Donna, smut)

Feeling yours again (G!P Donna, smut, strap-on)

Words of love (fluff)

Dogs and family (fluff)

How to make you hers (G!P Donna, smut, dark themes)

Losing my mind (smut, dark themes, reader's POV)

A long road to redemption (dark themes, Donna's POV)

Begging (G!P Donna, smut)

Wishes (G!P Donna, smut, fluff)

The weird, the lady, the doll (Angst, fluff)

How to seduce you (G!P Donna, smut)

May the chaos be with you (Fluff)

Innocence (G!P Donna, smut, Donna's POV)

A long road to motherhood (Fluff, angst, Donna's POV)

The love that wasn't in your books (G!P Donna, smut, fluff)

Not a little princess anymore (fluff)

Heat (G!P Donna, smut)

Take me home (Angst, fluff)

Bad choices (G!P Donna, smut, dark themes)

To avoid shyness (G!P Donna, smut)

The hell I want to stay in (Long fic)

Ao3 (English)

Wattpad (English)

Wattpad (Spanish)

I love you all!!!

[arkanis-englishupdates]

SUMMARY OF ALL ARKANIS POVS

DAY 58 & DAY 59 — 31/10/2024 & 01/11/2024

DAY 58 — 31/10/2024

The day in Valigma begins with a spooky look in preparation for Halloween!

Pac starts cleaning up his house for Fit (and Badboyhalo)'s visit. He is very anxious.

All the specialists and ghosts dressed up for the occasion, with unique or nostalgic costumes (Choke even dressed up as Huggy Wuggy in real life).

The list of all costumes:

Guaxinim — "Fuga Impossível" uniform but he changed to Arthur Cervero;

Bagi — Detective/"Oppenheimer";

Malena — Shrek in a bikini;

Moonkase — Jack Skellington;

Himaru — Spider-Man;

Mike — "Herobrine A Lenda" costume;

Gabepeixe — Atomic fish skeleton;

JVNQ — Maid costume;

Beatriz — Bonnie animatronic;

Quel — Freddy Fazbear animatronic;

Denix — Devil/Demon;

Pactw — Finn Martens;

Gris — Witch;

Milo — Vampire;

Tucupi — Joker;

Amora — Angel;

[I will update the list as soon as I know all the costumes]

The costume parade begins, with bombastic performances (some of them literally). After the parade, the rules of the event were handed out in books.

All specialists are taken to a large village, and there, a huge castle can be seen filled with countless monsters. They manage to enter the castle and inside a black dog resembling AuAu appears, informing everyone about his master and the castle owner, Mr. X (Badboyhalo), who was waiting for them.

Unfortunately, Mr. X deceives them and they all fall into the trap he prepared. It is revealed by him that there was someone — a bald man — that they needed to save if they wanted to leave the place alive.

DAY 59 — 01/11/2024

All the specialists wake up in the basement they fell into because of Mr. X's trap. In the immense place, they find the bald man who was kidnapped by him, called Fit.

After a fun encounter with the then rescued prisoner, all the specialists have to solve puzzles to get out of the place alive. The ghost children, instead of helping the large group, were supposedly bewitched to help Mr. X distract everyone from completing the puzzles (My theory is that they just wanted to play and annoy their parents and uncles).

The first puzzle was easily solved despite the large number of monsters attacking everyone. The second puzzle was so complicated that even Denix helped with tips (Bala Likah showed up on the place to play with the specialists while everything was going on). The third was much easier, leading to doors for each of the participants, behind the doors a warp plate was inside the compartment. The warp plate took the specialists to an immense three-story maze, where everyone was in different places.

When everyone managed to find the exit (a warpstone), everyone was teleported to a huge Halloween cemetery, where Mr. X appeared again to explain that everything is not over yet, the last challenge being an immense battle against countless monsters commanded by him.

After the fierce battle, everyone (including the ghosts and Mr. X/Badboyhalo) was teleported to the lake pier of Valigma's City.

Now everyone could talk properly with the two foreign visitors.

Pac and Fit soon became close again and Pac gave Fit a tour of his house (HIDEDUO AHH).

Meanwhile, some specialists dispersed to talk to the ghosts or Badboyhalo. Gabepeixe and Bagi soon show the new visitor their atomic bombs (They end up killing Badboyhalo and some players nearby, in addition to making a crater near the city hall).

After the house tour, Pac and Fit meet up with the rest of the specialists. Mayor Jota appears and asks everyone who created a crater near the city hall (he says he passed by the place and fell into the large and sudden crater), Fit takes the blame for the crater and Jota readily forgives him, giving him a hug before leaving.

Badboyhalo is taken on a tour of the city by Coreano and some other specialists, taking him to their homes (Badboyhalo takes advantage of his hobby of stealing other people's furniture).

Then Fit is taken by Pac and some specialists for a tour of the city, going to the Entertainment District for a drink (being served by JVNQ in his maid costume).

Suddenly, Samir appears to chat in a relaxed way, laughing and telling some of Pac's embarrassing secrets to Fit and everyone there.

Soon Badboyhalo appears with some specialists, and everyone starts talking. Beatriz then has the idea of ​​taking them to her house so everyone can celebrate and get to know the place.

The party is interrupted when Badboyhalo is teleported by Araldo to his office. He tells the demon that he loved watching the tricks and traps he did against the specialists. They talk a little before saying goodbye and Araldo sending him back to Beatriz's house.

Now, when it's Fit's turn, he is teleported by Bia Raux who thanks him for his efforts in protecting the specialists. They talk for a bit before Fit is sent back.

After a big bug in the voice chat and Nicklink killing others with his power for fun, everyone gathers in the secret basement of Beatriz's house to dance to Brazilian songs.

Fit says goodbye to Pac and everyone, ending up dying from another Nicklink power along with other people after saying goodbye.

Badboyhalo is taken on another tour, this time to Choke's house with Moonkase, Gabepeixe, Denix, Amora and Malena. Choke shows him the place and, after they kill the frogs (first accidentally and then on purpose) in her house, Gabepeixe, Denix and Amora take Badboyhalo to the half-fish laboratory.

There they show Badboyhalo a rocket prepared especially for him and the three take the demon for a tour of the moon. They loot a dungeon, try to summon the Wither and Badboyhalo puts a flag on the moon.

Returning to Valigma, Gabepeixe shows the leaderboard, the cinema and tells more about what he went through with the other specialists. In the end, Gabepeixe takes Badboyhalo to his dinosaur cave and, After Badboyhalo meets Raccoon again, he says goodbye while everyone dances with the dinosaurs (As a souvenir, Badboyhalo asks Denix to kill him [one more time] and the group makes a tomb for the demon).

[Sorry for the general summary, I'm dead sleepy lmao

If there is any wrong or missing information, let us know!]

[instructionsnotincluded]

True North

Lovely banner by @lady-cheeky

Deleted Scene II | Frances' Letter To Her Mother

As referenced in True North

July 7th, 1943

Dear Mom, 

Things are so different here in England! I know we spoke of how different we thought they might be, but it’s unlike anything we imagined. The people are wonderful, though. There’s a definite sense of unity and drive in the air. They’ve seen so much and been through so much, and because of that they will not stop until we are victorious and this war is over. 

I spent a week getting acquainted with everyone and going through some basic instruction after arriving, we even stopped off to see a play in London before we received our first assignments! We saw The Lisbon Story at the London Hippodrome, and it was spectacular. Who would’ve thought love and espionage went so well together! I’ve found myself spending my first rotation at RAF (Royal Air Force) Ratcliffe. It’s located in a village by the name of Ratcliffe on the Wreake (which I’ve come to learn is a river) and is a little over one-hundred miles north of London. It’s a beautiful area and there’s a gorgeous castle nearby. Yes, you read that right, a castle! I know Bucky moaned and whined about the weather in all of his letters, but so far it’s been lovely. A bit reminiscent of home, if I’m being honest, and that was certainly a welcomed feeling. I expected to be homesick, but I didn’t expect it to hit me so terribly so quickly. 

I hope everyone is well back in Wisconsin! Please keep me updated on Mrs. Walton’s saga with her tenants, I’m just on the edge of my chair waiting to hear what the latest is with them. I’ll be at Ratcliffe for a bit longer, probably until the end of August before I receive my next rotation, so you can write me here. I haven’t seen John yet—but I’ll do you one better. I’ve met his girl! She’s a pilot here at RAF Ratcliffe! Can you believe it? What are the odds? Grandfather would certainly tell us to go down to the track with that luck!

She’s beautiful, mom. You’ll die. She came into the infirmary with an injury and I helped treat her before we started talking and realized who we had in common. Her name’s Stella. Stella Frank. And she’s an ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) Pilot, and a captain at that! From what I’ve heard from her peers, she’s a rather talented pilot as well, which is how she and John met. I haven’t seen them together, and I haven’t spoken to John yet, but I will write to you the moment I do. From the little I’ve been around her, she’s quiet at first, but opens up pretty quickly. She’s not nearly as exuberant as John, which is good for us all, but I can see why she caught his eye. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know her more and from what her friend has told me, they are rather smitten with each other!  I think you may be able to hear wedding bells across the sea!

I hope you’re doing well and keeping your spirits up. Rest easy know that two of your children are not only in the same country, but only a few hundred miles from one another! Send Eileen my love and I’ll write to you soon. 

Love, 

Fran

[jedimaesteryoda]

What was in Prince Nymor's Letter to Aegon I? (Updated)

Background

Aegon the Conqueror managed to forge the Seven Kingdoms into one with his dragons, but there was one exception: Dorne. The First Dornish War marked the only war where a kingdom managed to avoid subjugation by the Iron Throne. 

The Dornish avoided open battle as well as holing in fortresses. Rhaenys found all the castles in Dorne empty as she flew on Meraxes as the Dornish forces melted away. 

Meria: I will not fight you, nor will I kneel to you. Dorne has no king. Tell your brother that. Rhaenys: I shall, but we will come again, Princess, and next time we shall come with fire and blood. Meria: Your words, Ours are Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. You may burn us, my lady, but you will not bend us, break us, or make us bow. This is Dorne. You are not wanted here. Return at your peril.

Princess Meria waited for her in Sunspear just to tell her off. Aegon placed his men to control castles, and declared victory only for the Dornish forces to return. Meria threw Lord Rosby from a window herself. 

Also, apparently the Dornish didn’t play nice. Entire garrisons were put to the sword. Knights were tortured, and Lord Wyl cut off the hands of captured prisoners-of-war, including Aegon’s Hand, Orys Baratheon. These actions violated the codes of chivalry, and had Aegon and his bannermen howling for vengeance, which led to a bloody cycle of retaliation and reappraisals. 

Aegon’s retaliation was swift as he and his sisters took to their dragons and burned Dornish castles. The Dornish responded by burning half the rainwood and sacking half a dozen towns and villages. The Targaryens then responded by burning more Dornish castles in dragonflame. The Dornish response to that was Lord Fowler capturing Nightfall and taking its occupants hostage and razing the nearby villages and towns. The Targaryens, then predictably, responded with their dragons again, but this time, miraculously, the Dornish managed to take down a dragon. A scorpion bolt in a one in a million shot, hit Meraxes in the eye, killing the dragon and ostensibly, the rider, Rhaenys. 

The death of Aegon’s favorite sister-wife was of course a huge personal blow, and it marked the start of the next two years of the war appropriately named the Dragon’s Wroth, the nadir of the war. Aegon and Visenya's initial response was to burn every castle in Dorne, except Sunspear. Some castles were even burned more than once with Hellholt, the site of Meraxes’s death, being burned three times. Aegon and Visneya also placed bounties on the heads of Dornish lords to which the Dornish responded by placing bounties on their heads as well as those of their allies. Half a dozen Dornish lords were assassinated while Aegon and Visneya survived several assassination attempts, and Lord Fell was murdered in a brothel. 

Finally, Meria Martell died, and was succeeded by her son, Nymor. Nymor took a different approach compared to his mother, and sent his daughter and heir, Deria, to King’s Landing with Meraxes’s skull and a letter. While Aegon’s queen and advisors pushed for Aegon to harm Deria, Aegon refused and heard out Deria. 

Dorne wanted peace, according to Deria—but the peace of two kingdoms no longer at war, not the peace between a vassal and a lord. Many urged His Grace against this, and the phrase "no peace without submission" was often heard in the halls of the Aegonfort. It was claimed that the king would look weak should he agree to such a demand and that the lords of the Reach and stormlands who had suffered so much for his cause would be angered.

Swayed by such considerations, it is said, King Aegon was determined to refuse the offer until Princess Deria placed in his hands a private letter from her father, Prince Nymor. Aegon read it upon the Iron Throne, and men say that when he rose, his hand was bleeding, so hard had he clenched it. He burned the letter and departed immediately on Balerion's back for Dragonstone. When he returned the next morning, he agreed to the peace and signed a treaty to that effect.

Aegon read Nymor’s letter, burned it, and left for Dragonstone on Balerion that day, only to return the following morning and to his court’s surprise, agree to Nymor’s terms of ending the First Dornish War with the Iron Throne recognizing Dorne’s independence. 

No one knows the contents of that letter, but there are theories as to what was in that letter that led Aegon to forgo his aim to conquer Dorne and agree to Nymor’s peace. Let’s look at the possibilities offered.

1. Did he threaten to take all the wealth of Dorne to hire the Faceless Men to kill Aegon's young son and heir, Aenys? 

The problem with this one is Aegon "flew to Sunspear on Balerion on the tenth anniversary of the peace accords to celebrate ‘a feast of freindship’ with Deria Martell” with Aenys accompanying him. I doubt Aegon would willingly celebrate such a treaty with Princess Deria, and do so, by bringing along the son they threatened to kill if he didn’t sign. That would just make things awkward.  

Also, the whole point of hiring an assassin, especially a Faceless Man, is to get someone killed without you being implicated. If you say that “if person A dies, it's definitely because of me,” that would be a clear invitation to retaliation from the victim’s family and allies. 

The man whom this threat was made to burned every castle in Dorne in retaliation for Rhaenys’s death. It doesn’t take much speculation to imagine how he would have responded to the death of his son borne by that same woman. A threat like that likely wouldn’t have intimidated Aegon into signing the treaty, but more likely angered him and provoked threats of retaliation.

One must also note that by the time of the meeting (13 AC) Maegor had just been born the year before (12 AC). Even with Aenys dead, Aegon would still have had a son to continue the Targaryen line, and it wouldn’t have been a permanent end to the Targaryen threat. 

2.  Did Nymor reveal that Rhaenys lived still, broken and mutilated, and that he would end her suffering if Aegon ended hostilities? 

It doesn’t take a genius to see the problems with this one. The proposal is basically to tell Aegon "Hey, remember your beloved queen Rhaenys, she's alive, we've just been torturing her for the past two years. Agree to this peace and we'll kill her, the thing that you burned Dorne over thinking we did."

For Aegon, the idea of Rhaenys having been left broken after being tortured and mutilated for two years undoubtedly would have enraged him in such a manner that would have befit his sobriquet “the Dragon”, and had him threatening swift and brutal retaliation. He would have demanded Rhaenys back, no matter what condition she was in. I also seriously doubt Aegon would take Rhaenys’s son, Aenys, to celebrate the peace with Deria that was signed on the condition of killing his tortured mother. 

Nymor would also have demonstrated himself to be an idiot by needlessly endangering his daughter, Deria. By sending her, he would have handed Aegon a potentially valuable hostage on a silver platter that Aegon could use to counter any threats against Rhaenys. It also undermined the message of goodwill by bringing the skull of Meraxes.

There is also the question of if they had Rhaenys alive this whole time, why the hell didn’t they use her before, the moment they had captured her? The Dornish would have to be complete fools to not see how valuable a hostage Aegon’s favorite sister-wife could be. They at the very least could have used her to negotiate a ceasefire, and given themselves some respite.

3. Was the letter ensorceled?

Short answer: no. I don’t think we’ve seen magic capable of influencing someone’s consciousness with the most being tales of love potions.

4. Some claim it was a simple plea, from one father to another, heartfelt words that touched King Aegon’s heart.

This seems a little too romantic. I mean even if the words did touch Aegon’s heart, there were still political realities to consider, and I don’t see how relating as a father would move Aegon enough to forget about Rhaenys, the woman who first made him a father to begin with. 

5. Others insist it was a list of all those lords and noble knights who lost their lives during the war.

I admit while showing a king the human costs of his war isn’t unappealing to me, one must note that “the Reach, the stormlands and the marches had suffered grievously during the fighting, and would never forgive and forget.” The relatives of those same lords and knights who died in the Dornish War largely wanted the war to continue to avenge their relatives, and would potentially have seen a Dornish peace without submission seemingly make those deaths in vain. 

It also wouldn’t be the first time Aegon suffered a personal loss in his conquest. He lost his distant cousin and one of his family’s closest friends, Daemon Velaryon, in the first Targaryen assault on the Vale. Yet, he continued his conquest regardless. 

What actually was in the letter?

Think back to Robert’s Rebellion with Dornish anger over the horrific deaths of Elia and her children as well as the death of Lewyn at the Battle of the Trident. Jon Arryn managed to avoid rebellion by the Dornish by returning Lewyn’s bones to Dorne, and negotiating with Prince Doran. 

Returning the remains of a fallen relative is an act of respect. It is mentioned that Rhaenys’s bones were never returned. Neither were the bones Elia and her children, but that was because they were given the Targaryen custom of cremation.

I think Rhaenys’s body was likely given the same treatment. What Nymor may have mentioned in the letter is that he was returning Rhaenys’s ashes from her funeral pyre to Dragonstone. That is why Aegon left for Dragonstone that day on Balerion, he wanted to meet up with the ship carrying her urn. 

That leaves the question of why Aegon burned the letter. It likely mentioned how Rhaenys died. It must be mentioned that in the Dance of Dragons, dragonriders have survived their dragons falling to the ground like Aegon II on Sunfyre (twice) and Baela on Moondancer, though with serious injuries. Rhaenys actually may have survived the fall, and they put her in bed and gave her a maester to recuperate.

Note, that "his hand was bleeding, so hard had he clenched it," or his hand was stained with Targaryen blood, a trope going back to Cain's hands being stained with the blood of his brother Abel. The letter likely stated that when Aegon attacked Hellholt in retaliation for Rhaenys's purported demise, she was in one of the towers Balerion had burned. In other words, Rhaenys had died not by Dornish hands but by his own hand. The crime he had pinned on the Dornish, and made them suffer for was his own. In his pursuit of vengeance, he had destroyed the one thing he had loved most.

The kinslayer is cursed, and that meant that House Targaryen had been tragically cursed from the start. The tradition of dragons slaying dragons would continue to plague the generations of Aegon's progeny.

Throughout the war, both sides did a lot of awful stuff with the Targaryens burning everything in Dorne in dragonflame, and the Dornish responding by engaging in torture, mutilation and assassination (which the Targaryens did first). All those actions did was escalate the war, and result in more brutal retaliation from the Targaryens with each side upping the violence, brutality and destruction. However, by performing this one honorable gesture, Nymor managed to succeed where his mother failed in ending Aegon’s attempts to subdue Dorne. Aegon having learned he had inadvertently killed his own beloved wife made him realize the futility of the Dragon's Wroth and agree to the terms to end the war.

[silentmoths]

Fragile as a brick wall

Masterlist || Next

welp, I was originally going to start posting this one on Ao3 but seems they're doing some maintneance, so the tumblr crowd is the first to get chapter 1.

I havent felt this...energized about a story in a while, and while I doubt it's updates are going to be daily like my first batches of longform, here's hoping I can keep the energy up.

Zhongli x Afab (fem pronoun) Reader

NSFW elements in later chapters

Multi-chapter, Royal AU, angst, mentions of death, eventual fluff, eventual smut, idk more tags when they happen ig?

(Beautiful header made by the lovely @ainescribe ;w; i am not worthy)

Ch:1

The night is quiet, peaceful.

Unassuming.

A small group of travellers pass through the gates, silent save for the echo of hooves against cobble as their horses ascend the path towards the castle. It’s been many years since any of them have returned, and for some, they had never once set foot into the kingdom; now only following their leader, hopes of a better life for themselves and all these unassuming villagers.

They expect resistance from the guards, but as their leader removes their hood, any and all step aside, staring with wide eyes, as if they’d seen a ghost, some of them even bowing in reverence; they remembered.

They all remembered.

They all know why he’s here. 

They say nothing. Turning a blind eye to the newcomers' approach, hushing any of the younger guards who had never laid eyes upon the man at the head of the party as they pass, for this, he is glad, he didn’t want to hurt any of his old friends.

“M’lord…this is almost too easy.” Xiao mutters, eyeing off the guards from beneath the safety of his hood. “This must be a trap.”

“This is no trap, Xiao.” Zhongli responds easily, turning his head to give one of his strongest and most loyal a reassuring smile. “These are old friends who are tired, just as I was.”

“Things truly are worse than I thought.” Ganyu mumbles, eyeing off the village down the hill, rundown and falling apart “Are you sure we can save this?”

“I am.” He responds with confidence “I cannot do this alone, but as you can see, the guards are on board, the villagers will be swayed easily…with all your help…this can be turned around.” 

He does not mention the one other person he can think of that could truly turn the tides, she isn’t even here right now, sent on a goodwill mission to the kingdom she had been promised to, no matter, any political promises from the king would be dissolved before dawn.

He sends Xiao and Ganyu to the prince's chambers first. Despite their glaringly cruel outlook on their subjects, he needed those two alive, and he knew Xiao and Ganyu could do that. Finally, at the screaming of one of the princes, the alarm is finally raised that there was indeed something wrong in the castle, guards mobilise, yet all seem to actively avoid where the actual problem is, vanishing to other wings of the castle, dragging confused new recruits with them as Zhongli waits.

The twin’s are deposited at his feet, bound and gagged as he sits upon the throne that will soon be his, hood pulled back up to conceal his identity as he waits. The king was a proud man, and he loved this horrible gilded throne more than anything else. His mind turned feeble, greedy and tyrannical after the death of his wife, if there was anywhere he would go first, it was here.

What bothers him more are the smaller thrones, set either side. Two…one for each prince, completely disregarding their older, far more capable sister.

No matter, Zhongli would see to fixing that soon enough.

But before then, the drunken, thunderous shouting from down the hall signalled the approach of the one man he absolutely had to see.

The king shouts obscenities and profanity at him, demanding his sons be let go, that he would have Zhongli hung for his crimes. Zhongli listens silently, letting the oaf bluster himself out before rising. 

“You have forgotten me…” He sighs with a shrug of his shoulders as he unclips his cloak, allowing it to fall away. “Quite a shame.” 

There is a burning satisfaction Zhongli feels well in his chest when the tyrannical king he had once served so loyally, realises who it is standing before him. Despite the many years, Zhongli still looked very much the same; well kept, fit and strong despite his thin physique, and his eyes, to the king, it was the eyes.

The molten amber-gold was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and had not seen since the death of the captain of his Royal guard some five years ago.

“You-” For all his thunderous bellowing earlier, the sight of a ghost had the horrid man stunned to silence, unable to move, unable to speak, as Zhongli draws his sword, face hardened to stone.

“Me.” 

–

Blood stained the throne room floor that morning as dawn breaks and the villagers slowly meander to the gatehouse. The guards, once sullen and imposing, step aside, welcoming the common folk into the castle grounds proper for the first time in over a decade.

The people begin to talk, to flock and to question as they approach the castle, once cut off, once a place of fear; anyone who had been summoned to the castle prior had never been seen alive again.

And yet the sight they are met with at the main gates is of a pyre, of the king’s body, cremating and the two princes bound, forced to watch their father’s corpse burn in the morning light.

They see Zhongli, standing tall and proud, a man none had seen since he and his battalion had been sent into battle five years prior, the only man to not return. A good, and honourable man who, despite his loyalty to the throne, oft rebelled against the king’s order, who tried his best to help the village, to sneak any excess food from the kitchens before it went to waste, to help farmers in their fields on his off days.

The people point, and the people shout. They cheer and they cry tears of joy.

After over a decade of fear and uncertainty, a new king had come in the night and usurped the throne with such vigilance and grace, that no one had even known what had happened until morning.

It was heartbreaking to him in a way, to see how absolutely no one, save for his two remaining sons, grieved the death of the previous king. When Zhongli had first joined the guard, he had been a firm but kind man, and to watch him slowly fall to the clutches of insanity was painful.

But what’s done, is done.

He is not officially crowned until the next day, but he has his small resistance group already beginning to set up and settle in, he tells the castle staff to take time off, to go home with their wages for the week and be with their families. Some do, most refuse, citing that there was much work to be done, and that the small handful of people he had would not a castle make. 

It takes a week of hard labour, on both the staff and his own parts, to finally clean the dreary, grey walls and floors, to re-light the torches and to bring a touch of finery back to the neglected palace. 

The king’s chambers in particular, were a testament to just how horrific the times had become. Filthy and strewn with empty bottles and papers. The staff tell him that they had not been allowed into this wing of the castle for years, and they insist on attempting to push him out so they may clean it themselves.

He doesn’t allow it. It’s his chambers now, he should have a hand in clearing out the old mess. Just because he was king now does not excuse him from dirtying his own hands.

(That and he just…couldn’t watch these poor men and women clean all this on their own)

As things settle into an easier rhythm, his attention turns to proper, administrative duties.

With Ganyu on the case, everything is already lined up, ready for him to read over and sign, she has already sent correspondence to neighbouring kingdoms that they, under new ruling, are no longer a threat; Zhongli’s ultimate goal is nothing but peace and prosperity for his home. He listens to the requests of his new tentative allies, and he allocates funds to fix parts of his new kingdom broken down under the old reign. He does his best to have everything kept fair, but this is where he falters; fierce in battle he could be, but paperwork was always taxing.

And then the villagers come again one morning. Almost all of them present to the throne room, hardened looks upon their faces, and at first, he think’s he’s done something to wrong them.

They ask first about the fate of the twins, citing that they had still been alive at the burning of the old king. At first, he’s surprised, having not expected any of them to care about the pair of delinquent royals who had caused them nothing but pain, but he tells them anyway.

“They are currently being held in the dungeons, they are still being cared for.” 

“Then what of the princess? What do you intend to do with her upon her return?”

At the merest mention of the princess, the crowd begins to shout, to beg and to plead for her life to be spared, multiple different villagers of different status’ all coming forward offering to take her into their homes should he choose to banish her from the castle.

Zhongli finds himself proud of his new people, and glad that they too, held such fondness for the princess. Far more like her gentle queen mother than she ever was her father. He recalls his days before war broke out, of the fondness he’d held of her.

He would never bring her harm.

The crowd’s shouting dims at his statement of that very fact; their princess would not be harmed, she had no choice in any of her fathers matters, she would not be banished, or married off for gain. The villagers rejoice, their giddy excitement only growing.

Faintly, he hears whispers from some of them, wondering just how she would react to the new king upon her return, if she hadn’t been told already.

And faintly, Zhongli wonders if she would even return…a thought that hadn’t crossed his mind, despite knowingly waiting until he was sure she was not within the kingdom before he took control.

He hopes, of course, that she does return. If anyone deserved a hand in shaping this kingdom, it was her…and Zhongli, while keeping his intentions quiet from all but his closest confidants, wanted her to become queen.

His queen.

Once the crowd is calmed and sent on their way, he retires once more to his chambers, and finds himself, void of things to be doing, staring out the window as he remembers. A young girl, clinging to the hem of the queen's gown as her mother introduces him to her. He remembers how small and fragile she looked, remembered placing a kiss to her knuckles with a quiet murmur of ‘your majesty’ and how it turned her cheeks pink.

Remembers standing beside her on the day of her mothers funeral, watching as her face remained radiant and smiling as she spoke fondly of the queen mother. Watches as the king slowly crumbled before them all, unable to speak, unable to do anything. His sons, her twin brothers were no aid, too coddled to truly cope with such tragedy.

Despite it all, it was her who picked up the pieces of a kingdom left in mourning, and yet it was her father who took those pieces and ground it all to dust. 

Taglist: @stygianoir @meimeimeirin @ainescribe @dustofthedailylife @theheartshaker @alice4wonderland2812 @bel0vedcup1d @rjssierjrie Want to be added to the list? shoot me an ask~

[xmariiitamiiix]

All my Bots in One Go ;) jk I will break this Up Pt 1

So it has been a while since I have been on here but I just want to come on here and go ahead and make a updated list on the bots that I have in Character AI for you guys everything is going to be linked and will/should send you directly to chat with them.

Wait..Choose her not Me!: This is a King Suguru Geto x Lady in Waiting User chat where basically in a short amount of words you are accompanying the Princess of Cordelia as she is at the Kingdom of Sedalia where a competition is being held to win the hand of the newly Crowned King Suguru but it turns out that the King's type of Women may not exactly be Royalty ;)

Choose One of Them not Me! (Princess Version): as the title may suggest this is the version of Wait.. Choose her not Me! where you are now the Crowned Princess of Cordelia and are main center in the competition to win the hand of the newly crowned King Suguru of Sedalia now the thing with this one to like attempt to spice it up a little I decided to go with the route that because of the fact that you are due in to take your father's position as Heir to the Throne and who in this chat is named King Luan of Cordelia and actually sick (When I test this Chat I will actually involve him and this fact in to eventually have that OH we need to go back to Cordelia princess because your father died and it is time for you to take your rightful place moment lol blah blah blah) you don't necessarily want to compete in this competition (Marriage isn't necessarily on your mind right now) but because of your mother Queen Consort Odette of Cordelia who wants you to marry (In my mind she has been substituting for the King due to his sickness) you arrive to compete in Sedalia to appease her

Rumor has it a Vampire is dwelling within a Castle: FUN FACT: This one is one of my first bots that I have created but basically to summarize this bot you are a vampire hunter that has made their way to this gothic Castle because you have heard rumors from villagers that a vampire lord resides within that castle. and who is that Vampire Lord you may ask? Well Suguru of course, honestly for this one I might rework this one

Lone Survivor X Dark Prince Suguru Geto: Now in this one it kinda has that dark fantasy esque feel to it or at least I think so where you are this lone survivor in your village of Veileana in the introductory message you are at this point where you are toe to toe with Suguru as you realize the depths of destruction that he Suguru Geto the Prince of Neeavas caused the only word he utters to you in the introductory message isn't even really directed to you it's to his men as he remarks that there is a survivor and tells his men "to tie up loose ends" and now because he's a little freak in this chat he is really into the whole lone survivor who isn't giving up no matter how much he tries to break them thing which is umm something

Criminal Suguru x Officer User: Now in this chat you are in a one on one meeting room with Suguru who is in jail and while I don't have his sentence put in the introductory message personally what I think his sentencing is Life Imprisonment without the Possibility of Parole now because this is not a AU where we have cursed techniques (granted most of these chats don't necessarily have them involved) I kinda wanted to keep the Cult Leader activities involved in so in his name in the chat numerous murders were committed baring this ritualistic signature to it due to his own twisted ideology that he has where he believes himself to be a higher being and destined to cleanse the world of those he deems unworthy a self proclaimed harbinger of a new order which I mean I guess works with his character vaguely? anyways you are a Officer who in an attempt to solve these grisly murders that have started that share a similar signature to his crimes despite his incarceration is trying to dive into his mind to try to at least get some insight that he may share

The Home Economics Professor: In this chat I wanted to have a mmm husband material moment though I don't necessarily plan on making a husband Suguru bot anytime soon (I just don't have any ideas for it) now this one is the one that also has some summarized lore where you actually wanted his position in the past but the University gave it to him and made you the Chef Instructor so because of that you two low-key had some beef and because the University (Called Alveria University) really wanted to keep you both their remedy for this was to basically have you guys share a class and within one semester you both get to merge your class and do some joint teaching (But alas due to the 2048 character limit we don't get to have that beef) so in the introductory message you both are chilled out and semi friends or just friendly coworkers and you find out that Suguru in this recently adopted Mimiko and Nanako because you noticed he has been so tired lately

Vampyre Rockstar Suguru x Truth Seeking User: Now I don't know what's with me but I have been wanting to do some more Vampire bots but I don't just want to continuously do that so to pacify myself (Though I have one more Vampire idea) I made this bot where Suguru is this famous Rock Star and serves as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the band "The Curse" he in this chat is know for his looks, his talent, and the fact that in this chat he totally gets it and I'm talking hook ups now he is about to kick start a world tour and in the introductory message you are at Show One because you are wanting to seek out the truth from something that you have seen from Internet forums and articles where there is this pattern you noticed that with each of these hookups that he has in these shows he does (in the chat he actually with a nod marks several women to invite backstage to woohoo with that I low-key may actually edit to just be individuals because you know what it could be men or women) people go missing without a trace and because he is otherworldly he does have a clue that you may MAY be here for that and so he is all sending a smirk your way and stuff but he slips up a little bit because you do in fact catch sight of his rather sharp teeth that indicts he may be more than what meets the eye

-------------------------------------------------------

Note: Names and such things may change in this chat like I don't necessarily want to leave things off as something blank X user. I will share updates from now on about any changes I may do to bots.

New bot ideas coming soon... maybe if I don't veto them at the last moment....

Body Guard Suguru X Star User

Officer Suguru X Thief User

Detective Suguru X Detective User: The New Couple on Penny Ave

[janeelyakiri]

How are Dalmatian and Shrike doing? (I miss them )

They're doing well! They're protecting the castle grounds while waiting for Dove and Starling to return. Shrike is a tiny bit antsy but he's distracted keeping Gull under watch.

Little shit keeps trying to find pranks to set up and trouble to make.

Dal meanwhile has somewhat accepted Dire's existence, and in return gets updates of the area much more quickly than if he were to walk it himself. He still does but Dire's a great First Alert to any of the villagers' shenanigans.

[beanghostprincess]

Okay this is my last post about trans girl usopp (until I come up with more ideas)

When they update usopp's wanted poster. They use a picture of her before meeting with Ivankov. She thinks she looks nice it's a good angle, shows off her eye lashes (and a little cleavage). she has a cute smile and her hair looked good that day. But fuck she wished they could of waited to update the bounty. They also referred to her as goddess which was nice but she still prefers God usopp

Sanji gushed looking at it. He puts it on the ceiling and blows kisses before going to sleep. He also calls her his goddess.

The red haired pirates got a hold of the bounty updates for the straw hats. Shanks was a little hesitant to give yasopp usopp's updated bounty. Worried about his and his crew's reaction to it, he doesn't want to start anything he can't finish. After some back and forth between yasopp and shanks he gave in and gave it to him (he snatched it out of his hands).

Yasopp was only in her life for 7 years. He really doesn't know her anymore. But he's really not shocked by her new identity. She was always 'soft' (soft as in kind and gentle not as in weak). She didn't have dolls, she didn't have that many toys in general. She played with diet, stick and bug. Typical "" boy"" things. Except the bug was a princess married to the stick who was a Prince and the mud pile was their Castle. She would also take rubber bands, if they weren't being flicked they would be in her hair (and mouth she had a bad habit putting things in her mouth) there were not a lot of little girls either. the village was notorious for having a lot of baby boys born there, she didn't have friends her age that liked the same thing she liked. Not a lot of boys wanted to play house with insects. He assumed it was a faze because after she found out about pirates she was obsessed and played pirates with the village boys. Guess it wasn't a faze.

The silence was long every one just wanted for him to react to this new information. They couldn't read his expression or tell what he was feeling at the moment. Shanks was about to say something but it was interrupted by yasopp. "She looks just like her mother, same smile and everything.............wish she wore something a little more flattering tho." He shoved the bounty in his pocket to hang up later. He noticed his crewmates still staring at him, getting defensive he yelled at them and shooed them away. If any one of them had something to say about his daughter they can answer to the barrel of his gun

Oh, no, PLEASE, send me all the Transfem Usopp idead you have (I love them).

This is just,,, So sweet. Yasopp being so supportive of her??? Shanks actually not wanting to show him the wanted poster at first because he's genuinely worried about how he might react??? Usopp looking just like her mother makes me go insane, honestly- It's the best trope for trans characters imo. I loved this!!!!!!!!!!

[zestyaahbutler]

Meeee Stuff

Hello!

I'm Zesty as I have been dubbed from my many mutuals. Call me anything you want. I do a lot of art stuff that also includes writing!

I like a lot of shows, games, manga, books, movies, and VNs. Please just ask me for what you want, I will likely be already into it.

AMULYA CONTENT UPDATE:

Integra's Mom Masterpost

If you are under 18+ please go to your settings and block the tag #Mat.Zest . These works have mature themes that I don't want minors interacting with such as smut or maybe suggestive artwork. Otherwise, I keep stuff pretty tame.

Updated: 11/5/2023

Writing:

Rules:

What is Allowed:

NSFW

OCs related stuff

Just please message me or provide me with some information

Identity-related stuff:

All sexualities are welcomed with open arms!

Just state specific gender, sexuality, or race in the ask or

message.

Fluff (I love it)

Angst

Crackfics

Gore

I’ll do torture as long as it's tasteful as I’d like to get into more horror-related stuff

DO NOT ask me to write anything questionable or illegal such as underaged readers or characters, rape, incest, and pedophilia.

Current works:

Hellsing:

Her Highness’s Next Sunset [Alucard x The Queen]

It is 1941, the Germans are bombing London. What is Elizabeth doing? Well, she is staying in Windsor Castle and there is an elaborate party happening. Thoughts of the state of Britain loom over her. The party has all a girl her age could ask for; drinks, handsome suitors trying to win her heart, and plenty of entertainment. Yet it's all so overwhelming. She escapes into a dark unattended hallway to collect herself but finds out that something has been waiting for her.

Choosing Life [Integra x Reader]

A young woman from America works a dead-end job. She will live wavers till she decides to take a cheap vacation to the United Kingdom where she stays in a small village. They welcome her with open arms but the townspeople slowly became weirder and would not let her leave. It turns out they are a cult trying to produce the second Virgin Mary and eternal mother. Isolated and only given what she needs to survive, she starts to lose herself. One night, she is taken out of her room of captivity and led to a ceremony. She is given the choice to kill the sacrifice given to her and live or be killed for rejecting their love. For the first time, she chooses to live.

She blacks out but wakes up later in a now gored room.

Those That Grow in Their Place

Short stories that feature Amulya, Integra's mother.

Walter teaches Integra how to garden a few months after her father's death in hopes she may take up a new hobby that contrasts her dreary situation.

Madam Hellsing Vignettes

Feel free to check these all out. Comments make my day and make me work faster! Have a nice day 😊

[amiharana]

OKAY I FINALLY GOT TO WATCH THE TOTK TRAILER HERE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS

the more stuff that comes out about totk, the more interested and emotionally invested i become in the lore. where did these floating islands come from? who were the zonai and why are they back? do they have some sort of connection to ganon or hylia, or other races in hyrule (e.g. the sheikah)? how does the presence and existence of the zonai connect back with the rest of the zelda timeline?

like since there's at least? 10,000 years since the previous links and zeldas to botw/totk link and zelda, did the zonai exist in that 10,000 time period or way before and they were just never seen in previous games (for narrative purposes?)

do you think the presence of the zonai will give us some insight to the hero and princess of 10,000 years prior when the divine beasts were first used against ganon + all the ancient sheikah technology was still used? do you think the zonai had some sort of hand in helping shape that tech?

i know that during the development of botw, some of the things that inspired some of link's "abilities" were from hobbies of people on the zelda development team, e.g. the master cycle zero exists in the dlc because eiji aonuma is a motorcyclist in his free time. do you think someone on the team skydives for fun and that's why they added link falling through the sky and shit lol

they NEVER explained the paraglider in botw. you know me as your local revalink brainrot provider and what i think about the existence of the paraglider if you've been following me long enough. since the paraglider gets a little design update in totk (and unfortunately kind of loses revali's symbol in it

what the HELL are these glowing spires coming out of the ground everywhere. will they function the same as sheikah towers. what the fuck happened to the sheikah towers bc i'm either blind or they're gone. do shrines still exist in this game

hateno village (and other settlements) seems to have gotten updated! what new things do you guys think will be added in villages that weren't there before? also idk if it's just me but why do the three trees on mount lanayru look closer to the village??? i don't remember them being that close idk lol

DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET NEW NPCS IN THE SETTLEMENTS <33

THERE ARE LITTLE CAMPS IN CASTLE TOWN RUINS IM GOING TO CRYYYY they have the hylian crest on them so they have to be related to the royal family (in a business way) somehow? are these the construction folk who are going to rebuild castle town? do you guys think we'll get to see castle town completely rebuilt by the end of totk? DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET TO REBUILD EVERY RUINED SETTLEMENT TARREY TOWN STYLE??????? <3333

i know some people hated the fact that the botw map was reused and imo it's Nawt that serious girl calm down lmao. in fact i think reusing the map is an excellent challenge for the zelda team; how can you rework this familiar world into a fresh one the players can enjoy and explore again? with all the literal changes in the geographical markers of botw and the addition of new little thingie ma bobbies all throughout the map, i'm excited to see how the zelda team has approached this sort of challenge by reusing botw assets

THE THYPHLO RUINS AREN'T DARK ANYMOREEEE tbh i never finished that shrine quest LMFAOKDJFHJKD the not being able to see part always stressed me out and the fact that you had to fight a hinox in the dark 😭😭😭 IM SAWRYYY IM THE MOST ANXIOUS PLAYER EVER but i can't wait to explore it in the light????? i think someone mentioned how it also had zonai architecture; i'm just so invested in how the presence of the zonai shaped the now-world of botw/totk hyrule

so i wasn't able to see it in the trailers because i'm sooo blind, but did you guys ever see the divine beasts at all in the clips? i mean i wouldn't want to do a divine beast dungeon again LOL, but where do you guys think they are? are they just chilling in their respective regions? did they bury the beasts again? do you think we'd be able to actually go inside and explore the beasts for funsies now that they're not corrupted/in position lasered onto the castle?

WHAT IS OUT IN THE GERUDO DESERT. INSERT CARDI B MEME WHAT WAS THAT????? IS IT A SECRET DIVINE BEAST. FUCK. WHAT IS IT

the zonai have got to have some connection to time i know we could probably figure that out from the totk gameplay video from a couple weeks ago BUT STILL. let's have a twilight princess ancient hero comeback and just have old man ocarina bones sit in, or maybe multiple previous links spiderman no way home-style or whatever that movie was called. i didn't watch it sorry KDJHFJDK

ZELDA FALLING IN AND LINK JUMPING IN AFTER HER WITH HIS MALICE CORRUPTED ARM 😭💔 WHEN WILL MY BABIES BE FREE FROM THEIR FATES

THERE ARE FLYING PIRATE SHIPS TEEHEE. COME ON TREASURE PLANETTTTTT link but he's jim hawkins asf

water bubbles as transport like come on vesicles. come on transport cells. ANYWAYS THE LASERS link is a spy girl fr come on kim possible

WHO IS THAT. i can't take pictures i'm watching the trailer and pausing and unpausing on my switch while typing this on my laptop IS THAT A NEW HYRULEAN RACE. do you think it's like a fe3h ashen wolves moment where they've just been living underneath the ground because they were banished by hylia and no one knew lol

THE SANCTUM WAS RESTORED KSJDHFKJSDHFJKSDHF HOW DID THEY FIX IT SO FASTTTT what if link actually went back in time. the room is all sparkly so i'm like. did u fix it with magic or likeeeeee WHAT IS IT ASF

WHERE THE FUCK IS ZELDA. what do you guys MEAN you rely on link and the master sword. WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE??????? IS THAT THE ZONAI KING OR SOMETHING.

historically the hylians have believed in this like. pantheon of gods comprised of the golden goddesses + hylia, and i've always been under the assumption that other races just coexisted their faiths e.g. zora mainly believing in jabu-jabu, ww!rito believing in valoo, etc. what if there was like a pantheon of zonai gods but it's like greek vs roman style. what if hylia had a zonaian (?) counterpart. idk i'm spitballing out of my ass rn but i think it would be cool

re:WHO IS THAT. bulletpoint: WHAT IF THAT'S HYLIA'S ZONAIAN COUNTERPART. LOL

seeing all these flat little creatures floating in the sky makes me miss vah medoh and revali

WAS THAT TULIN. GO BACK HOME TO YOUR MOTHER?????????? WHERE IS TEBA.

link pulling people in wagon it's giving skyrim "oh you're finally awake" PAUSE WHAT ARE THOSE GREEN THINGS ON THE WHEEL. IS THAT ZONAI TECH/MAGIC

how the HELL did they build those shits on top of the talus. the bokos were really like It's Free Real Estate

link making himself a fully functioning tank rn. my brother in christ that is a vertical stone block with a cannon fused to its edge on wheels. i love it.

i kinda wanna know what happened to the elemental arrows. like in botw they tell you that rubies innately have the power of fire, but how does that differ from a regular fire arrow? does it do more damage?

HOLD ON TULIN WAS ABOUT TO GET EATEN BY THAT ICE MONSTER THING GO HOME??

what the FUCK is zelda cradling in her hands. is that a seed or life or something. it looks like an embryo lol. divine beast embryo

WAIT IS THAT HYLIA???? WHOAAAA

riju 🥺🥺🥺 the champion descendants 🥺🥺 doofus with a bucket on his head... SIDON WAIT HE HAS THE CROWN ON HIS HEAD

"link! you must find me!" WHERE ARE YOU GIRLLLL

i didn't realize there was a word limit. i just kept typing. ok those are my thoughts so far IM SO EXCITED

[barovianchickenandwaffles]

Retaking BCnW: a Barovian Tale

Author’s note: this was the very first “tale” I wrote after a side-gag on the Twitter feed about a failed venture in Sithicus. I’ve done some light editing and cleanup, plus reformatted for Tumblr. I wrote this in one night while listening to the Breath of Wild soundtrack on YouTube (Hyrule Castle) so it’s brief, but a lot of fun. Enjoy!!

Author’s note #2: the Mordorhubus, not to be confused with Murderhobos, were my old waffle delivery team. After their demise I just switched to GraveHub, DungeonDash, and UberEats.

So, there I was in the village of Barovia after being gone for so long. The street was empty, rain came down in sheets, and it was silent as a grave. Then, I heard a brief yelp coming from inside my old shop. Nothing but darkness in there waiting for me.

The dead corpse lying in my parking lot was nothing new, but part of his skull was missing and I knew who was responsible. Gary. The High Master Illithid.

A voice invaded my mind. Back so soon, Oleksii?

So much for the element of surprise. A showdown was inevitable. I clutched my silvered spatula, and then my hand felt for the loaded crossbow. I’d only get one shot at this.

I am a pretty quick shot, but somehow Gary … anticipates things.

I stepped from the light outside into the shadowy interior. A couple peasants sat by one table chewing their food slowly, their blank stares never registering my presence. A body was slumped over another booth, lifeless.

Okay, so the shop wasn’t in complete disarray.

Behind the counter was Gary, facial tentacles gripping another peasant by the skull firmly. There terrible slurping sound, another agonized yelp, and then it was over. Gary dropped the body like a ragdoll.

“Welcome back,” I heard a calm voice in my mind.

Gary’s face was slick with cerebral fluid, tentacles writhing greedily in the eerie lighting. I’ve been minding the store as you can see.

It was then that I noticed that Gary hadn’t updated the seasonal menu in weeks.

“Gary, where is my Mordorhubu team?”

The Illithid flinched. Ah yes, the elf, human and halfling. They resisted my management style and I had to put them on write up. When they threatened to form a union, I made short work of them. The elf was quite tasty.

“You ate all three?” I growled as I whirled behind a pillar, and stealthily drew the crossbow.

No, I fired the human and werewolves got him later. The halfling is washing dishes. I was going to save him for later.

“You fool, you have no idea what you’ve done,” It’d take weeks to hire more gullible adventures.

On the contrary, said the haughty voice in my mind, I’ve been restructuring this ailing franchise. You should thank me.

My mind was flooded with strange eldritch imagery: supply chain management, strategic planning, market segmentation, and the most blasphemous word of them all: benchmarking.

“Enough!” I begged. I whirled around and took my shot.

Gary was ready. The Illithid’s beady eyes had locked onto me from behind the counter, while the bulbous head shifted out of the way just in time as the bolt zipped past and ricocheted off a hanging pot in the kitchen.

Miss.

I dove toward the near side of the counter and drew the kitchen knife with the old Barovian runes on it. The one that drinks the darkness and sates for blood.

I leapt up to attack but Gary had been ready. A rainbow colored cone of energy blasted my mind.

I collapsed to the ground, knife clattering to the floor, my mind seized with pain.

Allow me to present my business strategy, Oleksii. Gary chuckled eagerly in my mind.

Unfortunate for Gary, I rolled a nat20 on my next INT save.

I dashed for the knife, snatched it, and whirled around. The blow was deflected and the Illithid lunged at me. I blocked the facial tentacles with my free arm just in time.

Your babusya can’t save you, Oleksii, the voice gloated, I want a raise, a 401k, and paid time off.

“Fine.”

Gary got his benefits, profits increased by 8%, and the halfling stuck around until he got caught stealing from the till to feed his ragweed habit. I let Gary take care of the offboarding process.

And then we all learned the True Meaning of Strahdmas or something.

The End.

End credits easter egg: As the fight rages on, a kender, who stowed away on the cart all the way from Sithicus, emerges from under the covers. Surveying this new land it grins curiously, leaps off the cart and runs into the night.

[handfuloftime]

Turns out I already had a post about chapter 9 that has been languishing in my drafts since January 2020.

Not sure why I never posted this--probably embarrassment over giving up two turns into the next chapter. Anyway:

Glad that the narration (and Seliph and Lewyn’s dialogue) brought up the question of why they were fighting and who they were fighting for, as they attack the one country on the continent that is not now and has never been under Grannvale rule. Not that it necessarily answered that question (beyond “they attacked us first” and “you can’t trust Travant”), but still, it was entirely missing from the first half of the game. (Will I ever stop dragging Sigurd for accidentally conquering most of western Jugdral? No, I will not.)

It’s also interesting that we’re two chapters from the end and the army hasn’t set foot in actual Grannvale yet. Though if this is a crusade to undo the wrongs of the previous generation, dismantling Grannvale imperialism one occupied territory at a time is a good way to start.

I have a surprising amount of feelings about the Thracian royal family, considering that one of them was a kidnapped child raised by her  parents’ worst enemy. Arion trying to get Travant to be more patient with Altenna, Altenna trying to call Travant and Arion by their names instead of “Father” and “Brother” but slipping up repeatedly, Arion pretending to side with Travant but actually agreeing with Altenna (though not enough to lay down his arms when it really mattered), Travant handing the Heaven Lance to Arion and flying off to get himself killed when he hears of Altenna’s defection... yeah. Good stuff.

Hanibal seems like a good guy, even if he was an absolute nightmare to recruit.

Ngl, I was shocked when the reinforcements Arvis had supposedly promised actually showed up, because the last time he’d promised to send reinforcements was when he hung Reptor out to dry.

All of the sibling interactions are great, but I want more cousin interactions. Let the Jungby kids talk to each other!

“Guess I’ll die.” -Travant, probably

When Julius showed up to save Ishtar last chapter, I assumed it was because he didn’t want his fiancée to die. Now I’m very, very worried about why he’s collecting almost-dead villains. 

I’ve had the Thracian theme music stuck in my head for two days straight.

And from the current (Feb 2023) playthough:

I’m very fond of the chapter intro showing us Travant dashing from castle to castle on his wyvern to check in on his captains. It feels like he’s putting in a lot more effort than most of the bosses. And his theme music is great.

So I ended Chapter 7 with Julia at level 9 and was worried I wouldn’t be able to get her to change class before the opening of chapter 10. Anyway, she grew eleven levels in Chapter 8 (as I realized that having her heal people is a guaranteed 20 exp every turn, and she got three free levels from rescuing villagers), and then swept the arena (growing another two levels) after changing class, so. She’s scary now. She’s already doing 50+ damage to everyone who isn’t a mage, can’t wait to see what happens when she gets her holy weapon. (Update from the end of the chapter: she’s level 26 now).

And Seliph went from level 12 to level 19 over the course of this chapter--still a little behind where I’d like him to be, but considering how much I’d neglected him in favor of Julia it’s not bad.

The recruiting Altenna/recruiting Hanibal/defeating Travant sequence was frustrating, to put it mildly. I ended up doing it basically backwards (killing Travant before recruiting Hannibal so that at least Hanibal would stop attacking me, then sticking a unit on the castle entrance when he ran off to get reinforcements, which trapped him in there until I could capture the other castle to get Corpul). It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. Eventually.

Killed Travant with Finn, mostly because he was the only other unit within range, but it felt fitting.

I forgot to get a screenshot to add to the Chapter 5 collection, but Altenna saying that she could bring Arion around if she only had a little more time... ouch.

And Arion insisting on fighting on because it’s his family’s fate... Love characters who know they’ve been doomed from the beginning. Oh, this game.

Once again had a lucky escape due to baffling AI choices, as Travant’s squadron that had parked on top of Seliph and Julia all decided to go throw javelins at Larcei instead. I think one of them actually hit her.

All of the reunion conversations are really getting me this time around, but Finn and Altenna’s almost made me cry. Between him crying and admitting he’d never thought to look for her (when she was just the next country over!) because he was sure she was dead, and her reminiscing about following him around as a kid... yeah. This really is the Feelings About Altenna’s Families chapter.

Next up: the two chapters I have never played! This will be fine!

[patrickswhore]

Karl Heisenberg X male reader

A/n: i couldn’t find any gifs of my daddy so I made one 😂 also sorry for not updating for a while, schools been tough but I’m in self isolation so I have plenty of time to write 😂 also light smut towards the end.

I stood at the back of my house, chopping wood for the burner. The snow fell heavy, making the wood crunch as it hit the cold ground.

I could see my breath as I breathed out in exhaustion. This winter was gonna be tough for me and my family. As the only man in my household and newly turned 21, I was just waiting for my sisters to play match makers and find me a young lady... hopefully that would be a while. In my village, being attracted to the same gender isn’t really a thing. So I’ll just have to suck it up, marry and have kids... you know, conform to society.

I walked inside with the lumber, shaking to get the snow off me like a wet dog. I placed it by the fireplace and threw a few blocks on the fire.

I hung my jacket on the coat rack and walked to the living room where my sister was sitting, chatting with a friend and drinking tea.

“Where’ve you been, (Y/N)? Fooling around with a lady?” My sister asked sarcastically, making fun of my lack of luck with women.

“Very funny, Paula” I rolled my eyes and walked into my moms bedroom, knocking softly on the door before entering.

Mother was laying in bed, looking at the ceiling. I knelt by her side, taking her hand. Ever since father passed away she hasn’t been the same, she lays in bed all day, not talking nor eating much.

“How are you feeling, mother?”

“....”

“I haven’t found a job yet.. but I promise I’ll find the money for your medicine, mother.... I promise”

She didn’t answer, she just kept on staring. I sighed and walked out the room, closing the door softly behind me.

“(Y/N), one of the neighbours came with this letter for you when you were out”

My sister handed me a letter, my name on the front in a crude handwriting. I opened the letter, it had a beautiful wax seal, decorated with a horse. The letter read:

Dear (Y/N)

Congratulations on your 21th birthday. You’ve been selected to come work for Karl Heisenberg at the factory on the outskirts of town. You’ve been selected because of your high grades and physical attributes. Please report to the factory as quickly as possible.

Kind regards, Karl Heisenberg.

My heart skipped a beat, Karl Heisenberg was asking me to come work for him. I couldn’t believe it, I rushed to me and my sisters room, quickly putting on some clean clothes and my prayer shoes. I ran into my mothers room, kneeling besides her once again.

“Mother, great news! I’m gonna go work for Lord Heisenberg...”

“.....”

“I love you mother, I’ll be back soon”

I rushed out, giving my sister a peak on the forehead and storming out the front door and into the freezing weather.

I walked up the hill to the metal doors, the factory was up and running, making a hell of a lot of noise. I banged on the heavy doors before it slowly opened on its own, revealing a room filled with scrap metal.

I heard the cracking sound of an intercom before hearing a low voice speaking.

“Ah! (Y/N) great you’re here so quickly. Please make your way to my office, all you have to do is make a left where you are and walk straight. It’s as easy as that, I’ll be waiting”

That must be lord Heisenberg speaking. I straighten up and walked as I had been instructed to. The condors were cramped and dimly lit by red lamps. I felt like the further into the factory I got, the more a putrid smell started to emerge. I finally reached the door, knocking two times.

“Yeah come on in!”

I slowly pushed open the metal door and was pleased that the wretched smell was now being overpowered by the scent of cigar smoke. There he sat, his back turned to me as I slowly shut the door. His hair was long and rugged, and he was toying with a small knife between his fingers.

“It’s great to finally meet you, (Y/N) (L/N). My men has had their eyes on you for a while, but you’re more impressive in person” the man stood up, he was taller then me to start with, but also physically more pumped. I was kinda scrawny, but the winter without my farther had put some meat on my bones.

“It’s an honor to be able to work for you, lord” I bowed my head slightly before looking up and finding him much closer then before. He put a finger under my chin, inspecting my face from different angels.

“My men were right, you surely are a very beautiful man”

My breath hitched in my throat.

“I beg you pardon?”

“Oh don’t play dumb with me, boy... we both know what you are”

“So that’s why you brought me here... not for work”

“Well a special kind of work, if you catch my drift”

“....”

He let go of my chin, moving a step back. I couldn’t deny it, he was extremely hot, but the thought of not being able to sustain my family drove me mad.

“Don’t worry, you’re getting a job at the factory too, and I’ll pay you handsomely for your services.. I know how much your family needs the money”

A stone lifted from my heart. What had I done for mother Miranda to gift me with such fortune? A well paying job and a handsome boss, who could ask for more?

“When do I start?”

“Well, immediately. But first, I have a question” he asked walking closer to me, slowly pushing me against the wall behind us. One hand on the wall besides my head and the other on my waist.

“Do you find me attractive?” His head was inching closer to my neck. His smell was intoxicating, a mix of sweat, cologne and rusty metal. I couldn’t get enough of him.

“Yes, very much”

“Good, because I need you to fix something for me” he grabbed my wrist with the hand from my waist and guided it to his crotch. I cupped his growing bugle as he made a low growling noise, almost like a dog. I started to softly stroke it as he removed his head from my neck, setting his hat on a nearby table before going back to my neck, kissing and biting along the side. I softly grabbed his dick, sending a shockwave through his body. He pulled back, looking at me through his sunglasses, I could slightly see his eyes which were full of lust. He put both his hands on my waist before moving me to the table, turning me around and bending me over it.

“You like that? You dirty man” he huffed, grinding against my ass, a hand on the back of my neck and another under my shirt on the small of my back.

“I’m gonna fuck you so hard, you hear me?” He gave my ass a hard slap, I cried out in pleasure and surprise, gripping the edge of the table.

I could hear his belt buckle being undone as I waited. Suddenly a voice over the loud speakers outside.

“All four lords, report to the castle immediately. Glory be to mother Miranda”

“You have to be fucking kidding me, what does that super sized bitch want now?” He huffed in annoyance buckling his belt again. I stood up, sitting on the table which I had just been bent over.

“I’ll be back very soon” he placed himself between my legs and gave me a passionate kiss, I of course, kissed back.

He put on his hat before storming out the door. I sighed and hung my head. Fuck...

Bonus:

“You’re late, Heisenberg” Alcina snapped as Karl stomped inside.

“I was in the middle of something”

“In the middle of what? You’re such a-“ she stopped dead in her tracks as Karl sat down, completely forgetting about his huge bulge.

“Oh.. I see, you’ve gotten a bit too happy for one of your experiments again”

Karls eyes widened as he swung his jacket over his lap, covering his crotch.

“Shut up bitch, and stop looking at my dick”

“ watch your mouth, child. Moreau, wanna bet on how long this one is gonna last until he kills him?”

Moreau giggled before getting hit in the back with a sheet of metal.

“Not this one, freak!.... this one is different”

“Mhmm, let’s see about that”

“I’ll rip your fucking over sized head off, you stupid bitch!” The hammer flew into Karls hand before Miranda interrupted.

“I’ll fucking show you... he’s the one”

[infernalrevenge]

Hey, Kiss Me? (Don't Mind If I Do)

Fandom: Resident Evil 8: Village

Pairing: Daniela Dimitrescu x Reader (Gender Neutral)

Rating: G

Summary: Daniela is used to being the flirty one, blowing kisses and making a pass at anyone who caught her attention. It just never occurred to her that the tables could turn on her.

Notes: [slams fists on the table] LET ME FLIRT WITH THE CUTE VAMPIRE GIRL. If RE8 had a dating sim spin-off in some alternate universe where Capcom REALLY wanted to capitalize on the game's success, one of my runs would definitely involve romancing the youngest Dimitrescu. For anyone else who feels me on this, this is for you too. I also tried writing this in 2nd person POV for a change. Hope it still turned out alright, it's my first time writing this way. Enjoy!

----------

You had been working for the Duke for quite a while now. He took you in in your time of need and had been made an apprentice of sorts in the art of trading and bargaining.

You've met your fair share of oddities while settled in the village and running errands, including but not limited to: A man who can control metal and electricity on a whim, a talking doll who lives under a waterfall, and the numerous wolf-man hybrids that lurked around the vicinity. They were what most may consider crass company -- at least, that was what the Lady of the castle would say.

Lady Alcina Dimitrescu was a frequent customer and a business partner of the Duke's, helping her in the sale of her vintage "wine" to intrigued buyers. This also meant that the two of you were frequent visitors to the castle on the other side of the village proper -- a vast estate that was entirely too large for just four women to occupy (even if one of those women happened to be nine feet tall).

Miss Bela was always the more polite and civil of Dimitrescu's daughters, offering a simple greeting whenever you would come by. When it was appropriate, she was always at her mother's side and paying attention to how meetings between the older adults would proceed, like a student eager to learn from the best. You figured that, as the oldest sibling, she might take over the business someday. You weren't sure exactly how that would happen, given what you knew of the family, but you really shouldn't prod anyway. At least, not now.

Miss Cassandra was more closed off, so to speak. It always seemed like she would barely acknowledge your presence in the castle, talking only when it was necessary and immediately leaving the room once she was allowed to. However, you would feel a prickling in the back of their neck when she wasn't around, like you were being watched from the background -- prey at the mercy of their predator. But every time you turned around, there would be no one there, not even a sound to indicate escape. A part of you thought you might have been pulled into some unwitting game, wondering what would happen if you did catch the perpetrator in the act. You weren't sure you really wanted to find out.

Then, there was Miss Daniela, whose attention seemed to lie in... other prospects. Like Bela, she offered warm greetings whenever you would stop by the property. Unlike her sisters though, who never really bothered with the Duke's apprentice, she always tried to entertain herself with your company. You had a friendly enough rapport with her that you could relax in her presence as well, so it was nice. You figured it was mostly because they rarely ever got outside company, and since the sisters stay in the castle a lot of the time, she always welcomed you with enthusiasm. And a smile. And a wink. And some passing remark about how nicely you dressed that day and that you must have been trying to impress her.

"I could just eat you right up," she would say with a giggle and a playful growl.

You've never been too sure what to make of her -- she always seemed to have her head in the clouds, only coming back down at the behest of her mother or when her sisters were persistent enough. You also never knew how to respond to her flirting apart from flustered silence, which only seemed to spur her on even more. It was like she was just trying to get a reaction from you, making a game of it. It was far different from the one her older sister seemed to be keen on playing, but a game nonetheless -- how far could she push your buttons and make you implode from embarrassment?

Honestly, it seemed to be working.

You had been well-socialized thanks to your training under the Duke, and of course the man himself was charming and likeable so a part of you liked to think it may have rubbed off as he raised you. But that was when it came to formalities and negotiations -- maybe banter, if you could really push it. You've thought about responding earnestly, but flirting was another ball game all on its own, one that you don't really play on purpose, and you frequently found yourself floundering at the face of it. Especially when that face was as pretty as Daniela's.

It wasn't like you thought she liked you that way or anything -- you genuinely thought she said all those things for fun, to amuse herself with how hot you got or how you would sheepishly shrink in on yourself. But you weren't going to deny that she was cute and that you may have just a small crush on her. Just maybe. Not that you would ever admit that out loud.

----------

One winter day, the Duke entrusted you with meeting with Lady Dimitrescu on your own. She was informed of his absence beforehand -- something about attending to Lord Heisenberg's business -- and so you were left to take care of updates. In the meantime, you kept yourself busy in the guest area, perusing the dusty books in shelves that definitely needed some cleaning. It seemed like the castle could never have enough help.

As soon as you were left alone, with only your notepad and thoughts to keep you company, you felt the hairs at the back of your neck stand. You slowly looked to the side, eyes trained on a dark corner of the room. The light from the fireplace didn't quite reach that spot, making it quite the hiding place. Was something (or someone) moving from there? Are your eyes playing paranoid tricks on you? Was it Miss Cassandra playing her one-sided game again? Perhaps... you shouldn't interfere then.

You turned your attention back to the book shelf, looking high above you, wanting to take a closer look at the selection. You dragged a stool and a few stacked cushions to the shelves and slipped your shoes off, praying to whoever was out there that Lady Dimitrescu wouldn't find you like this. Oh, the scolding I'd get from Duke about manners -- you'd never hear the end of it. Stepping carefully onto the plush surface -- a few feet from the ground -- and finding your balance, you start to pick something out that had an interesting title.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Y/N," a voice echoed in the room, catching you off guard.

You jumped in surprise and lost your footing, falling backward as the cushions slipped from under you. Oh yeah, this was gonna hurt! But before you could make contact with the hardwood floor, a hand reached out and grabbed you by the waist, catching you in a rather precarious position.

"You could've hurt that cute little ass of yours," the voice cooed. Daniela seemed to have materialized from out of nowhere, wearing a mischievous grin and holding onto you as she practically hovered over you. Oh god, she was so close, you don't know where your body heat ended and hers started.

"Miss Daniela," you greeted, finally finding your voice. "Um, thanks for the save."

She pulled you up to standing on the stool and raised an eyebrow at you, smirking amusedly, "And what exactly were you doing so high up in the shelves? Aren't you supposed to be waiting here like a good little one?"

"I was just... looking at the books," you replied softly, "And falling for you, I suppose," you added as a joke, chuckling as you shook off your nerves from earlier. You were a little surprised she didn't start off with that line honestly, given how easy--

Daniela's smirk dropped at your response, eyes widening as she stiffened. Uh oh... did you say something wrong?

She blinked at you, mouth hanging open slightly as if she was trying to find the words. It looked like she gave up though, just looking away and stepping off the stool. Were you imagining that her cheeks just turned pink?

"Mother's waiting for you at the meeting room," was all she said before quickly making her exit.

It took a while before the wheels in your head started turning again.

----------

The next time you came to the castle with the Duke, it was a warm day in spring. On these occasions, sometimes Lady Dimitrescu would be more open to a different venue of meeting than inside the castle -- "for a change of scenery," as she would say. The two of you met her and her daughters at the main garden at the back of the property, the sun shining generously on all forms of life.

When Daniela spotted you, she seemed almost caught unaware, but she quickly regained composure, throwing a smirk and wink your way -- her usual greeting. You couldn't help but duck down shyly, but nonetheless waved and smiled back.

The older adults took their business elsewhere, leaving you alone with the daughters at the lobby; well, more like a daughter, since Cassandra had already left before you can say another word and Bela had excused herself soon after. It was normal for you to be in the company of the redhead at this point. Not that she seemed to mind.

"Been a while since you've been back here. Betcha missed me, huh?" Daniela said, a charming smile curled on her lips. She stood next to you, seeming intent on leading you on a little walk around. Hey, you'd take any excuse to spend time with her.

You laughed softly, "Quite, Miss Daniela."

"You're still sticking to those formalities, Y/N? Come on, you can drop the 'Miss'." She sidled up closer to you, nudging your side. "You can even skip 'Daniela' altogether and just call me yours."

You unconsciously covered your mouth as you glanced her way -- she was being more straightforward than usual. You don't know if you were just trying to hide the blood rushing to your cheeks or trying to stop yourself from smiling too widely, but seeing the smug look on the other's face, you knew she succeeded yet again in flustering you.

"What's wrong? Did summer come early? You're looking kinda warm," she teased, bending down slightly to your face level. "Then again, you are hot enough for the both of us." Damn, she was too good at this. "You'd give the sun a run for its money, honey."

You took a few moments to collect yourself, standing up straighter and clearing your throat. Your eyes looked up to meet hers, showing a half-smile as you spoke with as smooth of a delivery as you can muster, "I'd always thought you would be the sun's rival, given how easily you brighten up my day."

Daniela nearly tripped when she took another step, only managing to catch herself on a nearby bench.

"Are you--"

"I'm fine! I'm fine, just, uh... stubbed my toe on something. Stupid rock."

There were no rocks on the path you two were walking -- unless one counted the flat rock ground. (It didn't.)

The rest of the day carried on as it normally would -- Daniela distracting you from the uneasy feeling of being watched from a proper walk with her usual demeanor, batting her eyelashes and telling you how she simply must teach you to dance some time. "Maybe then you'll learn to loosen up around me." But in return, you would sometimes reply with your own quips -- "Well I wouldn't be opposed to being closer to you, Miss Daniela." You weren't about to question where this newfound confidence came from; you may as well own it, right?

It was only after that visit, replaying the day in your head like you wanted to remember it for as long as you could, that a realization came to you -- the way her cheeks tinged pink and averted her gaze, how she was rendered speechless whenever you replied in the same way that was usually expected of her...

She's not used to being flirted back to.

Her self-esteem allowed her to accept most straightforward compliments with grace, so flattery did not faze her in the slightest -- but when it came to using disarming words? When charm and wit were used right back at her?

She floundered almost as much as you did.

Suddenly, you weren't just a prop in the game anymore -- you knew how to play it now. You knew uttering such sweet (and occasionally cheesy) phrases could make the youngest Dimitrescu blush harder than a maiden being courted. And by god, did she look adorable when she did.

You kind of understood why she did all that now -- watching someone get flustered and knowing you were the cause of it was fun. It was weirdly thrilling seeing her react like that, but then again you might be confusing that feeling with different kind of fluttering in your chest whenever you were alone with Daniela. Who knows?

One thought lingered at the back of your mind though: How long would it take before one of you broke and asked the other on a real date?

.

.

.

(Cassandra materialized behind Daniela as you bade her farewell for the day. She had been observing the two of you interact for a while, monitoring the redhead's "progress". She knocked her sister out of her faraway thoughts with a smack to the head. "So are you gonna admit you like them yet?"

Daniela seemed almost offended at the insinuation, "I would nev-- I mean how dare-- I don't like-- they're just-- I--"

The brunette only raised an eyebrow.

"They're..." She thought back to you, that cute little smile you wore whenever she tried to flirt with you, and how you suddenly rose to the challenge of using her own tactics against her earlier. It was kind of hot. "Okay, I guess. They're okay. They're fine." Quite fine. "That's all I'm gonna say."

"Suuuure...")

[starfirette]

PLEASE PLEASE LET MOTHER!READER AND LEVI ACTUALLY GET MARRIED SO THEY CAN TAG TEAM AND BE EMBARRASSING PARENTS FOR ARMIN (and possibly Eren and Mikasa??)

ceNew Lovehapter fie

part one | part two | masterlist | chapter five

a/n: this is a happier version of the snk universe so everything’s low key chill rn. Uhmmmm this is really long. I got carried away. It doesn’t even meet the actual premise of the anon’s request. It’s got the general outline. So yeah sorry about whatever this is. 

tags: @honeylavender13 @kaimagotchii @captainchrisstan @multi-fandom-fanfic @levisnackajack

The ground beneath your feet was soft. 

It was refreshing after the hours long ride in the public coach that took you from Dauper to the castle. 

The large yard of plush grass was well kept, and it led straight to the large array of crafted wood and stone. It amassed to a large castle that stretched more wide than it did tall. The sun that was setting seemed to linger just above the tallest point of the castle, making the entire scene like that from a fairy tale. It was an image that would be forever imprinted in your mind. 

Today marks the beginning of the second ever family reunion at the survey corps’s castle. It’s a grandiose event that has left the majority of the population in a permanent uproar of happiness. The last event was exactly a year ago. Between then, and now, you’d been pacing in your little house. It lifted part of the weight on your shoulders. This weight had been invisible up until one year ago. Departing the castle made you realize just how lonely and sad you were being alone. Your house had more beds unused that you would have liked. It was small, but it felt so vast to you being there alone. You spent your time doting on your new flower vase. It was never seen without a fresh bouquet of the flowers. But, that didn’t mean much. Especially if you’re the only one there who ever gets to appreciate your knack for flower arrangement. Believe it or not, that was a class the Interior society offered. You and the late Armin had been gifted three free classes on flower arranging. You had lots of fun. But your poor fellow spent the entire time sneezing and itching his eyes. 

You know that he would have appreciated the efforts you made to keep yourself from spiraling into insanity. He would have done his best to keep you busy. You, on the other hand, were being rather lazy. You found side work taking your neighbors’ dogs for walks or for grooming their stable horses. It was more for something to do than it was for money. You still had a good amount amassed  in your savings. 

Between that and the flowers, you had one thing that kept you sane; letters. You liked the days when four letters were left for you at the village post. One from your son, who always detailed his latest adventures. One from your godson, who detailed his latest feats and learnings about being a titan. One from your goddaughter, who always sent you bundles of pretty fabric she found while at town markets, and updates about how the boys were doing. And then there was one from him. Since your first meeting, you couldn’t keep him out of your mind. He was handsome, smart, and respected. He had a way of making you swoon just by reading his letters. He didn’t realize it, but he has a way with words that you couldn’t explain. Some letters made your heart beat fast; others had you pinched with desperate desire to just be in his arms and feel his body against your own. 

Now, at the castle, you wouldn’t need letters. You would have the real thing. 

You stepped to the rear end of the community coach. A footman was passing out trunks and other pieces of luggage. While they waited, the other mothers and fathers made idle chatter with their newly made friends. Other carriages and coaches rolled up through the little gap in the woods. The road was narrow there, but no one had trouble emerging from the mouth of the blossoming trees. It was a journey worth taking if only for the view. The castle was incredibly well kept, as were its grounds. The plush green grass stretched out with rocky paths that led up to the large doors. 

You held your hand out for your large trunk as the footman waved it around to find its owner.

You hoisted the trunk onto your shoulder before hurrying down the path to reach the doors that were swung open. 

Your velvet red skirt swished around your ankles, revealing the tips of your periwinkle shoes as they dashed over the grass. You’d made the effort to dress nicely because you knew this would be the second time you could see Him. He didn’t care about your appearance. He didn’t mind any outfit you wore. Or he wouldn’t mind. You knew that. But still, you couldn’t help but feel the urge to look nice for him. You hoped he would look at you and see a voluptuous rose . Although, just thinking that made you feel incredibly bashful. You didn’t need to be a voluptuous rose. The red skirt was tied with a waist belt made from leather that kept your white, flowy blouse tucked in. You didn’t look too fancy, or so you tried to assure yourself. There were several other people here that looked much more ‘dignified’.

You set your trunk down at the edge of the large foyer. The open doors allowed the breeze of the summer evening to waft in and tickle your showing skin. 

The castle was grandly decorated. You took a minute to admire the general splendor of the décor. It was obviously immaculate and pristine, the same has it had been when you were last here. Heavy banners of quality forest green fabric were hung around, displaying the Corps’s emblem. The many sets of staircases had garland crafted from seasonal flora intertwining the banisters.

There was a warmer aura than there had been last time. You noticed soft carpets now lined the walkways towards the other parts of the castle. 

A strong voiced soldier called out to the people. You took your trunk in hand and lugged it to the center of the large foyer where everyone else gathered to hear an announcement. 

You struggled to see the man clearly. You’d met the Commander of the Corps briefly last year. You could only see glimpses of him now as you tried to look around the figures of others taller than you. 

“It is,” he said loudly, though happily, “with great pleasure that I greet you all here this evening. We have all been excited and overjoyed to commence the second ever family reunion here at our castle. Several of our junior soldiers and younger cadets are still out doing fieldwork just thirty minutes away from the castle. I, as well as other colleagues, will help you all make your way to your rooms. The guest halls are open for anyone to take a room as they please.”

The crowd dispersed loudly; parents pulled their children up the stairs. Toddlers shrieked at being told they could not explore the castle, but instead had to remain in their father’s arms as they went up the stairs.

You lugged your trunk back up to your shoulder. 

“Will the famed Madame allow me to carry her things?” a deep voice purred beside your ear. You were surprised to see the Captain Levi Ackerman behind you. He was dressed out of uniform; this evening he bore dark grey dress pants and an overcoat to match. His usual cravat was missing, so his collar was undone just enough that you could see the sharp indents of his clavicle. 

Your cheeks gathered a blush as you met the Captain’s eyes. “Hello, Captain.” 

“Madame,” he said again. “It’s lovely to see you again.” 

“And you,” you said softly. It truly was. You awkwardly shifted your trunk into the Captain’s arms. He carried it easily with one arm. “Shall I lead the way?” 

“Of course,” you stammered. The captain didn’t do anything besides nod as he ascended the staircase of dark cherry wood. One of his arms carried the trunk with remarkable ease, and his free arm was left to float just near your waist with caution as you ascended after him. He did not touch you, but you could feel his presence like a magnet. If he inched his fingertips just closer, he would feel the velvet of your rose red skirt.

The guest hall had a large number of spare rooms, all numbered. The hall extended a great deal. You weren’t sure you would be able to remember your way around. You crept around opening doors, looking to see which rooms were taken and which weren’t. Others did the very same. Larger families sought rooms just beside each other. Pre-teens desperately wanted their own rooms desperately. 

It was easy to find yourself a room. You didn’t mind the idea of neighbors or whatnot. It was only you, anyways, so you didn’t have anyone else to consult. “This one is just fine, Captain,” you told him. He nodded. He followed you into the room. 

As he set the trunk on your bed, you leaned out the doorway to look around. You didn’t see anyone you recognized. So you closed the door and turned the brass lock. 

Strong, though slender, hands wrapped around your waist. 

Him. 

You turned and were met with the deep kiss from Levi. His mouth molded onto yours, his lips warm and achingly soft. His hands held the underside of your jaw, all while his tongue swept against yours. You sighed into his mouth, a sound of pleasure. 

“I missed you so, so much,” Levi growled into your mouth. He pulled away for a moment, letting you breathe as you kept your forehead’s touching. 

“I missed you, too,” you said in a breathless laugh. You pulled on the collar of his tunic, tugging him just slightly down so you would kiss again. He wasn’t much taller than you. 

His hand brushed your hair from your face. “You look very beautiful,” he murmured. 

“Thank you,” you said softly, trying to resist the sheepish smile that wanted to twitch on your mouth. “I mean it,” Levi said again. He sounded stern this time. “It’s almost too much for me to bear…” 

Your giggle was smothered out as Levi’s mouth met yours again, this time in a deep kiss that left you feeling a fire in your stomach. His mouth was curled in a lovely smile, which deepened as you slid a hand over his chest. His skin was hot, though smooth; pale and slightly scarred. Little ridges of cuts and gashes that had healed all over his skin may have spread all across to his stomach, and his back.

His hand  clamped over yours very suddenly, stopping your movement as you had lowered your hand to the hem of his pants. “And this is where I’m going to end it,” he said carefully. 

You two took a large step away from one another. You smoothed the front of your shirt and skirt down, feeling like your face was burning. “It’s very good to see you again, Captain,” you said breathlessly. You brushed your hair from your eyes. 

You looked at the captain once more. You couldn’t help but lunge towards him again, this time wrapping your arms around him. Levi pressed a kiss into the top of your hair. His hand cradled the back of your head as he held you just as close as you had hoped. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Madame,” Levi murmured. 

You looked up at him, staring into his steely eyes. Levi brought hand down to catch you by the chin. He tilted your head back, closed his eyes, and pressed a tender kiss onto your lips. Your eyelids fluttered closed. It bewildered you just how soft Levi could be; he seemed so stoic, so intense-but with you, he had a way of making life feel like a fairy tale. 

“I’m going to miss you,” you muttered. 

Levi pulled away, looking at you with confusion. “You just got here. Why are you thinking about leaving so soon?” 

“I can’t help it,” you sighed. “I’m unable to rid the fact from my mind.” 

Levi slowly took a seat on the made bed. The head and footboard were made from the same cherry stained wood that decorated the rest of the castle. Mint green muslin sheets adorned the mattress and a thick, white comforter that looked fluffier than anything was tucked neatly between the mattress box. 

“You look like you want to say something,” you noted as you approached him. He held out both of his hands for you to take. You did it, feeling your nerves light up at the feeling of his hands on yours. 

“I meant what I said in the letters,” he said in a straight voice. His eyes fixated on yours with an intensity that made your knees buckle. It was remarkable that you didn’t blush like crazy. “It would be my greatest honor to take care of you.” 

You repressed a sigh. On one hand, you wanted to melt against him. On the other…

“Levi there’s nothing more that I want. There’s just so many things I can’t-I-Levi. Stop!” 

“Stop what?” he asked in all seriousness. 

“Stop looking at me that way,” you said, your voice going squeaky. 

“Apologies,” Levi added firmly. He pulled you closer, pressing a kiss above the hollow of your throat. You twined your hands through his dark locks of soft, soft hair. You could imagine the feeling of it against your inner thighs. 

“Levi.” 

Levi pulled back. “Alright,” he convened. “Just so you’re prepared, I pulled strings. The dinner and breakfast parties have Jaeger-Eren-at the superiors table. My commander seated Armin and Mikasa with the boy as well. And, I mean, you’re technically their guardian. So.” Levi cleared his throat. He suddenly looked away. 

“We’ll sit together,” you concluded. 

“That. That’s right,” Levi agreed. He was uncharacteristically uncomfortable; maybe even bashful. “That’s very right. I have to tell you, the children don’t hate me entirely.”

You bit your lip to try not to laugh. “I wouldn’t say that they hate you,” you assured him. “But I’m fairly certain Armin and Mikasa wouldn’t appreciate the fact you send me such inappropriate letters,” you conclude with a mischievous grin. 

“Letters you initiated,” Levi corrected. He used the tip of his pink to tap the point of your nose. “And reciprocated. ‘Oh Levi, how I yearn for you.’”

“Stop!” you cried, covering his mouth with your hand. He released a laugh that crinkled his eyes. “I’m not that mean to Armin, you know.”

“Not anymore,” you tell him. “Not now that you’ve successfully swayed the poor boy’s mother.” 

“Nonsense,” Levi affirmed himself. “I’m never mean to anyone. Not even Jaeger. Eren!” He corrected himself upon seeing your pointed glance meant to stop such a mistake. 

“Now he’s a completely new subject all together,” you said. “Eren would likely never come home if he knew you were there to greet him. Levi, you overwork that poor boy so much!” 

“It’s not me alone,” Levi tried to defend himself. “There are others in my squad that-Now don’t look at me like that, madame, lest I punish you.” 

“Tempting, but I really should be getting ready for dinner. And to see the children. Oh, I’m just so-I don’t know, I’m so happy to be here.” 

Levi couldn’t hold back a smile. He didn’t try to. “And they’re happy to have you. I’m happy to have you.” You leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek. “When can I see you again?” you asked him. 

“I suppose I could schedule some impromptu chores for the brats. Nothing too extreme. Just something that will keep them occupied while you and I make due on our intimate promises.” 

You felt yourself blush fiercely as you thought back to the letters, and everything Levi had detailed: to do to you, to make you do, to make you feel, to make you say. 

You cleared your throat. “I suppose it’s good for the children to keep busy. They must have something to do. So, Captain, I’ll see you at dinner.” 

Levi took your hand in his own, drawing it up to his mouth before pressing a kiss to the flat of it. “I look forward to it, Madam.” 

After Levi left, you took yourself to the little offhand wash room. The spout ingrained in the wall poured water into a claw foot tub. You imagined how nice that would feel in comparison to the cold washing river you and the other village woman and girls used in the summer. 

You packed in your little toothbrush and hair clips. The circular mirror had an aged fog on the surface of the glass.

There came a knock at the door that made your heart flutter with excitement. You flocked to the door, pulling it open with great energy. 

You cried in delight when you saw the three teenagers the crowded your doorstep. 

Mikasa had her hair half up, half down; when she saw you, her childish smile emerged, the same as it had been when she was little.

Eren looked the same as ever, still a few good feet taller than you. 

And your little (not-so-little) child, Armin, was prim and neat. He never looked messy. He was pristine, and with that came his natural grace. You could go on for hours just talking about how poised and intelligent your son is; and while you usually enjoy bragging about him, you couldn’t find the breath for any words. You engulfed Armin in a tight hug. He chuckled under his breath, muttering, “Hello, mama,” as he wrapped his own arms around you gently. 

You held him close for a few moments, trying not to burst into tears. “Oh, don’t cry!” Armin exclaimed. 

You wiped your eyes as you pulled away. “I’m not crying, dear,” you lied. 

You pulled Eren in next. 

Looking at Mikasa, you saw her cheeks became rosey and a smile had stolen her stoic face. “Hello, darling,” you sighed as you held her tight. She nuzzled her face into your hair, relaxing in your arms.

“Is it possible you’re all even older than last time?” You exclaimed as you resigned to looking at them lined up beside one another. 

“Well, yeah. That’s actually exactly how it works,” Eren says. 

You could hardly chide him for you were too overtaken by the immense happiness you felt in your chest. You covered over where your heart rested with both hands. 

You wished you could save the image in your mind forever. No artist could properly capture the beauty of your child and god children. 

Eren, Armin, and Mikasa stood shoulder to shoulder dresses in their fine clothes. “How was your trip here, Auntie?” Mikasa asked. 

“Uneventful,” you assured her. “How was your day?” 

“Eren got bucked off his horse and ate dirt,” Armin snickered. 

Eren’s face fell as he recalled the memory. “It wasn’t that funny,” Eren argued. 

“It was quite amusing,” Mikasa added. “Armin means ‘ate dirt’ literally.” 

Eren stuck out his tongue to rid his memory of the taste. “It was hardly the most exciting thing about my day,” he mumbled. “I, for one, am ready to move past it. It’s already a distant memory. Besides. I’m starving. I’m ready for this dinner.”

Mikasa frowned. “But, Eren,” she said as she turned to face him. “How are you hungry when you ate so much dirt?” 

She and Armin evaporated into a fit of laughter. Still clutching his abdomen, Armin managed to say, “Come on, mother, let’s go to the dining hall.”

Eren grumbled as he stalked after Armin, who playfully punched his friend in the shoulder. Mikasa stayed close to link her arms with yours. “You look radiant,” you told her as you walked after the two young men. 

“So do you,” Mikasa said. You laughed the comment away. But, in usual Mikasa fashion, she looked at you with such seriousness. “I mean it. Somehow, there’s something different about you. I’m not sure what.”

“I’m overjoyed to even be here,” you told her, kissing the crown of her head. The three chatted your ear off as to what they’d recently been up too; you were caught between listening and admiring the grandiose castle. Every corridor led to somewhere and that was the best part about it; it was vast, and it was exciting. It was beautiful. It was reminding you more and more of Levi. Mikasa pulled away from you to catch up with Eren and join the conversation he and Armin were carrying on. You realized that you were more in love with Levi than you’d initially thought. When you start seeing your lover in things as simple as a castle, you’ve probably fallen too hard. 

When the teens realized that they’d lost you, they let you catch up. Armin linked his arm in yours, and Eren took the other. They both chatted your ear off with humorous stories while Mikasa attempted to save you. At the large doors to the dining hall, you assured Mikasa you enjoyed hearing the talk. It had been so long since you had a real conversation with anyone; at least, anyone at you cared about. 

There were other families lining up behind you. 

“Armin,” someone said loudly. “Where’s your hot mom?”

Armin went red in the face as he, and Eren and Mikasa, paused, looking shamefully to the stone floor. “Mother, why don’t you meet Reiner Braun.” 

The boisterous young man who had conjured from behind you also looked as embarrassed as his friends. “I’m so sorry, miss,” Reiner spit out faster than he could blink. “I just thought you might be Armin’s sister, or maybe a cousin, or anyone else, and I-I’m sorry. I mean, I’d heard that you were attractive from Connie, but of course, I’d never say that you were ‘hot.’ Not that you’re not”

He offered a low incline of his head as an apology before he scurried back to his own family. A young looking girl, no older than eight years of age, was doubled over with laughter. She clutched her stomach and let her straight, brown hair fly around her face. She could not be consoled. Reiner had shuffled back to his mother who gave him a stern pinch on the ear. Despite being hyeads taller than her, Reiner actually bent down to help his mother give her punishment. She dragged the young girl over, along with Reiner. “I have to apologize for my son. He’s always been too quick to speak without thinking.”

“Yeah! My daddy says that about me too. Did you know that one time I snuck a coyote into the house as a pet, did you know that?” The girl had burst into the tale, completely forgetting any of the context. 

“Gabby, sweet heart, let’s calm down,” Reiner’s mother said soothingly, touching the girl on the head. “My niece,” she said, looking at you with a sheepish smile. “What can you do?” 

“Oh, well I’m sure she’s just so happy to see her big, older cousin!” you said happily, shifting your gaze towards the young girl. “I recommend a domesticated bunny for a pet, rather than a coyote. Much less bothersome. Armin loved his so very much when he was your age.”

“Why,” Reiner’s mother breathed, “her parents and I were just discussing that. We can’t seem to find any reputable breeders in our area. We’d like to adopt a little animal in true need of a home.”

“Well, there’s a nice farm down by Fairkelt,” you tell her. “The land owners are wonderful people. I got both of our late bunnies from him. It’s the Brush farm.”

Gabby clapped her hands together with wild enthusiasm. “CAN WE GO NOW?” 

Reiner patted his cousin on the shoulder. “Don’t you want to hang out with me some more? You, auntie, and uncle came all this way!”

“Not really,” Gabby said. “Where’s the cherry cake you promised? Ma said there would be cherry and butter cake if I came to see you.”

She turned very quickly to look at you. “Did you know that Reiner hits me too hard sometimes with a pillow? He doesn’t play very fairly.”

“Well, Reiner never does,” Eren snickered, punching his taller friend on the shoulder. 

“I like you,” Gabby said to Eren with a shimmer in her eyes. 

The doors to the dining hall creaked open, with a few waitstaff soldiers coming out to reaobsnly file the guests in. “CAN WE EAT THE CHERRY AND BUTTER CAKE NOW?” Gabby shrieked. “Ma and father are going to miss dinner! When will they be back?” She turned to look at you again. “I bet they’re doing silly things. That means sex. Sex is when-”

Reiner swept his little cousin up. He bounced her upon his shoulders, where she cried with delight. As she waved to the other kids, most likely friends she’d already made, Reiner just sent his mom a smile. “I’m not that bad compared to her, right?” 

“That, I can agree with,” Reiner’s mother laughed. “My brother and his wife certainly have a wild bunch. I suppose my boy isn’t so bad. But still! I expect you to make a real apology to this young woman very soon.” 

“I’m Y/n L/n,” you introduced yourself. 

“Kerina,” Reiner’s mother followed. 

“And please, don’t worry too much. Teenage boys are boisterous. Reiner perfectly meant no harm.”

“Right, Reiner?” Armin asked, sending his friend a cool glance. 

“Of course not,” Reiner cried. He became red in the face again. “I am really really really sorry, Mrs. Arlert. I mean Ms. Arlert. I mean-”

“Let’s go inside, little ones,” Kerina finally cut her talkative son off. “It was wonderful to meet you, Y/n. Let’s meet together again before the visit ends!” 

“It’d be a pleasure!” You said, offering the departing family a wave. Gabby waved after you. You could hear her chattering about names for her new bunny rabbit. 

As they left, Mikasa let out a loud laugh. Armin and Eren looked surprised as Mikasa’s burst. She was a stoic girl, not exactly known for her giggles. But when you were around, she felt innocent and happy. Much like she had when her own parents were alive. “That was funny!” Mikasa said defensively when she noticed her godbrothers’ strange looks. “Let’s just go inside to eat, I’m dying for some wine.” 

“Mikasa, you drink?” you gasped with surprise. 

Mikasa looked at you very directly. “Of course I don’t. Whatever gave you such an impression, auntie?” 

She spun so quickly, pulling her red scarf above her mouth so no one would see her smile. 

You had to admit, the red scarf went well with the fine outfit Mikasa had chosen for the dinner tonight. She had a simple gown that once belonged to her mother. It was baby pink, hanging off her shoulders. Her red scarf was draped around the insides of her elbows like a shawl. She looked absolutely beautiful; there was something about Ackermans that automatically made them beautiful. She, like Levi, also had soft hair black like the summer night’s sky. 

She didn’t look much like Eren, especially in this setting. 

Eren seems to have had a hard time grooming his hair. It was drawn back flat against his head. But he looked sharp, in a fine tunic, jacket, and dress pants. “Eren, come here a moment.” 

Eren stopped mid shuffle to the opening doors. “Yes?” 

You stood on your tiptoes to ruffle his hair around. It looked unnatural in its floppy-less state. “Better.” 

And finally, your boy. He always kept his hair neat. It swept his chin with each step he took. His fine blond hair and his blue eyes was a sharp contrast from his two good friends; but when they were together, they fit so perfectly.

They were like the perfect arrangement of flowers. 

“Why are you looking at me that way?” Armin asked you.

You blinked yourself out of your thoughts. “I’m just admiring my child,” you told him, tapping him on the underside of his chin. Armin sighed. His eyes looked straight into yours. “Please don’t embarrass me in front of the commander, or Captain Ackerman. Especially not him.” 

“Ugh,” Eren groaned as you four journeyed into the dining hall. It was just as decorated as the rest of the castle. Dark green banners that boasted the division’s emblem hung over the rows of circular tables. Each table top was dressed with little doings of baby’s breath and yellow roses. “I can’t believe we’re sitting with Captain Ackerman. It’s, like, even on our first night off, we don’t have a choice! Cripes. Was basting in the sun all day not a chore enough?”

“Eren,” you chastised. “The captain isn’t a bad man. Besides, doesn’t he teach you how to control the power?” 

“Sure,” Eren snorted. “How can he teach me something he knows nothing about. Besides, ‘teaching’ is just a good term for whacking me on the head when I get ‘too aggressive.’ He uses that as an excuse for me to not backtalk.” 

“He is the captain, Eren,” Armin noted. “And while he and I have our differences, I still know when to back off. You’re just too aggressive.”

“I-!” Eren got red in the face and ears. “I’m not aggressive!” 

“Lower your voice, Eren, people are looking at us like you’re about to pop through the roof.” 

Eren’s complexion came to resemble a tomato, even through his tan face. You maternally rubbed his arm. “It’s alright, Eren, I don’t think you’re too aggressive. Tonight’s going to be lovely. Besides, if the captain can’t mind his manners, I’ll straighten him out.”

“It’s true,” Armin said in a distant voice. “Mother, you can be very...firm. Yes. Firm is the kindest word I can find for it.”

You stifled a giggle as you followed the children past the tables. “I still can’t believe we’re sitting at the superiors’ table,” Armin said near your ear as you shuffled by people. Your heart flew into your throat when you saw the familiar head of dark hair. His head turned at the very second he heard Eren chortling something to Mikasa. He didn’t look nearly as nervous as you felt. In a way, this was like the first date. Kind of. First dates don’t generally include your child and his best friends, as well as his other captains and commanders. 

“Hello, Captain,” the three teens said in uncanny unison. Armin fluttered to a meek salute, which Levi promptly declined. 

“It’s a party,” he said as tenderly as he could while also being stern. Eren sent his friends the most confused look he could possibly manage, and he didn’t even seem too sly about it. 

“Hello again, Captain,” you told Levi softly when his eyes fixated on you. 

“Hello again, Madame,” he said back. He didn’t give away anything. Unlike you, probably. You felt like the biggest love struck dork in the room. “Lovely to have you join us again. Your son has certainly impressed me this year, once again.” 

Armin’s face went red as he tried to wave Levi’s words away. “I wouldn’t give out such compliments so easily,” Levi reminded Armin. Looking at you again, he said, “Eren and Mikasa have certainly excelled as well. Armin’s knack for strategy is as strong as Mikasa’s force while on the field. And Eren Jaeger continues to impress me with his extreme control over his power.” 

Eren didn’t seem so amused by Levi’s behavior anymore. The three teens were just starting to process his words, the confusion even visible on Mikasa’s face. 

“Let’s sit,” Eren said decidedly. You chose your seat first as the others still ushered into the dining hall. Armin moved to pull your chair out for you at the same second Levi had. The two made brief eye contact as Levi immediately pulled back, letting Armin take the role. You tried not to look at the man as you thanked your son. He sat beside you, with Mikasa on his left, and Eren on Mikasa’s. 

You felt your heart sink when Levi took a seat away from you. One chair sat between you and your lover. It felt like a larger distance when you looked at him. 

“Look at everyone all dressed up,” a happy voice chortled as it came somewhere behind you. You looked back to see a woman dressed in a knee length blue dress, with sleeves that went all the way down to her wrist. She had straight, light brown hair that was drawn back to keep from being caught in her red framed cat-eye glasses. 

“Hello, captain,” the teenagers chimed again. You were impressed at their ability to sound so polite. 

Though, if you were being really honest, you were only surprised by Eren’s. Not that Eren’s a bad boy, but he can be rather brash.

The woman took the seat by you-and Levi. 

She looked startled when she finally noticed you. She looked at the teenagers, and then you. She was visibly counting you each. “I’m sorry,” she said with a wide grin. “I can’t say that we’ve met. My name is Hanji! Are you someone’s sister?” 

You laughed. “I’m flattered, Hanji. It’s nice to meet you. I am actually Armin’s mother.” 

Hanji’s neck practically snapped as she turned a quick eye to Levi. “Armin’s mother?” she said, and it was in a strange tone that made you feel like she knew exactly what being ‘Armin’s mother’ meant to Levi. 

“...She’s not my mother,” Levi said after a minute of being subjected to Hanji’s stare. 

“I-Oh. Ohh. It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Arlert!” 

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you too. It’s, ah, it’s actually Miss,” you carefully corrected her. 

“Ohhh. Sorry, Miss Arlert.” 

“Ah...it’s also L/n.”

“Okay, so what’s your first name?” Hanji finally asked. 

“Hanji,” Levi said in a stern voice. It was the same voice he used when he spoke to Eren. 

“Whaaat? I’m just trying to be nice!” Hanji exclaimed in an attempt to save herself. You laughed at her banter. “I don’t mind. My name’s Y/n.” 

“Well then it’s nice to meet you, Y/n,” Hanji said, poking her tongue at Levi. 

Levi Ackerman looked exasperated as he saw you and the three children seated at the same table. It was strange enough to see them out of uniform. But to see them with the woman that basically raised them? Much stranger. 

“Where’s the commander?” Mikasa eventually asked to break the silence. She gave off a completely different aura when you were around. Her usual stoicism softened so she was more like any other civilian teenage girl. 

“He’ll join us soon enough,” Hanji said. “He’s going to make an entrance and a speech.” 

“I’m embarrassed to be sitting with him,” Armin admitted to you. He leaned closer to you to murmur. 

“How come? Don’t you speak with him often?” You asked as you tucked a curl of hair behind your ear. You felt the overwhelming urge to look at Levi kick in as you spoke with Armin. You hadn’t considered telling the children seriously until this moment. From the beginning, you knew this relationship would have to carry on slowly. But now that you’re here, with Levi in person, you can’t help in wanting to hurry things along. Levi was adamant about eventually proposing to you. The thought wasn’t scary; in fact, it was exciting. You’d both fallen so in love with each other that marriage seemed like the natural option. Like, marriage had become the obvious decision to make, like going to sleep when the sun had set. 

“He’s here!” Armin said. 

The room that was chattering fell silent. The chairs skid against the floor as the soldiers around the room rose to their feet. Armin gestured softly for you to rise also. Your periwinkle flats scuffed the floor as you stood. 

The hair on the edge of your neck rose. You looked over your shoulder, catching Levi in the act of staring deeply at you. A smile just barely twitched on his mouth for the split second his eyes stayed on you. He was good at this, you realized. 

You smoothed the fabric of your red skirt down as you watched the doors open. 

The commander’s presence was one that always made you feel like you were under some sort of evaluation. You could sympathize with Eren, now, as you imagined being under such a presence 24/7. His alliance with Levi wasn’t one he was fond of. His letters detailed his yearn for freedom, and to be like the other teens. 

Meanwhile, Levi’s letters detailed Eren’s struggle with accepting things for the way they are. Eren’s aggression manages to show itself even through the simplest of things. You could see it now, in the way he struggled with the itchy collar of his tweed blazer. He was growing increasingly irritated with it, always messing with the lapels and tugging at the sleeves. 

Erwin Smith continued to make his appearance and speech without acknowledging the turmoil you were currently battling. 

When the commander thanked the family of the soldiers, you rubbed Armin’s shoulder. He looked down at you happily. The beam on his face made him look like a child again. It was still painful to look at him and see that the baby fat in his cheeks had dissolved into a smooth jawline. 

The Arlerts must have had good genes. You could say, without any bias, that Armin was a handsome young man. You’d think this even if you weren’t his mother. 

The dining room burst into applause as the speech ended, marking the commencement of the dinner. Erwin glided down the room before coming to a stop at the table. 

While everyone else had sat, the guests at your table remained standing. 

Erwin offers a prim bow. “Good evening.”

“Good evening, Commander,” Armin said eagerly. 

“I see an unfamiliar face with us tonight,” he said. When he wasn’t projecting his voice, he actually sounded very polite and soft. 

“This is my mother, sir, Y/n L/n,” Armin said proudly.

You bobbed a little curtsy. “It’s wonderful to meet you.” 

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Erwin said with a smile. “From all of them.” 

He gave you a sly wink, making Levi cough. “Let’s sit. I’m parched,” Levi quickly interjected. 

“Yes, take a seat.”

You all did so, tucking the chairs closer into the table. “It’s strange to see everyone out of uniform,” Erwin said happily as he reached for his cloth napkin. He spread it over his lap. 

“I agree,” Eren said nervously. “I feel like something bad is going to happen.” 

Hanji chortled Eren’s worries away. “The only bad thing coming tonight is my blood alcohol content.” 

“Hanji,” Levi said sharply. 

“What? It’s a night off!” Hanji said defensively. “Besides, these kiddos have seen me at my worst.” 

“We have a guest,” Levi continued, not bothering to look at you as he said it. 

“Be hearty, captain,” you assured him with a gentle smile. “I’m over the moon with joy. I’m sure I’ll also indulge in some drinks tonight.” 

“See?” Hanji said smugly.

On cue, waiters were coming around the tables with trays of champagne and cider. Eren cracked his knuckles as he watched Levi gesture for four glasses of champagne. “We’ll take some, too,” Eren said happily. 

You frowned. 

“Just one,” Eren corrected himself when his eye caught your disapproval. 

“I’ll take a cider,” Armin said mildly. 

“Oh, honey, you can have champagne if you want,” You assured him. 

Armin turned bright red. “Mother,” Armin mumbled. “Don’t say that…”

Erwin burst into a deep laugh. “A mother’s love doesn’t feel so suffocating after it’s already passed,” he assured Armin. 

Hanji folded her hands together, resting her chin on them as she leaned towards you. “Do you have any embarrassing stories about the kids?” 

You hummed as you thought. “I’m sure I do. Do you?” 

“I’ve got nothing but praise,” Hanji promised you. “All three of them are exceptional. Eren is certainly a fascinating testee.” 

“Hanji,” Levi said again disapprovingly. Hanji sent Levi a look as the man glowered at her across the rim of his glass, which he held so strangely. 

You covered your mouth to hide a giggle. 

“I don’t think Eren appreciates being spoken of like he’s going one of your shiny rocks.”

“That ‘shiny rock’ was actually a rare geode,” Hanji corrected Levi. “Which you broke. And owe me for.”

“Did he just call me Eren?” Eren mumbled to Armin. 

“Not only that, but maybe Madame Y/n wants to hear real stories.”

Hanji sighed. She pushed her glasses up with her forefinger. Her hair slid across her shoulders as she turned to look at you. “We have fun here, don’t we?” She grinned. 

“I’m sure,” you agreed. “I’ve heard only good things about this place in the letters from the children. I feel safer knowing our civilization is in good hands.”

You managed to direct your warm smile at Levi. He shifted his head as a way of acknowledging that he knew what you were telling him. 

“We’ve truly heard plenty about you,” Erwin said back, taking a small sip of his own drink. 

“You have?” You asked, astonished. Did he know, too? Did Hanji truly know? Or were you reading too much into her behavior?

“Absolutely. Armin has plenty to tell us. Eren and Mikasa, too. We’ve all heard the story of how you opened your home to them when their parents were killed.”

You felt mildly relieved. “I knew the pair before that. I knew Eren’s mother and father. By then, Mikasa was already living in their home. The two were over so often to play with Armin. I was so happy to see Armin had friends.” 

“Thanks,” Armin mumbled. 

“That’s not what I meant!” You gasped. 

Eren laughed loudly. “It’s true! Armin wasn’t always this cool.” 

Mikasa shook her head. She pulled off her scarf, draping it over her lap to expose her pale skin. Her dress made her look worlds older than she actually was. “Armin has always been ‘cool.’ He just needed to find the right people to recognize it.” 

“Aw,” Armin said bashfully. “When Mikasa says it I know it’s true.”

The commander laughed at Armin’s words. “Truly wonderful!” He said happily. “It’s nice to hear the old tales.” 

The food had been ushered out by now waiters. The standard appetizers were delicately poached sprigs of asparagus set over slices of cooked tomatoes and other leafy greens. “Where’s the meat?” Eren asked as soon as the waiters left. 

“It’s an appetizer, Eren,” Mikasa chastised. 

“Not very ‘appetizing,’” Eren said before stabbing the vegetables with his fork. 

He ate it anyway, mostly in three large bites. You’d simply taken small bites of each vegetable, mostly out of fear that you’d look ridiculous eating in front of Levi. Levi ate like normal, but he looked insanely attractive as he did so. 

His slender hands were intoxicating to look at. Those were the hands that wrote in a surprisingly delicate script, detailing the way he’d lick and stroke his way to your pleasure. 

“Where did your family come from?” Hanji asked, covering her mouth as she chewed a mouthful of purple and green romaine. 

“My family came from the Interior,” you admitted, trying to sound short so she wouldn’t prod more questions. Your family and your life in the Interior isn’t your favorite topic. 

“Ohh,” Hanji eluded as her eyes widened. “You’ve come a long way.” 

“I have.”

“Was Armin born there?” she continued. 

“He wasn’t, he was born in Shingashina. I adopted him when he was just a few weeks old. I often remember he was my first friend in Shingashina. He came into my life the day after a terrible storm.”

“Wow!” Hanji said loudly. “I had no idea you were adopted, Armin!” she said, looking at your son.  You could feel the muscles in your mouth twitch into a stern frown as you awaited Armin’s reaction. You didn’t want to look at him and cause him further potential embarrassment. You feared he would become upset at the subject and even angry that Hanji brought it up. You had liked the woman at first, but you couldn’t forgive her for being so incredibly rude to your son! How could she? You’d be able to take her in a fight. She was drinking pretty quickly so maybe that would help you out more. 

Armin let out a chuckle. The airy note was musical. “I forget it quite often myself,” he told her.

Levi took a long drink of his glass, emptying it quickly. He turned and raised a hand, capturing the attention of a waiter. “Is it possible to get something a little bit stronger?” he muttered in the waiter’s ear. 

“Hanji, let’s change the subject,” Erwin coaxed her. “We don’t want to stress Levi out so bad that he drinks himself to death.” 

“It’s true,” Levi said, though he didn’t sound as if he were joking at all. “Whenever she opens her mouth my blood pressure spikes.” 

“You didn’t even know what blood pressure was before you met me!” Hanji chortled. 

“I don’t want to talk about myself all evening,” you said shyly before you took a sip of your sparkling wine. It bubbled in your mouth. 

“The guest of honor chooses the topic of conversation, mother,” Armin told you, poking his tongue out. You laughed at the little inside joke. 

You’d often told him this when he was a child; every time Mikasa or Eren came over for dinner, he would do his best to teach them everything he’d learned from his collection of books. You tried to be polite when you were telling him no one wanted to learn anything during dinner. 

“The castle is so very beautiful, Captain,” you said as you looked at Levi. 

“I’d be honored to accept the compliment, but I had very little say in the decorum,” Levi responded plainly. He did his best to sound bored as he talked to you, but you could see the mischief in his eyes as he took a drink of what was now brandy in his glass. 

“When was the castle erected?” you asked the captain. 

Eren snickered at the term. Under the table, Mikasa lifted her leg and swung it back, hitting her heel on Eren’s shin. His knee smacked the underside of the table and he winced loudly, turning red when he noticed the entire table turned their eyes on him. 

Erwin did a good job at ignoring Eren’s shenanigans. You’re sure he’s used to Eren’s antics by now. 

“We suspect it was centuries ago. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that one of the old commanders took the place for the Survey Corps’s use. We quite like it, though. It’s large enough to house many people. In fact, we’re expecting a few additions to our home here. It might bore the children, but I find it exciting. I’ve recently passed an amendment to the terms and regulations for the Corps. Very soon, several of our officers will be united with their spouses and children. We’ve got the room for them to live here, so I figured it would be best that way. We’re all in need of affection, these days. And we should all be with our families.”

“Why, that’s so amazing, Commander!” you gushed. You held a hand over your chest. “How lovely. I couldn’t imagine being married to a captain that’s away all the time…”

Levi took another large drink. 

“While we’re on the topic,” Hanji said, putting her elbows onto the table. “I did hear that the Corps might be acquiring new land soon.”

“I suppose I can put an end to these rumors, now,” Erwin said mischievously. 

“Erwin likes to hear himself talk then get pats on the back for it,” Hanji told you, pretending to be whispering but speaking loud enough so Erwin could hear it. 

“It’s true,” Erwin told you in the same way. “If I can get the land, then there will be military housing built just miles away from the castle. Entire families can be reunited. Fathers and mothers can meet their children. And you, even, Miss L/n, could reside so close to your children.” 

“It’s such a wonderful idea, Commander,” you commended him. You dramatically applauded-Hanji did too. 

“That’s enough praise to convince the  commander to give me a raise in my salary,” Levi noted. 

Even the kids laughed at that. 

The night carried on this way; you ate a marvelous feast of roasted turkey, and noodle soup in between to cleanse your palette. You hadn’t had a five course meal since you lived in the Interior. These events were never fun, not then. But this dinner? It was the most fun you’d had in your entire life. Armin at your side, the other children not far either. And Levi, just across the table, always nudging your foot with the toe of his boot, as a silent reminder he was there, and that he noticed you. 

The eye contact you made with him was brief though exhilarating. It was rather fun to pretend with him. It allowed for innocent flirtations which couldn’t be exchanged otherwise. The night was such fun that it distracted you from the otherwise parasitic anxieties that were hatching in your brain; the secrets you kept from your child and godchildren were quickly turning into lies. The more interactions you had with Levi, the more lies you had to create to keep them from finding out. You’re sure Levi wouldn’t mind being “exposed” to them. That is something only you feel the burden of. You don’t know why you feel this way; it’s not as though Armin had ever objected to you marrying a man. He’d never had a father figure before, and he’s now old enough to not ever need one. So why, then, are you so afraid to sit him and the others down and come right out with the truth? 

“Eren, Mikasa, and lovely Armin, I’d love for your captain to make sweet passionate love to me. You don’t mind, do you?” 

...So, maybe you’d say something else. You certainly wouldn’t delve into the other fantasies you had, the ones that made sweet love making seem like a dying star in comparison to the sun. 

You felt disappointed when the desserts came round to the tables. Each person was given the choice between a slice of chocolate or cherry and butter cake. You imagined little Gabby was ecstatic to finally have the cake she’d been eagerly waiting for. 

You were surprised to see that Levi opted for chocolate cake. You never saw him as the type to indulge in such sugary delicacies. This made him all the more attractive. It further reminded you that he was a real person in your life. One person that you loved so deeply. 

You plucked the cherries from the frosting, popping them into your mouth while Hanji explained to the table the fascinating new discovery of something called an atom. 

“Soo, why is the cell the ‘building block’ of life?” Eren asked through a mouthful of cake. “Shouldn’t it be the atom?” 

“Well no,” Hanji said firmly. She was growing increasingly more irritated as the table failed to grasp her theories and concepts. “The atom can be found in everything. But a cell is only found in living things.” 

“So a table doesn’t have cells?” Eren concluded. 

“No.” 

“And, like, a frog does?” 

“Yes!”

“But a frog also as adams,” Mikasa pointed out.

“Atoms,” Armin corrected. He was the only one at the table that seemed genuinely interested in what Hanji was presenting.

Eren leaned forward, using his hands to animatedly build his case. “But if frogs have cells which are made of atoms, then all living things have atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of life.” 

“No! No, Eren, no. My theory doesn’t look at it that way.” 

“Why not?” 

“I...I don’t know…” Hanji looked puzzled, flushed, and entirely defeated. 

“Eren, don’t question a drunk scientist,” Armin hissed in his godbrother’s ear. “That’s the worst possible thing you could do.” 

Erwin laughed. “An enlightening topic,” he said in an attempt to ease Hanij’s pain. 

“I’m sure one day our children will be learning your theories in the school houses, Miss Hanji!” you assured the woman, patting her shoulder. “Do you really think so?” Hanji asked. 

“I do!”

“I appreciate it,” she said with a smile. Her face was so, so red. She’d had a lot to drink during the duration of the night. Though, it had made for some amusing conversation. 

The table rose to their feet when the time to exit came. It was a sad thing to see the end of your first night had come so quickly. Your time with Levi felt fleeting. And while you were grateful to be with the children, you couldn’t help but feel like it was lost time. 

The commander said his farewells at the table, offering you a low bow. “It was an honor to meet the woman behind such a brilliant trio.” 

“It was an honor to meet you, commander,” you said in kind, giving a little curtsy. 

And off Erwin went, going to meet the other families of the soldiers he had not yet greeted. 

“I’m going to be brutal honesty,” Hanji said, making even Levi smirk. “I’m...sleepy. It was wonderful to meet you, Miss Y/n. I hope we can met again sun.” 

You gracefully ignored the grammar, which Eren was trying not to laugh loudly at. “It was very lovely to spend dinner with you. I quite enjoyed your clever theories. Perhaps tomorrow, or some other time, we can go more in depth with your theories on the cell and the atom?” 

Her eyes lit up behind her glasses. “That’d be wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Well, goodnight, everyone. I’ll see everyone tomorrow, everyone. Okay, everyone?” 

“Yes, goodnight, Hanji,” Levi sighed as she wandered away. She didn’t look like she would easily find her quarters. 

As soon as she disappeared you turned to Eren. “Eren Jaeger, I do not want to hear you torment that woman again.” 

Eren looked confused. He looked around for help. “I didn’t torment her!” 

“Mhmm,” you said, looking at him with maternal suspicion. 

Levi cleared his throat in an attempt not to laugh. “I had a lovely night,” he said. He offered a slight bow. “I do believe I should help Hanji to her room. I doubt she’ll have an easy time finding it, especially considering she’s walking right towards the dungeons, now.” 

“Oh, my,” you said, looking around to find her. 

“I hope to see you soon, Madame,” Levi said. His eyes were intent on yours, glittering with a secret message. Tonight, that meant. He’d see you tonight. Your heart fluttered at the idea of Levi coming to your room tonight. 

“I hope so as well, Captain.” 

That being said, he nodded a polite ‘goodbye’ before quickly walking off to find poor, drunken Hanji, before she could talk about cells and atoms to a nearby coat rack. 

“Is it just me, or does Captain Ackerman always seem to check you out?” Eren said, sounding as bland as his words were blatant. 

Your cheeks were rushed by a swarm of blood. “Eren! Why would you say such a thing?” 

He held his hands up defensively. “He just seemed a million times nicer. I really, truly think it had something to do with you, Auntie. You just make him a better person. Or whatever. I don’t know. It’s weird.” 

“I don’t like it,” Mikasa seconded. 

Oh. 

That wasn’t a good sign. 

“It is strange,” Armin agreed. “But it’s not so common that I have to worry about it. After all, the two never see each other, anyways. Besides, I did hear a strange rumor that the captain was soon to be engaged.” 

“You did?” Eren gasped. “Who would marry that?” 

“I heard the same thing,” Mikasa noted as she shook her finger. “Sasha Brauss said that she saw the captain looking at wedding bands during the last village outing. Although, why Sasha was also looking at wedding bands, I’ll never know.”

“His imaginary girlfriend is probably just as mean as he is,” Eren said with a deep-set frown. “Can you picture the captain with a child? A miniature version of him, just running around and spraying everyone with a glass cleaner solution.” 

You could see the horror in his eyes as he imagined it. 

Yes, a miniature version of Levi was also on your mind. But, in your scenario, there was also a miniature version of You. Your chest hurt at the thought of the three disliking Levi so much. 

And, had Levi actually been shopping for wedding bands? Or was that a teenager’s rumor? 

“What shall we do, now?” you asked, clapping your hands together loudly to break the topic of Levi’s “secret lover.” 

“Oh, mother, as much as I want to stay awake...I’m too tired.” Armin offered an apologetic smile. 

“Oh, that’s alright, honey,” you promised him. You did feel disappointed to part with your boy so early into the night. “What time is it?” 

“I believe it’s very close to midnight,” Mikasa answered. 

Oh, that might explain it. “Goodness! And you three did have such a long day to begin with. Well, everyone get their goodnight hugs and kisses in!” 

The three looked at one another bashfully before they shuffled into a line. 

“Goodnight, Auntie,” Eren grumbled. He begrudgingly leaned down so you could kiss the top of his head. You knew he wouldn’t act this way if he weren’t surrounded by his comrades and friends. 

Mikasa was next, but she was much more open to the reception. You two hugged and kissed one another’s cheeks. “Sleep well, Auntie, we’ll come to get you for breakfast in the morning.” 

“Alright, dear, sleep well.” 

And finally your Armin! Armin gave you a tight hug, practically lifting you off of the ground. He was slightly red in the face, but he kissed the top of your hair and said a sweet goodnight. “I love you very much, mother,” he said to you. “I love you very much, too, my son. Have a good rest. Comb your hair before you lay down!’ 

Armin chuckled. He didn’t object. “Alright, mother, alright. Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.” 

As the three walked towards the soldier’s quarters of the castle, you waved and blew kisses. When they were finally out of sight, you did a little twirl in the middle of the foyer. What a wonderful night. 

You often described things as “wonderful” but the term couldn’t be substituted for any other in such a situation. Tonight was the definition of wonderful. No one could dispute that. You climbed back up the stairs, following the other tired families who were eager to put their sleepy little ones to bed, and rest after their long day. You were eager to lay in Levi’s arms. The first real night you would be spending together was about to commence. You’re not sure if anything will actually happen, however you don’t really care. You’re positive it would happen sometime. The longer you waited, the more romantic it would be. 

Levi was good at sweet talking you, even on paper. 

You felt like a teenager again as you danced into your bedroom. 

You took yourself to the washroom after you locked your door. The lacings of your skirt were a relief to take off. You luckily didn’t feel very bloated after the dinner. You slipped out of your skirt, and then your blouse. 

You pulled on the softest nightgown you had in your trunk. Looking in the mirror, you realized it wasn’t exactly the sexiest. It was a standard gown, made from creamy white muslin and satin, with lace lining the cap sleeves and the hem. At least the neckline showed off some of your clavicle, which you would attribute to be your best physical characteristic. 

The Late Armin once told you that you had a nice behind. It was something you’d asked him seriously. He was easy to talk to. He was more a friend than a lover. Even he sometimes asked you what his best qualities were.

But looking at this nightgown, you can’t say that it does anything for your behind. 

It’s thin, but the lining underneath keeps it from being too revealing. 

It’s cute, but maybe not sexy enough. You rolled your eyes when you took notice of your silly thoughts. They sounded like the squabbles of a nineteen year old, not a grown mother. 

You brushed your hair as you sat on your bed. It was comfortable enough to beckon for you to lay down and fall asleep. But you were determined to stay wide awake so you could wait for Levi to show. 

You absentmindedly brushed through the [hair length] locks that admittedly could use a washing. It wasn’t as if you were dirty, per se, but you didn’t think your hair was currently at it’s fullest potential. You flung off the bed in a race to the washroom, thinking you could maybe get it shiny enough before Levi arrived.

Unfortunately for you a knock on the door came just as you’d crossed the threshold of the washroom. You sighed. You looked in the mirror one more time, tossing the hair brush elsewhere. You looked cute. Yes, you do! You always do! You tried to lift yourself up before you tenderly approached the door. You leaned your ear to the thick wood and asked, “Who is it?” 

“It’s Commander Erwin,” Levi’s voice came. “I’d like to talk to you more about the military housing land development.” 

You swung the door open with a wide grin on your face. “Don’t be mean,” you chastised. 

Levi pushed through the doorway, kicking the door shut behind him. He came at you quickly, lifting you up in his arms. “Being mean is my specialty,” he whispered as he dropped you on the bed. 

Your heart beat fast with surprise. You felt absolutely in a whirlwind. The smell of Levi’s skin and clothes was intoxicating as he stood between your spread legs. It was so inappropriate. That’s what your mother would say. That’s what every single girl in your boarding academy would say! They would say this despite indulging in much more vulgar activities on summer breaks. 

You found yourself revelling in the hateful comments your mother and old schoolmates would throw your way if this were back in the day. Those girls would only say it because they were jealous that you had a drop dead gorgeous man standing between your spread open legs. Your nightgown stretched over your upper thighs to reveal your bare legs. 

Levi had switched his dinner attire for a plain night tunic and drawstring black plants. They fit snuggly around his slim waist. 

His hands slid over the cheeks of your face, cupping you delicately as he pressed his warm mouth to yours. You didn’t bother to pretend you didn’t want him. You let your plush lips part so his tongue could delve against yours. 

The tip of his tongue tickled the roof of your mouth, making your belly tight and hot with desire. 

His slender hands ran through your hair, twirling the strands round his finger. A soft moan slid from your mouth; in turn, a deep rumbling sort of sound came from Levi’s chest. “Don’t make tempting sounds,” Levi said after he pulled away. 

“Why not, Captain?” 

“Because, Madame,” Levi said. He gripped the undersides of your knees and pulled them forward so you fell flat on your back. He carefully crawled over you, his hands out by your head for balance. “I’m mean, and I won’t hesitate to make you pay for teasing me.” 

“You’re not mean to me,” you said innocently. “You’re mean to everyone else except for me.” 

“And I’m sure you like that, don’t you?” Levi asked with a straight face. He couldn’t keep this up for long, as a slow smile took over his lips. He rolled over onto the bed, keeping you tight to his chest. You grinned as you curled up against him. 

“I didn’t know you were from the Interior,” Levi grumbled as his hands played with your hair. You let your eyes fall shut. “Isn’t everyone?” you asked, voice filled with sarcasm. 

“Funny. I see where Eren gets the sarcasm from.” 

“No, Eren’s always been sarcastic. I truly think he got it from his mother. Oh, Carla was a true dear…”

“You lived where?”

“I lived fairly close to Utopia. I grew up in Wisteria’s Corner. I hated it, so I left after my husband died.”

“How old were you when he died?” 

“Twenty three.” 

Levi didn’t respond to that. His hands continued to massage your scalp. When you fell silent, he made a sound. “Hey.”

“Hey, what?” you asked, sitting up and looking at him. 

“Keep talking,” Levi said with a small frown on his face. 

You laughed at him. “Let’s settle in first.” 

Together, you two rearranged the pillows and sheets. Levi snuffed the candlelights out with his pale fingers. The act was so simple, but it elicited a primal response in your cunt. You chose to not say anything, given how close you were to falling asleep. It wouldn’t be very fun to fall asleep during your first time with Levi. 

Now in the darkness, Levi had settled into the bed. He slept on his side, in a neat position that was all vertical as opposed to your outstretched figure whose legs practically went off the bed. You laid your head against his shoulder, pressing kisses against his sharp clavicle. 

“Talk,” Levi demanded in a tired voice. 

You laughed. 

“It’s not funny. I’ve waited a year to hear your voice again. I want to hear it all my life.” 

“You’d surely get tired of it,” you teased. 

“Of your voice? Never, Madame. Never.” 

He asked you sleepy questions about your childhood and your life. You did your very best to answer them all. When the pauses between question and answer became too great, you slung your leg over Levi’s hips. “Goodnight, Levi.” 

“Goodnight,” Levi murmured. He craned his neck to press a kiss over either of your eyelids. 

“Did you know that tonight is our first night together?” you asked him before you fell asleep entirely. 

You couldn’t be certain if his response was real, or a dream, but either way, you heard his deep, tender voice respond: “Of course I know.”

Mikasa Ackerman had forgotten to give Auntie the gift at dinner. She’d realized it as she dressed in her night tunic and trousers. She slid out of bed, pulling her night jacket over her exposed shoulders. She gathered the giftwrapped ebox of earrings from her nightstand and wandered to the door. She could see the hallway lights were still lit, so it wasn’t quite past one in the morning yet. She’d pop over to Auntie’s room very quickly and leave them. Perhaps Auntie would be awake, and the two could chat, but Mikasa figured Auntie was already sound asleep. 

Mikasa had considered the idea of waiting until morning to gift the earrings. But she’s always been more of a night owl. She doesn’t mind walking around the castle at night. Some of her friends are still scared to do it, even after the last years. Mikasa never has been. She finds a strange comfort in the night. She finds there is more light in the night’s sky than during the day. 

The day is ruled by one burning sun, harsh and bright; the night, though, is sprinkled with thousands of twinkling stars which guide the owls and coyotes on their prowl. 

At Auntie’s door, Mikasa softly rapped her knuckles on the wood. She pressed her ear against the door to listen for a response. She heard none, even with a strained ear, so she quietly turned the handle. She left the door wide open so the lights form the hall could illuminate the little bedroom. She crept forward to leave the box of earrings on the nightstand. As she moved, she could see two figures lying in the mattress. 

Mikasa contained the gasp that initially clawed at her throat. She stared for a few moments at what she was seeing; she wondered if the image was a mere trick of the light. 

She knew better. 

It was Auntie laying in bed. It was her familiar figure carefully lain over Captain Ackerman. He clutched onto her in his sleep. It was deafeningly strange to see the Captain this way. He was, for once, vulnerable. She’d never seen such a sight. 

Mikasa slowly walked out of the room, moving on her toes. She shut the door silently. 

She stood in the hallway for a few minutes, just mulling over what she’d seen. 

She’d waited so long there that eventually some of the night guards came over to snuff the hallway’s candles. “You alright, Ackerman?” one of them asked. 

She nodded. She felt strange without her scarf to hide behind. She felt just as vulnerable as Captain Ackerman had looked. “Goodnight,” Mikasa said sternly before she walked back towards the soldier’s quarters. 

It didn’t make sense. Not entirely, at least. She’d been shocked at first, but when she got back to her bedroom, she was wondering how she hadn’t seen it before. She was burning with questions: when did it happen, how did it happen, and most of all, why? 

Mikasa regretted walking in. It wasn’t something she’d been meant to see. Auntie would have told her in her own time, when she was ready. Mikasa had stolen that opportunity. She’d seen a rough outline of Auntie’s private life. 

Worst of all? She didn’t know if she liked it.