#cove has ruined me for all other men

[avalordream]

Terry: Real question B-man.

Terry: Would you rather save something you love or the world if you had to choose?

Baxter: Can I save MC?

Terry: Yeah…?

Baxter: well idk then the world can probably kick rocks if I can save MC

[synergysilhouette]

How "Mystery Inc." ruined the gang (and what they could've done to fix it)

Lemme just say: this series was one of the best (if not the best) Scooby Doo shows for it's storytelling, but the storytelling is also what I'm frustrated with; the gang are given personalities that I wasn't a big fan of upon rewatching, and it's a shame, since there were opportunities to explore the characters' psyches rather than having them feeling like random takes on beloved characters.

Fred Jones--I'm about to get a lot of negative attention for this, but I HATE this version of Fred. Since the 21st century (and even the late 20th century) the charming, intelligent, and sociable Fred Jones is nowehere to be seen, usually being portrayed as cocky, ignorant, or in this case, flanderized. In "Mystery Inc," Fred is socially inept, and while someone told me this may be because he was intended to be autistic, the show contradicts this in episode 6 of season 1 where he has a crisis over Daphne missing. He says "guys don't have feelings" and has this very weird sexist moment out of NOWHERE. It's never explained what made him feel this way, which is frustrating since the show did have the potential to show it. Along with this, Fred has an unhealthy obsession with traps. Like, it's not even funny; it's just annoying, especially since it was a big plot point when losing the planospheric disk. Mayor Jones--Fred's dad (no spoilers about that)--is shown to be distant from his son and discouraged Fred from solving mysteries so their town of Crystal Cove could thrive on tourism. THIS RIGHT HERE explains it: Fred's only parent figure is emotionally distant, leaving him to believe that men don't have feelings and thus shuts his out, relying on traps, something he can control and he can only blame himself for if they disappoint him. But no; it's a "kid's show" and thus the parents aren't involved unless they're directly tied to the mysteries at hand. His obsession with traps and emotional dissonance are instead reduced to quirks--annoying ones, might I add. Such a shame.

Daphne Blake--I'm ENRAGED that her main storyline was about her relationship with Fred, especially since he never feels right for her due to the aforementioned reasons. Even when he got better with acknowledging his feelings, it always felt like Daphne deserved better. But that's not what my main point. My main point is this: Daphne comes from a family of rich and successful people, including four sisters who look like her and who she has iffy relationships with (they seem either not that close or antagonistic). It makes her insecure, and her feelings for Fred strengthen in order to rebel against her family's perfect wishes for her...but we rarely see the "perfect" image take hold. Throughout various versions, Daphne has proven to have MANY skills and interests, but "Mystery Inc" doesn't capitalize on this like they should. Ideally, they would've shown that Daphne is Ms. Perfect, and that she's unsure of what she wants to do in life because she's scared of her family's reaction (remember: her dad fainted when she said she and Fred were engaged). I wanted Daphne to explore herself before falling for Fred--and I wanted Fred to be a character worth her time. This is why the series finale felt so weird, since Daphne is now successful and her sisters are underachievers, but this is never a dream Daphne expressed having.

Shaggy Rogers--Shaggy is portrayed more or less the same as all his other versions, but it's the details that make him less likeable for me. Noteably, he's been shown to have difficulty making decisions, particularly in his relationship with Velma. He allowed her to control the relationship and stressed out in order to try to keep her and Scooby happy. This is a lot of Velma's fault, but I'll get to her. With Shaggy, the show could've explained it by showcasing his confusing upbringing; his father is lenient and easygoing, while his mother is more strict and condescending, especially where Scooby is concerned. Shaggy being the loner due to a lack of social skills would've made sense since he was always worried about pleasing others and didn't want to put himself in stressful situations, as well as his deep connection with Scooby--plus Scoby isn't a normal dog; his speech, diet, and physical abilities mimic humans, so Shaggy treating him like one makes sense. And IDK how long they've known each other, but Scooby also has longevity and no health issues in sight, mimicking a human Shaggy's age.

Velma Dinkley--Just like Fred, I haven't liked her 21st century interpretations. She's frequently bitter, cruel, and insecure, with the exception of "What's New," where she's just insecure (didn't like that aspect, though). She also engages in a toxic relationship with Shaggy and devalues Scooby. Now it was confirmed by someone at some point that Velma was closeted, which led to a forceful relationship with Shaggy that she desperately tried to make work. This doesn't excuse how she treated him (did she apologize, or was it just Shaggy?), and I assume her treatment of Scooby stems from her use of logic in every situation. Once that whole "Nightmare on Elm Street" episode came out, she had a mini-breakdown about the lack of logic in a supernatural situation, which could imply she was treating Scooby like a normal dog as a coping mechanism. Again, an apology was appropriate. However, how she acted around others, similar to the rest of the gang, could and should be traced back to her parents. They LOVE the supernatural--or at least what they can monetize from it. They lie and embellish things at their job to make it more interesting, and Velma takes pleasure in exposing the truth. It makes sense that growing up with people who do business by "stretching the truth" can make one jaded and cynical about life, but again, it's never explored for Velma.

Scooby Doo--Scooby is probably the least damaged of the group in this show, imo, however my main issue with him does seem to be his inconsistency. His "dog? Where?" takes on a new meaning here, as the story is more serious and deep (except for the aforementioned issues), and they gloss over an existential crisis for Scooby: he acts like a dog one minute and a person the next. He has no worries like humans do aside from monsters and has typical dog mannerisms, but is quick to be offended or confused when people reduce him to a simple dog. While his feelings are understandable, he never sticks to them, expecting to be treated like a person whenever his feelings (or his appetite) is at stake, and a dog the other times. Given Scooby's various talents, I think it would've made more sense if he rarely ever acknowledged being a dog and audibly expressed his displeasure at not being seen as a human rather than it being a gag. It'd make him seem less contradictory and hypocritical when he's upset with Shaggy trying to spend more time with Velma than him.

[libidomechanica]

Of tiffanie or cobweb lawn

And, ladies and rivals in a losing game, that,     to win mee, oft shewes a present, doubting of the silvery haze of summer in     the darkness from the weeks but turn’d to

black and round the lovely, lovelier hue, and make     theirs more than an unobserved star, o’erlook the dedicated words euen in sad rimes     to come, she said; her hair; sleeps she and

hear at times relent, let others could strange was love’s     day. Behind the Laws; and Heaven our Ruine had design’d, and make me wise as birth, and scarcely     for thee. Will trespass down this love,

in self despite his duty, in royalty of     sweet sleeper,—all his eddying coves, that sith they bring me the green head of a millionaire:     no more to tell, and murmur from the

pressure of his breathe a thousand memories of     great cost, and lazy lengths on boundless day. His subjects by try’d, or cast as rubbish to     the dead should more in dread the theme: While

mind in all that I axė, why the first made the Frere;     now, dame, quod he, so have I to take a nap in a cool well by, which we dare! But the     gate, yet all is rightful things: yet we

know it not. You push and I’ll pelt. The wish’d no more     a Son! Kind love is still; the Christmas- eve. Of tiffanie or cobweb lawn. I do not speak     of thy forehead with apples grow: upon

his for true, there sat a deadly shots too,     Septembrizers, seen the absence lay on me this, that has acres o’ charms, o, gie me the     falwes, and several station: there

we sang old song, ’ set to something else, sung by virgins     o’er the higher range; once more to look on Grace, the prince to gain his rightful scream of     delight to rail at the thermometers

sunk down flames; but by year our pleasures with soft     melody; gone are these cowslip on the green nooks empty of delightful throne where I     said a cleft of light foot shone like an

ominous birds of prejudice resmooth to nothing     lost to man; so that burneth alway ye have any pity at all, but my footstool     shall go. To-night besides ten thousands

of men. And yet perhaps he fetched up from this     much, nor more from the gorgeous dyes, the space made foolish noise, who scarcely join against the     Monarch which the Land. If thou wilt not

love by ways so dangerous constant be. From my     breast thou not near them with a noise of wings, and doubt beside the Seas, and such glee? Ready     for the Past! Drooping memory will

not seen thy meed for many weary moons before     him thorough you, grow your heavenly features right, that I ne sholde I taken heede hem     for my sake even so doth share a

part: so, either side, high in the Crowd: for whose     ancestors are booties to those who, by Lawless Might, opprest the Noblest Objects know to     choose your only blessing every body

out of weakness, but misery? At first, came     vested all in the even tide, upon the heart is cut in Phaeton’s time, it is greeting     the chords that sweet breaks out a rose.

[christinesficrecs]

hi! are there any fics with theo raeken involved? thank u for all u do!!

Well, Theo is in these fics. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A Letter From Mom by StilesIsMySpiritAnimal | 32.9K | Explicit

After waking up at the age of 11 without any memories of his past Stiles spends eight years with his father in the tiny town of Shelter Cove, California. After his father's death he receives a notice from a storage facility in some town called Beacon Hills. Stiles is confused and thinks the manager made a mistake until he finds a letter that should have been for his 18th birthday that his dad never gave him. It's from his mother, who he has no memory of. Weirdly enough, her letter mentions Beacon Hills and some woman named Talia, who he's supposed to trust. Confused and angry at his father, Stiles sets out for Beacon Hills anxious and determined to find out what his dad had been hiding from him all these years.

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Derek offers to pretend to date Stiles to avoid an awkward encounter with his ex boy friend and the ex best friend he cheated on him with.

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Stiles accidentally brings Talia and Laura Hale into the future, where they are surprised to meet the unconventional pack Derek has built himself.

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Being at different colleges, miles apart, meant that they’d likely be too busy for each other. An unstoppable force tearing them apart. But he could hold on for now.

“Okay,” Stiles shakily answered, clearing his throat before continuing, “I’ll go with you after the game.”

The corners of Derek’s lips started to turn up into a small but hopeful smile.

It was different from the smile Derek did for football. It was always more personal—genuine—when he looked at Stiles.

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Stiles hasn’t seen his extended family in years- mostly because they’re assholes. His cousins bully him relentlessly, and his aunts and uncles aren’t much better. So when he hears that they’re coming out for a family reunion, he’s understandably upset. He knows the next week is going to be hell, and it’s made worse when a new pack shows up, vowing revenge on their pack.

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Derek Hale is the black sheep of the family, always has been. That's why he moved to Seattle. Now he's got a job he loves, a nice apartment with an incredibly hot and endearing neighbor, Stiles Stilinski. One night when Derek's overly large and demanding family shows up early for their yearly visit, they run into Stiles, who is accidentally introduced as Derek's boyfriend.

Something Rotten by HappyJuicyfruit | 78.7K | Mature

Dammit, this was another reason he hated walking around a big city at night, he always managed to catch glimpses of the dark underbelly. He turned around, planning on going the long way home, but he froze when he heard the voice-

“Let me take you home,” a man said.

“That will cost you more. I get the money before we leave, and I take another hit at your place before we do anything.” Another man slurred.

That voice. It sounded like- Derek’s feet were moving him towards the men before he could think.

“Stiles?”

Life’s for the living, I won’t be giving up. by DropsOfAddiction | 8.5K | Explicit

Stiles is not prepared for what he sees. Derek ‘Roberto’ (Ok, he made that up) Hale is standing in the middle of his room, on a patchwork rug, wearing just a pair of very tight, black boxers and a Sheriff’s Deputy shirt. It’s hanging wide open, showing off his glorious chest, dark hair trailing down his toned stomach. There are bandages covering his wounds and Stiles is hit with an insane urge to kiss his boo boos better.

Stiles coins the term instant-injury-boner.

He’s never going to be able to wash and iron his Dad’s uniform ever again, from this moment on.

That Frothing Knob by Pride_Of_Six | 14.5K | Explicit

Stiles was wiping down the spout of a machine with a cloth, and Derek almost popped a stiffy right there in the café. It was completely embarrassing that after so many years of control over both his human and wolf side Derek would find himself so… enamoured by this random. Regardless, the wolf wants what the wolf wants, and Derek found himself trying his darnedest to get some sort of a rise out of Stiles, “You sure know how to handle that frothing knob.”

Needless to say, Derek got to see that beautiful blush colouring the barista’s face once again.

[littlemissleapyear]

@sicklexclaws​ asked: ❓ + Do you think you'd ever be able to forgive Krattz? SEND ❓+ A QUESTION AND MY MUSE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY {Accepting} 

            🕷 “No...I mean if it was just leaving me in Alabasta I think I could have forgave him in time....it would have taken a while for sure. It was the fact he killed my mother that makes him unredeemable. Who just kills their partner like that after having a child? Why have that child if you hate that person so much?” Layla was pulling a rather hard frown from behind her silk scarf that shrouded her face. She was always sharing a word with Oscar when given a chance but she was still a criminal. 

                 She stood with him inside the cove as her men loaded their ship quickly , given the ‘head start’ he always gave her. Still, Layla never wanted to ruin his job. The spider could entrust in him to be at least understanding.  

                “When one has or starts a family it should be taken seriously or the other party should dismiss themselves. That’s all he had to do , just walk away. Instead, my mother lost her life and I lost my childhood. Now he wants what time I have left on this rock for himself; and he calls me of all people selfish. Prick.”  🕷

[atinytokki]

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 7: Lucky

In the sails, all sounds but one were muted and distant to Hongjoong.

The wind whispered promises. The sea, its evil twin, often spoke too, luring victims in with pristine pools and sparkling shallows but crushed those hopes with torrents and freezing and drowning, without even the decency to spit out the bones. When Hongjoong heard the wind, he knew it was sincere. It had guided him many times before, so he opened his eyes and looked where it wanted him to look.

Below in the frigid waves, two Navy soldiers clung to a piece of driftwood that was floating towards the Black Crow.

It looked like they were alive, but fading quickly. While there was no real reason to take interest in a couple more casualties where a battle had broken out, something told him he should intervene.

Needing a closer look, Hongjoong sliced through the knot tying the rope he was clutching to the pulley and stepped off the beam, letting his weight carry him down to the main deck where he peered over the railing and finally caught sight of their unconscious faces.

“Wooyoung and Yeosang...” he gasped in utter disbelief, turning and grabbing Lieutenant Byun in excitement. “That’s Wooyoung and Yeosang! Quick, return to the Crow and open one of the starboard gun ports. I have to save them before they freeze to death.”

Byun looked hesitant to risk his neck for two more pirates, especially these two who he’d had dealings with, but Hongjoong was already climbing over the railing and diving into the sea, which left him little choice.

“Come on men!” He yelled back at the soldiers who were finishing off their enemies efficiently and without any more resistance thanks to Hongjoong’s swift retribution. “Let’s scuttle her from the Black Crow.”

The combination of freezing air and freezing water chilled Hongjoong to the bone almost immediately upon diving in, but he pushed through and swam towards the drifters, checking their breathing before clinging onto the wreckage and pulling it towards the Crow’s starboard hull. Wooyoung was struggling through laboured breaths but showed no signs of consciousness, and Hongjoong knew he had limited time to get him to safety.

The wakes of the Black Crow pushed them back as they approached, and Hongjoong gritted his teeth in frustration, eyes on the muzzles of cannons protruding through the lower gun ports, begging Byun to hurry and come to their aid.

The waterline was relatively high, if only they could get close enough and reach...

“Come on!” Hongjoong grunted, throwing himself into yet another stroke against the wakes, finally crossing the crest of the wave and making contact with the hull.

Just in time, the muzzle of the cannon directly above them disappeared and Byun’s head poked out through the gun port.

“Here!” Hongjoong yelled until the lieutenant looked down and spotted them, reaching out through the hatch to pull Wooyoung in when he was handed up, Hongjoong struggling to stay above water as he lifted his weight.

As Byun attempted to squeeze the unconscious Wooyoung through the opening, Hongjoong reached for Yeosang, who was stirring with a shiver, mumbling to himself in confusion, but letting his rescuers haul him up and into the ship.

“Now your turn,” Byun called back down, and Hongjoong raised a trembling hand, thoroughly exhausted, and reached with the last of his energy.

The feeling of the deck under him was welcome this time, even if he was so cold he could barely move. Lieutenant Park and Steward Doh were there too, laying out a futon and placing Yeosang and Wooyoung on it, wrapped up and dried off to give them a better chance of warming up.

“They’re alright?” Hongjoong asked while Byun helped him over to his usual corner.

“They will be,” the man responded assuredly before chaining the prisoner to the floor like he was supposed to. “You know the drill. I’ll have Park guard the door and bring you a blanket—”

“No, I should stay with them...” Hongjoong protested, staring longingly after his injured friends.

“Lucky, you’re on the verge of collapse. Rest for now, we’ll wake you when they come to,” the first lieutenant insisted, and he didn’t have to argue for long.

He smiled as he watched the prisoner’s eyes grow heavy and tried to make sure his chains weren’t bothering him.

Lucky wouldn’t be a prisoner for much longer. And at any rate, he was no longer alone.

...

The officers of the Paragon were calling for retreat. They’d successfully sunk the Indeok, but the Black Crow had finished with the other two Haemin ships and it looked like Kim was going to set his sights on them next.

San pushed through celebrating gunners to reach Jongho where he was bent over with his hands tangled in his hair from frustration.

“What is it? What’s happening?” He had to yell to be heard, and he gasped at the grief on Jongho’s face when he finally looked up at him, eyes swimming with tears.

“Yeosang and Wooyoung... they were on that ship, the one we just sunk.”

San dropped the bucket he was holding and raced to the gunport to try and catch a glimpse of any survivors as the Indeok disappeared beneath the waves.

“No, there’s no way! They have to be alive,” he replied in a choked whisper that grew into screams as the realisation of what they’d done dawned on him. “Please tell me you saw wrong! Or maybe they escaped! You just didn’t look closely enough, they’re fine, they’re on a lifeboat somewhere—”

“Silence!” Their overseeing commander yelled back, offended by the disruption of a few war prisoners.

Jongho was pressing the palms of his hands to his eyes and shaking his head wordlessly. Usually such a man of action, he was paralysed by the thought of what he had just done.

Anger boiled over in San. He had just lost Hongjoong, Wooyoung, and Yeosang all in one day and pure rage was coursing through his veins, the likes of which even the demon that had possessed him could not conjure.

Without a single rational thought, San picked up the nearest bag of gunpowder and hurled it into the sea. And then the next bag, and the next after that.

The Haemin soldiers were in commotion trying to stop him, but it took three commanders to drag him away and chain him up, restraining Jongho beside him and shutting them off from even the other war prisoners.

Closed away in the quiet dark, San tried to breathe and stop his panic before he slid into despair.

“Please San,” Jongho cried. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry...”

“It’s not your fault.” San released a shuddering breath and pulled the younger boy close. The needs of his brother outweighed his own grief at the moment, and if he lost himself he wasn’t sure he could come back. “Let’s just hold on to hope.”

A few moments later, the noise of someone entering the brig surprised them. It was San’s translator, back with bad news.

“The captain has summoned you, and he is very angry. He says if you want to throw our supplies overboard, you may as well throw yourselves. He sees you only as an expendable resource.”

Jongho’s breathing became laboured again.

“And what do you see us as?” San challenged, watching the man crack under the pressure.

“Teacher... for a short while.”

“Buy us some time,” San asked quietly, convincingly. “That’s all I ask of you. We’ll go willingly, just let us figure this out.”

Haltingly, as if a plan was taking shape in his mind, the translator nodded and turned away.

“Jongho, we need to go,” San hissed. “We need to go now.”

“Land is right there, a Jaecho colony,” the younger boy realised, turning to stare through the porthole at an unsuspecting Kibo. “We can get there.”

“Not if they weight us and drop us to the sea floor,” San warned darkly. “They’ve done it before, they’re certainly capable of it. We need a backup plan to be safe.”

“I can breathe underwater, but you can’t,” Jongho groaned, terrified of yet another life being in his hands. “Even if I can get myself free, I don’t think your breath capacity is enough to keep you alive until I can free you.”

San rubbed his hands down his face in desperation. “You’re right, we need help.”

An idea hit Jongho full force. “Hang on, my lungs and vocal cords are tuned to handle water... and generate sound.”

“You mean you could call for help?” San gasped, taking Jongho by the shoulders.

“Sound travels faster underwater,” Jongho responded excitedly. “If I sing the loudest I can, it might reach whichever mermaid cove is closest. I’m one of their own, they’ll help me.”

“It’s a long shot,” San said after a moment, biting his shot and looking away. “You don’t know if anyone is nearby, or if they’ll come in time.”

A pair of guards arrived to drag them to the main deck for punishment, breaking their little conference.

“It’s our only shot. We’ll just have to try,” Jongho insisted.

They were out of time.

...

The resemblance between the brothers was uncanny. Seonghwa had never seen Gunho before, but he didn’t want to interrupt their precious embrace just to introduce himself, so he smiled softly and kept his distance.

As he breathed him in, Yunho thought back to the last time he’d seen Gunho. So much had changed since then, clearly even Gunho had changed.

“I’m still taller,” Yunho whispered deviously, earning himself a punch in the arm before Gunho buried his face in the crook of his neck again.

“Stop ruining the moment!”

Fondly shaking his head, Yunho pulled his brother closer and whispered words that were only for him to hear.

“Gunho, I missed you so much, I really did. It feels like it’s been so long but here you are, a couple years later in Geobugi of all places— how did you even get here?”

Gunho’s face was tinged with red but a grin spread across his cheeks as he explained. “Captain Seongho of the Hammerhead II offered a ludicrous amount of money and debt forgiveness for someone with medical knowledge to join his new band, and I figured since you were away on a pirate vessel... why not me too?”

Yunho straightened and glanced around for the old pirate. He’d heard of him several times, through street legends and the personal tales of Yeosang and San. “Captain Seongho of... I wasn’t aware there was a second Hammerhead,” he admitted with a nervous chuckle. He’d always been warned about the desperate Captain Seongho. “I wasn’t aware he was even back in business.”

“He managed to commandeer a naval frigate,” Gunho began to recount.

“And you must have managed to rise through the ranks,” Yunho finished for him, a proud twinkle in his eye. They could discuss the ramifications of that arrangement later.

As he pulled away, Gunho’s eyes wandered to Yunho’s companions and instantly he became star struck.

“Oh, Quartermaster Song Mingi!” He gasped, approaching him reverently. “You’re my favourite!”

Mingi blinked and furrowed his brow in question. He was flattered, but taken aback. “Favourite? I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

Gunho snickered knowingly and took the tall pirate by the hand, excitedly leading him to the back of the room and pulling away a curtain.

As they stepped onto a small wooden balcony, Mingi looked out at the town below them and saw the spiderweb of rope bridges, the cramped, bustling village space, and the floating markets and neighbourhoods all teeming with vibrant life— many of the residents clearly being pirates, even here in the centre of the city instead of only the outskirts. It was different than it had been last time they came, and the change was clearly for the better.

At the sight of him peering down, several of them began whispering among themselves with excitement.

“Everyone knows you!” Gunho explained proudly. “How could we not? You managed to infiltrate the highest security holding cells in Kon’s naval prison and save the Pirate King himself, all within a couple weeks of becoming a pirate!”

He turned to Seonghwa, who was standing a little ways behind them, impressed by the view but still a bit unsure of everything.

“And of course, Prince Seonghwa, your name has been known since before your coronation, maybe even since before you shattered the glass cage on Fortress Island with only a single nail,” Gunho gushed, clasping his hands in front of him before turning back to his brother.

“I’d be honoured to meet the rest as well, if I ever have the chance. Jung Wooyoung’s slaying of the kraken is legendary. As well as Choi Jongho whose voice overpowered the siren Queen. And Kang Yeosang, discoverer of Captain Seongho’s buried treasure? Meeting him would be incredible, the stories he could tell! And of course, there are so many questions I’d love to ask Choi San of a medical nature...”

Seonghwa turned and raised an eyebrow at Maddox, who offered a sly smile and shrugged innocently. He had warned them after all.

“But I already have bragging rights as the brother of the unbreakable Jeong Yunho,” Gunho concluded, elbowing his blushing brother good-naturedly. “With almost any skirmish the ATEEZ was involved in— you can be sure he was there and he crushed his enemies every time.”

“Unbreakable Jeong Yunho,” Yunho repeated quietly to himself. “I like that.”

“Alright, fess up,” Seonghwa finally asked Maddox as they ventured across a rope bridge, following Gunho who was giving them the grand tour. “You��ve been imprisoned, how did you know there was still a secret haven here?”

Maddox gave in and revealed the source of his knowledge just as they arrived outside another highly decorated floating house. A replica of the Stardust’s old flag hung outside and it reminded Seonghwa of the tales he had read in Hongjoong’s journal.

“I keep up with the happenings through secret correspondence with— where is he?— ah, Youngsaeng.”

Just as Maddox said his name, the aforementioned pirate opened the door for the group and stuck his head out.

“Kyungmoon!” He gasped and hugged Maddox tightly, and again Seonghwa felt party to something he had no place in, watching enviously and stepping out of the way as Gunho skipped back to the main building to ready their accommodations.

Yunho scratched his head as they were invited in, embarrassed that he didn’t already know the man. “I feel as if I’ve heard the name, but...”

“Oh forgive me!” The pirate swept in with a bow, offering them seats in the ornately furnished parlour. “Heo Youngsaeng, Master Rigger of the Stardust before she sank. There are a few other officers here, but they’re sleeping upstairs, the lazybones.”

“One of Eden’s crew?” Seonghwa spoke up in surprise. On the ATEEZ, none of them had so much as a clue whether anyone from the Stardust was still alive. “Oh, Hongjoong would’ve been so happy to see you.”

Youngsaeng’s smile faded into bittersweetness.

“I’m sure he would. I do miss those days— all of us do. We travelled together for some time but the sinking of the Stardust and Eden’s subsequent depression sent us back into the free lands... and it was much harder for us that time.”

Maddox hummed in agreement, taking a seat himself to reminisce. “I never made it past the island with the garden maze, but I knew there were some who did,” he faced Seonghwa again to explain. “Our old Master Rigger Youngsaeng remained in contact with me through letters we bribed others to deliver for us while I was there.”

“And it might interest you to know,” Youngsaeng continued. “That while these towns fell into stagnancy with the gradual extermination of piracy, there is a new life and desire for leadership here. Folk look to the war as an opportunity. To reestablish ourselves, to fight under one banner, and to break away once and for all.”

Seonghwa sat back and sighed at the sudden turn the conversation had taken. Of course, he knew they were gearing up to this, but it was complicated nonetheless. This wasn’t just an alliance, it was a growing city state.

“That’s all well and good but we came here to find help for Mingi and Jongho, not to be the face of a revolution.”

“You already are,” a deep voice responded from the doorway. Everyone turned to see a solidly built pirate closing the front door behind him, pulling off his boots and approaching for introductions.

“Kim Minseob,” he said, and Seonghwa already knew who he was. The Stardust’s boatswain, without whom the reputation of Eden’s crew would be nowhere near as intimidating, but who, despite his cold exterior and intense eyebrows, had harboured a genuine soft spot for Hongjoong when they travelled together, according to the journal.

“I’ve just returned from the armories,” he explained as he took a seat. “More weapons have been stockpiled voluntarily, and several other representatives have approached me after the ATEEZ’s arrival to discuss plans— more than yesterday.”

“So you see,” Youngsaeng finished for him. “That simply by being here, you’ve incited complete strangers to take part in a war they could be running the other way from.”

Seonghwa frowned. It was supposed to be a compliment, but he wasn’t sure he liked having that sort of power.

“If you don’t mind,” Yunho spoke up, coming to his rescue. “We’d prefer to deal with Mingi’s condition first.”

“Of course,” Youngsaeng acquiesced, getting to his feet and leading the three officers and Maddox outside and south to the waterfront.

Unsure who they Stardust crew had gotten to replace Babylon as a surgeon, it took until they arrived outside the apothecary shop for Yunho to realise where they were. “This is where we bought Hongjoong’s medicine last summer!” He remembered aloud. “When we stopped here during the mutiny.”

“If you wondered how so many stories spread about you, I think you can attribute it to leaving your crew here for so long a shore leave back then,” Youngsaeng pointed out intellectually as Seonghwa opened the door and glanced around at the strange medical paraphernalia.

“Miss Namji?” Youngsaeng called into the back hallway when no one appeared at the desk.

“You lot again,” a young woman’s voice answered, sharp but full of mirth as she emerged and began cleaning some bottles off a shelf. “Who’s dying this time?”

Yunho smiled politely and waited for the apothecary to recognise him. “No one this time— at least, we don’t think so— but we’d much appreciate if you could take a look at Mingi’s wound.”

The woman dropped what she was doing and squinted through a magnifying glass at him. “Well,” she gasped, ushering the group through the hanging bead curtain and into the back rooms, telling Maddox and Youngsaeng to wait outside and scrounge up some money pay the bill. “Don’t you worry about a thing. Just remove the eyepatch and let’s have a look, shall we?”

Mingi took a deep breath and did as she asked, following along when she told him to look this or that way and remaining anchored even as she stared at him for extensive periods of time.

Miss Namji was an oddball, but she was just like the rest of this town. Young, passionate, and skilled. And ready to take the world by storm.

“Inflammation and scarring of the cornea, I see... well, you’ll get your sight back if you’re careful,” she concluded. “I’ll prescribe some medicines that should do it, but expect the process to take time. If sunlight or heat begin to bother you, shelter from them just to be safe.”

She rushed off to find some eye drops and Mingi slumped in his chair.

Yunho frowned and leaned forward to take his hand. “Did you hear that? You’ll heal, Mingi! Aren’t you excited?”

“I don’t deserve it,” Mingi muttered, keeping his gaze on the floor. “First Hongjoong, now Jongho. Who else will be hurt because of me?”

“Mingi, don’t say that...” Seonghwa scolded quickly.

“You know why I had to believe he was alive?” Mingi rounded on the both of them, with no need to explain who he was talking about. “Because if he really hung that day, it is my fault.”

“It is not your fault,” Yunho insisted desperately, face reddening as he became angry. “If anyone other than the murderer must be blamed, we all share the guilt.”

“No, but it is,” Mingi cried in frustration, voice becoming a haunted whisper. “You don’t understand, everything has been my fault from the beginning. It was because of my loose lips that Hongjoong was ever ratted out for being a pirate in training. I’m the reason he ran from home, nearly burned to death while the ship sunk around him, and then lived alone for a year on an uninhabited island— which, by the way, he was still too frightened to talk about much, even years later. I’m the reason he came back traumatised and, to make it all worse, I couldn’t act quickly enough to stop him from being branded by the Navy, no matter what your innocent little brother thinks. He had to live with a letter burned into him for the rest of his life and it killed him, Yunho. It killed him, they hung him for it. So you can’t tell me to let it go. That kind of guilt... it won’t ever go away.”

This was why he had hardly spoken a word since coming here, why the fame bothered him so much. Because it was all wrong. He was no hero. Without him, Hongjoong might be standing here today.

“Let it fade, Mingi,” Seonghwa soothed softly, stepping in and wiping away tears as usual. “Focus your anger on the people who did this. If you only blame yourself, you let them get away with it.”

There was an edge to his voice that betrayed his own guilt and fury, and revenge was clearly not far from his mind even as his eyes swam with concerned tears.

“I miss him,” Mingi confessed, rubbing his sniffling nose and throwing a lopsided smile at Yunho. “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to do... this is his territory.”

“We’re here to rest,” Yunho reminded them both. “And to restock so we can go get Jongho back.”

“Let’s just take it slow,” Seonghwa agreed, and that was the consensus as Namji returned and tested out the eye drops, Yunho squeezing Mingi’s hand in case he needed something for the pain.

Rolling up his sleeves, Seonghwa made his way back out to where the older pirates were discussing numbers in low voices.

“Two hundred from the Kiseki and its spy ships,” Youngsaeng was rattling off a list to Maddox, and the two paused as Seonghwa emerged.

“This all sounds like you’re trying to recruit us for war,” he caught them with a suspicious eyebrow raise. “I hope you know we aren’t decided on anything.”

He looked out at the people in the lazy rowboats below. It looked like a peaceful life here, uninterrupted and pure instead of scorched by violence and death. Such a corner of the world should be kept secret, not announced with trumpets and cannons.

“We’re not your generals,” he sighed, folding his arms around himself. “We’re not even capable pirates compared to you. Most of our deeds were lucky scrapes with death or accidents.”

Maddox chuckled and came up beside him, eyes tracing a group of children that played in the street. “But you are the leaders. You’re feeling lesser because you lack a leader of your own. It’s understandable, you’re in mourning. So are we, he meant a lot to us as well.”

Youngsaeng nodded from beside him and exhaled a shaky sigh. Of course, experienced pirates were better at hiding their emotions.

Maddox went on with a confident smile like the sun breaking through a cloud. “But your life is an incredible journey, and an inspiration to many of the men you see before you. They know there’s greatness inside. So did Hongjoong. We’ll never pressure you into something you don’t want to do— you’ve had enough of that at the palace I’m sure— but be kind to your own grieving heart. Have some faith in yourselves.”

Faith was far from them now, and even if they grabbed onto it, the sadness would continue, he knew that.

But there was nothing better for grief-induced self-loathing than a good old fashioned rescue mission.

Seonghwa set his jaw.

“How many supplies can you spare for Jongho?”

...

Icy cold water gave way to frigid air and when Yeosang awoke, shivering, it was on an unfamiliar bed, bundled in blankets with the pitch of a ship rocking him back and forth.

Wooyoung lay on the futon next to him, bandages tightly wrapped around his ribs, but his chest rose and fell steadily, and it calmed Yeosang to realise he was alright.

His head was pounding as he sat up and the evening sun pierced through portholes and shone into the hull, where it appeared he and Wooyoung had been brought.

Yeosang couldn’t remember by whom.

“Welcome to the Black Crow!”

He started and turned to the soldier addressing him. It was Lieutenant Byun, a few shirt buttons undone, hair a little longer and face a lot less stern, but the sight of him still sent Yeosang scrambling away.

“S-Stay back!”

“Calm down, I won’t hurt you,” the man assured him softly, keeping his distance in case Yeosang swung at him.

“Really?” He retaliated with an empty laugh. “Because you didn’t seem to have any problem doing so before.”

“I’m... I’m sorry, that was...” The man shook his head as if to clear it and slowly moved to the side to reveal an unconscious form chained to the floor, a blanket tucked around him carefully. “Things have changed. Lucky saved you. The stress of the battle was a bit much and he felt faint so we told him to lay down for awhile until you awoke—”

“Lucky?” Yeosang’s voice was merely a whisper. He had heard about him before, but seeing him now... something inside stirred with familiarity at the silhouette on the ground before him, so shakily getting to his feet with the support of the lieutenant, he moved forward and extended a hand to his mysterious rescuer’s blanket, slipping it off to get a better look.

Lucky shifted at the touch and let out a soft moan as he sat up. Yeosang caught his breath at the surge of butterflies the sound of that voice gave him.

It couldn’t be... there was just no way...

The stranger fully faced him and Yeosang froze. He didn’t dare breathe, and neither did anyone else in the room.

It was Hongjoong.

“How...?”

Yeosang turned back to Byun and opened his mouth to ask the lieutenant to slap him awake, but was pulled down into a tight embrace before he could fathom what was going on.

He stood no chance. Yeosang was defenceless against the wave of tears that shook him to his core and swept him away into Hongjoong’s arms where he could do nothing but cry out his name again and again in disbelief.

“I waited,” he sobbed. “I waited for you...”

“I’m so sorry,” Hongjoong whispered, trembling himself but not letting go even an inch of what he had held dear for so long, finally close to his heart, alive and well.

“It’s been so long,” Yeosang was shaking his head, completely numb with amazement, and Hongjoong pulled back a bit to get a better look at him.

“I know,” he dropped his glassy eyes into his lap. “It’s been so... so lonely.”

“You saved us?” Yeosang repeated what he’d been told. “How? Are... are we on the Crow right now?”

“You are,” Lieutenant Byun stepped back in, having given them a bit of space to reunite. “He was atop the captured enemy ship when he saw you, and he brought you through the gunport and hid you here. The Admiral doesn’t know anything yet.”

“We were drifting towards Kibo,” Yeosang sighed, turning back to an apologetic Hongjoong.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I would’ve taken you to the colony, but I’d never be able to swim that far in this condition, not with you and Wooyoung both.”

“Condition...?”

Hesitantly, Hongjoong shifted to pull his shirt over his head so Yeosang could see.

A massive wound scarred his midsection, slowly healing but clearly aggravated by all the action earlier. It looked as if someone had skewered him like a fried fish and left him out in the elements for hours. It wasn’t his only scar, but it was certainly the freshest. There was one event it likely came from.

“The execution?” Yeosang choked out, tears brimming again as he remembered what he’d been told. “Seonghwa thought you fell, but he confessed to hoping you were alive for weeks afterwards. All this time... he’s so heartbroken.”

Hongjoong hung his head and opened his mouth to say something again, but Yeosang cut him off. “No more apologies. You did nothing wrong.”

He reached forward to pull the blanket around his captain’s bare shoulders again, while he tried to explain what was going on in the depths of the Black Crow.

“The Admiral is deceiving everyone. He wants the world to think I’m gone, and now he uses me to win his battles with Haemin.”

“So how did you survive?” Yeosang finally asked, sitting and sharing the warmth with him.

Hongjoong nodded in the lieutenant’s direction. “If he’d saved me moments later,  I really would be dead.”

Hence the nickname Lucky.

Yeosang was still suspicious of the man’s motives and couldn’t help but voice his reservations. “Why? To make you his prisoner and torture you again?”

“To help him escape, when the time is right,” Byun broke in to defend himself. “I acted on impulse, but over time I’ve decided. The world needs its Pirate King. Me and most of the other officers are prepared to help by whatever means necessary.”

Hongjoong seemed to have made allies in his time here, and if he trusted them after all the evil they’d done to him there was no reason for Yeosang not to, so he allowed himself to be persuaded.

“What can we do?” He firmly volunteered his help. It felt right, slipping fluidly back into the flow of things, no matter how long it had been since he’d seen his captain.

The Admiral would be back at some point, and they’d have to find a way to hide from him.

“Well, we need to decide what to do about your father,” Byun listed first, wringing his hands nervously and lowering his voice when Yeosang asked why.

“He saw the Indeok sink,” he sighed and looked at Yeosang with mixed emotions swirling in his eyes. “And now he thinks you’re dead.”

...

That Haemin translator hadn’t been joking when he said the Paragon’s captain was angry.

Apparently even San had only seen the man once or twice, but from what Jongho could observe, he was a spineless sot who doled out violent punishment as he saw fit.

Which meant hopefully, he hadn’t thought at length about his murder scheme.

San was much better with the enemy’s language than Jongho was, and translated under his breath all the important things the man was yelling, occasionally glancing nervously at the depths of the ocean far below.

Jongho knew their only hope of rescue was him, and he could do nothing but pray as a metal ball and chain was attached to his ankle that their last resort would come through.

It was the sympathetic translator that clamped the weights on their legs, and he left some wiggle room intentionally, quietly returning to his post with a visible bead of sweat running down his face.

Jongho didn’t know him well, but he nodded a nearly imperceptible thanks to the man before preparing to be thrown overboard.

San was sucking breaths in and out quickly, struggling to come to terms with the gamble he was about to take with his own life, and Jongho could do nothing but squeeze his hand reassuringly.

Waiting was almost worse than the actual fight for their lives. Jongho didn’t want to die waiting.

A final shout came from the quarterdeck and San didn’t bother translating it. The sudden feeling of being dragged forward made the impact with the water that much worse.

The world was spinning until Jongho righted it in the slower freefall through ocean waves, pointing his weighted feet down and hitting the sand just a moment before San.

It was enough time for him to catch him before his head hit the rocky sea floor all around them.

Losing consciousness would completely destroy his already limited air supply.

There was no time to waste, so Jongho rushed through the process of breathing, pushing past his instincts to let his body inhale and relaxing as the world instantly became clearer.

Rather than let San deplete his oxygen further by struggling to free himself from the chain, Jongho began to work on it for him, starting to sing a tune only mermaids should be able to know while he pulled at the chain. He had broken bars with his bare hands, he should be able to do this.

He could feel time ticking away, San starting to writhe around in the corner of his vision.

There was no other way to breathe underwater than to be given the ability, and there was no other way to request help than through their exclusive line of communication, Jongho knew that.

He was trying to breathe bubbles in San’s direction in between phrases of the song, trying to buy them just one more minute, then surely their rescue would come.

The melody grew in force and enchantment. He needed someone to hear. It didn’t matter how far away, someone could be at their aid in a moment if they tried hard enough, they only had to hear.

“San?” Jongho asked when he had been still in his peripherals for a couple of seconds. That was not a good sign.

Jongho shook him by the shoulders and tried not to panic. He didn’t know what to do, he wasn’t a real mer-creature, he didn’t have gills and couldn’t share air.

Pure fear set in when San went limp and began to drift lower down, knees hitting the sand next to the ball that was drowning him.

The ball.

That was it!

Jongho struggled to rip his own chain off, not even flinching at the crack of his ankle breaking, and turned back to San.

With all the strength he had left, Jongho scooped the metal weight into his arms and tried to swim upwards with it. If he could reach the surface, San’s body would follow, and there was air up there.

Air both of them could breathe.

Jongho’s vision blurred but he kicked harder and struggled in the direction of the sun, nothing but a distorted yellow glow casting a shimmer of light down toward him.

He sang louder and clearer to counteract the effort of hauling such a burden against the pressure of the sea.

Progress was being made, but it was too slow. The tune began to die as Jongho’s strength started to give out with his ankle throbbed painfully and he knew San’s eyes had been closed for far too long, he could see the last bubbles of life leaving his lips.

This could not be happening. He could not let San die. Against his will, a sob interrupted his melody. Jongho could only hold San close and kick his legs ferociously. Every foot forward was followed by two backward. He kept singing anyway.

When he had all but given up, the shimmer of scales in the distance caught his attention.

There was a group of mermaids speeding towards him.

“Here!” Jongho screamed, in his excitement almost drifting all the way back down. “Help us, please!”

His eyes were full of tears, and he could barely even see who it was that had answered his call, but he surrendered to the arms enclosing him, bearing him and San to the surface and rapidly hurtling to land in formation.

They were singing his song together in unison, for no other reason than to encourage him, to reassure him they were there.

As he felt the sun on his face and the grains of sand beneath him, he crawled to where the mermaids were reviving San.

The sight of his chest rising and falling rhythmically made Jongho weak with relief.

“Thank you,” he was repeating over and over again. “Thank you so much.”

“You were nearly there,” a familiar voice answered. “You just needed a little push.”

“Eunjoo!” Jongho laughed, reaching out for a hug. It felt like ages since he had seen her, and the two were so close before, Jongho had regretted missing his chance to tell her goodbye properly.

A couple other sisters finished their work on San, easily ripping the chains away, and greeted Jongho before slipping back into the water so as not to be seen. They were on Kibo’s shores, it would be dangerous to be discovered.

“Dare I ask how you ended up in such a situation?” Eunjoo asked with a coy smile.

“You wouldn’t believe the half of it if you heard,” Jongho answered softly, brushing a strand of hair out of San’s face. He appeared to be coming to.

“You know our sisterhood is always aware of what goes on at the surface,” the mermaid teased as San shot up and began coughing.

“W-What happened?” The dripping pirate asked, eyes widening and body tensing when he met eyes with the mermaid watching him.

“It’s alright, this is Eunjoo,” Jongho explained, rubbing San’s back as he shook  violently in the cold air. “She saved us.”

“Actually, Jongho did,” the mermaid argued. “He dragged you up from the sea floor himself.”

San embraced Jongho thankfully, and the two stayed like that a few moments more to take in all the warmth they could.

Eunjoo had a bittersweet smile on her face, but began to sink below the waves again in farewell, retreating before another human saw her.

“Wait!” Jongho called, limping into the shallows desperately. “Can I press upon you to help us just a bit more?” He asked shyly, swatting a hand up as Eunjoo went to pinch his cheeks.

“You may,” she answered solemnly, a twinkle remaining in her deep blue eyes as she watched San wade out to join them.

“Yeosang and Wooyoung, our crewmates, we saw them on the Indeok. You wouldn’t happen to know if they... if they were...”

“The sea claimed many lives today,” the mermaid told the pair solemnly. “Your friends were not among them.”

Twin sighs of relief were exhaled at once, and glancing at each other, the pirates wondered what to do next.

Their mermaid rescuer knew what they were thinking, and sighed before giving them a choice.

“You can pursue them at your own risk, or you can shelter for a time with those who will grant you aid.”

“They aren’t here on Kibo?” Jongho asked glumly, and Eunjoo answered by pointing at a dot on the horizon. The Black Crow, headed south.

Jongho waited for San to speak, but when the contemplative silence stretched on decided to contribute himself.

“Mingi, Yunho, and Seonghwa... they must be so worried. We should meet them first. We know where the Crow is headed, we should pursue it together.”

San bit his lip and searched Jongho’s face for even the smallest shred of a doubt.

But Jongho had no doubts anymore. He had won today, and the decision who to track down was his.

“You saved us, Jongho,” San insisted, voice rough from the expulsion of water. “It’s your call.”

...

It was dark. Wooyoung was cold, and hungry, and tired, and sore.

It felt like something was sitting on him and he could barely breathe, so he opened his eyes to ask for help, only to see a lone flame from a candle and two figures sitting on either side. One of them was Yeosang.

One of them was a ghost.

They hummed a song idly to themselves while they played cards, joining together in a soft harmony that Wooyoung recognised.

He tried to join in, but his voice came out as a desperate croak, and the song stopped, both looking up at him in surprise.

Yeosang scooted closer, blocking the ghost from view, and placed a hand on Wooyoung’s forehead.

“You’re quite warm,” he observed, biting his lip anxiously. “Feverish.”

That explained the ghost.

From behind Yeosang he poked out his head. He looked just like Hongjoong, except the Navy uniform he was wearing. Wooyoung wasn’t sure how he’d conjured up that fantasy, so he closed his eyes and rested his head back, waiting for the vision to go away.

Yeosang had left his side, speaking to someone at the door for a few minutes before he returned with medicine.

It stank awfully, and Wooyoung turned his nose away from it before Yeosang scolded him. “I know it tastes awful, but it’ll lower your fever while your ribs recover.”

“Ribs?” Wooyoung whispered painfully. That explained the crushing feeling on his chest.

“They’re broken, several of them,” Yeosang explained, shoving a spoonful of medicine into Wooyoung’s mouth while he was distracted. He ignored the whines and  pressed the blankets closer. “You were hurt in the explosion on the Indeok.”

It came back to him in fragments— the chain reaction of fire and gunpowder, the decks collapsing around him, freezing water and floating debris.

“Did we make it to Kibo?” He muttered, glancing around at what looked like the hold of a ship, just above the waterline. It was night, so he rubbed his eyes and tried to see more clearly. “Did we make it to Woosung?”

“No, not exactly. We’re concealed on the Black Crow.”

“The Crow?” Wooyoung groaned. “What do you mean by concealed, does the Admiral know we’re here?”

Wooyoung hadn’t been avoiding him everywhere only to become his prisoner now.

Yeosang shook his head. “We have help. Sleep for now, I’ll explain later.”

Shivering and pulling the blankets closer, Wooyoung’s eyes drifted to the dancing flame as he fell asleep.

Yeosang resumed his card game with the ghost and Wooyoung wondered how it was the cards were moving by themselves.

He awoke next when Yeosang was changing his bandages, gooseflesh appearing all along his exposed skin until he could burrow under the blankets again. His wounds were improving. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed but the ghost was still there, chained to the floor with concerned eyes and a watery smile pointed in Wooyoung’s direction.

“I’m going to give you food and more medicine,” Yeosang warned him, helping him pull his shirt back on over fresh bandages. “It will make you sleepy, don’t fight it.”

So again the world faded to black and time was pulled out from under him. But at least this time, his stomach was full.

It was afternoon when he was conscious next.

A naval surgeon was there, telling him to try to stand for awhile and leading him through a few exercises to make him healthy again. Yeosang and that ghostly hallucination of Hongjoong watched from the floor.

Wooyoung was unnerved that the apparition was still there. His fever was wearing off, but his imagination had conjured up a spirit to torment him.

It turned to Yeosang and spoke, halting with uncertainty but loud enough that Wooyoung could hear. He squeezed his eyes shut and clung to Yeosang, pulling him away from the ghost and trying to snap out of this vision he was having.

“Yeosang, I don’t think he... I don’t think he knows it’s me.”

“It can’t be you,” Wooyoung shot back, trying to step away towards the bed. “You’re dead.”

Hongjoong flinched and looked so crestfallen, Wooyoung almost felt bad, but he wasn’t real and it would be better to go back to sleep and forget the whole thing.

Yeosang insisted on pulling him closer, sitting him down next to the chained spirit. “Come and see for yourself.”

“You told me he—”

“I was wrong. Everyone was.”

Wooyoung froze as Hongjoong placed a hand on his forehead and smirked at him. “You aren’t feverish.”

It was real.

Wooyoung opened his mouth to respond but he couldn’t. He was still as a statue, tears brimming to the surface as Hongjoong pulled him into a hug.

“I told you I would find you.”

And somehow, in the debris of a sinking escort ship, he did.

Yeosang began to explain everything, how Hongjoong survived and ended up here, how he saved them and made alliances with the officers, and Wooyoung listened but he was too elated to respond or even look away.

The thought of Admiral Kim spiked a shard of anger in him again. “They keep separating us,” he growled.

Hongjoong brushed the hair out of his face and gripped Wooyoung by the shoulders. “It’s because they know we’re stronger together.”

The sound of the surgeon leaving stole their attention for a moment, and Wooyoung tensed defensively as a very familiar lieutenant entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

“Good timing, Byun,” Hongjoong smiled at the man, and Wooyoung was astounded.

“He tried to drown me!”

“He’s on our side now,” Hongjoong started to say, but Wooyoung knew, he’d heard it all when Yeosang explained it, but that didn’t mean he approved.

“Your side maybe. You can’t speak for the rest of us. I mean, do you have to wear their clothes and everything?” He whined, jealousy leaking through for a moment. “It looks like you’ve already got a new crew right here. What do you need us for?”

“I would never replace you,” Hongjoong frowned. “Working together is our best chance.”

“What we had was already our best chance,” Wooyoung argued back. “We had loyalty, we had love. And we ought to jump ship before they betray us.”

“With all due respect, you can’t,” Byun interrupted, clearly miffed by Wooyoung’s coldness. “We left land behind days ago, and we’re headed south into enemy territory.”

“So you mean we’re trapped,” Wooyoung chuckled sardonically. Byun didn’t engage his response.

Instead Hongjoong squeezed his hand and took over again, voice steady and firm.

“You know the most valuable currency of a pirate?”

Wooyoung tilted his head in thought before shaking it. He hadn’t been a pirate very long, really.

“It’s not treasure, a ship, a commission, or even a life,” Hongjoong counted off. “It’s a name. And the Admiral strung up the name of the Pirate King in Namhae— my name. This is me starting from scratch.”

Wooyoung softened in understanding. Who was he to barge in and destroy what Hongjoong had built from the brink of death?

If anyone could pull off an escape, the three of them could. And if it took help from the officers, so be it.

“Excuse me, but Yeosang,” Byun cleared his throat and jerked his head towards the door. “You need to make a decision about your father.”

Wooyoung saw the way Yeosang deflated and quickly deduced what the problem was. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

Yeosang nodded and got to his feet. “He doesn’t know we’re hiding down here. Only the few officers sympathetic to Hongjoong do. For all Father knows, I died in the wreckage.”

“And you should keep it that way,” Hongjoong voiced from where he huddled on the floor. “If he knows, he’ll tell the Admiral...”

Yeosang sighed and looked out the tiny porthole window, clearly wrestling with the question himself. It would be some ironically appropriate retribution to keep the truth from the navigator, after he’d kept the truth of Hongjoong’s survival secret himself. Wooyoung knew it was a lie Yeosang had lived with longer, and one he was still struggling to come to terms with.

But being dead to his father meant no more life in Bundam, no more prestigious navigator title, no more future in respectable society. Probably no more contact with his sister, or anyone from home.

He was doomed to be a pirate forever, and that brought a whole slew of problems. Deciding to survey the situation on his own, he moved for the doorway.

Hongjoong’s eyes begged for them not to go. He didn’t want to be alone again.

Still Wooyoung struggled to stand and follow Yeosang, trusting his judgment.

“No, you really should rest,” Yeosang protested, taking him by the arms and stopping his progress.

“I won’t leave you to do this by yourself,” Wooyoung insisted before any more arguments could be made and the pair of them silently crept up a deck to the crew’s living quarters, letting Byun point them in the right direction.

Through delicately frosted glass, they could see Navigator Kang on the floor of his bedroom.

He lay uncomfortably on the ground beside a jar of incense he’d been burning in mourning for his son, a tray of uneaten food in front of him.

Despite the passage of time, the man had not appeared on deck or even left the room.

Even as much as Wooyoung hated him, it was hard to watch.

“He loved you,” he whispered softly, voice breaking as he noticed Yeosang’s eyes transfixed.

He had loved him so much, he poisoned him. Thinking what he was doing was right, but harming his son with his good intentions instead of helping him.

“I loved him,” Yeosang admitted, scrubbing his eyes viciously to drive away any tears. “But we chose different paths a long time ago. I could never make him see it my way, I know that now.”

And still it was so unfair, that one he had once loved most would be left behind in evil, no matter what Yeosang did.

“You know, I think Captain was onto something, disappearing off the face of the earth,” he finally decided, making Wooyoung’s face light up.

“I’m dead to him now,” Yeosang explained. “Coming back would only renew the troubled relationship I was already struggling to endure. And besides, with the ATEEZ I have everything I need.”

“So what next?” Wooyoung prompted as they moved back into their secret hideout, ready to disappear behind various meticulously placed furniture items at the first sight of the Admiral. “We escape when we make landfall?”

“First, you recover,” Byun instructed as he closed and locked the door behind them. “You’re in no condition to be fighting if the need arises.”

Yeosang agreed quickly and sat down next to Wooyoung, huddling into a circle with Hongjoong on the other side so he could take part.

“I am in proper condition, however,” he pointed out to a jealous Wooyoung, motioning to each of his injured friends. “Hongjoong’s hands were burned. Yours were broken. My hands work fine, I should be using them.”

“You’re our secret weapon, Yeosang,” Hongjoong agreed with a growing smile. “We have work to do.”

...

The clang of metalwork and song echoed through Geobugi’s harbour and Yunho couldn’t help his curiosity.

“What exactly is all this?” He asked one of them burly men who was taking a break from pounding iron to drink some water and wipe the sweat off his brow.

“Oh, Yunho of the ATEEZ!” He greeted politely, reaching out a meaty hand to be shaken. “I’m honoured you would ask. We’re making armour for our ships. Still working on a lightweight design, but this is what we’ve come up with.”

“A-Armour?” Yunho repeated. “Are you anticipating full on battle?”

“If you should ever call for it, we’ll be ready!” The man replied cheerfully before returning to his work, joining the rhythmic work song.

Yunho shook his head to clear it and turned back to where Seonghwa, Mingi, and the Stardust officers were making an inventory of the newly restocked ATEEZ.

There was a small crowd of men gathered, all of them volunteering to join the mission, each most likely looking for the chance to brag that they’d participated in the rescue of Choi Jongho himself.

Seonghwa was politely turning down one after the other in favour of the existing crew. They’d been with them through thick and thin, there was no need to exchange them with hopeful replacements.

Mingi oversaw the loading of new supplies, a gift they were thankful to accept considering they had no idea what to expect if it came down to combat with Haemin over this.

He and Seonghwa were in their element, which left nothing much for Yunho to do at the moment except chat with the Stardust pirates.

“We’ll likely follow at a distance,” Maddox was saying. “Just in case the fighting escalates.”

“We can handle them just fine,” Yunho assured the quartermaster confidently.

“But there’s no need to handle them alone,” Youngsaeng responded softly, and Yunho was inclined to trust him.

Reaching up a hand to his neck, he rubbed the chain hanging there for luck. It was once Hongjoong’s crystal key, but now only an empty chain without its owner. Yunho was resourceful, but this particular necklace wasn’t meant to be repurposed. It was a small relic to help him focus and the memories it carried motivated him.

“Wait!” A voice yelled from the town, the pounding of feet following it.

Yunho turned around to see Gunho speeding towards him, stopping to regain his breath before protesting. “You can’t leave! You only just got here, you haven’t even seen your lodgings yet.”

“Gunho, I’m sorry,” Yunho sighed. “I want to stay with you, but we have to find our missing members first.”

“Then let me come—”

“No, Gunho, it’s too dangerous,” Yunho cut him off before he could even fully ask permission.

“I’m not a baby anymore,” Gunho pouted, ironically looking even more childlike in his petulance. “Don’t leave me behind again.”

“We’ll return when we’re whole, I promise,” Yunho told him with sincerity, pulling him close for a hug. “I just can’t leave Jongho to his fate. He’s my brother too now.”

Gunho nodded slowly and pulled away. “Alright,” he sighed, and it gave Yunho some hope that he had matured enough to understand. “But if you even think about going off on another adventure without me, I’ll hear it from the Stardust!”

He punctuated his statement with a light punch and Yunho couldn’t help but laugh.

Gunho seemed so much happier here, so much more himself. Part of Yunho was disappointed to have missed the transformation, but he was grateful for it nonetheless. Time had been kind to his brother, and not only to him.

There was just one more mission left before they could enjoy their hard-won spoils and live the life they’d built for themselves.

“Wait!”

Another voice interrupted the embarkation, this time from the other side of the docks.

“Now what?” Minseob griped, crossing his arms and preparing to deal with the interference.

“There’s no need for a search party!” The voice called out again, and Yunho turned around in shock as he recognised it.

“Jongho!”

He rushed toward the younger pirate, but Mingi beat him to it, squeezing him in a hug so tight, Jongho had to tap him on the shoulder to signal he needed to breathe.

“And not just me,” he gasped, quickly embracing Seonghwa and Yunho as well before turning and pushing back through the crowd with a slight limp, rescuing another pirate who had been swarmed with adoring fans.

“San!” Yunho laughed, and the shock of suddenly seeing him was so intense, that he couldn’t even form the words to ask how he was here.

San joined them with hugs as well, relief plastered across his face, and promised to explain when he got the chance. “It’s quite the story,” he sighed with a tired smile. “I’m not sure you’ll even believe me.”

“Hyung, I lost your spyglass,” Jongho suddenly confessed as they moved to a more secure corner of the dock, letting the Stardust officers deal with the traffic. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, Jongho, don’t worry about it!” Yunho replied quickly, astounded that Jongho would even think of such a thing on the heels of his miraculous return. “I’m just happy you’re alive and safe.��

“You were preparing to set out?” San observed quickly, giving Jongho a knowing glance.

Seonghwa affirmed it and went to tell Yoojin to cancel the trip, but Jongho took him by the arm and stopped him.

“Good. We have a job for you.”

...

Taglist: @serendipityunho @celestial-yunho @atzjjongbby @89staytinyzen21 

A/N: I came back with a really long one, possibly the longest chapter to date, so hopefully it was okay that there wasn’t much action 😆 From this chapter I think the trajectory of the rest of this volume might be apparent, and at any rate All to Action has passed the halfway point! Let me know what you thought and have a nice week~

← Previous | Masterlist | Next →

[jessikahathaway]

Crimson Grail - Part V

Well hello there lovelies! Here’s the newest update of Crimson Grail! Hope you all are doing well, love you lots!!

PS: Waiting on new banners for some of my fics so they will be blank until the banners come in!

Pairing: Min Yoongi X Reader

Genre: Pirate!AU, Romance, Action, Adventure

Warnings: Kidnapping, violence, coarse language.

Words: 3,964

Scarlett had taken you back to her ship after the Council had finished.

The two of you talked about your life, what you were doing before you joined the crew of the Crimson Grail, and what had happened to your family.

Why did you love the sea so much?

All of these questions and more were thrown your way as Scarlett interrogated you for information it felt like. But she claims she hadn’t had a good chance to talk with anyone for a long while. Her first mate, Joy, was really the only girl she trusted. But they had exhausted all topics apparently and she wanted to start fresh with you.

“Sorry Yoongi yelled at you, normally he’s much more controlled when it comes to things of that nature,” Scarlett said, brushing through her hair with her fingers.

“It surprised me, I’d never seen him like that before,” you said, biting your lip.

Although you hardly knew the man.

“I’m sure, but when Tobias is brought up or anything to do with his fanatics he gets a little touchy,” Scarlett explained.

“What? What do you mean, touchy?” You asked.

“Well, Tobias and Yoongi used to be friends. Thicker than thieves. But Tobias became obsessed with the story of the Heart of the Ocean you see. He wanted to control the seven seas and everything they had to offer. And in order to do this, he needed a ship. So he convinced Yoongi to help him steal one, and then-”

“Do you often enjoy spilling the secrets of everyone around? I thought that was Swallowtail’s job,” Yoongi said from the corner.

The pair of you jumped as you looked at him, captain’s hat tipped low as he gazed at the two of you from the shadows.

“Yoongi, I-”

“Enough Scarlett, I think we’ve all had plenty of talking for the evening. I came to take her back to the Grail for the night,” Yoongi said, looking at you.

“Must you ruin our girl time?” Scarlett whined, kicking her feet out like a small child.

“I’m afraid I can’t entrust her to you unsupervised for too long. Come, Y/N, it’s time we went to bed,” he said, turning his back to the two of you.

“Okay,” you said, dreading the thought of being alone with him. But, you waved to Scarlett regardless and made your way to him.

The walk to the Grail was silent, save for the pair of your footsteps hitting creaking boards. Yoongi didn’t even spare you a glance since you left Scarlett’s ship, and the way he was acting made you wary. What was going on with him? He’d barely spoken to you since the Council was done. He didn’t even see Scarlett snatch you away and take you to her ship. Jimin probably told him where you’d gotten off to.

“You said that you’d answer my questions this morning, but all you did was question me... You promised,” you said, walking behind him.

“I did say I would answer any and all questions, but the day proceeded differently. Sorry about that. But did you have questions?” He asked, looking back at you.

“Yes, of course I do!”

“Then, ask,” Yoongi said, leaning up against the railing of a shipwreck that was almost vertical. You gazed at him and found that his eyes weren’t meeting yours.

“What happened to your parents?” 

It was silent, and you felt as though you struck a chord deep within him. Something no one had touched for a very long while...

“They died,” he said, slowly as if he were thinking through his explanation.

“Okay, how did they die?” You pressed further.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Any and all questions,” you simply reminded.

He sighed and looked down at his boots before continuing.

“They hanged them, the Royal Navy did, when my sister and I were just children. After that we lived with my Aunt until we were old enough to work for our keep. My sister forgave the Royal Navy and married one of their lower ranks. I, I was always in love with the sea. So I had already been taken in by another family. Jimin and his friends actually. Once I had my taste of plundering and treasure... Gods it’s addictive, the wind in your hair the sea spraying in your face. It’s all so... alluring is it not?”

You were speechless.

“My parents died too,” you said, casting your gaze to him.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, keeping his tone level.

“They were both murdered, right in front of me when I was a child. I didn’t have any siblings, so I grew up alone. The Inn keep down the road took me in, made me work for her. And since then, I’ve been on my own,” you said.

“Yeah? How did you come to love the sea?” Yoongi asked. 

“Well, my father was a merchant. He ran several loads of cargo from Yocleptes to Kevineuax. Mother and I traveled with him. We helped on the ship and that’s where I learned a lot of my ship knowledge and healing techniques.”

“I see,” Yoongi said.

Silence settled between the two of you again, and you weren’t sure how to break it. Yoongi had divulged his childhood to you, in turn you gave up a part of yourself as well. But now what do you talk about after that? 

“Captain!” You heard Jin’s voice echo over the quiet area.

“Aye?” Yoongi turned to him, you following closely after.

“You weren’t on the ship, I was wondering where you’d gone. Sorry to disrupt the two of you,” Jin said, placing his hands on his hips. 

“It’s alright Jin, we were just heading back to the Grail,” Yoongi said, starting to strut off towards his ship.

Jin nodded before looking at you. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you. Come, before the siren’s take us!” You joked, laughing and following Yoongi back to the Grail.

—

You woke up a few days later, throat dry as you headed for your wash basin.

The Council reconvened the morning you were supposed to leave to go after Tobias. You all agreed to wait for news of his next heading. Scarlett was heading to Yocleptes to gather information on him while Jimin was going to Kevineaux to see if he’d returned to his favorite port. 

The rest of you were to wait in Pirate’s Cove until they returned. 

Yoongi was restless to say the least. 

“I hate being docked for too long,” he said, as he came back to the cabin.

“Well, Scarlett should be back within the week and Jimin not too shortly after her. Just survive the week, Yoongi, I know you can do it,” you smiled. 

He sighed and sat down on the bed heavily. 

“I hate having to sit like a duck in this fortress with people I hardly trust. Sure, Apollo was on your side but... The two Lords I trust the most aren’t here. It makes me worry,” he said, rubbing his neck. 

“I understand your concerns, but I fear they might be misplaced,” you confessed. Yoongi looked up at you, shocked. 

“What do you mean, ‘misplaced’?” He asked.

“Apollo’s crew is mingling well with your men. So I see an alliance with him being the most likely while Scarlett and Jimin are gone. Swallowtail has kept to himself and not bothered us in the least. And Allistar, well... He’s young, and unsure of what he truly wants. I don’t think anyone is going to make a move on the other. It’s a big stalemate currently,” you explained.

“Allistar is a fire cracker, I know that he’s planning some mischief, I just... Don’t leave my sight until those two are back, alright?” He said, looking at you with concern.

“Captain? Are you in there? Lass?” Greaves' voice echoed through the room.

“We’re in here Greaves, you can come in,” you said, sitting down at your new vanity Yoongi cleared off for you.

“I have news from First Mate Jin. He says the remaining council members are meeting on what to do in the meantime while Captain Scarlett and Captain Jimin are out gathering information on Tobias Bridge,” he said, looking at you and Yoongi.

“Well, best we get ready. I’ll leave you to change,” Yoongi said, standing up and heading for the door. 

“I might need your help,'' you said offhandedly.

You heard a small choke from the corner. Turning your head, you looked at Yoongi in confusion.

“W-With what?” He said. Greaves was a similar shade of pink as he walked away from the door.

“My corset?” You said, as if it were obvious.

“O-Oh, of course, I’ll uh... I’ll wait out here and you can call me in when you need me, alright?” 

You nodded and continued brushing your hair at the vanity for a short while.

Many thoughts came to mind. 

Especially about Yoongi. What was his goal? Why did he want to continue to be a pirate? How did he get so strong and find a ship such as the Grail? Even some stupid questions like what his favorite drink was. You wanted to know everything about the man who would be your husband. 

And yet, he was still such a mystery to you.

That was all well and good, but... You didn’t want to have to hide anything from him, and you wanted him to feel the same. If you couldn’t find love in one another you at the very least wanted to be friends. 

But something about Yoongi felt off, as if he were hiding something from you. Something dark and dangerous.

But the day was today, and those are fears of tomorrow. Let them sit there in the wings while you enjoy the now.

“You can come in!” You said, adjusting your corset as you winced. Your arm was still tender, but it was getting better.

Yoongi walked in, clearing his throat as he approached. You felt his warm palms on your waist and you jumped slightly.

“Sorry,” he breathed. 

“It’s okay,” you assured. Face flushing slightly at the contact. 

“So, um, breathe in please,” he said, taking the bottom laces and pulling them tight. You gasped as the bodice began to tighten around your frame. It had been a long while since you’d worn a full corset and it was obvious it’d take some getting used to. 

You gripped the bed frame and gasped when Yoongi tugged once more. 

“Easy, or I’ll break!” You said, holding your stomach.

“Sorry, sorry. Should I stop?” He asked.

“No-No, keep going,” you breathed. 

“Um, sir?” 

The two of you bolted apart at the sound of another voice. 

Jin stood there, blush over his cheeks as he stared at the two of you.

“Jin, you can’t just barge in here!” Yoongi warned, walking over to him.

“The door was open?” Jin said, pointing to the very open door at the back of him.

“You left the door open!?” You shrieked, coming forward to throttle Yoongi for all he was worth before Jin spoke again.

“Anyways, the meeting is in about ten minutes. I’m here to escort the two of you to the meeting room,” he said.

“Well, we’ll meet you on deck in a few moments, just let us finish here,” Yoongi said.

“Very well, I will await the two of you on deck then,” Jin said, smirking lightly before heading out the door, and shutting it this time.

You could feel the heat from your face burning through your whole body. Embarrassment flooded you as you tried not to hide in shame. But Yoongi tied off your corset without even blinking.

“There, you’re all set,” he said, patting you on the back softly.

“Thank you,” you grimaced, trying not to let your own embarrassment leak out past your blush.

“Sure, let’s get going,” Yoongi stated, bringing you to his side before walking out the door. 

—

The meeting was boring to say the least. Everyone agreed that two ships would stay behind and the other two would make port in nearby towns. It was simply easier for everyone that way. And so people weren’t draining their supplies needlessly. And the other two ships would also bring back extra cargo for the rest of the ships. 

Allistar and Yoongi were told to stay here in Pirate’s Cove while Swallowtail and Apollo’s crew went to port elsewhere. Yoongi was sour about the whole situation, wanting to be one of the people who got to leave the damned cove but, everyone had voted against him.

Although, Yoongi was also upset for another reason.

Allistar was the only pirate in the Council Yoongi was on incredibly bad terms with. Something about calling him a child in the boots of a man that were three sizes too big. That hadn’t gone over very well with the youngster, making the two men at odds at the best of times.

So, Yoongi went straight to the cabin when the pair of you returned from the meeting. Jin looked at you for some kind of information but you just shook your head. 

“He just needs some time to cool off no doubt,” you said. Jin nodded and the two of you rested along the sides of the boat leisurely.

You watched as Apollo’s and Swallowtail’s ships left the fortress. You longed to feel the sun on your face again, the sea spray freshening your skin and making it dance in pleasure as the ship moved forward towards the beloved horizon.

But, here you were, stuck like the rest of the men here. 

“He’s anxious, I can tell,” Jin said, arms folding over the other as he gazed out over the cove with muted interest.

“Anxious? About what?” You asked, intrigued. 

“Going after Tobias is no doubt going to reopen old wounds with him. And with you now a part of the picture he’s going to have someone to worry about. Yoongi is bad about thinking about himself first. He normally goes into stuff thinking about the other people involved, he’s just an afterthought. This is going to change with you I hope. Someone to remind him to look after himself, keep himself and his friends safe. I worry about him constantly, as someone who has known him for almost seven years I think that we are rather good friends. But, he keeps his very personal life away from everyone. Even from himself. Hopefully, you can bring that part of him to life again. So he’s not afraid of losing everything all the time. I hope that you two can work together to be a great team, I want that for the two of you,” Jin confessed.

You had tears in your eyes because you were so moved with his speech.

“Oh Jin! I’ll do my very best! I absolutely will!” You said, moving to take both of his hands in yours. 

He flushed a deep scarlet as you smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Y/N, I mean it,” he said. 

“Oh goodness, is that the time? I had better go get the men to cleaning the ship. You can wander about as you’d like. I’m sure Yoongi still needs a bit of time,” Jin announced before heading off into the ship.

You sighed and gazed around, a small light in the water catching your eye. 

What was it?

A piece of gold?

A jewel?

You leaned further over the edge, trying to get a better glance at the object when-

“Grab her lads!”

Suddenly there was cloth around your mouth and you were being hauled overboard.

Tight ropes constricted your shoulder painfully, making your eyes water. These men weren’t gentle in the way they handled you. They just grabbed for whatever part of you they could get their hands on. 

What was worse, they barely rocked the boat with their precision and deft hands. You looked up to the cabin and your heart sunk as you realized the curtains were drawn, and Yoongi wasn’t going to be able to save you this time. 

But who would be capturing you? There was only one other pirate here and that was Allistar. Yoongi would immediately know where to go and how to find you, so what was the point in taking you hostage?

Going limp you simply let them carry you without a fight. You wanted to save your energy for when it really counted.

The men all worked in tandem to get you aboard the Jeweled Crest and handed you to another set of men that took you below the deck. Sqiruming from discomfort you jostled in your restraints and yelped when they rubbed against your wounded shoulder. The men silenced you once more before hauling you into a cage in the brig. 

A chorus of laughter came from them as they all gathered around the iron bars. 

Finally, the great schemer himself came forward, ripping the cloth from your mouth. You winced as you glared up at Allistar with detestation. 

“There she is, the pretty bride. So sorry if the transport wasn’t to your liking. We had to make due with what we had you see,” he explained, twirling the cloth in between his fingers gingerly.

“Why did you bring me here?” You asked, wanting to get to the point already.

“Well, you see my dear, Yoongi having a bride is horribly unpleasant for the lot of us. Swallowtail, Apollo. We all agreed it’d be best if you were, as they say, indisposed,” Allistar smirked.

“Yoongi will know you’ve taken me,” you said, sneering right back in his juvenile face.

“Ah yes, but he will know a smidge too late I’m afraid,” Allistar said.

“What?”

“We plan to kill you, tonight. Tie you down with weights and let you sink to the bottom of the cove. And tomorrow morning, poor Yoongi will find your body drifting in the sea. He’ll be utterly heartbroken. Far too heartbroken to think about going after the Heart of the Sea, and the treasure will be mine,” Allistar smiled.

“You realize that Yoongi could kill you for this. It goes against the code,” you said, faintly remembering Jin and Yoongi’s ramblings about your new rank. 

“Ah yes he could, but you drowned remember?”

“Yoongi will know it wasn’t an accident,” you said, marking your words.

“But what evidence will he have against me? My men haven’t left a bruise on you. And your body will be floating near the Grail,” he smiled.

“If you truly think this plan will come to fruition then you are more dense than you look,” you scoffed.

Allistar came forward, hand gripping your throat painfully. “Listen here lass, I will have you know I am the youngest Pirate Lord for a reason. I am as ruthless as the sea and I take everything of value in my path. You are playing a dangerous game with me, one you won’t win,” he warned.

“If I’m to die, the least I can do is remind you of your place,” you smirked.

The crew went deadly silent. 

A sharp sting was felt as your head jerked to the side. 

He’d hit you.

You smiled and turned your head back to his. His face was flushed with anger and frustration, something not unusual for a child his age. He was merely upset because he wasn’t getting the fear he wanted. You wouldn’t give it to him, there wasn’t any point.

You’d easily been gone for an hour at this point. Yoongi or Jin should’ve noticed you missing by now... You hoped.

—

Yoongi was laying in bed, wondering why on Earth he had to stay here another day. Let alone another week. Especially with Allistar. The cocky little brute was no doubt going to cause some kind of trouble while he was here with Yoongi and his crew.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Yoongi said, sitting up on the mattress.

“Sir, it’s me,” Greaves said, entering the cabin.

“Yes Greaves, how can I help you,” Yoongi said, standing to his full height. 

“Have you seen Miss Y/N? No one has seen her since after the meeting and we all went about cleaning the ship. We thought she might be up here with you,” he said, looking around the cabin with a wary eye.

“I haven’t seen her since after the meeting either, perhaps she went for a walk and hasn’t returned yet?” Yoongi asked.

“The men did a sweep of the perimeter and didn’t find her anywhere. Jin checked inside the fortress and she wasn’t in there either. I’m getting worried Captain,” Greaves said, worrying over you like you were his own child. 

“I’m sure she’ll turn up Greaves, no need to worry,” Yoongi said, heading to sit back down before something struck within him.

If you hadn’t been seen since the meeting, that meant that Apollo or Swallowtail could have taken you out to sea. But they were leaving when Yoongi went into his cabin, and you were with Jin on the deck at that point. 

Where could you have gone off to?

Then it hit him.

“Allistar, the smarmy bastard no doubt took her,” Yoongi said, placing his hand on his sword.

“It’s almost dark Captain. The last time she was seen was almost three hours ago,” Greaves worried, biting his dark nails in fear.

“It’s alright, can you go get Jin for me? I need to speak with him privately,” Yoongi explained.

“I’ll be right back Captain!”

With that, Greaves left the room. Yoongi mulled over a few possibilities of why Allistar would want you. No doubt it put Yoongi in a bad position to have his bride taken from him right under his nose. But, Yoongi hadn’t thought Allistar had the gall to take something from him. Not with Yoongi being older and having been one of the most notorious pirates on the seas. 

Allistar was young and naive, and he was going to learn his place. 

If he’d touched a hair on your head there’d be hell to pay. 

Thinking through his plan, Jin came through the door shortly after.

“You needed to see me Captain?” Jin asked.

“Yes, when was the last time you saw Y/N?” He asked, looking out of his cabin’s windows. 

“We talked a little after the meeting, but then the crew went to clean the ship. I thought she either came up here to talk to you or went for a walk,” Jin explained.

“Allistar’s taken her,” he said, growling at the thought.

“What?!” Jin exclaimed. 

“He took her from me, right under my nose. What kind of husband lets that happen!?” Yoongi yelled.

“No one could’ve predicted that Allistar would act this quickly. The important thing is how we fix this,” Jin said. 

Yoongi nodded.

“No doubt the second he sees me he’ll either give her back or shoot her right in front of me,” Yoongi said, rubbing his forehead.

“Would he go against the code like that? No Pirate Lord can harm the bride of the other, I thought that was the code?” Jin stated.

“Power makes beasts of us all, Jin. And when it’s given too young it can meld your mind into something ugly. Allistar is living proof of that. We need to go over there and retrieve Y/N before things get out of hand,” Yoongi explained. 

“Very good Captain,” Jin agreed.

Just as the two were about to leave the cabin, Yoongi caught sight of something being thrown off Allistar’s ship into the depths below. 

“Oh fuck. Jin we’ve gotta move now! Get the men ready and follow me as soon as you can!” 

“Captain! Captain what’s going on?” Jin asked.

“Man overboard.”

[whereisstevethestove]

Boys Who Cry Pearl and Sea: Flying Dutchman AU

Fandoms: Sanders sides and technically the lore behind the Flying Dutchman.

Characters: Virgil, Roman, Remus

Relationships:  Roman/Virgil

Additional tags: Mer AU, Pirate AU, Human AU, Siren!Roman, Sailor!Virgil

Word count: 3263

Summary:  Virgil Tempesta was born at sea.  Perhaps that is why he has never felt like he belonged on land.

Notes: I wrote a sea shanty for this! (x)  I hope you enjoy!

AO3

Virgil Tempesta was born at sea.

His English mother was traveling from her home in London to join her merchant husband in Cuba, but by the time that she arrived, her son was nearly a month old, and strange, with storm grey eyes that seldom blinked.  He grew up mostly indoors, there not really being any other children his age that his family would let him socialize with.

Virgil himself was an odd child, quiet, and when he turned ten, his father sent him to another sea captain for an apprenticeship.

The Windborne was a young ship, not even five years old, and the captain was quick to shove the pale boy belowdecks, for a child has no place among a crew of men.  Virgil spent his first year feeling like an outcast, a stowaway on a ship he was technically part of.  

That was of course until they found out that Virgil could squeeze himself into small spaces, and climb faster than anyone else on ship.  He also seemed to need less sleep, so they started to put him on the night watch as months passed.

Virgil didn’t mind.  At least it gave him an excuse to hum the shanties that the others sang as he stared at the dark water that was reflected with stars.

He was fifteen when something interesting finally happened during one of his watches.

“There was a boy, Icarus~”   The haunting melody stretched over the water in the secluded cove that they were anchored in and Virgil leaned a bit more over the side of the ship as he strained to hear the song.

“You pronounced Icarus wrong.”  Virgil called out and the song stopped.

“How do you pronounce it then?”

Virgil pursed his lips before answering.  “It’s not I-Car-Us, it’s all one beat, kinda like: ǐːkaros.”

“Oh.”  The voice seemed confused.  “There was a boy, Icarus, who flew too close to the sun-”

“That’s better.”  Virgil smirked as the voice sputtered in annoyance.

“His wings were made of brass and wax-”

Virgil listened as the voice sang about the greek myth, before abruptly hopping topics to sing about a sailor’s myth, the Dutchman.  Virgil wasn’t one to believe in silly legends, but the voice was nice and it made him feel lightheaded in a good way, so he continued to listen as the second chorus faded out and the voice switched verses again.

“There is a simple sailor boy,

Not wanted by land nor sky-”

Virgil stood up from his spot and looked over the water.  “Woah, wait.”

“What?”  The voice was definitely irritated now.

“Simple?  That’s all you can think of to describe me?”  Virgil teased as some of his hair fell into his face.

“Uh... to be honest, I thought you’d be drowned by now.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, the shanty only has two verses, I’ve been making the rest up.”  The voice said sheepishly and Virgil heard a splash of something going into water.   He watched as the dark water below rippled and a moment later, a red and gold blur shot out and landed on the deck next to him.

Virgil fell back onto his ass in shock.  “Mermaid.”

The creature flashed him a grin.  “Close, I’m a siren and I am a male by your kind’s definition., so not a mer-maid either way.”

Virgil took in the red and gold tail, the dark skin as he slowly looked the siren in the eyes.

“You’re gorgeous.”  He breathed out reverently and the siren’s fins on the side of it’s head flared in surprise.

“You are very pale and small.”  He responded back, which broke Virgil from his reprise as he scrambled back up to his feet.

“Thanks, I get that a lot.”  

“Oh.  I thought for sure you’d be taller standing.  Hmm, okay.”  The siren balanced himself on the railing better, looking at Virgil with curious eyes.

Virgil blushed, ducked his head and then looked back up.  “So, how am I not dead?”

“Excellent question.  I have no fucking idea.”  The siren shrugged and Virgil nodded.

“Alright then.”

“Can I get your name pale one?”  The siren asked as he leaned forward and Virgil leaned back.  

“Me giving you my name doesn’t do any weird shit- like I sell my soul to you, right?”

“No, why would it do that?  Is that some weird human thing no one told me about?”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “It’s a fae thing, I thought that since sirens are real, maybe they were.  Anyway, I’m Virgil.”

The siren’s eyes widened.  “You have a siren name.”

“Okayyy?”

“I’m Roman.”

“That’s an odd name.”

“Says the one who literally didn't know that my kind existed, despite having a siren name.”  Roman shot back with a sharp grin.

Virgil smirked and gently shoved at the siren, who wobbled nervously.

“You should go.”

“Why?” “My watch is almost over.  I want to go to sleep.”  Virgil yawned and the siren shrugged.

“Alright.  I’ll get you one of these times.”  Roman said as he fell back, disappearing into the water.

…

Virgil didn’t see him for another year.  The Windborne traveled to many different locations and so it was rare for them to pass through the siren’s waters, and when they did, they didn’t stay the night.

So he wasn’t surprised when the song started across the water.

“I’ll sing you a song of ravens and stone--”   Roman’s voice definitely had some bite to it and Virgil could feel himself slipping as he struggled to keep his mind clear.

“With the temper of a storm!”

Virgil jumped into the water, fully intending on beating up Roman for being so fucking annoying.

What he wasn’t expecting was for arms to wrap around him and start dragging him down.

Virgil tried to elbow the person, mer(?)  behind him, but the singing just intensified and his head felt like it was full of cotton….

…

…

…

Roman couldn’t believe that Andy had managed to snag Virgil the second the teen had jumped in.

His half brother was a force to be reckoned with though, and Roman watched as the lithe siren dragged the sailor out of the water and tested for a pulse.

“Aw, he’s still alive.”

“I asked for him to still be alive An.”  Roman muttered as he looked at his human.

“I don’t know why you’re attracted to him.  He’s awfully pale.  And when there’s so many other options up there on that ship..”  Andy trailed off once he saw the look in Roman’s eyes.  “Oh, you see the pale on as a mate?  You’re a mess, sing once you get your life together Ro.”

With that, he left with a snap of a jet black tail slapping water.  

…

Virgil sat straight up and vomited,  coughing as seawater exited his lungs and he shivered on the rock that he was somehow on.

“Are you okay?”

Virgil threw up again and shook his head as someone gathered him up, pressing a hand against his chest.

“I’m sorry, I got worried because you stopped breathing.”

Virgil’s mind had cleared enough for him to look up through lidded eyes to see Roman looking at him with concern.

“What?”  Virgil croaked out, voice absolutely ruined by the seawater that he had ingested.

“Uh, you jumped overboard, my half sibling brought you here and then I pulled the life back into you.”

Virgil vaguely remembered jumping over, but after that…

He passed out again.

…

Roman was not expecting humans to be so fragile.   Virgil had indeed become unresponsive after throwing up, but now he was asleep again, with no warning at all.

At least the sun was coming up, so it would be a bit warmer.  

He just had to hope that Virgil’s ship wasn’t leaving, or else Roman wasn’t sure what he’d do.  This was supposed to be a fun interaction, not him watching an almost corpse.

Unfortunately for him, the sun rose, The Windborne left the cove, and Virgil slept.

Roman wasn’t sure how he was going to admit to his human that his only way back home was gone.

…

Turns out, Virgil was fucked.

He woke up and realized almost immediately that his ship had left and the first thing he did was try to sneak off the rock that Roman had stuck him on, so that he could swim to the shore and try to work out his life then.

He didn’t notice that Roman was on the rock also, until the siren grabbed his shoulder.

“Where are you going, the ship is gone.”

Virgil hissed and recoiled, falling into the water before surfacing to curse at Roman.  “What the fuck?”

“Sorry!  I assumed that humans could hear when someone is coming up on them!”

Virgil hissed again and scrambled back onto the rock.  “I wasn’t paying attention, and yes I know that the ship is gone, it’ll be another few months before they anchor back here.”

“A few months?”

“Yep.  We had planned a few routes over the next year that come this way…  I just have to wait out the storm, and I’m not doing it on this tiny ass rock.”  Virgil went to slip into the water when Roman stopped him again.

“Let me swim you over, it’ll be faster.”

“Thanks I guess.”

Virgil watched as Roman slipped into the water and then swam around the rock to wink at him.

“Ready my raven?”

“Oh, stars no.  No pet names.”  Virgil grumbled as he got in and wrapped his arms around Roman’s neck as directed.

“Ready?”

“You won’t drown me, right?”

“Of course not!”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Roman swam slowly, but still, it was faster than Virgil could’ve gone, so it was nice to hitch a ride in a sense as they made their way to the beach.

They finally made it to where Virgil’s feet could touch, and he quickly let go, wading through the water to collapse on wet sand.

“Are you okay?”  Roman called from his spot in the water and Virgil stuck his head up.

“Oh yeah.  I’ve been kidnapped by a siren, threw up my body weight in saltwater, haven’t eaten since almost two days ago, and now I’m here for a good long time, all alone!  Don’t forget that if I don’t get some actual water soon, I’ll be a rotting corpse on this beach!”

Roman was by his side faster than Virgil could comprehend, eyes flashing nervously.  “Water?”

“What about it?”

“You can’t drink seawater?”

Virgil groaned and buried his face in his hands.

This was going to be a long three months.

Assuming he could survive for that long.

…

The first week was the worst.  Roman had to watch as Virgil disappeared into the treeline, leaving for long hours, even though he had offered to provide for any of the sailor’s needs, after all, it was his fault that Virgil was stuck.

All the human had asked for was a knife though.

He built an odd structure on the shore, and Roman watched as he (unsuccessfully) fished, and got sick from being in the sun for too long the second day.

By day eight, Virgil was screaming at the sky to just hit him with some lightning.

Roman was impressed that his human had even made it that long.

By night nine, he finally had the courage to go back on shore.  Virgil was laying on the ground, staring at the stars, seemingly distracted, but his eyes did flit over to Roman as the siren adjusted his tail and also lay back.

“Are you okay?”

“No.  I miss people.”

“Ah.”

They lay there in silence, and it wasn’t until Roman looked over and he saw the streaks of silver running down the other’s face that he realized something was wrong.  He sat up and scooted closer to Virgil, gently wiping at the strange stuff.

“What is this?”

Virgil blankly looked at him, still not moving.  “Tears.”

Roman brought the ‘tears’ to his face.  “Weird.  They look… wrong.”

Virgil sniffed and sat up, wiping at his face with a torn sleeve.  “Why is that fish?”

Roman looked at the ‘tear’ again.  “It is a liquid.”

“Are you implying that tears aren’t made of saltwater?”  

Roman sniffed the tear and realized that Virgil was right.  It smelt like ocean. 

“You cry the sea when you are sad?”

“I guess.”  Virgil sniffed again and Roman sighed before putting a finger to the corner of his own eye, quietly shedding a pearl as he cried.

“I do too.  Perhaps we are not as different as we like to say.”

…

The dynamic changed after that.  Roman started to bring fish, which was a godsend in Virgil’s opinion, and in exchange, he’d tell the siren about something from his world, or he’d teach him a new shanty to sing.

And as much as he denied it, Virgil fell in love.

It wasn’t a major revelation in a sense.  It was about a month into his stay and he looked up and remembered that it was his birthday.

Hurray, seventeen years on this earth.  He hadn’t told the siren, who didn’t understand the concept of age, and even though Roman certainly acted like he was Virgil’s age, he had told him once about the first time his pod had moved, and it was because the first merchants were sailing into the area.

So yeah, his siren, wait, when did he start considering Roman as his siren?  Virgil shook his head, trying to clear it of the traitorous thoughts as Roman came in with the gentle waves, grinning.

“Hello my stormy night!”

“No nicknames!”

…

Roman was in love.

Deepy, irrevocably, in love.

He was screwed.

Sirens only choose one mate, and it is always the first one that you fall in love with.  No take back, so changing in the future.

The only problem was that he knew that Virgil didn’t love him back.

The different specie? Not a problem, many sirens fell in love with humans, and they could change their mate to be like them with a simple draw of blood.  The fact that Roman was immortal and Virgil wasn’t.  Fixed when turned into a siren.

Literally everything had a solution.

Except when your love didn’t feel the same way.

They were both on a rock one night, Roman and helped Virgil swim out, although the young sailor was surprisingly good, despite most at the time who couldn’t swim, and Roman had been caught up in the way that the moonlight framed Virgil’s face to notice that the human was addressing him.

“RO.”

“Oh sorry, what?”

Virgil laughed before suddenly looking serious.  “The ship will be arriving any day now.”

Roman deflated and looked away.  “I know.”

“I have to leave.”

“I understand.”

“Part of me doesn’t want to, you know?  Stay here for the rest of my short and pathetic life… but I don’t want to watch you watch me die..”  Virgil trailed off and Roman saw that he was crying again, oddly reminiscent of their first night like this.

“What if you didn’t have to die?”

Virgil looked at him sadly.  “I’m not like you Roman.”

Roman gulped.  “I know, but you can be.  There’s just one problem.”

“What?”

“You’d have to be my mate.”

Virgil’s eyes widened and a blush spread across his face as he ducked his head to hide behind his longer hair.  “Oh?”

Roman nodded.  “I know, it’s something that we take very seriously and I understand that you wouldn’t want to do it and--”

“No, I want to.  Maybe not now, but in a few years?  Yeah, it sounds amazing.  All of it.  Being with you… mates.”

Roman blinked at Virgil.  “Really?”

“Really.”

Roman surged forward and kissed Virgil, wrapping his arms around the human’s waist, sparks flashing across his vision as Virgil kissed him back, all passion and quiet love.

It was his first kiss and Roman could feel it clear as day that the human was meant to be his.

When they pulled away, with Virgil gasping for air and Roman trailing kisses along his mate to be’s jaw, nipping at the skin.

“Seas below, I love you.”  Roman whispered as he pulled away, looking into Virgil’s dark eyes.

“I love you too.”  Virgil kissed him again and this time they didn’t break away for quite some time.

…

Virgil stands at the edge of the ocean.

The Windborne came into the cove about a week after he and Roman had claimed each other, the siren later marking him with a bite that scarred silver against the still pale skin.

Hell, Virgil really wished he could get tan.

Roman had also given him a gold coin, one that he was supposed to give away when he was ready to return, and then they would be ready.

Roman had promised to come back for him.

When Virgil boards the ship later, they’re overjoyed to see him alive.  When they anchor for the night, he collapses in the barracks below decks, grateful to be sleeping in an actual hammock, rather than on sand or on stones.

When they sail out of the cove the next day, only he can hear the song that Roman sings in mourning of his mate.

Only he wants to jump back.

…

Years pass, three to be exact, before they sail by that cove again.  Virgil meets Remus, a younger sailor that he teaches everything, despite sometimes wishing that the younger would just shut up and give him a peace of mind.

Remus is bold though, and he believes in mer.  Virgil tells him about Roman, one day when they’re both in the crow’s nest and he doesn’t think that he sees anyone look so excited.

Of course, that is before he hears the song as they are sailing by, not stopping as night falls.

“I’ll sing you a song of ravens and stone--

With the temper of a storm!

With those who sail the waters deep,

Calling the entire sea their home!”

Virgil doesn’t realize that Remus is allured by the song until he snaps out of his funk and drags them both below decks, defying his heart.

He gets sick.

Remus nurses him back to health.

A month later, he insists on being alone for night watch, and luckily they are anchored just outside the cove.

Roman still has that wild smirk and he still kisses with a passion that makes Virgil dizzy as his mate cuts their palms and presses them together, mixing human and siren blood.

Transformation doesn’t hurt.

Virgil lets Roman pull them both overboard and the first time he breathes in saltwater properly, he cries, his tears still made of sea.

“You haven’t changed a bit my love.”

Virgil laughs, his voice carrying the unrestrained power of a new siren.  “Oh darling, but I have.”

His song is wild, just like a storm on the sea, free.  It melds with Roman’s perfectly as the two harmonize, voices weaving sea shanties and siren lullabies as easily as a fisherman mends a net.

Virgil wonders if Remus can still hear a siren’s song.  He may regret leaving the young boy behind, but he can take care of himself, after all, Virgil did as well.

…

Virgil Tempesta was born at sea.

Maybe that’s why he never felt comfortable in his own skin, why he was quiet for a child, taking in everything he saw.  Maybe it was the siren name that his mother gave him, for she believed in the beautiful creatures that dripped with song.  

Perhaps it was like in Roman’s shanty:

Not wanted by land nor sky...

[atiny-piratequeen]

Against the Tide: First Voyage (Ch.1)

Pairing: Eventual Poly Ot8

Genre: Heavy Angst, Eventual Smut and Fluff mixed in

Rating: 18+

Tags: DemonPirate!Au, Supernatural, Eventual Poly Relarionship, Violence, Blood, Elemental Powers, Past and Modern Day AU, Mythical Creatures, Character Death

A/N: There could be tags added later, especially if there’s something I write that potentially triggers my readers. The last thing I want is for that to happen, so please don’t hesitate to give me feedback if there’s something I write here you’d like me to tag

Summary: Hongjoong is the leader of a notorious pirate crew. A run in with a demon leaves him with immortality and the ability to grant immortal life to those who form pacts with him. One day, a member of his crew angers a sea witch, and she decides to exact revenge on them by casting Hongjoong into a completely different part of the world and stealing his memories. The seven key members of his crew spend centuries looking for him, to no avail, and meet up in modern day Seoul to try and strategize how they can find their leader. Discouraged, with some close to giving up, they happen upon a man with a familiar smile and voice speaking on the street one day about a Long Journey. Now the seven of them must get Hongjoong to rember who he is before he slips through their fingers once again.

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← Last Voyage   Next Voyage →

=Age 10=

“What in the blazes is that?”

He flinched, flailing his legs as he tried to get down from the man holding onto him by the back of his shirt. That earned him a sharp jab to his ribs, making him cough and sputter as he lowered his head, fear pulsing through his body. 

“He was hidden between some barrels in the hold, Captain. It looks like he was one of the port hands in the last town and he stowed away when no one was looking.” 

The figure across from him clicked their tongue, and he cowered as the sound of leather boots approached him, the wood of the deck creaking loud with every step. 

“Stowed away on my ship? Do you have a death wish, lad?” a voice growled at him and a hand reached out, lifting his face abruptly so he could look the Captain in their eyes. 

“A…woman…?”

The Captain’s eyes narrowed dangerously, one hand going to the blunderbuss pistol strapped to her thigh before she pressed it to the center of his head, lip curling up in dissatisfaction. 

“Aye, and you’re about to be at the bottom of Davy Jones’ locker, rat.” She hissed. He trembled, unable to move his head away from the firearm pressed against it. Panicked, his eyes looked around, finding other members of the crew were also women, some with shorter, choppier haircuts. Some of them sent him sympathetic looks, but none of them made any moves to stop their Captain. 

“I hope you’ve made peace with your family and your maker, lad. I don’t take kindly to people sneaking aboard my ship.”

“I d-don’t have a family…s-sir.” He quickly admitted, having a momentary battle on what to call the angered Captain. The finger that she had on the safety of the blunderbuss paused, and she put a hand on her hip, arching a brow at him. 

“I’m an orphan. I worked at port on the docks for as long as I can remember…I just wanted to see the world and do something more than be a poor orphan on the street, C-captain. P-please…please take me with you, I promise I’ll be useful!” He pleaded, brown eyes holding a flicker of hope and determination. The Captain’s brows went up in surprise, a small laugh leaving her throat. 

“Do you know what you’re saying? Me? Bring a child along? You wouldn’t last-”

“I’ll prove it to you! If I can make myself useful and survive, you make me a member of your crew!” 

The captain rolled her eyes and lowered the blunderbuss, putting it back in its holster and nodding for the man behind him to drop the child. He fell to the deck harder than expected, groaning in pain before looking up, looking at the Captain’s outstretched hand. 

“My name is Captain Jihyo. When we’re in port, you only call me Captain Hyo. If it gets out there are women aboard my ship, or that I’m a woman, our entire crew will be executed. Do you understand?” She snapped. The child grabbed her hand and nodded, pulling himself up with her help before he looked up, determination shining in his eyes. 

“My name is Kim Hongjoong. And I swear on my mother’s resting spirit, I’ll be a fine member of this crew.”

=Age 15=

“Must you always get yourself in trouble?” Jihyo grunted, dragging Hongjoong back into the tavern by his ear. He hissed, frowning as he looked up at his Captain. The woman had taken a liking to him in their years together and has quickly become a mother-like figure to him. 

Which…would explain the stern look and smack upside his head he received when Jihyo had pulled him into the room he was to stay in. 

“I told you not to go outside. I know this town well, I knew you’d pull this again-”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, Captain! He was harassing that lass on the street, she clearly didn’t want any of his attention, so I…’helped out’.” He coughed at the end of his sentence, avoiding Jihyo’s sharp gaze. She stared at him for a long time before she sent him a smile, pressing their heads together and lowering her voice as she spoke. 

“I appreciate your respect for others, especially women, lad. But you still have to tread carefully. The last thing we need is a brawl breaking out because you’re on your justice kick.” She gently scolded, ruffling his hair before moving away from him. 

“You are a pirate. I would imagine you’d earn yourself a rather..unique name if you continued being so nice.” She waved her finger at him, heading towards the door. Hongjoong rolled his eyes half heartedly, but smiled nonetheless.

“If they remember me for being more than ‘just another pirate’, I’ll take it as a compliment.” He grinned before diving onto his bed, smiling contently. 

=Age 19=

“There are some odd jobs we can do while in port.” Jihyo informed them, standing at the ship’s bow with her arms crossed. She had already cut her hair before they neared the port, her eyes set on the approaching docs as they approached. Hongjoong was at her side, along with her First Mate, a quirky gentleman named Daniel.

“I’m sure they’d be happy to see you, Captain. This is your port town, afterall.” He teased. Jihyo hummed, tilting her chin up as they docked. The town was welcoming of pirates, but she still made sure to change their flag to the country’s colors, just as a precaution in the event of any naval officers also being in town. 

“We’ll be staying here for a few weeks, stock up and make sure not to do anything stupid.” She ordered as they lowered the anchor, sending Hongjoong a sharp look as he tried to tip toe out of her sight. 

“That means you, Mr. Kim Hongjoong.” 

“I have no idea what you mean, Captain Park Hyo.” 

Jihyo rolled her eyes and smiled, nodding for him and the rest of the crew to disperse and enjoy traveling in the port town. She and Daniel stayed behind. They watched the people mingling in the port with small, calm looks on their faces. 

The silence was broken by Jihyo’s coughing, her brows pulling up as she hacked violently. Daniel frowned, pulling her out of the view of the curious port hands before sitting her on the ship’s deck. Worry creased his brow as she continued coughing for a few minutes before letting out a shaky sound, sighing. 

“Captain-”

“Don’t say it.”

“Jihyo. You can’t keep pretending this isn’t getting worse.” He told her sternly, holding her shoulders. She looked up at him, her lips trembling before she shook her head, brushing her hands off on her trousers before she stood. 

“I know. That’s why we’re here. I heard a tip from the last town that we’d be able to find something here to prolong this…just bare with me.” She told him before she squared her shoulders, pulling her hat down to slightly obscure her eyes as she headed down towards the docks. Daniel sighed and nodded, following faithfully behind her. 

=3 Nights Later=

Jihyo smiled as their Quartermaster, Psy, poured her another glass of rum. They all drank merrily together, eating the meat and rice served at the tavern. 

Well, most of them.

Hongjoong sat at the end of the table, nursing a glass of water as he looked over some of the maps their Sailing Masters had gotten a hold of while in town. He surveyed the pages, muttering to himself about potential treasure. Jihyo glanced at him before smiling, taking another hearty swig. 

The sound of their merriment was interrupted by the door to the tavern being opened abruptly, a group of men dragging in bloodied figures. The tavern owner jolted from her spot behind the bar, eyes going wide as the men dropped their wounded on the taven floor. 

“What in the hell are you doing?! You’re going to ruin my floors!” She barked in disapproval, slamming down a mug on the bar, ignoring the way the brew inside sloshed out and spilled onto the counter. 

“Bite your tongue, woman! Can’t you see they’re bleeding out?!” One barked. The woman behind the counter, Momo, raising her brows in surprise at the rude tone. She grabbed a knife from her garterbelt beneath her skirt, stabbing the bar as she looked at them with an unamused expression.

“I don’t like your tone.”

“W-we’re sorry, Miss! Please, let us stay just a little longer! We’ll pay for any damages and all the rounds will be on us tonight!” One of the men quickly tried to remedy the escalating situation. The pirates and other patrons in the tavern cheered, going back to their own devices, while the other wounded men sent him a glare. 

“What? We have to decide what to do and we can’t leave them on the street!” He snapped. A blonde in their group shook his head. 

“I told you dense bastards, we shouldn’t have gone near that cove. Did you see what that wench did to John and Terry?!” He barked. The other three men looked down, clearly terrified as the two they’d brought in coughed weakly on the floor, the focus fading from their eyes. 

Hongjoong bit his lip, moving to pull his seat out when a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned back to the table to find Jihyo had moved from her spot, now taking her place beside him. She sent him a firm glare, clearly having sobered up from the shock of the bloodied men. 

“Don’t you dare.” she growled, her voice lowered to mimic a man’s flawlessly.  Hongjoong shrunk down in his seat, mumbling. 

“I wasn’t-”

“Ay, was I born yesterday, lad? I know that look in your eyes. You’re troublesome need to help people all the time. Don’t you dare go to that cove. I don’t want to leave this port town knowing my son-” she paused. Hongjoong’s lips parted in shock and Jihyo cleared her throat, raising her voice to Momo.

“Momo! Another round of rum! Gimme the strongest you got!” She huffed, pivoting on her heel, leaving Hongjoong stunned in his chair. Jihyo sat down heavily in her original seat, avoiding eye contact with the teen as Daniel chuckled from beside her. 

Hongjoong felt his heart racing, his mind whirring as he ran the word through his head over and over again. 

Son…

A fond smile came to his face, and he momentarily forgot about the men behind him. Until a wary laugh came from the left. 

“At least we left that wench bleeding out. Tomorrow we’ll blast the damn cove shut. Send her straight to hell where her kind belongs.” He spat. The other men didn’t laugh along with him, but they seemed to be relieved that whatever it was that injured their own was in pain and soon to be trapped in the cove. 

Hongjoong’s gaze drifted back to the maps in front of him.

He can’t focus. 

=Midnight=

Hongjoong carefully removed his boots as he approached the cove, knowing he’d have to wade through knee-deep sea water in order to get inside. He rolled his trouser pants up, tucking his shirt into the waistband of them before he began his careful approach. There was a lantern in his hand, and he had to keep it high above his head to keep it from going out. 

When he reached the mouth of the cove, he bit his lip, looking from left to right. He didn’t see anything initially, so he steeled himself and pushed deeper, his feet lightly slapping against the wet stones of the cove. 

Then he heard it. The low, pained hiss. 

“G e t o u t.” 

“H-Hold, I’m not here to harm you, I only want to help-”

“Get. Out.”

Hongjoong bit back the urge to turn tail and run, turning to the sound of the voice, lifting the lantern. He saw a puddle of blood, his stomach churning as the light rose until he saw a raised stone, seeing a woman staring at him, her face and hands smeared in blood. Her hair fell in front of her face, her lip curled up into a snarl as she looked at him through the ink-colored locks. 

“You need help, you’re injured-”

“G E T O U T!” she screamed, and he was knocked off his feet in a harsh gust of wind. His lantern smashed to the ground, plunging the cove in darkness, with only the moonlight in the mouth to light anything. 

Hongjoong groaned, hissing when he felt the glass from the lantern cut into his palm as he pushed himself up. 

“L-lass, I don’t know what they’ve done to you or why, but I can’t leave you here hurt like this. Please, they won’t leave you alone. Those sailors intend on blowing this cove shut and leaving you here. You’ll die!” He pleaded into the darkness. There was a laugh, low and humorless.

Suddenly, lights appeared in the cove, in the form of balls of fire, each hovering in mid air around the woman. She stayed where she was, reviewing the brunette pirate with mild interest, though there was still pain in her features. 

“You…you must be a fool. Do you not know why they came? Do you know nothing of me?”

Hongjoong ignored the pain of his palm and shook his head, standing to his feet once more as he carefully approached her. He raised both of his hands when the woman’s eyes narrowed at him. 

“I am not from this port town. I am a pirate, we’ve only settled in port days ago. My name is Kim Hongjoong. Who are you, lass?” 

“I am Hyuna of Tortuga Bay. I am a demon.Those insolent fools came to take the ‘treasure’ of this cove, as fools tend to do. However-” She hissed, groaning as he breathing turned ragged again. She allowed Hongjoong to approach her closer, her hands twitching as he stopped in front of her. 

He looked at her face, hesitantly moving her sweat and blood-slick bangs out of her face. She was a beautiful woman with a porcelain complexion under the blood caked to her face. At this point, Hongjoong wasn’t sure if it was hers, or the blood of the sailor’s. 

“They said they left you wounded-” He stopped himself when he noticed the culprit of her agony. 

The glinting gold crucifix stabbed straight through her chest. His eyes grew, and he noticed the burns around the entrance of the wound and around her fingers, as if she had tried desperately tried to pull it out herself. 

“I…I can take it out.” He said suddenly, eyes transfixed on the crucifix. She stared at him carefully, a small glimmer of hope in her light eyes. The flames that illuminated the cove grew closer, and she looked up at him in interest. 

“You…said you were a pirate, correct? Why are you helping me? You know nothing of who I am and nothing of the rumored treasure, and yet you come to my aid? You could leave now. I can’t die, I’d be just like this for all eternity and you can take my treasure. Why are you trying to help me?” She inquired. Hongjoong shrugged one shoulder, running his uninjured hand through his bangs. 

“I don’t like seeing people being ganged up on. I won’t stand for men doing this to a woman, no matter what the reason.” He told her flatly, meeting her cautious gaze. 

“You can say my…my mother raised me well. I may be a pirate, but I was still raised with respect. Besides, if the puddle of blood I’m standing in is anything to go by, I probably wouldn’t make it out of the cove before you ended me if you wanted to, injured or not. Now…do you want me to take this out?” he questioned once more. 

Hyuna stared at him for a long moment before she closed her eyes, nodding. 

“This may hurt. I’m sorry.” He whispered, wrapping his fingers around the golden base. Hyuna’s brows twitched in pain and he could hear the sound of burning, so he yanked with all of his strength, pulling the crucifix out in one go. 

There was an unholy scream and Hongjoong dropped the crucifix in an instant, clamping his hands over his ears. The floating flames went out and Hongjoong frowned, trying to feel around in the darkness. 

“Lass? Hyuna? A-are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He called into the inky blackness. There was the sound of a giggle, gentle and feminine before the whole cove was illuminated. He looked up in awe, watching as the light illuminated from Hyuna’s body, different from the small, whisp-like plumes of fire from before. 

“I…I am free again.” She exhaled, holding her hand in front of her face, smiling wide as the burns healed themselves. Hongjoong watched the hole in her chest close and let out a relieved smile. 

“Good. You may want to leave, though. Those sailors intend on coming back tomorrow to blast the entrance closed.” He reminded her, moving to dust his hands off on his pants, but stopping when he remembered the blood running from his palm. 

“You…are unlike any man I have met in this realm. Come, since you’ve freed me, it’s only fair I give you a gift in return, yes?” She hummed, looking down at his hand. 

“You don’t have to-”

“You didn’t have to come here, Kim Hongjoong, the pirate.” She countered. He snapped his mouth shut, nodding in defeat. She did have a point. 

“I will give you the treasure many have come to this cove for. Eternal life, youth, and power beyond your wildest dreams.” She wiped at the blood on her cheek, reaching for his hand to lace their fingers together. 

Hongjoong felt a pulse course through him, and his eyes widened as his heartbeat increased. 

“What-”

“Kim Hongjoong, I will give you power. You will be like me, a demon. Upon forming blood pacts, you will also make those under you immortals. If the pact is strong, you will share your powers. Accept my gift, for I know you will use it well.” She muttered, her eyes glowing bright blue. Hongjoong gasped, feeling like his body was on fire, energy coursing through his veins. 

“HONGJOONG! GET AWAY FROM MY SON!” a voice caught Hyuna’s attention as a pirate ran full speed at her. She hummed and lifted her hand, a gust of wind lifting the woman effortlessly. She shook her head, sending a fond smile to her. 

“Ah, the mother he mentioned? I never imagined his mother would be a pirate disguising herself as a man. It makes sense, why he’s so unique.” she hummed before looking down at Hongjoong, noticing the faraway look in his eyes, his brow twitching in confusion. 

“What are you doing to him?! Let him go! Hongjoong! Hongjoong!!” Jihyo screamed, thrashing fruitlessly against the wind. Hyuna smiled in fond understanding and shook her head. 

“He has received my gift. He is immortal. Now, he must control his powers. Things tend to get…wild on the first night of the full moon after one becomes a demon. Now sit still. I will help him harness his powers here and now so that your crew won’t be ripped to shreds on the next full moon.” She instructed, watching as Hongjoong’s eyes went from brown to an electric blue, the overabundance of power coursing through him making small spider-web red veins appear on his face. 

His gaze snapped to Hyuna and she rolled her neck. 

“You and your demonic self must become one. Come, I will train you. Though I suggest we hurry, lest your mother have another child over there.” She informed, nodding at Jihyo’s direction. Hongjoong let out a low sound before darting to her full speed, a large blast of water shooting past him. 

Hyuna side stepped and smiled, watching Hongjoong’s face change, three marks appearing on his forehead, along with a bushy white tail. Fireballs rained down on her, all of which she knocked away without batting a lash. 

“Water, even my kitsune powers have went to you? Fascinating. More, show me more, Hongjoong.” She urged, skipping backwards as the ground beneath her feet shook. 

=3 Hours Later=

Hongjoong finally fell to his knees, panting as his eyes returned to their normal, welcoming brown color. Hyuna flicked her hand, bringing Jihyo closer to them, ignoring the way she immediately pulled her blunderbuss on her. 

“Hongjoong….” She trailed off, frowning as he passed out shortly after. 

“You…”

“I care not for your personal feelings, but I will explain myself. You are from this town, so you know of me. The ‘treasure’ of this cove is me. My blessing. My immortality. Men find out about demons that can grant them eternal youth and they hunt them down. I have killed most who have ventured here, and had you not have raised him the way you did, your son would have joined. But he is different. I can give him my ‘treasure’ with confidence that he wont abuse it and create a crew of immortal vagabonds. The powers are a little extra gift.” She winked and moved to walk past them. Jihyo watched her every move before she started coughing once more, brows pinched up as she observed the blood in her palm. 

“N-No…”

Hyuna stopped at her side, looking down at her in interest before she straightened her back, turning towards the mouth of the cove. 

“I suggest you form a pact with him. You don’t have much left, otherwise, pirate.” She informed her before she disappeared in a dazzling light. 

Jihyo wiped her mouth and grabbed Hongjoong’s arm, dragging him back out of the cove, sighing.

—-

“Captain, don’t you want Hongjoong to be here for this?” Psy inquired, pushing his glasses up as Jihyo gathered all of the crew-sans Hongjoong-on the deck of her ship. 

“No. I have something important to ask of all of you.” She told them, her voice solemn. They all perked, nodding as they watched her carefully. 

“My health…is dwindling. I doubt at this stage there is anything I can do. I know Psy and Daniel have no desire to be Captain when I’m gone, and that most of you have found Hongjoong to be reliable enough for the job. I have one order I want you all to take to the graves with you.” She told them, taking her hat off to rub her head before she set it back on. 

“Hongjoong was…he’s received a ‘gift’ and he’s not human anymore. The lad somehow impressed a demoness and she turned him into one of her own. He apparently can give this immortality to others,”

“Wait, so why won’t you just-”

“Because I refuse to take advantage of him. I want my son to give his powers to those he trusts wholeheartedly on his own, not have ties to us out of an obligation for us taking him in.” 

They all began protesting at once, but Jihyo slammed her heel against the deck, glaring at them all. 

“My orders, are for you to not accept any offers of immortality from Hongjoong. Even when he becomes captain. I am here now, and I’m giving the order here and now. Swear to me you won’t betray me. This is a dying woman’s wish.” she told them, leaving no room for argument. 

They all exchanged looks before small, reluctant smiles crossed their faces. One by one they all swore, patting their captain on the shoulder as they filtered back down to their quarters. Daniel and Psy stayed by her side, watching the waves of the ocean in silence as tears ran down her cheeks.—-

=x=

“Please!”

“No.”

“WHY?!” 

Jihyo sighed and looked up at Hongjoong from her bed, her face pale. Daniel was at her side, holding her hand as she coughed weakly. Her condition had gotten worse at an alarming rate and it became impossible for her to hide it. 

“P-Please…Please, I can save you. Please, why won’t you-”

“I said no, Hongjoong. Let me go. Let me rest. You’ll be a fine captain.”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he shook his head, his chest heaving. 

“Daniel! You can’t be okay with this! You love her! Tell her to let me help! Tell her to-”

“It’s already been decided.” Daniel cut him off, raising his head to look at him with bloodshot eyes. Hongjoong bit his lip, looking down with tears rolling down his cheeks. He shuffled to her other side, his shaking hand taking hers as he looked at her face. 

“Captain…M…Mom…please…”

“Just stay with me, Hongjoong. Stay with me and keep a smile on your face. You’re a different breed of pirate. I want you to make your own crew and change what it means to be a pirate for the world, okay? Until the last wind blows through these sails, please never stop being the center of the world.” She told him, reaching under her blankets to pass him a compass. 

“Let it always point you forward, my son.” She mused, cupping his cheek, crying with him as they continued sailing, the boat gently rocking the trio. 

= ~ =

The crew shed tears as Daniel set the last stone on top of the pile. Underneath, buried deep in the sand, laid the peaceful body of their captain. 

She had asked to be stripped of all materialistic items, jewels, gold, silver, and buried in the sand of an island she visited when she became a pirate. 

Remote, quiet, with the beautiful scent of island flora beckoning you in deeper. 

One by one, each crew member dropped a bloom on top of the stones, before heading back to the ship. Hongjoong lingered, the bloom in his trembling hand before he sighed and finally relented, setting it down on top of the pile. 

“Goodnight, Captain Jihyo…Sweet dreams, mother.” He whispered, turning and heading back with heavy footsteps. 

He stood on the bow, the wind carrying saltwater and the scent of island flora past his nose like a gentle caress. There was a flower tucked behind his ear as he stared down at the shore, eyes locked on the pile of beautiful rocks in the sand, topped with flowers and shells. The ship pulled away, and he bit back the need to sob as he watched the mound grow farther and farther away. An old voice called to him from behind, and he turned, noticing Psy standing behind him. 

“Captain? We have to keep moving.” his tone was gentle, a hand running through his balding head as he bowed his head in respect. Hongjoong lifted his chin, wiping his eyes with the back of his palms before he turned. 

Right. He was the Captain now.

“I’ll be right over. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

[author-morgan]

Phobia ☤ Alexios

twenty-two - hekatoncheir trap

masterlist

“Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.”

Fate decrees two kindred souls from two different empires will find one another, and the spear shall be made whole again

THE STORM PUSHES the Adrestia off-course and it is not until midday that they find their heading once more and soon after they dock. Irene looks around the dark soil and smoke billowing from the peak of one low-lying mountain. "Where are we?" She asks, having never ventured to this part of Hellas before.  

"This is Melos," Barnabas remarks in his usual cheerful tone —nothing could dampen the old sailor’s spirits. "One of the Playgrounds of Ares." That explains the volcanoes then Irene thinks, catching a whiff of sulfur. Ikaros lands on the railing between her and Alexios.  

"We restock and rest here," Alexios announces. The storm takes its toll on his crew. Many are already asleep above and below deck from manning the oars to keep from crashing into rocks during the storm. They need to gather supplies for minor repairs, restock barrels with potable water, and rest before continuing to Lakonia. 

Irene, Iola, and Eppie take to the small agora —seeking out hearty foods capable of lasting weeks at sea. Alexios seeks a blacksmith or merchant to sell or trade the armor he’d found in a chest on the pirate’s war galley before the Aegean claimed it. The blacksmith of Melos is a grizzly fellow that stands a whole head taller than Alexios —his arms and neck thick and strong as trunks on young trees. “What can I do for you today, misthios?” He inquires. 

The Eagle Bearer places the set of armor on the anvil and walks away with three heavy pouches of drachmae. He passes through the square and pauses to listen to a richly-clothed man speaking to a small gathering. “Warriors! Heroes! Mercenaries of all types!” He shouts. “Sign up here for the Battle of One Hundred Hands. Would you like to be rich? Are you the next Champion?” The man asks before catching a glimpse of Alexios in the crowd. “You, misthios. You look like a true contender.” 

He returns to the Adrestia with a fresh glint in his eyes that reeks of mischief. Either he’s done something or is about to do something reckless. Irene passes a basket of fruit to Tyche and crosses her arms as she turns to face Alexios. "What have you done now?" She asks, immediately seeing through his innocent feint. 

"There’s a contest,” he explains, gripping onto her hands, “if I win, we will be that much closer to eliminating another cultist.”

As soon as he says it, everything clicks in place for the princess. Melos. Contest. The Battle of One Hundred Hands. "Alexios! You fool!" Irene scolds. She knows this infamous contest, where thousands have come willingly to die in pursuit of glory and riches.

"I thought you had more faith in me,” Alexios smiles, and by the gods that charming smile could almost get him out of anything. She does not doubt his skills in battle, only his ability to face a hundred warriors with nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

“And what am I supposed to tell your mother if you don’t make it?” Irene queries, crossing her arms. She doesn’t want to be the one to tell Myrrine her son died like so many others in a futile competition. He may fight like Achilles —Ares even— but even the mightiest of men can be slain by one arrow. 

The princess follows Alexios back into the agora where she finds herself staring up at an oddly familiar face. "Drakios,” Irene greets, recognizing the merchant —though now his hair and beard are greyer since the last time he had visited Athens. Her frown starts to fade. 

He steps down from the platform. Arms open and smiling. "That is not Irene of Athens is it?" Irene offers a smile and accepts the two quick kisses he places upon her cheeks in greeting. Alexios steps next to the princess, gripping onto her hand —invidious. "How is your brother?" Drakios questions. 

Zephyr enjoyed campaigning for champions in Attika —had made acquaintances with many of those who came to Melos only to die in the pursuit of riches and glory. "Dead," she replies, receiving no sympathy from the merchant. 

Flocks of fighters gather near city walls —contestants eager to spill blood. The start of the competition draws near. Drakios shifts his attention from the contestants back to Irene and the Eagle Bearer. "Join me on the wall,” he says, smile genuine though something heinous lurks in his dark stare, “you can have the best view to see this misthios carve his way to victory." The princess nods, accepting the offer with a tight smile. 

Alexios takes his place among the other competitors at the gates leading to the sulfur-dotted landscape. Irene lays her hand on his cheek, holding his warm tawny-gold gaze. “Stay safe,” she breathes. He leans toward her and plants his lips upon hers for a short, sweet kiss —something to give him comfort in his last moments if the gods decide he is not meant to see another sunset. 

Scaling the stone-steps to join Drakios in his grand booth feels like she is willingly walking into a trap. The merchant steps up to address the contenders. “We have gathered here again for the Battle of One Hundred Hands.” A pause as the participants glance around at one another. “Indeed, impressive warriors from all over the Greek world have come to test their might and skill against each other. Whether it is the sharpest sword in the Athenian army or the broadest shield Sparta can muster, all now stand alone against the many.” Spartans, Athenians, bandits, and those with no allegiance fighting to the death. 

“At our climax, the final two contenders will face off on a special battlefield, but only one will be called Champion.” Roars erupt from below. “Let the Battle of One Hundred Hands begin!” Drakios shouts. His cry is echoed by a low horn blast, making the start of the battle. 

Hours drag by —or at least to Irene it feels like hours— before the second horn blast. A quarter of those men and women already dead. “You’re making quite a name for yourself, princess,” Drakios sneers. Her blood runs cold. “I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just a head,” he laughs. Irene grips onto the splintered lance of the broken spear, but a guard stays her hand. 

“This is all a rouse, isn’t it?” The princess queries, spitting at the merchant’s feet. A third horn blast rings out —half are dead. 

He looks down disgusted. “You’re more perceptive than he is,” Drakios remarks. “We’ve hoped to lure Deimos’ sibling out for years,” he explains, grinning. “And now that Alexios is finally here he brings me a Persian princess, too.”

The guard releases his hold on her when the fourth horn sounds and two competitors approach the wall from the low-lying smoke. Irene's relief is palpable when she sees one of the survivors is Alexios. The other is a woman with a swarthy complexion, a shield of Athena strapped to her back. She is a warrior and her expression is that of cold determination to become a champion. "Who is she?" The princess asks. 

"Roxana,” Drakios tells her, "a fearsome combatant. Had it not been for your dear misthios, she would have been the day's victor." There’s something akin to bitter disappointment lacing the words. Irene’s gaze hardens as she watches the merchant rise and spread his arms. "Come!” He calls. “We shall finish the battle in the shadow of the volcano in the east.”

IRENE LEAPS FORWARD, one hand clamping over a mouth, her knife plunging into a back, slicing between ribs, puncturing a lung. The guard in her grasp stiffens and hisses. She wrenches the spear free and stabs again, and again. The other Cultist guard is turning, sword already half out of its scabbard, his mouth open, drawing breath to yell. His effort is in vain. A sword crunches into his neck, cutting deep, blood spurting. Irene looks down at the two corpses. 

"Guards!" Drakios shouts. Alexios looks around the ruins of the temple on Typhon's Crown but finds they are still alone. No one has answered the man’s call. "Guards!" He shouts again, panic seeping into his voice. Irene appears behind the battle's organizer instead of his men, wiping their blood from her spear on a torn swath of fabric from one of the corpses. 

"They're dead," she announces coming to stand next to the Eagle Bearer, "now tell us what you know." Drakios refuses and settles for drawing the sword hidden beneath his robes, advancing with a flurry of slashes. Alexios deflects the blows to the side, creating an opening for Irene to strike. She does —the edge of her kopis bites into the merchant’s thigh and sends him to one knee. Alexios deals the killing blow, a tight slash across Drakios’ neck, despite his empty pleas for mercy. Good riddance the princess thinks, staring down at the corpse as blood seeps into the blackened earth. 

Alexios looks down at the fallen warrior, Roxana. She'd fought valiantly and honorably for such an unjust end. He staggers back, groans then falls to his knees. "All these people died just for the Cult to find me.” His voice cracks —though he had not killed the ones who came before, it feels as though their blood is on his hands regardless. 

Irene kneels in front of him, resting her forehead against his. Her hand slips down the front of his cuirass and comes away coated in blood. “You’re hurt,” she breathes. 

He doesn’t protest the statement. "I'll be fine until we get back to the ship,” he says, pushing himself back up onto his feet. 

Alexios doubles over before they can reach the Adrestia. This must have been the gods' will —to remind him he is not a true demigod. Irene slips her arm beneath his. "You'll be fine, huh?" She asks. His laugh is breathless as he drapes his arm over her shoulders. She can admonish him later, for now, they need to get back to the ship.

"Set a course to Sparta, Barnabas," Irene says as she helps the Eagle Bearer onto the Adrestia. The crew isn't sure what to think when they notice their commander limping and covered in his own blood —up until now he’s always been untouchable. Barnabas spurs the crew into motion from their gawking —lines are unmoored and cargo secured.    

They collapse inside the small pavilion at the stern of the trireme. Irene undoes the pin holding the scarf over his shoulders in place and busies herself with the hooks and ties of his cuirass. Alexios shrugs off the breastplate and leans back against the bench. She undoes the shoulder buttons of his chiton and the stained linen pools low around his waist. 

He spares a glance at the wound running from his hip to navel. It still weeps red and though it doesn't seem to be very deep —it's long. "See?" He groans. "Not that bad." The princess ignores his poor attempt at humor as she sorts through her provisions. Alexios watches in a daze as she grinds several dried flowers and herbs into a thin paste with rose oil in a shallow dish. 

Irene moves closer to him and touches his cheek —hiding the unstoppered skin of strong wine behind her back. He looks at her from beneath hooded eyes and smiles against her lips when she kisses him. She gives him the brief reprieve before dumping the white vintage over the bloody gash. Alexios throws his head back and curses. "Maláka!" He glares at the princess, breathing labored until the burning and stinging start to fade.  

"Sorry," Irene mutters, patting his side dry with a bundle of linen. "It needed to be cleansed." He doesn't say anything, only nods and leans back again, letting her continue her practiced ministrations. After she finishes applying the medicinal paste, Alexios reaches for his chiton but Irene stays his hand. "No," she says, shaking her head, "leave it uncovered." His brows furrow. "You nor I know for certain if what did that was laced with poison. I can catch any signs quicker without it being covered," the princess explains. Poison was a finicky thing —some took days or years to work, others could kill a man in a trice. 

Alexios raises his brow. "If you wanted me naked, all you had to do is ask,” he replies in the smuggest tone he can manage. 

Irene rolls her eyes and kisses his sweaty forehead. The gods both blessed and cursed her by bringing Alexios into her life. "Get some rest,” she whispers, shifting toward the entrance of the tent knowing Barnabas and Herodotus would be concerned. He grips onto her wrist before she can rise and draws the princess into his uninjured side, arms wrapping around her middle. Alexios isn’t ready to let her go —besides, the sweet scent of her hair and the steady, rhythmic beat of her heart help him sleep. 

Alexios jerks awake in the night —panting with sweat beading on his brow. He’d dreamt of his family and the night on Taygetos that’d changed everything. He shifts, finding Irene is still lying next to him —her hand slipping down his chest until he settles back down. Alexios lays his hand atop hers and marvels at how delicate it feels beneath his. 

He can’t help smiling at her sleeping form, admiring the curve of her lips, the way her eyelashes hit her cheeks —how serene she looks. His fingers card through her hair, cautious not to wake her, and he strokes over her collarbone to her shoulder and down her arm with his knuckles. She truly is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, he thinks, and he struggles to fathom that he’s the one allowed to lay beside her, delighting in her existence every night.

[@wallsarecrumbling; if you want to be tagged in any of my stories just send a message or an ask!]

[loremastering]

Never

Fandom: Lord of the Rings Online

Warnings: None

Chapters: 1/3

Summary:

Maedoron longs for someone he can never truly have...

~~~~~ It hadn’t been love at first sight. Maedoron never believed in such. 

His realization just...happened one day. 

They had met as kids the first time. Halordin (then called by his father name before he took the epesse Daerhovan) sulking at the edge of a fountain, while his amme watched over him with a keen eye nearby. He looked so lonely, staring at his reflection while tracing patterns on the water’s surface. There weren’t many elf children born in the latter days of their kind. Those who were considered young were already well into their fifth or seventh hundred century. Maedoron himself had just recently moved to The Golden Wood from Eryn Lasgalen to be tutored in scholarly arts by his aunt. But it was a painful parting as his twin brother, Maedhrohir, had to stay behind. It felt as though a part of himself had been torn from him. Perhaps the company of another his age could ease his own loneliness.  

With his uncle in tow, he had approached the silver haired elfling with a shy greeting. Halordin had looked up, seemingly amazed at seeing another his age, and a little smile tweaked his lips. Maedoron would always remember that first smile. Though it was overshadowed by the memory of the child’s amme suddenly looming over him with a questioning eye. She had looked ready to swat the other elfling away from her own. Or maybe that was just what her face always looked like...

She softened when his uncle, whom apparently had met the woman before, introduced Maedoron, and made introductions herself. Maedoron felt less intimidated, but there was always something in her eyes that gave him pause. It looked like fear...

It was tentative at first, moreso on Halordin’s side. But the two established a fast friendship. Often talking to each other by the Big Fountain near the Great Mallorn, pestering the flet vendors for treats, or daring one another to climb to Lady Galadriel’s flet. Maedoron tried to get his new friend to come outside the hedge walls, but his amme would get that fearful gleam in her eyes again, and forbid the ventures. It wasn’t until later that Maedoron learned of the cruel deaths of Halordin’s ada and elder brother outside the forest some years before from his uncle. 

“But the woods are safe, even outside the walls of the city.” Maedoron countered. 

“They are indeed. But fear and past trauma can cloud the mind. Gaelwen is desperate to make sure her son doesn’t meet the same fate before his time.” His uncle had explained. 

Maedoron could live with that. Halordin on the other hand...His friend would often stare wistfully over the hedge that marked the borders of Caras Galadhon and the rest of the Golden wood beyond. They even fought once over the subject, when Halordin grew terribly jealous that Maedoron was allowed outside. But the anger quickly faded and his apologies were given. Though Maedoron sensed that envy still quietly burned within him. Maedoron made it his mission to keep his friend entertained. Their restlessness led to often boisterous adventures. He had tried to sneak his friend out the gates, but the guards keen eyes always caught them. Gaelwen went so far as to even forbade the learning of plants and animals to her son, fearing it would incite him further to rebel, but the lack of learning had only incentivized Halordin. 

The children grew into adolescence, and both Halordin and Maedoron feared the former would never be allowed outside the city. But eventually his amme did relent. As long as they were supervised. (Which was quite irksome, as they felt they were being treated like children still.) Maedoron had never seen Halordin so happy, so full of life. It was like his true self had been lying dormant all this time. Maedoron was glad for it, and was pleased to show him all of his favourite spots. The Circles of Meditation, the Quiet Garden, or Imlad Lalaith. Halordin was delighted, of course, but his heart seemed to be drawn to the more untamed places. Maedoron would go with him to the banks of the Anduin, or near Cerin Amroth. He would witness Halordin trying to talk to the wildlife, saddened when they wouldn't answer back.  

Their growth continued rapidly in their adolescence, (as rapidly as elves could) and were approaching young adulthood. The want for supervision from his amme became less. Maedoron advanced in his studies of ancient ruins and relics. Halordin expressed interest in caring for the flora, and Orthir, the Scholar of the trees took him under his wing. Maedoron witnessed the interest his friend had in the land around them grow stronger. The wilder corners of the region were like a beacon to the young ellon, as if they were calling him. On some days Maedoron thought his friend looked more like he belonged in the wilderlands, than in the fair city he was born in. He found himself drawn to that...They saw each other less, but always made time for one another when they could. 

On one such day, They took a walk along the banks of the Anduin, Halordin droning on and on about the types of plants he was studying and their unique features. Maedoron was just glad to be beside him after hours of pouring over tomes alone, and that his friend’s love for the natural world was growing. He sensed he always had loved it, but it came alive when Halordin was finally allowed outside. As they walked, Halordin, possessing none of the grace that was said to be ingrained within elves, tripped over a protruding root and fell face first into a muddy bank. 

Maedoron bit his lip in a valiant effort to control his mirth. Halordin reminded him of some lost wild thing trying to process what happened. His efforts to contain his laughter failed as Halordin turned to look at him, face and hair covered in mud, his bright eyes a stark contrast against his new skin. Halordin swiped at Maedoron’s legs in retaliation, but he had anticipated the movement, and bounded nimbly out of the way. The tables turned as Maedoron’s footing found an equally muddy spot, giving a yelp as he too went down. Halordin laughed, more of a bark than a musical sound. “If amme could see me, I would be confined to our flet for eternity.” 

Maedoron chuckled halfheartedly. He could see Gaelwen doing just that…”What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. We’ll find a spot to wash up.” 

They discarded their clothes on a dryer, more grassier bank. Sticking to the shallow parts of the Great River where the current wasn’t as strong. Maedoron watched the dark, far shores of Mirkwood with longing. How was Maedhrohir doing? Did his brother miss him as much as Maedoron did? Perhaps it was time to pay a visit soon…

“You seem far away, Mellon.” Halordin’s voice did indeed sound distant. Eyes still trained on Mirkwood, Maedoron merely nodded. “I was thinking about paying an overdue visit to my brother. It has been so long, you know.” 

“You will see him again soon, I am sure. The look in your eyes had me convinced you were about to swim over with nothing on but the skin of your back.” Halordin answered, flicking droplets of river water at him. 

Maedoron flinched to escape the onslaught, laughing lightly at the mental image the words invoked. He turned his attention back to Halordin.  “That would give him pause for su-” His breath hitched at the sight of the other’s figure. Halordin’s normally dark silver hair had turned almost black from the dampness, draped like a heavy curtain over one shoulder, glossy and soft. Rivulets of water dripped from the lean muscles of his chest and abdomen, his skin seemed to glisten in the sunlight, smooth and flawless. It was as if Maedoron had been struck dumb. What was wrong with him? He had seen him topless before. Maedoron’s mind threatened to short circuit as his gaze drifted further from Halordin’s navel, the murky water thankfully covering...other parts. 

Maedororn forced a cough, climbing out before Halordin noticed his lingering gaze upon him. Feeling bashful of his exposed underparts, whereas he wasn't before, Maedoron quickly pulled on his breeches, expecting Halordin to follow out. Would he dare look….?

But his friend made no move, nor did he seemed intent on finishing his bath. Maedoron watched with rapt attention as Halordin waded to a cove where rocks and fallen logs had created a place where the water stood still, trying to touch the water striders that skimmed across the placid surface. But they always skittered away just in time. Some feeling Maedoron couldn’t name blossomed in his breast. Halordin’s curiosity was...rather adorable.

Halordin looked up from his study of the critters. “So soon? I thought you enjoyed the water.” 

Maedoron smiled softly, waving a reassuring hand. “It was getting too cold for me. I’d rather relax here.” 

Halordin shrugged, crouching lower to find other forms of life beneath the surface of the water. Maedoron couldn’t keep his gaze away from the play of muscles that stretched and bunched on his friend’s back as his arms roved for whatever it was he hoped to find. 

Maedoron knew from an early age that he was attracted to other elven men. He portrayed no interest in the women around him (They never sought him out anyway), rather, he would watch the male warriors train, admiring their masculine beauty and the way their muscles flexed as they parried and thrust. He had no want for a spouse just yet, and he didn’t mind waiting for however long. So when had Halordin become special? Thinking back, Maedoron recalled how much he would have rather spent time with his friend than anyone else, but surely that’s because they were close in age. Was he drawn to the way Halordin didn’t seem to fit the mold of a typical elf? Was he even attracted to men? Maedoron had caught him on more than one occasion watching the warriors too. But was the awe in his eyes trained on their technique? Or their bodies? Maedoron let out a gusty sigh, drawing his knees up and resting his head upon his arms as he tried to pierce through the murk of his thoughts. 

His ears pricked up as the sound of splashing heralded Halordin’s return to shore. Keeping his gaze down as his companion pulled on his clothes. A soft tap on his shoulder brought his russet coloured head back up, nose itching as Halordin’s long hair tickled it. “Ready to head back? I’m already late for a lesson with Orthir.” He chuckled. 

Maedoron felt as if butterflies were fluttering within at the sight of Halordin looming so close over him. How had he never noticed how long his dark eyelashes were? How his lovely, bright, pale green eyes seemed to sparkle with the mirth and joy of a young elf, not yet burdened by the toils of this world. Clearing his throat, Maedoron nodded in compliance. “You really need to work on your time management.” 

They set off on a trot to the Hill of Cerin Amroth, where Halordin’s mentor awaited him. Maedoron let himself fall back a bit, admiring the way Halordin’s mane swayed as he moved. When had it gotten so long? It was nearly reaching his waist.

Oh Maedoron, quash this attraction before it grows too complicated...

[kurtty-drabbles]

Church au (little dancer)

@djinmer4 @dannybagpipesarecalling @sailorstar9 @discordsworld @look-ma-no-hands336 N/A: Based on a sort of gifs from the Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame. The scene where Esmeralda kissed Frollo on the nose on the Fool´s festival.

In Colonia, Germany is typical to have celebrations in honour of the Church, well, in all honesty, is a competition to see who can make the best jubilation, in laymen terms, a competition to see who can give the best party and the Church often decides that Berlin has this title guarantee.

The head of inquisition and the new Karcist is not opposed to celebrations in his homeland, but, has yet to understand why he´s in Colonia, such small and forgettable part of his Germany, well, the Pope thinks he´s well fit to be the judge of all the event and that´s because the Church doesn´t have many famous German judge.

In his mind, the festival won´t be memorable, until, she shows up. Dresses up with satin and moving to the beat of the music with such mastery that she can´t be human, in the back of his mind, this is how faes dances, not humans.

She phased through the guards and goes easily to his side, Kurt can see and feel how she´s petite and how there´s a huge difference in size between them, the woman with her free chestnut hair and that innocent expression cup his face, looking at his golden eyes and a moment of fear and hesitation cross her pretty face.

Kurt, on the other hand, is studying her minuscule expressions; how she gulps hard and looks away for a moment, to then quickly look back at him, and to his surprise give a gentle peak at his nose.

The woman then leaves as she went and Kurt is mesmerized, as she is back dancing, never missing the beat, and then, when her doe eyes look at him once again, with hesitation and fear and a bit of pride, Kurt has to reevaluate some of his notions. Colonia did win the festival for their excellent dance and no one will question Kurt why Colonia and not Berlin.

The dancer´s name is Katherine Anne Pryde, a young woman native from Ultramar that was sent here for unknown reasons, she works and studies at the Suspira Academy dancer, a fitting name as is a dance school found by witches. Wanda did roll Talia in this school, however, it was in the Berlin one and not Colonia.

Karcist Kurt Szardos shows up to speak with the headmistress of this unity, an old witch that believes in the old arts and frankly Kurt can correct the woman in some of her beliefs as he was in those “dark times” and it wasn´t as glamorous as someone believes.

And what a surprise. The headmistress shows her best pupils and Kitty is there. How convenient that Kurt has a chance to speak with the young woman. “you´re a great dancer” Kurt speak and is an honest commentary, such a great dancer that he see her movements in the fire, in his mind, prompting him to think many, many scenarios.

Kitty pouts and crosses her arms. “You think I dance like a white swan, I heard that all the time, I´m too delicate and petite, so, I must only dance like a white swan” there´s a tone of bitterness present and Kitty herself notices and adopt a more demure expression. “people don´t think I can dance in a dark swan way, only an innocent and pure white swan”

Kurt only replies in a more friendly term. “Actually, I think you dance as a mix of both, it was a nice mixture of innocence and sin that hardly we see nowadays” this caught her by surprise in a positive way.

“Really? Oh, I´m sorry about the kiss if that makes you uncomfortable” Kurt has enough self-control to not show her how that kiss didn´t make him uncomfortable, instead, he merely jokes and makes the young woman more comfortable in his presence.

At the end of the day, the headmistress asked if the Church is willing to be a partner of this unity, of course, the questioner was made with more subtle and tact. Kurt is always a fan of arts.

In a sense, Kurt can admire the irony as the dark swan dances to the audience coving temptation and dark secrets, all the while, Kitty is the only one with a clean soul, while the others around the black swan are here for more than mere talent.

There´s manipulation and self-interested surrounding the ones that are dancing along with the black swan and Kurt can admire a good irony.

“Isn´t she something else?” the headmistress admitted to Kurt as they watch the show in the best view possible. “I reckon you do have a point after all”

Kurt only smiles as the black swan stop dancing and makes her final move, it was, in Kurt´s mind, amazing and he definitely would like to see her dancing again and gain.

Piotr is back at the church, a well-made mission is a reward by allowing Piotr some free time, and he decides to visit his friend, who is currently writing something too intensely to notice the Russian until he announces himself.

“Piotr!” Kurt exclaimed happily “how was the mission? Care for a drink?” and the intensity of whatever he was writing is broken off as the two men are drinking and talking, the mission was a success.

“And what are you up now?” Piotr asked bubbly with the drink already. Kurt only smiles and speak in a happier tone. “I found a nice dancer in Colonia, she dances like an angel, she dances like the devil”

Piotr laughs at this. “You would know how a devil dances?”

Kurt drinks more and chuckles at this statement. “No, but I know how a vampire dance” the mood is chipper until Kurt adds “and I think she should dance only for me” Piotr put his drink down as Kurt is now showing his fangs with a certain adoration in his looks. “we don´t see innocence and temptation mixed like that”

Kurt goes to visit the school, once again, to speak about the partnership and is greeted by Kitty Pryde waving at him, now a bit shyly, but no longer afraid of him.

“Hi, Karcist Kurt” she greets him and Kurt knows it may be too soon to suggest her to call him by his name, his name will sound lovely coming from the dancer´s mouth. “The headmistress is waiting for you, she even prepared everything for you” there´s a bit of mirth on her tone.

Kurt jokily asked. “Oh no, she won´t try to do another extravagant party again, right?” he puts his hands on his checks and makes Kitty laugh. It was a cute sound.

“No, I think she gets the message from last time, but, even though the party maybe tone down…is still extravagant for you” Kitty declares and Kurt sighs comically. “Well, at least, I´m not alone, you´ll be on my side if someone starts talking about fancy wines, right?” Kurt asked nicely and Kitty vows she´ll be on his side. Kurt is really pleased to hear that.

At night, Kurt and Kitty are walking together, a nice friendly date, or so, is what Kitty is trying to convince herself and failing, to the point, her worries are being too obvious and she decides to confront Kurt about some rumours.

“Karcist Kurt” she starts without hesitation or fear, at least, not letting those emotions be visible “I´d enjoy my time with you, a lot, but, I did hear lots of rumours about you” Kurt sighs already expecting this. “Of course, there are many rumours about me”

Kitty gulps and speaks freely now. “A friend of mine told me you are sadistic and enjoy killing and torturing people in the Church”

Kurt is bemused and wants to know who´s this friend of her, however, he reply to this rumour. “Katzchen, I´m the head inquisitor of the Church and a Karcist, of course, people make my job be 10 times bloodier than it is” Kurt is telling the truth “yes, I do conduct interrogation and yes, sometimes, I do have to punish criminals, and that´s the important part people forget, I don´t go out of my way to hurt innocents”

Kurt has a look of hurt in his face and Kitty is feeling bad with her doubts, but, she continues. “My friend also said that the Church is full of pervert and the whole multiple things is …forced upon people” Kurt´s hurt increase at that. How Kitty can believe in such rumours? Oh, she does not, judging by the way she´s gazing upon her, but, doubts can ruin anything.

“Yes, the Church has the attitude of multiple, but, no one is forced upon this” is a technical true, first the woman must have a certain age and get another requirement, now, Kurt is too hurt and adds “do you really believe in those rumours? Do you think I´m a terrible person?”

“No, no, I´m sorry, is just I never enter in contact with the Church and people are always telling me that you´re scary” Kitty explained and Kurt needs to know who are those people. His hand touches Kitty´s as Kurt gazes upon her eyes.

“There´s also the rumour that the Church hates people dating people outside the Church that´s a lie” correct, no one will have any problem with Kurt dating Kitty because he said so. “The only question here is, do you want to be with me?”

Kitty nods and speaks “Kurt, I want to be with you, but, I also must ask, if you´ll be fine with me not wanting to join the Church”

Kurt is also expecting this and is a bit disappointed, but, he´s older and she´s younger. “Of course not, Katzchen, I want to be with you and that´s it”

Kitty gives him a tight hug, apologies were exchanged and new vows were made, as they are now to their date, no more pretence, Kurt asked in a subtle way for the names of her friends.

Kitty is with Kurt, again, one of her favourites part of her week. The man is back from a mission and is enjoying the time off he clearly deserves it, so, when she was allowed to enter in his chambers in one of the territories of the Church, the woman didn´t dare or wanted to think of the implications.

“Kurt” she gives a nice kiss on his lips and it always makes him sigh in relief, joy and relishes at the same time, well, she can´t say his kisses don´t have the similar effect on her. “I have a present for you”

Kurt is overjoyed. Kitty hands the small boxes and Kurt can sense she made the arrangements herself, the bow on the box it was her doing and he enjoys that very much. It was a tie. “I know this is not conventional gift for a vampire” there´s a tone of joke here “and you must be older than dust” Kurt pinch her delicately and speak about manners, the woman only laughs “Sorry, sorry, moving on, I thought the tie would be a nice gift, I do see you with ties before and I think this one is more your style”

Kurt looks at the tie, is a scarlet one, and he knows she must be making some meme/joke with vampires, well, he can let her as she´s giving him such genuine affection. “Wanna put the tie for me?”

Kitty did just that with joy. She starts mentioning how her landlord is giving her troubles again. “the rules the man is creating makes no sense and I´ll have to leave” she complains and Kurt was expecting this part, after all, it would be too suspicious if the landlord just kicked her out, now, a more demanding landlord is more believable.

“Well, you can live with me” Kurt suggested once the tie is ready and adorning his neck. She gives a big smile and asked if that won´t be a problem. “Of course not, I would love to have your company here” “And I would love to be here with you, elf, so yes, my answer is yes,” Kitty said and Kurt has too much self-control to not shout a big yes, instead, she put Kitty is his lap and kisses her. He gets his dancer, his ballerina all too himself and no one will come between them.

[wishtorn]

          heya i’m kit ! i’m going to start this off by apologizing for how obscenely long this intro has turned out to be. i really got caught up … but there’s a summary at the very end, and if you do read the entire thing you get a million brownie points ! message me here or on discord to collect. i’ve also included a handful of general plot ideas if anyone’s interested in them, but i’d also love to think up some more specific ideas. just like this or shoot me a message and i’ll come plot !

⤷ ( kit. cet. 21. she / her. none. ) the courts offer bread and salt to anya targaryen née redwyne of house targaryen. many say the twenty-four year old queen of the southern kingdom is known to be well-intentioned and nurturing, though ill tongues whisper that she is guarded and sentimental. when her name is uttered, one is reminded of sleepless nights, a faint light in the fog, & the smell of sea salt and spring.

         tw - discussions or mentions of alcoholism, childbirth & pregnancy, domestic abuse & neglect, drowning, food & disordered eating, mental & physical illness, misogyny. ( i didn’t realize it was going to be this much of a shitstorm until i sat down and started writing. idk what to say, guess i’m #dramatic ? )

pre - history ( house & parents. )

the redwynes were always military men. had to be, really, being island people, more isolated and often more endangered than their mainland counterparts. really, there was nothing quite so loved as war, except perhaps wine.

an old, proud house, the redwynes and their fleet have fought for targaryen kings for centuries — they stood by aegon in the dance of the dragons, stood by jon & daenerys against cersei lannister, and even stood by maegos against the dornish and northern rebellions.

lord desmond redwyne took his father’s seat in the reign of king aeron. in a prosperous and peaceful time, men drunk on dreams of a glorious war grow restless — so he hunted, and whored, and drank, and none of it so much as touched his reputation. no, lord redwyne was an honorable man, a true servant of the realm, an example to many.

lady viola redwyne might have said otherwise, had anyone asked her. prone to bouts of melancholy, often disagreeable, and with a reputation for refusing suitors, she might have even succeeded had she not been so beautiful. lord redwyne must have her, and her father could not refuse.

his second wife, fifteen years his junior, and unhappy with the match, she could not love him, nor his other children, nor the arbor. a lack of love in such close quarters sours into hate over time, like bad wine. one of her few reliefs was that he already had an heir and a spare. poor health and misery would not have made her a brood-mare of any longevity.

long before her parents ever laid eyes on each other, however, a scandal rocked the redwynes ; lord desmond was then merely the heir, a knight and a naval captain of some repute. his eldest sister was already wed to a lord on the mainland, but the younger was a wilder thing, with a taste for adventure that was indulged by their father. the lord greyjoy’s reputation preceded him, and when she first spotted him, on the deck of a ship off the coast of fair isle, he had already quite captivated her. they met in secret, at sea, where they were not lords or ladies but each king on their own ship. the last time her ship sailed from the arbor, it was under the cover of night, to steal away to pyke, and the shame and scandal of it tore through the redwynes like a hurricane. she was shunned, rarely spoken of, and when the news came from pyke that she had died, no one at the arbor shed a tear. 

family history ( early childhood. )

as it stood, anya was more an unexpected result than a desired outcome, and ultimately even a bone of contention. she bound her mother by love, to the arbor and the man that she hated.

they were left well enough alone, for a time, viola and her daughter, the septa, and the maidservants. even the wet nurse sent away. anya’s infancy brought a modicum of respite, but it would not last more than a handful of years.

by that time it aroused suspicion. lady redwyne would hardly leave her chambers, refuse to let the child out of her sight, would not see her husband and even refused food for periods at a time. it was unhealthy, unnatural, they soon started saying. in inns and winesinks at ryamsport men would murmur ‘poor lord redwyne, imagine a wife that beautiful going mad on you,’ into their cups, laughing at their great fortune to have avoided his.

and perhaps there was something real to it, perhaps there really was something unsettling about the arrangement. perhaps not. but in the end it was only the talk that mattered. once it reached lord redwyne’s ears, red with shame at being laughed at by traders and fishermen, he put his foot down. viola’s whims were not to be indulged or tolerated any longer, and besides, ‘the child’—by this he meant anya—‘must grow to be a fool or a half-wit if left in her care.’

and so anya was removed to the care of a cousin, mostly sheltered from her mother’s influence. there were fights about it for months. the withdrawn lady redwyne who would not speak but to her daughter and her maidservant and looked to the window whenever anyone looked at her had disappeared. she raged, schemed to steal her daughter away, wept, wandered the halls at night, and made trouble.

lord redwyne even tried being gentle, for a time, speaking in soft pleading words for her to be reasonable, but gentle or harsh it made no difference. if she saw anya twice, even three times a day, it was not enough — to her mind, he had stolen her daughter, stolen her life, stolen her freedom and anything else he might think of taking, and she wasn’t wrong. but when she threatened to throw herself from the eastern tower, she sealed her own fate.

on horseshoe rock, one of the smaller islands in the waters surrounding the arbor, a small stout keep was furnished and staffed, and lady redwyne was sent out of sight, out of mind, and certainly out of the way, where she couldn’t cause another such a stir — and most importantly, after a while, the talk died down.

personal history i ( childhood & youth. )

with all the difficulties tended to, and all the loose ends and loose canons carefully tied down, anya’s upbringing was left to a succession of septas, servants, and after a time, an aunt, newly widowed  and returned to the arbor.

out of her father’s favor for as long as she could remember, with a rocky relationship with her siblings ( i won’t go into detail in case my wc is picked up ! ), anya found little relief within the castle walls. she attended her lessons dutifully, could sew and sing and smile, recite the houses, their sigils and heroes, and it all meant little and less to her.

she wanted to set sail, she had always insisted — since before she knew what it really meant, just uttering phrases picked up along the way the way one does around seafarers — but desmond redwyne would not suffer any of his daughters to venture so far beyond his control. he knew better than to trust sailors, and certainly never trusted women.

so instead anya spent years at her window, watching sails shrink and disappear over the horizon ; by the sea, swimming in a cove under the watchful eye of the septa ; sneaking in the fields during harvest, stealing grapes ripe to bursting. searching desperately, maybe shiftlessly, for a little bit of sweetness. all the while she visited her mother only rarely, on namedays and holy days and days when, for whatever mysterious reason, her father’s pity won out over his good sense.

she studied too, though silently, mostly unnoticed. the kitchen girls, the household guard, the way people talked when they didn’t think anyone was paying attention. watched her father most of all, and had no illusions about him. even if she still aspired to please him, somehow, to gain his approval, she knew: he was a cruel man, harsh, childish, selfish, drunk on wine and himself, and yet still too clever to let all of that be his ruin.

her betrothal, like any lady’s, was inevitable — on the horizon of her future, marriage appeared to her like a fog, uncertain in all aspects but its impending approach. in the end it was a transaction, as these things almost always are. ships, wine, and gold ( but really, mostly ships ) were enough to make one of lord redwyne’s daughters a future queen.

demure, docile, even shy, few suspected that, days before she was to leave for king’s landing, anya would disappear in the night. would sneak from the castle in the dark, with a torch and one gold dragon, paid to the wife of a fisherman who, in her husband’s small boat, rowed anya to the shores of horseshoe rock to say goodbye to her mother one last time.

it was a mistake, but she couldn’t have known that. she came at night, the only time she could, but to viola, startled from her sleep, she was a ghost in the moonlight. after the truth came, ‘i’m leaving. father says i must,’ her mother, in tears, threw herself in front of the door, on the ground, wept in fits and refused to let her leave. it was the first and last time anya ever truly believed her mad. with promises that she would refuse the prince and sail home as soon as she could, she left.

she was guilty, of course — so guilty it ate her up, and very nearly killed her, but not so guilty that she turned back. her mother could not bear for her to go, but anya felt she would die — truly die — if she were forced to stay.

the preparations were already well underway by the time word reached them from the arbor. lady redwyne had disappeared. alseep in bed at night, swore the servant, but gone in the morning. the island was searched for weeks, coasts scoured, sailors and captains interrogated, but to no avail. some say she escaped, others that she was kidnapped, and yet others know with conviction that she simply walked into the sea and drowned.

personal history ii ( marriage & rule. )

though she wore the right house colors, anya was married in mourning. the wedding was a ridiculous affair, lavish and splendid and festive, and it only made her all the more self-conscious. she was polite, sweet, but in the momentary lull of conversation she looked lost. doe-eyed — not innocent, but wary, reproachful.

but the rockiness, the uncertainty, if at first seeming insurmountable, soon dissipated. prince daeryon was not her father, nor much like many other lords that had so worried her. no, he was kind, and gentle, and patient, and in need of some kindness himself.

as unlikely as it may be, they tended their happiness like a garden, and it wasn’t long before leaves were sprouting where her fear had been. for a while they lived well, on laughter and sunlight and the thrill of young love.

but of course it doesn’t last — nothing does. when king aeron dies, things change hard and fast. the freedom to walk through the city, ride in the kingswood, or sail to dragonstone for a fortnight on a day’s notice was gone, replaced by a hundred new duties, funeral arrangements to be made, small council meetings to attend.

at that point, the two of them also certainly start feeling the pressure for an heir. the difficulties and delays that had once been only a source of gossip became a source of concern, even as their duties kept them apart more often than ever, as the long nights and tense meetings started to fray his nerves.

they were soon blessed with a son, aeric, though the pregnancy and birth left anya exhausted, weary, and withdrawn just as her husband needed her most. the pressure of the crown which he had borne with such fickle strength was beginning to crush him.

no man, not even the best of them, could carry a kingdom on his own. it certainly wasn’t made easier by the constant jostling from one side or the other, a meddling mother, resentful elder sisters, or grasping, ambitious councillors. anya was forced to admit that however much she loved her husband, however good a man he was, he was not a good king. not good enough.

so she rose to the occasion, as gracefully as her fears and meagre experience let her, sitting in on small council meetings and more private discussions, by his side. she consulted carefully, leaning heavily on the hand of the king, working tirelessly to ensure her husband’s realm remained intact, his rule secure, and their family safe.

present.

her son is nearly four years old now, a happy, healthy child without the slightest clue of the dangers he is in, simply by virtue of his birth. anya worries about him constantly, and spends as much of her time as she can with him.

in king’s landing, she’s often attending meetings, writing letters, keeping busy — all to ease the pressure from her husband, who is only worrying her more and more as each day passes. he grows withdrawn, erratic, unpredictable, but she’s less afraid than sorrowful. he’s in pain, she can tell that much, but how to soothe it ?

very nervous about the trip north. she’s never been so far before, never left her son so long before, and certainly never seen her husband in such an unfamiliar — hostile ? — environment, and is deeply concerned with what issues might arise.

still, the coronation at winterfell is a solid opportunity to strengthen the ties that the previous generation had spent so long binding, to show each other and the realm that two kings intend to continue their fathers’ peace and collaboration.

tl ; dr.

      + well-intentioned, nurturing, insightful, gracious, curious, resourceful       - guarded, sentimental, unforgiving, hesitant, volatile, insecure, spoiled

a traumatic, tense, and lonely childhood, ghost-like and disconnected. mommy and daddy issues, because why not.

a betrothal for wealth and power ; naval strength and trade wealth married into royal bloodlines. 

a young son and a marriage that is loving, starts easy, but grows ever more strained under the weight of a crown.

trying desperately to keep her shit ( her kingdom, husband, family ) from falling apart at the seams.

way more responsibility, work, and stress than she signed up for, if we’re being honest, but she makes it work.

stress, anxiety, worry, chaos, fear, all those good things tbh.

and despite it all, at least a conditional kindness, and a sentimental softness that ought to be hidden better than it is.

plot ideas !

lady friends. yes i know how stupid that sounds, but honestly, a girl needs girls around her or she’s bound to lose it. i imagine she’d mostly know other ladies from the souther kingdom, but may have also met and befriended others from the north at the funeral of king aeron, or elsewhere.

almost- or cancelled betrothal. someone whose father was in talks with anya’s to arrange a betrothal, or perhaps one had already been arranged. they could know each other and have met, or have never laid eyes on each other. either way, once a royal prince is on the table, any deal is off.

cousins. i haven’t yet decided what house anya’s mother is from, so there are plenty of options for familial attachments there ! her father also probably had sisters, although they’d probably be another generation older and have adult grandchildren at this point, so. second cousins ? i think ?

enemies of the crown. honestly, i love some drama and animosity, so i’d love any reason for there to be tension and cold looks and only the barest minimum of politeness, with undertones of anger. ugh, wat a dream. could be they disapprove of the targaryens, or of daeryon in particular, or of her personally too i guess, or something went down ?

again these are just vague ideas, but i will come up with tons of more specific ones for anya and your muse(s) if you want me to !

[neverwatchedonepiece]

538-539: "The Straw Hats Defeated?! Hordy Gains Control of the Rygu Palace!" and "The Haunting Ties! Nami and the Fish-Man Pirates!"

Neptune’s finely tuned Roid-dar in action.

Finally figured out what was wrong with Chrome, so it’s business as usual. (FYI, it was the antivirus SSL scanning feature conflicting with certain websites’ certificates. Not great that I have to turn it off for browsers to function but that is a rant for another blog.)

On the Fishman Island arc front, 539 was the episode I’d been waiting for. I don’t have all the story yet but I know it’s coming. I’m excited to see what Oda does with Queen Otohime and Fisher Tiger’s stories. I also wanted to talk about Nami this post and I finally have the chance because she’s already at the Sea Forest and has met Jimbei (more on that later).

[title]

A Fishman Captain who can’t beat a human in a fight underwater without resorting to performance enhancing Fish Roids can’t amount to much, either. 

Just a thought.

Must say the spoileriffic title for 538 was unexpected. I honestly thought Zoro would win, or at least force a stalemate so that he could hold back the invasion with Usopp and Brook. Nope. Oda has diverted the plot in a direction I did not predict. Now I’m wondering how Neptune will retake the palace. I’m thinking a concerted effort, with the royal guard, maybe some citizens, plus reunited Strawhats out in force. Mainly so the Strawhats can clear their name because right now, the locals still believe they’re responsible for storming the palace and kidnapping Shirahoshi.

There was some good tension sustained when Zoro was fighting underwater and knew he had to surface to breathe. He defeated Hordy but was grabbed by a bunch of Hordy’s Roided Goons. When I was a kid, I remember playing Sonic the Hedgehog. There was nothing like that dread when Sonic was underwater and the oxygen countdown started. Find a bubble or else! Even though I knew Zoro’s plot shield would hold, I still felt that tension. xD For a moment, I was annoyed that Usopp didn’t go help him but then I realised Usopp was the only thing stopping Brook from sinking like a stone.

Neptune was great. I like the guy now. Compared to Hordy Jones, he’s an excellent leader. I brought up before his tendency to take advice, to listen to his people and consider their opinions even if he weighs them up and decides to do something else. In 537, it was obvious that Neptune cares about his people. He realised the Fish roids could be a real threat to his people’s safety. Instead of saving face, instead of a “we shall defend this palace to the death!” attitude that only gets people killed, Neptune only considered getting everyone out safely, and used his strength to secure an escape route: sacrificing himself in the process.

When his men did escape, they immediately thought of Neptune, of how he had helped them. They wanted to help Neptune because of everything he had done for them.

Compare that to Hordy “Become my Meat Shield or Die” Jones. He rules by fear and thinks of his dispensable soldiers in terms of what they can do for him.

It’s clear who the best king here is.

Must admit, though. Hordy Jones is organised. He instructed his head goons to assemble raiding parties to invade different districts of Mermaid Cove. Waterwheel Town, Candy Factory Town, Fishverly Hills, and other places I didn’t catch are under the control of Hordy Jones. His Head Goons wasted no time forcing the new regime and the new ideals on the locals, forcing them to commit a highly-charged political act of disrespect: step on an image of Queen Otohime or die. 

Naturally, Fukaboshi was fuming when he found out what was going on. That was his mother. Not cool. (I am hopeful he will lead the counterattack. I bet he’ll succeed Neptune some day.)

I’m also wondering about Big Mom. Candy Factory Town has fallen to Hordy Jones. If the tribues stop pouring in from Fishman Island, would she send someone to see what’s going on and kick Hordy’s ass herself? I mean, sure, the Roids make him strong, but this is a Yonkou were talking about here.

And Brook is a potential wild card here too. When Neptune, Zoro and Usopp were captured, Hordy’s Goons dismissed Brook. “What’s that skeleton doing here?” “Dunno.” I wonder if Brook will do a Sanji and complete the stealth missions this arc?

Jimbei’s Glorious Reaction Face

LUFFY-KUN, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

Watching Jimbei unravel like that was hilarious. It’s always funnier when the stoic characters crack. Only Luffy could stress someone out that much. And we got two in a row when he realised Hachi was there too. Chopper should start running blood pressure clinics for those suffering Strawhat-induced stress.

The object of Jimbei’s stress was that Luffy had appeared with Princess Shirahoshi in tow. Jimbei knew all the crap she had been through (I wonder if he tried to stop it before but couldn’t find Decken?). He also knew how unsafe it was for her to be outside. Just as he said this to Luffy, a random axe whirred through the air and Luffy deflected it.

I admire Luffy’s unwavering confidence that he can protect Shirahoshi (“She knows I’ve got her back!”) and I love that he did take her to the Sea Forest to pray at her mother’s grave (that was sad) but it is bloody dangerous, you’ve got to admit. Jimbei said the harrassment started after Queen Otohime’s death so poor Shirahosi couldn’t even attend her mother’s funeral (I need someone to kick that guy’s ass ASAP. Do not care who it is now.) What if Luffy suddenly has his hands full? Maybe Sanji will step in and fend off Decken, now that he’s back to normal, thank god. I guess the most effective treatment for Sanji’s weakness is immersion therapy.

The lack of message to Luffy is also suspicious. Why did Jimbei’s message not get through? Someone is intercepting communication. I wonder if Hordy is behind this too. Maybe he doesn’t want the peaceable but powerful Jimbei ruining his plans.

Den-san wondered what all the commotion was and shouted out from Sunny’s deck (and Franky had his “My captain is a dumbass” moment). Not long after, Nami and Camie arrived.

I liked that Oda assembled those three Merfolk and Fishmen together because they were able to represent different voices from Fishmen Island. It wasnt’ just one person speaking for their history. All of them had a voice.

Including a human who had been affected by the violent repercussions of Fishman Island’s brutal history.

Nami and Fishman History

I have been wanting to write about Nami for ages. After I finished the last post, I started thinking about Hordy and what he would think of Nami if he found out about her. I guessed he would hate her for betraying Arlong and would want revenge. It’s funny, but Hordy made the same mistake with Nami as Arlong did. He underestimated her. When she left with Camie, Hordy’s goons did tell him, but he dismissed the warning. Let them go. It doesn’t matter.

Now, I wonder if history will repeat itself. Nami has escaped, has told Luffy what’s going on and soon they will have the power to regroup, counterattack and re-take the palace. I doubt they will ever fix the relationships between humans and Fishfolk. But maybe they could be a symbol of improvement, if nothing else.

Nami’s reaction to Jimbei in the last episode was telling. Something was up there, I was certain of it. Again, in 538, she was indifferent to the point of wariness when she spoke to him. Camie was full of admiration. Nami was guarded. She also wanted to skip straight to the point and halted Sanji’s fool antics in their tracks because she had a bone to pick with Jimbei.

I had been thinking about Jimbei and how he might be related to all the troubles in Fishman Island.

I had no idea he was the one who set Arlong on the rampage in East Blue.

Nami must have known something. Maybe she heard Arlong talking about Jimbei. Maybe Arlong told stories about the Sun Pirates and Jimbei’s name came up.

Jimbei did apologise. He said he was grateful for the Strawhats stopping Arlong wreaking further havoc in East Blue. But for Nami - and Sanji for that matter (I am so glad the daft behaviour has stopped. I like Sanji best when he’s being serious) - the apology wasn’t quite enough.

Sanji remembered was Yosaku told them about JImbei (I would totally have forgot about this if not for the flashback). In exchange for joining the Shichibukai, he set Arlong loose. Still not sure exactly what that means. Did Jimbei say, “Right, Arlong, go get those stinky humans” or did he have to cut the extremist Arlong loose so he could ascend to an official government role and not be tainted be association?

Sanji was cool here. “If you wanna make excuses, fine,” he said. “But Nami here had her home taken over by Arlong and went through hell. Depending on what you say, I might not forgive you.”

Which is fair enough, actually. No one is obliged to forgive anyone.

Nami told her story. She also said that travelling to Sabaody Park and finding out about how awfully Fishmen are treated would never change the way she feels about Arlong, but now she understands why he thought that way.

That is hugely generous of her, honestly. Considering the way Nami was treated by Arlong, to even feel the tiniest shred of understanding for his motives is remarkable. She saw how Camie and Hachi were treated and I think it was a real eye-opener for her. One that she’d never forget

Then the story of Fishman Island was told by three Fishmen who had lived through the worst of its history, Jimbei, Hachi and Den-san.

Nami mentioned that Arlong Park looked exactly like Sabaody Park. Hachi said that when they were little, they yearned for what the human world had. That shot above is like poor street kids looking over a wall into a gated community and longing for the tiniest portion of what the rich people have. 

But when they grew up, they hurt so many humans, Hachi said. He heard that, long ago, Fishmen and Merfolk were considered mere fish by humans. (This reminds me of how 18th century western academics used to classify other races as subhuman. Disgusting.) But then two hundred years ago, the Ryugu Kingdom became a member of the World Government.

You would think that would improve relations, wouldn’t you? But no. The Celestial Dragons, the ones who held the real power, were still bigoted and were the worst of them all.

The Great Pirate Era hit and Den-san said that was the worst time of all. Human pirates rampaged through Fishman Island. It was taken over.

And now I know why Jimbei was so determined to fight and die for Whitebeard. Saint Whitebeard the Great saved Fishman Island, claimed it for his own and imposed peace.

But humans still didn’t like Fishmen. The Strawhats had seen that at Sabaody. Even though the World Government bridged the gap in relations, it did not improve much. 

Then two figures stepped up to change Fishman Island’s history forever.

Queen Otohime, Shirahoshi’s mother, tried to convince the islanders to live in harmony with humans. 

Fisher Tiger, the hero who invaded Mariejois ON HIS OWN to free the imprisoned Fishman slaves, called for a parting of the ways between Fishmen and humans. 

I haven’t heard all the story yet, but I’m guessing these two have a Major Difference of Opinion.

I can’t wait to hear the rest. 

This is some good stuff. I love the themes in this arc. There’s so much here that resonates strongly with current events. It’s almost spooky...

You’re right, Franky. There’s no point. Just smile and nod.

[turningpagebooks]

ARC REVIEW: “Make Me Bad” by R.S. Grey

Title: Make Me Bad Author: R.S. Grey Publisher: R.S. Greyc Source: Author Publication Date: March 7th, 2019 Format: eARC Plot Summary: I was issued a warning: stay away from Ben Rosenberg.

As Clifton Cove’s resident “king”, he thinks he’s entitled to anyone and anything.

The trouble is, I’ve spent my whole life following the rules and playing it safe. I know what it feels like to be the good girl. I’m the police chief’s daughter and a librarian—for adorable children, no less. My wardrobe consists of colorful sundresses and baggy jeans. I might as well have a Post-it stuck to my forehead that reads: Yup, she’s a virgin.

An all-nighter with a fictional hunk is about as exciting as my life gets, until one day, fate decides to take pity on me and shove me straight into the path of Mr. Off-Limits himself.

Oof.

Just as I suspected, every inch of him promises to be my demise. Up close, he’s tall, menacing, dangerously handsome — the type of man who’s never spent a single moment worrying about the opinions of others. A well-behaved girl would do as she’s told and avoid him at all costs, but I’m overdue for a little rebellion.

No more Friday nights sprawled out on the couch in my comfiest pajamas. No more wishing I had the courage to misbehave.

Everyone thinks Ben is going to ruin me.

They think he’ll chew me up and spit me out.

Well, Ben…go ahead.

Tempt me. Taunt me.

Make me bad.

Make Me Bad on Goodreads | Amazon CA

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

R.S. Grey just knows how to write good romance novels. Like, she takes common tropes and makes them fun and fresh. Oh, and also her books are v sexy *fans self*.

I think a lot of book lovers will get a kick out of quiet bookworm and library employee Madison decides she's tired of her life being the same day in and day out. She wants to break the rules. She wants fun, excitement, and pleasure. She's going to come out of her shell like a confident little butterfly and defy her family. Doesn't that already sound delicious?

The romance? Oh. My. God. Madison and Ben - a confident, smirky man who wants her from the moment they meet - have outstanding chemistry. It practically leaps off the page. They go from aquaintances to friends to friends who are catching them feelings left and right. There's a whole will-they-won't-they dynamic between them and I am here for it.

R.S. Grey likes to conclude her books with a swoon-worthy ending and this time is no different. The ending put a smile on my face.

My only issue is that Madison's dad and brother are so controlling and sexist when it comes to her. They harass men who are interested in her, and treat her like a child when she tries to have fun. But it wasn't resolved well. It was almost forgotten or explained away as acceptable male behaviour (which it very much is not). I also agree with other reviews that say an early conflict in the book is odd.

R.S. Grey has done it again with Make Me Bad. It's a hot, sweet, and angsty romance that contemporary romance lovers will enjoy.

[thefitzs-blog]

Hello I recently began reading historical fiction (both mystery and romance) and I remember you commenting some time ago that you like to read historical romance. Do you have any recommendations? I’m still new to the genre and am finding what I like and don’t like. Thank you. Ps I like your header , Julia Quinn is grate

Hi Anon,

I’m quite fussy myself when it comes to historical romance, but hopefully I can be of some help - I’m really not into ham joints for hands, musclar men and a lot of authors across romance genre tend to base their hero’s around this image. It’s always important to read reviews especially when you’re testing the waters, they sometimes give more detailed descriptions or offer trigger warnings or just warnings of distress (which are much needed, my heart has been broken many a time and a spoiler would have been appreciated). However, don’t base all your judgment on others views, if you think it sounds good but top reviews don’t, just go for it - but if it’s got mostly 2 star reviews then maybe not.

Amanda Quick might be your cup of tea as she combines mystery and romance in a 19th century setting. If you’re just into period mystery then Agatha Christie is always a reccomendation. She’s actually how I got into hr, well Christie and a really good fic writer who wrote an amazing historic au years ago.

A few of my favourites:

Fool for love by Eloisa James. Some heartbreaking moments in this book, for context the heroine has had an injured hip since birth, “They said you would never marry, Henrietta. You are married. They said you would never dance. We are dancing. And they said you would never give birth. But I know you. I know you want this baby. We’ll go to every doctor in England if we have to. We can find someone who will save the baby. And you.”

A week to be wicked by tessa dare - this book is wild - fake betrothals, sharing a bed, science fairs, scientific dirty talk, impromptu weddings, sword swallowing, pretending to have an affair to hide in plain sight, misunderstandings, highwaymen chasing them and lets not forget being robbed at gun point with our hero left for dead before our heroine knocks the lights out of the unsuspecting bandit. This book seems like fanfiction, more specifically fitzsimmons fanfiction. Once I read it I was tempted to write it but I’m a bad writer. Worth noting this book is one of the few books I enjoy both by the author and in the ‘spindle cove’ series, the book prior to this is a good read, the rest are mixed.)

Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day is great, I like-love it but I don’t love-love it. The hero coveted heroine for several years however she married during this time, she becomes widowed and the two meet by chance and explore the sparks that have been between them since the moment they laid eyes on one another.

Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Ghurke - fyi only a pretence of adultery none actually committed- Hero and heroine are discovered in bed together by heroines husband which results in divorce, yes the scandal! Hero has no idea how he ended up in bed with the heroine, he remembers nothing other than her kiss before all fades to black. One later, they meet again, we learn their lives have intersected since they were 16, each coveting the other at one point or another yet too afraid to say something. Basically, Hero wants a future with heroine, heroine is scared and wants to enjoy her freedom after her horrid first marriage.

Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins - fyi, adultery is committed but your heart aches for the heroine, she was so young when she married and he is so horrid you just want her to be happy ahh spoilers anyway - Hero is a male prostitute (I blame fanfic for my love of this rare trope), he is hired by our heroines close friend who believes heroine deserves some attention in her life. She has every intention of sending him away until she meets him and everything changes. Their relationship is great until Hero realises he wants more than she can give him. He leaves and asks she not to contact for him again, yet he is summoned once more. Does he go back? Will they ever be able to have a real relationship? 🤷🏻‍♀️

When beauty tamed the beast by Eloisa James - the Hero honestly reminds me of Fitz from aos, he’s such a grump. Our hero is a doctor - an upfront and emotionless one at that. He was injured as a child resulting in a permanent limp and the use of a cane. Our heroine is beautiful, the talk of the town and allegedly pregnant having been spotted kissing a prince then throwing up after eating less than fresh prawns at a season event. The hero’s father thinks that his son will never marry or beget an heir (he believes his son impotent) and so arranges a marriage between he and the hero, believing that she is already pregnant which would provide him his heir. The hero is no fool, as a doctor he knows a stuffed pillow when he sees one. This book is packed with affairs by the beach, a spreading disease, a race against time and thunder storms. This book also includes the heroine coming to terms with what she perceives as her loss of looks, as someone who prided herself on looks alone it is such an amazing journey to see her inner thoughts. This book is great, and I really recommend it.

The Earl takes All by Lorraine Heath - I cannot put this book into words. It’s heartbreaking but it’s worth the pain.

Less angsty books include the Westcott series by Mary Balogh (all save the last, Someone to Care, I didn’t care much for the protagonists as I had grew to dislike the heroine in prior books). I’m currently re-reading this series.

Someone to Love - Anna Snow has lived at the orphanage for as long as she can remember, whilst others left once of age, she stayed on to become a teacher (alongside her best friend Joel). One day she receives a letter from a solicitor to meet him in London. She discovers she is the only legitimate heir to an aristocrat after it is revealed he committed bigotry. She is thrust into a life she could never have imagined, with the help of Avery, a handsome lord, to guide her.

Someone to Hold - Camille Westcott begins teaching in the very orphanage Anna grew up in so she can find herself - if her half sibling can live so lowly, so can she. She meets Joel, an artist who teaches art once a week - they immediately dislike each other, due to his loyalty to Anna who is his best friend and the woman he once proposed to. He admires the way she engages the children and sees something in her that Camille doesn’t see herself. There’s sparks, heartbreak and a new discovery that could change Joel’s world forever.

Someone to wed - upon inheriting the Westcott title as the closest male relative to the late Earl of Riverdale, Alexander, the penniless Earl also inherits a mansion which is in desperate need of repairing. Thankfully for him, Wren, his neighbour, has just the solution to his financial problems. Marriage. Having only met Wren, a woman who hides herself behind a dark vail, ten minutes prior, Alex is taken aback by her offer. It’s the perfect solution but why would she marry a total stranger? And what is she hiding behind the vail?

I would also recommend Anna Bradley, her writings are quite light hearted and The Firstborn by Quenby Olson (latter is a clean romance).

I hope you enjoy these recommendations anon, I have tons more if not. I must warn a majority of these are angsty and so Julia Quinn may be a good read in between books. I hope you’re able to find the trope that you like 💕🦔