#cole with flowers count: 2

[monkiinart]

quick messy cole paint

[runningmunson]

My Fierce Lady

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Female!Reader Word Count: 1.4k Summary: You are the second wife of Aemond, him already having a daughter. When a man tries to attack, you defend yourself and his daughter. Aemond makes it there after the attack and comforts you. Warnings: Swearing, violence, brief mention of pregnant reader, man attacking reader, murder, blood, assumption of attempted r*pe, angry/protective aemond, angst

PART 2

You were the second wife of Aemond Targaryen. His first wife died soon after she gave birth to their daughter, Maelehra. As terrible as it sounded, he wasn’t that heartbroken over her death but sad for Mae. He didn’t want to marry her, and they never truly got along, only doing it to please his parents and to perform his duty.

They gave him some time until his mother decided it was enough. She believed he needed a new wife and for his now 4-year-old daughter to have a mother once more. His mother chose you to marry her second son. You were from a smaller noble house and known for your timid and kind nature; a perfect match to balance out the blunt and confrontational Targaryen.

You had been married for close to a year. While your and Aemond's relationship had slowly blossomed into love, you quickly grew close to his young daughter. Your favorite thing to do together was to practice your needlework while she sat and watched, which led you to today.

Aemond had been gone since the morning, leaving you to entertain the girl. It was a colder day, so you decided to stay inside your chambers close to the fire. Maelehra played with toys on the floor while you sat and stitched a flower. The sound of banging on the door drew your attention.

Unexpectedly, an unknown man with dirty clothes and greasy hair threw the door open and looked all around the room before he caught the sight of the both of you.

“What is the meaning of this? You will tell me who you are right this instant,” You questioned the man who barged into the room. The glint of silver armor caught your eye as you noticed the guard stationed outside your room was slumped against the wall. Your blood ran cold.

You stood from your seat and grabbed Mae by her shoulders as you shoved her behind you. You may not have birthed her, but you have come to claim her as your own, and you would die before you let anyone harm Aemond’s daughter. “You stay away from us, I am warning you. Leave now, and you may yet get out with your life.”

The man chuckled. His lips turned to a sick smile as he twisted a dagger in his hands. He moved closer to you. “How helpless do you think the young prince will feel when he finds his daughter, wife, and unborn child dead in his own chambers?”

“Run, Maelehra!” You screamed at her as the man charged at the both of you. He held out the dagger, making a long slice from your cheekbone to your chin. You let out a cry. Mae dashed toward the open door, but the man was quick enough to grab the collar of her dress. He wrapped his arms around the little girl and picked her up.

You grabbed a heavy goblet and smashed him on the head. The man let go of Mae, and she ran out the door. You took this moment of distraction to go for the dagger your husband kept on his bedside table.

You were about to reach it when you were thrown onto the bed. The man turned you on your back, putting his weight on you so you couldn’t move. You tried to scream for help, but his hand found your throat silencing you. He began to tear your dress while his hand tightened his grip.

You started to see black, no air able to reach your burning lungs. Tears clouded what you could see. This was how you would die, being defiled and strangled by a man you didn’t know.

In another part of the Red Keep, Maelehra searched for help and managed to come upon her grandmother, the Queen, and Ser Criston Cole. She told them a man was hurting you, and that was all it took for them to run to your aid. They called a servant boy over to go find Aemond.

Your mind went to your husband. No- this was not the way you would die. You kicked and scratched at the man, not wanting to go down without a fight. With what little strength you had left, you reached for the dagger, fingertips barely able to touch the cold steel. You finally managed to get a hold of it and slammed it right into the man’s neck.

He immediately let go. Blood poured from his neck and mouth. You could hear a gurgling sound as you shoved him off you. His body fell to the floor with a thud.

Criston and Alicent ran into the room to find you on all fours on the bed attempting to catch your breath. The Queen let out a scream when she saw the dead man. She rushed to you when she saw the blood all over your dress and hands, thinking the worst, “My gods! Go get the maester!”

---

“Prince Aemond! Come quick! Something happened to your daughter and Lady (Y/N),” the servant boy ran out into the courtyard where Aemond and Aegon were practicing their fighting.

Without thinking, Aemond grabbed his sword from its previous place on the ground. He followed the servant boy out the door before sprinting past him once he realized where he was going. Aegon followed close behind.

He reached his chambers to see a dead guard on the ground. When he walked into the room, he frantically searched for his daughter, finding her in his mother's arms. He ran to her and pulled her into a hug.

“She saved me, papa,” Mae yelled excitedly, still too young to understand the gravity of the situation.

“She hasn’t spoken a word, and she will not stop looking at him,” Alicent said to her son, looking toward your place on the bed. He turned around to look at you for the first time. Sure enough, your eyes were trained on the dead man who lay on the floor, blood pooling around his body. He handed his daughter over to his mother and walked to where you sat. He yelled out, venom dripping in his voice, "I will have the head of whoever plotted this heinous attack!"

“Move out of the way,” he said forcefully to the maester looking you over. The maester stepped aside so Aemond could take his place. He grabbed your face tilting it toward his own, “Don’t look at him, look at me.”

You tore your gaze away to meet the eye of your beloved husband. “Aemond,” you croaked out, your bruised throat sore when you spoke. You began to sob, finally allowing yourself to process what just happened “I-I killed him.”

“Shhh, I know. Just let it all out, I have you now,” Aemond said. He took a good look at your disheveled state. Anger seared through his veins when he saw your dress torn and bruising on your thighs. His jaw was clenched, “Did he…”

Aemond couldn't even finish his question; he was seething. You shook your head no, knowing exactly what he was asking. He pulled you close, hand stroking your hair. He could feel you shaking and saw the dagger still tightly in your hand. He pried your fingers away, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter.

He turned to the maester, “Is she alright? And the babe?”

“Yes, other than that cut and the bruising on her neck and legs, they both appear to be fine,” the maester answered.

“I don’t wish to be in this room any longer, please,” you spoke quietly, pleading to your husband. He nodded his head and slowly helped you up. His body was placed in a way to make sure that you could not take a glance at the man who attacked you.

Once you were cleaned and settled in another room, you made your way to the bed, exhausted and sore from the events.

“Im proud of you. You were very brave today, my fierce lady,” Aemond said, pulling you tighter in his arms. His hand found its way to your swollen midsection; a feeling of comfort washed over the both of you as you felt the child squirming around.

“I don’t feel very brave. I was terrified I was going to die, terrified that you were going to lose your children and wife in a single day. What if they come back?” Your voice wavered out of fear.

“I will not allow that to happen; do you understand me? I wouldn’t have been so merciful to give him a quick death. I will kill anyone who lays a hand on any of you. You are mine to protect, now and forever,” Aemond kissed your forehead, holding you until you drifted off to sleep safe and sound while he stayed awake with nothing but vengeance on his mind.

[lilibethwrites]

Growing Pains

Part 2 (of 4): “To Crave What is Given to Another”

Part 1 - Part 3 - Part 4 (finale)

Silence continues to prove to be Y/N and Aemond’s greatest foe. Like two dragons locked in a dance, the Prince and the Princess dance back and forth around each other with their teeth buried deep in each other’s necks. Although love is patient, fate is not and as the window of opportunity slowly closes, they must overcome their pride and fear to make a move, or risk drifting apart for ever.

 Warnings: vague and brief allusions to NSFW topics.

  A.N: I initially planned weekly updates, and yet the devil works hard but my undying love and thirst for Aemond works harder.

 Word count: 5245

 Several days have gone by without a single word being exchanged between Y/N and Aemond except when the courtly decorum required it. He sat across from her as they broke their fast and dined at evenings as usual, and yet where he would attempt to catch her gaze to speak, as he had once put it, through their eyes, he had turned his chair away from her direction. Where Aegon’s inappropriate remarks or Helaena’s sweet interjections were occasions to pull the corners of his lips upwards and train his gaze on Y/N’s to catch her smiling back, he bowed his head and concentrated on a slice of breakfast pie with a deep frown that aged his handsome features beyond their years.

 The training sessions in the courtyard were even worse. Used to be, Y/N watched from the stone balcony as Aemond trained with Ser Criston Cole, her brothers either watching from the sidelines or joining forces with Ser Criston in hopes of putting a dent in Aemond’s streak of wins. They never managed, and Aemond always reminded Y/N that he attributed it almost as much to her favor as he did it to his impeccable swordsmanship skills. Although he hated tournaments and the false knights parading around pretending to be real warriors, Aemond didn’t turn Y/N down whenever she insisted that he pretend his training was a tournament for a moment, and ask for her favor in the form of a newly made crochet under the guidance of a patient Septa, or a few flowers freshly plucked from the garden and knotted together with a silk ribbon. If he was lucky enough, Y/N would even rise on her toes to press a sweet kiss to his cheek. Once, Aemond would fondly remember, her lips closed around his scarred cheek as part of her favor. He could swear nothing had gone wrong that whole day. He wondered, however, if she wiped her mouth in disgust when he turned his back to duel Ser Criston. How could he know that Y/N ran her fingertips across her lips the entire practice, praying to Gods to never allow her mind to forget what it felt like to feel the scar she so loved to feel on her fingertips on her lips as well.

 Now, Aemond trained with more rigor and fury and with fewer breaks in between. He stomped to the castle yard for his tutelage right after breakfast, and never once looked up. Even when Y/N attempted to cheer his victories, he kept his head bowed and away from her balcony.

 Y/N always cherished the servants as her friends, much to her mother’s dismay. So it infuriated Rhaenyra when the word reached her ears that Y/N helped the girls serve honeyed wine and sweetcakes to the boys as they took a moment from their sword practice. “You wish to be a cupbearer so much, we must send you off to the Hightowers as a squire in a boy’s disguise,” she would reprimand Y/N later. It was a desperate attempt to exchange a few words with Aemond, but instead, he’d carefully retreated to a far corner of the yard with Ser Criston, engaged in a heated discussion with his tutor.

 It was unlike Y/N to give up the chase, so she settled with a heavy tome on her lap, left unattended, of course, as she watched Aemond spar—and noticed just how difficult it was to restrain herself from jumping up from the seat and clap each time Aemond disarmed Ser Criston and held his blade mere inches away from his neck or heart.

 Meanwhile, her handmaiden echoed the gossip Y/N had already heard in pieces but paid very little attention to. Prince Aemond took after a certain Rogue Prince and suddenly started to frequent the Flea Bottom and just as suddenly became a valued patron of a few brothels along the Street of Silk.

 “It is unlike him to do so, Camylle,” Y/N protested.

 “My lady, everyone says it so—”

 “Besides, why would you bring it to my attention? I won’t indulge baseless gossip. It doesn’t concern me.” Though it did concern Y/N plenty that Aemond suddenly grew leagues apart from her and chose to spend his evening with whores instead of stealing her away to idle under the weirwood tree until their eyes could remain barely open. It also forced her mind to conjure up images that both embarrassed and intrigued her. A princess had very little to be jealous of a common whore, but still, some things remained as objects of her envy and desire, it seemed.

 “Forgive me for my insolence, my lady, but some say that, well, as I said, forgive my insolence—”

 “Spit it out, would you?” Y/N pressed the book close with all the fury she’d redirected from the girl stalling.

 “They say that the girls the Prince lay with—he calls them, well, by your name. He is quite brutish and scary, too, if they… well,” the poor servant was trembling now, and Y/N’s eyes threatened to roll out of their sockets.

 “Well, they say that he is rather displeased when the girls are not behaved… like you. I swear this is no slander, my lady. The squires have overheard it from the Hand and Spymaster.”

 Camylle didn’t need to swear on the Gods—Y/N believed her. The two girls grew up together, and she became Y/N’s most trusted confidante over the years. Yet, she found what the girl had just relayed outlandish—impossible. Aemond, at brothels, with girls who resembled herself and called them by her name? But why? The way she perceived, for all those years, Aemond never showed interest in Y/N in a way that suggested anything beyond a friendly bond. Perhaps a drunken worm misheard the name as her own and Otto Hightower jumped to a conclusion—now that wasn’t unlike him to do so. And even worse, if everyone knew, then Aemond knew how far and wide the word had travelled already as well.

 “Have you got any sweetcakes left?” Y/N spoke up without averting her eyes from Ser Criston and Aemond clashing their blades.

 The servant girl held the silver tray out in confusion, and didn’t speak again until Y/N dismissed her after the morning practice was over. With the sweetcake with the sugared lemon slice on top, the kind Aemond liked the best, secured on her open palm, Y/N followed the Prince to the armory where he was taking off his chest armor.

 Y/N took a moment to take his figure in, and to calm her heart beating rapidly against her chest. Aemond’s hair was turning curly where it was drenched in sweat, and a handful of strands stuck to his sweaty neck as he unbuckled the heavy armor, seemingly unaware of his quiet spectator.

 A cough to clear Y/N’s throat made him turn in an instant, a slight look of surprise in his eye.

 “You—ahem, you haven’t had a drop of sweetwine nor a piece of sweetcake all morning. Here, I brought you one.”

 Aemond’s sword hand almost reached to embrace Y/N’s smaller one to take the pastry, but hesitation seemingly got the better of him, as his hand instead moved up to loosen the laces of his coat.

 “Thank you, but I have lost my appetite.”

 “Oh? Not coming down with the fever, are you?”

 It was silly, really. Y/N set the cake down on a nearby table and reached for Aemond’s sweaty forehead without a thought. It felt natural to check on him as she has always done, and she didn’t think much of it until the taller Prince went stiff under her touch. So, she pulled her hand back as if it was burnt on a fireplace, though their bodies remained close.

 “Well, you seem to be—”

 “I have something to tell you,” Aemond spoke matter-of-factly. If Y/N knew him any less, she could’ve mistaken his tone for being curt. But he sounded dispirited. Was it about the ugly slander that seemingly kept the mouth of every young maiden busy around the Red Keep? Was he going to own up to it? Denounce it?

 Aemond took a deep breath that swelled his already broad chest up. “I am to fly to Storm’s End tomorrow. I hope to make it back for Aegon’s wedding.”

 “Oh.” Oh, indeed. Was Y/N disappointed that Aemond didn’t abruptly confess to having improper thoughts about her? That he reciprocated feelings that even Y/N herself couldn’t quite understand, let alone confess to.

 “That is unexpected. May I come with?”

 “No,” Aemond responded coldly. He turned his back to undo the rest of his armor.

 “May I ask why?”

  “You may not.” Now, he spoke curtly.

 “Then tell me why you must leave so suddenly, and for so long, too.”

 Aemond turned around once again and spoke with nothing but chilling cold in his voice and without the tender, comforting look in his eye that Y/N came to crave, and perhaps had taken for granted.

 “Instead you tell me why you must stand here all day interrogating me when you must have more pressing, better matters to attend to—like courting a legion of lords and knights petitioning for your hand.” Aemond all but spat the words out with very little hesitation or thought, as if he had pondered on them for days and prepared a speech in his mind. It took Y/N by surprise, naturally, and by the time his words registered enough for her to formulate a response—Aemond dealt his deadly blow.

 “If you must know so, I am to marry one of the Baratheon girls. The Hand has been asking me time and again to choose one as my betrothed, and last week I said I would.”

 And with that, a sword buried itself deep inside her heart and twisted to draw out even more blood; Aemond walked past Y/N and out of the armory. His eye, like Y/N’s own, was glassy with welled-up tears of anger, frustration and heartbreak.

 Aemond Targaryen was nothing if not prideful to a fault, and Y/N Velaryon was nothing if not a stubborn, silly fool. So, neither did Aemond turn heel and rush back to the armory to speak what he sincerely felt, and fantasized in his chambers about saying, nor did Y/N chase after Aemond to confess what little she could make sense of her feelings she’s harbored ever since she knew him. Perhaps, Gods didn’t will it so, and it was for the best that they would drift apart the way they did. Perhaps a Lannister husband wasn’t the end of the world and the bane of her happiness, after all.

 But perhaps a Lannister husband was exactly that. The days of Aemond’s absence took a toll on Y/N rather quickly. She found herself unwilling to get out of bed and she ate very little. Who would have known that the real charm of the breakfast tables wasn’t the delicious cakes and pies and hot drinks? The days went by dreadfully slow, starting and ending with an empty chair where Aemond used to sit, and with the memories of all the sweet moments they have shared keeping her awake at night when the candles were put out.

 The noble maidens Y/N shared lessons from the Septa with speculated that perhaps Aemond was exiled for his indiscretion, and one or two were, supposedly, even brave enough to gossip behind Y/N’s back that the Prince and Y/N were caught in an indecent manner, that she was given moon tea, and that was why he took off hurriedly, chased off by her step-father, Prince Daemon himself.

 “I wish it were so,” Y/N wanted to say. It would’ve been easier that way. It would’ve meant she’d finally garnered the courage to confess to her true feelings, and that Aemond somehow, miraculously reciprocated. And if they were caught locked in a passionate embrace, so be it. They would mount their dragons, leave all the nonsense of the court and the throne behind and fly away to somewhere warmer and with less rain and mud.

 Y/N was the most nervous of all as the date of Aegon’s wedding approached. Would Aemond make it back in time as he said he would try? Would he have his betrothed on Vhagar, behind his back? Would they marry so soon after Aegon? Why were the Gods so cruel as to push them so far apart when the next wedding instead could very well have been theirs?

 The day of the wedding eventually arrived, but Aemond didn’t. Y/N felt lonelier than ever as the lords and ladies flooded the Red Keep, walking arms in arms, dancing and laughing. The celebrations started early, way before the sun had set. Y/N, despite her companion, the young and arrogant Lannister lord’s pleas to dance with him and to walk with him and to have a slice of pie with him, seated herself across from the weirwood tree that she once sat under frequently with Aemond.

 “I don’t see what is so fascinating about that tree that you must watch it for hours!” He finally protested, but received no answer from Y/N except for a dismissive grunt.

 “How dare they,” she was busy thinking to himself. “How dare they sit under our tree where we once talked and laughed and dreamed.”

 The servants’ announcement took Y/N out of her trance. The weather was turning bad and the guests were encouraged to take the celebration inside the Red Keep earlier. The blue sky was indeed a darker shade now, the sun nowhere to be seen. So Y/N stood up languidly. The velvet gown sewn just for this occasion was quite heavy as it was, she didn’t mind if it soaked up all the downpour and cemented her to the garden. She would make a rather sad, rotting, fleshy statue for Aemond’s wedding ceremony. People would come to watch her, and she would serve as a cautionary tale against being so folly as to fall in love with a cruel Prince.

 Soon after, however, it was understood that the weather was fine all along. It was Vhagar that eclipsed the clouds and the rays of sunshine behind her enormous wings, and her landing—which shook the Red Keep from its foundation to the heavy roof and gave the inexperienced guest a proper scare—revealed the golden hue of the setting sun.

 A strange, warm ache took over Y/N’s body completely at the announcement. The Hand rose from his seat next to King Viserys as he was to welcome the Prince, and the Prince would join the celebrations in no time. He would no doubt walk in with a Baratheon girl in his arm, his wife-to-be! The thought disgusted the Princess so much so that (and almost as much as the Lannister lord), her own date asked if she had a case of bad stomach and needed to be excused for a moment.

 “No,” Y/N said simply, her eyes now trained on the heavy doors that were shut behind Otto Hightower.

 “It must be the wine. Surely. As I said, we Lannisters at Casterly Rock harvest the best grapes and plums in all of Westeros and naturally, they age into the tastiest wines. They are very expensive, granted, but they are not for the poor and of the low-born, anyway.”

 “Uh uh. Charming,” Y/N muttered, not a single word of the finest fruits which made the finest wines heard on her part.

 The doors creaked open, and the arrival of the Hand and the Prince were announced. For days, Y/N dreamed of the moment Aemond would descend from Vhagar, and she dreamed of how she would be the first to welcome him, to embrace him, damn the consequences! Instead, her heart ceased to pump blood, and her stomach twisted and dropped like a goat served to the dragons in the Pit. In a moment of panic, she turned to her date and suitor and all but demanded that he danced with her. She couldn’t bear watching Aemond walk in with a girl in his arm—she would look smug and proud, too. Of course she would. Who earned the right to boast more than the maiden chosen by none other than Prince Aemond?

 The dance and the feast didn’t stop for Aemond’s arrival, as Y/N assumed he had wanted. He was never one for the theatrics of the throne, and Aegon was too busy sulking and wallowing in self-pity to celebrate the return of his younger brother, either.

 So Y/N danced, out of rhythm, without much grace or coordination, and with eyes stinging with tears held back. She wasn’t even sure if the musicians still played, and she paid very little mind to who she was dancing with each time the partners switched back and forth. Was she beautiful, the Baratheon girl? Was she shorter or taller than Y/N? Surely, she couldn’t be a dragon rider? But what good would that do when her husband-to-be had claimed the fiercest dragon in all of Westeros? Did she make up for what she lacked in a dragon by being sweeter and more ladylike? Maybe her hips were larger, too. She’s heard from the Septas that it was important that a lady had large hips, which meant safer childbirths… or something like that. No matter, what was done was done. She could learn to warm up to the Lannister lord. Her mother was right, it could’ve been worse.

 “O—of course. Yes, my—” Y/N’s suitor spoke, no, stuttered. Did she say any of her thoughts out loud? She would have to apologize as they turned to face each other and link arms again as the dance went on. Instead of the sour face of her Lannister husband-to-be, however, stood in front of the Princess none other than Prince Aemond with his arm held out for her to take, and a lopsided smile on his face.

 “A-aemond?!”

 “Y/N,” He nodded, taking her hand to wrap her velvet-clad arm around his, dancing to the lively music as the rest of the guests also did.

 “You—” The excitement and surprise paralyzed Y/N’s thoughts, a snarky remark about how his new lady-wife-to-be might be jealous didn’t come to her. Besides, maybe if Y/N refused to acknowledge her, she might disappear like a dreadful nightmare at the first lights of the dawn. “You’re back,” Y/N said instead in sincere happiness.

 “Yes. I wouldn’t miss… this.”

 Oh, how she missed the cynical, stoic side of him that mocked the ridiculous pretences of the court; she often told him that only his disdain made such events bearable for Y/N. Well, his disdain and himself.

 “Of course. Who wouldn’t love… this?” Y/N echoed his mocking tone, to which Aemond gave a smile as they took two steps forward and one backward, switching arms and leaning closer to one another.

 “You must. By the looks of things, yours is next.”

 The nerve of him! As they both stepped away from each other to exchange partners for a few steps, Y/N simmered in anger. Last she remembered, it was he who got on his dragon and brought a wife back in such a hurry.

 “Mine?!” she whisper-shouted as they reunited in the dance. “You must forget your own lady wife-to-be. Besides—where is she? Shouldn’t you be dancing with her ins—”

 “There isn’t one,” unbeknownst to Y/N, he Aemond only grabbed a cup of wine as the servant passed to stop himself from speaking more, to stop the words from escaping his mouth that there wouldn’t be one unless Y/N herself had changed her mind on marriage, and perhaps about him, too. Though Aemond was convinced all seven Gods had to come together to create a miracle big enough to have Y/N regard him as anything other than an ugly, short-tempered brute.

 There wasn’t one? There wasn’t one! Y/N put all her restored happiness into her next spin. Though it was rather short-lived. Surely, it must be because he didn’t find the girls suitable, or another, more profitable arrangement came up. One way or the other, he would marry soon. Why would he suddenly agree to a marriage in the first place otherwise?

 “But, why?”

 Aemond only shrugged. They were beautiful, but not as beautiful as Y/N. They were smart, but not as smart as Y/N. They just were not her. The Hand almost had a heart attack when Aemond unmounted Vhagar without a wife; and Aemond assured—or rather, silenced him that if he so wanted the Storm’s End for the crown, he’d fly back and conquer it with his dragon and steel, but he wouldn’t marry those ‘bitches’, as he rather lovingly referred to them. His mind was made up on the matter.

 Before Y/N could inquire further, the music concluded and a thunderous collective of applause came from the dancing lords and ladies, who now either slowly retreated to their seats at the feast tables or stood around chatting. Aemond bowed his head to Y/N’s curtsy and turned around to make for the tables without another word—as if he had not just landed after days of being gone and broke the news that brought back to life Y/N’s dead and withering heart.

 “Wait,” she reached for his arm, and he stopped in his tracks. Well, it would have been silly to let him disappear into the crowd of guests, but Y/N’s mind was too overwhelmed to come up with something to say, so she stood, fidgeting and playing with the silk ribbons hanging from her sleeves.

 “I’m… very happy that you returned safely.” And without a girl in your arm.

 “Thank you,” he smiled, as though he did not want to disappear into the crowd either, but struggled to come up with an excuse to keep the conversation alive. It was funny how once they could sit and chat from sunrise to sundown, lamenting that the days weren’t long enough to put a dent in all the things they wanted to say to one another. And yet, here they were now, desperate for something to say so they could remain in each other’s company for just a turn of the hourglass longer. Well, Y/N had several words to speak, but they were better left unspoken. Tragically, Aemond lamented the very same at that very same moment.

 “I should return you to your escort,” he spoke dejectedly. He knew a defeat when he suffered one.

 “No, please don’t. Aemond, I can’t stand him. He’s insufferable. I would very much like to strangle him in his sleep, actually.”

 Aemond’s face lit up, and he drained his fresh cup in delight. “I could do it for you right now.”

 “You would? I would pay you a golden dragon—no, two golden dragons.”

 “Which one was he again?” He pretended to look around the crowd to find the Lannister lord with a mischievous smile. “I can’t tell, they all look the same.”  

 He must have cut a particularly intimidating figure, even across from the throne room without a word spoken, as the poor Lannister boy hurried away from where Aemond and Y/N stood like a horse from a dragon. A brief moment of silence was followed by hearty laughter from both the Prince and the Princess. They both held each other and laughed, laughed until Y/N had to wipe the tears from her eyes and Aemond had to hide his lips, twitched and curled up, behind his hand. They both realized in silent coordination that they had missed this.

 Aemond cleared his throat to stifle his laughter, which still somehow found a way to slip through his parted lips like melted snow under the castle windows. He was handsome like this, nothing like his usual, threatening self. Instead, he was like the sweeter, gentler boy he once was. Life certainly would’ve been better if they could have remained like that, under the weirwood tree with his head on Y/N’s lap, likening clouds to sheep and the old Septa’s breasts.

 “I’ve had my fill of this ceremony,” Aemond bent to whisper in Y/N’s ear, his spicy perfume mixed in with the reek of dragons and the smell of honeyed wine.

 “Already? But you’ve just arrived.” Y/N hoped the disappointment Aemond’s words brought to her didn’t bleed into hers. She had hoped he would spend the rest of the evening with her.

 Aemond shrugged once again, reaching for a bottle that was just served to a noble family. Though, of course, when the patriarch looked up to reprimand the wine thief, he found it to be Prince Aemond, and his life for a bottle of wine didn’t seem like a fair barter.

 “Are you not coming?” He turned back to Y/N standing where Aemond had left her, sulking. “I don’t have a partner, and yours seems to have run off all the way back to Casterly Rock on foot. That makes you, dear Y/N, mine.”

 Aemond seemed to be in good spirits then. Y/N chalked it up to wine, she wouldn’t indulge in false hopes that would leave her upset and heartbroken. The idea that she would be his, not until the haze of the wine has faded, or the evening’s celebrations have come to an end, but for all their lives, was a dangerous poison. If Y/N allowed it to course through her veins, she couldn’t recover from the heartbreak that the Prince was sure to bring down upon her.

 “I will gladly play the part of your prisoner, my Prince,” she beamed up nevertheless, and with the fire that Aemond’s smile ignited in her, she grabbed a bottle of wine from one of the tables as well, and gave her arm to Aemond.

 Several guests were staring at them, some hiding their disapproving murmurs and gossip behind their jewelled hands, and some looking at their partners as if to say they had told them so: Look, they ARE in love. He must be bedding her, no doubt.

 “They are staring,” Y/N whispered.

 “Don’t they always do?”

 It was endearing how little he cared about others’ opinions, yet sometimes, especially when their reputations and virtues were at stake, it could be frustrating. Y/N nudged him, trying to separate her body from his in an attempt to stifle the gossip as they tore through the crowd. Aemond, however, tightened his grip on her arm and pulled her petite frame even closer, flush to his taller one.

 “Who’s staring?” He raised his voice booming with the untamed fury he came to be known for. He turned his attention from Y/N to stare down at the guests who quickly averted their eyes and busied themselves with the tapestries hanging from the walls or the freshly served food. “Point them out and I will have their eyes.”

 The sudden change back to his savagely frightening disposition could’ve taken anyone else by surprise, but not Y/N. Ever since they were kids, even before he had claimed Vhagar, Aemond always reserved a side of fierce wrath for anyone brave or stupid enough to bother Y/N. Knowing Aemond never made empty threats, and he was more than capable of unleashing great cruelty against his enemies, it would’ve terrified any other girl, and it should’ve terrified Y/N as well. Instead, it filled her with a warm wave of pleasure and pride from head to toe. She stood a little straighter, a little taller, held her head high and looked the lords and ladies in the eyes as they walked past them.

 “Well, that was a proper spectacle from a Prince who claims strong dislike for them,” Y/N teased Aemond once the commotion of the ceremony was left behind them. As they walked aimlessly, now hand in hand, their feet brought them to the weirwood tree.

 “You would draw blood at your brother’s wedding?” For me?

 “It would’ve cheered up the poor man. Have you seen his face? He might as well be walking to his execution after this.”

 It was a rare occasion for Y/N to sympathise with Aegon. Yet she imaged herself in his stead, forced into a marriage when her heart and mind laid elsewhere.

 Aemond plopped himself down at the weirwood’s roots unceremoniously, pulling Y/N down with him as he held her hand in his still.

 The night had fallen like a heavy, starry blanket that swallowed up the sun. He looked up at the sky, his face impossible to read as he took a sip from the bottle and held it out for Y/N. Though she had snatched a bottle of her own, it was sweeter to drink from where Aemond’s lips had just been. Perhaps that was the closest she could ever get to them in her lifetime.

 “You are awfully quiet. What is on your mind?” Y/N nudged him playfully. Aemond inhaled deeply once more before his head lulled to the side, to stare into Y/N’s eyes. How could the Princess know that he could never be honest? “You, us,” he fancied admitting, but he guessed she would rise to her feet swiftly, and denounce him as a pervert for having such improper thoughts. Besides, what would a beautiful lady, whether she liked the designation or not, ever want with a man like him?

 So, Aemond only bit his lip for a moment and reached for the bottle nursed in Y/N’s velvet lap. He wrapped his big, calloused hand over her soft one and allowed himself to enjoy the sensation for a moment. He’d think back on this night as his sole source of comfort once she inevitably married that Lannister and slipped away from his fingers.

 “I would have done it for free,” he murmured, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.

 Y/N only looked at him, smiling, but puzzled.

 “The ratcatcher. The Lannister cat. I’d have strangled him for you, for free.”

 “Aemond,” Y/N chuckled, slapping his shoulder playfully. “He’s not a cat. He’s a lion. At least, supposed to be.”

 “Is he? Could have fooled me. Either way, a lion is only good for feeding a dragon.”

 Surely, Prince Aemond wasn’t jealous of a pompous Lannister lord, and not on Y/N’s account. She could swear he saw her nothing more than as a friend, and she insisted on it so each time her handmaiden and confidante raised the question of Aemond’s true feelings for her. His special treatment of her, the Princess argued, was only because he was a kind gentleman of the proper ilk, nothing more. Aemond had nothing to be jealous of, well, anyone. He could have it all—the same could almost be said for the Princess, except for the one thing she has wanted the most. Yes, the Maester of history should mark her down on the family tree as “The Princess Who Almost Had It All”.

 “Don’t be so cruel,” Y/N said despite her amusement at Aemond’s remark.

 She laid her head on his shoulder, like the good times of the past. Aemond was quick to rest his chin atop her tight braids, inhaling the soap mixed with scented oils, the scent that visited his senses when he found himself alone and his hand idly travelling down the waistband of his breeches. He knew he should have pulled away, it only served to test his resolve, which, he feared, was already at an end. It was like gazing at a pie you were forbidden from tasting, the more you indulged your eyes, the more your stomach grumbled for it. Yet, that night, under the bleeding eyes of the godstree, he gave in.

Tag list (let me know if you'd like to be added to it): 

@cl-0-vr 

@icarusignite​

@fairaardirascenarios​

@st4rlighty​

@keencreatorempathshepherd

[ramspatula]

Carnations | Cole Brookstone x fem!reader | Part 3

Ghosts are real. I know because my best friend told me I speak to them.

Previous part, Masterlist, Next Part

“Good morning, beautiful.” I heard Cole’s voice sound. Way too bright and cheerful for 8 in the morning.

“Nothing about me is beautiful right now- How’d you know I was on the early shift?” I said instead of greeting him back.

“Didn’t. Lloyd- my lil bro -sent me in here to get us all some protein before- y’know what? Doesn’t matter. What you got for me, sugar?” He asked and I frowned.

“Does it run in your family to have endless nicknames?” I asked and he smiled.

“How many protein bars do you want?” I asked and he thought to himself for a moment before beginning to count on his fingers.

“Well there’s 6 of us so…. 30.” He said and my eyes widened.

“5 each?” I said and he looked up in thought before nodding, it took me a moment to figure out that he was figuring out 30 divided by 6.

“I’m not sure that’s enough….” My eyes widened more.

“Wow, you guys sure are a hungry bunch.” I picked up my phone and messaged Peach

‘Damn, do you know how much your man eats?’ - read 8:04am

‘A lot’ - sent 8.04am

“Are you shit messaging your best friend?” Cole asked, tryna peek over my phone.

“No I’m letting her know what her boyfriend is up to. Didn’t know you were that close to Lloyd.” I told him and he frowned.

“Lloyd’s my brother. I live with him and trained him when he was younger.” Cole told me and I nodded.

“Want anything else?”

“You.”

“Get out.” I told him, deadpan. He gave me the ick.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do this properly then. I’ve given you flowers, I’m clearly very interested in you. Do you feel the same, mama?” He said and I cringed.

“Try again.”

“Do you feel the same about me, Y/n?” He said and I smiled.

“I-“

“Cole hurry up! I’m starting to get hangry and Nia’s got period cramps so don’t forget the painkillers!” Some ginger guy yelled into the little corner shop and I frowned.

“Who in the fuck-“

“Jay. My other brother, Nia is his girlfriend. Can I get some pills as well please.”

“That’s $13.50.” I said and he frowned.

“The painkillers-“

“Free. Cramps make me wanna die.” I said and he smiled.

“You’re amazing, Y/n.” He said and I smiled, walking towards the door.

“Cole!” I yelled and he turned around, he almost looked innocent despite his massive figure.

“Meet me at Chen’s noodles tonight at 8.” I told him and he nodded, smile bright.

“Yes mam- ow-! I’ll be there.” I cringed as he wacked his head into the top of the door before leaning down slightly to avoid it happening again and leaving. He was tall as fuck.

0:57 —��——|——— -2:10

“I might scream…” Peach held a hand over her mouth.

“I need to wash my hair.” I told her.

“Are you straightening it?” She asked and I shrugged.

“Not sure if I’m bothered.” I said and Peach followed me towards the bathroom.

“Use the expensive shit. My treat.” She said and and I frowned.

“Lloyd uses it?!” I pointed out.

“Yeah he bought it! You don’t think that Prince Charming do was kept that way with Head & Shoulders did you?” She gasped and I threw my towel at her.

“You can get him to do anything, can’t you?” I asked and she winked. “Did you know Cole’s brother was Lloyd?” I asked and she frowned.

“Of course. They’re not blood related. That’s what that whole group does though. They’re all brother and sister and shit. Lloyd’s Uncle always says “brother sharpens brother.” Or something like that.” Peach explained and I nodded.

“Is that weird?” I asked and she contemplated it.

“I feel like I shouldn’t say anything.” She said and I nodded again.

“Kai wasn’t kidding when he said Lloyd has barely a handful of friends.” I said and her face fell.

“He said what?” She asked and I paused in my movements.

“Allegedly.” I added and she huffed.

“Kai’s not exactly Mr Popular either, it took him going to a whole other island to find Skylor and well… she’s something herself. Do you know she’s more a part of their group than me?!” Peach bursted out and I looked around, confused.

“What?! How?!” She shook her head and nodded towards me.

“You’ll see.” She just said and left the bathroom.

“What?” I said to myself, confused.

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

It’s 8:15. Cole was supposed to be here 15 mins ago.

‘He’s still not here.’ -read 8:16pm

‘Just wait a couple more minutes and I’ll pick you up if he’s not there by 8:30’ -sent 8:16

“Fuck this.” I said going to stand up but Skylor appeared in front of me.

“Hey! I thought I saw you walk in!” She said. What? 20 mins ago?

“Oh wow. I didn’t see you.” I said, forced smile. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk with my ex-hookup’s girlfriend. She already made it clear she didn’t think the best of me.

“Yeah I was in the back. My father actually left this place to me awhile back now.” She said and I nodded.

“I didn’t know he passed, sorry.” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “I didn’t know you owned this either. No wonder Kai always wants to eat here.” I said and she laughed.

“Yeah he’s my biggest regular. Those guys eat so much! Cole especially.” She said and I nodded.

“I don’t think he’s very hungry today.” I said she frowned before realising.

“Oh my god! Were you supposed to meet him here?” She asked and I nodded.

“Oh wow. Work must’ve called him in. Lloyd has all those guys on a tight rota.” She said and I nodded.

“Peach said Lloyd was staying round ours this weekend- or was supposed to. She’s not gonna be happy.” I said, standing up. Skylor frowned.

“I don’t really see much of Peach anymore… are her and Lloyd okay?” I frowned. They’ve never been so close. “I mean me and the boys know Peach isn’t very… friendly.” Peach is the definition of friendly. “Not very warming, y’know what I mean?” She said and my face hardened.

“No.” I said and she immediately went onto her back foot. “Peach is extremely friendly. She talks to anyone- maybe you just don’t make her feel very comfortable.” I said, getting defensive.

“Oh… we always try to include her just she seems very removed and Lloyd is always coming to yours. I guess to us it just seems like he’s putting more effort into her than she is him.” I’m gonna hit her.

“Mm. Well that’s definitely not the case from my angle. Seeming how stressed Lloyd always is when he comes to ours and how quickly he de-stresses when he gets there. Maybe you’re the problem. I bet you can’t even tell me one time you’ve had an actual conversation with her giving how inaccurate this version of Peach sounds.”

“I can see why Cole hasn’t shown up now and why Kai doesn’t want you anymore. I wouldn’t want to be with someone so aggressive either.” I saw a hand tap her shoulder and she turned to face Peach.

“Oh-hey?” Skylor said, alarmed. “I haven’t seen or heard from you in forever.” She said, nicely and Peach smiled.

“Oh wow, that’s funny considering you know me so well.” She said and Skylor turned to look between us. “I’m sorry, I think I interrupted- Y/n? Were you about to reply to that?” She asked and I smiled.

“Yeah, I was.” I said and punched Skylor in the eye when she turned around to face me again. She turned around again to Peach holding her eye and Peach kicked her in the knee and did some fucking cool as move where she flipped Skylor over onto her back.

“That’s for saying I don’t put in effort- am I still slow?” She asked and I almost cheered.

“Car picnic? There’s a new burger joint I wanna try.” Peach asked and I nodded.

“Please.” I said and we walked out. “When did you learn to do that?” I asked and she shrugged.

“Basic self defence.” She said and I gasped.

“You actually listened?!” I said and she nodded.

“Lloyd taught me a few things as well.” She confirmed.

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

Kai was messaging me, angrily and I ignored his calls. Chowing down on the nice fat burger. Me and Peach moaned at how good it was.

“We might be lesbian lovers after this, y’know?” Peach said and I nodded.

“Both screwed over by men in one night? It’s a sign.” I said. “You’re moaning louder at that burger than Lloyd makes you.” I said and she laughed.

“Tell me about it.” She said screwing up the wrapped and throwing it in the empty bag. “Y’know how they’re all gym-heads right?” She asked and I nodded.

“It’s freaky.”

“Lloyd once didn’t talk to them for a couple days because they said I was too fragile and unfit to train with them. That fucking hurt me.” She said and I frowned.

“Err. That’s fucking rude.” I said and she nodded, taking a vape. She only smoked when was upset.

“Don’t get me started on when they found out I vaped.” She said and I frowned harder. “The worst part is they were right.” I patted her shoulder.

“There, there. You’re still out of Lloyd’s league.” I said and she smiled.

“Do you think I don’t put as much effort in as him?” She asked and I shook my head.

“No! The poor guy would be dead without you.” I told her and she shrugged.

“They’ve done a lot more for him.” She added and I hit her in the arm.

“Shut up! Whenever he gets you a present it labelled to ‘the best thing that’s ever happened or me’. Let’s be for real.” I told her and she smiled.

“Yeah, that’s true.” She looked at me.

“Could be worse. You could be a selfish, aggressive, vile person that no one wants to be with.” I told her and she hit me instead.

“Only one of those things were said and none of them things are true.” Peach said and I shrugged. “Fine… I’ll break up with Lloyd and be your lesbian lover. Okay, Pookie Bear?” She said and I laughed.

“Okay, Pookie. Make me yours.” I said and we both started laughing our lungs out.

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

We pulled into the car park for our apartment which was actually a 10 minute walk to the apartments but not if you went through this ally.

“Listen, men are shit. They do this! Because they have nothing better to do than be dickheads. That’s why ice cream was made. To fix men’s mistakes. That’s we’re full time lesbians now.” Peach said, carrying the bag full of treats with me carrying the other.

“You don’t mean that do you, Peaches?” A voice called and I looked up startled to see the green ninja staring down at us. The earth ninja appeared behind him like he was in trouble.

“Oh I so do. I so so do.” She said, gritting her teeth as he jumped down in front of her.

“You and Garmadon struggling? Do I have my chance now?” He asked and oh my god, the green ninja was a flirt.

“No! Didn’t you hear? I’m a lesbian now, meet my lesbian lover.” She said and gestured to me, he gave a short wave.

“You stealing my girl now?” He asked and I frowned.

“Was never yours and the universe wants us to be together. Gave us a sign.” I said and he looked to Peach.

“Both screwed over by these brothers tonight then their friend started saying that I didn’t put any effort in to my relation and that’s no one wants to be with her because she’s a selfish, vile, aggressive person.” Peach almost spat in his face.

“That’s not true.” Greenie immediately said. Going soft.

“I second that.” The earth ninja said… I forgot he was even there.

“Well… only one of those things was said.” I told him and I saw his eyebrows knit from the little eye slot on the mask. He had brown eyes.

“Still not true. What happened?” He asked and Peach was glaring at him and then dropped the bag in Greenie’s hand and started walking to the apartment.

“Follow us.” She said, taking the lead and I did a little run to be by her side. She looked at me before taking my bag and dumping it in the Earth Ninja’s hands. “Don’t talk to me.” She hushed him before he even spoke.

“Are we in trouble.” Earth asked and Greenie nodded.

“Big trouble.” He confirmed.

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

“Make yourself comfortable.” I said, watching both men collapse on the couch. They sat up immediately in sync, like they were both in trouble.

“Shit, ice cream has melted.” Peach said and I grabbed mine and squished the tub a little to feel the liquid move.

“Fuck off. As if today could get worse.” I said and Greenie reached out.

“Here.” He took it in both hands and cupped it. When he gave it back it was frozen again.

“Thank you-show off” I said at the same time as Earth. Greenie wacked him.

“You boys had a hard patrol?” Peach asked, hidden meaning. I knew she knew the green ninja but not this close.

“Yeah- massive sinkhole appeared in the road! Had to block it off. Try and figure out the cause. Witness says that it apparently ‘glitched’.” Greenie said and I noticed how Peach all of a sudden went really stiff and nervous.

“Weird.” She said and looked away.

“Yeah weird.” I said, looking at her strangely before running over to her.

“I thought you said that shit only happened once! To our….” I cut myself off noticing the boys looking at us with lost puppy eyes. “Can you like not please?” I asked and they jumped into motion.

“Oh yeah- uhm…. Is your room still the same Peach? I’m gonna have a look!” Greenie said and walked through the door leaving Earth.

“I would also like to see your room! I’ve only seen Y/n’s! Two for two! Am I right?” Earth said and went into Peach’s room, shutting the door.

“It totally is what happened to our neighbours! That’s the problem! That’s why I’m so close to greenie!” Peach told me and I gasped.

“No!” I said.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” She said, tears in her eyes.

“Why wouldn’t you fucking tell me?!” I asked and she tried to hold back tears.

“I wanted to tell you everything! From the glitching to why you can’t say my name! You know how you see ghosts right?!” She asked and I shook my head.

“No! I didn’t know that!” I said and she laughed.

“Neither did I! But apparently yes! It’s to do with some dimension third eye thing! But being exposed to the glitch- changed us.” She said and I gasped.

“What-?”

“Peach that’s enough!” Green said from the door. Earth ninja defensive behind him.

“Enough-?” She questioned.

“Yes! Enough… just calm down. It’s not your fault.” He said and I looked to Earth.

“He’s being leader…” He clarified. “The senseis are really big on secrecy. Makes our lives harder and easier at the same time.” Earth told me and I nodded.

“You’re huge by the way.” I said, just noticing how tall he is. “Super strength?” I asked and he nodded.

“Was always tall but this…” he gestured to his body “…is all thanks to training.” I laughed at him as Green tried to calm Peach down.

“I should probably call Lloyd. He’ll know how to calm her… does he know?” Earth looked at me.

“I don’t personally know the guy.” He said and I nodded.

“Just fought his Dad?” I asked and he became more awkward.

“If you want to make someone uncomfortable start talking about the final battle with him.” Earth said and I laughed.

“I’m gonna go to bed. I don’t even wanna think about anything that has happened tonight. I’m gonna shoot my self if this carries on- My ice cream is melted again!” I complained, opening the lid.

“Here!” Green said stressed, hand on his hip with one outstretched towards me. He took it and ice spiked off it in his frustration.

“Y’know what?! Go! I’m done speaking to the green ninja! I want to speak to Lloyd! And take him with you! I don’t want her caught up in this crap either!” I heard Peach say and me and Earth looked at each other and he nodded before jumping out the window. Greenie went to storm out but came back with my ice cream and slammed it down so hard our kitchen counter snapped in two. We both gasped.

“We’re gonna lose our deposit.” I blurted out. First thing my mind thought of.

“Im so a lesbian now!” Peach said and I nodded.

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

‘Hey, sorry i didn’t message or call.’ - sent 3:23

‘Just got in. Been a rough night’ sent 3:23

‘I’m sorry I fucked up big time tonight’ sent 3:25

‘I don’t wanna fuck this up with you please’ sent 3:25

‘I heard what happened with Skylor. I’m on your side’ sent 3:26

‘She’s wrong’ sent 3:26

‘I really fucking wanna be yours’ sent 3:29

Message deleted

‘Call me back when you wake up please’ sent 3:29

…

‘I saw you type. Please respond’ sent 3:32

‘Please Y/n I’ll make it up to you’

…

‘I wanna be yours too’ sent 3:39 read 3:39

‘But how can I trust you?’ read 3:40

‘I’ll do anything.’ sent 3:40

…

‘Bring me a single carnation every Sunday’ read 3:56

‘It has to be a pink one’ read 3:57

0:57 ————|——— -2:10

[looses-gooses]

Thinking abt starting a series of new skin designs/re-interpretations of existing skins. There’s a list of ideas under the cut.

Any requests?

( I’m saying re-interpretation bc this is how I would have personally gone about designing the skins. There’s nothing wrong with them & all my respect goes to the artists that created them. I’m just doing this as a fun challenge for myself)

So far I have:

Re-interpretations:

Cole Cassidy ow 2 skin

Kirko

Hanzo koi skin

Ramattra necromancer/ summoner

Cyborg/proteus: 76

Runner sojourn

Barista sojourn

Lightning tracer

Onryō hanzo (not as much as an interpretation but adding other modesl & color options)

Ghost bloom lifeweaver

New

Different flower skins for lifeweaver (rose, lily, sunflower, etc)

Koi genji skin ( I think Hanzo & Genji need more matching skins)

Gardener Mei, Cole, baptiste, & lifeweaver

Dragon hanzo & Genji (discounting drake master, think more like symmetra’s dragon skin. Hanzo is in progress)

Goldfish zen & ramattra (I want zen to throw those cute little round goldfish @ ppl because it’s funny & ramattra needs more skins in general)

Dragon zen & ramattra( can’t decide if zen should throw eggs or gold @ ppl…hrmmm. Also I think rams cape would translate well into wings)

Genji in a green scion suit….

Ashe & Cole as Bonnie & Clyde

More pajama skins… just I general (hanzo, cole, & Genji are in progress)

Krampus hanzo (in progress)

Cyborg hanzo ( not counting cyberninja, in progress)

Alchemist Ana

Also If there’s one you really want to see, requesting it specifically should make it get done sooner as I usually prioritize requests. Suggestions are appreciated!

[winterproductions]

CHAPTER THREE

Disclaimer: This is an idol!Jungkook and OC fanfiction, preferably for my POC queens but anyone who reads can envision themselves in the character, if they like.

Word count: 1K

CHAPTERS: 01 02 03 04

__________________________________________

Amara Cole

2017

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" The screams of the crowd blurred as I felt Daniel's lips press against mines, this was our first kiss. I pulled away as the fireworks brighten the night sky, "happy new years, babe." He whispered in my ear and I giggled "babe??" I smiled up at him and he looked around as his face turned pink with his natural blush. "Amara Cole" he spoke as his hands wrap around my waist, "will you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?" I nodded and he smiled widely. "Good" he commented before kissing me again.

A flash interrupted us and we looked at the cause of it. "Now this! Is a memory!" Emerald exclaimed as she showed us her camera. Daniel laughed and looked at Emmy, "send me that!" He responded and we continued dancing the night away.

"Mommy, did I wake you?" I spoke into the phone as I laid in bed at 7am. "No baby, the nurses did." I laughed as I remember the way she vented about the nurses always waking her to ensure she still was alive despite the heart monitor showing it. "Happy new years" I told her and she repeated back. "Mara, I'm heading for check up and I cannot carrying my phone, so I'll speak with you later ok?" I heard my mom rushed as the background nurses spoke to her. "Ok mommy, be safe." "Same to you, baby."

___________________________________________

"Graduation came in a flash, we just spoke about it." Daniel commented to his friends as we all awaited the ceremony to begin. Gaining new friends through a relationship is something I never thought about but it happened. "You look beautiful, my love." Daniel commented and I blushed.

The ceremony was long but it was worth it, I left with honors of being the salutatorian; one failed examination caused me the spot of valedictorian. "Congratulations!!" Daniel screamed as the ceremony came to an end. He spun me around as the graduates dispurse with their family to begin their new ventures in adulthood. "Mrs. Cole" Daniel greeted my mom as my brother pushed her wheel chair. He hugged my mom as his parents approached and we all communicate before making dinner plans to celebrate our success.

Both Daniel and I received a scholarship to CPA for music. "My baby is going to Britain for four years." She cried in sadness and pride. "I would have declined it." I commented as Trevor drove us to a restaurant. "Don't you dare, I have Trevor and Kurstin. You go and get your degree, that way you'll have the money to carry me everywhere." You chuckled as Trevor pulled up to the restaurant at the same time as Daniel's and Emerald's family.

My phone rang as we got situated at a table and I brought Emerald outside with me as I looked for my sister who came running down the sidewalk. She was out of breath holding congratulations balloons and flowers. "This place making fucking money, I need to open a restaurant." She joked and handed me her gifts. "I'm sorry I missed the ceremony, I sneaked out of work to get these and bring them." She laughed as I took them with a hug. "Here." She passed me some money as she began to head back to her car"have fun tonight! Celebrate!!" She screamed as she ran from where she came.

Tears form in my eyes as I sat a the filled table of three different family and friends. I blinked them back but happiness spilled from me and it exceeded as my father arrived. "Congratulations babygirl, you have now surpass me in life." He joked. He didn't graduate from high school, but his success in life didn't falter, street smarts and manners can really take you through the world.

•∆•

"So, we have until August." Daniel began and I looked at him. "Yeah, I want to spend time with family until then." He nodded "agreed" he kissed me softly and we heard a scoff "I'll forever be a third wheel." Emerald commented making us laugh. "You'll find someone soon, Emmy." Daniel commented. "I'm going to miss you guys." Silence filled the car we sat in as our parents are still chatting and eating in the restaurant. "Four years, it'll pass quick." I tried being optimistic and held up my phone. "We'll always be in contact." She nodded and the trio hugged it out as they stepped out the car. "We have until August, and after then the countdown begins!" Emerald stated.

•∆•

The airport send-off was more emotional then Amara expected. She broke down in tears that refuse to calm down despite her efforts. She hated leaving her mom in the position she's in, it was only seven months ago that her mom returned home from the hospital. "It's okay, be safe in Britain, you can always see us during the breaks and calls will be frequent." Her mom comforted her and she nodded.

Emerald approached her with tears and engulfed her tightly. "Like your mom said, we always have breaks to see each other. The countdown begins." She comforted her tearful friend. "I'm sorry to interrupt." Daniel spoke, sincerely apologetic at interrupting their goodbyes. "We have to go now to catch our boarding time." Amara nodded and engulfed her family one last time before holding Daniel's hand. "Daniel" the voice of her father was heard making them turn around. "Take care of my daughter." He nodded with a smile. "You have my word, sir."

"Our new adventure begins." Daniel stated and Amara nodded, "yeah, it's official." She whispered as the blue skies and clouds became the aesthetic behind the airplane's window.

A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far, I'm just building the storyline. As I said before BTS makes an appearance very soon.

[thepinkwriterr]

Capricorn Season Chapter Eighteen Part Two 

Table of Contents 

Word Count: 4.7k

The usual rattling of the letterbox intrigued Lucy, causing her to run to the front door like a dog. I almost tripped over her as I made my way to the door.

"It's just the mailman," I said.  She looked up at me with quiet wonder.

Sitting on the floor were a magazine, a bill, and a letter. It was addressed to me, coming from Helsinki. Must be from Jimmy!

I ripped it open where I stood. Bits of paper floated onto the floor as I retrieved the letter from its confines. The paper was scratched and scrawled in his handwriting. It was all I had of him for the time being.

My Dearest Guinevere,

I am writing this from the venue in Finland! We're having a grand time, but I'm afraid it's glacial here. It was 2 degrees this morning. And you thought England was cold! But do not worry on about me. I just have to close my eyes and imagine you're right here next to me, warming me.

I miss you so. It pains me that I cannot have the real thing. I am counting down the days until I can see your beautiful face once more. Please do not forget about me while I am away. I would hate to return home and see that you've gone.

I hope you're enjoying your time at home. And try to stay warm! And speaking of home, we will be back in the UK in March. I don't know specifically when, but I will speak to Cole and figure everything out.

Well, I have to go now. We're on soon. I hope this show goes well. The crowd sounds very excited. I miss you dearly and cannot wait to see you once more.

Your man,

Jimmy

I pressed the letter to my chest. He officially left the UK last week. And I wouldn't see him again for five months. Thinking of the time now, a pain shot through me. It seemed like it would never end.

-

Lucy's hot breath on my face woke me up. When I rolled over to check the time the clock read 12:02. Without Jimmy I slept in. He was usually my rooster waking me at the break of dawn.

I pushed Lucy off my chest and sat up. Where the sun would usually be there was instead a mass of pale overcast light. The bedroom looked dim in the poor lighting. The floral wallpaper now looked homely.

As I made my way down the stairs I felt a familiar pain gnawing at my insides. Emptiness. With no one but Lucy and I, I could feel the stillness of the boathouse. A door to the coldest room in the house was left open, allowing cold winter air to wash up from the river.

I quickly shut it and rubbed my arms trying desperately to conduct some kind of heat. Without Jimmy, the house was no longer a palace of infinite activities. I was bored. My senses were left dejected. The energy that bounced off the walls was no longer present. All that was left now were the antiques he'd collected and the draft from downstairs.

It didn't help that his house was a weird mess. Records were stacked under shelves and the floors needed a good sweeping. The couches were uncomfortable and the porch swing in the living room suddenly struck me as weird. I hadn't thought about how odd and messy his house was before. It seemed part of his charm, this odd and cavernous structure. Without him, it was just a jumble of artifacts and dust.

Even Lucy could feel how lonely the house was. She walked beside me, following me into the kitchen. An echo of a squeaking cabinet reminded me of the pain in my stomach. I have to go grocery shopping... The thought of leaving the house during this weather made me feel even worse. It was too cold to do anything.

I settled on toast and tea. There would be no sausage or eggs, no juice or fresh flowers. This was a solitary meal made for essential purposes. Lucy and I would have to be content with the silence that washed through our home today.

I spent my day lounging around with the fluffy ball of energy. Sometimes she would leave for a few minutes but would ultimately come back around, tickling my feet with her tail. I tried flipping through channels but that was pointless. British TV was awful.

By noon I was so bored I decided to do some work. I had to finish printing the photos from Yom Kippur for a spread we were doing about holidays, in preparation for the coming Christmas season. I also had to print for Allison. She had a shoot yesterday and was over the moon about how wonderful the photos were going to turn out. I hoped she was wrong...

"I will see you in a few hours. Don't break anything," I said to the purring mass of grey fur. I was bundled in my coat and scarf, heavy boots, and long pants. I was prepared for the cold. I kissed her and plopped her on the floor.

-

"What are you doing here? You're not scheduled for the next two days," Jonathan said. He looked and sounded upset. I winced from his tone.

Something disgusting happens when he gets himself in a tizzy. He starts to sweat, a vein protrudes from his forehead, and his face gets hot. I noticed that even his hands seemed to swell. This was on account of how often I saw him in a mood.

"I know, but I figured I would get a jump on things. The Yom Kippur prints need finished. Anything else you can think of?"

He sighed and stood from his work desk. "Allison and Tomison need some negatives loaded and developed. I trust that you can hang and dry them."

His accent was different than Jimmy's. I don't know where he's from, but it sure doesn't sound like London. His voice was hollow and commanding. It rattled in his chest when he spoke, or rather when he barked. He was a man of few words. And those words were seldom positive. He almost reminded me of Peter Grant. They had the same overwhelming and terrifying aura about them.

When I shut the door to the darkroom I felt at peace. I was closed off from his negative energy. I flipped on the radio and began working. The sounds of Donovan further soothed me. He was singing about a woman named Jennifer Juniper.

I fumbled to unlatch the film reel, cutting my hand in the process. Pain raced from my finger into my brain, the axons firing rapidly. I sucked in a breath and stuck my finger in my mouth.

Maybe Jimmy finding me a new job wouldn't be so bad. I probably wouldn't have to do these menial tasks day in and day out.

After loading the film into the canister I poured in the developer and waited for the magic to happen. Foaming chemicals bubbled around as I shook the canister. I looked at the clock and waited for it to buzz so I could dump out the liquid.

I didn't know how it worked or why, but I was impressed every time. I was impressed I could actually do it. When I first started, it took me nine tries to correctly load and develop a canister. Nine!

In total, I spent only three hours at work. Jonathan excused me when I finally emerged from the darkroom, having hung the negatives to dry.

"Don't bother taking your lunch. You can just go home. You have a shoot tomorrow, so take the rest." He didn't bother looking up from his work. It looked as if he was trying to configure a page layout.

I walked closer to him with a smile plastered to my face. He was organizing the page for a soccer tournament. "The largest photo should go center-left. The colors pop there. And that shot needs to be the bottom right. The action should jump off the page. If you put it there, it's swallowed by the shots surrounding it."

He looked up at me with a grimace. "Thank you," He groused.

I nodded and was on my way. I don't know what emboldened me, but I felt like stepping up to him today. My patience was running on a short fuse. I could feel an explosion working its way up.

Slipping back into the cold shot thick air into my lungs. My feet trudged through the snow and stopped when I reached my car. It was cold in there too. Britain was possibly the worst place I could've chosen to move to. Always cold and raining. The only people who could enjoy the weather were Londoners.

The house wasn't much better when I returned. Still freezing. It was better in some rooms than in others. I didn't enjoy the rustic feel of the old house now. I didn't know how he even lives here. He's so frail, I'm sure he frosts in even the summer.

When I decided a nap was in order, I scooped up Lucy and brought her upstairs. I wrapped myself in a pile of blankets and closed my eyes.

-

I was woken a few hours later by the phone ringing. I tried my best to reach the receiver before the caller hung up. I was bitter my nap was cut short and even more about having to leave the warm reverie of my bed.

"Hello?"

"Hello, darling! How are you doing today?" I was met with Jimmy's silky voice.

"I'm doing fine. It's very cold here."

"Awe, that sounds miserable. But I will be home to warm you up in a matter of time."

"I can't wait! What day will you be back in the UK?"

"The 18th. And then it's onto Vancouver."

"Well, that sounds like fun. Is your tour going well? You're traveling around Europe, that is so exciting!"

"Yes, I'm having a grand time." I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well, I don't want to keep you any longer. I'm sure someone is pulling your arm, telling you to get off the phone." I laughed.

"Well, I am actually just up in my hotel room. I'm waiting on breakfast. And I wouldn't leave a call with you for anyone."

"So gentlemanly. I wonder if the club promoters and screaming fans know you're such a romantic at home."

Now he laughed. It was low and husky in my ear. Made my bones ache from missing him. "I would hope not. That would make my stage outfits look ridiculous!"

-

Dear James,

Things have been interesting here, to say the least. More eventful in the last few days than in the past few months! Typically, I go about my business as usual. But I will tell you a little bit about how things got so messy. I suppose I will start from the beginning. It all really started just the month after you left. My boss was getting more and more upset as the days went on. I know you're aware of his ability to be an ass, but it seemed like everything I did just pissed him off more. And then it all came to a head one day.

But this is most likely due to what I found out about him. And I guess I will start at the beginning with the call I received. It was from a dear friend that I worked with in the past. His name is Ross Halfin.

"Hey, Gwen, it's Ross! Yeah, you know, your dear old friend Ross? I know it's been a minute since you've heard from me. I've been a bit busy. Yes, yes, I know! Making it big isn't all it's cracked up to be. Well, thank you! But I am calling because I need a date for a work party tonight. And I figured we could kill two birds with one stone. I can have a date and you can make some connections. What do you say? Oh, perfect! Shall I come round at 7? Oh, yes, it's formal! Alright, see you then! Uh-huh, goodbye."

So I got myself ready. And I think I looked pretty nice. My silk dress complimented my eyes nicely by almost exactly mirroring their shade. If you thought I looked nice on your birthday, your eyes would've fallen out of your head if you saw me! But anyway, we get there, and everything is going well. I was chatting with a couple people, trying to network. You would've been so proud of me. I was really honing my Capricorn skills that night!

"Well, I think your depth of field is smashing. And the colors are really something. I will definitely keep in touch." Barry Kramer, the owner of a magazine that seems to be rising in popularity, shook my hand. I gave him an appreciative smile and turned back to Ross.

"Are you tired yet?" His chuckle was in my ear.

"No, not yet. But I think I'm getting there."

"Would you feel better after a drink?" He held a glass of bubbling champagne up.

"Oh, no, I'm okay. I don't imbibe. It's really more for your sake than mine. I get a little...uncouth, as the Brits would say."

He raised his brows and gave a knowing smile. "Point taken."

"Well, I'm off to the washroom. I won't be long. Promise you won't go too far? I can't do this without you." I walked off after he gave a thumbs-up.

My short heels clicked against the marble floors as I made my way around the large office space. I don't know where we are, who this is for, or why Ross was invited. But I am glad that I got a few phone numbers. And everyone kept their eyes and hands to themselves. And believe me, Jimmy, I would be able to handle myself if some of the men weren't being Christian enough.

When I finally located the bathroom was the trouble. When I pulled the door open, there was Johnathan! And I caught him in the middle of a scene. His hands were under the dress of a tall, tawny woman. Her head was cast backward in pleasure. The sound of her coquettish laughter bounced off the walls of the small lavatory. My eyes darted around, spotting his unbuttoned collar and discarded belt. My hands flew to my eyes, then to the knob of the door. Just as quickly as I came, I went.

I practically ran up to Ross, the sound of my nervous steps filling the foyer. "Are you alright?" He was concerned, most likely due to my carmine face. A poorly hidden smile strung its way onto my face, threatening to burst forward into full-blown laughter.

"No, absolutely not." I crouched down, clutching my thighs as I let out a pained laugh.

"What the hell happened in that bathroom?" He had sat his glass down now, his full attention on me.

"Quite a lot, I'm afraid. I found my boss," I whispered now, "And he was with someone!"

His mouth hung open, a laugh escaping. "Are you fucking serious? Was it his wife?"

"I don't know! God, I really hope so. Or that would be bad news for everyone." We looked at each other, holding in more giggles. People probably wouldn't want to talk to us if we spent the entire night cracking jokes. And I had no plans of greeting others.

I thought that would be the end of it! Oops, I saw you catching a quickie in the bathroom, see you on Monday! But no, that couldn't be enough for me! Why, oh why, has God done this to me? What karmic sins am I now reaping?

It was about 30 minutes later that I saw Johnathon again. A smudge of lipstick revealed his thinly veiled attempt to hide his potty randevu. When I looked at him, I could spot a glazed look in his eye. He must be drunk. Boy, I wonder how many drinks it would take him to do that. He was so uptight, that I would never imagine him doing anything risky. Or fun, for that matter. It's kind of like how you couldn't picture your teacher outside of school. Obviously, he has a life outside of work, but I didn't want to think about that. I'm sure he didn't think of me outside of work. He definitely doesn't want to now.

Before we were seated at the beginning of the gallery I eyed him. His table was next to mine, dimly lit as the rest of the room. His hand was placed on top of the woman's, rubbing small circles with his thumb. If they weren't married, he sure could've fooled me. The waiter brought a round of drinks over, starting first with Johnathan and his guest.

"Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Crawford." Two drinks were placed in front of them. Johnathan had a tequila sunrise, the woman opting for a classier drink: a dry martini. The drink mirrored her body. Her dark legs were long and taut, leading up to a large chest. I guess that would make her head the toothpick. Which again, was oddly fitting.

I figured that I would just let it go. But then Johnathan decided to be his usual self.

"Well, Gwen, you look exquisite. You clean up nicely. Much nicer than the blazers and button-ups you wear around the office."

Which, in itself wouldn't be a bad statement. Definitely a true one. But his face just pissed me off so much. He sounded like a terrible Bond villain! God, how drunk was he? What was he playing at? He looked to me, barring those horrendous teeth. He was in need of a coffee to sober up and a dentist to fix the other thing. What a prig. The waiter then handed me another glass of bubbly.

"Well, you certainly look to be enjoying yourself. You haven't introduced me to your woman. Mrs. Crawford, it was?" I reached my hand out, disregarding his remark.

"Enchante," She gave a slight bow as she shook my hand, "Je Suis Helena Shouver." Her words oozed femininity and class. Not the sort of woman I expected to be hanging off Johnathan's arm.

"Charmed." I gave an overly sweet smile, sugar dripping from my sarcastic lips. "And how did you love birds meet?" I was guzzling champagne at this point. I needed every ounce of bravery I could find. I scooped it from my glass like wet sand, hoping desperately it would brace my fall after the stunt I had in mind.

"Work." His words cut her off. The look she shot him was a clear indication that they had in fact, not met at work.

"No, no, silly man! You know how we met." A cheeky smile graced her refined features. Before he could save himself her motor was running. She painted me a scandalous tale of how they met at a resort in France. This particular establishment was advertising its nude beach. And it was in attendance of this skin show they first locked eyes and fell madly in love. As she spoke my eyes drifted down to look at her naked fingers. No ring.

His face twisted like he had smelled spoiled milk. I've caught him in a lie! How could she possibly be Mrs. Helena Crawford AND Mrs. Helena Shouver? A devious thought entered my mind. No, no, I can't hold this over his head. If I want to make it in the business, then I need to be honest. But to be honest, Jimmy, I really wanted to make him pay. And in hindsight, I should've. I'm still half-tempted to tell his wife.

"Well, that is some tale! It was certainly very nice to meet you. And Johnathan, I'll see you tomorrow at the office." I gave a knowing smile before turning to find Ross once more. I looked proud, sauntering up to him. I had given him enough hell. Made him uneasy enough. And I thought for then, it was enough. Perhaps I'd keep this in my back pocket.

The next day was awkward. I had lost all of the swagger from the night before. And on top of it, I was paying for the drinks I had. My head pounded in my ears as I trudged through piles of photos. But I managed to get through my day, even with the overtime I took. It was after everyone had already left that things got nasty.

He startled me when he walked up behind me."I like the inventive approach you took this time."

When I turned to him, he didn't look angry. He had a similar look in his eyes that I saw in yours. A piercing intensity. In fact, I thought he was complimenting me at first. Maybe last night scared him straight.

"Maybe next time it'll actually be good," He gave me one last up-down, brows raised.

Anger burned hot in my face. The next actions I took are not ones I am proud of, or that I would do in my right mind. But I was angry. Sick of being the new girl, the intern everyone could dump their unwanted work on. I unloaded a year's worth of bottled-up rage.

"You know, if I were you, I would be a little more careful with my words. I can send your whole marriage and family crashing down with one phone call." My finger was extended and pointed directly into his chest. It made me sick to even touch him.

He was speechless. His mouth hung open in a daze. His mind was trying to catch up.

"Well, then you wouldn't have a job. And no one is going to hire you with how little experience you've got."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Need I not remind you who I have connections with now. I could get another job tomorrow and make a lot more money than I am now. I'm practically doing you a favor." Without another word I grabbed my bag and stalked off to my car. I even skipped clocking out. Which wouldn't be a problem with the events of the next day.

When I showed up in the morning, everyone was silent. Their eyes were glued to me as I walked to my cubicle. I tried to eye them back but was nervous. It's very odd to know everyone is looking at you, but not knowing why. But I would soon find out when I saw Johnathan.

I made it five minutes into my last day. As soon as I opened up my bag, pulling out last night's print make-ups, I heard footsteps bounding toward my desk.

"How could you?"

It was Johnathan. He was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. I know this because he was wearing that stupid tie. It was awful, Jimmy. Even you wouldn't like it. It was an animal print with little horses on it. Real Western shit.

I looked at him with confusion. "You ruined the prints. Every last one of them!" He held up a stack of magazine pages covered in black ink. "I don't even know how you could fuck up a printer that badly. It's like you hit it with a paperweight."

I stared on in astonishment. He's going to get away with this, I already know it. Hot anger flurried in my brain, reaching each corner of my thoughts before I even opened my mouth. I wanted to scream. I wanted to shove everything off my desk and kick him. I wanted to set the building ablaze.

But I didn't. I sat quietly and waited for his production to be over so I could leave.

"And now everyone is going to have to stay late. Through the weekend. This was going to be an amazing release. And you've ruined it. Everyone give Gwen a hand. Come on! Everyone give her a round of applause!"

The harsh silence was broken by his unhinged clapping. I looked around, gauging reactions. Some people were holding back laughs and others, tears. My eyes shot back to him, seeing the anger on his face. He slammed his hands on my desk, his nose centimeters from mine. "You're fired." I could smell the espresso on his breath.

At that moment I decided that I had two options: I could either bow my head and collect my things in embarrassment, or I could leave with a smile and a wave. And I settled on the latter. I wasn't going to let him win. Even if he thought he had.

So yeah, that's how my week has been. And now I'm out of a job. I've tried getting in touch with Barry from Creem, but his office hasn't responded. And I was very unsure of that opportunity. It was a small company that is just starting. I have just been laying in bed with Lucy now. Spending my days waiting by the window, wondering when my husband will return from war...

With love,

Guinevere

-

I peeled my eyes open to the sound of the phone downstairs. With a groan, I shoved myself out of bed. The edges of my robe hit the banister as I floated down the staircase.

"Hello?" "Gwen! Hello, my dear lady." "Hi, Jimmy. I hear you're whimsical as ever." "Truly. Well, I've just received your letter last night. It was nice to read after the show. I felt like you were really here with me. I always appreciate your flair for the dramatic." I clicked my tongue and started to rebut before he interrupted. "I am so proud of you for finally standing up to Johnathan. It always bothered me so to hear you letting him walk all over you. Although, I am sorry to hear you were fired. But that does bring up some good news!" Oh no. Good news to Jimmy is always shocking.

"I've spoken with Grant and the guys. And we've all agreed we'd love you to accompany us on the rest of the tour."

"What? I can't just tag along. That would be so weird. Who would I hang out with while you're busy? Robert and Bonzo's road wives? Oh yeah, you know I would have some riveting conversations with Tabitha and Candle!" "Well, I reckoned you could be our photographer. And their names are Trixie and Crystal." "I don't even want to know why you know their names so intimately. That is precisely why I can't go on tour. Our agreement on the matter of your dick-slinging is none of my business. And that's the way I like it. And, I can't just take photos of you guys. I don't have a studio or any prompts. I won't be getting paid. And I don't want to be on Zeppelin's payroll. It's bad enough you've been helping me get shoots." "Please, love, I want you to be here with me. There have been no road wives from me. Just thoughts of you. I told you, I only have eyes for you." When I failed to reply he took that as an open door to further drag my will down. "And I can find someone to hire you. I'm sure if I work my Jimmy Page magic on them, they'd love to have you." "No, I can't distract you from your work." "It'll take less than one afternoon. I'll make some calls right now." Against my better judgment, I gave in. With him, there is no winning. He has an iron will, unlike anyone I had ever met before. Perhaps that is the Jimmy Page magic.

"Oh, alright. As long as your promise I won't be caught in any uncomfortable situations with your old flings, and you won't ignore me the whole time." "I promise we will only be having the most fun. You'll love it." If only then had I understood the ramifications of becoming the woman who accompanied Jimmy on tour. And how much this trip would change things. How it would change everything.

Taglist:

@anothercanyonlady , @jonesyjonesyjonesy , @paginate54 , @seventieswhore , @jimmypages , @jimmys-zeppelin​ , @jimmysdragonsuit13

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Pretty Little Fears

Song by 6LACK



Overview

Lyrics

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Do better, who better?

You better? Been around

Like hella propellers

Wanna know who you with

Don't tell him

Come on fellas, that ain't none of your biz'

Got on your bodysuit, you know I'm on your ass today

Would you let me hit it thrice if I asked today?

She know my stick nothin' but magic bae

I'll be swinging it back and forth, 'til you in your casket, bae

Mm, girl you want my best side, mm

Bet you from the West Side, mm, mm

Now I just wanna know

Don't just sugar coat

Or say it all if you want

Now could you tell me like it is?

Pretty little fears

Music to my ears

Okay, say it loud, say it proud, you wanted more

We open door, hit the couch, then on floor

I cut it all, like a scissor, love galore

She never bored, there's so much shit we can do

You free to say whatever, baby, if you asking me

No limit when I'm in it, got a master piece

I'm hoping I don't get a fast release

Got me focused like I'm out here tryna get my mast to sea, mm

Throwing out the peace sign, mm

Girl, I'm from the East Side, mm, mm

Girl, you want my best side, mm

Bet you from the West Side, mm, mm

Now I just wanna know

Don't just sugar coat

Or say it all if you want

Now could you tell me like it is?

Pretty little fears

Music to my ears

Now I just wanna know

Don't just sugar coat

Or say it all if you want

Now could you tell me like it is?

Pretty little fears

Music to my ears

I'm loving your light, vulnerable

Letting your guard down is honorable

'Specially when the past ain't been that friendly to you, but there's magic in that

You the flower that I gotta protect

And keep alive in the wintertime, hey, don't you die yet

You been way more than a friend of mine, we more like fam

I raised you, you raised me, let's turn this whole life 'round

You can confide in me

I can take the weight up off your shoulder blades and try to store the pain inside of me

Like, why the world do you like that?

Like they don't know you, God sent, but me, I view you like that

I'm sneaking glances, thanking God that he drew you like that

Beautiful black child, come and shed your black cloud

For your vibe and your smile I don't mind a lil' rain

I'm your dog, ears perk up at the sound of your name

Counting your main, wildfire, can't handle your flame

Download your strain, wild high, come drown in your fragrance

You that red pill that a nigga found in Matrix

Before I had you this shit was fantasy

You plant a seed, it grows some roots, a branch and leaves

Becomes a tree of life until our nights are filled

With peace from stress and strife

And that's the blessin' that I get from wifing you

'Cause you entrusted me with the key to your heartbeat, and you smart

'Cause even though I need a new start

Due to my past transgressions you believed in me

I guess the light I see in you is what you see in me, Lord

Bet she from the West Side, mm

And she see my best side, mm, mm

Now I just wanna know

Don't just sugar coat

Or say it all if you want

Now could you tell me like it is?

Pretty little fears

Music to my ears

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jakob Rabitsch / Jermaine Cole / Ricardo Valdez Valentine / Tyler Matthew Carl Williams

Pretty Little Fears lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

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No one knows what it's like. No one knows how it feels. Nothing else cpould compare to the fears I fear. And I've been on my own. Struggling all alone



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[universe-of-heart]

Pain in Repeating Cycles

A Rewritten History of Fire and Blood Ocs in fic

Author's note: This chapter takes place during the entirety of episode 2. Imagine me actually getting a whole episode in one chapter, insane right?? Anyway, this one is a doozy, we get a side of Jae we haven't seen fully before and truthfully we still haven't. Get ready for some drama! As always, Jae and Fallon belong to my beautiful, handsome friend @dreaming-of-illusory-flowers who allows me to torture them daily.

Word count: 5,362 (I'm actually impressed all my word counts have been above 4k)

Warnings: AGGRESSIVE tactics, very clearly speaking of marrying underaged girls to a fully grown man, grooming tactics vaguely mentioned/hinted at. It's everything that happened in episode 2, we all know it won't be nice, unfortunately. And if it's not abundantly clear, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE BAD THINGS I WRITE ABOUT. It's fiction for a reason, people, and I make it VERY CLEAR the characters aren't happy about it. Ty that has been my ted talk

Jae realized two things very quickly following Aemma’s death and Rhaenyra’s crowning.

The first was just how deeply the death of the queen affected the entire Keep. Many of the queen’s former maids and the maesters who had been in the room as she had struggled in labor barely lifted their eyes from the floor, an air of grief following them like a storm cloud. A handful of the maesters acted the same. Many of them had grown close and fond of the late queen during the last few months of her pregnancy and the sudden loss had rocked every single one of them. Many of the knights seemed quieter, Jayse had noticed, when they passed the room that had been hers. None would even dare to meet the King’s eye when he retired for the night.

Everyone had expected the King and princess to reel from her death. Except for Small Council meetings, it was rare to see Viserys outside of his chambers. His model of Old Valyria had grown significantly in the handful of months, more excruciating detail put into the walls and structures that slowly built a miniature version of their old home. It was haunting in a beautiful way, like a distant memory that only appeared in dreams. The ghostly white of the stone only served to further that thought. If they spent too long in the King’s solar, looking at it, some nights they would find themselves back within the towering structure of the true Valyria, the shadows dropping down around their feet to swallow them whole.

They’d wake up in the same place every morning; on the floor beside their bed, sheets ripped from claws and burns marking the wooden floor beneath them. The horrible voice of their father echoed in their head. What a monster.

The princess was entirely different from her father, almost finding comfort from her grief in the duties of court. She seemed to thrive under her new responsibilities as crowned heir, though there was a hidden weight that caused her shoulders to square and chin to lift all the same. Much to her sworn sword’s dismay, she had chosen Criston Cole as a new member of her father’s Kingsguard, though Fallon could hardly fault her for her reasonings. Many of the tourney knights were just that. It had been decades since a true war had been fought under the king’s command and to truly protect the crown, one would have to have some combat prowess outside of a jousting lance and decorative sword. Still, the way her lip curled as he smiled up at the princess was instinctual, her hackles raised just like a guard dog.

If Cole noticed, he didn’t seem to care.

The second thing Jae noticed was how little the Small Council seemed to care for a grieving period. Many of the king’s advisors were already urging him to remarry, to bear more heirs should anything unforeseen happen again, yet barely half a year had passed since Aemma had left them. The idea made Jae bristle in their seat, nails scratching dangerously at the table.

Grand Maester Mellos hadn’t said anything about it since seeing the long lines etched into the marble one day.

Otto was an entirely different story, however.

Jaeda had all but posted herself in the King’s solar during the day ever since she realized how often Alicent was sent to keep the king company. She was still very young, barely a year Rhaenyra’s elder, there was no reason as to why she would be requested within the king’s chambers. However, when Jae began to notice how often she wore dresses that she had never seen the young girl wear before, the wheels began to turn and click into place. Alicent never spoke of who or why, ever the dutiful lady of court that she was, but there was a way that she held herself, shaking at first and guarded after, the way her eyes always looked like she would cry any moment, that had Jae itching to storm out of the keep to the Tower of the Hand and drag Otto out by his collar.

Instead, Jaeda seethed silently as Viserys spoke of the histories he poured over to have the stonemasons craft such delicate works of art. Alicent, as dutiful as she always was, smiled politely and listened, adding small comments and compliments where it was appropriate. She was the perfect image of a lady, Jaeda was certain even the most dutiful would pale in comparison to her manners, her behavior. The worst was, she knew Viserys no doubt saw it as well.

“Do you believe that Westeros can be another Valyria, Your Grace?”

“That depends, whether you speak of the Freehold at its height or at its fall.”

Jaeda stepped forward to curl an arm protectively around the young girl’s shoulders. “There are many things that separate Westeros from Old Valyria, my dear. Valyria had hundreds of dragons of enormous sizes, a navy that could span the entire sea…Westeros will have its own glory and does, but such a sight as what was will never be seen again.”

The king nodded solemnly, turning over a stone dragon in his hands. She wondered which one it was modeled after. He had asked her endless questions to make each detail nearly perfect and every dragon she could recall had its own place on the replica, seated regally to crown the old kingdom.

Alicent jumped under her arm as Viserys fumbled, the dragon breaking in two on the floor. He muttered a curse under his breath as he moved to grab it, though she was quicker, gingerly picking the pieces up so as to not cut herself on the jagged edges. The king takes it from her hands gently, lingering too long for Jaeda’s comfort. She didn’t miss the way Alicent froze, shoulders going stiff before she could stop herself. 

“Tell me, how is Rhaenyra?”

“What do you mean?”

It was an odd question. How could the princess’ father not know how she was, what she was doing? The reclusive nature Viserys had leaned on to heal from the loss of his wife hadn’t lessened as the months passed by; it had almost worsened. The pressure from the Small Council for him to remarry had added to the strain of the crumbling family and Rhaenyra had had to step into roles as an heir that kept her busier than when she was simply the princess, studying with Alicent, flying on Syrax, and begrudgingly learning needlepoint with her elders.

“I think she might find it difficult to discuss…personal matters.”

Alicent nodded slowly, almost imperceptibly. “It will take time. It did when I lost mine own mother.”

Jaeda felt her heart break for the poor girl. It hadn’t even been a full year since Alicent had lost her mother and she was comforting a grieving man mourning his wife. She should be with Rhaenyra, the advisor thought bitterly. They had more in common than the young Lady Hightower and the King who was barely younger than her father. Both mourned for their mother, forced to move past their sorrow quickly as the court swirled around them. She only watched, taking on her brother’s role for a moment, as Alicent steadied herself again as she raised her gaze back to the king.

“I think she would open herself to you if invited.”

“It is wise council, Your Grace,” Jaeda’s arm slipped through Alicent’s, tugging the girl into her side. “The hour grows late. Shall I escort the Lady back to her chambers, my King?”

There was a hidden edge to her voice only Viserys knew. It was often used against Daemon within council chamber walls with honeyed words that were appropriate for court. It had been so long since he had been on the receiving end of Jaeda’s venom, that he had forgotten how it could sting.

“Yes,” his voice dropped to just above a whisper, whatever he was about to say to Alicent dying on his tongue. “Yes, that would be best, thank you.”

Alicent dropped a small curtsey as Jaeda nodded, the look in her eyes telling him she would return with a discussion he would not enjoy. The king returned to his stone model of Old Valyria, gazing down at the broken dragon on the table. The small model of Balerion with his wing detached stared back.

“Did I say something wrong, Lady Briarwood?” Alicent’s small voice barely broke the silence of the halls as they walked, her arm still looped around Jaeda’s as if she were her anchor.

She looked so small then. Years ran together for Jae more often than not and they were often abruptly reminded of how young Rhaenyra and her closest friend were at times like that. Both had barely become young women and in the same amount of time had taken on more than boys their same age.

“Of course not, sweet one,” Jaeda sighed softly, left hand covering the younger’s hand on her arm. “I just thought it best to take a step back for the night.”

Alicent nodded silently, letting her head droop slightly as if she was embarrassed. Or maybe it was shame.

“You do not have to keep him company every night,” the old advisor spoke gently, allowing the girl her silence. “You are but a child and he is grown. Sympathy is appreciated and your comfort is great, but do not forget your own feelings in times such as this.”

“It is not every night, my lady,” her voice was only slightly stronger than before, her eyes still trained on the floor that passed beneath them. “I only go when my father suggests it.”

“Suggests or commands, my sweet?”

Alicent hesitated and Jaeda received her answer.

Outside of her chambers, Jaeda placed a gentle kiss to the young girl’s forehead, smoothing the wispy curls that hung near her temples back with a comforting hand. Alicent thought for a moment that it felt motherly and comforting and allowed herself to forget how foreign she had felt for nearly a fortnight now in her own late mother’s gowns. Even if it was only for one night, she would allow herself to be free of the fear of what her father might say in response to Lady Briarwood’s words. She would sleep comfortingly in her bed and in the morning, she would seek out Rhaenyra and all would be well.

The door creaked closed and Jaeda heard the lock click into place. The fire crackled again deep in her chest. A standing guard watched as she turned on her heel and stalked back down the hall, the stone echoing with each footstep. For a moment, the poor guard watched as an old nan’s tale seemed to come to life; an ancient witch come to storm the castle’s halls in search of the man who wronged her.

He did not envy the man set in her sights.

Jae, truthfully, didn’t even know which man was in their sights that night. Otto had been the one they had first thought of laying into, then the King had watched the girl in a way that made their skin crawl. And yet, Otto was still at the forefront. He was the cause of it all, he had all but told his daughter to become the King’s chamber wench, it seemed, and it didn’t bother him at all. He still had the same cold aloofness in each Small Council meeting, his stare turning its focus to whatever he could intimidate at the marble table. When he couldn’t, it turned dark, dangerous. It always reminded them of a horrible drunkard who didn’t care who was at the receiving end of his wrath. 

Truthfully, it reminded them of their father.

The door nearly bounced off the stone wall behind it with the force Jaeda used to open it and it caused the Hand to jump as he penned a letter, ink spilling over half the parchment. He muttered a curse as he reached for a cloth to dry the mess, but stopped his efforts as Jaeda’s palms connected with the smooth wood of the desk, rattling everything not fastened down with enough power to spill the ink further. She was breathing hard through her nose, eyes blazing even in the low firelight far on her left, and Otto nearly feared that would be the moment he would die.

“What game are you playing at?” She hissed, bearing her teeth as she did.

To his credit, Otto’s mask didn’t slip. “I haven’t a clue what you mean.”

The gold of her iris seemed to melt into molten liquid for only a moment, reminding him of the descriptions of the Doom. “Your daughter is six-and-ten years of age, unmarried, and vulnerable in her grief. Tell me, which of your Seven deemed it right and good to have her meet with the King in secret in his private quarters?”

“She is extending her sympathies to the Crown.”

“Fuck the Crown,” she growled and the Hand wondered for a moment if she would grow fangs and claws, “and fuck your sympathies. Do not pretend to me that you care of the Crown for, if you did, you would not feel the need to join in on the pressure for Viserys to remarry so quick after Aemma.”

The Hand barely blinked, keeping his eyes on the advisor. It was almost as if he feared the moment he looked away, there might truly be a dragon in place of a woman. “It is for the betterment of the realm that the king, while strong and able, produce further heirs to protect his claim to the Iron Throne.”

“Are you truly so terrified of Daemon coming to power that you would sacrifice a man and daughter’s grief so soon?” Her eyes searched his for only a moment before her lip curled. “Or do you simply crave your blood on the throne so deeply you are willing to sacrifice your own daughter?”

“Such accusations could have you tried for slander, perhaps even treason.”

“If you think I fear you, Lord Hand, then you truly do not understand your place in this court.”

Jaeda stood from her bent posture over the desk, eyes skimming the puddle of ink on the ruined paper. There were no words she could make out any longer and she felt all the better for it, feeling an odd satisfaction that he would have to begin again completely or simply leave it until the morning. Otto just glared up at her, brow furrowed deeply against her words. 

It irked him deeply that she was the one he could never force under his thumb. Beesbury and Strong were easy to talk down, even Corlys could be skirted around until he relented and sat seething at the foot of the table. Mellos was loyal to the Hightowers, Otto never found trouble on that front, and Daemon was never around enough to give him any true concerns. Jaeda, however, had been a thorn in his side since he became Hand under the Old King and she only wormed her way deeper, twisting as she went. It felt impossible to worm his way into the King’s close confidants with her around and with each step it seemed like she forced him back two more.

“Was that all, Lady Briarwood?” His tone betrayed his annoyance, dry and frustrated as he lost yet another battle against her.

Jaeda’s chin tilted slightly, her eyes following the line of her nose down to him. “If I see your daughter dressed as the ghost of your late wife within the king’s chambers again, I will see to it you are removed from your seat and Daemon named as your successor. Even if I must stand vigil in the king’s chamber day and night. You’d do well to remember.”

Otto nodded once, watching as she left his study with the door still wide open. 

The king’s door was opened with less aggression, though the king flinched all the same. Jaeda calmly entered the room, shutting the door behind her easily before moving to a chair at the table within his solar, picking up the two bits of the broken dragon. The growing silence made Viserys’ skin crawl, though he didn’t have a clue himself how to break it. Instead, he stood like a child about to be scolded by a parent for acting out, hands tucked behind his back and head down to stare at a fixed point on the model of Old Valyria.

The advisor simply continued to turn the stone pieces in her hands, paying him no mind. 

“Nothing has happened.”

The words nearly caused her eyes to roll.

“Have I implied anything has, Your Grace?” Her tone was nearly cold, entirely unwilling to allow emotions to play into it.

Viserys sighed, rubbing at his temple before sitting across from his oldest friend. “She has been merely keeping me company to allow me to talk without fear of ulterior motives. It hasn’t even been half a year and still I am pushed to remarry.”

“If you merely needed a listening ear, you know I am more than willing.”

It was more than that and they both knew it. The king longed for a companion as many did, even after suffering such a loss. It was human nature to crave such connections. However, Jaeda knew it would’ve been far better for him to seek out his own daughter for such matters, to offer the same comfort he sought after to someone hurting much the same as himself. To entertain and seemingly welcome the company of a girl so young, not to mention unmarried herself, well…if word would reach outside the Keep, there was no telling what rumors may swirl.

“You have always been there for whatever I needed,” the king whispered, fingers tapping at the table. “And you will never know the depths of my gratitude for that. Your dedication to my family is truly unmatched.”

“You are not to entertain this further, Viserys.”

His violet eyes raised to meet gold. “Do you think I request her?”

Jaeda sighed heavily, letting the dragon rest on the table. “She is Rhaenyra’s friend and companion. Have you even considered how she may feel about her father having the Lady Alicent visit his chambers?”

The king fell silent.

“Have you spoken to her at all since she was named heir?”

His head shook slowly, as if hesitant to admit any fault. 

Jaeda pinched the bridge of their nose before sighing again. “You are her father before you are king. She has already lost her mother; do not make her believe she has lost more.”

A stretch of silence settled between them, merely allowing the words to sit in the air. The sun set outside the window, casting long shadows against the wall. The looming image of the old kingdom eclipsed their own dark reflections, swallowing the image into inky darkness.

Finally, Viserys sighed, folding his hands in his lap. “I will…attempt to speak with her over dinner.”

That wouldn’t fix everything, something Jae was very aware of. However, they never expected a single action to mend such a gap between a father and daughter. It was simply a move in the correct direction, guided perhaps not as softly as many would like, but guided nonetheless. Jaeda managed a smile at her old friend and Viserys returned it, the tension of the night bleeding into the fading rays of sunlight. 

“There is…more,” the king spoke after a time. “Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys met with me earlier today so that I could assure them of the Crown’s support and appreciation for their fleets. To reaffirm how great an asset they are. Lord Corlys even apologized for his outburst at court.” Jaeda remembered it clearly. The outrage over the Crown not being willing to join the fray of battle at the Stepstones, allowing the Free Cities and, more notably, the Crabfeeder to continue their assault and occupation of both the land and sea. It had costed many their ships and more their lives and yet the king refused to go into war with them. It was admirable, in a way, they thought, to continue the line of peace that had been started by his grandsire, but the cost continued to grow the longer he waited. It was only a matter of time until the Triarchy grew in strength and power and moved beyond the Stepstones. It wouldn’t have been the first time in history for such things to happen.

“Lord Corlys is greatly affected by the attacks of the Triarchy,” was the calculated reply. “He spoke from a place of passion, not treason. I am sure he meant his apology.”

“I am afraid this war has soured things between the houses Targaryen and Velaryon,” Viserys sighed, fidgeting with his hands. A ring on his finger was his source of nervous comfort, twisting it around his fingers three times before looking back at his advisor. “They warned me that my house now seems fragile and vulnerable. That many outside of us…may have painted a target on mine and Rhaenyra’s backs.”

Jaeda nodded slowly. They had assumed as much themselves. After centuries of learning how both the world and court worked, it was easy to follow the patterns of history. One heir was simple to be rid of, especially with a widowed king, and when such turmoil boiled elsewhere, it was easy to sneak quietly until it was least expected. An uprising could happen easily. The king had broken tradition that many held above laws and Jae had no doubt many loyal Westerosi civilians were less than pleased at swearing fealty to such a young girl. Rebellions had happened over far less and far more.

“They also suggested I wed Laena.”

The dragon in Jae reared, eyes going wide as they struggled to maintain their composure. “Laena?”

If they didn’t know the Lord and Princess of Driftmark as well as they did, Jae would’ve assumed that was a joke. A sick joke, Laena Velaryon was only two-and-ten years of age. A betrothal at such an age wasn’t unheard of, especially not within the line of the Targaryens. There had been some betrothals set up upon the birth of a second child, simply to ensure the strength of the House.

“It is a strong match-”

“She is a child, Viserys, you cannot truly be considering-”

“I do not know what else to do, Jae!”

For once in a long time, the advisor fell silent as Viserys stood and crossed the room. The action was muddled with anger, frustration, and laced through with sorrow to complete a horrible twisting emotion that had no name. They had felt it before. It was what they imagined death was like.

“My kingdom demands a new queen, my council demands more heirs, my daughter refuses to see me, and my brother tries to tear our House down around our heads!”

The crown always weighed heavy on those who did not deserve it, to a devastating degree on many occasions. King Viserys had nearly reached his breaking point, his will and patience finally bending at the whim of all around him. It was obvious then; how had it not been before?

Jaeda rose from her seat and crossed to him, placing her hands on both of his arms and holding him firmly. “You are the king. The decisions and choices set before you are great, but they are set before you for you to choose. Not Lord Hightower, not Lord Corlys, not even Rhaenyra. Not even me.”

He hadn’t looked up to meet her eyes yet, but he nodded along with her words.

“Let them demand all they wish. Let Daemon try. Marry again when you are ready, my king, and do not allow anyone to pick your second wife for you. Such things lead to unhappiness and unneeded trials of both heart and mind.”

“Your council is wise,” he spoke, voice shaking, “as it always is.”

“One does not live as long as I have without growing wise. Visit with Lady Laena if you wish, speak to her, but do not entertain the thought. Corlys is desperate for support and he will seek it out in many places. Princess Rhaenys no doubt had to bite her tongue at the thought of wedding her to you for the mere sake of bloodlines.”

Viserys huffed out a laugh, finally peering at Jaeda with a bit of mirth. “Perhaps it would be easier to wed Rhaenyra to Laenor.”

“Only if you wish to tell her that yourself. That is one dragon even I fear.”

He laughed again, letting his hand grasp her elbows affectionately before stepping away. “Thank you.” “You forget you are a man as well as a king, old friend.” Jaeda watched as he moved about his room again, picking up the fragmented pieces of Balerion. “You wear yourself thin and then stretch further.”

“I learned from the best.”

Jaeda huffed before taking the broken model from him. “And just for that, you will not get this back until it’s mended.”

In the days and weeks after, Rhaenyra and Alicent fell back into a routine together. Alicent was quick to accompany her friend on simple duties around the Keep, trailed behind by the princess’ knight to keep them out of trouble. She returned back to her dresses, lighter in color and looser in shape. Rhaenyra seemed far happier, openly smiling with her arm linked with her companion’s and talking animatedly about how she was the one to choose Criston Cole for the Kingsguard, how Lord Corlys spoke of the war beginning in the Stepstones, and whatever else she heard during the Small Council meetings. It led to further gossip, usually including how often ravens from Harrenhal arrived at the Keep with letters addressed to Fallon with the intent of slowly winning her favor. Many of them remained unopened until the younger ladies got their hands on them and read them dramatically, the affectionately named Maiden Knight listening to them as she tried to will her face to not match the red fabric under her cuirass. 

For a while, there seemed to be genuine peace within the Red Keep and even King’s Landing. Jae had even begun to relax, as best they could, when talks of the king remarrying seemed to calm and ease and no talks of war were brought up at the last meeting.

However, the gods were often their cruelest when it was the quietest.

First, it had been news that Daemon had taken his paramour to Dragonstone to roost, as well as stolen an egg from Dreamfyre’s clutch. The egg had been picked by Rhaenyra for her late brother and had been one of the last remaining pieces of her life before the collapse. He had taken it and placed a crooked claw over her birthright after desecrating her mother and brother’s memory yet again. The princess had been heartbroken and furious, it was evident on her face as she looked at her father, and Jae felt as though they could fly at that moment and not fear the consequences of what they would do to the rogue prince. One look at the princess, however, had them leaning back in their seat trying to reign in their instincts as the king ordered Otto to go with a detachment of guards to confront his brother. Jae knew that look all too well; it had crossed the faces of many in their past.

Rhaenyra would be a great queen, they decided in that moment.

Otto and his accompaniment returned with the egg safely enclosed within a great black cauldron and the princess returned on dragonback soon after. The king had been furious with worry, summoning her the moment he was notified of her return before Jae could even begin to soothe the overwhelming emotions within the Keep.

Alicent chewed at her fingers in the courtroom, glancing nervously from behind her father’s seat to Rhaenyra in front of the tray of wine and cups. Rhaenyra smiled gently at her, itching to motion her over to hold her hands to keep her from worrying alone.

That was the second thing. After Viserys had his daughter brought to his chambers and scolded her for acting so carelessly with her life in confronting her uncle, they had made up and spoken softly, mending the beginning of a few fractures between them. It had been good for the both of them.

The next day, the king had called his Small Council to order, waiting patiently as everyone sat and waited. Jayse settled into the spot behind Jaeda on the king’s left, bumping Rhaenyra’s arm when he noticed her still watching her companion. He gave her a small smile before she crossed the room behind her father and took Alicent’s hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. Jaeda let a soft, affectionate smile slip through, watching them with a spark of hope within her chest. They had recovered, it seemed, thicker than thieves again and already whispering amongst themselves eagerly. Whatever poisonous seeds Otto had tried to sew within the Targaryen family had withered and died under the heat of the dragon guarding them.

Jaeda looked to the king with the same smile, though it faded quickly when she caught his gaze on his daughter and her companion. Viserys had never truly been good at masking his emotions nor his thoughts and the glimpse of longing and guilt swirling behind his eyes and the set of his jaw betrayed more than he no doubt wished.

A chill lanced down their spine and they wished they were able to grab both the girls and get them away.

“Your Grace,” she started, nearly hissing through her teeth.

“I have decided…to take a new wife.”

Lord Corlys nodded before shifting in his seat to sit forward, expecting an answer to the proposal he had offered. Jaeda’s stomach turned within her and Jayse forced his eyes to focus on a distant point across the room.

Rhaenyra smiled at her father, clinging to Alicent. Her father did not return the smile. Alicent stopped breathing.

“I intend to marry the lady Alicent Hightower before spring’s end.”

The smugness radiated from Otto even as panic and fear rolled off in waves from the two girls. Rhaenyra watched her father with clear heartbreak as the subject of the meeting dug her fingers into the princess’ sleeve. The princess decided at that moment it would hurt less to be stabbed by the blade that sat at her father’s hip, to feel the point enter flesh along with the prophecy he held dearer than anything else.

Corlys stood from his seat and Jaeda rose to meet him, golden eyes shifting to glower at him from where they had been fixed on the king.

“This is an absurdity,” he seethed, hands flat against the table as if it anchored his words there. “My house is Valyrian, the greatest power in the realm.”

Viserys did not flinch. “And I am your king.”

Jaeda’s words rang back in her head to haunt her again. Marry again when you are ready. Do not allow anyone to pick your second wife for you. They are for you to choose. Not even me.

Corlys turned his glare to Otto before storming out and Alicent nearly burst into tears when the chair scraped the floor. She hadn’t even dared to look up from staring at the floor as she trembled in Rhaenyra’s arms. The king risked a look to his daughter who stared at him in defiance even as her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Rhaenyra-”

The princess tugged Alicent with her as she left the room, fleeing the oppressive eyes of the men around them to flee to the godswood. 

Jae found them there later, curled together as they wept for the girlhood they had both now left behind them.

The cycle of pain in House Targaryen had begun anew and once again the watchful dragon stood over the wreckage sharing in their grief.

Tag list: @dreaming-of-illusory-flowers @soup-entity @yippeecore (I know yall already read it before I posted it but still)

[astrainastra]

Pick A Card: Jupiter in Pisces Blessings

Disclaimer: This reading is made in good faith and for fun. It is not a substitute for any medical advice.

Concentrate and pick the picture that appeals to you the most. When you are ready, read on.

Pile 1: Profound Transformation

Every day at work you tell yourself, "if I just work hard, it will be okay". Then you tell yourself that repeatedly only to feel that your efforts and hard work in this career are in vain. Well, the universe tells you don't count yourself out of the race, beloved. The universe heard you and a new venture is on the horizon for you. This can be an opportunity to work on what you are truly passionate about - maybe even a childhood dream you have which you have not pursued for a variety of reasons. When this opportunity presents itself to you, you will know it. And you'll know exactly that for you to claim it you will need not only to make a choice and take action - but to trust your choice too. The beautiful thing about the universe is it loves when we honor our free will. Which is why during the beautiful Jupiter in Pisces transit, once you make this choice, it will bring about a ripple of other pleasant things too! The catch is: when we elevate like this, darker energies can be attracted to us. It is time to let go of the dead weights in your life - be it a person, a habit, an attitude.

Intuitive download: You will no longer feel trapped, and happiness abounds. Fate bestows beautiful gifts on to you. You may check out Christmas Tree Farm by Taylor Swift and A Christmas Song by Nat King Cole as there are messages for you on these songs.

Pile 2: Flowers growing on barren land

Life has been good and stable, and yet, time to time you find yourself questioning its stability. That is your intuition telling you that there is something in your life that is not what it seems to be. Nothing to fret about, dear one. Sometimes the wheel turns for us to know that such is the beauty of life - balance. For balance to be achieved, the wheel needs to turn. This Jupiter in Pisces transit will give you a heartbreak which will also immediately realize to be a blessing in disguise. Instead of being hurt, it will feel as if flowers growing on a barren land. You will once more feel the excitement brought about by a new journey - one you haven't felt in a long time. This journey will allow you to further develop your own strengths so you can protect your own interests.

Intuitive download: Through this heart break you will rise to your idol's level. No need to worry about. You are so protected and this journey will take you to the next level. There may be some of you in this pile who may be a fan of Korean pop music as I kept on seeing the image of Korean artists and the word "next level". Upon checking, there's an artist named aespa with a song titled "next level"! You can check that out OR if you are a fan and you are doubting if this is really your pile, then this is your confirmation that it is.

Pile 3: Ask and you shall receive

A good news through a friend (watch out for a Pisces) will bring you new opportunities and avenues for success. A new way of thinking will be opened up to you which will make you recalibrate the way you think of things. When you receive a good news, how do you react to it? Do you feel excited or do you fear it? Fear, worry, and anxiety are down payments for something that might not even happen. This Jupiter in Pisces you will be reminded of your immense manifestation powers. Whatever you are asking for will come true. The bonus? It is here to stay. Once this wish fulfillment is here, it will bring new passion and fire in your life. If you do not know how to unlock this wish fulfillment, then just know that the recipe to knowing the Universe's messages is clear communication. Ask the Universe to grant you your wish - provided it aligns with your path - and the Universe shall give it to you. Flow and let change happen. Your time to blossom is here.

Intuitive download: This Jupiter in Pisces transit will give you a heightened intuition. I specifically heard that you can check where the transit is happening in your chart to get more specific details. Oh, and there will be times when you will question or doubt the beauty that will unfold for you. When that happens, just remember that the doubt and fear are nothing compared to what's unfolding for you.

[psalacanthea]

Naomi Hawke- Banter

I haven’t done one of these in a long time.  This is only partially done, I want to do 2 for each companion at least (if someone asks for more there will be more >.>).  But this was fun and I love it and you couldn’t stop me from doing more.

I wanted to tag ppl to do some but I thought maybe people wouldn’t be interested; if you think I’m wrong, let me know and next post I will tag you! (maybe with an OC x Character so it’s not so broad)

...

Dorian and Hawke

Dorian:  Champion, if I may?

Hawke:  What do you need, Mustache?

Dorian:  Oh no.  You do it too?

Hawke:  No, I forgot your name.  What do you need?

Dorian: It was- never mind.  I’ve been reading Varric’s book about you…

Hawke:  Let me guess.  Something is implausible.

Dorian:  Well, yes, but I was more wondering about the rather jarringly placed sex scene in the middle.  He says you gave permission.

Hawke:  Permission?  Oh, no.  We insisted.

Dorian:  Really.

Hawke:  Isabela made me draw diagrams for him, it was really detailed.  If you’re curious, I can try a reproduction tonight when we make camp.

Dorian:  I suddenly regret asking.

...

Dorian:  So you’re an artist?

Hawke:  With a blade.  In bed.  Also…on paper, yes.

Dorian:  Hmmh.  What’s your medium of choice?

Hawke:  Generally whatever’s close to hand.  I mostly draw plants.

Dorian:  Ah, so no dashing formal portraiture, then?

Hawke:  No.  I do draw all of Varric’s author portraits, though.  No matter how many times he asks me to stop.

...

Hawke and Cole

Cole:  Soft pink flowers on the pillow.  Her cheeks are red.  So hot.  She’s still not breathing.  Mother, where are you?

Hawke:  Is this normal?

Varric:  You get used to it.  Sorry.  Kid, maybe that’s not a great idea.

Cole:  Crying and wheezing.  Little flowers in the hot, hot water, little red cheeks.  She’s so heavy, but no one is coming.  No one ever comes.  If she dies, is it your fault?

Hawke:  I don’t like this.

Varric:  He means well.  I think.

Cole:  Why can’t she breathe?

Hawke:  It’s called croup.  She didn’t die.  Even though once I almost dropped her in the pot and made Bethany soup.

...

Cole:  You kill people before they know they’re dead!

Hawke:  They figure it out eventually.

Cole:  I didn’t know leaves could do that!

...

Hawke and Blackwall

Hawke:  So.  Blackthorn.

Blackwall:  Yes, my Lady?

Hawke: (Sighs.)

Blackwall:  …did I say something wrong?

Varric:  Don’t worry about it.  She wanted you to correct her.

Blackwall:  Why?

Hawke:  The joke is ruined now, and it doesn’t matter!

Varric: She was going to say she wanted to climb you like a tree.

Hawke: Thanks, Varric, you always make it slightly worse.

Varric: Happy to help.

...

Blackwall:  What was in that bottle you pulled out last night?

Hawke:  Amell Reserve Darktown Absinthe.

Blackwall:  I haven’t been drunk like that since I was first in my cups.

Hawke:  Thanks!  I make it myself.

Blackwall:  Don’t you brew poisons?

Hawke:  There’s more overlap than you’d think.  

...

Hawke and Varric

Varric: So.

Hawke:  Oh Maker, that voice.  Just come out with it.

Varric:  Sebastian tried to invade Kirkwall.

Hawke:  (Laughs.)  Of course he did.  Maybe after this I’ll pay a visit to Starkhaven.  Get a job in the kitchen.

Varric:  You could try diplomacy before poisoning your ex-boyfriend.

Hawke:  What happened to you?

...

Varric:  You okay?

Hawke:  If I said yes, would you believe me?

Varric:  Mmh, no.  I only ask to gauge how not okay you are.

Hawke:  We made the right choice, didn’t we?

Varric: We made a choice.

Hawke:  (Sighs.)  Right.

Varric:  We’re still here.  That’s gotta count for something.  Plus, I’ve got some candied chestnuts somewhere in the bottom of my pack.  Probably sticky, but it’s better than nothing.

Hawke:  I’d kiss you, but that stubble would chafe me.

Varric:  I haven’t heard any complaints.

Hawke:  Maker, you make the jokes so easy.

Varric:  That’s what I do, Hawke.  I set ‘em up, and you knock ‘em down.

Hawke:  Such a good wingman.

...

Hawke and Cassandra

Cassandra:  Champion.

Hawke:  You could call me Hawke.  Usually girls who look at me like that go for a more personal touch.

Cassandra:  I…what?

Hawke:  What is it?

Cassandra:  I was simply wondering if you would allow some questions.  In regards to Varric’s book.

Hawke:  Sure.  Everything’s exaggerated except for how good I am in bed, and how much of an infected gash-wound Petrice was.

Varric: (Laughs.)  She was the worst!

[multifandom-worlds]

The Valentine's Surprise

Genre: Fluff

Rating: SFW

Word count:627

Self-Insert fic

11:30 am, February 14th. Valentine's Day. I know Cole doesn't expect anything, she never does. Something about not deserving a gift. This year my plan is to show up at her work, flowers in hand and take her for lunch while she's on her break.

First stop - the flower shop. With a bouquet of red roses and white baby's breath in hand, I make my way through the wintery city to her daycare. When I arrive, it's 11:50am. Only 10 more minutes until she goes on her break.

The daycare coordinator greets me as I walk in. A tall, slim woman with short blonde hair.

"Good morning Mr. Li. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Morning. I came to see Cole and take her for lunch." I remark, looking around the centre to see if I could remember which room was hers. I haven't been here in 4 years since it opened.

"Of course. Right his way, I'll lead you to her room." She smiles, walking down a long hallway. The sound of children laughing echo through the hall

We get to her room, the coordinator opens the door and steps in, me a few steps behind her.

"Good morning friends. Has anyone seen Miss. Cole?" She announces, about 13 little faces turn to look at us.

"Miss Tole bathroom!" One little girl says, pointing towards a closed door in the room before she asks "Go get?"

"Of course sweetheart. Go get her. Tell her I have something for her.

The little girl, her brown hair ties up in two pigtails, runs to the bathroom door, opening it.

"Miss Tole! Miss Tole come!"

From inside the bathroom, I can hear a faint laugh. "I'm coming, Evie. I'm coming."

Out of the bathroom steps the little girl, who's name I now know to be Evie and a few steps behind her in Cole, a young boy in her arms. When she sees me, she stops in her tracks, shock and surprise on her face. She carefully put the little boy down before walking over to me.

"Victor, what are you doing here?" She asks, taking the flowers from my hand, putting them to her face to smell.

"I came to take you for lunch, mon amour." I respond, kissing her forehead softly. Her being only 2 inches shorter than me makes this quite easy.

She looks up at the clock, 11:55. She looks back at the other staff in the room. They nod without her even posing the question. Cole steps away from me, walking to the closest where her winter stuff is stored. She slips her boots on before putting on her hat and coat. Before she steps out of the room with me, several children run over to her, noticeably upset she's leaving.

Cole turns and crouches down to their heights, pulling them all in for a hug before standing back up.

"I'll see you guys when you wake up from nap, okay! Now you guys behave".

She blows them a little kiss before walking out and closing the door. We walk through the centre before leaving and going to my car.

"You know Victor, you didn't have to do anything for me today." She says, looking out the window at the snowy city.

I chuckle softly, laying a finger on her cheek to turn her head towards me.

"Of course I didn't have too but I wanted to. Happy Valentine's Day, Mon Amour. I love you from now until forever"

The smile that pulls across her lips every time I tell her I love her is my favourite. No matter how many times I say it, it's the same smile that greets me.

"I love you too, Victor. Happy Valentine's Day"

[thatesqcrush]

Valentine’s B!ngo!!

To keep the merriment going after kink bingo & holiday bingo, I now present Valentine’s Bingo! Like all others, there will be a prize to someone who participates! Disclaimer: I will be choosing the winner of holiday bingo shortly, so stay tuned!

Still have your attention?! Wonderful, lets move along...rules under the cut!

PRIZE: A custom fic of your choosing! 

Rules:

1. Start date: 2/1/21. End date: 2/28/21. No posting before 2/1 please!

2. Pick a square! Pick a row! Fill the whole card. Up to you. No pressure - this is supposed to be fun!

3. All works of art welcome. One shots, drabbles, moodboards, whatever your fancy. If your story is more than 500 words, you must use a keep reading. One square per fic (note: multi-chapters can use more than one square, but it must be one per chapter). Fics can be smutty; angsty/whump; fluff; whatever your heart desires. Just put appropriate warnings (i.e.: dubcon).

4. Wait - there’s a song listed - what am I supposed to do? The song is the prompt! I encourage you to listen to the song (obvs you do not have to). You must use 2-4 lines from the song into your fic. They need to be in bold so the reader can see what you used. Lines like, “oh, oh, oh....” or “la, la, la... “ do not count.

5. FREE SQUARE: You can do whatever you wish - but you must use a prompt or song from the honorable mentions list (below).

6. You must  tag me in your story. Also you must send me a DM with the links to your stories. You must also use the hashtag: #thatesqcrushvdaybingo

7.Characters allowed (**can be reader insert or OC)**

Rafael Barba

Jackson Neill

Nevada Ramirez

Frederick Chilton

Jonas Nightingale

Kevin Mulrooney

Dennis DiPalma

Bryan Kneef

Sonny Carisi

Mike Dodds

Nick Amaro

Elliot Stabler

Odafin “Fin” Tutuola

Alex Cabot

Casey Novak

Olivia Benson

Kim Greylek

Amanda Rollins

Rita Calhoun

Kat Tamin

(If someone isn’t listed and you want to write them, just DM me).

8. No RPF/real-person fanfiction. No underage character (incl. reader/OC).

9. You do not have to participate but a signal boost is always nice!

HONORABLE MENTIONS LIST: I want to thank everyone who took the time to message me with suggested songs, whether on anon or off anon. But especially to: @tropes-and-tales @prurientpuddlejumper @delia26 @barbasimp @teamsladsandgents @the-baby-bookworm @beccabarba @itsjustmyfantasyroom @madamsnape921 @law-nerd105 @darkheart-brightsmile @madpanda75. You are all kick ass rockstars! 

Songs/Prompts for FREE SQUARE

Prompts: pining; unrequited love; candy; flowers; soulmates; sex pollen.

Songs:

Undiscovered First - Feist

Bad Guy - Billie Eilish

FRIENDS - Marshmallo + Anne Marie

Love You to Death by Starset

Boop by Jeff and Casey Williams

Me w/o Us by Set it Off

Seventeen - heathers the musical

10,000 hours - Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber

From the Ground up - Dan + Shay

I heard Goodbye - Dan + Shay

Think of You - Chris Young and Cassadee Pope

Goodbye - Chris Young

Who I am with you - Chris Young

Tomorrow - Chris Young

I want Crazy - Hunter Hayes

Diane – Cam

Anachronism by Crywolf

Wild Horses by The Sundays

Never My Love by The Association

Your Song by Elton John

king of wishful thinking

All my life by K-Ci and Jo Jo

Unworthy of Your Love, ya know, from Assassins by the Stephen Fucking Sondheim

Sexy Lady by Shaggy 

Q (Best One of Our Lives) by Evans Blue

Pour some Sugar on me - Def Leppard

Let's hear it for the boy - Deniece Williams

Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi

Marry Your Daughter - BRKN RBTZ 

Death Cab for Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" 

Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire"

Young the Giant's "Silvertongue" 

Fleetwood Mac's "Dream" 

The Cars' "Just What I Needed" 

Billy Joel's "Matter of Trust" 

Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls 

Stupid – Kacey Musgraves

Love Done Gone – Billy Currington

Down Today – Jonathan Coulton

You Ruined Everything – Jonathan Coulton

There’s a Fine, Fine Line – Avenue Q 

Crazy - Patsy Cline

Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off – Fred Astaire 

Something’s Gotta Give – Fred Astaire

Buttons - Pussycat Dolls

Against All Odds  -Phil Collins

Come on Closer - Jem

Wish I Knew You - The Revivalists 

Potential Breakup Song (Explicit) - Aly & AJ

Criminal - Fiona Apple

**newly added songs as of 2021-01-17**

Blue Jeans - Lana del Rey

Nice to Meet You - Niall Horan

I Think Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish

Possession - Sarah McLachlan

Why Can’t I? - Liz Phair

Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

Let Me Love You Like A Woman - Lana del Rey

Undiscovered First - Feist

No Diggity - Chet Faker

Feelin’ Love - Paula Cole

Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene

Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri

I Wish I Was The Moon - Neko Case

Before I Ever Met You - Banks

Who Do You Love - Chainsmokers

Back at One - Brian McKnight

Easy - Emiliana Torrini

River - Bishop Briggs

Favorite Record - Fall About Boy

We’ve Got Tonight - Bob Seger

10. Any questions let me know. AGAIN HAVE FUN!

[shewillreadyou]

Me before you: Chapter 5: Love on the Brain

A/N: This is a TRR AU. Liam is already married, but see’s Riley and wants his cake. Drake takes an interview and surprises Riley. Enjoy!

Disclaimers: Most characters are property of Pixelberry

Warnings: Language, adult content, sexual content, IF YOU ARE NOT 18 JUST DON’T. 🍋🍋🍋

Word Count: 4849

Catch up: 

Haven’t met you Yet  

For Real 

Excuse me Miss

It’s Getting Late

Prompts: None

Pairings: Drake & Riley

Song inspiration: Love on the Brain- Rihanna

Be Kind: Hit the heart button, leave a comment or reblog. It makes a writer so so happy.

There was a knock on his door as he moved around his room to pack for his weekend trip. “Come in,” he said with a raspy voice. It was one of the things she liked most about him. She wanted to hurt Liam, she wanted him to feel the way he had made her feel everyday for years, like she wasn’t enough.. When she stepped inside his room she closed and locked the door. She sauntered over to his bedpost where he looked to be packing a bag. “Carsyn, what’s up?”

She felt her nerves gather in the pit of her stomach. She needed to just say it before she lost her nerve. “Drake, you know that I have always had a thing for you.” He stopped what he was doing and looked at her incredulously. “Yeah right, you’re the queen of Cordonia. Why would you ever give me a second glance?” 

She moved around the post and let her baby blue robe slip off of one of her shoulders. “Why wouldn’t I? You are strong, loyal, brave, smart, and sexy. You seem like a man who has it all figured out.” He laughed humorlessly. “Carsyn, what can I do for you?” he asked. ���Right, straight to the point,” she cleared her throat. “Drake, I just want to feel good, desired, like a woman. If you know what I mean.” He didn’t. “What does that have to do with me?” He was oblivious. She let the robe fall to the floor as she stood uncomfortably close to him. She ran her finger down his lips. “Fuck me, Drake.” 

He swallowed thickly as he took a step back. “Carsyn, that will never happen. You are my best friend's wife.” She pulled the ribbon that unlaced the front of her lace teddy exposing her breast. “Come on Drake, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, Liam is a big boy.” She moved closer to him and he rolled over the top of the bed to put some space in between them. “Listen, Car, this is all very flattering. But really, I can’t. I have a girlfriend. I think you should go.” She rounded the bed grasping his strong arms. “All that proves is that you like sistas. What does she have that I don’t?” He couldn’t believe this was happening. He was sure he was being pranked. “Uh, my heart. I’m a one woman man Carsyn.” She pouted. He passed her robe to her and walked over to open his door. “Bye Carsyn.” With an exasperated huff she made her exit. 

     Drake put his ear buds in and closed his eyes. The 747 took off smoothly and before he knew it he was in the air. He was on the way home, to the States, to her. It had only been a few days but he missed her like crazy. He wasn’t ready to show his hand to Liam quite so soon. He had thoroughly impressed Robert from DHS. They called him back the next day. They wanted a second in person interview with him on Friday. After a conversation with Bianca, he agreed to come back under the guise of Bianca being sick. He only packed casual clothes and planned to shop for something to wear to the interview when he arrived. He had told her about the video interview but didn’t mention the in person interview. He wanted to surprise her. They had spoken on the phone, texted, or video call everyday since he’d left. He took a redeye, timing it perfectly so that he could text her to say goodnight right before she laid down. He hoped she wouldn’t get suspicious when he didn’t text her first thing in the morning. 

When he landed he noticed that he had several missed texts from her. 

He responded while he waited for his Mom. He only ever packs a carry on. He figured he’d be back on a plane for Cordonia by Sunday night. He rolled his luggage to the curb when he saw her blue Chevy Silverado approaching. She would take him back to the ranch and then he would be able to drive into the city to surprise Riley. He was happy to see his Mom. Their relationship had grown so much closer the older he got. She was still the same ole Bianca though, she wanted to know when he would settle down, get married and give her some grandbabies. 

“Mom, you have Bartie. Besides, if Riley and I get married she might not want kids right away. So you are just going to have to be patient.” 

Riley started her day listening to voicemails and checking emails after grabbing her coffee from the coffee shop in the lobby of her office building. She had a couple of conference calls and a marketing meeting about the  new handbag account she was leading. Her morning was routine by all accounts until she returned from the restroom to find an edible arrangement on her desk. 

She pulled a note from the pick and it read:

I REALLY MISS YOU,

But probably not as much as you miss me. I’m pretty fucking amazing.

-Drake

She smiled from ear to ear as she plucked a pineapple flower from the arrangement. She picked up her phone as she settled into her plush desk chair to text her thanks. This time he responded immediately.  Maybe she was really in her head. Maybe her friends were right. She was really trying to convince herself that they were moving too fast and maybe subconsciously trying to create some space in between them. It would be easier to push him away. It was her most toxic trait. But it was different this time. Being with him felt different. It just felt right. 

He roamed the aisles of Jos A. Banks. It’s where Riley had suggested when he said he needed a new suit. They looked at the website before he had left for Cordonia and she thought that he would look great in a blue suit, so blue it was. Maurice, a clearly fashion forward gentleman helped him and he was able to get rushed alterations. He left the store with a Kenneth Cole navy blue herringbone slim fit suit, white dress shirt and several ties. He knew that the tie could make or break his look. He wasn’t big into image but he knew that it mattered in this circumstance. For some reason he felt lucky around Riley and he thought she should be the one to make the decision about which tie he wore.

He glanced at the gunmetal fossil watch on his wrist and noticed that he had just enough time to swing by the florist and make it over to her office. He had never gotten her flowers before and wanted these to be special. Maybe moving forward flowers from the supermarket would be acceptable, but not today. She got his edible arrangement earlier today and had sent him a text to say thanks. She didn’t suspect a thing. He’d hoped that she would be as happy to see him as he was to see her. He’d left in such a haste before that it had been constantly on his mind. 

“That will be $124.83,” the bubbly blond squeaked from behind the counter. 

He quickly paid before retreating to his Jeep. His Mom would have a fit if she knew how much he spent on the same flowers he probably could have gotten for $40 down at the Kroger. He shrugged off the thought as he pulled into traffic. His phone rang and he sent it to voicemail when he saw Bastien’s number. He was off the clock and did not want to concern himself with the crown at the moment. He had 28 minutes before she would be off work. He drove through an automatic car wash before taking a couple minutes to dry him off. Jax. It’s what he called his Jeep. It made him feel connected to his late father. When it was all clean and shiny he hopped in and headed to her office. He had driven by earlier and noticed that her car was parked in front of the building instead of inside the parking structure. This meant that she was running late this morning. He smirked as he maneuvered into the parking space directly in front of the door. He ran his fingers through his chocolate mane, used breath spray and the cologne he stashed in the glove box. He rolled down the window and played Bruno Mar’s, “Just the way you are” on repeat. He walked around to the passenger door to retrieve the roses from the front seat before leaning against the vehicle and waiting for her to appear. 

He saw her before she saw him. She looked like a goddess. She was wearing a pink 2 piece suit with pink pumps. She was talking to her assistant, Lexi when Lexi spotted Drake. He held the roses up to conceal his face before he thought to himself, “what am I doing? She is going to recognize the Jeep.” Lexi touched Riley’s arm before she motioned to Drake. She froze. He would give anything to know what she was thinking at that moment. He wanted to run to her and gather her in his arms but he decided to play it cool. When she gathered herself she hurried out the revolving doors before pausing. “Couldn’t stay away, huh?” Clearly, she was trying to play it cool too. They both burst out into a fit of laughter. “What can I say? Maybe I missed my girlfriend.” He handed her the roses. Before she could say thank you he tugged her close and took her mouth in a desperate kiss. The roses laid securely in the crook of her arm, her free hand found its way under his shirt. When he broke the kiss she was breathless. When she could speak again she simply said, “my place.”

He walked her to her car and opened the door for her. Once she was inside she rolled the window down. “I’ll beat you there,” he challenged. “You sure?” she smirked and he leaned inside to sweetly kiss her lips. He was sure that the route she took home added a few minutes to her commute. He got to her place before she did. He was waiting at her door when she approached. She bit her bottom lip and looked at him with hooded eyes as she undid the button on her blazer. His length stiffened and his eyes went wide when he realized that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. “You know I let you win, right?” He looked around and made sure no one else was watching before he pulled her close attempting to cover her nakedness before he took her keys from her hand and fumbled through opening the door. 

Once inside she jumped into his arms wrapping her legs around his waist. Riley kissed his neck as he panted,”slow down il mio amore. You have me all night. Let me take care of you,” he said as he lifted her petite frame onto her quartz countertop. She shivered, head lolled back with her eyes clenched tightly. Her body quaked when he ran his hands down her legs to remove her strappy heels. He peppered her with kisses from her feet to the inside of her thighs. White heat pooled in her center as she twitched with anticipation. His strong hands flanked her hips, sliding her thong off. He pecked her thigh and looked up at her with a teasing smirk knowing exactly what she wanted him to do. He could feel the heat radiating from her center. He stopped and her eyes sprung open. It was unbelievable how ready she was. They had an undeniable connection. Her body was responding to him like it never had to anyone else.

He slipped her blazer off and tossed it over his shoulder before Riley reached for him pulling his white t-shirt over his head. She drank in his chiseled chest with hooded eyes and began to blush furiously. “What?” Drake said in a low raspy tone. “This is happening.” He smiled at her, “Oh, hell yeah, this is definitely happening,” he said as he kissed from her tummy up to her breast. She ran her fingers through his hair watching for a reaction when he saw the stretch marks on her waist hips and tummy. He didn’t seem to care. He took her stiffened nipple into his mouth. Noticing the apprehension on her face. “What’s up?” he asked before he went back to sucking the other breast. “Nothing, everything is perfect.” He moved back down her stomach as he threw her leg over his shoulder. “Good.”

He spread her thighs and plunged his tongue into her center. “Drake!” she screamed, caught off guard by the sudden movement. “Oh my God!” she belted as his tongue and fingers worked in tandem. “I’m gonna..ohhh shit Drake!” Her voice echoed in the large apartment. “Do it!” He encouraged her. He used his free hand to unbuckle his belt and pants, freeing himself. He stroked himself as his pants slipped around his ankles. He kicked them off as he pulled her to the edge of the counter. “What are you--” she quickly figured it out. He rubbed the head against her entrance and she gasped. “Fuck, go slow,” her suspicions were correct. Not only was it not small but it was easily the biggest she had encountered. 

“Relax, you’re definitely ready.” He wrapped his arms around her waist lifting her before slowly impaling her. He grunted as she stretched around him. He thrust several times before pinning her against the wall. “Raye, we have to change positions. You’re so fucking tight, I’m not going to last.” He walked her over to the living room draping her over the arm of the couch on her side. “I told you it’s been a while.” Drake rested her leg on his torso as he entered her again. She noticed that he was going even deeper in this position and moved up a bit. “Are you scared?” She was. “No,” she lied. “Then, stop running from me,” Drake said gravelly as he picked up speed. “You could have told me you know,” she whimpered as she whined her hips. “Oh, you knew,” he quipped.

He pulled out, “what are you doing?” He easily lifted her body and re-positioned her on the couch. “On your knees,” he demanded. “No, you sit.” He liked that idea even better. He sat on her couch stroking himself as she straddled him. She slowly settled on top, guiding him into her. He hissed when they connected. She began to bounce on his lap and his eyes sparkled as he watched her perfectly perky breast slap against her torso. He took her breast into his mouth as pure pleasure coursed through her body. Their bodies were sticky with sweat and she screeched every time he thrusted roughly into her. They heard a loud thumping on the wall before he placed his hand over her mouth to muffle the screams. She bit his hand, and he pulled it away. “I can be quiet,” she said as electric pleasure shot through her body. “Sure you can.” She began to contract around him as he grabbed her waist to slow the tempo. “Shit, Raye. I’m close.” They finished together with one final scream. They cuddled for a while in silence before Riley spoke. 

“That was...well damn. I’m famished.” She rose, going to the kitchen before tossing him a cold water from the fridge. I took out some chicken but only one breast. Drake joined her approaching from behind opening the freezer to check out their options. “I have shrimp. That thaws quickly.” He snaked his arm around her waist, kissing her neck. “Let me cook. Relax, you worked all day.” She turned to him, noticing that he was erect again. “Are you sure you can cook like this?”  He smirked. She stroked him, he twitched and hardened in her hand before she fell to her knees and took him into her mouth.  

Later

Drake prepared a decadent pasta dish with shrimp and chicken before they showered and headed to bed. As her head lay upon his chest he ran his fingers through her hair. She listened to his heartbeat and felt comforted by his breathing. “What was that look about earlier?” he asked quietly. She lifted her head to look at him. “What do you mean?” He shifted to look her in the eyes. “You looked nervous. You said everything was perfect but your eyes said something else.” She closed her hazel eyes and took a deep breath. “Yeah, that. So, I know it’s a little late for this, but I forgot to eat my birth control this morning.” He went pale as a ghost. “Jesus fucking Christ, Raye!” She started cackling at his response. “I was joking, I have an IUD. I’m sorry babe, I was trying to lighten the mood.” He exhaled. “You are trying to give me a fucking heart attack.” “Oh, no kids, noted. I looked like that because I used to be a bit bigger than I am now and when I lost the weight… well, I have stretch marks you know. I didn’t know how you would respond.”

 “Il mio amore, I don’t care about that. You are breathtaking. Don’t worry about that. A real man wouldn’t worry about stretch marks, and I absolutely want kids, but after I’m married.” A soft smile spread across her face. “He wants to be married and have kids. Check and check,” she thought to herself. She wanted to ask him about that before but didn’t want to scare him off. She also didn’t want to get into a committed relationship with someone who didn’t want to have children.

“But Raye, while we are communicating there was something I needed to talk to you about. Something happened and I want to be upfront about it.” Her blood ran cold. She leaned back to look him in his eyes. “I’m listening,” she said in a brittle voice. 

He could see the tears forming in her eyes. “Carsyn came to my room to seduce me before I left.” She felt instantly nauseous. Was this all a mistake? Did she just give him her precious gift for him to turn out to be the very thing that made her cautious in the first place? Did he wait until after so that he could score before breaking her heart? Her thoughts raced. She was not even sure she heard the rest of what he said. When she was able to focus again she uttered, “did you sleep with her?” in a defeated voice. “What? Fuck no! Absolutely not. I wouldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t do that to Liam. She’s hurt and lonely and confused.” Riley gasped for air. She didn’t even realize that she was holding her breath. Drake wrapped his strong arms around her, reassuring her that she was safe with him. That he would handle her heart with care. She was relieved. She felt like she could breathe again. 

When she thought about it logically and took the emotions out, she couldn’t imagine that he returned Carsyn’s affections. He didn’t have to tell her. He is not her past. He could be trusted. She quickly went to the kitchen. He sprung from bed following, to find her in the  liquor cabinet where she poured a tumbler full of bourbon. She swallowed it in one gulp. “You ok Raye?” She looked at him thoughtfully, “yes, I just need a moment. But tell me this, is it the first time this has happened? Like has she made a pass at you before?” 

He moved to the couch pulling her into his lap. “No, it’s the one and only time that it’s happened. I shut her down and put her out of my room.” She was quiet for a moment as she twirled his hair around her fingers. “Wait, then why are you here? You never said, did you quit?” her eyes lit up with hope. 

“No, I didn’t quit.” She deflated.  “I have an interview with the Department of Homeland Security in the morning. Actually, I need you to pick my tie. “Drake!!! That’s awesome. Her voice boomed excitedly. There was another thump on the wall. “Fuck off!” Riley yelled. “That’s my girl,” Drake laughed. “What time is your interview?” He stood and pulled his shirt back over his head. “11 am.” He looked around the room. “What are you doing?” Riley asked. “Where are my shoes?”

She lowered her head and bit her bottom lip. “Raye? Do you know where my shoes are?” he asked in a husky tone. She didn’t answer; she smiled at him and nodded her head. He tackled her, pinning her to the couch. “Drake!” she squealed. He nipped at her neck before kissing her sweetly under her ear. “What have you done with my shoes?” he growled.

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m emotional right now. But I hid them. I figured you couldn’t leave me again if you didn’t have shoes.” 

“Il mio amore, you know I have to leave eventually, right? But, also know that I don’t want to leave.”

She pointed to his shoes, they were on the balcony. “I know, but do you have to go right now?” 

“Raye, I was just going down to my truck to get my bag. I’ll stay here with you all weekend if you want.” He untangled himself from her and moved towards the balcony to retrieve his shoes. 

“Yes please,” she could hardly believe she’d have him all weekend. “I called into work on Monday. So, I have to go in tomorrow. I pushed my Monday meetings until tomorrow. But I can wrap up early. “You don’t have to do that. I am sure I can keep myself busy, I will go see my Mom and maybe take my favorite girl to lunch,” he smirked as he headed out the door. 

She closed her hazel eyes and tilted her head backward and took several cleansing breaths. She’d say a prayer that Drake got the job. She was still getting to know him but she was pretty sure he was it for her. She only hoped he felt the same way. She would have never thought that she would fall so hard and so quickly. But there she was, sitting on the verge of a panic attack at the thought of him leaving again.

He let himself back into the apartment rescuing her from getting lost in her own thoughts. He had his rolling bag, a garment bag and a shopping bag. “There is room in my guest room closet,” she took his rolling bag into her bedroom. “You, uh have a lot of clothes. When I move in you’ll have to make space for me,” he joked. Her heart warmed at the thought and for a moment she wondered how it would be to have him there all the time. “Do I need to try on the whole suit for you to pick the tie?” he yelled from the guest room. She entered the room to find him standing with his belt unbuckled, his jeans hanging low on his waist. She leaned against the door frame admiring him. He turned to her, holding up 5 different ties. “Navy with white diagonal stripes.” she could picture him confidently entering the interview. 

“Wait!” She disappeared into her bedroom. When she returned she was holding a small black box. “Here, these are for you. I was going to wait until you formally accepted the position, but they would be the perfect finishing touch tomorrow. He opened the box to find a set of Gold Christian Dior cufflinks.

 “Gee, thanks Raye. But these look expensive.” She smirked, “of course they were. I can’t have my man walking around in cheap ass cufflinks.” They both laughed before she admitted to getting a deal on them.     

After laying out his suit, shirt, tie, socks and shoes, they headed back to her bedroom where she watched him strip down to only his boxer briefs. She bit her bottom lip as he pulled his shirt over his head noticing the deep V that disappeared into his jeans. 

She thought to herself, if she took away the clear physical attraction, would they have enough to make a go and a real long lasting committed relationship? She thought that now was as good of time as any to bring it up. “Drake?” she said innocently. “Yeah Raye?” He settled into bed next to her, his Sauvage by Dior cologne wafting in the air. “You smell great,” she smiled shyly. “Thanks, but that’s not why you called my name, I know it.” She smiled thinking of how well he seemed to know her already. She also couldn’t think of the last time she had smiled this much. 

“You’re right. I didn’t want to bring it up so soon, but do you think you’d be up for talking about where you see this relationship going, or at least your hopes, desires?” she asked as she nuzzled into his side. He cleared his throat. “Well, I honestly was waiting on you to ask. I didn’t want to scare you off. I think since Liam got hitched, my family, our friends have been expecting me to settle down. I always thought I’d settle down when I met the right person. I thought it would be in the future, like years from now. I never thought that I would meet my person in the States. I assumed I’d be in Cordonia forever.” 

“And now…” 

“Now, I can’t really imagine life without you. I want to be where you are. Raye, tell me, honestly, if I get this position, I mean my Mom is here and my business is mostly here. I could personally check on my investment properties, but that is all a bonus. The biggest part of why I’d take it would be so that I can be here with you. Is that what you want? Should I move back to the States?”

“Drake, I would like nothing more. I had Wyatt put in a good word for you. I have to be honest. I want to get married, and start a family. Like soon. Does that scare you?”

“No, well how soon were you thinking?” he asked as he gently stroked her bare arm.

“I don’t know. I never thought I would meet anyone who would be worth giving myself to for the rest of my life. You have been a breath of fresh air. But, I am getting older. Maybe married in the next year or two, kids almost immediately after. How many kids do you want, Drake?”

“Uh maybe 3 or 4.” 

Her eyes widened in shock. She choked on her saliva and started to cough.

“Are you ok?” 

“Yeah, that’s a big family.”

“I know. It’s always just been Sav and I and I always thought it would be fun if we had a couple more siblings.”

She was floored. She knew that she wanted to be with Drake and if it meant a big family she was sure that she would get used to the idea. She only ever considered 2 children because she never wanted to struggle to take care of them. She never considered that her partner would be wealthy in his own right.   

“I mean, I guess. So, back to you taking this job as DHS? Where would you live? On the ranch with your Mom?”

“That would probably make sense financially, but it would be an hour of driving everyday.”

“You could move in with me,” she blurted. She immediately regretted her words. “He is going to think I am rushing him,” she thought.

“Well, I was going to say I could start looking for places nearby, but if you don’t feel like it would be too much… I mean I don’t want to impose. I would cover the rent and utilities.”

“I don’t need you to do that. But thank you.” 

“I know that you are an independent woman and that’s hot and everything, but if we are talking about marriage, you are going to have to let me lead. We can make decisions together, but I won’t have you taking care of me financially.” His voice was calm and low but authoritative. She had never been with a man who wanted to take care of her. It turned her on. She straddled him and sweetly kissed his lips. “Is this happening? Am I dreaming? Are we talking about moving in together and getting married?” He smiled against her lips. “This is happening.” 

They made love again and she fell asleep in his arms for the first time and she couldn’t wait until it was her reality every night.

@txemrn​​​ @pixie88​​​ @secretaryunpaid​​​ @khoicesbyk​​​ @blackkingliamstan​​​ @mom2000aggie​​​ @shannonwrote​​​ @hopelessromanticmonie​​​ @chemist-ana​​​ @rideordiechronicles​​​ @lucy-268​​​ @dcbbw​​​ @darley1101​​​ @maurine07​​​ @sfb123​​​ @bbrandy2002​​​ @kingliam2019​​​ @schnitzelbutterfingers​​​ @lem-20​​​ @choicesficwriterscreations​​​ @no-one-u-know @jessiembruno​​​ @queenrileyrose​​​ @thefrenchiemama​​​ @somersetmummy​​​ @axwalker​​​

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[heiyodream]

AWAE Season 3 Timeline (1899)

Important things to know:

1. Mary died April 6, 1899, and her obituary was printed May 10

2. In the books, Anne was born on March 5, 1883, as the wiki version shows

3. Anne's article was printed on July 8

4. Billy is no longer in school/graduated (even though his friends, two Pauls haven't), and so is Prissy, so the chances of them being twins are pretty high

4. Delphine is about 3 months old in early April

5. The new school year in Canada starts September 1

6. Marilla helps Mary with Dellie 3 times a week

7. Easter fell on Sunday, April 2, 1899

8. Anne's parents were at least alive (and healthy) to take her on a picnic on July 13, 1883 (when she was a little over 4 months old contrary to what she had always said)

You can see 1899 calendar here.

Hockey, they meet the Mi'kmaq and Anne exchanges her scarf with Ka'kwet ribbons: one day between Sunday-Friday before March 5, 1899 (Sunday, I think?)

The introduction of the Blythe-Lacroix household, Mrs Lynde decides Ms Stacy needs a suitor. Diana and Anne states that they have 183 days left before their farewell (is this the date one of them departs, the day the exams are taken, or the day the new school year starts is unknown? Does the 183 days count as that day or not? But 183 days before September 1 is Thursday, March 2, 1899), and Diana says Anne's birthday is tomorrow (so is it the Friday, not the Monday after hockey day? But Josie and her mother talked about the take notice board on hockey night—why did she put it off for a while? By the way, I check March 5, 1899, is Sunday, not Saturday??? So AWAE! Anne's birthday is actually what day?). Conversations about Take Notice are all awkward, and family heritages matter. I don't know if it's Thursday or Friday, but one of those days is Gazette day, followed by Queens study group, and Marilla helps Mary.

On the following Saturday, March 1899: Anne's birthday, Jerry intercepts Diana, there is a surprise party at Diana's house, and Anne expresses a desire to explore her heritage.

Next Saturday: Anne and Gilbert go to Charlottetown and quarrel on the train. Anne and Cole go to an orphanage. Gilbert takes Winifred for tea. Elijah came, and Mary cut off her hand.

It should be Sunday the next day: Elijah leaves before everyone wakes up with John's stuff; Mary teases Gilbert about a flower from the tea house he went to with Winnie.

Marilla's explosion may have happened on the same Sunday as the one at Blythe-Lacroix, but I doubt it because Matthew drives Anne to school after, so it is supposed to be Monday?

A few days later, I believe it was, to be exact, another Monday of the following week: Mary was sick to the point that she couldn't get out of bed, the printing press is first used, Gilbert goes to Dr. Ward, Dellie staying at Green Gables.

I believe it is Monday because Mary said it is Gilbert's third day of cooking oatmeal, meaning the third day she was sick enough to not wake up. Marilla came around Thursday/Friday, and there was no way she didn't know Mary was ill, so Mary had been in bed since Saturday. That means either Anne or Marilla be visiting on Saturday or Sunday, but Anne says she wants to use the oven on Saturday to practice Mary's cooking for Easter, so? But I think it's Easter tomorrow and so unique. Yeah.

Tuesday: Mary's diagnosis arrives. Gilbert expresses doubts about wanting to be a doctor to Anne—between today and the Saturday they went out together, they would have made up. Anne talks to Mary about the experience of being an orphan. An Indian agent comes to promote the boardinghouse to the church.

Still, the same day (Gilbert's clothes are still the same): Mary asks Bash and Gilbert to tell Elijah about her. Anne begins writing Mary's recipe for Delphine. Bash is still in denial.

Wednesday: Gilbert fails to find Elijah hiding and informs Constance and Jocelyn about Mary's news. One of them (I forget who) said to take the salary early tomorrow to visit soon. Gilbert offers to accompany them since he will be taking the next train back, so it seems they don't wait and set off right away.

Still the same day: Anne meets Constance and Jocelyn. Constance and Jocelyn meet and comfort Mary. Gilbert convinces Bash to spend some time with Mary. Easter plan for Mary is made; Anne asks permission to borrow the Barrys' garden. Bash finally speaks and spends some time with Mary.

I'm pretty sure Anne and Gilbert have both skipped school these two days and maybe the next?

Sunday, April 2, 1899: Mrs. Lynde hands the boarding school brochure to the Ka'kwet family; Anne promises to discuss the school with Ka'kwet too. Bash and Mary talk about Delphine's future, and Mary finishes her letter. Easter surprise comes.

One day in between: Mrs. Lynde takes her son as Ms. Stacy's first suitor

Thursday, April 6, 1899: Mary dies in the morning

I believe Friday, April 7, 1899: Gilbert makes plans, Ka'kwet goes to school and receives Anne's old dress. Diana rides Anne's horse after school. Mrs. Lynde tells her where Anne has gone today, and Anne and Marilla quarrel.

Saturday, April 8, 1899: Gilbert, Bash, and Anne go to Charlottetown. Gilbert decides to quit his internship at Dr. Ward and offers Winifred to go to the fair. Anne dresses up as older to look for church records and meets Kakwet, but is forbidden. Bash bumps into Elijah and fights until he gets hurt. Marilla takes care of Delphine and accepts prejudice at the general store, then Ms. Stacy comforts her about Anne. Diana follows Mary Joe to Jerry's house and pretends to hurt her ankle so she can stay.

Sunday afternoon, April 9, 1899: Mary's funeral, Bash is entertained by the Bog's minister.

Maybe the next day: Anne writes to Scotland, makes up with Marilla, and Marilla sends the letter.

This is the first one-third of the S3 series, and there are already day and date inconsistencies. I don't think it's possible for Anne's birthday to be March 5 because there's too much gap between Mary cutting her hand and her getting sick? I don't know how long it takes untreated sepsis to kill a person, but I have the impression Mary's condition is rapidly deteriorating?

If we trace from Mary's funeral, we'll get something like this.

If Anne's birthday is March 5, 1899, then the surprise party has to be held the day before because they can't have a surprise party in the morning with the church on Sunday. The alternative is that Anne's birthday is March 4, and she only left with Gilbert on March 18 because maybe on March 11 she is busy or something. After all, whether Anne's birthday is March 4, 5, or 11, she'll still be 4 months old on her first picnic with her parents—she's had inaccurate information in the first place.

On the calendar, it could be seen that it meant Winifred and Gilbert might only have tea three times. March 18, the first time. March 25, the second time—I imagine Gilbert was a little worried by now that Mary was sick but still not so much and hoped it was just a minor illness. Then lastly, on April 8, when Gilbert also quit his apprenticeship. He couldn't have gone to Dr. Ward on April 1.

The second one-third begins around early May: Gilbert harvests honey. Moody is injured on a walk together, and Anne asks the Mi'kmaq old woman for help. Anne is playing with one of Kakwet's siblings, I think. This implies that she and Kakwet met again after Anne's birthday and before Kakwet left for Halifax. Gilbert is interested in traditional medicine.

Next day: Mrs. Lynde and Marilla have difficulty dealing with Delphine's teething. Mrs. Lynde suggested Bash find another wife. Diana and Anne talk about their remaining time (124 days, meaning that day is most likely Monday, April 30, 1899? But they went to school yesterday, or is it just some kind of spontaneous weekend walk after church Ms. Stacy's planned?) and Jerry walks Diana home the first time.

The day after tomorrow, probably Wednesday, May 2, 1899: Mrs. Stacy tells Gilbert about Dr. Emily Oak. As Dr. Ward said last month, Gilbert is interested in antitoxins in the paper. I think this was one of their last conversations, and Gilbert really isn't going back to his apprenticeship and focusing at home.

Anne sparks the idea of ​​the obituary. Charlie writes a "notice" for Anne. Bash is confronted with either marrying again or giving up Dellie, so he writes a letter asking his mother for help. Anne and Diana have 122 days left. Jerry steps closer to Diana's house as he walks her home. Gilbert tells Bash about the obituary.

The next day, Thursday, May 3, 1899: Ruby is afraid to get pregnant at dance practice because the girls and the boys touch each other. Charlie drives Anne home and pisses her off. Diana lefts a handkerchief for Jerry. Gilbert asks Bash about attraction.

Sunday, May 7, 1899: The girls have Anne ask Gilbert about reproductions after church and distribute the Gazette. Anne invites them to celebrate Beltane in the evening. Mary's obituary publishes. Mr. and Mrs. Barry plan to help Gilbert and Bash.

May 10, 1899, is a Wednesday; unlikely Avonlea Gazette prints Wednesday. The date should be May 6, 1899.

Thursday, July 6, 1899: School may be summer vacation and preparation for harvest. Anne catches a cold while baking Mary's cake. Gilbert borrows cufflinks from Matthew to wear tomorrow to impress Winifred's parents but admits he's not thinking about marriage. At least one letter had been exchanged between them. Matthew harvests his radish. Anne ran to Diana to complain and think. Minnie May makes fun of Diana. Diana asks how Anne feels about Gilbert.

Friday, July 7, 1899: The fair. Anne doubts whether Gilbert loves her or not. Gilbert tenses up before meeting Winifred. Anne visits the fortune teller and is sure of Gilbert as her destiny, then is heartbroken to see Winifred's presence and then her cake that tastes like liniment. Winifred's father offers to talk to his friend about Gilbert entering the Sorbonne. Matthew wins a radish in the most unusual category and rides a hot air balloon with Anne and Marilla. At the barn dance, Billy harasses Josie, and gossip spreads throughout the town.

Many people think dance practice day and the county fair day are close when in reality, they are two months apart. Another piece of evidence to support that there is a considerable gap between the end of episode 5 and the beginning of episode 6 is Hazel says she is a month on the road and we know from the S2 scene where Gilbert replies to Anne's letter, it takes three weeks for the letter to cross PEI-Trinidad. So if Bash immediately wrote a letter to his mother, after receiving it, Hazel hurried off. And we know the baby horse from Belle isn't a baby anymore, so time must have passed.

I've always wondered what might have happened here other than Hazel receiving Bash's letter and deciding to go on helping.

Saturday, July 8, 1899: Anne argues with her friends about Billy and Josie's situation and snaps at Gilbert. At night, she sneaks out to print her own article.

So the Gazette is printed Saturday, and Sunday morning is handed out.

Sunday, July 9, 1899: The people of Avonlea are causing a stir after reading Anne's article. Josie burst into tears after her mother says she has a "reputation". Anne is scolded by Marilla. Prissy calls her family's act of washing their hands over Billy's mistake hypocrisy. Anne discusses the severity of her article with Diana and then gets slapped after apologizing to Josie.

Monday, July 10, 1899 (everyone's clothes have changed): everyone at school is making a fuss and blaming Anne. Anne and Gilbert have a fight. Ms. Stacy chides Anne personally and transfers her to the fertilizer column. The board wants to set the topics for the papers, and Mrs. Lynde is asked to break the news to Ms. Stacy when her own voice is not being heard. Newspapers can only continue if Anne doesn't participate, so she gets angry and runs to the ruins of the story club. Jerry and Diana have their first disagreement about Frankenstein.

A few days later, maybe the next day: Topic restrictions reveal. Gilbert defendes Anne. Anne comes up with a protest idea. Prissy's business idea is rejected by her father. Children set up protest boards at Green Gables. Anne tells Josie about the protest, and Josie refuses to come. Jerry tells Anne about Diana. Marilla asks Matthew if their decision in favor of Anne is wrong. Josie stops tying her hair into curls and refuses Billy's not-so-apology.

The next day: Anne and Diana have a fight. Prissy is rejected when asking for her dowry and goes to join the protest. The protest at the town hall goes smoothly; Ms. Stacy brings the photographer, and Josie comes. On the evening of the celebration, Gilbert and Anne chat on the porch.

In the third half, it's time for the timeline to be rushed and less clear.

Seems to be around the same time as Anne's protest: Kakwet runs away.

Most likely the day after the protest: Anne and Diana pass each other on the way to school. The schoolhouse was burned, and the printing press was stolen. Anne's misguided anger throws at Mrs. Lynde. Hazel comes after a month of traveling and is shocked by her son's new home. Anne and Gilbert chat on top of Ms. Stacy's wedding trunk about injustice and the future. Ruby says Gilbert studies hard and remains romantic to Winifred. Gilbert admits he will have an exam tomorrow and have dinner with Winifred's parents after that.

Still, on the same day: Diana cut ties with Jerry. Aunt Jo visits and encourages Diana to take the Queens exam.

Exam day: Bash and Hazel have an argument about his attitude to Gilbert, so he goes to the river and meets Ms. Stacy, who condemns the board's behavior. Mrs. Lynde makes a plan. Winifred's father offers the Sorbonne while insisting on marriage. The epic catastrophe of the ruins-and-bonfire scene.

The next day: Gilbert looks for his mother's ring. Anne is indecisive about her feelings and seeks Aunt Jo's advice. Gilbert tells Bash about proposing to Winifred after Anne's refusal. Mrs. Lynde's plan is executed so that Marilla becomes a female member of the board. Kikwete makes it home. Minnie May cries and gets angry, awakening Diana and making her reconcile with Anne.

Maybe the next day: Kakwet is not doing well at home. Anne realizes aloud that she loves Gilbert and runs to his house to tell him. Gilbert goes to the Barrys' house to discuss exports. Anne left a note for Gilbert. Men from boarding school stormed Mi'kmaq's home. Sebastian and his mother fight about her strict and cold attitude. Bash goes to the river and meets Ms. Stacy again. 

Gilbert leaves school repairs after Moody brings up Winifred. Diana is annoyed that her mother has forbidden her to go out. Kakwet's parents come. Ms. Stacy meets Hazel. Anne and Matthew go with Kakwet's parents. At night, Anne witnessed the grief of Kakwet's parents.

The next day: The boarding school people make up an excuse to reject Anne. Anne and Matthew have to go back, while Kakwet's parents decide to camp and wait for Father Beck to return. In the evening, Father Beck comes, and they are still not allowed to see Kakwet.

The next day: Anne and Matthew return. Gilbert prepares to go to propose. Hazel gives the truth about the death of Bash's father. Anne shares her concern over Gilbert's lack of response to Diana and, at her advice, goes back for answers, but it is too late. Gilbert refuses to propose to Winifred. Winifred asks for two weeks before Gilbert can come clean with people.

Less than two weeks later, closer to a few days: Queens entrance exam announcement. Diana and her parents have a fight. Marilla explains Anne's plans for college preparation and the wish to buy new clothes for her next week at the corn harvest. Matthew gets defensive about Anne's departure, hurting her. Gilbert puts down the letter, which Anne will later not read and instead tore up in anger. Anne draws the wrong conclusion from the letter. Anne and Diana face the fact Diana is still not allowed to go.

Most likely next week: Anne is trying on a corset. Elijah comes to return John's medallion and apologizes at Mary's grave. Mrs. Barry asked Marilla for advice. Anne speaks to Ms. Stacy about the anxiety of leaving.

The next day: Elijah helps pick apples. Marilla receives word from Scotland and talks about Anne's defensiveness to her brother.

A few days later: Anne and the girls reach Charlottetown and meet Mrs. Blackmore and Lily.

It could be the same day or the next day: News from Scotland reaches Matthew and Marilla. Gilbert makes it into the University of Toronto. Elijah will stay.

The next day: At Aunt Jo's house, Anne, Matthew, and Marilla receive disappointing news from Scotland. Anne and Matthew make up. Matthew and Marilla go to track down Mrs. Thomas, Anne's first nanny, and find the book Language of Flowers. Anne is walking around town because school is tomorrow and she meets Winifred. 

On the train from Avonlea to Charlottetown (I'm not sure where their train actually goes from?), Gilbert meets Mr. Barry, who drops Diana off. He reveals that he's not engaged and says he's not allowed to say this sooner (but Winifred hints two weeks they haven't even but almost, so maybe around thirteen days already?). Diana barks at him, and Gilbert runs to Anne's boardinghouse. 

They kiss and promise to be pen pals. Anne is happy that Diana was able to attend Queens and even more excited to receive her mother's book. In the (perhaps) evening, Anne begins her first letter to Gilbert.

Now, what's puzzling is that we know the kids' protests to the board at city hall were still hot gossip when the school burned down, so there's no way it's more than a week apart. School burned down, and exam day is only one day away? Remember, this happens in July. And then we have the proposing-or-not-proposing mess running along with the Ka'kwet plot and Diana's rebellion, and Anne realizing her feelings which all take a little over two weeks at most. The story ends when Anne says she has school tomorrow, which doesn't make much sense because that means that the series of chaos took place around the last half of August, and the before one wasn't even until mid-July.

Diana and Anne don't speak during that month's gap until the day before the exam; around the early teens of August, Aunt Jo comes and pushes Diana to take the Queens exam. This also gives Mrs. Lynde time to work out her plan to perfection and having Bash actually gives Hazel more time to adapt to different situations and conditions in a new environment than just a mere few days.

There's a plot hole the size of a month here. The first option is not possible; the "Not with you, Anne, with Winifred!" scene moves to mid-August. I think what makes sense is that Gilbert would say he probably be taking his exams in Charlottetown next month instead of Avonlea because he is invited to dinner with Winifred's parents then during the month, things are going to be very, very awkward for Anne and Gilbert.

Ka'kwet runs away between these breaks instead of at the same time as Anne's protests or the boarding school people circling after her for up to a month; Which of these scenarios makes more sense is up to you.

September 1, 1899, fell on a Friday, so I'm assuming the Avonlea girls come around Monday, August 28. You know, they have to adapt to new enviroment and all. I think Gilbert needs at least two days of travel, so he should arrive at least Thursday night. That means their kiss happened on Tuesday, August 29. That means Matthew and Marilla commute Avonlea-Charlottetown twice in a row. Assuming the two weeks that Winifred asked to finish close to the time of the kiss, Gilbert didn't propose around August 14?

I mention the exams are taken in the early teens of August because I am confused. Anne said school starts tomorrow while Gilbert really isn't out of PEI yet while Toronto is on another land and literally like, 1000 miles away? How long does it take to get from Nova Scotia to Toronto? And aren't the Avonlea girls given time to settle down before rushing off to school?

The whole shenanigans of Anne's feelings and her unfortunate stomping of notes on the floor and Ka'kwet's rescue took about three days, including the last day Anne returns which coincides with the day Gilbert does not propose. That means Anne's note was left on Saturday, August 12. The exam is two days earlier, Thursday, August 10, 1899.

I'm really not sure how accurate this all is, especially this third half, but I'm trying my best! If there is an error, you can immediately comment.

[sinsbymanka]

Writing Tag Game

Okay listen I’m on vacation XD hence why I’m ignoring everyone’s tags/taking forever to respond. But I’ve been tagged in this A LOT and I really liked it/wanted to do it so thank you to everyone who tagged me (oh my god I’m so sorry if I missed one of you there were SO MANY): @noire-pandora, @in-arlathan, @thevikingwoman, @morganlefaye79, @elveny, @kunstpause, @pikapeppa

I’m not tagging anyone because I’m tagging everyone since I’m too lazy to find my tag list (I’m on VACATION). If you’ve not gotten tagged and wanted to do this, say I tagged you. 

How many works do you have on Ao3?

147 - I have 145 linked to my profile and two in the anonymous collection. 

What's your total Ao3 wordcount?

1,468,248. Almost 1.5 million!! 

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Of Miracles and Heroes (FenHawke, Cadash/Varric, Varania/Blackwall): 269

Interspecies Relationships Have Their Ups and Downs (Shakarian): 145

Don’t Make it Hawkeward (Varric/Hawke): 135

The Ambassador’s Vices (Josephine/Adaar): 111

The Girl with the Arrow Tattoo (Cadash/Varric): 101

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do (but - to be honest - it takes me FOREVER). I love comments. It’s so much easier to not leave comments than leave comments, so every time someone leaves one I’m blown away. I feel like - for leaving me a comment - you’re definitely owed an answer! I do apologize that it takes me awhile though - I am very bad at answering because they mean a lot to me and I get easily overwhelmed by the AO3 inbox I don’t know why. Blame anxiety. 

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

I’ll be honest, I don’t like angsty endings so I don’t have many of them. By far the angstiest ending I have is Flowers, Lies, and Forgiveness. This is a Bianca Davri/Varric Tethras fic set during the final act of DA2. I wrote it from Bianca’s POV - showing Varric unraveling under the pressure of Kirkwall and Bianca’s complicated feelings about infidelity to her husband who clearly cares about her as well. I wrote it for @hollyand-writes who always lets me lean into the tragic “fucked upness” of the pairing when I’m feeling like making Varric suffer.  

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending

I prefer happy endings so almost EVERYTHING has a happy ending. My favorite endings, so far, are for Cheating the Dread Wolf, which is my Varric/Cadash/Solas polycule (or as I like to refer to it - Solas has a dwarf kink) and The Viscount’s Mistress which is my Hurt/Comfort Cadash/Varric Trespasser bullshit. 

Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the craziest one you've written?

I have not written crossovers - but I am very into AUs in another setting that belongs to a different fictional universe. Most recently I got back into my Downton Abbey bullshit and wrote Flappers for Fen’harel which is basically a Downton Abbey AU Solas/Cadash and I’m not taking comments about the outrageousness of it. 

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yep. Honestly though? Over the two years I’ve been active in Fandom, the shitty comments can be counted on one hand and usually came from the same people over and over again, who are easily blocked, and should stop seeking out clearly labeled content they don’t like. Me and my work are not for everyone - that’s REALLY okay. I’ve blocked people for no other reason than making things I don’t like - that doesn’t mean they’re bad people. 

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

GOD DO I.

I am extremely sex and kink positive. Because of this - a lot of my work involves sex in some way or another. I think sex is a beautiful part of many (although not all) relationships, and that it’s frequently glossed over in mainstream media (particularly queer, kinky, and polyam sex). 

This ranges from sort of vanilla slow burns (My Cole/Bea fic, Compassion for an Assassin, has smut which hasn’t been posted yet. It’s Cole’s first time and is fairly vanilla and romantic, and occurs approximately 40k into the fic) to some pretty dubious consent near 24/7 dom/sub dynamics with BDSM kinks (I’ve written JUST as much of the Sereda/Gorim problematic smut as @jarakrisafis has in our series Forced Moves). 

There’s very few kinks I’m not willing to touch at least to try out - even if I end up not liking them. And the ones that aren’t for me are 100% allowed to exist and I will fight for them to the bloody end. My only recommendation is CLEARLY labeling your shit and not being afraid to add a tag if someone asks you to. 

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I’m aware of? I’ve seen ideas I’ve tried on picked up by other people - but I don’t consider that stealing and it’s hard to trace “who has been inspired by who” because we ALL have been inspired by thousands of other people and frankly more stuff for me when I pull you over to my weird AUs and rarepairs. 

I also think that’s a huge part of not getting stolen - I’ve got so much weird niche shit that only a couple people read that stealing from me is going to most likely be caught IMMEDIATELY the audience is so small. 

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don’t believe so!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! I’ve got some co-written secret smut with @blarfkey which almost nobody has seen, I’ve borrowed @tightassets Hawke, Lavellan, and Shepard for fics that she has illustrated, borrowed @tuffypelly‘s Adaars for some great fics, and my most ambitious project - the Forced Moves series with @jarakrisafis. It started out as us just exchanging gifts back and forth but we’ve wrangled it into Gambits and Countergambits, an Aeducan-origin prequel, that I’m VERY proud of. 

I love co-writing very much, but it’s very important to find the right partner and for it to be someone you trust completely. 

What's your all time favourite ship?

This is a stupidly hard question because I am, at heart, a multi-shipper. 

I love Varric/Hawke and Varric/Cadash. I’m also a sucker for Solas/Cadash. My fandom pool noodle is Varric/Cadash/Solas which I adore, and I’m very fond of Cole/Cadash. 

Most recently I’ve been DEEP in Aeducan/Gorim Saelac, Bhelen/Rica/Vartag, and Aeducan/Brosca feels. Dwarf origins are the best origins in my opinion and those characters are PERFECT. 

What's a WIP you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

I fully plan on finishing everything. My writing style changed a lot, for the better, in a short period of time. I need to integrate my old style/new style and had to get a pep talk about how to do that. Now I’m ready to try as soon as I finish Compassion for an Assassin. 

What are your writing strengths? 

I write very sexy, hot smut. I also really like playing with character voice and making sure I get them “right” so I do a lot of experimenting before publishing a new character for the first time. 

I struggle to write action scenes - it’s like pulling fucking teeth - but people really LOVE my action scenes and they read well. So that’s something I’m proud of even if it feels like doing fucking pull ups. 

What are your writing weaknesses?

I never learned anything. My experiences with English and writing teachers were overwhelmingly negative. I’m unsure if I’m just not cut out for classes or if they were that bad, but I always left feeling like there was one “right” way to do it, and everything I liked was “bad”, so what was the point of “learning” anything? 

It turns out there’s this very pompous, pretentious thought process in writing where people “assume” things must be done, but GOOD writing teachers teach you the rules and then how to break them. I either never had a good writing teacher or got too intimidated to give them a chance before bouncing. 

So I’m exceedingly self-taught. I lack the vocabulary to discuss plot structure, characterization, grammar, etc. I instinctively know most of these things based on trial and error and reading, but I didn’t learn them and I miss a lot of nuance in the rules, but until recently I was still too intimidated and unsure of myself to admit that or take it seriously. 

So - my defense mechanism is NOT taking ANYTHING seriously. If my writing is a joke to me, it’s gotta be a joke to everyone else, but that’s been a shield to hide behind instead of being thoughtful about things. I’m here to have fun, yes, but there’s nothing wrong with learning a technique to the art. 

I’ve learned - mostly thanks to @blarfkey who is an amazing person and a wonderful teacher - that I am a good writer based on my self-teaching. And being intimidated of people who throw around impressive sounding words is a weakness that I am working on. 

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? 

Use sparingly and with good reason. It should be short and explained later or clear from context. 

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter on message boards back in the fucking day. Thankfully none of it exists anywhere anymore. 

What's your favourite fic you've written?

This is such a sappy answer and I’m so sorry. My favorite things have been written for and because of people I love and care about. When I read them, I’m not just reading the story, but remembering the relationships I’ve made and how important they are. 

So, my top three fics for THAT reason: 

1. Cheating the Dread Wolf - written for @blarfkey who inspired the idea and ruthlessly encouraged me to make it happen. This fic was so healing for me because it heavily features Fatherhood within it - and I lost my father in June 2020. I don’t know if I’d have been able to do it without her and it was so important for me to do. 

2. Gambits and Countergambits - written with @jarakrisafis and the culmination of a years worth of gifting shit back and forth and crafting a shared universe. The worldbuilding, smut, relationships, EVERYTHING about this fic is so deeply and passionately cared about by both of us and to our knowledge it is completely, totally unique.  

3. Relentless, Ridiculous, and Rakish - one of my only primarily gen-fics focusing on a forming brother/sister relationship between Maria Cadash and @tuffypelly‘s Otsar Adaar. I very much enjoyed writing it for her <3 

And then my overall favorite fic: 

The Viscount’s Mistress: I have a lot of opinions about how fanfiction treats the anchor’s meltdown and the aftermath. It’s one of the things in DAI that resonated with me SO much as someone who lives with chronic pain and a disability. I loved the fact my OC was in the same shoes and STILL saving the world. This is very much a fic that explores all the dark sides of trauma, pain, and the mental health effects of it. But it ends on a happy and hopeful note.