#deacon royal | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

palaceofimperium · 2 years ago

Text

Moving from where she had been standing at Cruz’s side, Abriella stood directly across from her friend. “Yael, you have endured hardships, punishments, and mental torture that no one truly deserves. Manipulation of your thoughts and emotions were allowed to endure for too long, and there are few that can understand what effect that has on the psyche and the view of the world it creates. I know that you have had anxiety regarding coming here, in truth I know there is little you do not have anxiety regarding anymore.” Her words were soft and heartfelt, not full of pity or in any way demeaning. While speaking Abriella had reached over and gently taken Yael’s hand in her own. She wanted her friend to know that she was safe and that no one took what had happened with Gabriel lightly. “However, I selected one of my personal guards that I truly believe can understand your viewpoint more than you might expect. While it will take some patience from both of you, I believe you can help one another to see that the world is not such a dark place as you have come to see it. Do not let his gruff and stoic exterior intimidate you, I promise you he is a lot softer than he first appears.” She winked with a smile, and when she continued her voice held affection for her guard. “Stoic is I believe one of his middle names, but he is also a fierce protector and that is what you also need during this time of recovery. And Leander remembers what coming out of the dark of a prison can feel like.” While he’d agreed to do this and even wanted to, Leandre was still having second thoughts while he stood talking to some of the others during what felt more like an awards speech than an introduction. Deciding it was too late to back out now and not look like a monumental jackass, he took a deep breath and hoped for the best as he stepped through the doorway into the grand dining room where everyone was gathered. Rather than being in his fighting leathers as Thenasus had done, Leandre was in a suit from the human realm, with a crisp white shirt underneath. He had decided to forgo the tie for the day and left the top couple of buttons on the white shirt he wore undone. It was his hope that this would help the female he was charged with protecting and guiding to relax if he didn’t look quite so formal, but he couldn’t be as relaxed as some of the others who would come later. That was only around those he knew very well. According to Brie, Yael was more akin to a scared mouse than an Angelic or Nephilim warrior, which is what she had been for centuries.

As he walked towards the table, Leandre saw Yael’s reaction and couldn't say he disagreed with his friend and Queen. Yael was also absolutely stunning with fine and elegant features on her narrow face, eyes the most beautiful shade of hazel that seemed to change color as he neared her and the light changed, and hair a shade off of auburn; and nothing like he expected. From the trepidation he could see in her entire demeanor, he was glad he wore the suit over his uniform of the Guard. As nervous as she appeared sitting there, almost clinging to Abriella’s hand, in his full regalia, she might have passed out. Leandre knew a thing about torture and fear, he would not want to put her ill at ease, especially at their first meeting. What he had endured had been weeks, hers had been years. While he understood some of what she had endured, in ways he could not know how she had withstood all she had while maintaining a modicum of sanity.

Sliding through a small break in the table made for just that, Leandre bowed to her but kept his eyes on her face. "Lady Yael, I may not be as relaxed as some of the others in Imperium, but I promise you will always be safe with me and we will work through it all together." He brought the back of her hand to his lips and Lee swore he heard her make a small squeak. His eyes cut over to Abriella slowly as he stood back up, maybe he did want to know exactly “how bad” it had been; something he had previously chosen not to know thinking it would be better for Yael to tell him.

While he wasn't as big as Thenasus, Leandre was also a massive warrior. Broad shoulders, tall, and powerful, Yael believed him to be even larger than Gabriel. It was hard to trust he would not hurt her like her old commander had. Even with the calm and peacefulness she had seen in his oceanic blue eyes, it was hard for her not to feel fear coiling in her belly. It was all she could do not to recoil when he’d taken her hand, then the feel of his lips and the scruff of his goatee against her skin had created a whole other sensation she hadn’t felt before. Outside of Gabriel, the few other angels and Nephilim she interacted with as part of her responsibilities with the Angelic Legion, and those males who had been part of her mission, Yael had been around very few males. Abriella’s brother Cruz and their friend Arch were the only two with regularity, and they were the only two that she trusted. Trusting this new one would take some time.

When Leandre had taken his seat, Yael tried to give him a soft smile, but she wasn’t sure how it actually turned out due to her nerves. She figured it must not have been too bad because Abriella squeezed her hand and Leandre nodded towards her with a small smile of his own. She had a feeling that might be the most he ever did since it earned a raised brow, but pleased look, from Abriella. Yael had to admit she did like the look of it on him, his chestnut colored hair long enough to be bruising his eyebrow on the side he had it parted to giving him an almost boyish charm to his otherwise rugged face. Definitely handsome.

Abriella watched Yael carefully. She also caught the look that Leandre had thrown her, and knowing him as well as she did told her that he was going to want to know more than what she’d told him in their previous conversations. It had been her hope that Yael could be the one to divulge that information, but it might be better if she did. That way there would not be any accidental upsets that could cause things to slide backwards, or worse. There would be time for that later after everyone had gotten settled.

Once Leandre was settled and Yael’s racing heart seemed to have calmed, Abriella revealed a surprise. "I know there are some special circumstances that have made you feel like no one can understand your lack of experience in areas others have, especially relationship wise.” Yael started to get nervous once more as Abriella started another introduction. Her breath stuttered and her eyes glanced furtively around. Did everyone know, were they all laughing at her the way that Gabriel had? Would they all judge her and look down on her? Yael’s breath quickened and her heart started pounding, how had she agreed to this? Was it too late to go back to the Sanctuary in New Orleans?

Leandre’s hand found the top of Yael’s on the table, gently laying atop it, and she found it calming and reassuring, somehow. The warmth of it seemed to seep into her veins and fight the fear that had been trying to course through them. “There is another here in Imperium that is much like you. He too has felt like an outsider at times, but knows that we all love him regardless and that it doesn’t define him. A Horseman and my cousin, he is also one of the gentlest souls I know when not on the battlefield. Deacon, Horseman of Famine, specifically asked to work with you and Lee, so you will not feel alone in those areas where you feel no one could understand." Abriella gave Yael a soft and warm smile, wishing she could ease the pain and fear she knew her friend felt. Between Leandre and Deacon, there were probably no others who truly could understand what she was feeling or what she had endured.

Like Leandre, Deacon had opted for a suit and no tie. When Deacon had told Lee he'd wanted to work with them, at first the Demonic Nephilim had seemed insulted that Deacon might think that he couldn't handle a simple Nephilim who was having trouble adjusting to a life free from torture and fear at the hands of her former commander. That was until Deacon explained she was a virgin, something Deacon had learned from his own father. Then it sank in, Deacon was probably one of the very few in the realm who might understand other than a full Angel, and no one was going to have her working with one of those anytime soon.

In fact, the final details of them working together had been made for them to tag team things while Brie was getting the women that morning. Cruz was to have told her as they were all seated for breakfast. Deacon was originally supposed to have been a backup, but knowing how he'd felt through the years about his homosexuality and lack of relationships, he felt that he was in the unique position to help. Leandre had agreed the more that they talked and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have an extra set of hands when one of them was busy. Now that he’d seen how skittish she really was, Leandre thought they were both going to have their hands full until she felt that she was truly safe in Imperium.

When Deacon entered the room, Yael didn’t feel the same fear that she had for Leandre. Deacon’s whole demeanor was more relaxed, and had she not known he was a Horseman, she would never have guessed. He looked more like a model: tall with wide shoulders and narrow hips, chiseled features, with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. He looked more like he should be walking a runway in Milan rather than a warrior and Horseman. She knew he started out a Nephilim the same as she was, but she had never seen another one anywhere close to looking like he did.

"Hi, Yael. I want to help in any way I can. Friend, confidant, shoulder, brother, whatever it is that you need. Leandre and I have different styles, but we agree that you will always be safe with us both and we will work together and with you to help you heal from all you've been through." Deacon's style was definitely less formal and more warm, and it earned him a small smile. It was a start, and it was good enough for now.

Leandre still had his hand lightly on top of hers, and it was helping Yael feel calmer as another large male was now seated next to her. She didn’t know why, except maybe she did believe that he would protect her and she was safe with him. That combined with Deacon being so relaxed and friendly, and looking less intimidating that either Leandre or Thenasus had Yael smiling back at him, and then over at Leandre. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. She could do this. Even as stoic as Leandre seemed to be, he didn’t seem to be judging her and he hadn’t been harsh in the slightest. He was just more formal. Formal she could do. And he was watching with what looked like genuine concern in his eyes, maybe he didn’t use his words but it was clear that there was more going on under the surface..

Abriella waited for Deacon to get comfortable after sitting, and she noticed that when he did, Yael ended up with each of the men holding one of her hands. She didn’t think she’d ever seen the other Nephilim actually look relaxed until then. But, then again, she wasn’t sure until that moment that Yael had felt safe. With Deacon on one side and Leandre on the other, Yael had to know that there was no way that even if Gabriel had walked into the dining room that he could do anything to her. Even if her grandfather, Div, tried, she wasn’t sure that he’d get too far with those two. Even better than her think it was that YAEL seemed to think it; and after centuries of living in what had to be constant fear, to see her relax was a relief.

8 notes · View notes

fluentmoviequoter · 24 days ago

Text

Want to Be a Prince

Requested Here!

Pairing: Jim Street x fem!reader

Summary: You play the part of a princess at Lila Kay's party and meet the prince you've been dreaming of.

Warnings: fluff, Street gets nervous and flustered

Word Count: 1.6k+ words

Masterlist Directory | Jim Street Masterlist | Request Info\Fandom List

“You have got to be the best parents in the world,” you tell your newest clients, Deacon and Annie Kay. “If my parents had done stuff like this, I never would have moved out.”

Deacon chuckles as Annie asks, “Then how would you have become royalty?”

“Can’t deny the call of a tiara,” you reply. “But, seriously, thank you for hiring me and Lila is going to love this. All the kids will.”

“Thanks to you,” Deacon points out. “Lila’s had a rough year this is quite literally the least we could do.”

“No, Mr. Kay, it isn’t. Most parents wouldn’t even consider going to lengths like this just to make their kids feel better. Lila won the parental lottery.”

“When you’re done feeding our egos,” Annie teases, “your castle is ready, and the makeover team is here.”

“Thank you.”

Deacon checks his phone, then says, “Street’s dropping off the bakery order. He just left work, so he should be by in an hour or so.”

“Did you get him that cupcake he wanted to try?” Annie asks.

“He’s a grown man, he can buy his own cupcake.”

“That sounded like a yes to me,” you murmur.

Deacon sighs and nods. “I did.”

“Good friends, too,” you muse as you rearrange the princess dresses beside you.

“Okay, can I run through everything one more time?” Annie asks.

Deacon smiles and gestures for her to go ahead. She’s got the party planned out wonderfully, but she wants everything to be perfect for her daughter, and you admire that. Watching how she and Deacon interact, their words and actions filled with love for each other and their family, makes you smile. You want that. But if your better half wanted to arrive a little faster, you wouldn’t argue.

“The girls will get dropped off at 3 after school, they’ll come into this magical wonderland and meet the makeover team, pick dresses, get their hair and makeup done, and then head outside for a royal dinner. They’ll see the castle, be welcomed by a real princess… I think we’ve got everything,” Annie lists.

“You did a great job, Annie,” Deacon tells her before kissing her forehead. He checks his watch, then asks, “Do you need to get ready?”

You lean back and check the clock on their wall, partially blocked by pink streamers, then nod to yourself. “I do. Need me to do anything else?”

“You’ve already done more than enough.”

“Why didn’t you stay at Disney?” Annie inquires.

As you stand, you smile and answer, “I felt like I didn’t have enough time. I loved it, but kids were in and out so fast, getting rushed by the staff, that the magic was gone. That’s why I do this, so it didn’t make sense to me to stay there.”

Annie nods and muses, “Worked out for us.”

“I hope so.”

You leave them to finish setting up and find your items arranged neatly in their master bathroom. Changing out of your clothes, you put on the items you wear under the pink princess gown you chose for tonight’s party. Then, you do your hair and makeup, focusing intently on the mirror to ensure your look is precise and aligns with your outfit. After rubbing body-glitter-infused lotion over your collarbones and down your arms, you step into your dress to slide it over your hips before placing your arms into the off-the-shoulder sleeves. With your shoes on and everything packed away, you take a deep breath and exit the Kays’ bathroom.

“That’s why you’re my favorite,” a voice you don’t recognize says.

As you return to the living room, Annie whispers, “Whoa. You look amazing.”

Deacon turns toward you, and you see bakery boxes on the table and Deacon's friend Street. You remembered his name after Deacon said it, and now you understand why. You assumed he was a cop, too, but you weren’t expecting him to be so cute. Or to stare at you like he just walked into Narnia and you’re a mythical creature.

“Hello,” you greet softly.

“Oh, hi,” he replies, blinking quickly. “You’re a princess.”

You nod. “Sometimes.”

He keeps his eyes on you and says, “I dressed up for Sam’s last party. My costume wasn’t as good.”

“You didn’t work at Disneyland before you started freelancing,” Deacon points out.

“I bet you were great,” you tell him.

Street clears his throat and looks at Deacon, recoiling slightly at Deacon’s knowing look. “Do you need help with anything else?” he asks, hoping that Deacon says yes and he has an excuse to stay close to you for longer.

“Actually,” Deacon begins.

“I’ll do it,” Street interrupts.

You laugh under your breath, and Street feels like a kid at Disney for the first time. He doesn’t even know if you perform well as a princess, but you look like one, and Street can’t seem to look away from you.

“We need to set up the dinner table,” Deacon says. “Which is outside,” he adds when Street doesn’t move away from you.

“Maybe I should be a prince for Halloween,” Street muses as he follows Deacon.

“You should,” you agree.

Street smiles at you before he closes the door, and Annie looks at you with the same knowing look as Deacon gave Street.

“What?” you inquire.

“Nothing,” she says lightly. “You want his number?”

You consider acting shocked for a moment, then look down at your dress and answer, “I’ll ask him.”

With fifteen minutes left, you walk outside to find your place in the castle Deacon had built in his backyard. Street looks up from the princess-themed table and smiles at you. You realize you haven’t introduced yourself and walk to the table before offering your name. Street shakes your hand, and everything feels different when you pull away from him.

Glancing at Deacon, you’re glad to see him occupied with chairs before you ask, “Could I… could I get your number?”

“Yes,” Street answers. It comes too quick, but he doesn’t even care enough to be embarrassed as you smile and push your perfectly curled hair over your shoulder, exposing your glittery collarbone.

“I don’t have my phone,” you tell Street.

He looks at your face as he pulls his phone from his pocket, unlocks it, and hands it to you. Once your name and number have been saved, you return it to him and relish in feeling his fingers brushing over yours.

“I’m so glad I picked up those cakes,” Street murmurs.

“Does that mean you’ll reimburse me for the cupcake?” Deacon interjects. He waves his hand and adds, “I’ll ask at the wedding.”

“I have to go be a princess,” you tell Street.

“I have to find an excuse to stay.”

“It’s Lila’s party, Street,” Deacon points out.

Street nods, his eyes on you.

“Fine, you can stay, but I’m putting you to work as a waiter.”

“Whatever you say, Deac.”

“Wow!” Lila exclaims, exiting her house dressed in a blue and purple gown with sparkly eyeshadow and her hair braided delicately. “A castle!”

The girls behind her awe at the castle, wide-eyed as they look around.

“Hello, my fellow princesses!” you call, waving from the castle tower. You move your hand to your necklace and widen your eyes to compliment, “Your gowns are beautiful, true beauties, just as their wearers.”

As the kids rush toward the castle, eager to meet the princess, Street watches from Deacon’s side as you smile, lower gently, and accept hugs with a grace he’s never experienced. He knows it’s an act, but it has to be an extension of you. It makes him desperate to learn more about you. To learn everything about you.

“Can you talk to animals?” Lila asks.

You smile and whisper, “We can all talk to animals, the key is learning to be quiet and patient enough to listen for them to reply.”

“Deac, when you said wedding earlier,” Street begins, leaning toward Deacon.

“Don’t,” Deacon interrupts. “You two figure that out later.”

“Gladly,” Street replies before straightening.

You walk with the princesses to the tables Deacon and Street set up, whispering with them and complimenting their bows as they reach the table. When you meet Street’s eyes, you smile and curtsey before sitting beside Lila.

“Where’s your prince?” she asks.

“He’s saving good people,” you answer. “I see him often, but dinner with princesses is always a treat.”

Deacon and Street serve macarons and chocolate pastries around the table before dinner. When Street reaches you, he whispers, “Princess.”

You smile widely, then quickly replace it with your practiced princess expression.

“I’ve never wanted to be a prince before today, Deac,” Street says.

“The right woman will do that to you.”

“You’re so pretty,” Street blurts out.

You laugh and look down at your t-shirt and leggings. “Thank you.”

“I mean, you were beautiful in the dress, but… it’s just you, you’re gorgeous.”

“And you’re a prince.”

Street hesitates, and you take his hand, smiling your genuine smile as you ask, “Are you going to ask me out or do I have to do it?”

“Where do you want to go? Give me something to work with.”

You brush your thumb over his knuckles and murmur, “You’ve got it.”

Street nods. “Will you go out with me? We can get dinner and then try the best cupcake in the world.”

“That sounds perfect,” you reply. “I’d love to.”

Street sighs, and you bump your shoulder against him as he walks you out of Deacon and Annie’s house. “I wasn’t going to say no, why are you acting relieved?”

“I’m so nervous,” he confesses.

You turn toward him and place your hand on his cheek. As you kiss Street, he feels like he could be a prince. As long as you’re his princess, Street knows who and what he is. And what he's going to be for Halloween.

Bonus:

“I guess the cupcake paid off,” Deacon says as Annie watches you and Street out the window.

“Only you would take credit for what just happened, David,” Annie replies, smiling.

“I knew he’d have a crush on her. Like I told him, the right woman turns you into a prince.”

#jim street x fem!reader #jim street fluff #jim street fic #jim street imagine #jim street x reader #swat cbs #swat x reader #swat oneshot #swat fic #fem!reader #requests #hanna writes✯

60 notes · View notes

niteshade925 · 6 months ago

Text

Apr 11, Xi'an, China, Beilin Museum (Stele Forest):

I must preface this post with an unfortunate news: because the Museum dug up a Tang dynasty taimiao/太庙 (imperial ancestral shrine) within the Museum area itself while renovating, all of the actual steles have been moved in order to begin excavation, and all we saw were ink rubbings of the steles. I will provide some pics I found online of the actual steles where possible.

Jingjiao Stele/大秦景教流行中国碑:

First up is one of the most famous steles of the Beilin Museum, known in the West as the Jingjiao Stele or the Nestorian Stele. The actual name is 大秦景教流行中国碑, which translates to "Memorial of the Propagation in China of Jingjiao from Daqin". Jingjiao/景教 is the ancient Chinese name of Church of the East, and Daqin/大秦 is the ancient Chinese name for Eastern Roman Empire. The stele was first erected in 781 AD (Tang dynasty, during reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang).

This stele is not only valuable because of what it records, but also because it has Syriac on it too:

According to Wikipedia this is what the Syriac text on the bottom says:

"In the year of the Greeks one thousand and ninety-two, the Lord Yazedbuzid, Priest and Vicar-episcopal of Cumdan the royal city, son of the enlightened Mailas, Priest of Balach a city of Turkestan, set up this tablet, whereon is inscribed the Dispensation of our Redeemer, and the preaching of the apostolic missionaries to the King of China. ["The Priest Lingpau", in Chinese] "Adam the Deacon, son of Yazedbuzid, vicar-episcopal. The Lord Sergius, Priest and Vicar-episcopal. Sabar Jesus, Priest. Gabriel, Priest, Archdeacon, and Ecclesiarch of Cumdan and Sarag."

Here's the full view of the actual stele and the full text:

Letter about a Stomachache/肚痛帖:

This is my personal favorite, by famous Tang dynasty calligrapher Zhang Xu/张旭 (685 ? - 759 ?). This work is hailed as one of the greatest examples of Caoshu/Cursive Script/草书.

The actual contents are quite funny, however, and it roughly reads:

忽肚痛不可堪，

"Suddenly I have an unbearable stomachache,

不知是冷熱所致，

I don't know if it's because of the cold or the heat,

欲服大黃湯，

I wanted to drink some medicine,

冷熱俱有益。

Which should alleviate the symptoms regardless of the cause.

如何為計，

What should I do,

非臨床。"

Not near bed."

Because Zhang Xu may have been trying to hold it back while writing, you can see feel how his stomachache progressed in the way he wrote everything. Caoshu truly is an expressive script. In fact it's so expressive, the last three characters (on the very left) have become unsolved mysteries in academia. In my own translation above, I just directly translated the three characters that most academics think is on the last line.

Logograms Making up a Picture--Kuixing Pointing at the Dipper/集字魁星点斗图:

This is a very interesting stele, in that it's a carving of a painting that's made up of Chinese characters, which evolved from pictures themselves. The painting is by Ma Dezhao/马德昭, and the stele was erected between 1862 - 1874 (Qing dynasty). It depicts the Kuixing/魁星 (translated as "god of literature", but he's not the only god of literature btw) standing on the back of an Ao/鳌 (mythical turtle creature) and pointing at the character 斗, which is short for the Big Dipper.

The characters making up the god of literature reads:

“正心修身，克己複禮” (written out above in red-orange-yellow-green-cyan-blue-purple-magenta), which roughly translates to "rectify your mind, improve yourself, have self-restraint, and practice good manners".

This painting subject also has a legend behind it. One version says that when Kuixing was a human, he was a talented and learned scholar who received first place (called zhuangyuan/状元) in the imperial exams, but because his ugly appearance scared the empress, he was chased out of the palace. Out of anger at how he was treated, he threw himself into the sea and drowned. The Jade Emperor pitied him, so he gave the scholar a red brush, and made him watch over all imperial examinations. Thus Kuixing became the god of all students and aspiring scholars.

Logograms Hidden in the Picture--Bamboo Poem about Guanyu/关帝诗竹:

This stele erected by Han Zai/韩宰 in 1716 (Qing dynasty) is similar to the previous one in that it's also a picture made up of Chinese characters, but it's more hidden within the picture.

It's a poem about Guanyu/关羽, the famous general during Three Kingdoms period (220 AD - 280 AD), and it reads:

不謝東君意，

I shall not be thanking the spring wind's kindness directly, ("spring wind" here refers to Cao Cao/曹操, who treated Guanyu well)

丹青獨立名。

But shall leave my name in history as an upright loyal person.

莫嫌孤葉淡，

Although the leaves may be sparse,

終久不凋零。

They will never wither and fall.

The poem was supposed written by Guanyu before he left Cao Cao to reunite with his sworn brother Liu Bei/刘备, and uses the imagery of bamboo--both in a visual sense and in a literary sense--as a metaphor for Guanyu's unwavering loyalty.

One Stroke "Longevity"/一笔“壽”:

Again by Ma Dezhao/马德昭, this time in 1870. I must say I like his ideas. This is an abstract calligraphy piece of the character for longevity/壽, written in one stroke, but is actually composed of the numbers 九十九 (99) and 二十一 (21) (read from top down). Because 99 + 21 = 120, and if anyone can live to be 120, they will have lived a long life indeed.

Pine and Red Crowned Crane/松鹤图:

By painter Zhu Jiyi/朱集义 in 1680 (Qing dynasty). Pine in traditional Chinese imagery means resilience and longevity, and red crowned crane also symbolize longevity, especially in Daoist imagery where they are the mount of choice for many immortals. Together they make up the word 松鹤延年, which means "pine and crane brings longevity".

Dongpo's Authentic Work/东坡真迹:

This is an authentic calligraphy work by Su Shi/苏轼 (1037 AD - 1101 AD), whose pen name is Dongpo/东坡. The stele was erected in 1081 AD. Here he wrote down Returning Homeward/归去来兮辞 by Tao Yuanming/陶渊明 (365 AD - 427 AD).

Xie Fangbao's Epitaph/解方保墓志:

Epitaph of Xie Fangbao/解方保, a Sui dynasty (581 AD - 618 AD) general who died in 610 AD. Ancient Chinese epitaphs have a two-piece structure, the tablet where the epitaph is engraved (right), and a protective stone covering that has the deceased's name and title engraved on top (left), surrounded by engravings of imagery that represent the universe. This epitaph is considered to be an excellent example of Sui dynasty epitaphs and calligraphy.

#2024 china #china #xi'an #beilin museum #stele forest #chinese culture #chinese history #chinese calligraphy #calligraphy #chinese art

111 notes · View notes

writing-till-i-am-dead · 7 months ago

Text

Stargoth oneshot - Ice Skating

“Seriously, Deacon?” Chase grumbled. “You just had to get close to the pony at the fair.”

Deacon glared at Chase before lifting up his bandaged arm, healing from being broken by an angry miniature pony. “Hey, remember! You can’t talk! I jinxed you earlier!”

“Ya, I think that cancelled out when you yelled my name out in pain a little over three times when that pony kicked you.”

Chase sighed and shook his head. “Guess I’ll be doing the work on my own for a bit until you heal up..”

Deacon sank into his bed, grumbling under his bed.

Chase looked over at Bronze. “Keep an eye on him?”

Bronze shrugged. “Got nothing better to do.”

Chase picked up Silver and smiled at her. “Ready for this?”

She smiled and did a curtsy. “Always!”

Chase reached for a random book, merely glancing at the title before inserting the key.

When he opened his eyes, he felt like he was in Christmas Town from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

He looked at his outfit. A skin tight blue suit with a fur collar, puffballs, and a mid length cape with a snowflake theme.

“Another great outfit, Silver!” he said happily. He took a step and nearly fell. That’s when he realized he’s also wearing ice skates and he’s on a frozen pond.

“Oh shoot. I haven’t ice skated in years..” He slapped his face and shook his head. “No matter! For I am Chase Hollow, and I can do anything!”

He attempted to glide over the ice, but instead face planted. That was when he heard skrrrrch coming his way. He looked up and really wish he hadn’t.

“Buddy,” he said bluntly.

“Did you seriously choose a story like this when you don’t even know how to ice skate?” Buddy asked, raising a smug eyebrow.

“I know how to skate! Just.. rusty!” he grumbled as he struggled to get to his feet.

“Mhm..”

Chase finally managed to get to his feet and looked at Buddy.

Ugh. One of the most frustrating things about hating this absolute tool is that Chase finds him extremely hot.

He can’t help it! Goth guys have always been his type!

And with Buddy’s low cut black shirt with navy trim and a black and white cloak barely covering his shoulders to show off the fishnet undershirt he was wearing underneath.. ya, Chase felt like his heart would burst out of his chest.

Whatever! The black snowflake tiara that he was wearing was lame and that’s all he decided to focus on.

“So,” Buddy started. “Where’s your little sidekick?”

“Huh?”

“You never seem to go into a story without him anymore.”

“He’s.. busy for a bit.”

“Busy? If you have the responsibility of being a key holder, you can’t afford to be busy.”

Chase rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Go outside and touch grass. Maybe that’ll make you less of a prick,” he said before turning and skating away.

The entire kingdom seemed to be on ice, all the villagers also wearing ice skates as they made their way around town.

Doesn’t that get exhausting, though? Chase wondered.

He looked around, wondering what he had to do to trigger the story.

That’s when he spotted it. A sign for The Royal Ice Skating Challenge.

“That seems plot important,” he murmured to himself as he skated closer to the sign to get a better look at it.

“In the Icicle Forest. Where’s that?” he thought. He looked around, hoping to find a road of some sort. But no. No land in sight. Not even a forest. Just. Ice. He felt like he was playing in a superflat Minecraft world right now.

“The prince!” Shouted one villager. “He’s here!”

Here we go… Chase thought as he mentally prepared himself to deal with another boring prince.

“Hello!” he said to the overly sparkly man (and Chase loves sparkles, but this guy was seriously overdoing it).

“Ah! Hello. You are a baker?” he asked, gesturing at what the heroine character must’ve been wearing.

“Yepppp. That’s me. Listen, I was wondering if I could join your ice skating challenge thing!”

“Oh! Why of c-!”

But he was cut off by Gothy McGothFace, who skated to the prince’s side.

“Really, sir? Are you really going to let a peasant join the challenge?”

“I.. well, why wouldn’t I, Iclyn?”

Iclyn? Chase thought. What an on the nose name. What, is my name something like Frosta?

“Frosta!” shouted a voice from behind him. “Come inside and help serve the customers!”

Chase groaned slightly and glared at ‘IcLyN’ before skating off to whoever was calling him.

“I gotta find out where that Ice Skating Competition will be..” he said quietly to himself. He saw the lady who called to him, who was shaking her head.

“Your father is getting tired of you always running off, Frosta.”

“Oh, um, sorry.. mom?” he guessed.

She sighed and ruffled his hair. “It’s all right. Just get to your station.”

He touched the spot she had ruffled, processing the motherly affection before forcing himself to snap out of it.

She’s not your real mom, Chase. He forced himself to think.

“Hey, mom. Where’s the Icicle Forest from here?”

“Now, Frosta, why would you need to know that?”

“Uh. Some competition.”

“The Royal Ice Skating Competition? Frosta, honey, why would you want to do that? You know there’s no possible way you can win.”

“What?! But mom-!” Chase had heard those words too many times. ‘Chase, you are never going to be a singer. Give up.’ The only person who believed in him 100% was.. his mom.

“No, mom. I will win! And I’ll prove it to you when I bring home the trophy.”

“Trophy? The prize is a tiara.”

“Um.. I’ll bring home the tiara!”

She sucked in her lips for a moment, furrowing her eyebrows before sighing. “But Frosta. Your skating is.. mediocre at best.”

Even though he wasn’t really Frosta and this wasn’t really his mom, he had to admit, that stung.

“Yknow what? I don’t need you! I’ll find the forest on my own!”

He turned and bolted out the door. He tried to slow down when he panicked at his speed, but had too much momentum and slammed into another house.

“Ow..”

“Ohhh,” said that annoyingly familiar voice. “That’s gotta sting.”

“You’re not as cool as you think you are.”

Buddy arched an eyebrow. “Pun not intended, I should hope?”

“No, pun absolutely intended. I’m no coward.”

“I..” he shook his head and pinched his brow. “Nevermind.”

Chase got back to his feet and brushed off his clothes, even if there was no dust to brush off.

“I just need to find where the Icicle Forest is and I’m all set.”

“Mhm. Well, good luck with that.”

“Hey, hey, hey!! Do you know where it is?”

He tilted his head and arched his eyebrow. “Why, I don’t know. Do I? I don’t have the Helper Key.”

“Ughhhh…”

He watched as Buddy skated off into the distance. He looked around the town for some sort of map.

“Do you know where I can find a map to the Icicle Forest?” he asked one villager.

“Oh Frosta, why would you need to get there?”

“Because I’m joining the competition.”

“Silly girl. You know you won’t win.”

That was basically every conversation he had when he asked for help.

People seriously treat me, er, her, pretty shitty.

He groaned and leaned against a building wall, sitting on the freezing ground. Just when he was about to give up hope, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Sweetie.”

He turned to the voice and saw a little old lady standing over him.

“Oh, uh-“

She sighed. “Your mother told me about your plan.”

He gave her a suspicious look. “You going to try and talk me out of it?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “No, no. I think it’s a great idea. But you should practice on your figure skating a bit more.”

He felt like letting out a long groan. “But the competition-!”

“Is tomorrow. You can spend all day and night practicing. Listen to grandma.”

“I… right. Sorry.. grandma.”

She helped him up and he looked around anxiously. “Where do I practice?”

“Anywhere, sweetie. The world is your rink.”

He thought about that for a moment. He was starting to realize how badly his ankles were hurting from skating this entire time. Geez, that hurts.. But he forced himself to ignore it.

He went to find a clear area, which wasn’t too hard. (Seriously, this place is so empty, it’s almost eerie)

He closed his eyes and tried to remember any figure skating he may have seen. But the only form of figure skating he’s ever seen was from Yuri On Ice.

He tried to lift his leg up as high as he could, but he felt like his back was going to snap.

He heard a laugh behind him and he whipped his head around, expecting to see that annoying fucker, but instead he saw the prince from earlier.

“You are.. quite bad,” he said, laughing.

Chase crossed his arms and glared at him. “Thanks,” he said sarcastically.

“No, I mean it in a playful way. Say, would you like some help?”

He gave him a confused look. “Why would you help me?”

“In all honesty.. I would rather have anyone win but Iclyn.”

“Really? Why?”

“She said is she wins she will make me her husband. I.. would rather not have that.”

“Oh. Oh! So, like, team up to make sure she loses?”

“That is what I was hoping for,” he said, nodding.

“Well, that benefits me too. So I’m in!”

Him and the prince shook hands.

The rest of that day, the prince helped Chase on forms and jumps and all that other stuff. He had to admit, this was probably the best prince he’s met, even if he was overly sparkly.

But Chase couldn’t help the feeling that someone was watching them. But everytime he looked around, he didn’t see anyone.

They practiced until it was pitch black outside, the moonlight reflecting on the ice, casting a faint silver glow.

“You’re amazing, Frosta,” the prince said. “I know you’ll do great tomorrow.”

Chase smiled at the praise. After a whole day of people beating him down, the compliments really helped lift his spirits.

“Thanks. I should be heading home now. To rest.”

“Yes. Have a good rest of your night.”

Chase waved goodbye as he skated off, smiling. That was actually really fun.

As he approached his house, he felt a figure loom over him.

He turned and just as he did, Buddy pinned him to the wall.

“What were you doing?”

“Hey! Let me go! I was just practicing my skating!”

“With the prince?”

“Ya! What, is that not part of the story?!”

“It.. is. But you were really enjoying yourself out there.”

“Ya, I wa- Wait. Were you spying on us?!”

“Of course I was. Nothing goes unseen,” he hissed.

“Ugh, you’re such a creep!” he exclaimed before shoving him away.

“Ugh. Whatever. I don’t care, anyways!”

He watched as Buddy skated away. Chase clenched his fists and huffed.

But you do care.. he thought.

Inside the house was a hard wood floor. Where they got the wood to even build these places was beyond Chase’s knowledge, but he didn’t thinking about it as he collapsed onto the floor, his feet and ankles swollen and sore.

So tired…

Before he even knew it, he found himself passed out on the floor, snoring away.

By the morning, he was woken up to a gentle shaking. He slowly opened his eyes and found the old lady from earlier waking him up.

“Frosta. Wake up. You need to prepare for the challenge.”

“Ughhh…” he sat up and rubbed his eyes, feeling like absolute shit. His feet were still sore and his knees were shaky.

He sat up and rubbed his ankles and calves in an attempt to soothe the absolute pain, and to apologize to them for the fact that he’s about to put them through more torture.

He stood up reluctantly and the old lady handed him a slate of ice.

“It’s a map to the Icicle Forest. Stay safe, Frosta. I believe in you!”

He smiled at the encouragement. “Thanks. I’ll, uh.. I’ll see you when I win!”

He put on the ice skates and followed the map. There was nothing out in this field. The most interesting thing he’s managed to spot it is that there is an ocean. But no landmarks, which was weird.

Until he saw it in the distance.

A forest made of ice spikes jutting upwards, and instead of grass, there was huge, random patches of snow.

He entered the strange biome and looked around but seeing nothing specifically. But this place did cast some weird shadows.

“Now where in the forest is this competition..?”

He felt like he was wandering for hours. And then he looked up at the sky and realized he hadbeen wandering for hours.

“NOOO! Where AM I?!”

“Lost?” a voice purred behind him.

He turned and internally groaned. “Buddy.”

“Heh. Of course you would manage to get lost so easily.”

“Oh ya? And what are you doing here?”

“You were taking so long to arrive. I got curious. The competition starts in an hour, yknow?”

“Ya, I know,” he hissed. “Just lead me to there! Don’t you want to get this story over with too?”

Buddy thought for a moment. “I dunno. The ending to this story is rather unappealing to me.”

“What? You lose? That happens to you in every story.”

“It’s not just that I lose. There’s some more to it.”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind,” he said, shaking his head. “Forget about it.”

Chase watches as Buddy seemed to glide over the ice like it was nothing. Like he was almost weightless.

“Cmon. Just lead the way, please.”

He narrows his eyes before shaking his head and sighing. “Fine. Follow me..”

Chase jumped a little, which nearly cost him his balance as he followed him.

“Man, this place is a lot colder than the village.”

“Yes, well, with an outfit like your’s, it’s no surprise you’re getting so cold so easily.”

“Hey! Your’s isn’t any better!”

“Well, I’m naturally cold, so I have nothing to worry about.”

“Tsk. Prick..” Chase grumbled.

He attempted to just ignore the cold, but the deeper and deeper they went in, the colder it got. Even Buddy seemed affected by it, as he was inching bit by bit closer to Chase, shivering slightly.

“Thought you were naturally cold, Mr. Emo Snowman,” Chase said sarcastically.

“Shut up. We’re almost there.”

“Geez, why did they pick the coldest area for this stupid contest? This is some bull!”

“Whining will get you no where.”

“Oh, it’ll get me somewhere, all right. It’ll get me right on your nerves.. I-I’m getting on your nerves, is what I’m trying to say.”

“Ughhh! You are so stupid..”

Chase glared at him and shoved him into the snow. “I don’t need your sour attitude! Or your insults!”

“Why you little-!”

But before Buddy had a chance to get up and shove him back, there was a loud sound of skates cutting along ice.

“You two!” said a man in knightly clothes. “Are you here for the skating contest?”

“Ummm… yes,” Chase said, quickly fixing his hair. “Yes we are!”

“Well, hurry along! It starts soon!”

Chase scrambled to follow after him, Buddy doing the same thing, shooting cold glares in Chase’s direction.

They reached an opening in the ‘forest’. Fairylights hug from icicle to icicle, illuminating the area with a glow bouncing off the ice.

Chase spotted the prince off in the distance and he smiled widely and waved over to him, Buddy glaring daggers into him and smacking Chase’s hand down.

“Ah-? Hey!”

But Buddy just rolled his eyes and skated away, as if he wasn’t being infuriating on purpose.

Chase went up to the prince.

“Are you ready, Frosta?”

“Born ready!”

“Thank you for working so hard on this. Truly. I am so scared I’d have to marry Iclyn.”

“Yaaa.. say, what is so bad about her, anyways?”

“She’s so possessive and clingy, despite the fact that we’re not even together. She’s aggressive to anyone who shows any interest in me. It’s all so annoying.”

“I see..” Weird. Buddy is also kinda like that..

He looked out at the opening, fresh ice, skaters preparing for their own routines.

“Are you ready, Frosta?”

“Ya!”

“Are you pumped?!”

“Ya!!”

He looked out at the opening again and saw Buddy going out. He’s about to do his routine.

I’m actually kind of curious..

He decided to watch intensely. And.. perhaps he felt himself getting a little too immersed in the dance as he watch Buddy dip low to the ice, spinning around as his dark hair flowed in the wind, sweat flying from his face and his sharp blue eyes hard with focusing.

And.. ya, he never got so excited by a figure skating leaping, but somehow Buddy managed to absolutely grab his full attention.

After the performance, Chase looked around, seeing if there was anyone who was absolutely hypnotized by the performance. But, instead, everyone looked bored.

“It was kind of a boring performance.”

“I’ve seen those same things but done much more interestingly.”

Chase was surprised by everyone’s remarks. Was he the oddball for being so into it? Or is the people being unimpressed just part of the story?

He looked at Buddy’s face and realized..

No.

Those reactions weren’t meant to be part of the story. Buddy’s face said it all. It was a mediocre performance by professional standards.

And Chase could see that Buddy was doing everything he could to suppress the anger. Chase.. knew what that was like. He was often met with the same reactions for his singing. He hated it too.. he hated it a lot..

As the two skated past each other, Chase paused. “Your performance was very impressive, Buddy.”

Buddy paused and clenched his fists before letting out a scoff-laugh. “Yes, thank you, Frosta,” he said back, almost bitterly.

Geez.. just trying to be nice..

Chase skated toward the center and waved out to the crowd. He prepared and struck a pose. He didn’t have a lot of time to create a whole routine. Do, instead he may or may not have.. stolen his.

Yes, that’s right. He, Chase Hollow, had to steal a routine from Yuri On Ice, performing Yuri’s Eros routine. He’s not proud to admit that he’s plagiarizing.

But still. He was having so much fun performing it. He looked over at Buddy while he was performing and he noticed him staring.. really intensely, which did make Chase nervous, causing the performance to get sloppy.

But once he was done, there was an eruption of applause and cheering.

“Yes! Yes! Thank you! I know, I’m amazing!”

He skated over to Buddy, smiling proudly and smugly.

“Was that performance.. from Yuri On Ice?”

“EH-!” He froze, standing there as he processed being called out.

“Weeb…” Buddy murmured before skating off.

…. WHAT A JERK! Wait a minute…

“HOW DID YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT IT WAS FROM UNLESS YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE FROM HEART AS WELL!?” he called out.

He could’ve sworn he saw Buddy’s ears turn red, but he just ignored him.

“Frosta!” he heard a voice yell out from behind him. “The judges announced you as the winner!”

“Really? Wait, but only me and Iclyn performed, was there no one else in the competition-?” he decided to just put it at ‘nevermind’, so stories can be weirdly short and very unspecific or muddy with the details.

The prince held up a gorgeous silver tiara and placed it onto his head.

“Frosta. You are.. fantastic. I’m so proud of you!” The prince blushed slightly.

There’s the rushed romantic feelings. Chase thought.

“I hope you continue to skate!”

“Hm? Well. Thanks. I’ll… do that. But for now, I gotta go show my mom this tiara that I won. She underestimated me and I’m going to rub it in her face.”

“Ah.. well. Have fun with that, Frosta..” he said awkwardly with a crooked smile.

He waved off to the prince. The trek through the forest wasn’t nearly as awful as it was last time, actually knowing where he was supposed to go now. Though, the cold had just hit him, causing him to shiver so hard he nearly lost balance on his skates.

He saw the village in the distance and he nearly burst into tears. His legs were in so much pain and he just wanted to sit down.

As he entered the town, the villagers looked out at him and smiled at him.

“Frosta! We heard about the competition!”

“We’re so proud of you!”

“We knew you could do it!”

Eh?!? You literally had 0 faith in me winning! Don’t you lie to me!

He spotted the bakery Frosta’s mom owned.

Time to go show off my prize! Haha!

But just before he opened the door, a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him aside.

“You..” Buddy said darkly.

“Ah! Hey, what the hell-?!”

“I can’t let this final half of the story play out.”

“What are you talking about! Ugh, let me go!”

But then he noticed the look on Buddy’s face. Almost terrified.

“Buddy? Geez, why are you acting like this? Isn’t this just like every other fairytale ending? What, do I die or something?”

“No, it’s just..”

He was cut off by a blaring trumpet. They turn to see the prince and 2 knights skating into the village.

Frosta’s mom pokes her head out of the shop upon hearing the noise.

She spots Chase and gasps upon seeing the crown.

“Frosta?!”

“Oh, uh.. hey mom! TOLD YOU I’D WIN!!”

“Frosta!” called out the prince, gesturing for him to come forward.

Chase shot one final glare at Buddy before breaking away from him and heading to the prince, ready for this story to finally be over with.

“Hellllo prince,” Chase said, waving.

What happened next, he didn’t expect. The prince grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a hug.

“Woah, uh, personal space there, dude-“

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Huh?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were my long lost fiancé?”

“….HUH?!”

Wait, I’m his what now!?

“Oh, uh, yknow, haha, just, I, um..”

“I can’t believe you had run away.”

“Oh, uhhhhhhhh…”

This is what I get for never reading the stories!!

“But I remember you told me we would reunite.” The prince grasped Chase’s face and pulled him into.. A KISS?!

“PLEGHHH! UGHH, DUDE! WHY?!”

“It was meant to be a.. a kiss to, yknow.. say hello again.”

“STILL! YOU DON’T JUST KISS SOMEONE WITHOUT PERMISSION! UGH! THAT WAS MY FIRST KISS!”

Behind Chase was a thudding noise.

He turns to see Buddy on his knees, sulking dramatically.

“Aw, and what’s up with you, mall goth?!?”

“The kiss was unavoidable,” he said, his voice strained.

“Hah?”

Buddy didn’t answer, instead pulling out his key.

“Hey, where are you going?!”

Buddy didn’t answer before disappearing.

I’ve never seen him react like that to.. anything!

He tightly closed his eyes to think about the matter at hand. He turned to the prince. “You!! At first I thought you were pretty bearable for a prince, but you had to ruin it with your overall lack of care for consent!”

“But, Frosta-“

“Oh, don’t FrOsTa me, you big creep!!”

Chase pulled out his key. “I think I’m done with this story, I’m going home!”

“Wait, but-!”

He didn’t hear what he had to say as he woke up in his bedroom.

“Ughhh… and here I thought that prince wasn’t too bad.”

“Oh, you’re back!” Deacon said, poking his head in. “How was it?”

“It was fine at first! But then the Prince got all grabby. And, honestly, so did Buddy.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well, Buddy grabbed me and pinned me to a wall, like, twice. And he said he didn’t want the story to be complete. Like, huh?! Since when has he never wanted to properly finish a story?!”

“Ok.. and what did the prince do?”

“Well, after that whole thing with Buddy, the prince showed up and made me kiss him!”

“Oh ya. That’s how the story ends, to seal the deal of their marriage or whatever. Wait. Buddy didn’t want the story to end.. how did he react after the prince kissed you.”

“I dunno. He was sulking I think? He disappeared before I had a chance to talk to him.”

“….Uhuh…”

“What? What is it?”

Deacon sighed and shook his head. “You are so dense…”

Divider by @animatedglittergraphics-n-more

#cinderella boy #cinderella boy webtoon #Chase hollow #buddy cinderella boy #Stargoth #Fanfic

57 notes · View notes